Ora tenere is not, as in G. 4. 483, equivalent to “linguam continere,” but means ‘to hold the countenance in attention,’ as in 7. 250 (where observe the epithet “defixa,” and comp. 6. 156), 8. 520. ‘Intenti’ then must be taken adverbially as part of the predicate, like “defixi” in the passage last referred to. Silent attention is however the general notion: and it is probable that Virg. did not carefully distinguish the two senses of ‘ora.’ See 1. 256, “oscula libavit.”
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