Book V

Virgil (70 BC–19 BC), translated by John Dryden · 1697

iambic pentameter · heroic couplets · 1136 lines · from The Aeneid

Meantime the Trojan cuts his wat’ry way,Fix’d on his voyage, thro’ the curling sea;Then, casting back his eyes, with dire amaze,Sees on the Punic shore the mounting blaze.The cause unknown; yet his presaging mindThe fate of Dido from the fire divin’d;He knew the stormy souls of womankind,What secret springs their eager passions move,How capable of death for injur’d love.Dire auguries from hence the Trojans draw;Till neither fires nor shining shores they saw.Now seas and skies their prospect only bound;An empty space above, a floating field around.But soon the heav’ns with shadows were o’erspread;A swelling cloud hung hov’ring o’er their head:Livid it look’d, the threat’ning of a storm:Then night and horror ocean’s face deform.The pilot, Palinurus, cried aloud:“What gusts of weather from that gath’ring cloudMy thoughts presage! Ere yet the tempest roars,Stand to your tackle, mates, and stretch your oars;Contract your swelling sails, and luff to wind.”The frighted crew perform the task assign’d.Then, to his fearless chief: “Not Heav’n,” said he,“Tho’ Jove himself should promise Italy,Can stem the torrent of this raging sea.Mark how the shifting winds from west arise,And what collected night involves the skies!Nor can our shaken vessels live at sea,Much less against the tempest force their way.’Tis fate diverts our course, and fate we must obey.Not far from hence, if I observ’d arightThe southing of the stars, and polar light,Sicilia lies, whose hospitable shoresIn safety we may reach with struggling oars.”Aeneas then replied: “Too sure I findWe strive in vain against the seas and wind:Now shift your sails; what place can please me moreThan what you promise, the Sicilian shore,Whose hallow’d earth Anchises’ bones contains,And where a prince of Trojan lineage reigns?”The course resolv’d, before the western windThey scud amain, and make the port assign’d.Meantime Acestes, from a lofty stand,Beheld the fleet descending on the land;And, not unmindful of his ancient race,Down from the cliff he ran with eager pace,And held the hero in a strict embrace.Of a rough Libyan bear the spoils he wore,And either hand a pointed jav’lin bore.His mother was a dame of Dardan blood;His sire Crinisus, a Sicilian flood.He welcomes his returning friends ashoreWith plenteous country cates and homely store.

Now, when the following morn had chas’d awayThe flying stars, and light restor’d the day,Aeneas call’d the Trojan troops around,And thus bespoke them from a rising ground:“Offspring of heav’n, divine Dardanian race!The sun, revolving thro’ th’ ethereal space,The shining circle of the year has fill’d,Since first this isle my father’s ashes held:And now the rising day renews the year;A day for ever sad, for ever dear.This would I celebrate with annual games,With gifts on altars pil’d, and holy flames,Tho’ banish’d to Gaetulia’s barren sands,Caught on the Grecian seas, or hostile lands:But since this happy storm our fleet has driv’n(Not, as I deem, without the will of Heav’n)Upon these friendly shores and flow’ry plains,Which hide Anchises and his blest remains,Let us with joy perform his honours due,And pray for prosp’rous winds, our voyage to renew;Pray, that in towns and temples of our own,The name of great Anchises may be known,And yearly games may spread the gods’ renown.Our sports Acestes, of the Trojan race,With royal gifts ordain’d, is pleas’d to grace:Two steers on ev’ry ship the king bestows;His gods and ours shall share your equal vows.Besides, if, nine days hence, the rosy mornShall with unclouded light the skies adorn,That day with solemn sports I mean to grace:Light galleys on the seas shall run a wat’ry race;Some shall in swiftness for the goal contend,And others try the twanging bow to bend;The strong, with iron gauntlets arm’d, shall standOppos’d in combat on the yellow sand.Let all be present at the games prepar’d,And joyful victors wait the just reward.But now assist the rites, with garlands crown’d.”He said, and first his brows with myrtle bound.Then Helymus, by his example led,And old Acestes, each adorn’d his head;Thus young Ascanius, with a sprightly grace,His temples tied, and all the Trojan race.

Aeneas then advanc’d amidst the train,By thousands follow’d thro’ the flow’ry plain,To great Anchises’ tomb; which when he found,He pour’d to Bacchus, on the hallow’d ground,Two bowls of sparkling wine, of milk two more,And two from offer’d bulls of purple gore,With roses then the sepulcher he strow’dAnd thus his father’s ghost bespoke aloud:“Hail, O ye holy manes! hail again,Paternal ashes, now review’d in vain!The gods permitted not, that you, with me,Should reach the promis’d shores of Italy,Or Tiber’s flood, what flood soe’er it be.”Scarce had he finish’d, when, with speckled pride,A serpent from the tomb began to glide;His hugy bulk on sev’n high volumes roll’d;Blue was his breadth of back, but streak’d with scaly gold:Thus riding on his curls, he seem’d to passA rolling fire along, and singe the grass.More various colours thro’ his body run,Than Iris when her bow imbibes the sun.Betwixt the rising altars, and around,The sacred monster shot along the ground;With harmless play amidst the bowls he pass’d,And with his lolling tongue assay’d the taste:Thus fed with holy food, the wondrous guestWithin the hollow tomb retir’d to rest.The pious prince, surpris’d at what he view’d,The fun’ral honours with more zeal renew’d,Doubtful if this place’s genius were,Or guardian of his father’s sepulcher.Five sheep, according to the rites, he slew;As many swine, and steers of sable hue;New gen’rous wine he from the goblets pour’d.And call’d his father’s ghost, from hell restor’d.The glad attendants in long order come,Off’ring their gifts at great Anchises’ tomb:Some add more oxen: some divide the spoil;Some place the chargers on the grassy soil;Some blow the fires, and offered entrails broil.

Now came the day desir’d. The skies were brightWith rosy luster of the rising light:The bord’ring people, rous’d by sounding fameOf Trojan feasts and great Acestes’ name,The crowded shore with acclamations fill,Part to behold, and part to prove their skill.And first the gifts in public view they place,Green laurel wreaths, and palm, the victors’ grace:Within the circle, arms and tripods lie,Ingots of gold and silver, heap’d on high,And vests embroider’d, of the Tyrian dye.The trumpet’s clangour then the feast proclaims,And all prepare for their appointed games.Four galleys first, which equal rowers bear,Advancing, in the wat’ry lists appear.The speedy Dolphin, that outstrips the wind,Bore Mnestheus, author of the Memmian kind:Gyas the vast Chimaera’s bulk commands,Which rising, like a tow’ring city stands;Three Trojans tug at ev’ry lab’ring oar;Three banks in three degrees the sailors bore;Beneath their sturdy strokes the billows roar.Sergesthus, who began the Sergian race,In the great Centaur took the leading place;Cloanthus on the sea-green Scylla stood,From whom Cluentius draws his Trojan blood.

Far in the sea, against the foaming shore,There stands a rock: the raging billows roarAbove his head in storms; but, when ’tis clear,Uncurl their ridgy backs, and at his foot appear.In peace below the gentle waters run;The cormorants above lie basking in the sun.On this the hero fix’d an oak in sight,The mark to guide the mariners aright.To bear with this, the seamen stretch their oars;Then round the rock they steer, and seek the former shores.The lots decide their place. Above the rest,Each leader shining in his Tyrian vest;The common crew with wreaths of poplar boughsTheir temples crown, and shade their sweaty brows:Besmear’d with oil, their naked shoulders shine.All take their seats, and wait the sounding sign:They gripe their oars; and ev’ry panting breastIs rais’d by turns with hope, by turns with fear depress’d.The clangour of the trumpet gives the sign;At once they start, advancing in a line:With shouts the sailors rend the starry skies;Lash’d with their oars, the smoky billows rise;Sparkles the briny main, and the vex’d ocean fries.Exact in time, with equal strokes they row:At once the brushing oars and brazen prowDash up the sandy waves, and ope the depths below.Not fiery coursers, in a chariot race,Invade the field with half so swift a pace;Not the fierce driver with more fury lendsThe sounding lash, and, ere the stroke descends,Low to the wheels his pliant body bends.The partial crowd their hopes and fears divide,And aid with eager shouts the favour’d side.Cries, murmurs, clamours, with a mixing sound,From woods to woods, from hills to hills rebound.

Amidst the loud applauses of the shore,Gyas outstripp’d the rest, and sprung before:Cloanthus, better mann’d, pursued him fast,But his o’er-masted galley check’d his haste.The Centaur and the Dolphin brush the brineWith equal oars, advancing in a line;And now the mighty Centaur seems to lead,And now the speedy Dolphin gets ahead;Now board to board the rival vessels row,The billows lave the skies, and ocean groans below.They reach’d the mark; proud Gyas and his trainIn triumph rode, the victors of the main;But, steering round, he charg’d his pilot standMore close to shore, and skim along the sand.“Let others bear to sea!” Menoetes heard;But secret shelves too cautiously he fear’d,And, fearing, sought the deep; and still aloof he steer’d.With louder cries the captain call’d again:“Bear to the rocky shore, and shun the main.”He spoke, and, speaking, at his stern he sawThe bold Cloanthus near the shelvings draw.Betwixt the mark and him the Scylla stood,And in a closer compass plow’d the flood.He pass’d the mark; and, wheeling, got before:Gyas blasphem’d the gods, devoutly swore,Cried out for anger, and his hair he tore.Mindless of others’ lives (so high was grownHis rising rage) and careless of his own,The trembling dotard to the deck he drew;Then hoisted up, and overboard he threw:This done, he seiz’d the helm; his fellows cheer’d,Turn’d short upon the shelfs, and madly steer’d.

Hardly his head the plunging pilot rears,Clogg’d with his clothes, and cumber’d with his years:Now dropping wet, he climbs the cliff with pain.The crowd, that saw him fall and float again,Shout from the distant shore; and loudly laugh’d,To see his heaving breast disgorge the briny draught.The following Centaur, and the Dolphin’s crew,Their vanish’d hopes of victory renew;While Gyas lags, they kindle in the race,To reach the mark. Sergesthus takes the place;Mnestheus pursues; and while around they wind,Comes up, not half his galley’s length behind;Then, on the deck, amidst his mates appear’d,And thus their drooping courages he cheer’d:“My friends, and Hector’s followers heretofore,Exert your vigour; tug the lab’ring oar;Stretch to your strokes, my still unconquer’d crew,Whom from the flaming walls of Troy I drew.In this, our common int’rest, let me findThat strength of hand, that courage of the mind,As when you stemm’d the strong Malean flood,And o’er the Syrtes’ broken billows row’d.I seek not now the foremost palm to gain;Tho’ yet——But, ah! that haughty wish is vain!Let those enjoy it whom the gods ordain.But to be last, the lags of all the race!Redeem yourselves and me from that disgrace.”Now, one and all, they tug amain; they rowAt the full stretch, and shake the brazen prow.The sea beneath ’em sinks; their lab’ring sidesAre swell’d, and sweat runs gutt’ring down in tides.Chance aids their daring with unhop’d success;Sergesthus, eager with his beak to pressBetwixt the rival galley and the rock,Shuts up th’ unwieldly Centaur in the lock.The vessel struck; and, with the dreadful shock,Her oars she shiver’d, and her head she broke.The trembling rowers from their banks arise,And, anxious for themselves, renounce the prize.With iron poles they heave her off the shores,And gather from the sea their floating oars.The crew of Mnestheus, with elated minds,Urge their success, and call the willing winds;Then ply their oars, and cut their liquid wayIn larger compass on the roomy sea.As, when the dove her rocky hold forsakes,Rous’d in a fright, her sounding wings she shakes;The cavern rings with clatt’ring; out she flies,And leaves her callow care, and cleaves the skies:At first she flutters; but at length she springsTo smoother flight, and shoots upon her wings:So Mnestheus in the Dolphin cuts the sea;And, flying with a force, that force assists his way.Sergesthus in the Centaur soon he pass’d,Wedg’d in the rocky shoals, and sticking fast.In vain the victor he with cries implores,And practices to row with shatter’d oars.Then Mnestheus bears with Gyas, and outflies:The ship, without a pilot, yields the prize.Unvanquish’d Scylla now alone remains;Her he pursues, and all his vigour strains.Shouts from the fav’ring multitude arise;Applauding Echo to the shouts replies;Shouts, wishes, and applause run rattling thro’ the skies.These clamours with disdain the Scylla heard,Much grudg’d the praise, but more the robb’d reward:Resolv’d to hold their own, they mend their pace,All obstinate to die, or gain the race.Rais’d with success, the Dolphin swiftly ran;For they can conquer, who believe they can.Both urge their oars, and fortune both supplies,And both perhaps had shar’d an equal prize;When to the seas Cloanthus holds his hands,And succour from the wat’ry pow’rs demands:“Gods of the liquid realms, on which I row!If, giv’n by you, the laurel bind my brow,Assist to make me guilty of my vow!A snow-white bull shall on your shore be slain;His offer’d entrails cast into the main,And ruddy wine, from golden goblets thrown,Your grateful gift and my return shall own.”The choir of nymphs, and Phorcus, from below,With virgin Panopea, heard his vow;And old Portunus, with his breadth of hand,Push’d on, and sped the galley to the land.Swift as a shaft, or winged wind, she flies,And, darting to the port, obtains the prize.

The herald summons all, and then proclaimsCloanthus conqu’ror of the naval games.The prince with laurel crowns the victor’s head,And three fat steers are to his vessel led,The ship’s reward; with gen’rous wine beside,And sums of silver, which the crew divide.The leaders are distinguish’d from the rest;The victor honour’d with a nobler vest,Where gold and purple strive in equal rows,And needlework its happy cost bestows.There Ganymede is wrought with living art,Chasing thro’ Ida’s groves the trembling hart:Breathless he seems, yet eager to pursue;When from aloft descends, in open view,The bird of Jove, and, sousing on his prey,With crooked talons bears the boy away.In vain, with lifted hands and gazing eyes,His guards behold him soaring thro’ the skies,And dogs pursue his flight with imitated cries.

Mnestheus the second victor was declar’d;And, summon’d there, the second prize he shar’d.A coat of mail, brave Demoleus bore,More brave Aeneas from his shoulders tore,In single combat on the Trojan shore:This was ordain’d for Mnestheus to possess;In war for his defence, for ornament in peace.Rich was the gift, and glorious to behold,But yet so pond’rous with its plates of gold,That scarce two servants could the weight sustain;Yet, loaded thus, Demoleus o’er the plainPursued and lightly seiz’d the Trojan train.The third, succeeding to the last reward,Two goodly bowls of massy silver shar’d,With figures prominent, and richly wrought,And two brass caldrons from Dodona brought.

Thus all, rewarded by the hero’s hands,Their conqu’ring temples bound with purple bands;And now Sergesthus, clearing from the rock,Brought back his galley shatter’d with the shock.Forlorn she look’d, without an aiding oar,And, houted by the vulgar, made to shore.As when a snake, surpris’d upon the road,Is crush’d athwart her body by the loadOf heavy wheels; or with a mortal woundHer belly bruis’d, and trodden to the ground:In vain, with loosen’d curls, she crawls along;Yet, fierce above, she brandishes her tongue;Glares with her eyes, and bristles with her scales;But, groveling in the dust, her parts unsound she trails:So slowly to the port the Centaur tends,But, what she wants in oars, with sails amends.Yet, for his galley sav’d, the grateful princeIs pleas’d th’ unhappy chief to recompense.Pholoe, the Cretan slave, rewards his care,Beauteous herself, with lovely twins as fair.

From thence his way the Trojan hero bentInto the neighb’ring plain, with mountains pent,Whose sides were shaded with surrounding wood.Full in the midst of this fair valley stoodA native theatre, which, rising slowBy just degrees, o’erlook’d the ground below.High on a sylvan throne the leader sate;A num’rous train attend in solemn state.Here those that in the rapid course delight,Desire of honour and the prize invite.The rival runners without order stand;The Trojans mix’d with the Sicilian band.First Nisus, with Euryalus, appears;Euryalus a boy of blooming years,With sprightly grace and equal beauty crown’d;Nisus, for friendship to the youth renown’d.Diores next, of Priam’s royal race,Then Salius joined with Patron, took their place;But Patron in Arcadia had his birth,And Salius his from Arcananian earth;Then two Sicilian youths, the names of these,Swift Helymus, and lovely Panopes:Both jolly huntsmen, both in forest bred,And owning old Acestes for their head;With sev’ral others of ignobler name,Whom time has not deliver’d o’er to fame.

To these the hero thus his thoughts explain’d,In words which gen’ral approbation gain’d:“One common largess is for all design’d,The vanquish’d and the victor shall be join’d,Two darts of polish’d steel and Gnosian wood,A silver-studded ax alike bestow’d.The foremost three have olive wreaths decreed:The first of these obtains a stately steed,Adorn’d with trappings; and the next in fame,The quiver of an Amazonian dame,With feather’d Thracian arrows well supplied:A golden belt shall gird his manly side,Which with a sparkling diamond shall be tied.The third this Grecian helmet shall content.”He said. To their appointed base they went;With beating hearts th’ expected sign receive,And, starting all at once, the barrier leave.Spread out, as on the winged winds, they flew,And seiz’d the distant goal with greedy view.Shot from the crowd, swift Nisus all o’erpass’d;Nor storms, nor thunder, equal half his haste.The next, but tho’ the next, yet far disjoin’d,Came Salius, and Euryalus behind;Then Helymus, whom young Diores plied,Step after step, and almost side by side,His shoulders pressing; and, in longer space,Had won, or left at least a dubious race.

Now, spent, the goal they almost reach at last,When eager Nisus, hapless in his haste,Slipp’d first, and, slipping, fell upon the plain,Soak’d with the blood of oxen newly slain.The careless victor had not mark’d his way;But, treading where the treach’rous puddle lay,His heels flew up; and on the grassy floorHe fell, besmear’d with filth and holy gore.Not mindless then, Euryalus, of thee,Nor of the sacred bonds of amity,He strove th’ immediate rival’s hope to cross,And caught the foot of Salius as he rose.So Salius lay extended on the plain;Euryalus springs out, the prize to gain,And leaves the crowd: applauding peals attendThe victor to the goal, who vanquish’d by his friend.Next Helymus; and then Diores came,By two misfortunes made the third in fame.

But Salius enters, and, exclaiming loudFor justice, deafens and disturbs the crowd;Urges his cause may in the court be heard;And pleads the prize is wrongfully conferr’d.But favour for Euryalus appears;His blooming beauty, with his tender tears,Had brib’d the judges for the promis’d prize.Besides, Diores fills the court with cries,Who vainly reaches at the last reward,If the first palm on Salius be conferr’d.Then thus the prince: “Let no disputes arise:Where fortune plac’d it, I award the prize.But fortune’s errors give me leave to mend,At least to pity my deserving friend.”He said, and, from among the spoils, he draws(Pond’rous with shaggy mane and golden paws)A lion’s hide: to Salius this he gives.Nisus with envy sees the gift, and grieves.“If such rewards to vanquish’d men are due.”He said, “and falling is to rise by you,What prize may Nisus from your bounty claim,Who merited the first rewards and fame?In falling, both an equal fortune tried;Would fortune for my fall so well provide!”With this he pointed to his face, and show’dHis hand and all his habit smear’d with blood.Th’ indulgent father of the people smil’d,And caus’d to be produc’d an ample shield,Of wondrous art, by Didymaon wrought,Long since from Neptune’s bars in triumph brought.This giv’n to Nisus, he divides the rest,And equal justice in his gifts express’d.

The race thus ended, and rewards bestow’d,Once more the prince bespeaks th’ attentive crowd:“If there be here, whose dauntless courage dareIn gauntlet fight, with limbs and body bare,His opposite sustain in open view,Stand forth the champion, and the games renew.Two prizes I propose, and thus divide:A bull with gilded horns, and fillets tied,Shall be the portion of the conqu’ring chief;A sword and helm shall cheer the loser’s grief.”

Then haughty Dares in the lists appears;Stalking he strides, his head erected bears:His nervous arms the weighty gauntlet wield,And loud applauses echo thro’ the field.Dares alone in combat us’d to standThe match of mighty Paris, hand to hand;The same, at Hector’s fun’rals, undertookGigantic Butes, of th’ Amycian stock,And, by the stroke of his resistless hand,Stretch’d the vast bulk upon the yellow sand.Such Dares was; and such he strode along,And drew the wonder of the gazing throng.His brawny back and ample breast he shows,His lifted arms around his head he throws,And deals in whistling air his empty blows.His match is sought; but, thro’ the trembling band,Not one dares answer to the proud demand.Presuming of his force, with sparkling eyesAlready he devours the promis’d prize.He claims the bull with awless insolence,And having seiz’d his horns, accosts the prince:“If none my matchless valour dares oppose,How long shall Dares wait his dastard foes?Permit me, chief, permit without delay,To lead this uncontended gift away.”The crowd assents, and with redoubled criesFor the proud challenger demands the prize.

Acestes, fir’d with just disdain, to seeThe palm usurp’d without a victory,Reproach’d Entellus thus, who sate beside,And heard and saw, unmov’d, the Trojan’s pride:“Once, but in vain, a champion of renown,So tamely can you bear the ravish’d crown,A prize in triumph borne before your sight,And shun, for fear, the danger of the fight?Where is our Eryx now, the boasted name,The god who taught your thund’ring arm the game?Where now your baffled honour? Where the spoilThat fill’d your house, and fame that fill’d our isle?”Entellus, thus: “My soul is still the same,Unmov’d with fear, and mov’d with martial fame;But my chill blood is curdled in my veins,And scarce the shadow of a man remains.O could I turn to that fair prime again,That prime of which this boaster is so vain,The brave, who this decrepid age defies,Should feel my force, without the promis’d prize.”

He said; and, rising at the word, he threwTwo pond’rous gauntlets down in open view;Gauntlets which Eryx wont in fight to wield,And sheathe his hands with in the listed field.With fear and wonder seiz’d, the crowd beholdsThe gloves of death, with sev’n distinguish’d foldsOf tough bull hides; the space within is spreadWith iron, or with loads of heavy lead:Dares himself was daunted at the sight,Renounc’d his challenge, and refus’d to fight.Astonish’d at their weight, the hero stands,And pois’d the pond’rous engines in his hands.“What had your wonder,” said Entellus, “been,Had you the gauntlets of Alcides seen,Or view’d the stern debate on this unhappy green!These which I bear your brother Eryx bore,Still mark’d with batter’d brains and mingled gore.With these he long sustain’d th’ Herculean arm;And these I wielded while my blood was warm,This languish’d frame while better spirits fed,Ere age unstrung my nerves, or time o’ersnow’d my head.But if the challenger these arms refuse,And cannot wield their weight, or dare not use;If great Aeneas and Acestes joinIn his request, these gauntlets I resign;Let us with equal arms perform the fight,And let him leave to fear, since I resign my right.”

