Aeneid 10 Translation Guide

line 1 The adverb interea (“in the meantime”) is a structural device to turn the reader’s attention awayfrom the warfare on earth which was described in Book IX.line 2 divum: gen. pl for divorum.divum pater atque hominum rex: use of a traditional epic term used to describe Jupiter; also anallusion* because Virgil’s original readers knew who was meant.line 3 Note the alliteration in sideream in sedem.1lines 3-4 terras…Latinos are accusative plurals, direct objects of aspectat.line 4 Dardanidum is genitive plural (a contracted form of Dardanidarum).line 5 considunt tectis: “they (i.e. the gods) sit down in the hall”.bipatentibus: i.e. with doors at either end.ipse: i.e. Jupiter, emphasising his supreme positionline 7 vobis versa [est] retro – “has been reversed by you”. (vobis is ablative case to indicate by whomthe action is carried out.)line 8 bell: the preposition in has been omitted, as is frequently the case in poetry. Italiam is equivalentto “the peoples of Italy”.line 9 quae…discordia: “What is (this) disobedience…?” Note that in this line quae and quis are usedas adjectives and can be translated as “what”. Supply est after each of these words.contra vetitum: “against what has been forbidden (by me)”. aut hos aut hos refers to the twosides, i.e. the Italians and the Trojans. Note this example of repetition.*

Res RomanaeLines 11-14 contain allusions * to the series of wars between Rome and Carthage (in North Africa) between 264 and 146 BC. In particular, the Second Punic War, in which Hannibal led an army across the Alps and invaded Italy, was a life and death struggle for Rome.2

line 11 ne arcessite: “do not summon it” (CLG, page 48, section 3).line 13 exitium…apertas: the phrase is a second object of the verb, “will (force) open the Alps andlaunch great destruction”.Note the assonance in atque Alpes immittet apertas.3line 14 res rapuisse can be translated as “to take plunder”. Supply vobis as the object of liceat.line 16 paucis: supply verbis dixit.lines 16-17 non…pauca is an example of understatement* (“not a few” instead of “many”).line 17 There are a number of incomplete lines like this in The Aeneid. No doubt Virgil would havecompleted them if he had lived long enough to make a final revision of his poem.

Focus on languageNote the use of paucis to mark the end of Jupiter’s speech, and non…pauca refert to indicate that another speech is beginning. These stylistic devices are a traditional feature of epic poetry, going back to the times when it was recited, rather than read, and helping the audience to understand what was going on. (It was also convenient for Romans reading an unpunctuated manuscript written in capital letters.)

1 There are several other examples of alliteration in this text!

2 See Workset 12 of Unit 3.3 There are several other examples of assonance in this text!line 18 rerumque: “and of the world”; hominum rerumque aeterna potestas – note the use of atraditional epic term to describe Jupiter; also an allusion* because Virgil’s original readers knewwho was meantline 19 aliud quid sit: “what other (power) is there?”line 20 ut: “how”. The following three verbs are in the subjunctive mood because they are indirectquestions, depending on cernis ut. (CLG, page 25.)Translate feratur by “(he) rushes”.line 21 per medios: “through their midst”. Translate tumidus(que) by “proudly”. Check the meaning ofsecundo, which is not “second”! Marte is an example of metonomy.*line 22 non clausa… moenia: “The enclosing walls do not protect the Trojans now”line 25 abest: Aeneas was absent because he was seeking help from Evander (Aeneid Book VIII).line 26 iterum: “again”, is repeated in line 28 and is an example of repetition,* as well as an allusion* tothe Greeks’ siege of Troy.nec non: “and”.lines 28-30 These lines involve an allusion to Book V of Homer’s Illiad in which the Greek warrior Diomedeswounded Venus after she intervened to save Aeneas.1

line 28 Arpis: Arpis was a city in Apulia (southern Italy), which according to legend was founded byDiomedes, son of Tydeus, a Greek commander in the Trojan War.line 29 mea vulnera restant: “wounds still await me”.line 30 et tua progenies mortalia demoror arma: Literally “and I, your daughter, delay mortal weapons”but translate it as “and I, your daughter, am keeping weapons waiting”. tua progenies describesego, the assumed subject of demoror.line 31 pace: “approval” or “permission”.line 32 petiere = petierunt. This is an alternative ending for the 3rd person plural of the perfect tense andis common in poetry (CLG, page 29, section 6).luant…neque iuveris: “let them pay for…and do not help”. iuveris is a perfect subjunctive usedwith ne to form a negative command (CLG, page 48, section 3). neque = et ne.line 33 secuti: add sunt.line 34 superi manesque: reference to the Olympian gods and the ghosts of mortals, i.e. Hector (Book II)and Anchises (Book VI)lines 33-35 These lines involve allusions* to various events in earlier Books of The Aeneid (mainly Books II,III and VI), in which Aeneas received advice and prophecies about his future mission.line 36 quid repetam: “why should I mention again?”. repetam is an example of the subjunctive moodbeing used in a deliberative question (CLG, page 47, section 7).exustas…classes is an allusion* to Aeneid Book V, where Iris, sent by Juno, persuaded the Trojanwomen to set fire to the fleet, in the hope that Aeneas and the Trojans would be forced to remain in

Sicily.line 37-38 quid: supply repetam. tempestatum regem is an allusion* to Aeneid Book I, where Juno bribedAeolus, king of the winds, to unleash a storm which wrecked the Trojan fleet on the shores ofAfrica.line 38 Aeolia: a place, ex is omitted. actam nubibus: “sent down from the clouds”.line 39 manes: direct object of movet in line 40.

