Tacitus and Bracciolini. The Annals Forged in the XVth Century

by John Wilson Ross

"Vespere ab atro
Consurgunt venti:" Aen. V. 19-20

And—

"Graditur bellum ad crudele Camilla:"
Ib. XI. 535;

The second in the Georgics:

"Si non tanta quies iret frigusque caloremque
Inter:"
Georg. II. 344;

And shortly after,

"Pagos et compita circum:"
Ib. 382;

And the third in the Aeneid:

"Duros mille labores
Rege sub Eurystheo, fatis Junonis iniquae,
Pertulerit:"
Aen. VIII. 291-3.

The Latinity, therefore, is good; but though good, it can scarcely be said to be that of an ancient Roman; for an ancient Roman never resorted to such inflexions in prose, only when writing poetry to get over the difficulties of rhythm; hence a modern European would easily fall into the error, from taking the Latin of Virgil to be most perfect; and from deeming that what was done in verse could, with equal propriety, be done in prose.