This said, Entellus for the strife prepares;Stripp’d of his quilted coat, his body bares;Compos’d of mighty bones and brawn he stands,A goodly tow’ring object on the sands.Then just Aeneas equal arms supplied,Which round their shoulders to their wrists they tied.Both on the tiptoe stand, at full extent,Their arms aloft, their bodies inly bent;Their heads from aiming blows they bear afar;With clashing gauntlets then provoke the war.One on his youth and pliant limbs relies;One on his sinews and his giant size.The last is stiff with age, his motion slow;He heaves for breath, he staggers to and fro,And clouds of issuing smoke his nostrils loudly blow.Yet equal in success, they ward, they strike;Their ways are diff’rent, but their art alike.Before, behind, the blows are dealt; aroundTheir hollow sides the rattling thumps resound.A storm of strokes, well meant, with fury flies,And errs about their temples, ears, and eyes.Nor always errs; for oft the gauntlet drawsA sweeping stroke along the crackling jaws.Heavy with age, Entellus stands his ground,But with his warping body wards the wound.His hand and watchful eye keep even pace;While Dares traverses and shifts his place,And, like a captain who beleaguers roundSome strong-built castle on a rising ground,Views all th’ approaches with observing eyes:This and that other part in vain he tries,And more on industry than force relies.With hands on high, Entellus threats the foe;But Dares watch’d the motion from below,And slipp’d aside, and shunn’d the long descending blow.Entellus wastes his forces on the wind,And, thus deluded of the stroke design’d,Headlong and heavy fell; his ample breastAnd weighty limbs his ancient mother press’d.So falls a hollow pine, that long had stoodOn Ida’s height, or Erymanthus’ wood,Torn from the roots. The diff’ring nations rise,And shouts and mingled murmurs rend the skies,Acestus runs with eager haste, to raiseThe fall’n companion of his youthful days.Dauntless he rose, and to the fight return’d;With shame his glowing cheeks, his eyes with fury burn’d.Disdain and conscious virtue fir’d his breast,And with redoubled force his foe he press’d.He lays on load with either hand, amain,And headlong drives the Trojan o’er the plain;Nor stops, nor stays; nor rest nor breath allows;But storms of strokes descend about his brows,A rattling tempest, and a hail of blows.But now the prince, who saw the wild increaseOf wounds, commands the combatants to cease,And bounds Entellus’ wrath, and bids the peace.First to the Trojan, spent with toil, he came,And sooth’d his sorrow for the suffer’d shame.“What fury seiz’d my friend? The gods,” said he,“To him propitious, and averse to thee,Have giv’n his arm superior force to thine.’Tis madness to contend with strength divine.”The gauntlet fight thus ended, from the shoreHis faithful friends unhappy Dares bore:His mouth and nostrils pour’d a purple flood,And pounded teeth came rushing with his blood.Faintly he stagger’d thro’ the hissing throng,And hung his head, and trail’d his legs along.The sword and casque are carried by his train;But with his foe the palm and ox remain.

The champion, then, before Aeneas came,Proud of his prize, but prouder of his fame:“O goddess-born, and you, Dardanian host,Mark with attention, and forgive my boast;Learn what I was, by what remains; and knowFrom what impending fate you sav’d my foe.”Sternly he spoke, and then confronts the bull;And, on his ample forehead aiming full,The deadly stroke, descending, pierc’d the skull.Down drops the beast, nor needs a second wound,But sprawls in pangs of death, and spurns the ground.Then, thus: “In Dares’ stead I offer this.Eryx, accept a nobler sacrifice;Take the last gift my wither’d arms can yield:Thy gauntlets I resign, and here renounce the field.”

This done, Aeneas orders, for the close,The strife of archers with contending bows.The mast Sergesthus’ shatter’d galley boreWith his own hands he raises on the shore.A flutt’ring dove upon the top they tie,The living mark at which their arrows fly.The rival archers in a line advance,Their turn of shooting to receive from chance.A helmet holds their names; the lots are drawn:On the first scroll was read Hippocoon.The people shout. Upon the next was foundYoung Mnestheus, late with naval honours crown’d.The third contain’d Eurytion’s noble name,Thy brother, Pandarus, and next in fame,Whom Pallas urg’d the treaty to confound,And send among the Greeks a feather’d wound.Acestes in the bottom last remain’d,Whom not his age from youthful sports restrain’d.Soon all with vigour bend their trusty bows,And from the quiver each his arrow chose.Hippocoon’s was the first: with forceful swayIt flew, and, whizzing, cut the liquid way.Fix’d in the mast the feather’d weapon stands:The fearful pigeon flutters in her bands,And the tree trembled, and the shouting criesOf the pleas’d people rend the vaulted skies.Then Mnestheus to the head his arrow drove,With lifted eyes, and took his aim above,But made a glancing shot, and missed the dove;Yet miss’d so narrow, that he cut the cordWhich fasten’d by the foot the flitting bird.The captive thus releas’d, away she flies,And beats with clapping wings the yielding skies.His bow already bent, Eurytion stood;And, having first invok’d his brother god,His winged shaft with eager haste he sped.The fatal message reach’d her as she fled:She leaves her life aloft; she strikes the ground,And renders back the weapon in the wound.Acestes, grudging at his lot, remains,Without a prize to gratify his pains.Yet, shooting upward, sends his shaft, to showAn archer’s art, and boast his twanging bow.The feather’d arrow gave a dire portent,And latter augurs judge from this event.Chaf’d by the speed, it fir’d; and, as it flew,A trail of following flames ascending drew:Kindling they mount, and mark the shiny way;Across the skies as falling meteors play,And vanish into wind, or in a blaze decay.The Trojans and Sicilians wildly stare,And, trembling, turn their wonder into pray’r.The Dardan prince put on a smiling face,And strain’d Acestes with a close embrace;Then, hon’ring him with gifts above the rest,Turn’d the bad omen, nor his fears confess’d.“The gods,” said he, “this miracle have wrought,And order’d you the prize without the lot.Accept this goblet, rough with figur’d gold,Which Thracian Cisseus gave my sire of old:This pledge of ancient amity receive,Which to my second sire I justly give.”He said, and, with the trumpets’ cheerful sound,Proclaim’d him victor, and with laurel-crown’d.Nor good Eurytion envied him the prize,Tho’ he transfix’d the pigeon in the skies.Who cut the line, with second gifts was grac’d;The third was his whose arrow pierc’d the mast.

The chief, before the games were wholly done,Call’d Periphantes, tutor to his son,And whisper’d thus: “With speed Ascanius find;And, if his childish troop be ready join’d,On horseback let him grace his grandsire’s day,And lead his equals arm’d in just array.”He said; and, calling out, the cirque he clears.The crowd withdrawn, an open plain appears.And now the noble youths, of form divine,Advance before their fathers, in a line;The riders grace the steeds; the steeds with glory shine.

Thus marching on in military pride,Shouts of applause resound from side to side.Their casques adorn’d with laurel wreaths they wear,Each brandishing aloft a cornel spear.Some at their backs their gilded quivers bore;Their chains of burnish’d gold hung down before.Three graceful troops they form’d upon the green;Three graceful leaders at their head were seen;Twelve follow’d ev’ry chief, and left a space between.The first young Priam led; a lovely boy,Whose grandsire was th’ unhappy king of Troy;His race in after times was known to fame,New honours adding to the Latian name;And well the royal boy his Thracian steed became.White were the fetlocks of his feet before,And on his front a snowy star he bore.Then beauteous Atys, with Iulus bred,Of equal age, the second squadron led.The last in order, but the first in place,First in the lovely features of his face,Rode fair Ascanius on a fiery steed,Queen Dido’s gift, and of the Tyrian breed.Sure coursers for the rest the king ordains,With golden bits adorn’d, and purple reins.

The pleas’d spectators peals of shouts renew,And all the parents in the children view;Their make, their motions, and their sprightly grace,And hopes and fears alternate in their face.

Th’ unfledg’d commanders and their martial trainFirst make the circuit of the sandy plainAround their sires, and, at th’ appointed sign,Drawn up in beauteous order, form a line.The second signal sounds, the troop dividesIn three distinguish’d parts, with three distinguish’d guidesAgain they close, and once again disjoin;In troop to troop oppos’d, and line to line.They meet; they wheel; they throw their darts afarWith harmless rage and well-dissembled war.Then in a round the mingled bodies run:Flying they follow, and pursuing shun;Broken, they break; and, rallying, they renewIn other forms the military shew.At last, in order, undiscern’d they join,And march together in a friendly line.And, as the Cretan labyrinth of old,With wand’ring ways and many a winding fold,Involv’d the weary feet, without redress,In a round error, which denied recess;So fought the Trojan boys in warlike play,Turn’d and return’d, and still a diff’rent way.Thus dolphins in the deep each other chaseIn circles, when they swim around the wat’ry race.This game, these carousels, Ascanius taught;And, building Alba, to the Latins brought;Shew’d what he learn’d: the Latin sires impartTo their succeeding sons the graceful art;From these imperial Rome receiv’d the game,Which Troy, the youths the Trojan troop, they name.

Thus far the sacred sports they celebrate:But Fortune soon resum’d her ancient hate;For, while they pay the dead his annual dues,Those envied rites Saturnian Juno views;And sends the goddess of the various bow,To try new methods of revenge below;Supplies the winds to wing her airy way,Where in the port secure the navy lay.Swiftly fair Iris down her arch descends,And, undiscern’d, her fatal voyage ends.She saw the gath’ring crowd; and, gliding thence,The desert shore, and fleet without defence.The Trojan matrons, on the sands alone,With sighs and tears Anchises’ death bemoan;Then, turning to the sea their weeping eyes,Their pity to themselves renews their cries.“Alas!” said one, “what oceans yet remainFor us to sail! what labours to sustain!”All take the word, and, with a gen’ral groan,Implore the gods for peace, and places of their own.

The goddess, great in mischief, views their pains,And in a woman’s form her heav’nly limbs restrains.In face and shape old Beroe she became,Doryclus’ wife, a venerable dame,Once blest with riches, and a mother’s name.Thus chang’d, amidst the crying crowd she ran,Mix’d with the matrons, and these words began:“O wretched we, whom not the Grecian pow’r,Nor flames, destroy’d, in Troy’s unhappy hour!O wretched we, reserv’d by cruel fate,Beyond the ruins of the sinking state!Now sev’n revolving years are wholly run,Since this improsp’rous voyage we begun;Since, toss’d from shores to shores, from lands to lands,Inhospitable rocks and barren sands,Wand’ring in exile thro’ the stormy sea,We search in vain for flying Italy.Now cast by fortune on this kindred land,What should our rest and rising walls withstand,Or hinder here to fix our banish’d band?O country lost, and gods redeem’d in vain,If still in endless exile we remain!Shall we no more the Trojan walls renew,Or streams of some dissembled Simois view!Haste, join with me, th’ unhappy fleet consume!Cassandra bids; and I declare her doom.In sleep I saw her; she supplied my hands(For this I more than dreamt) with flaming brands:‘With these,’ said she, ‘these wand’ring ships destroy:These are your fatal seats, and this your Troy.’Time calls you now; the precious hour employ:Slack not the good presage, while Heav’n inspiresOur minds to dare, and gives the ready fires.See! Neptune’s altars minister their brands:The god is pleas’d; the god supplies our hands.”Then from the pile a flaming fire she drew,And, toss’d in air, amidst the galleys threw.

Wrapp’d in amaze, the matrons wildly stare:Then Pyrgo, reverenc’d for her hoary hair,Pyrgo, the nurse of Priam’s num’rous race:“No Beroe this, tho’ she belies her face!What terrors from her frowning front arise!Behold a goddess in her ardent eyes!What rays around her heav’nly face are seen!Mark her majestic voice, and more than mortal mien!Beroe but now I left, whom, pin’d with pain,Her age and anguish from these rites detain,”She said. The matrons, seiz’d with new amaze,Roll their malignant eyes, and on the navy gaze.They fear, and hope, and neither part obey:They hope the fated land, but fear the fatal way.The goddess, having done her task below,Mounts up on equal wings, and bends her painted bow.Struck with the sight, and seiz’d with rage divine,The matrons prosecute their mad design:They shriek aloud; they snatch, with impious hands,The food of altars; fires and flaming brands.Green boughs and saplings, mingled in their haste,And smoking torches, on the ships they cast.The flame, unstopp’d at first, more fury gains,And Vulcan rides at large with loosen’d reins:Triumphant to the painted sterns he soars,And seizes, in this way, the banks and crackling oars.Eumelus was the first the news to bear,While yet they crowd the rural theatre.Then, what they hear, is witness’d by their eyes:A storm of sparkles and of flames arise.Ascanius took th’ alarm, while yet he ledHis early warriors on his prancing steed,And, spurring on, his equals soon o’erpass’d;Nor could his frighted friends reclaim his haste.Soon as the royal youth appear’d in view,He sent his voice before him as he flew:“What madness moves you, matrons, to destroyThe last remainders of unhappy Troy!Not hostile fleets, but your own hopes, you burn,And on your friends your fatal fury turn.Behold your own Ascanius!” While he said,He drew his glitt’ring helmet from his head,In which the youths to sportful arms he led.By this, Aeneas and his train appear;And now the women, seiz’d with shame and fear,Dispers’d, to woods and caverns take their flight,Abhor their actions, and avoid the light;Their friends acknowledge, and their error find,And shake the goddess from their alter’d mind.

Not so the raging fires their fury cease,But, lurking in the seams, with seeming peace,Work on their way amid the smould’ring tow,Sure in destruction, but in motion slow.The silent plague thro’ the green timber eats,And vomits out a tardy flame by fits.Down to the keels, and upward to the sails,The fire descends, or mounts, but still prevails;Nor buckets pour’d, nor strength of human hand,Can the victorious element withstand.

The pious hero rends his robe, and throwsTo heav’n his hands, and with his hands his vows.“O Jove,” he cried, “if pray’rs can yet have place;If thou abhorr’st not all the Dardan race;If any spark of pity still remain;If gods are gods, and not invok’d in vain;Yet spare the relics of the Trojan train!Yet from the flames our burning vessels free,Or let thy fury fall alone on me!At this devoted head thy thunder throw,And send the willing sacrifice below!”

Scarce had he said, when southern storms arise:From pole to pole the forky lightning flies;Loud rattling shakes the mountains and the plain;Heav’n bellies downward, and descends in rain.Whole sheets of water from the clouds are sent,Which, hissing thro’ the planks, the flames prevent,And stop the fiery pest. Four ships aloneBurn to the waist, and for the fleet atone.

But doubtful thoughts the hero’s heart divide;If he should still in Sicily reside,Forgetful of his fates, or tempt the main,In hope the promis’d Italy to gain.Then Nautes, old and wise, to whom aloneThe will of Heav’n by Pallas was foreshown;Vers’d in portents, experienc’d, and inspir’dTo tell events, and what the fates requir’d;Thus while he stood, to neither part inclin’d,With cheerful words reliev’d his lab’ring mind:“O goddess-born, resign’d in ev’ry state,With patience bear, with prudence push your fate.By suff’ring well, our Fortune we subdue;Fly when she frowns, and, when she calls, pursue.Your friend Acestes is of Trojan kind;To him disclose the secrets of your mind:Trust in his hands your old and useless train;Too num’rous for the ships which yet remain:The feeble, old, indulgent of their ease,The dames who dread the dangers of the seas,With all the dastard crew, who dare not standThe shock of battle with your foes by land.Here you may build a common town for all,And, from Acestes’ name, Acesta call.”The reasons, with his friend’s experience join’d,Encourag’d much, but more disturb’d his mind.

’Twas dead of night; when to his slumb’ring eyesHis father’s shade descended from the skies,And thus he spoke: “O more than vital breath,Lov’d while I liv’d, and dear ev’n after death;O son, in various toils and troubles toss’d,The King of Heav’n employs my careful ghostOn his commands: the god, who sav’d from fireYour flaming fleet, and heard your just desire.The wholesome counsel of your friend receive,And here the coward train and woman leave:The chosen youth, and those who nobly dare,Transport, to tempt the dangers of the war.The stern Italians will their courage try;Rough are their manners, and their minds are high.But first to Pluto’s palace you shall go,And seek my shade among the blest below:For not with impious ghosts my soul remains,Nor suffers with the damn’d perpetual pains,But breathes the living air of soft Elysian plains.The chaste Sibylla shall your steps convey,And blood of offer’d victims free the way.There shall you know what realms the gods assign,And learn the fates and fortunes of your line.But now, farewell! I vanish with the night,And feel the blast of heav’n’s approaching light.”He said, and mix’d with shades, and took his airy flight.“Whither so fast?” the filial duty cried;“And why, ah why, the wish’d embrace denied?”

He said, and rose; as holy zeal inspires,He rakes hot embers, and renews the fires;His country gods and Vesta then adoresWith cakes and incense, and their aid implores.Next, for his friends and royal host he sent,Reveal’d his vision, and the gods’ intent,With his own purpose. All, without delay,The will of Jove, and his desires obey.They list with women each degenerate name,Who dares not hazard life for future fame.These they cashier: the brave remaining few,Oars, banks, and cables, half consum’d, renew.The prince designs a city with the plow;The lots their sev’ral tenements allow.This part is nam’d from Ilium, that from Troy,And the new king ascends the throne with joy;A chosen senate from the people draws;Appoints the judges, and ordains the laws.Then, on the top of Eryx, they beginA rising temple to the Paphian queen.Anchises, last, is honour’d as a god;A priest is added, annual gifts bestow’d,And groves are planted round his blest abode.Nine days they pass in feasts, their temples crown’d;And fumes of incense in the fanes abound.Then from the south arose a gentle breezeThat curl’d the smoothness of the glassy seas;The rising winds a ruffling gale afford,And call the merry mariners aboard.

Now loud laments along the shores resound,Of parting friends in close embraces bound.The trembling women, the degenerate train,Who shunn’d the frightful dangers of the main,Ev’n those desire to sail, and take their shareOf the rough passage and the promis’d war:Whom good Aeneas cheers, and recommendsTo their new master’s care his fearful friends.On Eryx’s altars three fat calves he lays;A lamb new-fallen to the stormy seas;Then slips his haulsers, and his anchors weighs.High on the deck the godlike hero stands,With olive crown’d, a charger in his hands;Then cast the reeking entrails in the brine,And pour’d the sacrifice of purple wine.Fresh gales arise; with equal strokes they vie,And brush the buxom seas, and o’er the billows fly.

Meantime the mother goddess, full of fears,To Neptune thus address’d, with tender tears:“The pride of Jove’s imperious queen, the rage,The malice which no suff’rings can assuage,Compel me to these pray’rs; since neither fate,Nor time, nor pity, can remove her hate:Ev’n Jove is thwarted by his haughty wife;Still vanquish’d, yet she still renews the strife.As if ’twere little to consume the townWhich aw’d the world, and wore th’ imperial crown,She prosecutes the ghost of Troy with pains,And gnaws, ev’n to the bones, the last remains.Let her the causes of her hatred tell;But you can witness its effects too well.You saw the storm she rais’d on Libyan floods,That mix’d the mounting billows with the clouds;When, bribing Aeolus, she shook the main,And mov’d rebellion in your wat’ry reign.With fury she possess’d the Dardan dames,To burn their fleet with execrable flames,And forc’d Aeneas, when his ships were lost,To leave his foll’wers on a foreign coast.For what remains, your godhead I implore,And trust my son to your protecting pow’r.If neither Jove’s nor Fate’s decree withstand,Secure his passage to the Latian land.”

Then thus the mighty Ruler of the Main:“What may not Venus hope from Neptune’s reign?My kingdom claims your birth; my late defenceOf your indanger’d fleet may claim your confidence.Nor less by land than sea my deeds declareHow much your lov’d Aeneas is my care.Thee, Xanthus, and thee, Simois, I attest.Your Trojan troops when proud Achilles press’d,And drove before him headlong on the plain,And dash’d against the walls the trembling train;When floods were fill’d with bodies of the slain;When crimson Xanthus, doubtful of his way,Stood up on ridges to behold the sea;New heaps came tumbling in, and chok’d his way;When your Aeneas fought, but fought with oddsOf force unequal, and unequal gods;I spread a cloud before the victor’s sight,Sustain’d the vanquish’d, and secur’d his flight;Ev’n then secur’d him, when I sought with joyThe vow’d destruction of ungrateful Troy.My will’s the same: fair goddess, fear no more,Your fleet shall safely gain the Latian shore;Their lives are giv’n; one destin’d head aloneShall perish, and for multitudes atone.”Thus having arm’d with hopes her anxious mind,His finny team Saturnian Neptune join’d,Then adds the foamy bridle to their jaws,And to the loosen’d reins permits the laws.High on the waves his azure car he guides;Its axles thunder, and the sea subsides,And the smooth ocean rolls her silent tides.The tempests fly before their father’s face,Trains of inferior gods his triumph grace,And monster whales before their master play,And choirs of Tritons crowd the wat’ry way.The marshal’d pow’rs in equal troops divideTo right and left; the gods his better sideInclose, and on the worse the Nymphs and Nereids ride.

Now smiling hope, with sweet vicissitude,Within the hero’s mind his joys renew’d.He calls to raise the masts, the sheets display;The cheerful crew with diligence obey;They scud before the wind, and sail in open sea.Ahead of all the master pilot steers;And, as he leads, the following navy veers.The steeds of Night had travel’d half the sky,The drowsy rowers on their benches lie,When the soft God of Sleep, with easy flight,Descends, and draws behind a trail of light.Thou, Palinurus, art his destin’d prey;To thee alone he takes his fatal way.Dire dreams to thee, and iron sleep, he bears;And, lighting on thy prow, the form of Phorbas wears.Then thus the traitor god began his tale:“The winds, my friend, inspire a pleasing gale;The ships, without thy care, securely sail.Now steal an hour of sweet repose; and IWill take the rudder and thy room supply.”To whom the yawning pilot, half asleep:“Me dost thou bid to trust the treach’rous deep,The harlot smiles of her dissembling face,And to her faith commit the Trojan race?Shall I believe the Siren South again,And, oft betray’d, not know the monster main?”He said: his fasten’d hands the rudder keep,And, fix’d on heav’n, his eyes repel invading sleep.The god was wroth, and at his temples threwA branch in Lethe dipp’d, and drunk with Stygian dew:The pilot, vanquish’d by the pow’r divine,Soon clos’d his swimming eyes, and lay supine.Scarce were his limbs extended at their length,The god, insulting with superior strength,Fell heavy on him, plung’d him in the sea,And, with the stern, the rudder tore away.Headlong he fell, and, struggling in the main,Cried out for helping hands, but cried in vain.The victor daemon mounts obscure in air,While the ship sails without the pilot’s care.On Neptune’s faith the floating fleet relies;But what the man forsook, the god supplies,And o’er the dang’rous deep secure the navy flies;Glides by the Sirens’ cliffs, a shelfy coast,Long infamous for ships and sailors lost,And white with bones. Th’ impetuous ocean roars,And rocks rebellow from the sounding shores.The watchful hero felt the knocks, and foundThe tossing vessel sail’d on shoaly ground.Sure of his pilot’s loss, he takes himselfThe helm, and steers aloof, and shuns the shelf.Inly he griev’d, and, groaning from the breast,Deplor’d his death; and thus his pain express’d:“For faith repos’d on seas, and on the flatt’ring sky,Thy naked corpse is doom’d on shores unknown to lie.”

