ABSTRACT
In this chapter on the epiphany of the Penates, the author propose two improvements of the traditional text: the analysis leads him to suggest the dative iacenti instead of the transmitted genitive iacentis in line 150 and the unanimously transmitted reading insertas in line 152 has in his view not been convincingly defended in ancient or modern times. He discusses Gregor Maurach’s views and find his suggestion insaeptas, though rejected by himself, to be the only viable solution to the age-old problem. The situation Vergil describes at the start of his hero’s narration, omnes intenti … ora tenebant, should be borne in mind throughout: from the very beginning, his ‘I’ is prominent, be it in the explicit manner or implicitly by the narrator’s person and viewpoint being the obvious reference.
