Note 8 — MESSIAH,
Reading edition
Virg. Ecl. iv. 6:
Jam redit et Virge, redeunt Saturnia regna; Jam nova progenies cœlo demittitur alto.— Te duce, si qua manent sceleris vestigia nostri, Irrita perpetua solvent formidine terras.— Pacatumque reget patriis virtutibus orbem.
"Now the Virgin returns, now the kingdom of Saturn returns, now a new progeny is sent down from high heaven. By means of thee, whatever reliques of our crimes remain, shall be wiped away, and free the world from perpetual fears. He shall govern the earth in peace, with the virtues of his father."
Isaiah vii. 14. "Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son." Ch. ix. ver. 6, 7. "Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given,—the Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government, and of his peace, there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it and to establish it with judgment and with justice, for ever and ever."—Pope.
By "the virgin" Virgil meant Astræa, or Justice, who is said by the poets to have been driven from earth by the wickedness of mankind.—Professor Martyn.