Words in this poem 168

dire a.: Ill-boding; portentous; as, dire omens. [L. dirus; of uncertain origin.]
amaze v. t.: To bewilder; to stupefy; to bring into a maze. [Pref. a- + maze.]
punic a.: Of or pertaining to the ancient Carthaginians. [L. Punicus pertaining to Carthage, or its inhabitants, fr. Poeni the Carthaginians.]
womankind n.: The females of the human race; women, collectively.
deform a.: Deformed; misshapen; shapeless; horrid. [L. deformis; de- + forma form: cf. OF. deforme, F. difforme. Cf. Difform.]
palinurus n.: An instrument for obtaining directly, without calculation, the true bearing of the sun, and thence the variation of the compass [So called from L. Palinurus, the pilot of Æneas.]
aloud adv.: With a loud voice, or great noise; loudly; audibly. [Pref. a- + loud.]
jove n.: The chief divinity of the ancient Romans; Jupiter. [L. Jupiter, gen. Jovis, OL. Jovis, nom. & gen. for Djovis; akin to E. Tuesday. See Tuesday, and cf. Jupiter.]
aright adv.: Rightly; correctly; in a right way or form; without mistake or crime; as, to worship God aright. [Pref. a- + right.]
southing n.: Tendency or progress southward; as, the southing of the sun.
sicilian a.: Of or pertaining to Sicily or its inhabitants. Sicilian vespers, the great massacre of the French in Sicily, in the year 1282, on the evening of Easter Monday, at the hour of vespers.
scud v. i.: To move swiftly; especially, to move as if driven forward by something. [Dan. skyde to shoot, shove, push, akin to skud shot, gunshot, a shoot, young bough, and to E. shoot. sq. root159. See Shoot.]
amain adv.: With might; with full force; vigorously; violently; exceedingly. [Pref. a- + main. See 2d Main, n.]
libyan a.: Of or pertaining to Libya, the ancient name of that part of Africa between Egypt and the Atlantic Ocean, or of Africa as a whole.
dame n.: A mistress of a family, who is a lady; a womam in authority; especially, a lady. [F. dame, LL. domna, fr. L. domina mistress, lady, fem. of dominus master, ruler, lord; akin to domare to tame, subdue. See Tame, and cf. Dam mother, Dan, Danger]
sire n.: A lord, master, or other person in authority. See Sir. [F. sire, originally, an older person. See Sir.]
cates n.: Provisions; food; viands; especially, luxurious food; delicacies; dainties. [Cf. Acates, and see Cater, n.]
homely a.: Belonging to, or having the characteristics of, home; domestic; familiar; intimate. [From Home, n.]
morn n.: The first part of the day; the morning; -- used chiefly in poetry. [OE. morwen, morgen, AS. morgen; akin to D. morgen, OS. morgan, G. morgen, Icel. morginn, morgunn, Sw. morgon, Dan. morgen, Goth. maúrgins. Cf. Morrow, Morning.]
isle v. t.: To cause to become an island, or like an island; to surround or encompass; to island.
deem v. t.: To decide; to judge; to sentence; to condemn. [OE. demen to judge, condemn, AS. d, fr. d doom; akin to OFries. d, OS. ad, D. doemen, OHG. tuommen, Icel. dæma, Sw. dömma, Dan. dömme, Goth. d. See Doom, n., an]
shall v. i.: To owe; to be under obligation for. [OE. shal, schal, imp. sholde, scholde, AS. scal, sceal, I am obliged, imp. scolde, sceolde, inf. sculan; akin to OS. skulan, pres. skal, imp. skolda, D. zullen,]
amidst prep.: In the midst or middle of; surrounded or encompassed by; among. [OE. amidde, amiddes, on midden, AS. on middan, in the middle, fr. midde the middle. The s is an adverbial ending, originally marking the genitive; the t is a la]
ghost n.: The spirit; the soul of man. [OE. gast, gost, soul, spirit, AS. gast breath, spirit, soul; akin to OS. g spirit, soul, D. geest, G. geist, and prob. to E. gaze, ghastly.]
scarce a.: Not plentiful or abundant; in small quantity in proportion to the demand; not easily to be procured; rare; uncommon. [OE. scars, OF. escars, eschars, LL. scarpsus, for L. excerptus, p. p. of excerpere to pick out, and hence to contract, to shorten; ex (see Ex-) + carpere. See C]
betwixt prep.: In the space which separates; between. [OE. betwix, bitwix, rarely bitwixt, AS. betweox, betweohs, betweoh, betwih; pref. be- by + a form fr. AS. twa two. See Between.]
wondrous adv.: In a wonderful or surprising manner or degree; wonderfully. [OE. wonders, adv. (later also adj.). See Wonder, n., and cf. -wards.]
sable n.: A carnivorous animal of the Weasel family (Mustela zibellina) native of the northern latitudes of Europe, Asia, and America, -- noted for its fine, soft, and valuable fur. [OF. sable, F. zibeline sable (in sense 4), LL. sabellum; cf. D. sabel, Dan. sabel, zobel, Sw. sabel, sobel, G. zobel; all fr. Russ. sóbole.]
tyrian a.: Of or pertaining to Tyre or its people.
clangour n.: A sharp, harsh, ringing sound. [L., fr. clangere. See Clang, v. t.]
chimaera n.: A cartilaginous fish of several species, belonging to the order Holocephali. The teeth are few and large. The head is furnished with appendages, and the tail terminates in a point. [NL. See Chimera.]
centaur n.: A fabulous being, represented as half man and half horse.
uncurl v. t.: To loose from curls, or ringlets; to straighten out, as anything curled or curly. [1st pref. un- + curl.]
ridgy a.: Having a ridge or ridges; rising in a ridge.
backs n.: Among leather dealers, the thickest and stoutest tanned hides.
vest n.: An article of clothing covering the person; an outer garment; a vestment; a dress; a vesture; a robe. [L. vestis a garment, vesture; akin to Goth. wasti, and E. wear: cf. F. veste. See Wear to carry on the person, and cf. Divest, Invest, Travesty.]
sweaty a.: Moist with sweat; as, a sweaty skin; a sweaty garment.
starry a.: Abounding with stars; adorned with stars.
briny a.: Of or pertaining to brine, or to the sea; partaking of the nature of brine; salt; as, a briny taste; the briny flood. [From Brine.]
brushing a.: Constructed or used to brush with; as a brushing machine.
favour n.: Kind regard; propitious aspect; countenance; friendly disposition; kindness; good will. [Written also favour.]
ahead adv.: In or to the front; in advance; onward. [Pref. a- + head.]
lave v. t.: To lade, dip, or pour out. [OE. laven. See Lavish.]
rode n.: Redness; complexion. [See Rud.]
spoke n.: The radius or ray of a wheel; one of the small bars which are inserted in the hub, or nave, and which serve to support the rim or felly. [OE. spoke, spake, AS, spaca; akin to D. speek, LG. speke, OHG. speihha, G. speiche. sq. root170. Cf. Spike a nail.]
closer n.: One who, or that which, closes; specifically, a boot closer. See under Boot.
wheeling n.: The act of conveying anything, or traveling, on wheels, or in a wheeled vehicle.
devoutly adv.: In a devout and reverent manner; with devout emotions; piously.
tore n.: The dead grass that remains on mowing land in winter and spring. Mortimer. [Probably from the root of tear; cf. W. tór a break, cut, tóri to break, cut.]
mindless a.: Not indued with mind or intellectual powers; stupid; unthinking.
madly adv.: In a mad manner; without reason or understanding; wildly. [From Mad, a.]
disgorge v. t.: To eject or discharge by the throat and mouth; to vomit; to pour forth or throw out with violence, as if from the mouth; to discharge violently or in great quantities from a confined place. [F. dégorger, earlier desgorger; pref. dé-, des- (L. dis-) + gorge. See Gorge.]
exert v. t.: To thrust forth; to emit; to push out. [L. exertus, exsertus, p.p. of exerere, exserere, to thrust out; ex out + serere to join or bind together. See Series, and cf. Exsert.]
vigour v. t.: To invigorate. Feltham.
haughty a.: High; lofty; bold. [OE. hautein, F. hautain, fr. haut high, OF. also halt, fr. L. altus. See Altitude.]
dreadful a.: Full of dread or terror; fearful.
broke v. i.: To transact business for another. Brome. [See Broker, and cf. Brook.]
callow a.: Destitute of feathers; naked; unfledged. [OE. calewe, calu, bald, AS. calu; akin to D. kaal, OHG. chalo, G. Kuhl; cf. L. calvus.]
smoother n.: One who, or that which, smooths.
succour v. t.: tiono run to, or run to support; hence, to help or relieve when in difficulty, want, or distress; to assist and deliver from suffering; to relieve; as, to succor a besieged city. [OE. socouren, OF. sucurre, soucourre, secorre, F. secourir, L. succurrere, succursum, to run under, run to the aid of, help, succor; sub under + currere to run.]
honour n.: Esteem due or paid to worth; high estimation; respect; consideration; reverence; veneration; manifestation of respect or reverence. [OE. honor, honour, onour, onur, OF. honor, onor, honur, onur, honour, onour, F. honneur, fr. L. honor, honos.]
breathless a.: Spent with labor or violent action; out of breath.
defence n.: The act of defending, or the state of being defended; protection, as from violence or danger. [F. défense, OF. defense, fem., defens, masc., fr. L. defensa (cf. Fence.]
glorious a.: Exhibiting attributes, qualities, or acts that are worthy of or receive glory; noble; praiseworthy; excellent; splendid; illustrious; inspiring admiration; as, glorious deeds. [OF. glorios, glorious, F. glorieux, fr. L. gloriosus. See Glory, n.]
goodly a.: Pleasant; agreeable; desirable. [OE. godlich, AS. g. See Good, and Like.]
massy a.: Compacted into, or consisting of, a mass; having bulk and weight ot substance; ponderous; bulky and heavy; weight; heavy; as, a massy shield; a massy rock.
forlorn a.: Deserted abandoned; lost. [OE., p.p. of forlesen to lose utterly, AS. forleósan (p.p. forloren); pref. for- + leósan (in comp.) to lose; cf. D. verliezen to lose, G. verlieren, Sw. förlor]
groveling a.: Lying prone; low; debased.
cretan a.: Pertaining to Crete, or Candia.
beauteous a.: Full of beauty; beautiful; very handsome. [Mostly poetic] -- Beau"te*ous*ly, adv. --
pent p. p.: Penned or shut up; confined; -- often with up. [From Pen, v. t.]
theatre n.: An edifice in which dramatic performances or spectacles are exhibited for the amusement of spectators; anciently uncovered, except the stage, but in modern times roofed. [F. thé\'83tre, L. theatrum, Gr. dhya to meditate, think. Cf. Theory.]
sate v. t.: To satisfy the desire or appetite of; to satiate; to glut; to surfeit. [Probably shortened fr. satiate: cf. L. satus full. See Satiate.]
nisus n.: A striving; an effort; a conatus. [L., fr. niti, p.p. nisus, to strive.]
arcadia n.: A mountainous and picturesque district of Greece, in the heart of the Peloponnesus, whose people were distinguished for contentment and rural happiness.
approbation n.: Proof; attestation. [L. approbatio: cf. F. approbation. See Approve to prove.]
largess n.: Liberality; generosity; bounty. [F. largesse, fr. large. See Large, a.]
steed n.: A horse, especially a spirited horse for state of war; -- used chiefly in poetry or stately prose. [OE. stede, AS. steda a stud-horse, war horse, fr. stod a stud of breeding steeds; akin to G. stute a mare, Icel. stedda, sto, a stud. *163. See Stud of horses.]
amazonian a.: Pertaining to or resembling an Amazon; of masculine manners; warlike.
thracian a.: Of or pertaining to Thrace, or its people.
went n.: Course; way; path; journey; direction.
dubious a.: Doubtful or not settled in opinion; being in doubt; wavering or fluctuating; undetermined. [L. dubius, dubiosus, fr. duo two. See Two, and cf. Doubt.]
hapless a.: Without hap or luck; luckless; unfortunate; unlucky; unhappy; as, hapless youth; hapless maid.
amity n.: Friendship, in a general sense, between individuals, societies, or nations; friendly relations; good understanding; as, a treaty of amity and commerce; the amity of the Whigs and Tories. [F. amitié, OF. amistié, amisté, fr. an assumed LL. amisitas, fr. L. amicus friendly, from amare to love. See Amiable.]
award v. t.: To give by sentence or judicial determination; to assign or apportion, after careful regard to the nature of the case; to adjudge; as, the arbitrators awarded damages to the complainant. [OF. eswarder to look at, consider, decide, judge; es (L. ex) + warder, garder, to observe, take heed, keep, fr. OHG. wart to watch, guard. See Ward.]
bounty n.: Goodness, kindness; virtue; worth. [OE. bounte goodness, kindness, F. bonté, fr. L. bonitas, fr. bonus good, for older duonus; cf. Skr. duvas honor, respect.]
dauntless a.: Incapable of being daunted; undaunted; bold; fearless; intrepid.
gauntlet n.: A glove of such material that it defends the hand from wounds. [F. gantelet, dim. of gant glove, LL. wantus, of Teutonic origin; cf. D. want, Sw. & Dan. vante, Icel. vöttr, for vantr.]
propose v. i.: To speak; to converse.
wield v. t.: To govern; to rule; to keep, or have in charge; also, to possess. [OE. welden to govern, to have power over, to possess, AS. geweldan, gewyldan, from wealdan; akin to OS. waldan, OFries. walda, G. walten, OHG. waltan, Icel. val]
resistless a.: Having no power to resist; making no opposition.
brawny a.: Having large, strong muscles; muscular; fleshy; strong.
awless a.: Wanting reverence; void of respectful fear.
insolence n.: The quality of being unusual or novel. [F. insolence, L. insolentia. See Insolent.]
dastard n.: One who meanly shrinks from danger; an arrant coward; a poltroon. [Prob. from Icel. dæstr exhausted. breathless, p. p. of dæsa to groan, lose one's breath; cf. dasask to become exhausted, and E. daze.]
challenger n.: One who challenges.
tamely adv.: In a tame manner.
herculean a.: Requiring the strength of Hercules; hence, very great, difficult, or dangerous; as, an Herculean task. [L. herculeus, fr. Hercules: cf. F. herculéen. See Hercules.]
languish v. i.: To cause to dr Shak.
strife n.: The act of striving; earnest endeavor. [OF. estrif. See Strive.]
brawn n.: A muscle; flesh. [OF. braon fleshy part, muscle, fr. HG. br flesh, G. braten roast meat; akin to Icel. br flesh, food of beasts, AS. brbr to roast, G. braten, and possibly to E. ]
tiptoe n.: The end, or tip, of the toe.
inly a.: Internal; interior; secret. [OE. inlich, AS. inlic. See In.]
afar adv.: At, to, or from a great distance; far away; -- often used with from preceding, or off following; as, he was seen from afar; I saw him afar off. [Pref. a-.(for on or of) + far.]
heaves n.: A disease of horses, characterized by difficult breathing, with heaving of the flank, wheezing, flatulency, and a peculiar cough; broken wind.
warping n.: The act or process of one who, or that which, warps.
averse a.: Turned away or backward. [L. aversus, p. p. of avertere. See Avert.]
casque n.: A piece of defensive or ornamental armor (with or without a vizor) for the head and neck; a helmet. [F. casque, fr. Sp. casco See Cask.]
sternly adv.: In a stern manner.
needs adv.: Of necessity; necessarily; indispensably; -- often with must, and equivalent to of need. [Orig. gen. of need, used as an adverb. Cf. - wards.]
sprawls n.: Small branches of a tree; twigs; sprays.
pallas n.: Pallas Athene, the Grecian goddess of wisdom, called also Athene, and identified, at a later period, with the Roman Minerva.
forceful a.: Full of or processing force; exerting force; mighty.
drove n.: A collection of cattle driven, or cattle collected for driving; a number of animals, as oxen, sheep, or swine, driven in a body. [AS. draf, fr. drifan to drive. See Drive.]
glancing a.: Shooting, as light.
flitting n.: A flying with lightness and celerity; a fluttering.
portent n.: That which portends, or foretoken; esp., that which portends evil; a sign of coming calamity; an omen; a sign. [L. portentum. See Portend.]
shiny a.: Bright; luminous; clear; unclouded.
trumpets n.: A plant (Sarracenia flava) with long, hollow leaves.
grandsire n.: Specifically, a grandfather; more generally, any ancestor. [OF. grantsire. See Grand, and Sire.]
cirque n.: A circle; a circus; a circular erection or arrangement of objects. [F., fr. L. circus.]
cornel n.: The cornelian cherry (Cornus Mas), a European shrub with clusters of small, greenish flowers, followed by very acid but edible drupes resembling cherries. [OF. cornille, cornoille, F. cornouille, cornel berry, LL. cornolium cornel tree, fr. L. cornus, fr. cornu horn, in allusion to the hardness of the wood. See Hor]
latian a.: Belonging, or relating, to Latium, a country of ancient Italy.
snowy a.: White like snow.
squadron n.: Primarily, a square; hence, a square body of troops; a body of troops drawn up in a square. [F. escadron, formerly also esquadron, or It. squadrone. See Squad.]
shew n.: Show. [Obs. except in shewbread.]
saturnian a.: Of or pertaining to Saturn, whose age or reign, from the mildness and wisdom of his government, is called the golden age. [L. Saturnius.]
bemoan v. t.: To express deep grief for by moaning; to express sorrow for; to lament; to bewail; to pity or sympathize with. [OE. bimenen, AS. bem; pref. be- + m to moan. See Moan.]
beroe n.: A small, oval, transparent jellyfish, belonging to the Ctenophora. [L. Beroe, one of the Oceanidæ Gr. : cf. F. beroé.]
inhospitable a.: Not hospitable; not disposed to show hospitality to strangers or guests; as, an inhospitable person or people. [Pref. in- not + hospitable: cf. L. inhospitalis.]
hoary a.: White or whitish."The hoary willows."
sportful a.: Full of sport; merry; frolicsome; full of jesting; indulging in mirth or play; playful; wanton; as, a sportful companion.
abhor v. i.: To shrink back with horror, disgust, or dislike; to be contrary or averse; -- with from.
avoid v. t.: To empty. Wyclif. [OF. esvuidier, es (L. ex) + vuidier, voidier, to empty. See Void, a.]
amid prep.: In the midst or middle of; surrounded or encompassed by; among. [OE. amidde, amiddes, on midden, AS. on middan, in the middle, fr. midde the middle. The s is an adverbial ending, originally marking the genitive; the t is a la]
keels n.: Ninepins. See Kayles.
forky a.: Opening into two or more parts or shoots; forked; furcated.
pest n.: A fatal epidemic disease; a pestilence; specif., the plague. [L. pestis: cf. F. peste.]
atone v. t.: To set at one; to reduce to concord; to reconcile, as parties at variance; to appease.
forgetful a.: Apt to forget; easily losing remembrance; as, a forgetful man should use helps to strengthen his memory.
nobly adv.: Of noble extraction; as, nobly born or descended.
elysian a.: Pertaining, or the abode of the blessed after death; hence, yielding the highest pleasures; exceedingly delightful; beatific. [L. Elysius, fr. Elysium.]
whither adv.: To what place; -- used interrogatively; as, whither goest thou [OE. whider. AS. hwider; akin to E. where, who; cf. Goth. hvadre whither. See Who, and cf. Hither, Thither.]
filial a.: Of or pertaining to a son or daughter; becoming to a child in relation to his parents; as, filial obedience. [L. filialis, fr. filius son, filia daughter; akin to e. female, feminine. Cf. Fitz.]
vesta n.: One of the great divinities of the ancient Romans, identical with the Greek Hestia. She was a virgin, and the goddess of the hearth; hence, also, of the fire on it, and the family round it. [L. Vesta, akin to Gr. ush to burn (see East), or perhaps to Skr. vas to dwell, and E. was.]
cashier n.: One who has charge of money; a cash keeper; the officer who has charge of the payments and receipts (moneys, checks, notes), of a bank or a mercantile company. [F. caissier, fr. caisse. See Cash.]
paphian a.: Of or pertaining to Paphos, an ancient city of Cyprus, having a celebrated temple of Venus; hence, pertaining to Venus, or her rites.
abode n.: Act of waiting; delay. [OE. abad, abood, fr. abiden to abide. See Abide. For the change of vowel, cf. abode, imp. of abide.]
aboard adv.: On board; into or within a ship or boat; hence, into or within a railway car. [Pref. a- on, in + board.]
frightful a.: Full of fright; affrighted; frightened.
charger n.: One who, or that which charges.
buxom a.: Yielding; pliable or compliant; ready to obey; obedient; tractable; docile; meek; humble. [OE. buxum, boxom, buhsum, pliable, obedient, AS. bocsum, buhsum (akin to D. buigzaam blexible, G. biegsam); bugan to bow, bend + -sum, E. -some. See Bow to bend]
imperious a.: Commanding; ascendant; imperial; lordly; majestic. [L. imperiosus: cf. F. impérieux. See Imperial.]
shook v. t.: To pack, as staves, in a shook.
attest v. t.: To bear witness to; to certify; to affirm to be true or genuine; as, to attest the truth of a writing, a copy of record. [L. attestari; ad + testari to bear witness: cf. F. attester.]
odds n.: Difference in favor of one and against another; excess of one of two things or numbers over the other; inequality; advantage; superiority; hence, excess of chances; probability. [See Odd, a.]
ungrateful a.: Not grateful; not thankful for favors; making no returns, or making ill return for kindness, attention, etc.; ingrateful. South.
finny a.: Having, or abounding in, fins, as fishes; pertaining to fishes.
vicissitude n.: Regular change or succession from one thing to another; alternation; mutual succession; interchange. [L. vicissitudo, fr. vicis change, turn: cf. F. vicissitude. See Vicarious.]
dissembling a.: That dissembles; hypocritical; false.

Definitions and etymologies from Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913; the first 160 of 168 words.

About this text

Book V is in the public domain. This text is taken from The Aeneid, Project Gutenberg ebook #228, the John Dryden translation; the transcription's header, footer and licence were removed and nothing else was changed. You may copy, print and reuse it freely.