Res RomanaeThe term manes, which usually refers to the spirits of the dead in the Underworld, is used here in the sense of “fiends” or “demons”.

line 40 sors rerum: with haec, “this part of creation”. Translate movet by “she stirs up” (the subject isJuno, as implied by the actions referred to in lines 36-8.superis missa repente (“suddenly sent into the upper world”) is an allusion to the actions of theFury Allecto (line 41) in Aeneid Book VII.1 Juno refers to the same events in lines 81-82.line 41 The verb bacchor, -ari is derived from Bacchus (god of wine), whose followers, the Bacchae, would run around frantically as part of the celebrations of that god’s festivals. bacchor, -ari originally meant “to celebrate the festival of Bacchus”, but it soon added the meaning of “run wildly” or “run riot”, as if possessed by the god.line 42 Translate nil super imperio moveor by “I am no longer moved/affected by [the thought] ofempire/power”.Note the use of the first person plural (speravimus) instead of the singular (speravi); this use ofthe plural is common in poetry.line 43 Add nobis (“for us”) as the indirect object of fortuna fuit.vincant ( vinco) is an example of the jussive subjunctive, i.e. the subjunctive mood is used toindicate a command in the 3rd person: “let them win”. Similarly iactetur (“let him be tossedaround”) in line 48 and sequatur (“let him follow) in line 49. (Refer to CLG, page 48, section 3.)The pronoun quos is the direct object of the infinitive vincere. Note the alliteration here with v.1lines 44-5 si nulla est regio Teucris quam det tua coniunx/dura... Note the word order*, designed toemphasise Juno’s harshness, and also the fact that Venus dislikes Juno so much that she will noteven refer to her by name!line 44 det is in the subjunctive mood after quam to indicate a vague, generalised idea: “may give”.lines 46-47 Suggested word order for translation: liceat [mihi] dimittere Ascanium incolumen ab armis…Note the repetition* of the word liceat, giving more force to Venus’s plea.lines 48-49 Suggested word order: sane Aeneas iactetur in ignotis undis et sequatur quamcumque viam[quam] Fortuna dederit. Note that iactetur and sequatur are examples of the iussivesubjunctive; CLG, page 48, section 3.line 50 hunc refers to Ascanium.pugnae is the dative object of subducere.line 51 Venus plans to hide her grandson in one of her places which are sacred to her and therefore under

her control. Amathus, Paphos and Idalia are in Cyprus, Cythera is an island in the MediterraneanSea.

1 There are several other examples of alliteration in this text!

line 53 iubeto (“let it be ordered in the future”) is an example of the rarely used future active imperative.Virgil possibly introduces it to make Venus’s words seem particularly solemn. It is used here withut and the subjunctive mood (premat, line 54). magna dicione is ablative (“by …”) and refers toJupiter’s authority – you could add “your” in translation to make things clearer.line 54 Ausoniam refers to Italy. Tyriis (line 55) agrees with urbibus, which is dative case becauseobstabit takes an object in that caseline 55-56 Ascanius is the subject (understood) of evadere and fugisse. In line 56 there is an allusion to thedestruction of Troy (Aeneid Book II).line 57 tot…maris...pericula terrae refers to the many dangers endured by the Trojans on land and sea(especially in Aeneid Book III).line 58 recidiva describes Pergama, another name for Troy.line 59 Supply fuisset after non satius.line 61 The infinitive revolvere depends on redde.line 62 Iliacos (“Trojans”) is used her as a synonym for Ilium (= Troia).lines 62-84 Venus’s plea to Jupiter is followed by a furious response from Juno. As you will see from thecomments on certain lines (below), she gives a distorted version of events. Virgil’s readers alreadyknow that at least some of her statements are false.1

line 63 furore gravi – a strong expression, which sets the tone for Juno’s following speech.As Juno’s recent actions have been undertaken in opposition to the decrees of Fate, her previoussilence (silentia) was probably caused by her wish to conceal her actions from Jupiter!line 64 For more information on Juno’s obductum…dolorem, refer to the text which you read in Workset12 of Unit 3.line 65 divumque (“and of the gods”) is perhaps better translated by “or divine”.line 67 esto (an alternative form of the singular imperative of esse) can here be translated by “so be it”.

Res RomanaeAccording to legend, the Trojan princess Cassandra (line 68) promised to become the lover of the god Apollo if he would grant her the gift of prophecy. However, once she had received the gift, she rejected him. Apollo was unable to take the gift of prophecy from her, but he decreed that her warnings would never be believed. So no one heeded her warnings of disaster before the Fall of Troy. Note how Virgil could allude* briefly to this legend and assume that his contemporary readers were familiar with the story. They would also realise that Juno was unjust to describe her warnings as Cassandrae furiis.

line 68-9 Supply eum (i.e. Aeneas) before linquere castra and vitam committere ventis. Juno refers hereto Aeneas’s journey to seek help from Evander in Aeneid Book VIII.

line 70 The boy (puero) is, of course, Ascanius, who has helped lead the defence of the Trojan campduring Aeneas’s absence (Aeneid Book IX).hortati sumus (line 69) is implied in lines 70-71; the infinitives credere and agitare depend onthis verb.line 71 Here, Juno claims that Aeneas has caused the Etruscans (Tyrrheni) to be disloyal to their king,Mezentius and banish him from his kingdom. In fact, this event occurred before Aeneas arrived inItaly (Aeneid Books VII and VIII).line 72 quis and quae can be translated as “which” or “what”.line 73 dimissa describes Iris.line 75 Literally nascentem is “being born”, but translate it as “new-born”. It agrees with Troiam in theprevious line.lines 77-80 Here, Juno blames the Trojans for the conflict in Italy which she herself had caused!2 In reality, theTrojans were welcomed by King Latinus when they reached Latium and did not make any threats.

