Page:Virgil's Pastorals, Georgics and Aeneis - Dryden (1709) - volume 1.pdf/61

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The Life of Virgil.
49

and Intriguing Humour of the Empress Livia, under the Character of Juno. The irresolute and weak Lepidus is well represented under the Person of King Latinus; Augustus with the Character of Pont. Max. under that of Æneas; and the rash Courage (always unfortunate in Virgil) of Marc Anthony in Turnus; the railing Eloquence of Cicero in his Phillipics is well imitated in the Oration of Drances; the dull faithful Agrippa, under the person of Achates; accordingly this Character is flat: Achates kills but one Man, and himself receives one slight Wound, but neither says nor does any thing very considerable in the whole Poem. Curio, who sold his Country for about Two hundred Thousand Pound, is touch'd in that Verse.

Vendidit hic auro patriam, dominumque potentem.
Imposuit
.——

Livy relates that presently after the death of the two Scipio's in Spain, when Martius took upon him the Command, a Blazing