Cite as: Virgil, Book V, in The Aeneid (1697), text of Project Gutenberg ebook #228, Laurel, https://laurelpoetry.com/poem/virgil-aeneid/book-v.html, id L14065.

Form and metre

Book V is 1136 lines in 38 verse paragraphs. It is in rhyming couplets, 63% of the lines: heroic couplets. The metre is iambic pentameter, measured from the stress the words themselves fix (confidence 93%). 97% of its stressed syllables fall where the metre puts the beat. The lines average 10.1 syllables. 17 lines end on an unstressed syllable, a feminine ending. 10% of the lines run on without a stop at the line end.

See other poems in heroic couplets, other poems in iambic pentameter.

Measured by Laurel's pipeline, not copied from a handbook: how stress and metre are counted, how rhyme is lettered, how a drifted rhyme is found. Where the dictionary cannot confirm a rhyme the letter is withheld, not guessed.

Rhyme words, stanza by stanza

The word that ends each line, lettered by the rhyme it makes; a dash is a line whose rhyme the dictionary could not confirm.

1 --AABBBCCDDEEFFGGHHIIJJK-KLL-MMNNOOPPQQRRSSTTUUUVVWWVV way · sea · amaze^A · blaze^A · mind^B · divin'd^B · womankind^B · move^C · love^C · draw^D · saw^D · bound^E · around^E · o'erspread^F · head^F · storm^G · deform^G · aloud^H · cloud^H · roars^I · oars^I · wind^J · assign'd^J · he^K · italy · sea^K · arise^L · skies^L · sea · way^M · obey^M · aright^N · light^N · shores^O · oars^O · find^P · wind^P · more^Q · shore^Q · contains^R · reigns^R · wind^S · assign'd^S · stand^T · land^T · race^U · pace^U · embrace^U · wore^V · bore^V · blood^W · flood^W · ashore^V · store^V
2 AABBCC--DDEEFF--GGHHII-JJ--KKLLMMNN--OOPPQQ away^A · day^A · around^B · ground^B · race^C · space^C · fill'd · held · year^D · dear^D · games^E · flames^E · sands^F · lands^F · driv'n · heav'n · plains^G · remains^G · due^H · renew^H · own^I · known^I · renown · race^J · grace^J · bestows · vows · morn^K · adorn^K · grace^L · race^L · contend^M · bend^M · stand^N · sand^N · prepar'd · reward · crown'd^O · bound^O · led^P · head^P · grace^Q · race^Q
3 AABBCCDD--E-EFFGGHHIIJJ--KKLL--MMNN--OOO train^A · plain^A · found^B · ground^B · more^C · gore^C · strow'd^D · aloud^D · again · vain · me^E · italy · be^E · pride^F · glide^F · roll'd^G · gold^G · pass^H · grass^H · run^I · sun^I · around^J · ground^J · pass'd · taste · guest^K · rest^K · view'd^L · renew'd^L · were · sepulcher · slew^M · hue^M · pour'd^N · restor'd^N · come · tomb · spoil^O · soil^O · broil^O
4 AABBCCDDEEEFFGGHHIIJJJDDKK bright^A · light^A · fame^B · name^B · fill^C · skill^C · place^D · grace^D · lie^E · high^E · dye^E · proclaims^F · games^F · bear^G · appear^G · wind^H · kind^H · commands^I · stands^I · oar^J · bore^J · roar^J · race^D · place^D · stood^K · blood^K
5 AABBCCDDEEFFGGHHIIHHJJJK-KLLMMMNNOO shore^A · roar^A · clear^B · appear^B · run^C · sun^C · sight^D · aright^D · oars^E · shores^E · rest^F · vest^F · boughs^G · brows^G · shine^H · sign^H · breast^I · depress'd^I · sign^H · line^H · skies^J · rise^J · fries^J · row^K · prow · below^K · race^L · pace^L · lends^M · descends^M · bends^M · divide^N · side^N · sound^O · rebound^O
6 AA--BBCCDDEEFF-GG--HHIIJJJKKLLMM shore^A · before^A · fast · haste · brine^B · line^B · lead^C · ahead^C · row^D · below^D · train^E · main^E · stand^F · sand^F · heard · fear'd^G · steer'd^G · again · main · saw^H · draw^H · stood^I · flood^I · before^J · swore^J · tore^J · grown^K · own^K · drew^L · threw^L · cheer'd^M · steer'd^M
7 AA--BBCCDDEEFFGGHHII--JJJKK--LLMMNNN-OOPP------QQRR--SSTTUUVVUUU--WWXXYYZZ-aabbcc--ddee rears^A · years^A · pain · again · laugh'd^B · draught^B · crew^C · renew^C · race^D · place^D · wind^E · behind^E · appear'd^F · cheer'd^F · heretofore^G · oar^G · crew^H · drew^H · find^I · mind^I · flood · row'd · gain^J · vain^J · ordain^J · race^K · disgrace^K · row · prow · sides^L · tides^L · success^M · press^M · rock^N · lock^N · shock^N · broke · arise^O · prize^O · shores^P · oars^P · minds · winds · way · sea · forsakes · shakes · flies^Q · skies^Q · springs^R · wings^R · sea · way · pass'd^S · fast^S · implores^T · oars^T · outflies^U · prize^U · remains^V · strains^V · arise^U · replies^U · skies^U · heard · reward · pace^W · race^W · ran^X · can^X · supplies^Y · prize^Y · hands^Z · demands^Z · row · brow^a · vow^a · slain^b · main^b · thrown^c · own^c · below · vow · hand^d · land^d · flies^e · prize^e
8 AABBCCDDEEFFGGHHIII proclaims^A · games^A · head^B · led^B · beside^C · divide^C · rest^D · vest^D · rows^E · bestows^E · art^F · hart^F · pursue^G · view^G · prey^H · away^H · eyes^I · skies^I · cries^I
9 AABBB--CCDDD-AEE declar'd^A · shar'd^A · bore^B · tore^B · shore^B · possess · peace · behold^C · gold^C · sustain^D · plain^D · train^D · reward · shar'd^A · wrought^E · brought^E
10 AABBCCDDEE--FFGG--HH hands^A · bands^A · rock^B · shock^B · oar^C · shore^C · road^D · load^D · wound^E · ground^E · along · tongue · scales^F · trails^F · tends^G · amends^G · prince · recompense · care^H · fair^H
11 AABBCCDDEEFFGGHHIIJJ--KKLL bent^A · pent^A · wood^B · stood^B · slow^C · below^C · sate^D · state^D · delight^E · invite^E · stand^F · band^F · appears^G · years^G · crown'd^H · renown'd^H · race^I · place^I · birth^J · earth^J · these · panopes · bred^K · head^K · name^L · fame^L
12 AAB---CCDDEEEFFGGHH--BBEEII explain'd^A · gain'd^A · design'd^B · join'd · wood · bestow'd · decreed^C · steed^C · fame^D · dame^D · supplied^E · side^E · tied^E · content^F · went^F · receive^G · leave^G · flew^H · view^H · o'erpass'd · haste · disjoin'd^B · behind^B · plied^E · side^E · space^I · race^I
13 --AABBCC----AADDEE last · haste · plain^A · slain^A · way^B · lay^B · floor^C · gore^C · thee · amity · cross · rose · plain^A · gain^A · attend^D · friend^D · came^E · fame^E
14 AABB--CC--CCDDEE--FFGGHH----IIJJ loud^A · crowd^A · heard^B · conferr'd^B · appears · tears · prize^C · cries^C · reward · conferr'd · arise^C · prize^C · mend^D · friend^D · draws^E · paws^E · gives · grieves · due^F · you^F · claim^G · fame^G · tried^H · provide^H · show'd · blood · smil'd · shield · wrought^I · brought^I · rest^J · express'd^J
15 --AABBCCDD bestow'd · crowd · dare^A · bare^A · view^B · renew^B · divide^C · tied^C · chief^D · grief^D
16 --AABB--BBCCDDDBBEEFFDDGGEE appears · bears · wield^A · field^A · stand^B · hand^B · undertook · stock · hand^B · sand^B · along^C · throng^C · shows^D · throws^D · blows^D · band^B · demand^B · eyes^E · prize^E · insolence^F · prince^F · oppose^D · foes^D · delay^G · away^G · cries^E · prize^E
17 --AABBCCDD--DDEEFFGG see · victory · beside^A · pride^A · renown^B · crown^B · sight^C · fight^C · name^D · game^D · spoil · isle · same^D · fame^D · veins^E · remains^E · again^F · vain^F · defies^G · prize^G
18 AABBCCDDEEFF-GGHH--DDII--EE threw^A · view^A · wield^B · field^B · beholds^C · folds^C · spread^D · lead^D · sight^E · fight^E · stands^F · hands^F · been · seen^G · green^G · bore^H · gore^H · arm · warm · fed^D · head^D · refuse^I · use^I · join · resign · fight^E · right^E
19 AABBCCDD--EEFFFGGHHIIJJKKLLKKMMMNNNOOPPQQRRSSTTUUVVWW-XXXYYZZaabbccddee prepares^A · bares^A · stands^B · sands^B · supplied^C · tied^C · extent^D · bent^D · afar · war · relies^E · size^E · slow^F · fro^F · blow^F · strike^G · alike^G · around^H · resound^H · flies^I · eyes^I · draws^J · jaws^J · ground^K · wound^K · pace^L · place^L · round^K · ground^K · eyes^M · tries^M · relies^M · foe^N · below^N · blow^N · wind^O · design'd^O · breast^P · press'd^P · stood^Q · wood^Q · rise^R · skies^R · raise^S · days^S · return'd^T · burn'd^T · breast^U · press'd^U · amain^V · plain^V · allows^W · brows^W · blows · increase^X · cease^X · peace^X · came^Y · shame^Y · he^Z · thee^Z · thine^a · divine^a · shore^b · bore^b · flood^c · blood^c · throng^d · along^d · train^e · remain^e
20 AABBCCDD-EE--FF came^A · fame^A · host^B · boast^B · know^C · foe^C · bull^D · full^D · skull · wound^E · ground^E · this · sacrifice · yield^F · field^F
21 --AABBCC--DDEEDDFF--GGHHII-JJ--KK--LLMMNN--OOPPQQQ--RRSS--TT--UUVV-- close · bows · bore^A · shore^A · tie^B · fly^B · advance^C · chance^C · drawn · hippocoon · found^D · crown'd^D · name^E · fame^E · confound^D · wound^D · remain'd^F · restrain'd^F · bows · chose · sway^G · way^G · stands^H · bands^H · cries^I · skies^I · drove · above^J · dove^J · cord · bird · flies^K · skies^K · stood · god · sped^L · fled^L · ground^M · wound^M · remains^N · pains^N · show · bow · portent^O · event^O · flew^P · drew^P · way^Q · play^Q · decay^Q · stare · pray'r · face^R · embrace^R · rest^S · confess'd^S · wrought · lot · gold^T · old^T · receive · give · sound^U · crown'd^U · prize^V · skies^V · grac'd · mast
22 AA--BBCCDDD done^A · son^A · find · join'd · day^B · array^B · clears^C · appears^C · divine^D · line^D · shine^D
23 AABBCCDDDEEFFFCCGGHHIIJJ pride^A · side^A · wear^B · spear^B · bore^C · before^C · green^D · seen^D · between^D · boy^E · troy^E · fame^F · name^F · became^F · before^C · bore^C · bred^G · led^G · place^H · face^H · steed^I · breed^I · ordains^J · reins^J
24 AABB renew^A · view^A · grace^B · face^B
25 AABBCCDB--EEFFDBGGHHIIJJKKLLMM train^A · plain^A · sign^B · line^B · divides^C · guides^C · disjoin^D · line^B · afar · war · run^E · shun^E · renew^F · shew^F · join^D · line^B · old^G · fold^G · redress^H · recess^H · play^I · way^I · chase^J · race^J · taught^K · brought^K · impart^L · art^L · game^M · name^M
26 AABBCCDDEEFFGGHHIIGG celebrate^A · hate^A · dues^B · views^B · bow^C · below^C · way^D · lay^D · descends^E · ends^E · thence^F · defence^F · alone^G · bemoan^G · eyes^H · cries^H · remain^I · sustain^I · groan^G · own^G
27 AABBBCC--DDEEFF--GGGHHIIJJKKLLL--MMNN pains^A · restrains^A · became^B · dame^B · name^B · ran^C · began^C · pow'r · hour · fate^D · state^D · run^E · begun^E · lands^F · sands^F · sea · italy · land^G · withstand^G · band^G · vain^H · remain^H · renew^I · view^I · consume^J · doom^J · hands^K · brands^K · destroy^L · troy^L · employ^L · inspires · fires · brands^M · hands^M · drew^N · threw^N
28 AABBCCDDEEFFGG--HHII--JJKK--LL----MMNNOOPPPQQRRSS stare^A · hair^A · race^B · face^B · arise^C · eyes^C · seen^D · mien^D · pain^E · detain^E · amaze^F · gaze^F · obey^G · way^G · below · bow · divine^H · design^H · hands^I · brands^I · haste · cast · gains^J · reins^J · soars^K · oars^K · bear · theatre · eyes^L · arise^L · led · steed · o'erpass'd · haste · view^M · flew^M · destroy^N · troy^N · burn^O · turn^O · said^P · head^P · led^P · appear^Q · fear^Q · flight^R · light^R · find^S · mind^S
29 AABB--CCDD cease^A · peace^A · tow^B · slow^B · eats · fits · sails^C · prevails^C · hand^D · withstand^D
30 --AABBBCCDD throws · vows · place^A · race^A · remain^B · vain^B · train^B · free^C · me^C · throw^D · below^D
31 AABBCCDD arise^A · flies^A · plain^B · rain^B · sent^C · prevent^C · alone^D · atone^D
32 AABBCCDDEEFFGGEEBBHHIIJJ-E divide^A · reside^A · main^B · gain^B · alone^C · foreshown^C · inspir'd^D · requir'd^D · inclin'd^E · mind^E · state^F · fate^F · subdue^G · pursue^G · kind^E · mind^E · train^B · remain^B · ease^H · seas^H · stand^I · land^I · all^J · call^J · join'd · mind^E
33 AABB--CCDD--EEFFGGGHHIIJJJKK eyes^A · skies^A · breath^B · death^B · toss'd · ghost · fire^C · desire^C · receive^D · leave^D · dare · war · try^E · high^E · go^F · below^F · remains^G · pains^G · plains^G · convey^H · way^H · assign^I · line^I · night^J · light^J · flight^J · cried^K · denied^K
34 AABBCCDDEEFFGGHHII---JJKKLLMM inspires^A · fires^A · adores^B · implores^B · sent^C · intent^C · delay^D · obey^D · name^E · fame^E · few^F · renew^F · plow^G · allow^G · troy^H · joy^H · draws^I · laws^I · begin · queen · god · bestow'd^J · abode^J · crown'd^K · abound^K · breeze^L · seas^L · afford^M · aboard^M
35 AABB--CCD-DEEFFGG resound^A · bound^A · train^B · main^B · share · war · recommends^C · friends^C · lays^D · seas · weighs^D · stands^E · hands^E · brine^F · wine^F · vie^G · fly^G
36 AABBCCDDEEFFGG--HHII----JJ fears^A · tears^A · rage^B · assuage^B · fate^C · hate^C · wife^D · strife^D · town^E · crown^E · pains^F · remains^F · tell^G · well^G · floods · clouds · main^H · reign^H · dames^I · flames^I · lost · coast · implore · pow'r · withstand^J · land^J
37 AABBCCDDEEE---FFGGHHIIJJ--KKLLLMMNNOOO main^A · reign^A · defence^B · confidence^B · declare^C · care^C · attest^D · press'd^D · plain^E · train^E · slain^E · way · sea · way · odds^F · gods^F · sight^G · flight^G · joy^H · troy^H · more^I · shore^I · alone^J · atone^J · mind · join'd · jaws^K · laws^K · guides^L · subsides^L · tides^L · face^M · grace^M · play^N · way^N · divide^O · side^O · ride^O
38 AABBCDDCCEEFFGGHHHIIJJKK--LLMMNNOO--PPQQRRR--SSTTUUVVWW vicissitude^A · renew'd^A · display^B · obey^B · sea^C · steers^D · veers^D · sky^C · lie^C · flight^E · light^E · prey^F · way^F · bears^G · wears^G · tale^H · gale^H · sail^H · i^I · supply^I · asleep^J · deep^J · face^K · race^K · again · main · keep^L · sleep^L · threw^M · dew^M · divine^N · supine^N · length^O · strength^O · sea · away · main^P · vain^P · air^Q · care^Q · relies^R · supplies^R · flies^R · coast · lost · roars^S · shores^S · found^T · ground^T · himself^U · shelf^U · breast^V · express'd^V · sky^W · lie^W

Scansion, line by line

Each line with its syllable count and the stresses the words themselves fix: / stressed, ˘ unstressed, · a syllable the word leaves free and the metre decides. Read against iambic pentameter. How this is done.

