Ferrum exercēbant vāstō Cyclōpes in antrō,

Brontēsque Steropēsque et nūdus membra Pyragmōn.425

Hīs īnfōrmātum manibus iam parte polītā

fulmen erat, tōtō genitor quae plūrima caelō

dēicit in terrās, pars imperfecta manēbat.

Trīs imbris tortī radiōs, trīs nūbis aquōsae

addiderant, rutulī trīs īgnis et ālitis Austrī.430

fulgōrēs nunc terrificōs sonitumque metumque

miscēbant operī flammīsque sequācibus īrās.

Parte aliā Martī currumque rotāsque volucrīs

īnstābant, quibus ille virōs, quibus excitat urbēs;

aegidaque horriferam, turbātae Palladis arma,435

certātim squāmīs serpentum aurōque polībant

cōnexōsque anguīs ipsamque in pectore dīvae

Gorgona dēsectō vertentem lūmina collō.

'Tollite cūncta' inquit 'coeptōsque auferte labōrēs,

Aetnaeī Cyclōpes, et hūc advertite mentem:440

arma ācrī facienda virō. Nunc vīribus ūsus,

nunc manibus rapidīs, omnī nunc arte magistrā.

Praecipitāte morās.' Nec plūra effātus, at illī

ōcius incubuēre omnēs pariterque labōrem

sortītī. Fluit aes rīvīs aurīque metallum445

vulnificusque chalybs vāstā fornāce liquēscit.

Ingentem clipeum īnfōrmant, ūnum omnia contrā

tēla Latīnōrum, septēnōsque orbibus orbīs

impediunt. Aliī ventōsīs follibus aurās

accipiunt redduntque, aliī strīdentia tingunt450

aera lacū; gemit impositīs incūdibus antrum;

Illī inter sēsē multā vī bracchia tollunt

in numerum, versantque tenācī forcipe massam.

    CORE VOCABULARY

    vāstus, a, um: (adj.), empty, void, wild, waste, 9.323; vast, unbounded, 1.118; huge, enormous, immense, 3.647; deep-, vast-, sounding, 1.245.

    Cyclōps, ōpis, m.: a Cyclops, one of the Cyclopes, fabulous giants of Sicily, supposed to have a round eye in the middle of the forehead, 3.569.

    antrum, ī, n.: a cave, cavern, grotto, 1.166.

    Brontēs, ae, m.: one of the Cyclops, in the forge of Vulcan, 8.425.

    Steropēs, is, m.: a lightning-forger; a cyclops at the forge of Vulcan, 8.425.

    Pyracmōn, onis, m.: a Cyclops, servant of Vulcan, 8.425.

    īnfōrmō, āvī, ātus, 1, a.: to impart form to; mold, forge, 8.447; mold, shape in the rough, 8.426.

    manus, ūs, f.: the hand, 1.487; freq.; (meton.), action, movement of the hand; work, art, handiwork, 3.486; prowess, heroic deed, action, 2.434; force, violence, 2.645; a collection of persons; a band, crew, troop; an army, 2.29; forces, 5.623; multitude, 6.660; pl., manūs, workmen, 11.329; dare manūs, to yield, 11.558; extrēma manus, the finishing hand or touch, 7.572.

    poliō, īvī or iī, ītus, 4, a.: to smooth, furbish, polish; finish, 8.426; make bright, adorn, 8.436.

    fulmen, inis, n.: lightning, 10.177; thunderbolt, 2.649, et al.; thunder, 1.230. (fulgeō)

    genitor, ōris, m.: he who begets; father, sire, 1.155, et al. (gignō)

    dēiciō, iēcī, iectus, 3, a.: to cast down, 6.581; strike down, slay, 11.642; drive down, 4.152; shoot or bring down, 5.542; deprive of, 3.317; dēicere vultum, to cast down the eyes, 3.320; (pass.), dēicī, to be disheartened, dismayed, 10.858. (dē and iaciō)

    imperfectus, a, um: (adj.), unfinished, 8.428.

    imber, imbris, m.: a rain-storm; shower, 1.743, et al.; rain-cloud, 3.194; of sea-water, flood, 1.123; hail, 8.429.

    torqueō, torsī, tortus, 2, a.: to wind, turn, twist, 4.575; roll along, 6.551; whirl, hurl, 3.208; shoot, 5.497; cast, dash, 1.108; direct, 4.220; turn away, 6.547; turn, cause to revolve, 4.269; control, 12.180; p., tortus, a, um, whirled, whirling, impetuous, 7.567.

    radius, iī, m.: a staff, rod; spoke of a wheel, 6.616; beam, ray, 5.65; a shuttle, 9.476; the representation of rays on a crown, 12.163.

    nūbēs, is, f.: a cloud, 1.516, et al.; storm, 10.809; the air, 12.856; (fig.), flock, multitude, 7.705.

    aquōsus, a, um: adj. (aqua), abounding in water, bringing rain; watery, rainy, 4.52.

    rutilus, a, um: adj. (rel. to rubeō), of a red and gold color or flame color; red, glowing.

