CHAPTER IX.

FORM AND SUBJECT OF THE AENEID. I. Purpose of the Aeneid and motives determining the 295-300 form of the Poem Literary motives of the poem 295 Motive originating in the state of public feeling 296 " " in the position of Augustus 297 New problem in literary art presented to Virgil 298 The Aeneid the epic of the national fortunes 299 II. Adaptation of the legend of Aeneas to Virgil’s 300-310 purpose Adaptation of the legend of Romulus to a poem founded 300 on national sentiment Deficiency of the legend of Aeneas in national and 301 human interest Greek origin of the legend 301 Its late reception among the Romans 303 Vague and composite character of the legend 304 Grounds on which Virgil’s choice was justified 305 Connexion of the legend with the Homeric cycle of events 305 Its recognition by the State for more than two centuries 306 Connexion with the glory of the Julian family 308 Largeness of scope afforded by the vagueness of the legend 309 Adaptation to a poem representative of Rome in the 309 Augustan Age III. Composite character of the Aeneid illustrated by 310-324 an examination of the Poem Twofold purpose of Virgil in composing the Aeneid 310 Native and Greek sources employed by him 310 Prominence given to his double purpose in the 311 statement of the subject of the poem This double purpose traced in the details of the action 313 " " " in the ‘Inferno’ and in the ‘Shield of Aeneas’ 323 The Aeneid a new type of epic poetry 324