Line	Syl.	Stress
Meantime the Trojan cuts his wat’ry way,	10	/··/˘··/˘·
Fix’d on his voyage, thro’ the curling sea;	10	···/˘··/˘·
Then, casting back his eyes, with dire amaze,	10	·/˘·····˘/
Sees on the Punic shore the mounting blaze.	10	···/˘··/˘·
The cause unknown; yet his presaging mind	10	··˘/··/˘˘·
The fate of Dido from the fire divin’d;	10	···/˘··/··
He knew the stormy souls of womankind,	10	···/˘··/˘˘
What secret springs their eager passions move,	10	·/˘··/˘/˘·
How capable of death for injur’d love.	10	·/˘˘···/˘·
Dire auguries from hence the Trojans draw;	9	······/˘·
Till neither fires nor shining shores they saw.	10	·/˘/·/˘···
Now seas and skies their prospect only bound;	10	·····/˘/˘·
An empty space above, a floating field around.	12	·/˘····/˘···
But soon the heav’ns with shadows were o’erspread;	10	·····/····
A swelling cloud hung hov’ring o’er their head:	10	·/˘·······
Livid it look’d, the threat’ning of a storm:	10	/˘········
Then night and horror ocean’s face deform.	10	···/˘/˘··/
The pilot, Palinurus, cried aloud:	10	·/˘·····˘/
“What gusts of weather from that gath’ring cloud	10	···/˘·····
My thoughts presage! Ere yet the tempest roars,	10	··/˘···/˘·
Stand to your tackle, mates, and stretch your oars;	10	···/˘·····
Contract your swelling sails, and luff to wind.”	10	˘/·/˘·····
The frighted crew perform the task assign’d.	10	·/˘·˘/··˘/
Then, to his fearless chief: “Not Heav’n,” said he,	10	···/˘·····
“Tho’ Jove himself should promise Italy,	10	··˘/·/˘/˘˘
Can stem the torrent of this raging sea.	10	···/˘··/˘·
Mark how the shifting winds from west arise,	10	···/˘···˘/
And what collected night involves the skies!	10	··˘/˘·˘/··
Nor can our shaken vessels live at sea,	10	··//˘/˘···
Much less against the tempest force their way.	10	·····/˘···
’Tis fate diverts our course, and fate we must obey.	11	··//·····˘/
Not far from hence, if I observ’d aright	10	······˘/˘/
The southing of the stars, and polar light,	10	·/˘····/˘·
Sicilia lies, whose hospitable shores	10	˘/˘··//˘˘·
In safety we may reach with struggling oars.”	10	·/˘····/˘·
Aeneas then replied: “Too sure I find	10	/˘˘·˘/····
We strive in vain against the seas and wind:	10	··········
Now shift your sails; what place can please me more	10	··········
Than what you promise, the Sicilian shore,	10	···/˘·˘/˘·
Whose hallow’d earth Anchises’ bones contains,	10	·/˘·····˘/
And where a prince of Trojan lineage reigns?”	10	·····/˘/˘·
The course resolv’d, before the western wind	10	··˘/···/˘·
They scud amain, and make the port assign’d.	10	··˘/····˘/
Meantime Acestes, from a lofty stand,	10	/······/˘·
Beheld the fleet descending on the land;	10	˘/··˘/˘···
And, not unmindful of his ancient race,	10	·······/˘·
Down from the cliff he ran with eager pace,	10	·······/˘·
And held the hero in a strict embrace.	10	···/˘···˘/
Of a rough Libyan bear the spoils he wore,	10	···/˘·····
And either hand a pointed jav’lin bore.	10	·/˘··/˘···
His mother was a dame of Dardan blood;	10	·/˘·······
His sire Crinisus, a Sicilian flood.	10	·/····˘/˘·
He welcomes his returning friends ashore	10	·/˘·˘/˘·˘/
With plenteous country cates and homely store.	11	·/˘˘/˘··/˘·
Now, when the following morn had chas’d away	10	···/˘···˘/
The flying stars, and light restor’d the day,	10	·/˘···˘/··
Aeneas call’d the Trojan troops around,	10	/˘˘··/˘···
And thus bespoke them from a rising ground:	10	··˘/···/˘·
“Offspring of heav’n, divine Dardanian race!	11	/···˘/˘/˘˘·
The sun, revolving thro’ th’ ethereal space,	10	··˘/˘·˘/˘·
The shining circle of the year has fill’d,	10	·/˘/˘·····
Since first this isle my father’s ashes held:	10	·····/˘/˘·
And now the rising day renews the year;	10	···/˘·˘/··
A day for ever sad, for ever dear.	10	···/˘··/˘·
This would I celebrate with annual games,	10	···/˘··/˘·
With gifts on altars pil’d, and holy flames,	10	···/˘··/˘·
Tho’ banish’d to Gaetulia’s barren sands,	10	·/˘····/˘·
Caught on the Grecian seas, or hostile lands:	10	···/˘··/˘·
But since this happy storm our fleet has driv’n	10	···/˘·/···
(Not, as I deem, without the will of Heav’n)	10	··········
Upon these friendly shores and flow’ry plains,	10	···/˘·····
Which hide Anchises and his blest remains,	10	········˘/
Let us with joy perform his honours due,	10	····˘/·/˘·
And pray for prosp’rous winds, our voyage to renew;	12	······//˘·˘/
Pray, that in towns and temples of our own,	10	·····/˘·/·
The name of great Anchises may be known,	10	··········
And yearly games may spread the gods’ renown.	10	·/˘·····˘/
Our sports Acestes, of the Trojan race,	10	/······/˘·
With royal gifts ordain’d, is pleas’d to grace:	10	·/˘·˘/····
Two steers on ev’ry ship the king bestows;	10	········˘/
His gods and ours shall share your equal vows.	10	···/···/˘·
Besides, if, nine days hence, the rosy morn	10	˘/·····/˘·
Shall with unclouded light the skies adorn,	10	········˘/
That day with solemn sports I mean to grace:	10	···/˘·····
Light galleys on the seas shall run a wat’ry race;	12	·/˘······/˘·
Some shall in swiftness for the goal contend,	10	···/˘···˘/
And others try the twanging bow to bend;	10	·/˘··/˘···
The strong, with iron gauntlets arm’d, shall stand	10	···/˘/˘···
Oppos’d in combat on the yellow sand.	10	˘/·/˘··/˘·
Let all be present at the games prepar’d,	10	···/˘···˘/
And joyful victors wait the just reward.	10	·/˘/˘···˘/
But now assist the rites, with garlands crown’d.”	10	··˘/···/˘·
He said, and first his brows with myrtle bound.	10	·······/˘·
Then Helymus, by his example led,	10	······˘/˘·
And old Acestes, each adorn’d his head;	10	······˘/··
Thus young Ascanius, with a sprightly grace,	10	·······/˘·
His temples tied, and all the Trojan race.	10	·/˘····/˘·
Aeneas then advanc’d amidst the train,	10	/˘˘·˘/˘/··
By thousands follow’d thro’ the flow’ry plain,	10	·/˘/˘·····
To great Anchises’ tomb; which when he found,	10	··········
He pour’d to Bacchus, on the hallow’d ground,	10	···/˘··/˘·
Two bowls of sparkling wine, of milk two more,	10	···/˘·····
And two from offer’d bulls of purple gore,	10	···/˘··/˘·
With roses then the sepulcher he strow’d	10	·/˘·······
And thus his father’s ghost bespoke aloud:	10	···/˘·˘/˘/
“Hail, O ye holy manes! hail again,	9	···/˘··˘/
Paternal ashes, now review’d in vain!	10	˘/˘/˘·˘/··
The gods permitted not, that you, with me,	10	··˘/˘·····
Should reach the promis’d shores of Italy,	10	···/˘··/˘˘
Or Tiber’s flood, what flood soe’er it be.”	9	·/˘······
Scarce had he finish’d, when, with speckled pride,	10	···/˘··/˘·
A serpent from the tomb began to glide;	10	·/˘···˘/··
His hugy bulk on sev’n high volumes roll’d;	10	·/˘····/˘·
Blue was his breadth of back, but streak’d with scaly gold:	12	·········/˘·
Thus riding on his curls, he seem’d to pass	10	·/˘·······
A rolling fire along, and singe the grass.	10	·/˘/˘/····
More various colours thro’ his body run,	10	·/˘/˘··/˘·
Than Iris when her bow imbibes the sun.	10	·/˘···˘/··
Betwixt the rising altars, and around,	10	˘/·/˘/˘···
The sacred monster shot along the ground;	10	·/˘/˘·˘/··
With harmless play amidst the bowls he pass’d,	10	·/˘·˘/····
And with his lolling tongue assay’d the taste:	10	···/˘·····
Thus fed with holy food, the wondrous guest	10	···/˘··/˘·
Within the hollow tomb retir’d to rest.	10	···/˘·˘/··
The pious prince, surpris’d at what he view’d,	10	·/˘·˘/····
The fun’ral honours with more zeal renew’d,	10	···/˘···˘/
Doubtful if this place’s genius were,	9	/˘··/˘/˘·
Or guardian of his father’s sepulcher.	10	·/˘··/˘···
Five sheep, according to the rites, he slew;	10	··˘/˘·····
As many swine, and steers of sable hue;	10	·/˘····/˘·
New gen’rous wine he from the goblets pour’d.	10	·······/˘·
And call’d his father’s ghost, from hell restor’d.	10	···/˘···˘/
The glad attendants in long order come,	10	··˘/˘··/˘·
Off’ring their gifts at great Anchises’ tomb:	10	··········
Some add more oxen: some divide the spoil;	10	···/˘·˘/··
Some place the chargers on the grassy soil;	10	···/˘··/˘·
Some blow the fires, and offered entrails broil.	10	···/·/˘/˘·
Now came the day desir’d. The skies were bright	10	····˘/····
With rosy luster of the rising light:	10	·/˘/˘··/˘·
The bord’ring people, rous’d by sounding fame	10	···/˘··/˘·
Of Trojan feasts and great Acestes’ name,	9	·/˘······
The crowded shore with acclamations fill,	10	·/˘···˘/˘·
Part to behold, and part to prove their skill.	10	··˘/······
And first the gifts in public view they place,	10	·····/˘···
Green laurel wreaths, and palm, the victors’ grace:	10	·/˘····/˘·
Within the circle, arms and tripods lie,	10	···/˘··/··
Ingots of gold and silver, heap’d on high,	10	/˘···/˘···
And vests embroider’d, of the Tyrian dye.	11	··˘/˘··/˘˘·
The trumpet’s clangour then the feast proclaims,	10	·/˘·····˘/
And all prepare for their appointed games.	10	··˘/··˘/˘·
Four galleys first, which equal rowers bear,	10	·/˘··/˘/˘·
Advancing, in the wat’ry lists appear.	10	˘/˘··/˘·˘/
The speedy Dolphin, that outstrips the wind,	10	·/˘/˘·˘/··
Bore Mnestheus, author of the Memmian kind:	10	···/˘·····
Gyas the vast Chimaera’s bulk commands,	10	········˘/
Which rising, like a tow’ring city stands;	10	·/˘····/˘·
Three Trojans tug at ev’ry lab’ring oar;	10	·/˘·······
Three banks in three degrees the sailors bore;	10	····˘/·/˘·
Beneath their sturdy strokes the billows roar.	10	···/˘··/˘·
Sergesthus, who began the Sergian race,	10	····˘/····
In the great Centaur took the leading place;	10	···/···/˘·
Cloanthus on the sea-green Scylla stood,	10	·······/˘·
From whom Cluentius draws his Trojan blood.	9	······/˘·
Far in the sea, against the foaming shore,	10	·······/˘·
There stands a rock: the raging billows roar	10	·····/˘/˘·
Above his head in storms; but, when ’tis clear,	10	··········
Uncurl their ridgy backs, and at his foot appear.	12	˘/·/˘·····˘/
In peace below the gentle waters run;	10	·····/˘/˘·
The cormorants above lie basking in the sun.	11	·/˘···/˘···
On this the hero fix’d an oak in sight,	10	···/˘·····
The mark to guide the mariners aright.	10	·····/˘˘˘/
To bear with this, the seamen stretch their oars;	10	·····/˘···
Then round the rock they steer, and seek the former shores.	12	·········/˘·
The lots decide their place. Above the rest,	10	··˘/······
Each leader shining in his Tyrian vest;	11	·/˘/˘··/˘˘·
The common crew with wreaths of poplar boughs	10	·/˘····/˘·
Their temples crown, and shade their sweaty brows:	10	·/˘····/˘·
Besmear’d with oil, their naked shoulders shine.	10	·····/˘/˘·
All take their seats, and wait the sounding sign:	10	·······/˘·
They gripe their oars; and ev’ry panting breast	10	·······/˘·
Is rais’d by turns with hope, by turns with fear depress’d.	12	··········˘/
The clangour of the trumpet gives the sign;	10	·····/˘···
At once they start, advancing in a line:	10	····˘/˘···
With shouts the sailors rend the starry skies;	10	···/˘··/˘·
Lash’d with their oars, the smoky billows rise;	10	·····/˘/˘·
Sparkles the briny main, and the vex’d ocean fries.	11	/˘·/˘····/·
Exact in time, with equal strokes they row:	10	˘/···/˘···
At once the brushing oars and brazen prow	10	···/˘··/˘·
Dash up the sandy waves, and ope the depths below.	12	···/˘·······
Not fiery coursers, in a chariot race,	10	·/˘/˘··/˘·
Invade the field with half so swift a pace;	10	˘/········
Not the fierce driver with more fury lends	10	···/˘··/˘·
The sounding lash, and, ere the stroke descends,	10	·/˘·····˘/
Low to the wheels his pliant body bends.	10	·····/˘/˘·
The partial crowd their hopes and fears divide,	10	·/˘·····˘/
And aid with eager shouts the favour’d side.	10	···/˘·····
Cries, murmurs, clamours, with a mixing sound,	10	·/˘/˘··/˘·
From woods to woods, from hills to hills rebound.	10	········˘/
Amidst the loud applauses of the shore,	10	˘/··˘/˘···
Gyas outstripp’d the rest, and sprung before:	10	··˘/······
Cloanthus, better mann’d, pursued him fast,	10	···/˘·˘/··
But his o’er-masted galley check’d his haste.	10	···/˘/˘···
The Centaur and the Dolphin brush the brine	10	·/···/˘···
With equal oars, advancing in a line;	10	·/˘·˘/˘···
And now the mighty Centaur seems to lead,	10	···/˘/····
And now the speedy Dolphin gets ahead;	10	···/˘/˘·˘/
Now board to board the rival vessels row,	10	·····/˘/˘·
The billows lave the skies, and ocean groans below.	11	·/˘····/···
They reach’d the mark; proud Gyas and his train	10	··········
In triumph rode, the victors of the main;	10	·/˘··/˘···
But, steering round, he charg’d his pilot stand	10	·/˘····/˘·
More close to shore, and skim along the sand.	10	······˘/··
“Let others bear to sea!” Menoetes heard;	9	·/˘······
But secret shelves too cautiously he fear’d,	10	·/˘··/˘˘··
And, fearing, sought the deep; and still aloof he steer’d.	12	·/˘·····˘/··
With louder cries the captain call’d again:	10	·/˘··/˘·˘/
“Bear to the rocky shore, and shun the main.”	10	···/˘·····
He spoke, and, speaking, at his stern he saw	10	···/˘·····
The bold Cloanthus near the shelvings draw.	10	·······/˘·
Betwixt the mark and him the Scylla stood,	10	˘/·····/˘·
And in a closer compass plow’d the flood.	10	···/˘/˘···
He pass’d the mark; and, wheeling, got before:	10	·····/˘···
Gyas blasphem’d the gods, devoutly swore,	10	······˘/˘·
Cried out for anger, and his hair he tore.	10	···/˘·····
Mindless of others’ lives (so high was grown	10	/˘·/˘·····
His rising rage) and careless of his own,	10	·/˘··/˘···
The trembling dotard to the deck he drew;	10	·/˘/˘·····
Then hoisted up, and overboard he threw:	10	·/˘··/˘···
This done, he seiz’d the helm; his fellows cheer’d,	10	·······/˘·
Turn’d short upon the shelfs, and madly steer’d.	10	·······/˘·
Hardly his head the plunging pilot rears,	10	/˘···/˘/˘·
Clogg’d with his clothes, and cumber’d with his years:	10	··········
Now dropping wet, he climbs the cliff with pain.	10	·/˘·······
The crowd, that saw him fall and float again,	10	········˘/
Shout from the distant shore; and loudly laugh’d,	10	···/˘··/˘·
To see his heaving breast disgorge the briny draught.	12	···/˘·˘/·/˘·
The following Centaur, and the Dolphin’s crew,	10	·/˘/···/˘·
Their vanish’d hopes of victory renew;	10	·/˘··/˘˘˘/
While Gyas lags, they kindle in the race,	10	·····/˘···
To reach the mark. Sergesthus takes the place;	10	··········
Mnestheus pursues; and while around they wind,	10	··˘/······
Comes up, not half his galley’s length behind;	10	·····/˘···
Then, on the deck, amidst his mates appear’d,	10	····˘/··˘/
And thus their drooping courages he cheer’d:	10	···/˘/˘˘··
“My friends, and Hector’s followers heretofore,	10	···/˘/˘·˘/
Exert your vigour; tug the lab’ring oar;	10	˘/·/˘·····
Stretch to your strokes, my still unconquer’d crew,	10	··········
Whom from the flaming walls of Troy I drew.	10	···/˘·····
In this, our common int’rest, let me find	10	··//˘·····
That strength of hand, that courage of the mind,	10	·····/˘···
As when you stemm’d the strong Malean flood,	9	·········
And o’er the Syrtes’ broken billows row’d.	9	····/˘/˘·
I seek not now the foremost palm to gain;	10	·····/····
Tho’ yet——But, ah! that haughty wish is vain!	10	·····/˘···
Let those enjoy it whom the gods ordain.	10	··˘/····˘/
But to be last, the lags of all the race!	10	··········
Redeem yourselves and me from that disgrace.”	10	˘/˘/····˘/
Now, one and all, they tug amain; they row	10	······˘/··
At the full stretch, and shake the brazen prow.	10	·······/˘·
The sea beneath ’em sinks; their lab’ring sides	10	··········
Are swell’d, and sweat runs gutt’ring down in tides.	10	··········
Chance aids their daring with unhop’d success;	10	···/˘···˘/
Sergesthus, eager with his beak to press	10	···/˘·····
Betwixt the rival galley and the rock,	10	˘/·/˘/˘···
Shuts up th’ unwieldly Centaur in the lock.	10	·····/····
The vessel struck; and, with the dreadful shock,	10	·/˘····/˘·
Her oars she shiver’d, and her head she broke.	10	···/˘·····
The trembling rowers from their banks arise,	10	·/˘/˘···˘/
And, anxious for themselves, renounce the prize.	10	·/˘·˘/˘/··
With iron poles they heave her off the shores,	10	·/˘·······
And gather from the sea their floating oars.	10	·/˘····/˘·
The crew of Mnestheus, with elated minds,	10	······˘/˘·
Urge their success, and call the willing winds;	10	··˘/···/˘·
Then ply their oars, and cut their liquid way	10	·······/˘·
In larger compass on the roomy sea.	10	·/˘/˘··/˘·
As, when the dove her rocky hold forsakes,	10	·····/˘·˘/
Rous’d in a fright, her sounding wings she shakes;	10	·····/˘···
The cavern rings with clatt’ring; out she flies,	10	·/˘·······
And leaves her callow care, and cleaves the skies:	10	···/˘·····
At first she flutters; but at length she springs	10	···/˘·····
To smoother flight, and shoots upon her wings:	10	·/˘·······
So Mnestheus in the Dolphin cuts the sea;	10	·····/˘···
And, flying with a force, that force assists his way.	12	·/˘·····˘/··
Sergesthus in the Centaur soon he pass’d,	10	·····/····
Wedg’d in the rocky shoals, and sticking fast.	10	···/˘··/˘·
In vain the victor he with cries implores,	10	···/˘···˘/
And practices to row with shatter’d oars.	10	·/˘˘···/˘·
Then Mnestheus bears with Gyas, and outflies:	9	·········
The ship, without a pilot, yields the prize.	10	·····/˘···
Unvanquish’d Scylla now alone remains;	10	···/˘·˘/˘/
Her he pursues, and all his vigour strains.	10	··˘/···/˘·
Shouts from the fav’ring multitude arise;	10	···/˘/˘·˘/
Applauding Echo to the shouts replies;	10	˘/˘/˘···˘/
Shouts, wishes, and applause run rattling thro’ the skies.	12	·/˘·˘/·/˘···
These clamours with disdain the Scylla heard,	10	·/˘·˘/·/˘·
Much grudg’d the praise, but more the robb’d reward:	10	········˘/
Resolv’d to hold their own, they mend their pace,	10	˘/········
All obstinate to die, or gain the race.	10	·/˘˘······
Rais’d with success, the Dolphin swiftly ran;	10	··˘/·/˘/˘·
For they can conquer, who believe they can.	10	···/˘·˘/··
Both urge their oars, and fortune both supplies,	10	·····/˘·˘/
And both perhaps had shar’d an equal prize;	10	··˘/···/˘·
When to the seas Cloanthus holds his hands,	10	··········
And succour from the wat’ry pow’rs demands:	10	·/˘··/˘·˘/
“Gods of the liquid realms, on which I row!	10	···/˘·····
If, giv’n by you, the laurel bind my brow,	10	·····/˘···
Assist to make me guilty of my vow!	10	˘/···/˘···
A snow-white bull shall on your shore be slain;	10	··········
His offer’d entrails cast into the main,	10	·/˘/˘·····
And ruddy wine, from golden goblets thrown,	10	·/˘··/˘/˘·
Your grateful gift and my return shall own.”	10	·/˘···˘/··
The choir of nymphs, and Phorcus, from below,	10	·/········
With virgin Panopea, heard his vow;	9	·/˘······
And old Portunus, with his breadth of hand,	10	··········
Push’d on, and sped the galley to the land.	10	·····/˘···
Swift as a shaft, or winged wind, she flies,	10	······˘···
And, darting to the port, obtains the prize.	10	·/˘···˘/··
The herald summons all, and then proclaims	10	·/˘/˘···˘/
Cloanthus conqu’ror of the naval games.	11	········/˘·
The prince with laurel crowns the victor’s head,	10	···/˘··/˘·
And three fat steers are to his vessel led,	10	·······/˘·
The ship’s reward; with gen’rous wine beside,	10	··˘/····˘/
And sums of silver, which the crew divide.	10	···/˘···˘/
The leaders are distinguish’d from the rest;	10	·/˘·˘/˘···
The victor honour’d with a nobler vest,	10	·/˘····/˘·
Where gold and purple strive in equal rows,	10	···/˘··/˘·
And needlework its happy cost bestows.	10	·/˘··/˘·˘/
There Ganymede is wrought with living art,	10	·/˘····/˘·
Chasing thro’ Ida’s groves the trembling hart:	10	/˘·/˘··/˘·
Breathless he seems, yet eager to pursue;	10	/˘···/˘·˘/
When from aloft descends, in open view,	10	··˘/˘/·/˘·
The bird of Jove, and, sousing on his prey,	10	·····/˘···
With crooked talons bears the boy away.	10	·/˘/˘···˘/
In vain, with lifted hands and gazing eyes,	10	···/˘··/˘·
His guards behold him soaring thro’ the skies,	10	··˘/·/˘···
And dogs pursue his flight with imitated cries.	12	··˘/···/˘·˘·
Mnestheus the second victor was declar’d;	10	···/˘/˘·˘/
And, summon’d there, the second prize he shar’d.	10	·/˘··/˘···
A coat of mail, brave Demoleus bore,	9	·········
More brave Aeneas from his shoulders tore,	10	··/˘˘··/˘·
In single combat on the Trojan shore:	10	·/˘/˘··/˘·
This was ordain’d for Mnestheus to possess;	10	··˘/····˘/
In war for his defence, for ornament in peace.	11	····˘/·/˘··
Rich was the gift, and glorious to behold,	10	·····/˘·˘/
But yet so pond’rous with its plates of gold,	10	··········
That scarce two servants could the weight sustain;	10	···/˘···˘/
Yet, loaded thus, Demoleus o’er the plain	10	·/˘·······
Pursued and lightly seiz’d the Trojan train.	10	˘/·/˘··/˘·
The third, succeeding to the last reward,	10	··˘/˘···˘/
Two goodly bowls of massy silver shar’d,	10	·/˘··/˘/˘·
With figures prominent, and richly wrought,	10	·/˘/˘˘·/˘·
And two brass caldrons from Dodona brought.	10	··········
Thus all, rewarded by the hero’s hands,	10	··˘/˘··/˘·
Their conqu’ring temples bound with purple bands;	11	····/˘··/˘·
And now Sergesthus, clearing from the rock,	10	·····/˘···
Brought back his galley shatter’d with the shock.	10	···/˘/˘···
Forlorn she look’d, without an aiding oar,	10	˘/·····/˘·
And, houted by the vulgar, made to shore.	10	·/˘··/˘···
As when a snake, surpris’d upon the road,	10	····˘/····
Is crush’d athwart her body by the load	10	··˘/·/˘···
Of heavy wheels; or with a mortal wound	10	·/˘····/˘·
Her belly bruis’d, and trodden to the ground:	10	·/˘··/˘···
In vain, with loosen’d curls, she crawls along;	10	···/˘···˘/
Yet, fierce above, she brandishes her tongue;	10	·····/˘˘··
Glares with her eyes, and bristles with her scales;	10	·····/˘···
But, groveling in the dust, her parts unsound she trails:	12	·/˘·····˘/··
So slowly to the port the Centaur tends,	10	·/˘····/··
But, what she wants in oars, with sails amends.	10	········˘/
Yet, for his galley sav’d, the grateful prince	10	···/˘··/˘·
Is pleas’d th’ unhappy chief to recompense.	10	··˘/˘··/˘·
Pholoe, the Cretan slave, rewards his care,	10	···/˘·˘/··
Beauteous herself, with lovely twins as fair.	11	/˘˘˘/·/˘···
From thence his way the Trojan hero bent	10	·····/˘/˘·
Into the neighb’ring plain, with mountains pent,	10	·······/˘·
Whose sides were shaded with surrounding wood.	10	···/˘·˘/˘·
Full in the midst of this fair valley stood	10	·······/˘·
A native theatre, which, rising slow	10	·/˘/˘˘·/˘·
By just degrees, o’erlook’d the ground below.	10	··˘/······
High on a sylvan throne the leader sate;	10	···/˘··/˘·
A num’rous train attend in solemn state.	10	····˘/·/˘·
Here those that in the rapid course delight,	10	·····/˘·˘/
Desire of honour and the prize invite.	10	˘/·/˘···˘/
The rival runners without order stand;	10	·/˘/˘··/˘·
The Trojans mix’d with the Sicilian band.	10	·/˘···˘/˘·
First Nisus, with Euryalus, appears;	10	·/˘·····˘/
Euryalus a boy of blooming years,	10	·······/˘·
With sprightly grace and equal beauty crown’d;	10	·/˘··/˘/˘·
Nisus, for friendship to the youth renown’d.	10	/˘·/˘···˘/
Diores next, of Priam’s royal race,	9	·/··/˘/˘·
Then Salius joined with Patron, took their place;	10	·····/˘···
But Patron in Arcadia had his birth,	10	·/˘·˘/˘···
And Salius his from Arcananian earth;	10	··········
Then two Sicilian youths, the names of these,	10	··˘/˘·····
Swift Helymus, and lovely Panopes:	9	·····/˘··
Both jolly huntsmen, both in forest bred,	10	·/˘····/˘·
And owning old Acestes for their head;	10	·/˘·······
With sev’ral others of ignobler name,	10	···/˘·····
Whom time has not deliver’d o’er to fame.	10	····˘/˘···
To these the hero thus his thoughts explain’d,	10	···/˘···˘/
In words which gen’ral approbation gain’d:	10	······˘/˘·

The first 400 of 1136 lines; the reader marks them all.

Notes from the edition 377

Notes by Henry S. Frieze, revised by Walter Dennison, from Virgil's Aeneid, Books I–XII (New York, 1902), Internet Archive scan; keyed to the Latin line numbers and placed beside the matching stretch of Dryden's English.