    āles, itis (gen. pl. sometimes alituum, 8.27): adj. (āla), winged, swift, 5.861, et al.; subst. c., a bird, 1.394; an owl, 12.862.

    Auster, trī, m.: the southerly or south wind, opposite to Aquilo; wind in general, 3.70; (meton.), the south.

    fulgor, ōris, m.: lightning, flash of lightning, 8.431; brilliancy, brightness, splendor, 5.88. (fulgeō)

    terrificus, a, um: adj. (terreō and faciō), causing terror; dread-inspiring, alarming, terrifying, dreadful, dread, 5.524.

    sonitus, ūs, m.: a sounding; noise, 2.732, et al.; roaring, 2.209; thunder, 6.586. (sonō)

    sequāx, ācis: adj. (sequor), prone to follow; following, pursuing, swiftly pursuing; darting, lambent, 8.432; rapid, 5.193.

    Mārs (archaic form, Māvors), Mārtis: Mars, son of Jupiter and Juno; the patron of war and tutelar god of the Romans, 1.274, et al.; (meton.), martial spirit, courage, warlike fury, 6.165; battle, conflict, 2.335, et al.

    rota, ae, f.: a wheel, 1.147; (fig.), circle or orbit of time, 6.748.

    īnstō, stitī, 1, n.: to stand on or upon; w. dat., acc., inf., or alone; w. dat., to stand on, 11.529; stand or hang over, 10.196; (w. acc.), to work at, ply work upon, 8.834; (w. inf.), urge on, press on, 1.423; persist, 10.118; (alone), to follow up, press on; pursue, 1.468; struggle, 12.783; be near at hand, approach, threaten, 12.916; to be urgent, important, incumbent, 4.115.

    excitō, āvī, ātus, 1, intens. a.: to rouse up completely; excite, awaken, arouse, 2.594; alarm, 2.728; stimulate, impel, 3.343. (exciō)

    aegis, idis, f.: the shield of Jupiter, carried also by Pallas; the aegis, 8.354.

    horrifer, fera, ferum: adj. (horreō and ferō), fear-bringing; dreadful, 8.435.

    turbō, āvī, ātus, 1, a.: to stir up, confuse, disturb, 3.449; scatter, 1.395; overthrow, 11.796; agitate, 4.566; perplex, 1.515; enrage, anger, 8.435; madden, 7.767; without obj. acc., to make disturbance, uproar, 6.857, et a1.; reflex., to be troubled, 6.800. (turba)

    Pallas, adis, f.: Pallas Athena, identified by the Romans with Minerva, 1.39; rāmus Palladis, the bough sacred to Pallas, the olive, 7.154.

    certātim: (adv.), with striving or contention; emulously, vying one with another; with every blow, 2.628; emulously, 3.290; impatiently, 11.486; as if in rivalry; fiercely, 11.209. (certō)

    squāma, ae, f.: a scale of fishes, serpents, etc.; of the small plates or scales of armor, 11.488; singular as a collective, scales, 5.88, et al.

    serpēns, entis (gen. pl. serpentum, 8.436), m. and f.: a creeping thing; snake, serpent, 2.214, et al. (serpō)

    cōnectō, nexuī, nexus, 3, a.: to fasten together, connect; twist together, 8.437.

    anguis, is, m. and f.: a snake of any kind, serpent, 2.379; hydra, 8.300.

    dīva, ae, f.: a goddess, 1.632, et al.

    Gorgō, onis: the common name of the three daughters of Phorcus, terrible on account of their snaky hair; especially, the head of the Gorgon on the shield of Minerva, 2.616.

    dēsecō, uī, tus, 1, a.: to cut off, 8.438.

    collum, ī, n.: the neck of men and animals, 1.654, et al.; of a plant, 9.436; pl., the neck, 11.692.

    Aetnaeus, a, um: adj. (Aetna), of Aetna; Aetnaean, 3.678.

    rapidus, a, um: adj. (rapiō), that tears away; violent, fierce; swiftly moving, rapid, 1.42; speedy, quick, prompt, 5.513.

    magistra, ae, f.: a mistress, directress; appositive, masterly, skill-giving, 8.442; teaching, instructive, 12.427. (magister)

    praecipitō, āvī, ātus, 1, a. and n.: to cast headlong, hurl, plunge, 2.37; urge, hurry, hasten; impel, incite, 2.317; break off, end swiftly, 12.699; hasten away, 4.565; n. (sc. sē), fall headlong, 6.351; descend swiftly, 2.9; run down, 4.251. (praeceps)

    nec or neque: (adv. and conj.), and not; neither, nor, 1.643, et al.; in prohibition, 3.394, et al.; neque (nec) — neque (nec), neither — nor, 5.21, et al.; nec — et, or -que, may be rendered neither — nor, 12.801; 2.534; nec nōn, and also, nor less, 6.183; nec nōn et, and also, 1.707.

