[280] The Furies are mentioned below, vv. 570 foll., as carrying on their work within: so that it has been questioned why they are represented here among the guardians of the gate. It has been replied that the Furies may be distinguished from the Eumenides; that the meaning may be that they sleep here, but work elsewhere, a view somewhat favoured by the form of expression, which speaks of their chambers, not of themselves, though it would naturally stand for the Furies and their chambers; that Virg. has been inconsistent, perhaps following different legends. Either of the two latter views seems probable. Virg. however has doubtless an object in placing the Furies on the threshold, which seems to have been their seat (see on v. 563 below), and there is something of the same inconsistency in his language about the Hydra, vv. 287, 576. The ‘thalami’ are chambers, compared by Heyne to the cells of the porters in some Roman houses (Dict. A. ‘Domus,’ ‘Ianua’). Vulcan's ‘thalamus’ is of gold, 8. 372, where the synizesis “aureo” illustrates ‘ferrei’ here. Another question was raised by Serv. about the propriety of the word as applied to the Furies, ‘thalamus’ generally meaning a bridal chamber: but Cerda shows from Ov. M. 2. 738 &c. that it is attributed to maidens also. ‘Discordia’ had been already personified by Ennius (?) whose words are quoted by Hor. 1 S. 4. 60. So the Homeric Ἔρις.
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John Conington. P. Vergili Maronis opera. P. Vergili Maronis Opera. The works of Virgil, with a Commentary by John Conington, M.A. Late Corpus Professor of Latin in the University of Oxford. London. Whittaker and Co., Ave Maria Lane. 1876.
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