Stanza 1 Latin l. 15 Colligere arma: ' to reef the sails.' z6. Obliqoat sinus:'turns the canvas obliquely to the wind '; he turns it to such a position that it takes the wind on the side of the ship (not as in IV, 587); i.e. he'tacks.' Palinurus was unable to keep to his course (almost directly north) to Italy, but, as the wind shifted, was compelled to turn westward toward Sicily. The ancient ships could not lie as close to the wind as modern sailing vessels.
Stanza 1 Latin l. 17 iuppiter auctor: 'Jupiter as adviser.' x8. Spondeat — sperem: see note on sina/, I, 18. hoc caelo: ablative of attendant circumstance; 'with weather (lit. 'sky') like this.' xg. transversa:'athwart our course'; the neuter plural accusative used adverbially. 2Z. tantum: 'so much' as the strength of the wind requires, if we would overcome them: ' We have neither power to struggle against them, nor even to hold our course.'
Stanza 1 Latin l. 24 fraterna: Eryx was also the son of Venus.
Stanza 1 Latin l. 25 Si — astra: 'if only remembering well, I retrace (measure again) the stars I observed (before) '; i.e. observed on ur former voyage from Sicily to Africa, rite: = rgce, with memor
Stanza 1 Latin l. 28 Flecte viam velis: 'turn your course by (means of) the sails.'sitt see note on I, 565.
Stanza 1 Latin l. 29 Qnoye: 'or (any land) whither.'
Stanza 1 Latin l. 30 Acesten: see note on I, 195.
Stanza 1 Latin l. 37 Horridus: can properly be said both of the spears pointed and, as it were, bristling, and of the shaggy hide of the bear.
Stanza 1 Latin l. 38 Criniso — flumine: ' conceived of the river (god) Crinisus.'
Stanza 1 Latin l. 39 veterum parentum: 'of his early (Trojan) progenitors.'
Stanza 1 Latin l. 40 reduces: sceosesse;'he congratulates them on their return';'welcomes them.'
Stanza 1 Latin l. 42–103 Arrived in Sicily, and entertained by Acestes, Aeneas assembles the Trojans, and proclaims a sacred festival and games in honor of his father, the anniversary of whose death has now come round. He then conducts them to the tomb of Anchises, and there performs a solemn sacrifice.
Stanza 1 Latin l. 43 litore ab omni: 'from the whole shore'; from all along the shore, where the Trojans were near their ships, or on board them.
Stanza 1 Latin l. 44 tumuli ex aggere: ' from the summit of a mound '; a tribunal made by throwing up the soil, as was customary in preparing the tribunal from which the Roman general addressed his soldiers in camp.
Stanza 1 Latin l. 87–88 ' Whose back azure streaks (adorn), and whose scales a brightness spotted with gold illumined.' The plural terga has reference to the multiplied coils of the snake.
Stanza 2 Latin l. 45 a sanguine divom: because Dardanus was the son of Jupiter.
Stanza 2 Latin l. 46 exactis mensibus: ablative absolute.
Stanza 2 Latin l. 49 lam — adest: the actual day has returned, nisi fallor: the poet ascribes this uncertainty to Aeneas, perhaps, on account of the known imperfection of the ancient method of reckoning time.
Stanza 2 Latin l. 50 honoratum: a day on which honoreSf or sacrifices, are rendered to the gods.
Stanza 2 Latin l. 54 strnerem — donis: 'I would cover with their appropriate sacrifices.' To make sacrifices to a hero after his death, as to a god, was in accordance with the ancient customs. See note on III, 328. Fig- 37.— The Rising of Helios (1. 42)
Stanza 2 Latin l. 55 nltlO: 'beyond' all expectation, or hope. Besides the motive that I should have to keep the day anywhere, and under the most unfavorable circumstances, I am 'actually' on the very ground.
Stanza 2 Latin l. 59 Poscamus ventos: ' let us pray (i.e. Anchises) for favorable winds.'
Stanza 2 Latin l. 59 60.'And that he (Anchises) may suffer me, when my city shall have been built, to offer yearly these sacrifices in temples consecrated to him.'(Ut) velit depends on poscamus
Stanza 2 Latin l. 61–62 Bina — naves: 'two head of cattle for each of the ships.' numero: qualifies bina
Stanza 2 Latin l. 64 si: equivalent to cum (temporal). Cf. VI, 828. nona: in allusion to the Roman custom of making sacrifices for the deceased on the ninth day after his death: this period was called novemdiale.
Stanza 2 Latin l. 66 Prima ponam certamina: 'I will fix as the first contests (of the day)'; I will appoint contests, the first of which, etc.
Stanza 2 Latin l. 67 viribus: ablative of cause with atidax
Stanza 2 Latin l. 68 incedit: cf. I, 46, and note.
Stanza 2 Latin l. 69 seu etc: ' or if (any one) dares/
Stanza 2 Latin l. 71 Ore favete: lit. ' favor with the lips'; i.e. 'keep solemn silence.' This was the common formula addressed to the assembly by the priest, lest some word of ill omen be accidentally spoken. These words, and, in fact, the whole verse, refer to the ceremonies now immediately to be performed at the tomb of Anchises.
Stanza 2 Latin l. 72 matema: the myrtle was sacred to Venus.
Stanza 2 Latin l. 78 htuni: see note on I, 193.
Stanza 3 Latin l. 77 mero Baccho: this and the following ablatives limit carchesia as ablatives of description.
Stanza 3 Latin l. 80 itemin: ' once more.' The salve was uttered for the first time at the buriaL F'g«38.— Carchesium (I.77) Fig. 39. — Painting from a Pompeian Lares Chapel, showing the Serpent partaking of the Offerings (11. 84 sqq.)
Stanza 3 Latin l. 80–81 recepti Nequiquam: 'in vain rescued' from Troy and from the sea, because he did not, after all, survive to reach Italy, animae, umbrae: ' soul,' 'shade'; plural for the singular. So «wr«'?, IV, 571.
Stanza 3 Latin l. 83 qoicumque est: for they have only heard the name, quaerere: sc. me or mihi.
Stanza 3 Latin l. 84 adytis: the inmost part of the shrine is '.n this case the interior of the tomb. The snake was looked upon as a token of good, and his form was supposed to be assumed by the genius loci. In the present instance it is uncertain whether it is the genius of the place or the attendant spirit {Jamulus) of Anchises.
Stanza 3 Latin l. 89 Mille—- colores: cf. IV, 701. adyerso sole: ablative absolute.
Stanza 3 Latin l. 94 Hoc magis: 'so much the more'; because he regards it as a good omen, instaurat honores:'commences anew the sacrifices'; which had been disturbed. Fig. 40. — The Suovetaurilia (11. 96, 97)
Stanza 3 Latin l. 96 bidentes, etc: the suavetaurilia, or sacrifice of a boar, a sheep, and a bullock.
Stanza 3 Latin l. 97 nigrantes: black victims were offered to the Manes and deities of the lower world.
Stanza 3 Latin l. 99 remissos: ' released.' The Manes were supposed, when invoked {ani' mam vocare), to come back from the lower world, and partake of the sacrifice. xoa quae — COpia: ' according to the ability of each.' xoa. aena locant, etc.: cf. 1, 213 sqq. The feast accompanies the sacrifice.
Stanza 3 Latin l. 104–285 The appointed day having arrived, the games are opened with a race of ships. Four galleys enter the lists. Gyas in the Chimaera takes the lead, followed by Qoanthus in the Scylla; the Pristis and Centaur, under Mnestheus and Sergestus, side by side, pursue the others. As they approach the goal, Menoetes, the old pilot of the Chimaera, fears the rocks and keeps too far away. The Scylla takes advantage of the error, and shoots between the Chimaera and the goal, and, having passed round it, turns back toward the shore, leaving Gyas behind. He in his fury casts the pilot overboard, and takes the helm himself. Meanwhile Mnestheus and Sergestus arc vieing with each other to pass the Chimaera. Sergestus at first has the advantage, but only by a part of the ship's length, and, in his eagerness to round the goal at the nearest point, runs his ship on the rocks. The Pristis rushes by, and now strives to overtake the Scylla. But Cloanthus prays to the gods of the sea, with whose aid the ship speeds to the land, and receives the first prize, while that of Mnestheus takes the second, and the Chimaera the third. Sergestus, with difficulty, brings his ship to land. X05. Phaithontis: put for the sun. Z08. pars et parati: 'a part also (besides coming to see the Trojan strangers) prepared,' etc. For the plural with pars, see note on Odnixae, IV, 406. Z09. circo: either the circus mentioned in L 289 or it b translated the ' encircling throng.' zio. sacri: tripods are sacred because so frequently consecrated to the gods or used for sacred purposes. 1x3. tuba: an anachronism. The trumpet was an invention of the Etruscans, and unknown to the Trojans, commissos ludos:'the beginning of the games.' 1 14. The race of ships, substituted for the chariot race in the Iliad, is an idea original with Virgil, and has produced one of the most stirring and entertaining passages of the Aeneid. pares:'well-matched'; the four that were known as the best and most nearly equal, and therefore ' chosen'(iiclectai) by Aeneas from the whole fleet, gravibus remis: ablative of manner with ineunt certamina;'four well-matched ships — open the first contests with heavy oars.' Z16. remige: join with agit, Pristim: the name is indicated by the image used as the figurehead. Cf. the representation of a fish ou the rostrum. Fig. 41. Z17. Mox Italtts, etc.: he is destined soon to become an Italian, and to give origin to a family which shall be called the race of Memmius {gens Metnmi). The relation of names is analogous to that of fi€fiPTj'r0ai to metninisse. As Mnestheus is descended from Assaracus, Virgil pays a high compliment to the Memmii by assigning to the family such an ancestor.
Stanza 4 Latin l. 118 ingenti mole: ablative of description.
Stanza 4 Latin l. 119 Urbis opus: 'as great as a city.' triplici versu: 'in triple row.' There are three banks of oars on each side of the ship. Such vessels, hcW'ever, were unknown before the time of the Peloponnesian war. zao. temo ordine: 'in three ranks'; a poetic repetition, Z27. Tranquillo: Mn €aim weather'; ablative of the neuter adjective iised substantively, and expressing time. laS. Campus and statio are in apposition with unda; ' a level spot and a resort.'
Stanza 4 Latin l. 130 13Z. unde ubi, Scirent: relative clauses, denoting purpose. 132. anro, ostro: join with decori, 134. populea: because these were funeral games. The poplar was sacred to Hercules, who is said to have brought it from Hades. 137. Intenti: 'eager.' i37' 138' ezsultantia — cnpido: 'throbbing fear (the trembling hope of success) and the ardent desire of glory thrill their panting breasts.'
Stanza 5 Latin l. 140 prosiluere, etc: the ships seem as animated as the horses in the chariot race.
Stanza 5 Latin l. 141 versa: ' upturned ' (from z//r). adductis lacertis: expresses the meansof z/jfl/ 'by their straining (lit. 'pulled toward' the body) arms.'
Stanza 5 Latin l. 142 pariter: 'side by side'; but only at the start. Fig. 41. — Rostrum or Beak of a Vessel (1. 143) Fig. 42. — Plan of an Ancient Roman Circus Down the center extends the spina (' backbone '), or dividing barrier, around which the chariots ran in the race. At /f, /1, are the carcgres, or staUs from which the racers started (1. 145). X45. Corripuere campnin:'take the course/ — a strong term, lit.'seize.'The perfect here, and in 11. 140, 147, indicates the rapidity or suddenness of the act. effusi caroere:'darting forth from the barrier.' The carceres are the stalls from which the chariots started in the circus races. See Fig. 42. They correspond here to the fines stations, or starting places of the ships, 1. 139.
Stanza 5 Latin l. 146 immissis: 'swiftly running'; lit.'being let go.'
Stanza 5 Latin l. 147 iugis: ioxequis; dative, in verbera: 'to blows'; i.e. ' to ply the lash'; join with pendent, darioteers stood up and leaned over toward the horses.
Stanza 5 Latin l. 148 stndiis faventum: ' cheers of partisans/ X49y 150. mclusa Litora: wooded hills inclose the shore, and thus the shouting is the more loudly reechoed.
Stanza 5 Latin l. 152 Turbam inter fremitumque: ' amidst the din and tumult.'
Stanza 5 Latin l. 155 locum priorem: they are running side by side, each striving to gain the lead, or the place ahead.
Stanza 5 Latin l. 157 iunctis frontibus: ' with even prows.'
Stanza 5 Latin l. 156 habet: ' gets ' the priorem locum
Stanza 5 Latin l. 159 metam tenebant: 'were nearing the goal'; epexegetical of /rf »quabant scopulo.
Stanza 5 Latin l. 160 princeps: 'foremost'; i.e. in the race thus far. gurgite:'in the boiling deep.' i6a. Quo abis?'whither are you bearing away?'mihi:'pray'; the dativus eihicus. (
Stanza 6 Latin l. 163 ama, etc: ' hug the shore and let the oar blade graze the rocks on the left.' For the omission of ut after siniy see note on memorett II, 75. They turn the goal to the left, and strive to gain time by making the turn as near to it as possible. z66. diyersus: 'away from the track'; a usage similar to that of dexter, above, L 162.
Stanza 6 Latin l. 167 clamore revocabat = clamabat revocans, x68. Respicit:'he looks back and sees.'tergo: ddXiyt -mih instantem, propiora:'the inside course'; i.e.'nearer'the goaL X69. nie: i.e. Qoanthus.
Stanza 6 Latin l. 170 interior: between Gyas and the rocks. Cf. XI, 695. priorem: Le. Gyas.
Stanza 6 Latin l. 172 ossibus: ablative of place.
Stanza 6 Latin l. 174 socinm: genitive case, an older form.
Stanza 6 Latin l. 185 capit ante locum: 'takes the place ahead';'the lead,'the /rwriw locum, for which the two were contending, as mentioned in I. 155. The Centaur is now ahead, but by only a part of the ship's length, as we learn in the next line, where prior contains the same idea as ante locum. Ante is, therefore, an adverb. Cf. II, 348. scopulo: the ' signal rock ' or'goal.'
Stanza 6 Latin l. 187 rostro: 'with her beak.' Her beak is close opposite to the side of the Centaur.
Stanza 7 Latin l. 179 iam senior: one reason for gravis; another is fluens, ' dripping/ X84. Mnesthei: here a dissyllable, superare; see note on II, 10.
Stanza 7 Latin l. 190 Hectorei socii: i.e. my comrades, once the comrades of Hector, sorte suprema: 'in the final destiny' or 'overthrow (of Troy).' «92. usi: sc. estis, Z94. prima:'the first prize'; used substantively.
Stanza 7 Latin l. 195 Quamquam: see note on I, 135. N 142 VIRGIL'S AENEID
Stanza 7 Latin l. 196 hoc vincite: 'win thb (at least)'; referring to the preceding words, Extremos pudeat rediisse.
Stanza 7 Latin l. 199 Subtrahitur solum: ' the sea is drawn beneath them.'Their speed is so furious that the water itself seems to rush beneath the veaseL Solum,'the surface (of the sea) '; properly the surface of the earth. 20a. forens animi: see note on II, 61.
Stanza 7 Latin l. 203 iniquo: there was not room enough between the Pristis on his right and the rocks on his left.
Stanza 7 Latin l. 204 procurrentibus: ' jutting out/ but covered by the water, and hence caeca, as they are called in 1. 164.
Stanza 7 Latin l. 205 murice, etc: ' the oars striking on the jagged rock were broken with a crash {crcpucre)'
Stanza 7 Latin l. 206 The prow was held fast upon the rock; the rest of the ship was afloat» 2ZI. Agmine remorum:'with the steady movement of the oars.'yen- tisque vocatis: ablative absolute, expressing attendant circumstance. 2X2. Pronamaria: 'smooth waters'; i.e. the waters now unobstructed by any rock or ship, a clear and open sea. Others trans, prona ' shoreward '; i.e. lit. 'sloping (toward the shore).' 2x5, 216. exterrita tecto:'frightened from her home.' 2x7. Cf. Milton's line, Par. Lost, 2, 634: — ' Shaves with level wing the deep.' 2x8, 2x9. ultima Aequora:'the final waters'of the race; those from the turning of the goal to the shore.
Stanza 7 Latin l. 220 alto: 'high'relatively; high for a ship to rest upon.
Stanza 7 Latin l. 224 cedit: 'she falls behind'; allows the other ship to pass her.
Stanza 7 Latin l. 227 cuncti: all the spectators, sequentem: sc. Mnesthea or ilium.
Stanza 7 Latin l. 229 proprium: the crew of the Scylla regard the victory as already'their own.'partum:'(already) won.'
Stanza 7 Latin l. 231 H08 — alit: 'success incites these'; i.e. the crew of Mnestheus. Cf. 1. 210. possimt — yidentm::'they can, because they think {yicUntur) they can.'
Stanza 7 Latin l. 233 ponto: 'toward the sea'; ioi ad pontum, Cf. I, 6. utrasque: the plural is properly used only when each of the two objects referred to is plural; but exception is made, as here, when they are things naturally associated.
Stanza 7 Latin l. 234 in vota: 'to his vows'; to bear witness to his vows. A vow, or conditional promise, was attached to a prayer; some offering was to be made on condition that the gods fulfill the wishes of the suppliant. If the prayer is answered, he will be bound to fulfill his promise {reus, or damnatus voti)
Stanza 7 Latin l. 235 aequora: see note on I, 67.
Stanza 7 Latin l. 237 voti: A. 220, a\ ( Fig. 43. —The'Maeander'Pattern (1. 251)
Stanza 7 Latin l. 241 manu magna: 'with his mighty hand'; as below, 1. 487. Gods and heroes were larger than men. euntem: join with navem (understood).
Stanza 7 Latin l. 243 condidit: see note on 1. 145. alto: i.e. 'deep' inland, the deep bosom of the bay.
Stanza 7 Latin l. 244 cunctis: all who had been engaged in the contest.
Stanza 7 Latin l. 247–248 optare, ferre: explanatory infinitives with dat. See note on I, 66. There are several bullocks ready for presents and prizes (see 1. 366), three of which he allows each of the commanders to choose for his crew; beginning of course, with Cloanthus.
Stanza 7 Latin l. 248 There is also a present of wine and of silver for each of the ships, magnum: not the socalled great talent; but merely an appellative, ' heavy.'
Stanza 7 Latin l. 250–251 qoam — cn- cnrrit: ' around which ran a wide border of Meliboean purple in two waving stripes.' plurima: refers tc the width of the border. Maeandro duplici: i.e. in two meandering and parallel lines.
Stanza 7 Latin l. 254 anhelantisimilis: 'like one panting (in the chase).' The picture is lifelike.
Stanza 7 Latin l. 255 Sublimem: proleptic; bore ' aloft in the air.' IoyIs armiger: the eagle was often represented as bearing in his claws the thunderbolts of Jupiter.
Stanza 7 Latin l. 256 longaevi: the old men, guardians of the youth, are stretching their himds in despair toward the eagle as he ascends, while the dogs, resting on their haunckes, bark furiously at the supposed bird of prey. See Fig. 44. Fig. 44. — Ganymede carried up to Heaven by the Eagle of Jupiter (1. 252) NI44 VIRGIL'S AENEID
Stanza 7 Latin l. 257 in auras: because they are looking upward.
Stanza 7 Latin l. 259 Levibus: note the quantity of the first syllable, haniis oonsertam, etc.: see note on the same words, III, 467.
Stanza 7 Latin l. 264 Multiplicem: 'with its heavy folds'; emphatic and explaining vix
Stanza 8 Latin l. 252 Two scenes are represented: one the chase, in which Ganymede is hunting the stag on Mount Ida; in the other the eagle of Jupiter is bearing Ganymede up to the sky.
Stanza 8 Latin l. 261 The 0 in Uio is retained (hiatus), and made short. See note on
Stanza 8 Latin l. 262 habere: for habendam. See above, note on 1. 247. viro: repeats the huic (1. 259), because of its distance from the verb, Donat
Stanza 8 Latin l. 265 cursu: 'in swift pursuit'; join with d.
Stanza 8 Latin l. 267 argento: ablative with perf ecta, ' well made.' aspera signis: ' embossed with figures.'
Stanza 8 Latin l. 268 lamque adeo: 'now at length'; adeo strengthens the iam, Cf. II, 567-
Stanza 8 Latin l. 271 ordine debilis uno: 'dibbled in one row of oars'; i.e. one side i partially disabled, ordine ablative of specification. By a natural figure, quite frequent in nautical phrase, the captain, instead of the ship, is said to be crippled {debilis)
Stanza 8 Latin l. 273 Qualis: cf. I, 430, and note, saepe: as in I, 148. viae in aggere:'on the raised pavement of the road.'The entire surface of the road is an agger'
Stanza 8 Latin l. 274 obliqnmn: 'lying across the track.'ictu: join with gravis
Stanza 9 Latin l. 275 saxo: join with both adjectives, seminecem and lacerum
Stanza 9 Latin l. 276–279 Nequiquam — plicantem: 'in vain throws forth long wreaths with his body, while attempting to flee; in one part fierce and glowing with his eyes, and stretching high his hissing neck; (the other) part crippled by the wound, holds him back (though) struggling (to force himself forward) on his coils {nodis), and winding himself into his own folds.'
Stanza 9 Latin l. 279 Nixantem: refers to the action of the unwounded portion of his body first described; with this he vainly struggles to pull himself along by throwing it into contortions, while he twists the joints {membra) of the wounded part, or part below the wound, upon themselves; i.e. into coil within coil, nodis:'knots'; denotes the alternate contraction and extension of the joints, either vertical or horizontal, which in the snake are the means of motion, and which, in this case, when he is struggling violently, rise into large, undulating knots. 28Z. Vela facit:'unfurls the sails.'
Stanza 9 Latin l. 282 promisso munere: no particular reward has been mentioned in the narrative, but we may infer from 1. 305 that in the ship race also, none wat to go unrewarded.
Stanza 9 Latin l. 284 datur: the last syllable is long here. Cf. II, 369. openun Minerv: the use of the needle, distaff, and loom.
Stanza 9 Latin l. 285 genus: Greek accusative.
Stanza 9 Latin l. 286–361 Description of the foot race. Aeneas chooses a meadow, encircled by wooded hills, as a circus or stadium. He invites all who wish to make trial of their speed in a foot race to present themselves. The most prominent competitors are Nisus, Euryalus, Diores, Salius, Patron, Helymus, and Panopes. Nisus takes the lead, Salius is, next, and third Euryalus, followed by Helymus and Diores. Near the goal Nisus falls down, but gives the victory to his friend Euryalus by tripping up Salius. Helymus takes the second prize, and Diores the third.
Stanza 9 Latin l. 287–288 quem — silvae: ' which woods surrounded on curving hills on every side'; i.e. which wood -covered hills encircled, collibus: ablative of place with terrae