    effor, fātus sum, 1, dep. a. and n.: to speak forth; speak, say, 6.560. (ex and for)

    ōcior, ius: adj. comp. (superl., ōcissimus, a, um), swifter, more fleet, 5.319, et al.; (adv.), ōcius, more swiftly; rapidly, speedily, quickly, swiftly, 12.681.

    incumbō, cubuī, cubitus, 3, n.: to lay one's self upon; lean or recline upon; (w. dat.), lie on or stretch over, 2.205; fall upon, 1.84; bend to, ply, 5.15; hasten, urge, press on, 2.653; overhang, 2.514; press or bend toward, 5.325; (w. ad and acc.), lean, hang, incline, 8.236; absolute, bend to, urge on the work, 4.397.

    pariter: (adv.), equally, 2.729; also, in like manner, in the same manner, on equal terms, 1.572; side by side, 2.205; at the same time, 10.865; pariter — pariter, 8.545. (pār)

    sortior, ītus sum, 4, dep. n. and a.: to cast lots; obtain, get, take by lot, 3.634; share, 8.445; distribute, 3.510; assign, allot, appoint, 3.376; select, choose, 2.18; 12.920. (sors)

    rīvus, ī, m.: a small stream; a rill, brook, rivulet, stream, 3.350.

    metallum, ī, n.: a mine; metal, 6.144.

    vulnificus, a, um: adj. (vulnus and faciō), wound-making; hurtful, deadly, 8.446.

    chalybs, ybis, m.: steel, 8.446.

    fornāx, ācis, f.: a furnace; forge, 7.636.

    liquēscō, licuī, 3, inc. n.: to become fluid or liquid; melt, 8.446. (liqueō)

    clipeus, ī, m., and clipeum, ī, n.: a round shield; a shield, 2.227, et al.

    ūnus, a, um (gen. ūnīus, dat. ūnī): (num. adj.), one, 2.527, et al.; one alone, a single one (emphatically), 1.47; only, alone, 9.544; one in particular, 5.704; with a comparative, 1.15; with a superl., 2.426; with ante aliōs, 3.321; common, 5.308; one and the same, at once, 10.871; pl., one, 2.642; ad ūnum, to a man, without exception, utterly, 5.687; in ūnum, in one, together, 12.714; (adv.), ūnā, in one place or at one time, together with, at once, at the same time, 3.634, et al.; with -que following, 11.864.

    Latīnī, ōrum, m.: the people of Latium; the Latins, 12.823, et al.

    septēnī, ae, a: distrib. num. adj. (septem), seven by seven, seven each; as a cardinal, seven, 5.85.

    impediō, īvī or iī, ītus, 4, a.: to hinder, 9.385; hamper, 10.553; involve, intersect, 5.585; combine, 8.449. (1. in and pēs)

    ventōsus, a, um: adj. (ventus), windy, stormy, 6.335; fleeting, unreal, inflated, windy, noisy, 11.390; empty, vain boasting, 11.708; fleet as the wind, 12.848.

    follis is, m.: a pair of bellows; the bellows, 8.449.

    strīdeō, 2, n., and strīdō, strīdī, 3: to produce a grating or shrill sound; to creak, 1.449; gurgle, 4.689; rustle, 1.397; whiz, roar, 1.102; hiss, 8.420; twang, 5.502.

    tingō, tīnxī, tīnctus, 3, a.: to wet; moisten, 3.665; wash, dip, bathe, 1.745; imbrue, 12.358.

    lacus, ūs, m.: a lake, pool, source, 8.74; fen, 2.135.

    gemō, uī, itus, 3, n. and a.: to groan, 7.501; sigh, 1.465; bemoan, bewail, lament, 1.221; of inanimate things, creak, 6.413.

    incūs, ūdis, f.: an anvil, 7.629. (incūdō, to beat)

    bracchium, iī, n.: strictly, the forearm from the hand to the elbow; in general, the arm, 2.792, et al.; (fig.), limb, branch, of a tree, 6.282; sail-yard, 5.829; of walls, 3.535.

    versō, āvī, ātus, 1, freq. a.: to turn much; writhe, 11.753; turn, 5.408; handle, wield, 9.747; to buffet, drive, beat round and round, 5.460; drive to and fro, 12.664; toss about, 6.362; turn, hurry, 4.286; involve in or distract with, 7.336; with or without mente, pectore, etc., revolve, meditate, devise, consider, 1.657. (vertō)

    tenāx, ācis: adj. (teneō), holding on or fast; tenacious; adhering to, persistent in, w. gen., 4.188.

    forceps, ipis, f.: a pair of tongs, pincers, 8.453.

    māssa, ae, f.: a lump, mass, 8.453.

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    Suggested Citation

    Christopher Francese and Meghan Reedy, Vergil: Aeneid Selections. Carlisle, Pennsylvania: Dickinson College Commentaries, 2016. ISBN: 978-1-947822-08-5. https://dcc.dickinson.edu/el/vergil-aeneid/vergil-aeneid-viii-424-453