2 See Aeneid Book VII for details.

Latinus himself selected Aeneid as his son-in-law,1 because a prophecy had said that his daughtermust marry a foreign ruler. Warfare resulted when Juno sent the Fury Allecto (Aeneid Book X, line41) to enrage Turnus, who had hoped to marry Lavinia himself. Despite Juno’s claims in line 79,Lavinia had never been betrothed to Turnus, nor had Aeneas taken her away from her parents.(Juno also recers to soceros and pactas, though only one incident is involved!)lines 77-80 quid …Troianos … can be translated as “what about the fact that the Trojans …” The infinitivespremere, avertere, legere, abducere, orare and praefigere depend on quid … Troianos and areto be translated as verbs (“are oppressing”, etc.)line 77 face … atra is ablative case to show the means by which action is carried out. Note that the blacktorch seems to symbolise* the destruction caused by warfare.2lines 81-82 Here, Juno refers (inaccurately) to incidents in Homer’s Iliad. In fact, it was Apollo, not Venus,who saved Aeneas by enveloping him in a cloud. Ironically, Juno herself rescues Turnus by meansof a cloud-based phantom, later in Aeneid Book X. 3line 82 Suggested word order: obtendere nebulam et ventos inanes pro viro.line 83 nymphas – refers to the totidem classem. In fact it was Cybele, not Venus who had turned theburning Trojan ships into sea nymphs so as to save them from total destruction (Aeneid Book IX;the incident is referred to again in Aeneid Book X, lines 230-35).line 84 It is quite common for nos to be substituted for ego in epic poetry, especially when the speaker isaiming for emphasis.line 215 Supply a or e before caelo.

lines 215-216 Supply in before curru noctavigo.

In Greek and Roman mythology, it was believed that the sun god Phoebus2 drove his chariot daily across the skies, bringing sunlight to one land after another. Similarly, his sister Phoebe,3 goddess of the moon, brought light to the night-time sky. And the goddess Aurora also drove across the sky, bringing the red or rosy light of dawn (line 241). (These are examples of personification.* )

line 218 ipse: (“he himself”) refers to Aeneas (line 217), as does the present particle sedens.Note that ministrat takes an object in the dative case (velis).line 220 suarum describes comitum in the following line; it refers to the nymphae.

Res RomanaeThe goddess Cybele,4 who was associated with Mount Ida, near Troy was also known as the Great Mother of the Gods (line 252). Cybele became popular in both Greece and Rome and was worshipped widely in the Roman Empire. Augustus rebuilt the temple of Cybele on the Palatine Hill in Rome.

lines 220-222 This transformation of the ships took place in Aeneid Book IX and is described in more detail inlines 230-235.line 221 Literally, nymphasque e navibus esse is “and to be nymphs out of ships”, but translate it as“and to be nymphs instead of ships”.line 224 longe is an adverb of place: “at a distance”.line 225 quarum is an example of the connecting use of the relative pronoun (CLG, pages 21-22).Translate it by “their”. Note that doctissima is a superlative adjective. Literally, fandi means “ofspeaking”, but translate it here by “in speaking”.5

lines 226-227 ipsaque dorso eminet can be translated as “emerged in person as far as her waist”.line 227 tacitis undis can be translated as ‘in the calm/tranquil waves’line 228 Supply eum with ignarum.line 229 velis is dative of advantage: “for the sails”. Notice the alliteration* in the words vigila et velis.6lines 231-32 perfidus describes Rutulus, i.e. Turnus.line 234 Suggested word order for translation: miserata genetrix refecit hanc faciem (“taking pity onus, our mother changed our present appearance7” or genetrix miserata refecit hanc faciem(“our mother, who took pity on us, changed our present appearance ”).line 235 Translate dedit esse by “allowed [us] to be”.line 237 The present participle horrentes describes Latinos; Marte (ablative) is an example of metonymy.*Literally it means “bristling with war”, but the sense is something like “eager for the war/fighting”.lines 238-39 Suggested word order for translation: iam Arcas eques, permixtus forti Etrusco [equite], locaiussa tenent. Note that eques is a collective noun, i.e. it is singular in form but has a pluralmeaning. (This may account for the plural verb tenent.) Note also that forti Etrusco is ablativeafter permixtus: “mingling with”.line 240 castris here refers to the Trojan camp; it is the dative object of iungant. For further information on

the use of the subjunctive mood in an indirect command (ne … iungant), refer to CLG, page 78.line 241 Aurora veniente can translate as “when the dawn comes”. Refer to page 3.3 for more informationabout Aurora, though this may be an example of metonymy* rather than a reference to mythology.lines 241-42 Suggested word order: iube socios vocari in arma: “order your friends to be called to arms”.line 243 invictum agrees with clipeum, the direct object of cape. This shield is described in detail inAeneid Book VIII.line 244 crastina lux – “tomorrow’s light”. Note that putaris is a contracted form of putaveris (futureperfect).line 245 ingentes Rutulae caedis acervos is an example of exaggeration, as was traditional in epics –many Rutulians are killed, but not enough to form enormous heaps!1

line 246 Note how Virgil uses dixerat to mark the end of Cymodocea’s speech and provide a transition tothe next part of the action.lines 246-47 Suggested word order for translation: et discedens impulit dextra altam puppim,2 haud ignaramodi.line 246 dextra is ablative of instrument (“with …”).line 247 puppim is probably to be taken literally, though it may be an example of synecdoche.* haudignara (“not unaware”) is an example of understatement.* Having previously been a ship herself,Cymodocea knows exactly how to move Aeneas’s ship forward!1 Lines 247-48 may be another example of “epic exaggeration”, but it may also show the sea-nymph’s power(and thus the divine support which Aeneas receives).2 Note the use of the alternate ending (–im instead of -em)for this 3rd declension noun.