Stanza 9 Latin l. 287 deinde: see note on 1. 14.
Stanza 10 Latin l. 288 mediaque — erat: ' in the midst of a valley was the circle of a theater.' 290. Consessu: dative for in consessum. 29Z. qui: the antecedent is eorum (limiting animos) understood. 296. Nisus — pueri: ' Nisus distinguished by his affectionate love for the the boy (Euryalus).'
Stanza 10 Latin l. 299 ab: see note on I, 730.
Stanza 11 Latin l. 300 Helymus: was a friend of Acestes, mentioned above, 1. 73.
Stanza 11 Latin l. 307 caelatam: 'mounted with silver'; probably having a wooden handle embossed, or inlaid, with figures in silver, ferre: =ferendam, Cf. 11. 248, 262.
Stanza 11 Latin l. 308 praemia: 'prizes'; to be distinguished here from honos, the present which was to be common to all.
Stanza 11 Latin l. 310 phaleris insignem: 'adorned with trappings.'These were straps of leather mounted with metallic ornaments, and fastened about the breast, neck, and head of the horse.
Stanza 11 Latin l. 312 lato auro: ablative of description with B aliens; 'of broad gold.' circum (adv,) amplectitur: the belt, as seen in some antique representations of the quiver, passes round the quiver, and the two ends are joined together by the buckle, or brooch. See p. 27.
Stanza 11 Latin l. 313 tereti gemma: 'with a polished jewel'; ablative of instrument with rubnectit; or may be ablative of description withyfwAz
Stanza 11 Latin l. 315 locum: 'the place' for starting. Cf. 1. 132.
Stanza 11 Latin l. 316 Corripiunt spatia: 'they seize upon the course.' Cf. 1. 145, and I, 418. limen:' the starting point.'
Stanza 11 Latin l. 317 ultima signant: 'they mark the farthest point'; i.e. with the eyej for without fixing the eye on the goal, they may turn from a direct line« N 146 VIRGIL'S AENEID 3x8. corpora: nicely chosen here for the persons themselves. 3x9. folminis alls: the thunderbolt was often represented on coins, with wings. 32X. deinde: is joined with insequitur (understood), post: with relicto, governing eum understood.
Stanza 11 Latin l. 323 quo Sttb ipso: 'and close behind him.'
Stanza 11 Latin l. 324 calce — calce: 'and even now grazes heel with heel'; i.e. 'foot with foot '; almost abreast of Helymus, lacking only a pace of it.
Stanza 11 Latin l. 325 umero: the shoulder or side of Helymus. spatia plura: for plus spaiii, supersint — relinquat: the present for the imperfect subjunctive of a condition contrary to fact in present time. Cf. nifaciat, I, 58.
Stanza 12 Latin l. 311–312 Amazoniam, Threiciis: general appellatives here, signifying such as Amazons and Thracians use; for both races were renowned as archers.
Stanza 12 Latin l. 326 ambiguumque relinquat: 'or he would leave it (the result or issue of the contest) uncertain.'
Stanza 12 Latin l. 327 spatio extremo: 'in the farthest part of the course'; the ultima mentioned in 1. 317. The race seems to have terminated here, and not to have turned back from the goal, as in the regular circus.
Stanza 12 Latin l. 328 sub Finem: 'near to the end'; defining more precisely the preceding words, levi sanguine: because slippery. Victims had been slaughtered on the spot, as is implied in sacrot 1. 333.
Stanza 12 Latin l. 329 ut: causal,'since.'forte: it'happened'that, when they were slaughtering bullocks, the blood had soaked the ground in this part of the race course.
Stanza 12 Latin l. 330 Fusus (erat)i'had streamed.'super: adverb. 33X, 332. presso solo: ablative absolute denoting time. When once his foot had pressed this treacherous spot, he instantly slipped and fell headlong. 334. ille: in apposition with the foregoing subject, as in I, 3.
Stanza 12 Latin l. 336 revolutus: ' rolled over.' spissa harena: ' on the compact sand.'
Stanza 12 Latin l. 337 Suryalus: the last syllable is long under the ictus and before the caesura.
Stanza 12 Latin l. 338 plausu, fremitu: ablative of manner.
Stanza 12 Latin l. 339 nunc: emphatic; 'now' that Nisus and Saliu are thrown out. palma: sc. est; lit. 'prize,' i.e. here = 'prize winner,' 'victor.'
Stanza 12 Latin l. 340 caveae ingentis: 'of the vast theater.'See I. 288.
Stanza 12 Latin l. 340–341 ora Prima: 'the front seats of the fathers.'The senators at Rome occupied the seats in front; so now the nobles and elders were seated in front of tne multitude.
Stanza 12 Latin l. 344 veniens virtus: 'his merit presenting itself.'
Stanza 13 Latin l. 349 palmam — nemo: 'no one moves the prize from the (determined) order.'The prizes were to be given to those who should come out first, second, and third, with no other condition specified.
Stanza 13 Latin l. 352 aureis: here, a dissyllable. 3'f4. If isp: fin emphatic substitute for mihi. Cf' II 79} and IV, 31.
Stanza 13 Latin l. 357 simolhisdictis: A. 261»; G.417» 12; (
Stanza 13 Latin l. 359 artem: in apposition with clipeum
Stanza 13 Latin l. 360 Danais: dative of the agent with refixum. See note on 1, 326. The Greeks had taken the shield from a temple of Neptune, and perhaps it had come into the hands of Aeneas through Helenus. 36Z. Hoc monere: A. 225, '/; 6. 187, l,a\ (
Stanza 14 Latin l. 363 animus praesens: ' a prompt spirit.'
Stanza 14 Latin l. 364 evinctis palmis: 'the palms being bound'; i.e. with the caestm; not a boxing glove covering the hand, but a coil of leather thongs, filled with lead or iron, and bound around the palm and wrist, sometimes extending to the elbow. See Fig. 45.
Stanza 14 Latin l. 366 auro: is, perhaps, best referred to the practice of gilding the horns; and velatum explained as a zeugma.
Stanza 14 Latin l. 370 Paridem: the post-Homeric poets represent Paris as a hero excelling in agility, strength, and the use of weapons.
Stanza 14 Latin l. 373 veniens ae ferebat, etc: 'who boasted of his descent from,' etc. As in II. 377, III, 310, the participle agrees with the subject, yet virtually modifies the predicate as if in the accusative. Others render, «who with huge bulk strode forth {se ferebaf) a descendant of,' etc. Amyci: Amycus, king of the Bebrycians, compelled all strangers to contend with him until at length he was killed by Pollux, who had landed with the other Argonauts in Bithynia.
Stanza 14 Latin l. 375 prima in proelia: 'for the beginning of the fight'; or possmiy prima primus. He ' first'presented himself' N 148 VIRGIL'S AENEID 38Z. Aeneae: better the dative of reference (equivalent to the genitive of possession) than the genitive.
Stanza 14 Latin l. 384 finis: not here ' purpose/ but ' time ';'what will be the end of delaying?'i.e. how long must I remain here ? usque: separated from quo by tmesis.
Stanza 14 Latin l. 385 Ducere: supply me as the subject.
Stanza 14 Latin l. 387 gravis: for graviter with castigat
Stanza 14 Latin l. 388 ut consederat: 'as (by chance) he had seated himself.'
Stanza 15 Latin l. 389 frustra: ' in vain,' if, after all, you suffer another to carry away the prize on the present occasion. 39Z. nobis: ethical dative;'where, pray, is that god of ours?'See note on 1. 162.
Stanza 15 Latin l. 395 sed enim: 'but in fact'(= dXXd 7dp). An ellipsis is involved senecta: with hebet
Stanza 16 Latin l. 362–484 The pugilistic contest is next described. Dares, a Trojan, presents himself as the challenger, but at first no one is disposed to compete with him. Then an old Sicilian of Trojan descent, Entellus, is induced by his friend Acestes to enter the lists. They put on the gauntlets furnished by Aeneas, and begin the fight. Entellus at first stands on the defensive, and merely parries or avoids the blows of his more nimble antagonist. At last the old man aims a blow with immense effort at Dares, who adroitly turns aside, leaving Entellus to fall headlong by the impetus of his own motion. Entellus, thus roused by shame and revenge, rises from the ground, attacks Dares with fury, and gains the victory. 36a. peregit: for the tense, see note an postquam I, 216.
Stanza 16 Latin l. 371 ad tnmolam: at the funeral games in honor of Hector, quo: 'in which.'
Stanza 16 Latin l. 397 qua: governed hy fidens, A. 254, b\ (
Stanza 16 Latin l. 400 nec dona moror: 'nor do I regard the gifts.' [Cf. II
Stanza 16 Latin l. 402 in proella: join with ferre, quibus: ' (armed) with Fig. 45. - The Caestus (L 401) which.'
Stanza 16 Latin l. 404 tantorum: with bourn conveys the same notion as if it were /t/n» qualifying ingentia — an exaggerated description of the size of the caestus.
Stanza 16 Latin l. 406 longe recusat: 'shrinks far back.'
Stanza 16 Latin l. 407–408 pondus — yersat: 'tries the weight of the gauntlets, and turns over, this way and that, the immense folds themselves.'Their numerous great coils are distinguished from their weight.
Stanza 16 Latin l. 410 arma: is added to signify that they were weapons actually used by him in combat.
Stanza 16 Latin l. 413 Sanguine, cerebro: the blood and brain of some who had been beaten or killed by Eryx.
Stanza 16 Latin l. 414 His: see note on Quibus X, 02, suetus: scpugnare
Stanza 16 Latin l. 418 Id: is ambiguous, but probably relates to the proposition following, to take equal gauntlets, sedet: for sedet animo or placet, probat: sc. et. auctor: predicate v/Mh probat;'sanctions with his authority.'
Stanza 17 Latin l. 421 duplicem amictum: as an old man, he had quietly seated himself, wrapped in a cloak made of coarse cloth doubled. Such a cloak was called by the Romans abolla
Stanza 17 Latin l. 422 lacertosque: is connected with the following verse in scanning. See note on IV, 558.
Stanza 17 Latin l. 423 With Szuit in this usage, vestibus is understood'
Stanza 17 Latin l. 426 in digitOS: join with arrectus
Stanza 17 Latin l. 431 mole: ' in his heavy frame/
Stanza 17 Latin l. 431–432 trementi labant: may be rendered ' tremble and totter/ Genua: here, a dissyllable, gen-wa, aeger anhelitus: ' troubled panting'; a hard drawing of the breath that betrays infirmity.
Stanza 17 Latin l. 433 volnera: metonymy for verbera
Stanza 17 Latin l. 434 ingeminant: here, transitive, with multa (vulnera) as object. 434» 435» pectore — sonitos: ' wake deep echoes on the chest'; from the t)low received, errat: ' play.' 437' gf Avis: in the predicate, implying that he is fixed and steady by his weight, nisu: ' firm position.'
Stanza 18 Latin l. 438 tela exit: ' shuns blows.' For the accusative after exit, A,2yj,d, modO: Xmats corpore Knd oculis
Stanza 18 Latin l. 439 nie: Dares; subject of per err at (1. 441) and urget (1. 442). 444. a yertice: for desuper; as in I, 114.
Stanza 18 Latin l. 446 ultro: ' of his own impulse '; not because struck by his opponent.
Stanza 18 Latin l. 450 studiis: ' with eager interest.'
Stanza 18 Latin l. 451 caelo: see note on Latio, I, 6.
Stanza 18 Latin l. 456 Daren: the form Dareta for the accusative also occurs, 1. 460.
Stanza 18 Latin l. 457 ille: see note on I, 3, and cf. 11. 186, 398.
Stanza 19 Latin l. 458 quam: trans. ' as,' and join with multa. The correlative would reguV4rly be tarn instead of sic
Stanza 19 Latin l. 459–460 densis — Creber: 'frequent with swift following blows'; for densis et crebris ictibus, yersat:'drives round and round'; as agit toto equore, 1. 456.
Stanza 19 Latin l. 466 vires alias: ' superhuman strength '; 'do you not perceive that his strength is other (than mortal) ? ' Some god helps him. Others trans.: ' the strength (of both of you) is changed '; i.e. other than before, conyersa numina: ' that the favor of heaven is changed.' When Entellus fell, the gods seemed to be on the side of Dares; now that they have become adverse, he need not feel disgraced to submit to their power. He is not wanting in prowess, but is only infelix
Stanza 19 Latin l. 467 deo: ' to the god (whoever he may be).' 469. ntroque:'to either side.'
Stanza 19 Latin l. 471 vocati: these friends represent Dares.
Stanza 19 Latin l. 483 meliorem 111«''«: Dares would have been slain as a victim to Eryx; but the life of the bull is given as a more acceptable sacrifice. Eryx was the master of Entellus, and has just now, as a god, secured him the victory.
Stanza 20 Latin l. 476 qua a morte: ' from what (certain and cruel) death.' reyocatom: ' rescued.' See note on summer sas, I, 69.
Stanza 20 Latin l. 478 donum pugnae: ' as the prize of the combat.'
Stanza 20 Latin l. 479 media inter comua: ' right between the horns.'
Stanza 20 Latin l. 480 Arduus: ' rising to his full height.'
Stanza 20 Latin l. 481 humi: see note on I, 193. Observe the monosyllable closing the verse. I, 105; ( K 150 VIRGIL'S AENEID 48a. raper:'over him.'
Stanza 20 Latin l. 485–644 The trial of skill in archery. There are four competitors: Hippocodn, Mnestheus, Eurytion, Acestes. Their order is determined by lot. The mark is a dove fastened by a cord to a ship's mast, erected for the purpose in the 'long circus.' The arrow of Hippocoon strikes the mast, but misses the bird. Mnestheus hits the string only, and the bird escapes. Eurytion kills her on the wing. Acestes discharges his arrow into the air at random. It takes fire and vanishes in the sky. In consequence of this miracle, the old man is pronounced victor.
Stanza 20 Latin l. 486 qui forte velint: 'such as perchance may wish.'
Stanza 20 Latin l. 487 Ingenti manu: «with powerful hand.' See note on manu, L 241.
Stanza 20 Latin l. 488 traiecto in fune: «by a string passed around it (the dove's foot).'
Stanza 20 Latin l. 489 tendant: see note on I, 20. 49a. locus: ' the place '; metonymy for the lot which decided the place or order. Hyrtacidae: Hippocodn and Nisus (IX, 177) are both called Fig.46.-AnAndBow. «ons of Hyrtacus. man (I.500) 494' ''A ' Mnestheus, as one of the victors in the ship race, has still the olive wreath on his head. Eurytion, like HippocoSn, is not elsewhere mentioned. His brother Pandarus was famed for archery, and under the direction of Minerva (iussus) had broken off the truce with the Greeks by discharging an arrow at Menelaus.
Stanza 20 Latin l. 498 Acestes: metonymy for the name or lot of Acestes.
Stanza 20 Latin l. 499 et ipse: 'even he,'though aged.
Stanza 20 Latin l. 501 Pro se qnisque: ' each one with all his power.' H. 389» 3; (
Stanza 20 Latin l. 505 venit — pennis: the frightened bird showed its fear (Hmuii) by fluttering with its wings; the ablative expresses instrument.
Stanza 20 Latin l. 506 ingenti— plausu: of those viewing the contest.
Stanza 20 Latin l. 507 adducto area: 'his bow being drawn (to the breast).'
Stanza 20 Latin l. 508 Altapetens: ' aiming high.' 51a. notos: ' winds '; governed by the prepontion in. For a similar dis» placement of the preposition, see II, 654. 5x3. area contenta parato: ' strained on the ready bow.'. NOTES — BOOK V NISI
Stanza 20 Latin l. 514 Tela: for the singular; 'his shaft/ The arrow is said to be strained as well as the bow. See note on 1. 507. fratrem: Eurytion invoked the aid of Pandarus, a deified hero, as Entellus (1. 483) that of Eryx.
Stanza 20 Latin l. 521 Ostentans: the distant flight of the arrow, and the noise of the bow, would show the strength and skill of old Acestes.
Stanza 20 Latin l. 522–524 hic — vates: 'hereupon a strange sight, sudden and destined to be a portent of great presage, meets their eyes. The great event afterward explained it, and the awful soothsayers interpreted the omens too late.'The event which this omen was intended to foreshadow has never been satisfactorily identified. It perhaps does not refer to the burning of the ships described 11. 659 sqq., but to later events in the history of Sicily, perhaps her wars with Rome.
Stanza 20 Latin l. 530–532 nec mazillliis, etc: Aeneas regards the prodigy as a token of divine favor toward Acestes, and laetum indicates the same understanding of it on the part of Acestes himself. 533) 534' voluit — auspiciis:'has made known his will by such tokens.'
Stanza 21 Latin l. 534 exsortem: with /, used adverbially;'apart from the lot,''out of due course'; i.e. he drew a prize not provided for among the premiums first proposed.
Stanza 22 Latin l. 537 in magno munere: 'as a noble gift.'
Stanza 22 Latin l. 538 Ferre: see note on I, 66. am mODttmentam:'as a memento of himself.'
Stanza 22 Latin l. 541 praelato — honori: 'the honor put before (his own).'He is not displeased that an extraordinary gift, eclipsing the first prize, should be presented to Acestes.
Stanza 22 Latin l. 543 proximus ingreditur donis: 'he advances next in gifts'; i.e. next in receiving a prize.
Stanza 22 Latin l. 545–603 The cavalry exercise (cursus equoruni) of Ascanius and his young companions is introduced in addition to the regular contests, and as a pleasing surprise to the spectators. Three leaders {ductoreSy magistrt) Pri9 amus, Atys, and Ascanius, command each a troop of twelve boys. They engage in complicated evolutions, compared by the poet to the Labyrinth of Daedalus, and are nearly through with the exercise, when they are suddenly interrupted by the news that the ships are on fire. The martial game of the boys, here described, was called Troia and was practiced by the Romans, especially in the time of Virgil, under the patronage of Augustus.
Stanza 22 Latin l. 545 nondum — misso: 'when the contest (of the archers) had not yet been ended.'Epytides had been called while the game of archery was still going on, that the troop of bojrs might be prepared to appear without delay. Ceriamine is regarded by some editors as equivalent to ludis. NIS2 VIRGIL'S AENEID
Stanza 22 Latin l. 546 custodem: noble youths, both in the heroic age and in Virgil's time, were attended by guardians. Cf. L 257.
Stanza 22 Latin l. 550 ducat ostendat: subjunctive with die as a verb of commanding See note on IV, 635. avo: 'in honor of his grandfather.'
Stanza 22 Latin l. 551 Ipse: Aeneas, longo circo:'from the long extended arena.' 55a. Infusmn: the multitude had'poured in'(crowded) over the level ground during the trial in archery.
Stanza 22 Latin l. 553 parentum: 'equally,'or similarly equipped and adorned.
Stanza 22 Latin l. 568 Atys: the second leader is so called as a compliment to Augustus, whose mother belonged to the Atian gens
Stanza 23 Latin l. 554 lucent: they shine in polished armor, and with their glittering weapons and golden ornaments, eimtes:'as they advance.'
Stanza 23 Latin l. 556 in morem: for de or ex more; ' according to the custom ' of bojrs in this game. 'The hair of all was bound with a well-trimmed crown,' probably of olive leaves.
Stanza 24 Latin l. 558 pectore: ablative of place. It is'at the top of the breast'that the ends of the torques, or stiff twisted collar, come together.
Stanza 24 Latin l. 560 numero: join with Tres» tnrmae: 'companies'; synonymous with acies, 1. 563, and agmina, 1. 580. terni: 'three each,' and bis seni (1. 561), twelve each,' are distributive numerals.
Stanza 24 Latin l. 561 secuti: as a present, like miraia, 1. 555. 56a. Agmine partito:'the (whole) band being divided'; i.e. not being one organized company under a common leader, but consisting of three independent battalions {agmina), each with its own captain, though now, when they first enter, moving in one column, paribus magistris: their captains are well matched in age, rank, and appearance.
Stanza 24 Latin l. 564 It was customary among the Greeks to name the grandson after the grandfather.
Stanza 24 Latin l. 565 auctura Italos: 'destined to swell the number of Italians'; Cato says that the people of Politorium, an Italian city, were the descendants of Polites. qnem, etc.:'whom a Thracian horse bears, dappled with white spots, showing white pasterns (i.e. imi pedis, the front part of each foot), and a white forehead high upraised.'
Stanza 24 Latin l. 566 vestigia pedis: 'footsteps'; here for pedes
Stanza 24 Latin l. 567 arduus: has reference to the head alone.
Stanza 24 Latin l. 569 puer: dative. Cf. IV, 31. The order of the words follows as in I, 684; III, 329.
Stanza 24 Latin l. 572 esse: prose construction would require m/, or qui esset, Cf. 1. 538. 575. plausu: \Q\n\\i excipiunt, pavidos:'trembling'; i.e. with boyish timidity and modesty.
Stanza 24 Latin l. 578 Lustravere: ' passed in review.' paratis: ' ready,' the review being now ended.
Stanza 24 Latin l. 579 longe: ' from afar.'
Stanza 24 Latin l. 580 pares: 'equal'in numbers or strength.
Stanza 24 Latin l. 580–561 agmina solvere: 'they separated their battalions'; i.e. they break up the three companies that were proceeding in column, temi: i.e. each of the three companies divides into bands or sections (chori), each comprising one half, or six of the boys in the company, yocati: ' being called/ i.e. by another signal from Epytides, they wheel and charge. The boys have galloped at the first signal of Epytides to their stations on the field, and now, at the second signal, commence the cavalry action, or sham fight, two of the squadrons maneuvering as allies against the third.
Stanza 24 Latin l. 600 suos: ' their children.' hinc: i.e. from Alba. 60Z. honorem: 'observance.'
Stanza 25 Latin l. 584 Adversi spatiis: ' opposite in position.'
Stanza 25 Latin l. 585 Impediunt: 'intersect' or 'interweave.' sub armis: for armaH, Cf. 1. 440. The passage (580-585) may thus be rendered: 'they galloped apart in equal numbers, and the three companies broke up the line in parted bands; and again, when called, they wheeled {converter e Tnas) and charged with hostile weapons. Then they enter upon successive advances and retreats, confronting one another, and intersect circles with circles, one after another, and as armed men call up the image of battle.'
Stanza 25 Latin l. 587 facta — feruntur: 'in truce they ride abreast'; in a united column, just as in the opening review.
Stanza 25 Latin l. 589 Parietibus: is scanned as four syllables, par-yet-i-bus. See note on II, 16. It is the ablative of manner with textum, caecis:'blind,'i.e. without doors or windows.
Stanza 25 Latin l. 589–590 ancipitem dolmn, etc: 'a treacherous winding rendered uncertain by a thousand pathways, where the untraced and inextricable maze rendered all guiding marks deceptive.' 592» 593. Haud — ludo:'in like (swift and devious) course do the sons of the Trojans intersect (each others') footsteps, and interweave retreats and charges in mock battle Qudo)
