Aeneid Ii Part 3

Front 1

Hinc ferro accingor rursus clipeoque sinistram
insertabam aptans meque extra tecta ferebam.
ecce autem complexa pedes in limine coniunx
haerebat, parvumque patri tendebat Iulum:
What is Aeneas doing at this point?
What has made him decide to do this?

Back 1

He is getting armed again and he is going out to fight because his father has refused to leave the town of Troy. Aeneas won’t go without his father, so he feels condemned to die and wants to die fighting.

Front 2

'si periturus abis, et nos rape in omnia tecum;
sin aliquam expertus sumptis spem ponis in armis,
hanc primum tutare domum. cui parvus Iulus,
cui pater et coniunx quondam tua dicta relinquor?'
Who is speaking? Whom to?

Back 2

This is Creusa, Aeneas’ wife, telling Aeneas that he should either take her and the son with him (et nos rape tecum) or he should stay and protect his house (hanc primum tutare domum)

Front 3

Talia vociferans gemitu tectum omne replebat,
cum subitum dictuque oritur mirabile monstrum.
gemitu tectum omne replebat: what has caused Creusa to do this?

Back 3

Creusa is filling the house with crying (gemitu tectum omne replebat) because she does not want Aeneas to leave.

Front 4

namque manus inter maestorumque ora parentum
ecce levis summo de vertice visus Iuli
fundere lumen apex, tactuque innoxia mollis
lambere flamma comas et circum tempora pasci.
Describe where Iulus is and what is happening.

Back 4

Iulus is being held in between the parents, as his mother is trying to stop Aeneas from going, when a thin tongue of flame appears from the top of his head (de vertice) and grazes round his temples.

Front 5

nos pavidi trepidare metu crinemque flagrantem
excutere et sanctos restinguere fontibus ignis.
at pater Anchises oculos ad sidera laetus
extulit et caelo palmas cum voce tetendit
nos pavidi trepidare metu: what is the feeling expressed by these words?

Back 5

Fear. The feeling is expressed by the word pavidi (fearful) trepidare (were shaking) and metu (in fear)

Front 6

'Iuppiter omnipotens, precibus si flecteris ullis,
aspice nos, hoc tantum, et si pietate meremur,
da deinde auxilium, pater, atque haec omina firma.'
How does Anchises make his appeal to Jupiter persuasive?

Back 6

Anchises appeals to Jupiter as father, (pater) asks for help (da auxilium) reminds him of their merits ( hoc tantum si pietate meremur if we deserve this much because of our respect for the gods) while saying that he is only asking for that one thig (hoc tantum)

Front 7

Vix ea fatus erat senior, subitoque fragore
intonuit laevum, et de caelo lapsa per umbras
stella facem ducens multa cum luce cucurrit.
What is happening here?

Back 7

There is thundering on the left and a shooting star

Front 8

illam summa super labentem culmina tecti
cernimus Idaea claram se condere silva
signantemque vias; tum longo limite sulcus
dat lucem et late circum loca sulphure fumant.
Where does the star point?

Back 8

The star points to Mount Ida, indicating that this is where their path would lay. (signantem vias – pointing the way)

Front 9

hic vero victus genitor se tollit ad auras
adfaturque deos et sanctum sidus adorat.

What is meant by the word ‘victus’?

Back 9

The word ‘victus’ means defeated, because Anchises has finally stopped resisting the idea of going away from Troy.

Front 10

'iam iam nulla mora est; sequor et qua ducitis adsum,
di patrii; servate domum, servate nepotem.
vestrum hoc augurium, vestroque in numine Troia est.
cedo equidem nec, nate, tibi comes ire recuso.'
Who is saying these words? Who to?

Back 10

Anchises is speaking to the gods of Troy, (di patrii) saying that he will follow their lead.
he then speaks to Aeneas (nate = son) saying that he will now give in to his decision to leave and not refuse any more to go as his companion.