line 248 iaculo and aequante sagitta are ablative case to indicate a comparison (“than …):CLG, page 53, section 6e).line 249 Supply naves with aliae – these are the ships of Aeneas’s allies.line 251 Suggested word order: aspectans convexa supera.line 252 Translate alma Idaea by “o kind Cybele” – and refer to the list of names at the end of Selectionsfrom Aeneid Book X to discover why Idaea refers to Cybele!lines 252-53 Suggested word order for translation: cui Dindyma et (= -que) turrigerae urbes et (= -que)leones ad frena biiugi1 [sunt] cordi, … You could translate ad frena biiugi by “harnessed to atwo-horse chariot”.lines 255-6 Translate secundo pede by “with your favouring step”.lines 258-259 edicit is followed by a series of indirect commands with the verbs in the subjunctive mood(sequantur, aptent, parent). Refer to CLG, page 78.line 259 Note that both aptent and parent are used here with indirect objects (armis, pugnae) as well asdirect objects (animos, se). Translate the indirect objects by “for …”.

line 466 genitor refers to Jupiter and natum to Hercules.lines 468-9 Suggested word order: sed famam extendere factis: hoc (est) opus virtutis.lines 469-71 These lines contain allusions* to events in Book XVI of Homer’s Iliad.line 470 tot (“so many”) agrees with nati; deum is genitive plural.lines 471-472 These lines are an example of prolepsis, that is, the reader is told in advance what will happen toTurnus. Suggested word order for translation: etiam sua fata vocant Turnum et (= -que)pervenit ad metas dati aevi (“the end of the years given allotted to him”).metas can be seen as a metaphor* because it was also the term used for the winning posts at theend of a chariot race.

Focus on mythologyBoth the Greeks and the Romans believed that three ancient goddesses determined how long each human being would live. In Greek they were called Moirai, in Latin Parcae (Aeneid Book X , line 815). It was believed that one goddess would spin the threads of each person’s life, another would measure them, while the third would cut them at the moment of death. Note that we translate Parcae by “the Fates”, but Latin uses a quite different word (fatum, pl. fata) for “fate”. Do not confuse the two Latin terms.

line 473 oculos is the direct object of reicit.line 475 Suggested word order for translation: et (= -que) deripit fulgentem ensem cava vagina(ablative case, to indicate the place from which he pulled out the sword). Pallas is preparing for the next stage of his attack on Turnus.lines 476-77 illa refers to Pallas’s spear (hasta); it is the subject of incidit in line 477. The present participlevolans (“flying”) describes illa. Suggested word order for translation: volans illa incidit quasumma tegmina umeri surgunt: “flying, it hit [Turnus] at the highest point of his shoulderarmour”.1line 477 Suggested word order for translation: atque molita viam per oras clipei …line 478 Translate strinxit de by “grazed”.line 479 hic here means “now” or “at this point in time”.Note the metaphor:* Turnus’s spear is referred to as an oak-tree (robur), because the shaft ismade of oak. It emphasises how strong Turnus is.line 480 Note once again the use of fatur (“he spoke”) to indicate the beginning of a speech; dixerat inline 482 marks its end.line 481 sit is subjunctive mood in a reported question introduced by num (“whether”) (CLG, page 77).line 482 clipeum is the direct object of transverberat in line 484; the subject is cuspis.The repetition* of tot…tot emphasises how thick the shield is and thus stresses Turnus’sstrength (line 483 continues this theme.)line 485 Note the use of ingens, a typical example of “epic exaggeration”.line 487 una eademque via is ablative case (“by …”).line 488 vulnus is an example of synecdoche* – the wound also refers to the blood which flowed from it.line 489 The present participle moriens describes Pallas.

line 490 super adsistens presents a vivid contrast between Pallas lying dead on the ground and Turnusstanding proudly over himlines 491-495 Turnus emphasises the fact that Evander has caused his son’s death by showing friendship toAeneas. Pallas thus deserved to die, and Turnus feels no pity for either the father or the son.line 492 Suggested word order for translation: remitto Pallanta1 qualem meruit – “I am sending backPallas just as he deserved”.line 493 tumuli is genitive case, depending on honos, but translate it by “in his grave”. Similarly,humandi2 is genitive case, depending on solamen, and can be translated by “in burying [him]”.line 494 Note the enjambment* of largior – Turnus is stresing that it is only through his generosity thatPallas can receive burial.line 494 haud … parvo is an example of understatement.* It helps to emphasis the consequences ofEvander’s actions.lines 495-6 Suggested word order for translation: et fatus talia pressit examinem laevo pede, rapiens ...

Turnus expresses his contempt for Pallas by putting one foot on his body and pressing it down ashe seizes the sword-belt. The essential wrongness of the action is underlined by the fact that hedoes so with the left foot – an allusion* to the Roman belief that the left side was often unlucky.3

immania pondera is plural in form but singular in meaning. Virgil’s use of immania instead ofingentia here points subtly forward to the prediction in lines 501-505: immanis can refer notonly to an object’s size but also to the fact that it is in some way too large, or monstrously big.line 497-98 una ... cruenti describes the scene engraved on the belt. Suggested word order for translation:manus iuvenum foede caesa sub una iugali nocte et (=que) cruenti thalami, … This is anallusion* to the Greek legend in which forty-nine out of the fifty daughters of King Danaosmurdered their husbands on the wedding night. (Their father had ordered them to do it becausehe had been forced to consent to their marriages.)line 498 cruenti agrees with thalami to mean the “blood-drenched wedding beds”.line 499 Clonus was the goldsmith who decorated the belt. multo … auro are ablative case (“with …” or“in”).line 500 Suggested word order for translation: Turnus nunc ovat quo spolio et (=-que) gaudet potitus.quo is an example of a relative pronoun being used to connect two main clauses. It shouldtherefore be translated by “this” (CLG, pages 21-22).

