A. 9. 85–6 A questionable deletion

Lines 85 and 86 look like alternative versions. A usual expedient has been to delete 85.² This is not to be ruled out. Hardie, who tentatively considers the passage to be a tibicen, takes, with others, lucus as an apposition to silva. This would admittedly substantiate his claim that the passage is left without the care of the poet's ultima manus.