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almost certain that it was printed before the Venice folio edition of V. de Spira, which was issued in 1470. The best modern critical editions of the text are those of Ribbeck (4 vols. 1895) and F. A. Hirtzel (_Scriptorum Classicorum Bibliotheca Oxoniensis_, 1900). Of the editions containing explanatory notes, that of Conington and Nettleship, revised by Haverfield, is the standard English commentary. That of A. Sidgwick (2 vols. Cambridge) is more elementary, but will be found valuable. Those of Kennedy (London, 1879) and of Papillon and Haigh (Oxford, 2 vols. 1890-91) may also be referred to.
Virgil was first introduced to English readers by William Caxton in 1490. But his _Eneydos_ was based, not on the _Aeneid_ itself, but on a French paraphrase, the _liure des eneydes_, printed at Lyons in 1483.
The best modern prose translations are those of Mackail (London, 1885) and Conington (London, 1870).
The following is a list of the more important verse translations of the _Aeneid_ which have appeared. The name of the translator, and the date at which his translation appeared, are given:--Gawin Douglas, 1553 (see Introduction, p. xi); Henry, Earl of Surrey, 1557 (Books II. and IV. only); J. Dryden, 1697; C. R. Kennedy, 1861; J. Conington, 1866; W. Morris, 1876; W. J. Thornhill, 1886; Sir Charles Bowen, 1887 (Books I.-VI. only); J. Rhoades, 1893 (Books I.-VI. only); Sir Theodore Martin, 1896 (Books I.-VI. only); T. H. D. May, 1903; E. Fairfax Taylor, 1903.
Students of Virgil would also do well to consult Sellar, _Poets of the Augustan Age_ (Oxford, 1883), and Nettleship, _Introduction to the Study of Vergil_.
THE AENEID OF VIRGIL
BOOK ONE
ARGUMENT
Fate sends AEneas to Latium to found Rome, but Juno's hostility long delays his success (1-45). Descrying him and his Trojans in sight of Italy, she bribes AEolus to raise a storm for their destruction (46-99). The tempest (100-116). The despair of AEneas (117-126). O