Focus on literary techniquesIn epic poetry, the poet often adds his comments on the action.Here, Virgil first makes a general, timeless statement about the dangers that come from human beings’ inability to foresee the future (lines 501-502). People should preserve a sense of proportion and be prepared for future changes. This is followed by prolepsis (lines 503-505), in which Virgil hints more clearly at the disaster that will overcome Turnus.4 This increases the gloomy atmosphere of the scene.

line 500 In translation, expand potitus (“having obtained possession”) to “after he had gained possessionof [it]”.line 501 Suggested word order for translation: mens hominum [est] nescia…line 502 secundis agrees with rebus, which is ablative case to indicate the time of the event. Translate itby “when things are going favourably”.line 503 Suggested word order here: tempus erit Turno (“There will be a time for Turnus”) cumoptaverit …lines 503-4 intactum and emptum both refer to Pallanta.1 Pallanta is a Greek accusative form.2 A gerund: see Lesson 4 of Workset 2.3 Though not, apparently in line 227.4 Make sure that you read the final lines of Aeneid Book XII in translation on pages R.14-R.16 of the Resources.line 505 gemitu lacrimisque are ablative case (“with …”).line 506 In translation, it would be better to expand impositum to a verb (i.e. imponunt) and supply etbefore referunt; both verbs are historic present.

Res RomanaeNotice how Pallas’s friends place his body on his shield in order to carry him away. This underlines the fact that he died fighting and did not abandon his heavy shield to save himself. It was said that Spartans mothers would send their sons to war with the words “Return with your shield, or on it”. In other words, it was more important to die bravely than to survive.

line 507 The future participle rediture is vocative case – the poet is speaking directly to Pallas, as shownalso by te (line 508) and linquis (line 509). This is an example of apostrophe.line 508 Repetition of haec to emphasise the day.line 509 Note how this line echoes Cymodocea’s prophecy in line 245.line 755 Suggested word order: iam gravis Mavors aequabat luctus et mutua funera.Mavors1 is an example of metonymy,* equivalent to “war”.

line 755 caedebant pariter pariterque ruebant is an example of chiasmus.*line 756 Note the juxtaposition* of two contrasting ideas in victores victique. It is emphasised byalliteration.*

Res Romanaeneque his fuga nota neque illis is a tribute to the courage of the opposing warriors. It reflects traditional Roman values as well as those found in epic poetry: In De Bello Gallico I, 26, Caesar had noted: hoc toto proelio, cum ab hora septima ad vesperum pugnatum est, aversum hostem videre nemo potuit: “Throughout this battle, which was fought from noon until evening, no one could see an enemy retreating”.

lines 758-61 The scene shifts abruptly and briefly to Olympus, where the gods watch the action. Most arefilled with pity, only the Fury Tisiphone is filled with rage.lines 758-59 Suggested word order for translation: di (= dei) in tectis Iovis miserantur inanem iramamborum…line 759 tantos agrees with labores. Note that mortalibus esse is (a) an example of the use of the dativecase to show possession: CLG, page 52, section 5e; (b) a reported statement. In translation, itmay be helpful to supply “the fact that” before mortalibus esse.line 760 The repetition* of hinc … hinc … underlines the opposing attitudes of the two goddesses andthus echoes the situation at the beginning of Aeneid Book X.1 An older name for Mars.line 761 The allusion* to the Fury Tisiphone1 emphasises thedreadful nature of the battle, underscored by thealliteration of media inter milia.line 762 ingentem … hastam is the direct object of the presentparticiple quatiens.lines 763-68 Virgil uses yet another simile* to describe Mezentius.

Here, he is compared to the constellation Orion, which received its name from a giant hunter in Greek mythology. Once again, this simile demonstrates Mezentius’s size and power, especially as Orion was visible in the winter months and therefore associated with stormy weather.2

lines 764-5 Suggested word order: scindens viam per maximastagna medii Nerei, …line 764 Nerei is an example of metonymy* – the sea-god’s nameis substituted for “sea”.line 766 summis … montibus is ablative case to indicate where the ash-tree comes from.line 768 Note that armis here is probably the ablative plural of armus (“shoulder”) rather than arma(“weapons”), corresponding to the use of umero in the simile.line 769 Translate huic contra Aeneas speculatus in agmine longo, … by “After observing him in thelong battle-line, …”, and transfer Aeneas to the main clause, as the subject of parat.line 770 imperterritus and ille refer to Mezentius.line 771 mole sua is an example of the ablative case being used in a description: CLG, page 53, section6b.line 772 Literally, quantum satis [esse] hastae is “so much as to be enough for a spear”, but expand it to“as being enough for a spear to be thrown successfully”.lines 773-74 Suggested word order for translation: nunc dextra et telum, quod missile libro, adsint deusmihi (“as a god for me”). adsint (“may [they] be present”) is an example of the jussivesubjunctive: CLG, page 48, section 6.Note Mezentius’s impietas in relying on his own strength and fighting ability, rather thanseeking help from the gods. This is emphasised by his vowing (voveo) to give Aeneas’s weaponsto Lausus as a trophy. Vows were normally made to gods, not mortals.3

lines 774-75 The word order and sentence construction are rather complicated here!Lause is vocative case because voveo introduces a reported statement addressed to Lausus; thesubject and verb of the reported statement are te … indutum [futurum esse].praedonis is genitive singular, but raptis is ablative plural, agreeing with spoliis in thefollowing line.

