In message <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>,
Emma Guest <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes
>Great question, David, and as an art historian I haven't the least idea of
>how to answer it!  I do have a second part to it.  Who decides or how does
>one decide whether to use Virgil or Vergil?  Is it an American v English
>question?  In Italian he is always "Virgilio" I don't recall ever seeing
>"Vergilio" even though in the 15th c. Poliziano proved that the correct
>spelling is "Vergilius" not "Virgilius".  Thoughts on "i" v "e" would also
>be most appreciated.
I had always blamed the i on interference from virgo_, cf. the poet's
nickname Parthenias (and Milton, the Maid of Christ's). So too the
sweetest maid in Rome became Virginia instead of Verginia.

Leofranc Holford-Strevens
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Leofranc Holford-Strevens
67 St Bernard's Road                                         usque adeone
Oxford               scire MEVM nihil est, nisi ME scire hoc sciat alter?
OX2 6EJ

tel. +44 (0)1865 552808(home)/353865(work)          fax +44 (0)1865 512237
email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (home)         [EMAIL PROTECTED] (work)

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