"
Pallas says it to Turnus just before they fight. Ruaeus thinks that
the word pater is to be referred to Evander, the father of Pallas;
but how could he imagine that it was the same thing to Evander if
his son were slain, or if he overcame? The poet certainly intended
Jupiter, the common father of mankind, who, as Pallas hoped, would
stand an impartial spectator of the combat, and not be more
favourable to Turnus than to him. The second is not long after it,
and both before the duel is begun. They are the words of Jupiter,
who comforts Hercules for the death of Pallas, which was immediately
to ensue, and which Hercules could not hinder, though the young hero
had addressed his prayers to him for his assistance, because the
gods cannot control destiny. The verse follows -
"Sic ait; atque oculos Rutulorum rejicit arvis" -
which the same Ruaeus thus construes: "Jupiter, after he had said
this, immediately turns his eyes to the Rutulian fields and beholds
the duel." I have given this place another exposition--that he
turned his eyes from the field of combat that he might not behold a
sight so unpleasing to him.
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