The sentence can thus be translated as follows: “ I vow that you yourself, Lausus, will be clothedin the booty (spoliis) snatched from the body of the robber (i.e. Aeneas) as a trophy of Aeneas.”line 776 Onomatopoeia:* the word stridentem suggesting a whistling sound as the spear flies through theair towards Aeneas.line 777 clipeo is ablative case to indicate from where the spear glances off.line 778 Assonance:* the repetition of i emphasises the action of the spear.line 779 Herculis Antoren comitem is an allusion* to the earlier visit of Hercules to Rome (Aeneid BookVIII).line 780 haeserat is used here in the figurative sense of giving support to Evander.lines 781-2 Suggested word order for translation: moriens aspicit caelum et (= -que) reminiscitur dulcesArgos. Note the pathos* in this description of a man who is dying so far away from home.line 781 This is a hypermetric line, i.e. the final e is elided because of the vowel at the beginning of thenext line. This type of line is very rare, so think carefully about the effect produced here by themetre. (Line 895 is the only other example in Aeneid Book X.)

1 Virgil had already mentioned her in Aeneid Book VI, where she punished sinners in the Underworld.2 Virgil refers to this in Aeneid Book IV, line 52.3 It would have been more acceptable to promise the weapons to Lausus.

line 783 To a modern reader, Virgil’s description of Aeneas in the midst of a battle as pius may seemironic, especially when he is referred to as laetus (line 787) after wounding Mezentius.However, Virgil is probably emphasising that Virgil’s actions are in accordance with the will ofthe gods and are not like those of Mezentius.line 785 sedit can be translated here as “it lodged”.line 787 Literally, viso Tyrrheni sanguine laetus is “happy by the blood of the Etruscan1 having beenseen”, but translate it as “happy at the sight of the Etruscan’s blood”.lines 789-90 Suggested word order: ut Lausus vidit, ingemuit graviter amore cari genitoris. Note thepietas of Lausus, which will lead to his death.lines 791-93 These lines form an example of apostrophe, in which Virgil speaks directly to Lausus2 andlaments his death, as well as celebrating his achievements. This heightens the parallels betweenLausus and Pallas (see lines 507-09).line 791 casum and facta are direct objects of silebo (line 793)line 793 Note the juxtaposition* of the words memorande and silebo for extra emphasis.line 794 ille refers to Mezentius, not Lausus.The splitting of inligatus into in(que) ligatus is a literary device called tmesis. It is probablydone to suit the metre.line 795 Suggested word order for translation: cedebat et (=que) trahebat inimicum hastile clipeo(ablative case indicates place – “in the shield”).lines 797-99 The word order and sentence construction are rather complicated here! Suggested word order fortranslation: iamque subiit mucronem Aeneae adsurgentis dextra et (= -que) ferentis plagam,et (= -que) sustinuit ipsum morando. The subject of subiit and sustinuit is Lausus.adsurgentis and ferentis are genitive case, agreeing with Aeneae.Literally adsurgentis dextra (ablative) is “rising up on the right”, but translate it as “raising hisright hand”.ipsum refers to Aeneas.morando (gerund) is ablative case and therefore means “by delaying [him]”line 800 Note the juxtaposition* of genitor and nati.parma is ablative case. Note the use of dum plus the subjunctive mood to indicate the purposeof the action as well as its time (CLG, page 70).line 802 missilibus probably refers to javelins rather than spears.Note the significance of the verb furit: Aeneas is still overcome by the furor that took hold ofhim after he learnt about the death of Pallas (Workset 5).lines 803-10 velut introduces an extended simile,* in which the attacks on Aeneas are compared to a hailstorm. The simile has some interesting features: The hailstorm is violent and causes people to take shelter, but it merely represents a temporary interruption to their normal lives and the tasks which they plan to accomplish. The reader can thus measure the difference between Aeneas’s great strength and that of his opponents. In addition, the simile

provides a welcome escape from the slaughter on the battle-field: the people affected by the hailstorm are involved in the peaceful everyday activities which will resume once the nubem belli (line 809) has passed.lines 804-05 Suggested word order for translation: omnis arator et omnis agricola diffugit [a] campis …lines 805-06 Translate et tuta latet arce viator aut [sub] amnis ripis aut [sub] alti fornice saxi as “and thetraveller lies hidden in a safe shelter either under the banks of a river or else under anoverhanging high rock”.1 Note the metaphorical* use of arx (“citadel, stronghold”) to mean“shelter”.lines 807-08 Suggested word order for translation: ut possint exercere diem reducto sole (ablative absolute,indicating the time of the action). Note the use of ut plus the subjunctive mood to indicate thepurpose of the action (see Lesson 5 of Workset 5).lines 809-10 Suggested word order: sic obrutus telis undique, Aeneas sustinet nubem belli, …Note the use of dum plus the subjunctive mood to indicate the purpose of the action as well as itstime (CLG, page 70). omnis is probably adverbial: “wholly” or “completely”.1 Literally: “the arch of a high rock”.lines 810-12 Note the repetition of Lausum … Lausoque, indicating how Aeneas is concentrating his wholeattention on Lausus. The verbal attack which follows is part of the traditional “softening up” ofan opponent used in epic battles.line 811 Literally, maioraque viribus audes is “are you daring things greater than your strength?” but translate it as “are you attempting deeds which are greater than your strength?”line 812 Suggested word order for translation: tua pietas fallit te incautum. This statement can be viewed as a paradox.*lines 812-14 There is a striking contrast between Aeneas’s recognition of the pietas shown by Lausus and the savage furor which has now taken possession of himself. At the same time, however, Virgil’s use of demens (line 813) reminds the reader that Aeneas’s present behaviour and attitude are not normal for him.lines 814-15 Suggested word order for translation: Parcae legunt extrema fila Lauso. This is anotherallusion* to the role of the Parcae/Fates in determining human destiny.1 Its impact is increased by the fact that Virgil’s readers would have been so used to the sight of women spinning thread on a distaff.lines 815-16 validum … recondit forms a particularly graphic and gruesome description! Note how validumis emphasised by its position at the beginning of the clause and before the noun to which itrefers. Suggested word order for translation: namque Aeneas exigit validum ensem permedium iuvenum et (= -que) recondit totum; …line 817 levia arma minacis emphasises the difference in strength between Lausus and Aeneas andbetween the weapons which the two men are able to use. levia also contrasts with minacis.line 818 Another sharp contrast,* this time between Lausus’s past life with wealthy, loving parents andthe present reality of his death.2tunicam … auro is a relative clause, so put quam first in your translation. molli … auro isablative case to show with what the tunic had been embroidered.line 820 maesta agrees with vita in the previous line. It is probably adverbial: “sadly”.lines 841-42 Suggested word order for translation: at flentes socii ferebant examinem Lausum super arma,ingentem atque victum ingenti vulnere.line 841 Note how Lausum is placed close to the beginning of the clause,1 indicating that this is the firstthing which Mezentius sees.arma here refers primarily to the shield, on which it was traditional epic usage for a body to beplaced.line 842 ingentem atque ingenti vulnere victum: Note how assonance* (i) and alliteration* (v)emphasise what has happened: Lausus was huge,2 but Aeneas could inflict the huge woundwhich killed himline 843 Suggested word order for translation: mens praesaga mali agnovit gemitum longe.In other words, because Mezentius was so afraid on behalf of his son he immediately recognised

