Quis est nam ludus in undis? (Virgil, Eclogue IX 39-43)

Abstract

The undis -acrostic that has recently been discovered in Eclogue IX 34-38 has proved problematic. The present article argues that the acrostic’s point is the etymology of litus as the place where these “waves” do not “play” (39: ludus ), but “strike” (43: feriant for synonymous but exceedingly scarce lidant ). This acrostic is accordingly hot-potato politics, since it pertains to the land confiscations round Virgil’s “wave”-begirt Mantua. The poet also provides endorsement in the form of an unidentified onomastic.