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He cals them termini, because they make as it were two axioms, in both which there is a consequent, and an antecedent part: two termini go to the Protasis, and two to the Antapadosis.
Here the sick man, and his meat, and the wicked man, and his tasting of praise are made similia.
These are the first verses that Virgil shewed him∣self by, and set them on the gates where Augustus was to come out to be made Emperour, and verses then were rare, onely one Ennius (as Tully witnes∣seth) had made some, which were no good ones, yet they were read for their matter: Virgil was at this time poor, and had not been thereabout long, being as it were a groom in Caesars stable, and Augustus see∣ing them, demanded who made them, and none would challenge them, but one Batillus a simple fellow, praemium que magnumerat adeptus. On the next mor∣ning Virgil seeing that, sets on the gates again. Hos ego versiculos feci, &c. and Sic vos non vobis, four times, then Augustus called Batillus to perfect them, and he could not, then Augustus promised a great re∣ward to him that could: so Virgil perfected them, and hereby mocked Battillus: the quatuor termini are these, first Virgils labour, and the reward that was gi∣ven Batillus, the other two the oxes plowing, and others reaping the corn, &c.