the meaning of this sound of grief.lines 843-4 canitiem…inhaeret – Mezentius’s gestures are traditional signs of grief and mourningline 846 Suggested word order for translation: nate, tenuitne3 tanta voluptas vivendi me…Note that vivendi is the genitive case of a gerund – see Lesson 4 of Workset 2.line 847 Translation may be easier if you add te after paterer and before quem genui in the following line.lines 848-9 There are two striking paradoxes* here: the father is saved by the son’s wounds and is livingthrough the death of his son. Translate genitor…servor as “am I, your father, saved …”lines 849-50 This exclamation is very compressed. Suggested word order for translation: heu, nunc demummisero mihi, infelix, [est] exitium, nunc vulnus [est] adactum alte!line 850 exitium here means “ruin”, not “death” – Mezentius is referring to his having been banished by his subjects, as he explains in lines 851-854.lines 851-2 idem ego…paternis: Note how Mezentius makes only a partial acknowledgement of the fact thehis actions caused his son’s death. He blames his banishment on invidiam (“ill-will”, “unpopularity”) rather than the reason for the invidia – his own cruel actions.41 at must come at the beginning.2 A standard example of “epic exaggeration”.3 Remember that -ne indicates the start of a question!4 For details, see Aeneid Book VIII.line 851 Translate idem ego…maculavi by “it was I who stained …” Note that nate is vocative case.line 852 sceptris(que) paternis is a “poetic plural” – plural form but singular meaning. Translatepaternis here by “of my ancestors” rather than “paternal”.line 853 Suggested word order for translation: debueram poenas1 patriae odiisque meorum.line 854 dedissem is an example of the potential use of the subjunctive mood to suggest obligation: CLG,page 97, section 1d. Suggested word order for translation: ipse dedissem sontem animam peromnes mortes – “I should have yielded my guilty soul to any form of death”.line 855 When used by itself, as here, neque can be translated by “and … not”, rather than “nor”.homines is probably used in synecdoche* to refer to “the world of men/the world of the living”.line 855 lucem is here used symbolically to mean “life”.line 856 The direct object of attollit is se in the following line.line 857 Literally, alto vulnere (ablative) is “by his deep wound”, but translate it as “because of his deepwound”.

Focus on literary techniquesThe scene between Mezentius and his horse Rhaebus in lines 858-66 may perhaps owe something to Homer’s description of Achilles’ horse Pedasus in Book XVI of The Illiad. Pedasus shares his master’s heroic spirit and thus is able to match the pace of the immortal horses which also draw the chariot. Here, the horse shares his master’s emotions (lines 860; 864-66) and his warlike nature (line 891).

line 858 hoc [erat] decus illi: hoc refers to his horse Rhaebus (masculine) but it is neuter like decus. illi

is a possessive dative and thus the equivalent of “his”.lines 859-60 Suggested word order for translation: abibat victor hoc (ablative) omnibus bellis (ablative) –“he used to ride away as victor on this horse from all the wars”. victor could also be translated as“victoriously”.line 860 adloquitur maerentem: Note how the horse shares and sympathises in his master’s grief.2lines 862-63 Suggested word order for translation: hodie aut referes victor illa spolia et caput cruentiAeneae… Since victor agrees with/is in apposition3 with [tu], the implied subject of referes,translate it by “as victor”. spolia refers to Aeneas’s weapons and armour.lines 865-66 Suggested word order for translation: enim neque credo, fortissime, dignabere pati alienaiussa et Teucros dominos.line 865 Note the pathos* as Mezentius speaks directly to his horse (fortissime – vocative) – the onlyliving thing for whom he seems to feels affection now.line 866 Although dignor is normally translated by “consider worthy”, it could also be translatated hereby “condescend”, especially when combined with the infinitive pati.lines 866-67 exceptus tergo consueta locavit membra is a compressed and complicated description of Mezentius getting on his horse. exceptus tergo indicates that Mezentius had reached the horse’s back and been accepted/received there; note that tergo is ablative case to indicate the place of the action; locavit refers to his settling himself in position; membra is the direct object of locavit; consueta describes membra.line 869 fulgens and hirsutus describe Mezentius, but in translation it may sound better to apply fulgens to aere and hirsutus to crista…equina, with caput as a phrase of place (“on his head”). aere and crista are ablative case, used in a description.line 870-2 aestuat…virtus: these lines are the same as Aeneid XII, lines 666-8, and some editors remove them from the text of Aeneid Book X. They certainly apply better to the situation of Turnus in Book XII than that of Mezentius here.1

