Aeneid 2.269

[Phoebus Apollo]

Tempus erat quo prima quies mortalibus aegris
incipit et dono divum gratissima serpit.

I'm not sure how to translate the phrase 'dono divum gratissima'.

Literally: 'and creeps, most pleasantly, by the gift of the gods' - is perhaps 'by the grace of the gods' acceptable?

Could it also be 'as a gift of the gods' - as in, the 'quies' is a gift of the gods?

Thanks in advance

 

[AoM]

Apologies for such a late reply; just noticed the thread.

Servius's note: dono divum quidam donum ex voluntate dicunt venire, munus ex officio. donaria vero loca in templis, in quibus dona ponuntur.

Conington says it's probably ablative, not dative (citing Eclogues 2.37).

Comstock translates it as, 'by the grace of heaven'.

Kline seems to take it as a dative: 'as the sweetest gift of the gods'.

 

[Pacifica]

It looks more like an ablative.

Kline seems to take it as a dative: 'as the sweetest gift of the gods'.

I can't see how that translation suggests that he takes it as a dative rather than ablative.

 

[AoM]

It seems like he's taking it as a dative of purpose.

 

[Dantius]

donaria vero loca in templis, in quibus dona ponuntur.

I don't really understand why Servius put this here. It doesn't seem relevant to the Aeneid sentence that's being discussed.

 

[AoM]

I guess he's elaborating on the difference between donum and munus. It does seem a little random.