Stanza 25 Latin l. 594 Delphinum: A. 218, '/; I and N. 4; (
Stanza 25 Latin l. 603 Hac — tenna: separated by tmesis, sancto patri: 'to the deified father; Anchises.
Stanza 26 Latin l. 602 Troia, etc: ' and now (the game) is called Troy, the boys the Trojan band.' dicitur: agrees with the predicate nominative. See A. 204, b\ (3); ( The sham fight called Troia was one of the games of the circus at Rome.
Stanza 26 Latin l. 604–699 The burning of the ships. While the games are in progress Juno sends Iris down to excite discontent among the Trojan women, who are assembled near the shore, not witnessing the games, but gazing mournfully on the sea, while they bemoan the death of Anchises. While they are grieving that so much of the sea is still to be crossed, and that they cannot put an end to their hardships by settling in Sicily, Iris presents herself in the form of BeroS, a Trojan matron, and gives utterance to the feelings which till them all. They are roused to fury, and, seizing firebrands from the altars of Neptune, on which sacrifices are burning near the water, they hurl them into the ships. Presently the alarm is conveyed by Eumelus to the Trojan assembly at the tomb of Anchises. Ascanius, having scarcely completed the cavalry exercise, hastens on his horse, followed by Aeneas and the rest, to extinguish the fire. But it has already penetrated into the holds of the ships, and all human efforts are unavailing. Aeneas then calls upon Jupiter, who answers his prayer by sending down a flood of rain, and preserving all the ships save four.
Stanza 26 Latin l. 604 hic primum: 'now first'; for up to this moment the games had'3een going forward without any untoward accident, fidem mutata novayit: ' changing fortune broke her faith'; a poetic expression for fidem mutaviU Her favor thus far had been a pledge, as it were, of continued favor throughout the day.
Stanza 26 Latin l. 605 ludis: ablative of manner. tumulO: the dative as va.avoy 1. 55a 608. antiqanm — dolorem: cf. I, 25. For the accusative, see note on iog. Ilia: Iris, coloribus: ablative of description with arcum
Stanza 26 Latin l. 610 Nulli: see note on I, 326. Virgo:'(a celestial) virgin'; in apposi'
Stanza 26 Latin l. 612 relictam: ' left ' by the men.
Stanza 26 Latin l. 613 secretae: 'apart'; separated from the assembly (nfirfi;»). sola acta: the strand was lonely compared with the concourse at the tomK
Stanza 26 Latin l. 615–616 Heu — maris: 'alas, to think that so many waters, that so much of the sea remains for us weary voyagers !'For the infinitive, see note on I, 37. Compare the language of Tennyson, Lotus Eaters: — • But evermore Most weary seemed the sea, weary the oar, Weary the wandering fields of barren foam.' VOX: predicate nominative with est understood, of which the foregoing danae is the subject.
Stanza 26 Latin l. 618 medias: as medios I, 44a
Stanza 26 Latin l. 621 Cui: 'as one to whom.'A relative clause of cause. See note on 1, 388. Cui is better referred to Bero6 than to Dorydns. Her rank made lier % fit person for Iris to counterfeit'
Stanza 26 Latin l. 622 sic: Uhus ' transformed. Dardanidmn: genitive as I, 565.
Stanza 26 Latin l. 623–624 Traxerit, reservat: for the mood, see note on 1. 621. 626 sqq. Septima: the seventh summer commenced with the departure of the Trojans from Sicily, and their speedy arrival in Carthage. See I, 755. From 1. 46 we learn that at the time of the games a year had elapsed since the funeral of Anchises. Virgil's chronology therefore is slightly inconsistent, vertitur: ' is closing'; finishing its revolution. Cf. Ill, 284. freta and terras: are governed hyferimur (='traverse'). For this use of the passive oi fero, cf. vecti, I, 524. saza Sideraque: objects of emensae
Stanza 27 Latin l. 630 fraterni: as in 1. 24, on account of the relationship between Aeneas and Eryx.
Stanza 27 Latin l. 631 iacere: instead of quominus iaciamus,. ciTibus: 'to (our) countrymen.'
Stanza 27 Latin l. 632 nequiquam: for we have failed to secure for them a new abode.
Stanza 27 Latin l. 633 Nullane iam: 'shall no walls now,'etc.; are we now at length to give up all hope?
Stanza 27 Latin l. 634 Hectoreos: Hector is dear to them, and his heroic deeds are associated with these two rivers. Cf. 1. 190. They had hoped to find a new fatherland, where old names should be revived just as they were by Helenus in Epirus (see III, 497).
Stanza 27 Latin l. 638 Iam — res: 'even now is it the time to act'; lit.'for things to be done.'
Stanza 27 Latin l. 639 mora: sci/. tantis:'so great'; namely, as this dream, quattuor arae: ' four altars ' on the shore, erected to Neptune, perhaps, by the captains of the four ships, before engaging in the race. 64Z. prima: Cf. I, 24.
Stanza 27 Latin l. 642 procul: with Sublaia,'high.'Cf. 1. 775.
Stanza 27 Latin l. 646 vobis: the ethical dative;'you have not Beroe here.'
Stanza 27 Latin l. 648 qui spiritus illi: 'what a (godlike) air she has !'
Stanza 27 Latin l. 651 quod, etc: 'because she alone (of all) was deprived of such a festival.'
Stanza 27 Latin l. 655 spectare: historical infinitive, ancipites, Ambiguae: 'uncertain,' • hesitating.'
Stanza 27 Latin l. 656 fatis: 'with the voice of fate.'
Stanza 27 Latin l. 657 paribus alis: cf. IV, 252.
Stanza 27 Latin l. 659 Tum vero: when it was manifest that a goddess had been advising them, they were the more stimulated to execute their purpose.
Stanza 27 Latin l. 660 focis penetralibus: 'from the sacred hearths'; i.e. of their temporary dwellings by the seashore.
Stanza 27 Latin l. 661 spoliant: of the burning'boughs'(/r»ifw, etc.).
Stanza 27 Latin l. 662 immissis habenis: i.e. with unbridled fury.
Stanza 27 Latin l. 663 abiete: ablative of materia for ex abiete;'painted sterns of fir'is equivalent to'sterns of painted fir.'
Stanza 27 Latin l. 664–665 Nnntitts perfert: «bears tidings'; lit. 'reports as a messenger.'
Stanza 27 Latin l. 665 Incensas naves: ' the setting on fire of the ships.'See note on II, 413. 667,668. ut — sic: 'even thus as he was'; not laying aside his arms, and still mounted, equo: ablative expressing the means of petivit, and is closely related to acer
Stanza 27 Latin l. 684 heroum: Aeneas and his captains.
Stanza 28 Latin l. 669 Castra: see note on IV, 604. magistri: Epytides and the other custodes. See note on 1. 546.
Stanza 28 Latin l. 670 iste: 'that (madness of yours).' 67a. En: see note on I, 461.
Stanza 28 Latin l. 673 Galeam, etc: he takes off his helmet to verify his words, inanem: 'empty'; a natural appellative of the helmet when removed from the head.
Stanza 28 Latin l. 674 ludo ciebat: cf. 11. 585 and 593.
Stanza 28 Latin l. 676 diversa per litora: ' along different parts of the shore.'
Stanza 29 Latin l. 677 sicubi saxa: ' wherever (there are) hollow rocks.'
Stanza 29 Latin l. 679 Mutatae: 'transformed,''coming to themselves.'ezcossa: Jano, through Iris, had stimulated them to execute a mad purpose. Her influence is now ' shaken off,'' driven from their souls.' 68z. ado: water has been cast on the outside, but does not penetrate into the closely packed calking of tow, or oakum, through which the fire is stealing its way.
Stanza 29 Latin l. 683 Est: see note on IV, 66.
Stanza 29 Latin l. 685 abscindere: historical infinitive.
Stanza 30 Latin l. 688 quid, etc: 'if (thy) pity, which is of old, has any regard for mortal sufferings.'Quid is an adverbial accusative.
Stanza 30 Latin l. 689 da — classi: the infinitive is the direct, and classi the remote, object;'grant that the fleet may escape the flames.'
Stanza 30 Latin l. 691 tu: gives emphasis to the petition, quod superest:'that which (alone) remains'; the only thing which remains for thee to do, and for me to desire or pray for, if my ships are now destroyed, is that thou at once destroy me with thy thunderbolt.
Stanza 31 Latin l. 693 effusis imbribus: ablative absolute, expressing means.
Stanza 31 Latin l. 694 sine more: 'without precedent'; i.e. with great fury.
Stanza 31 Latin l. 695 Ardua terrarum: 'the hills.'See note on 1, 422; and cf. VIII, 221; XI, 513. campi:'the plains'; the level lands, ruit — austris:'down poured from all the sky its murky stores of rain, black with misty southern blasts'(Papillon).
Stanza 31 Latin l. 697 super: 'to overflowing.'
Stanza 31 Latin l. 704 unum: more than all others.
Stanza 31 Latin l. 706–707 Haec — ordo: parenthetical: 'he was wont to give such (kaec) replies (reveal by replies such things), as (quae) either the great wrath of the gods,'etc. Other editors take haec as referring to Pallas; i.e. 'she was wont to give replies (through Nautes),'etc.
Stanza 31 Latin l. 708 solatus: with the force of a present participle. Cf. I, 312. Isque: ' and (therefore) he.' Isque resumes the sentence interrupted by the parenthesis, while, at the same time, this sentence is connected with the parenthesis by -gtu
Stanza 31 Latin l. 710 Quidquid erit: 'whatever shall happen'; i.e. whatever fortune shall bring. 7x1. divinae stirpis: see 1. 38.
Stanza 31 Latin l. 713 superant: = super sunt; ' those who are left over from the lost ships.' 7x6. quidquid: indefinite pronouns and adjectives in the neuter gender are often used of persons.
Stanza 31 Latin l. 718 permisso nomine: the honor of calling the new city Acesta being granted by you, though you yourself are the real founder. Cicero, in Verr. 5, 33, 72, says that Segesta (the name given by the Romans to the site of Acesta) was founded by Aeneas, and that the people from that circumstance held themselves bound to the Romans, not only as allies and friends, but also as kinsmen.
Stanza 32 Latin l. 717 habeant sine: see note on mentor et, II, 75.
Stanza 32 Latin l. 721 bigis subvecta etc: 'upwafted on her steeds.'See note on III, 512. polum tenebat: 'was in midheaven.'
Stanza 32 Latin l. 728 pulcherrima: see note onplurimus, I, 419.
Stanza 32 Latin l. 729 corda: cf. II, 349.
Stanza 32 Latin l. 730 dura — cultu: ' hardy and savage in habits of life.'
Stanza 32 Latin l. 731 ante: 'first'; i.e. before you proceed to Latium.
Stanza 32 Latin l. 732 averna alta: a cavern on the side of Lake Avernus was supposed to be one of the entrances to Hades.
Stanza 32 Latin l. 734 -tristes umbrae: in apposition with Tariara
Stanza 32 Latin l. 736 nigrarum: black victims were sacrificed to the infernal gods. See VI, 243 sqq. sanguine: ablative of means. By slaying many black victims she will secure an entrance for you.
Stanza 32 Latin l. 739 saevus: 'pitiless'; for it breaks off my interview with you. Ghosts and dreams must flee before the dawn. With the sentiment, cf. Shakespeare» Midsummer Night's Dream, 3, 2, 379: — 'Yonder shines Aurora's harbinger, At whose approach ghosts, wandering here and there. Troop home to churchyards/ Cf. also the words of the Ghost in Hamlet: — 'Methinks I scent the morning air.' 74X. Quo deinde:'whither now.'
Stanza 32 Latin l. 750 Transcribunt urbi matres: they transfer matrons, or elderly women, to the new city or colony by enrolling their names on the list of citizens. But only part, or at least not all, of the women were thus left to dwell in Sicily. See XI, 35. populumque YOlentem: those of the men who wished to remain.
Stanza 33 Latin l. 722 fades: not the shade of Anchises dwelling in Hades, but a form or phantom sent from heaven in his image. See note on VI, 696.
Stanza 33 Latin l. 738 torquet cursus: she has passed the zenith and is turning her course down toward the horizon.
Stanza 33 Latin l. 743 sopitos ignes: he renews the fires on the domestic hearth, th& may offer a sacrifice of wheat and incense to Vesta and the Penates. Cf. Ill, 177, 178.
Stanza 33 Latin l. 744 Larem: the household god. Usually the plural. Lares, occurs in Virgil, penetralia:'the shrine'; put for the goddess herself.
Stanza 33 Latin l. 745 Farre pio: 'with the sacred (sacrificial) wheat.'
Stanza 33 Latin l. 749 consiliis: 'to his plan'or present purposes.
Stanza 33 Latin l. 752 Ipsi: those who are to proceed on the voyage.
Stanza 33 Latin l. 753 navigiis: dative with reponunt. This line is hypermetric. Set note on IV, 558.
Stanza 33 Latin l. 754 bello: the dative with vivida' Fig. 47. — A Bronze Lar (I.744)
Stanza 33 Latin l. 755 desigt aratro: this was a sacred ceremony in marking out the boundary of a new city.
Stanza 33 Latin l. 756 domos: he allots the places for dwellings. Ilium, the city, Troiam, the region or district, including the city.
Stanza 33 Latin l. 758 forum: seems here to be put for indicia, ' the courts,' the proceedings of which constituted the characteristic business of the forum. 76a A priest or flamen is appointed for the tomb of Anchises, and the wood far around it is set apart, or consecrated. Join late with sacer
Stanza 33 Latin l. 761 Anchiseo: a poss'sssive adjective put for the genitive of the noun. See note on Scyllaeam, I, 200.
Stanza 34 Latin l. 700–778 Aeneas in his perplexity is advised by the aged Nautes to leave a portion of his followers in Sicily to form a new colony under the rule of Acestes. In a nocturnal vision Anchises appears to him, and approves of the counsel of Nautes, recommending that only the hardy and warlike youth be conveyed to Italy. He then consults his captains and Acestes. The new colonists are set apart, the ships are repaired, the new settlement is planted, and a temple is consecrated to Venus on Mount Eryx. All preparations being made for the voyage, the last farewells are exchanged, and Aeneas, with his diminished number of followers, sets sail once more for Italy. 70Z, 702. ingentes — yersans:'was shifting about and pondering mighty cares in heart, now this way now that.'
Stanza 34 Latin l. 762 novem: see note on nona, 1. 64. aris: ablative of place.
Stanza 34 Latin l. 764 creber et adspirans: 'and blowing fresh'; a proleptic expression.
Stanza 34 Latin l. 768 non tolerabile nomen: the very name of the sea was suggestive of hardship, and not to be borne. 77a. Eryci:'to Eryx,'as a deified hero, and one of the gods of the place. Tempestatibus:'to the Storms,'which may forbear to molest them, if propitiated. Cf. Ill, 120.
Stanza 34 Latin l. 773 ex ordine: 'one after another.'
Stanza 35 Latin l. 774 caput: join with evinctus, tonsae: ' trimmed. Cf. 1. 556.
Stanza 35 Latin l. 775 procul: 'high up'and apart from the rest; join with sians, Cf. 1. 642. 777» 778- Cf. Ill, 130, 290.
Stanza 35 Latin l. 781 nec exsaturabile pectus: ' and her insatiate revenge.' 78a. omnes: 'all'; even the most humiliating.
Stanza 35 Latin l. 783 longa dies: ' length of time.' pietas: his piety in general as well as toward Juno.
Stanza 35 Latin l. 784 infracta: 'subdued.'Juno knows the fates concerning Aeneas, but she still persists.
Stanza 35 Latin l. 785 exedisse: ' to have devoured'; strongly expressive of her hatred.
Stanza 35 Latin l. 786 traxe: for iraxisse. See note on I, 201. poenam per omneni: •through all suffering'; i.e. of the ten years'siege.
Stanza 35 Latin l. 787 Reliquias, etc: ' she pursues the remnant of Troy, the (very) ashes and bones of the city she has destroyed.'
Stanza 35 Latin l. 788 sciat illa: Met her understand,' for I do not.
Stanza 35 Latin l. 789 ttt testis: sc. es. See I, 50sqq.
Stanza 35 Latin l. 791 nequiquam: ' in vain'; for Neptune had thwarted her attempt by repelling the winds of Aeolus.
Stanza 35 Latin l. 793 Per scelus: is not an adverbial expression for sceleste, but a substitute ior adf or in scelus; meaning,'through all the steps of crime.'Join with aciis»
Stanza 35 Latin l. 794 subegit: sc. ilium or Aenean. classe: anger is apt to exaggerate.
Stanza 36 Latin l. 779–871 Venus, in her dread of the persistent anger of Juno, appeals to Neptune for his interposition to prevent any further disaster by sea to the fleet of Aeneas. Neptune reminds her of his former friendly acts to Aeneas both on sea and land, and promises now to protect him, requiring, however, that one of his crew shall be lost on the voyage. Meanwhile, the whole fleet proceeds under full sail, led by the ship of Aeneas, which is steered by the pilot Palinurus. In the night Aeneas and all on board fall asleep, except Palinurus, who watches, and keeps the helm alone. Somnus descends from the sky, and tempts him to sleep, and, in spite of his resistance, overpowers him with Lethean influence. Palinurus falls over into the sea, still grasping the helm, and carrying a fragment of the ship, torn off with it. Aeneas is awakened by the irregular motion of the ship, and perceiving the fate which has befallen Palinurus, bemoans his loss, while he himself directs the course.
Stanza 36 Latin l. 796 Quod superest: 'as the only thing that remains'; i.e. to be asked for. Cf. 1. 691. Others refer it to ' the remnant ' of the fleet.
Stanza 36 Latin l. 797 tibi: join with Vela dare; Met it be lawful (for them) to commit their sails safely to you'; i.e. to your protection. Fig. 48. — Neptune attended by Tritons and Nereids (II. 816 sqq.)
Stanza 36 Latin l. 798 ea moenia: that city which Aeneas is aiming to establish in Italy.
Stanza 36 Latin l. 800 omne: = omnino; ' it is wholly right.'
Stanza 36 Latin l. 801 Unde genus ducis: she sprung from the foam of the sea. See note on Cy thereat I, 257. quoque: it is not only right by the laws of nature, but also I have by my own friendly acts deserved your confidence.
Stanza 36 Latin l. 805 impingeret agmina muris: 'dashed their battalions against the walls.'
Stanza 36 Latin l. 810 Cum cuperem: 'though I desired.'
Stanza 36 Latin l. 811 periurae: 'false,'because her king, Laomedon, had violated his promise 10 Neptune. See note on II, 610.
Stanza 36 Latin l. 813 Portus Ayemi: refers especially to Cumae, which is near Lake Avemus.
Stanza 36 Latin l. 814 Unus erit, etc: Palinurus is the destined victim. See IL 840 sqq.
Stanza 36 Latin l. 817 auro: for aureo iugo; ablative of instrument. 8ao. Cf. I, 147.
Stanza 36 Latin l. 821 aquis: either an ablative of place where (= mart), or ablative of specification, fugiunt: ' disappear.' yasto aethere: ' from the wide heavens.' 8aa. cete: a Grek plural, = kiJti.
Stanza 36 Latin l. 823 senior: ' aged '; a term often applied to marine deities.
Stanza 36 Latin l. 822–826 Virgil may have had in mind a group of statuary by Scopas, which stood in the Circus Flaminius at Rome (described in Pliny's Natural History, 36, 5).
Stanza 36 Latin l. 866 tum: refers to the time when Aeneas sailed by the rocks. ranca: proleptic, may be translated as an adverb. saleaonabant: they were no longer sounding Mrith the music of the Sirens.
Stanza 37 Latin l. 827 hic etc: cf. I, 502. yicissim:'in turn'; i.e. in place of care.
Stanza 37 Latin l. 830 Una — pedem: 'they all hauled the sheet alike.'All the vessels, governed by the movements of Palinurus, took the wind alike (una, partter) now on the one side of the ship, now on the other. Pes was the name of the rope called by us the ' sheet,'fastened at each of the lower corners of the sails. These were alternately • let out'and ' shortened,'according as the ship took the wind from the right or left. Facer e pedem is ' to manage the sheet.'Cf. Ill, 267, and note.
Stanza 37 Latin l. 831–832 They simultaneously turned the sails now to the left, now to the right. The yards themselves are necessarily turned to one side or the other when the sheets are hauled or loosened. 833» 834. densum Agmen: ' the squadron in close array.'
Stanza 37 Latin l. 834 adhunc: 'after him'; according to his movements.
Stanza 37 Latin l. 835 mediam metam: her turning point or goal in the middle of the heavens; 'the middle of her course.'
Stanza 37 Latin l. 837 Sub remis: ' near their oars.'
Stanza 37 Latin l. 839 dispulit umbras: Somnus did not disperse the darkness, but passed through it, ' parting ' it, as it were, in his descent.
Stanza 37 Latin l. 843 ipsa = sua sponte
Stanza 37 Latin l. 844 Aequatae: 'fair'; such as make the sails au/a, with the accessory idea of ' steady.' See IV, 587.
Stanza 37 Latin l. 845 labori: the dative is rare with ywrari. Cf. B. 188, 2, d', (
Stanza 37 Latin l. 847 vix attollens: 'scarcely lifting'; i.e. hardly turning his eyes away from his steering to notice the supposed Phorbas.
Stanza 37 Latin l. 853 Nusquam: occasionally, as here, for nunquam, amittebat: has the last syllable long under the ictus, sub astra: ' up toward the stars,' by which he was steering the boat.
Stanza 37 Latin l. 856 cunctanti: 'of him resisting.' natantia: is proleptic. lumina solvit: the eyes of Palinurus, which had been strained and fixed steadily on the stars, Somnus causes to yield and to sink to sleep.
Stanza 37 Latin l. 861 Ipse: Somnus. ales: as a winged creature; ' un his wings.' 863. Currit: with the cognate accusative, iter, Cf. Ill, 191.
Stanza 37 Latin l. 865 difficiles quondam: 'once dangerous'; when fonner voyagers, such as Ulysses, passed them; but no lon$i:er so, at least, on account of the Sirens, as they had disappeared before the arrival of Aeneas in these waters; for, according to the myth, they cast themselves into the sea and perished because they were outwitted by Ulysses.
Stanza 37 Latin l. 867 Cum: relates to iam subibat
Stanza 37 Latin l. 869 multa gemens: see note on 1, 465. animum: see note on 1, 228. 871. Nudua, ignota: to die away from one's native land was a great misfortune, but the greatest of all was to be deprived of burial. Palinurus, soon after his death, meets Aeneas in Hades, and gives him the particulars of his fate. For these, see VI, 347 sqq. Fig. 49. — Ulysses bound to the Mast successfully passes the Sirens (11. 864, 865)

The reader shows the same poem with its rhymes coloured and a stress row above each line, the notes beside their stanzas, and any word's definition on a tap; the analysis page takes the whole book apart. How every part of this site was made.

More by Virgil

The Aeneid The Georgics