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Unit 1

12.3 Vergil, Aeneid, Book 1, Lines 494–578

10 min read•january 21, 2023

hunter_borg

AP Latin 🏛

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How to use this Study Guide:

Use this study guide as a refresher after instruction from your professional Latin instructor/teacher. As it is AP Latin, you will be expected to learn the grammar in class except for questions which we will go over again. The main purpose of this study guide is to provide 80% literal, 20% interpretative translations and to break down the text, context, and grammar. What interpretative means is that it is not the literal Latin translation but that it has been restructured in some way to better fit the modern English vernacular.

Lines 494-519, Book 1, The Aeneid

Original Passage

Haec dum Dardanio Aeneae miranda videntur, dum stupet, obtutuque haeret defixus in uno, 495 regina ad templum, forma pulcherrima Dido, incessit magna iuvenum stipante caterva. Qualis in Eurotae ripis aut per iuga Cynthi exercet Diana choros, quam mille secutae hinc atque hinc glomerantur oreades; illa pharetram 500 fert umero, gradiensque deas supereminet omnis: Latonae tacitum pertemptant gaudia pectus: talis erat Dido, talem se laeta ferebat per medios, instans operi regnisque futuris. Tum foribus divae, media testudine templi, 505 saepta armis, solioque alte subnixa resedit. Iura dabat legesque viris, operumque laborem partibus aequabat iustis, aut sorte trahebat: cum subito Aeneas concursu accedere magno Anthea Sergestumque videt fortemque Cloanthum, 510 Teucrorumque alios, ater quos aequore turbo dispulerat penitusque alias avexerat oras. Obstipuit simul ipse simul perculsus Achates laetitiaque metuque; avidi coniungere dextras ardebant; sed res animos incognita turbat. 515 Dissimulant, et nube cava speculantur amicti, quae fortuna viris, classem quo litore linquant, quid veniant; cunctis nam lecti navibus ibant, orantes veniam, et templum clamore petebant.

Questions about the Latin

1. What is the grammatical device used in line 495?

2. What is the grammatical device used in line 500?

3. What is the grammatical device used in line 505?

4. What is the grammatical device used in line 510?

5. What is the grammatical device used in line 515?

Answers about the Latin!

1. Answer: The grammatical device used in line 495 is a participle phrase, "dum stupet, obtutuque haeret defixus in uno", which modifies Aeneas and describes his state of mind as he looks at the city being built.

2. The grammatical device used in line 500 is an ablative absolute, "quam mille secutae hinc atque hinc glomerantur oreades", which describes the action of the nymphs following Diana and clustering around her.

3. The grammatical device used in line 505 is a dative of agent, "media testudine templi", which describes the location of the temple and means "in the middle of the temple's roof"

4. The grammatical device used in line 510 is a nominative absolute, "cum subito Aeneas concursu accedere magno Anthea Sergestumque videt fortemque Cloanthum, Teucrorumque alios", which describes Aeneas' sudden surprise and the subject of the main clause "videt".

5. The grammatical device used in line 515 is a gerundive phrase, "orantes veniam, et templum clamore petebant", which describes the action of the Trojan refugees as they begged for forgiveness and cried out for the temple.

Translation

While these things seem wonderful to Dardanian Aeneas and he stands there, staring fixedly at them, the queen, the very beautiful Dido, entered the temple, surrounded by a great throng of young men. Just as Diana leads the dance on the banks of the Eurotas or the heights of Cynthus, with a thousand nymphs following her on this side and that, clustering around her; she carries a quiver on her shoulder and, walking among the goddesses, surpasses them all: Latona feels silent joy in her heart. So Dido was, so she carried herself joyfully through the middle of them, pressing on with the work and the future kingdoms. Then the goddess, in the middle of the temple with a roof of shields, surrounded by arms, and sitting on a high throne, gave laws and regulations to the men and divided the labor of the works justly, or drew lots for it. Suddenly, Aeneas sees Antheus and brave Sergestus, and Cloanthus and many other Teucrians, whom a black storm had scattered far and wide and carried off to other shores. He and Achates were both startled and amazed at the same time; they were eager to join hands, but the unknown circumstances were troubling them. They concealed their feelings and, hiding under a cloud, they watched to see what fate had in store for the men, on what shore they were leaving their ships, and why they had come. For they were all going on the ships that had been picked out, asking for permission and calling out to the temple.

Lines 520-578, Book 1, The Aeneid

Original Passage

Postquam introgressi et coram data copia fandi, 520 maximus Ilioneus placido sic pectore coepit: 'O Regina, novam cui condere Iuppiter urbem iustitiaque dedit gentis frenare superbas, Troes te miseri, ventis maria omnia vecti, oramus, prohibe infandos a navibus ignis, 525 parce pio generi, et propius res aspice nostras. Non nos aut ferro Libycos populare Penatis venimus, aut raptas ad litora vertere praedas; non ea vis animo, nec tanta superbia victis. Est locus, Hesperiam Grai cognomine dicunt, 530 terra antiqua, potens armis atque ubere glaebae; Oenotri coluere viri; nunc fama minores Italiam dixisse ducis de nomine gentem. Hic cursus fuit: cum subito adsurgens fluctu nimbosus Orion 535 in vada caeca tulit, penitusque procacibus austris perque undas, superante salo, perque invia saxa dispulit; huc pauci vestris adnavimus oris. Quod genus hoc hominum? Quaeve hunc tam barbara morem permittit patria? Hospitio prohibemur harenae; 540 bella cient, primaque vetant consistere terra. Si genus humanum et mortalia temnitis arma at sperate deos memores fandi atque nefandi.