lines 870-71 Suggested word order for translation: in uno corde aestuat ingens pudor et (= -que) insaniamixto luctu, …line 872 furiis is plural in form but singular in meaning.line 873 hic means “now”, not “here”. Note that the number three (Aenean magna ter voce vocavit) often refers to significant people or events in poetry and/or legends. It is used again in line 885.lines 874-6 Aeneas…manum. Note the pietas of Aeneas in asking the gods for help.line 876 This is another of the lines which would have been completed in Virgil’s final revision of the poem.incipias is an example of the jussive subjunctive, i.e. the present subjunctive used to express a command – CLG, page 48, section 3.line 877 Suggested word order for translation: effatus [est] tantum et subit obvius infesta hasta (ablative case to show with what Aeneas is armed). infesta may be an example of a transferred epithet,* with the adjective really applying to Aeneas, not the spear.line 878 Translate quid here by “now” and put terres (line 879) after it in translation. erepto nato is an ablative absolute – refer to CLG page 55, section 6m if you are not sure how to translate it.line 879 qua is ablative: “by which”.line 880 …nec divum parcimus ulli. This may be an example of Mezentius’ impietas, but it may simply mean that he is not frightened by the fact that Aeneas is related to the gods.

Note the use of the first person plural (parcimus) instead of the first person singular for emphasis.line 881 The future participle moriturus indicates the purpose of the action.line 882 in hostem: remember that in plus the accusative case can mean “against”.line 883 Literally, aliud super aliud is “another above another”, but translate it by “one after the other”.aliud is neuter, referring to telum in line 882.figitque volatque: omit the first -que in translation.1lines 885-86 Once again, remember that three is a number with almost mystical significance in legends andfolk-tales (see comment on ter in line 873).laevos may carry with it a slight suggestion of an unlucky action (see comment on line 495),though it is more likely that Mezentius keeps Aeneas on his left for practical, strategic reasons.(See comment in Selections from Aeneid Book X.)line 887 immanem aerato circumfert tegmine silvam is an example of epic exaggeration,* and perhapsnot perhaps very successful, since Mezentius cannot really have thrown so many darts that theywould seem like a forest stuck in the shield.lines 888-89 Suggested word order for translation: inde ubi taedet [eum] traxisse tot moras, vellere totspicula, … Note that taedet is an impersonal verb: CLG, page 60, section 1c.line 889 congressus indicates the previous action, urgetur the present.line 890 Translate multa movens animo by “after much thought”.line 891 Strictly speaking, bellatoris is a noun (“of the warrior”), in apposition with equi, but it is easierto translate it by an adjective (“warlike”).lines 890-94 There is both irony* and pathos* in the fact that Mezentius is brought to the ground through the fall of Rhaebus, the last living thing for which he had any affection. But it demonstrates the flawin his claim that he relied only on his strength and fighting ability (lines 773-774). line 891 Strictly speaking, bellatoris is a noun (“of the warrior”), in apposition with equi, but it is easier to translate it by an adjective (“warlike”).lines 892-93 Note the vivid (and realistic) description of the horse’s action when struck by Aeneas.line 894 Literally, incumbere is “lie on”, but when combined with cernuus it may be better to translate itas “fall on”.line 895 incendunt is a metaphor* for the strength or violence of the spectators’ reaction.Note that this is a hypermetric line – refer to the comment on line 781 in Workset 5.lines 897-98 Aeneas’s taunting of his enemy is in line with epic tradition and is appropriate to the image ofhimself which Mezentius has hitherto presented to the world. But Mezentius’s reproach in line900 is a better indication of the tragic aspects of the situation.1 This doubling of the idea of “and” is imitated from Greek.line 898 Translate ut here by “as”.line 899 mentemque recepit implies that Mezentius had been temporarily stunned or confused by the fall.

Res RomanaeThe term fas refers to something which is morally right and approved by the gods; its opposite is nefas (line 901) (“a sin/a moral crime”). These concepts have no precise English equivalent but are very important for Roman thought in religious matters. Mezentius’s statement nullum [est] in caede nefas is a very strong statement, and you will need to consider its implications. 1line 901 It can be assumed that caede here does not refer to “slaughter” in a general sense but morespecifically to killing someone in battle.

line 902 Suggested word order for translation: nec meus Lausus pepigit haec foedera tecum mihi(= pro me).lines 903-04 Suggested word order for translation: oro hoc unum (“this one thing”) per venia (“in the nameof mercy”) si qua est victis (dative: for) hostibus (ablative: from): [ut] patiare corpus [meum][ut] tegi humo. [ut] patiare is an indirect command, depending on oro, and in the subjunctivemood (CLG, page 78).lines 904-905 scio introduces an indirect statement: acerba odia meorum circumstare [me].line 906 Suggested word order for translation: et concede me [esse] consortem nati [in] sepulcro.

Res RomanaeAs noted in Workset 6, in connection with lines 827-828, both Greeks and Romans considered that it was extremely important for the dead to be buried with the appropriate ceremonies. If a body remained unburied, the dead person’s spirit could not find rest. Now Mezentius fears that the Etruscans’ hatred for him is so great that they will refuse to bury his body. He therefore begs Aeneas to ensure that he is buried, and that he and his son will be together in death. This request is an acknowedgement that Aeneas’s pietas is recognised even by his enemy.

line 907 haud inscius is an example of understatement.*line 908 undanti(que)…cruore is ablative case (with).