Excerpt from The Eighth Book of Virgil's Aeneid: Edited for the Use of Schools

The advisability of including selections from the later books of the Aeneid in the reading even of classes that are to translate not more than six books of the poem, will hardly be questioned. The difference in character between the first six books and the last six is marked, and has often been pointed out; the former, as a story of adventure, being compared to the Odyssey, and the latter, as a narrative of war and conquest, to the Iliad. Some acquaintance with the second half of the poem is obviously essential to an adequate appreciation of the poem as a whole. Again, that part of the Aeneid which deals with Italy and the subjugation of the native races has quite as important a bearing on the main purpose of the poem the celebration of the origin and historic career of the Roman nation as that which has to do with the fate of Troy and the wanderings of Aeneas. Perhaps, too, not the least significant of the reasons which might be urged in favor of an occasional excursion into the field of the later books is to be found in the fact that such excursions afford relief to the teacher from the monotony of carrying successive classes, year after year, over exactly the same ground, while they give to his work a positive zest which is sure to react with happy effect on his pupils.

Of the later books of the Aeneid, none is better fitted to engage the pupil's attention than the eighth. The exceptional freedom of the text from doubtful readings, the interest with which the characters, both leading and minor, are invested, the charm of the story, the wealth of mythological and historical allusion, and the significant relation which this part of the poem bears to the general plan of the whole, combine to give this book a special claim to recognition. The story of Hercules and Cacus puts into concrete form the traditions current in the poet's time of the barbarism which characterized pre historic Italy; Evander, the hero of the book, is the most gracious personality in the entire poem, worthy, as the type of knightly courtesy, simple dignity, and manly fortitude, of a place beside Sir Guyon of the Faery Queene the shield of Aeneas, with its prophetic pictures of scenes and characters from legendary and contem poraneous history, carries the reader into the very heart of Roman life and thought and aspiration, revealing the source and embodying the spirit of Roman nationality and patriotism.

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