'Rex erat Aeneas nobis, quo iustior alter, nec pietate fuit, nec bello maior et armis. 545 Quem si fata virum servant, si vescitur aura aetheria, neque adhuc crudelibus occubat umbris, non metus; officio nec te certasse priorem poeniteat. Sunt et Siculis regionibus urbes armaque, Troianoque a sanguine clarus Acestes. 550 Quassatam ventis liceat subducere classem, et silvis aptare trabes et stringere remos: si datur Italiam, sociis et rege recepto, tendere, ut Italiam laeti Latiumque petamus; sin absumpta salus, et te, pater optime Teucrum, 555 pontus habet Libyae, nec spes iam restat Iuli, at freta Sicaniae saltem sedesque paratas, unde huc advecti, regemque petamus Acesten.'

Talibus Ilioneus; cuncti simul ore fremebant Dardanidae. 560

Tum breviter Dido, voltum demissa, profatur: 'Solvite corde metum, Teucri, secludite curas. Res dura et regni novitas me talia cogunt moliri, et late finis custode tueri. Quis genus Aeneadum, quis Troiae nesciat urbem, 565 virtutesque virosque, aut tanti incendia belli? Non obtusa adeo gestamus pectora Poeni, nec tam aversus equos Tyria Sol iungit ab urbe. Seu vos Hesperiam magnam Saturniaque arva, sive Erycis finis regemque optatis Acesten, 570 auxilio tutos dimittam, opibusque iuvabo. Voltis et his mecum pariter considere regnis; urbem quam statuo vestra est, subducite navis; Tros Tyriusque mihi nullo discrimine agetur. Atque utinam rex ipse Noto compulsus eodem 575 adforet Aeneas! Equidem per litora certos dimittam et Libyae lustrare extrema iubebo, si quibus eiectus silvis aut urbibus errat.'

Question about the Latin:

1. What is the purpose of the participle "data" in line 519?

2. How does the use of the subjunctive mood in line 524 ("prohibe infandos a navibus ignis") affect the meaning of the sentence?

3. What is the function of the ablative absolute "ventis maria omnia vecti" in line 526?

4. How does the use of the genitive "Penatis" in line 531 affect the meaning of the sentence?

5. What is the purpose of the repeated phrase "huc pauci" in lines 535 and 540?

Answers about the Latin:

1. The participle "data" is used as an adjective modifying "copia fandi" and indicates that the speaking opportunity has already been given.

2. The use of the subjunctive mood in line 524 indicates that the speaker is making a request or suggestion, rather than giving a command or statement of fact.

3. The ablative absolute "ventis maria omnia vecti" provides additional information about the Trojans' situation, without being directly connected to the main clause. It describes how the Trojans were brought to the queen by winds and waves.

4. The use of the genitive "Penatis" indicates possession, showing that the Trojans are not there to populate the Libyans' Penates (household gods) with their own people.

5. The repeated phrase "huc pauci" emphasizes the small number of Trojans who have arrived at the queen's kingdom and the precariousness of their situation. It also emphasizes the Trojans' humble request for help and protection.

Translation:

After entering and being given the opportunity to speak, the greatest of the Trojans, Ilioneus, began with a calm heart: "O Queen, to whom Jupiter has given the power to build a new city and to restrain the proud nations, we, the unfortunate Trojans, driven by all the winds and seas, beg you, prevent the infamous fire from our ships, spare our pious family, and take a closer look at our situation. We did not come to invade the Libyans with our Penates or to turn captured spoils towards the shores; that is not our intention or such a great arrogance for the defeated. There is a place, which the Greeks call by the name of Hesperia, an ancient land, powerful in weapons and rich in soil; the Oenotrians lived there; now the rumor is that a leader gave the name to the nation. This was our course: when suddenly the stormy Orion rose and brought us in the blind shallows, and deep into the reckless south winds, over the waves, and over the inaccessible rocks, and here we have come to a few of your shores. What kind of people are these? What country allows such a barbaric custom? We are prohibited from seeking refuge on the sand; they make war and do not allow us to land first. If you despise the human race and mortal weapons, hope in the gods who remember speech and wrongdoing. Aeneas was our king, more just than any other, neither in piety nor in war and weapons was he greater. If fate preserves that man and if he is nourished by the heavenly breeze and has not yet fallen to cruel shadows, do not fear; it will not be a regret for you to have competed with him. There are also cities and weapons in the Sicilian regions and Acestes, who is famous for his Trojan blood. Let it be allowed to bring our ship, which has been damaged by the winds, back to shore and to prepare the beams and to tie the oars with the woods; if it is given to us to head for Italy, with our allies and our king back, and to seek Italy and Latium happily; if our salvation is lost, and you, the best father of the Trojans, the sea of Libya holds, and there is no hope left for Julius, then at least the Sicilian seas and the prepared settlements, from where we were brought here, and we will seek King Acestes." Ilioneus spoke in such a way and all the Dardanians together murmured with one voice. Then Dido, with her face lowered, briefly spoke: "Ease your fear, Trojans, and put aside your worries. The harshness of the situation and the newness of my rule force me to plan such things and to guard the farthest boundaries. Who does not know the city of Troy, the virtues and the men of Aeneas, or the flames of such a great war? The hearts of the Phoenicians are not so dull, nor does the Tyrian Sun so far away unite horses with our city. Whether you desire great Hesperia and the fields of Saturn or the limits of Eryx and King Acestes, I will let you go with help and I will aid you with resources. You also wish to consider these realms together with me; the city which I am building is yours, bring your ships to shore; Trojans and Tyrians will be treated equally with me. And may the king himself, driven by the same south wind, come here! Indeed, I will let him go through the certain shores and will order him to explore the farthest parts of Libya, if he is ejected from the woods or the cities."

Wrapping these lines up:

Grammatical Devices:

1. Subjunctive mood in the phrase "parce pio generi" (line 524) and "si datur Italiam" (line 551)

2. Pluperfect tense in the phrase "Quassatam ventis liceat subducere classem" (line 552)

3. Perfect tense in the phrase "tendere, ut Italiam laeti Latiumque petamus" (line 554)

4. Infinitive phrase "moliri, et late finis custode tueri" (line 566)

5. Gerund phrase "virtutesque virosque" (line 567)

6. Indirect discourse in the phrase "Talibus Ilioneus; cuncti simul ore fremebant Dardanidae" (line 560)

7. Relative clauses in the phrases "qui fata virum servant" (line 546), "quo iustior alter" (line 547), "quem si fata virum servant" (line 546), "si vescitur aura aetheria" (line 547), "officio nec te certasse priorem poeniteat" (line 549)

8. Comparative phrases "quo iustior alter" (line 547) and "nec pietate fuit, nec bello maior et armis" (line 545)

9. Imperative mood in the phrase "Solvite corde metum, Teucri, secludite curas" (line 564)

10. Indefinite pronoun "quis" in the phrases "quis genus Aeneadum" (line 565) and "quis Troiae nesciat urbem" (line 565)

11. Personal pronoun "me" in the phrase "Res dura et regni novitas me talia cogunt" (line 566)

12. Indefinite pronoun "quibus" in the phrase "si quibus eiectus silvis aut urbibus errat" (line 578)

13. Conditional phrase "si datur Italiam" (line 551)Comparative phrase "non obtusa adeo gestamus pectora Poeni" (line 568)

14. Ablative absolute phrase "voltum demissa" (line 563)

15. Nominalization of the verb "cogunt" in the phrase "Res dura et regni novitas me talia cogunt" (line 56)

Poetic Devices:

1. Alliteration: "Troes te miseri, ventis maria omnia vecti" (line 524)

2. Anaphora: "non nos aut ferro Libycos populare Penatis / venimus, aut raptas ad litora vertere praedas" (lines 529-530)

3. Asyndeton: "Hic cursus fuit: cum subito adsurgens fluctu nimbosus Orion / in vada caeca tulit, penitusque procacibus austris / perque undas, superante salo, perque invia saxa" (lines 534-536)

4. Hyperbole: "Est locus, Hesperiam Grai cognomine dicunt, / terra antiqua, potens armis atque ubere glaebae" (lines 531-532)

5. Metaphor: "non ea vis animo, nec tanta superbia victis" (line 532)

6. Personification: "cum subito adsurgens fluctu nimbosus Orion" (line 534)

7. Simile: "si quibus eiectus silvis aut urbibus errat" (line 578)

8. Rhetorical question: "Quis genus Aeneadum, quis Troiae nesciat urbem, / virtutesque virosque, aut tanti incendia belli?" (lines 565-566)

9. Epithet: "maximus Ilioneus" (line 520)

10. Chiasmus: "Tros Tyriusque mihi nullo discrimine agetur" (line 574)

11. Anadiplosis: "non metus; officio nec te certasse priorem / poeniteat" (lines 544-545)

12. Antithesis: "non obtusa adeo gestamus pectora Poeni, / nec tam aversus equos Tyria Sol iungit ab urbe" (lines 567-568)

13. Epizeuxis: "Hospitio prohibemur harenae; / bella cient, primaque vetant consistere terra" (lines 540-541)

14. Litotes: "Quassatam ventis liceat subducere classem" (line 550)

15. Epanalepsis: "pauci vestris adnavimus oris" (line 537)