Questions About The Death of Virgil

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Vergil struggles out of his sickbed at night, goes to the window to observe the heavens, the Himmelsverborgenheiten....how would you translate such a word, and why is it plural...???? (p. 107 in my edition 1958 Rhein Verlag edition)

Mark Hebwood Oh dear :-)... It sounds as if this word was especially made up for the occasion. You know how inventive German can be in the construction of composit…moreOh dear :-)... It sounds as if this word was especially made up for the occasion. You know how inventive German can be in the construction of composite words that do not really exist but most people would understand. A native speaker might sense more than know what the word means, it is itself a form of poetry, it carries meaning like perfume carries a scent. I just googled this and it appears that the expression is used in the context of Vergil's last hour, who, in death, is denied to see infinity and whose gaze is blocked by a crystal barrier of Himmelsverborgenheiten. So it means "celestial stuff that is hidden" but I acknowledge that does not sound very poetic. "A crystal ceiling obscuring the heavens" perhaps?(less)

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Took awhile, but I just finished Broch's Vergil, and would love to know just what it was I read...any recommendations on a good book about this book that's about Virgil's books...I'm especially interested in the composite words, like the one Mark kindly disentangled for my benefit, and the use of pleonasmen or whatever that is called, also the way Broch quoted from the Aeneid...any suggestions?

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