[76] The reading of this line is involved in some doubt. Med., and, as would appear from Ribbeck's silence, Pal. and Gud., besides others, have ‘Mycono e,’ which Wagn., Gossrau, Forb., and Ribbeck adopt. Ladewig and Haupt read ‘Mycono’ without ‘e,’ a reading which Heins. seems to have found in some copies, and which might be preferable if better supported, as avoiding a harsh elision. The old reading was ‘Mycone,’ which is clearly wrong, as Pierius remarks, the name of the island being Μύκονος. Med. and probably others write ‘Myconoe,’ which, being taken as a diphthong, would naturally produce confusion. Heins. and Heyne, following some of Pierius' copies, read ‘Gyaro celsa Myconoque,’ Myconus being called “humilis” by Ov. M. 7. 463, while Petronius calls Gyarus “alta.” Statius however, as Wagn. remarks, seems to have found Myconus mentioned before Gyarus in his copy, from his imitation Theb. 3. 438, “ipsa tua Mycono Gyaroque revelli, Dele, times.” Mr. Clark (Peloponnesus, pp. 20, 21) says, “It is plain, I think, that Virgil had never visited these parts when he wrote the Aeneid. Myconos cannot be called lofty except, perhaps, in comparison with Delos itself. But, indeed, in no part of Aeneas' voyage before he reaches Italy can I trace any sign of the poet's personal acquaintance with the scenery.” He had already spoken of “the ‘narrow’ rock of Gyaros, the Norfolk Island of the Romans, utterly barren, without a level or pleasant spot of ground, scarcely six miles in circumference, and as uninviting a residence as could well be to a man fond of ease, or change, or pleasure. Its familiarity to the Roman ear doubtless induced Virgil to mention it as one of the anchors of Delos: otherwise Syra or Tenos would have had a better claim.” Wagn. remarks that the Latin poets are apt to call all islands ‘high,’ and instances the application of the epithet “alta” to Prochyta 9. 715 as a similar misnomer: see however note there.
