Vergil, Aeneid XII 887-918

Aenēās īnstat contrā tēlumque coruscat

ingēns arboreum, et saevō sīc pectore fātur:

'Quae nunc deinde mora est? aut quid iam, Turne, retrāctās?

Nōn cursū, saevīs certandum est comminus armīs.890

Verte omnīs tēte in faciēs et contrahe quidquid

sīve animīs sīve arte valēs; optā ardua pennīs

astra sequī clausumque cavā tē condere terrā.'

Ille caput quassāns: 'Nōn mē tua fervida terrent

dicta, ferōx; dī mē terrent et Iuppiter hostis.'895

Nec plūra effātus saxum circumspicit ingēns,

saxum antīquum ingēns, campō quod forte iacēbat,

līmes agrō positus lītem ut discerneret arvīs.

vix illum lēctī bis sex cervīce subīrent,

quālia nunc hominum prōdūcit corpora tellūs;900

ille manū raptum trepidā torquēbat in hostem

altior īnsurgēns et cursū concitus hērōs.

Sed neque currentem sē nec cognōscit euntem

tollentemve manū saxumve immāne moventem;

genua labant, gelidus concrēvit frīgore sanguis.905

Tum lapis ipse virī vacuum per ināne volūtus

nec spatium ēvāsit tōtum neque pertulit ictum.

Ac velut in somnīs, oculōs ubi languida pressit

nocte quiēs, nēquīquam avidōs extendere cursūs

velle vidēmur et in mediīs cōnātibus aegrī910

succidimus; nōn lingua valet, nōn corpore nōtae

sufficiunt vīrēs nec vōx aut verba sequuntur:

sīc Turnō, quācumque viam virtūte petīvit,

successum dea dīra negat. Tum pectore sēnsūs

vertuntur variī; Rutulōs aspectat et urbem915

cunctāturque metū lētumque īnstāre tremēscit,

nec quō sē ēripiat, nec quā vī tendat in hostem,

nec currūs ūsquam videt aurīgamve sorōrem.

    CORE VOCABULARY

    Aenēās, ae, m.: 1. A Trojan chief, son of Venus and Anchises, and hero of the Aeneid, 1.92. 2. Aenēās Silvius, one of the Alban kings, 6.769.

    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.

    contrā: (prep. and adv.; prep. w. acc.), over against; opposite to, 1.13; against, 5.370; to, 9.280; on the contrary, 12.779; on the other hand, in reply, 1.76.

    coruscō, 1, a. and n.: to push with the horns; move quickly hither and thither; shake, brandish, wave, swing, 5.642; flash; glisten.

    arboreus, a, um: adj. (arbor), pertaining to a tree or trees; tree-like, massive, 12.888; branching, 1.190.

    Turnus, ī, m.: the chief of the Rutulians, 7.56, et al.

    retrāctō, āvī, ātus, 1, freq. a. and n.: to handle again; gripe or grasp again, 10.396; take up again, resume, 7.694; recall, 12.11; n., hesitate, hold back, 12.889.

    comminus: (adv.), hand to hand, 7.553, 733; immediately; near at hand. (com- and manus)

    contrahō, trāxī, trāctus, 3, a.: to draw together, contract; bring together, collect, assemble, 3.8; gather, assume, 12.891.

    sīve or seu: (conj.), or if, freq.; or, 5.69; elliptical, 11.327; sīve (seu) — sīve (seu), whether — or, 1.569, 570; either — or, 4.240, 241.

    arduus, a, um: (adj.), steep; erect, high, raised high, 2.475; 5.480; lofty, towering, 2.328; rearing, 11.638.

    penna (pinna), ae, f.: a feather, 12.750; wing, pinion, 3.258; in the form pinna, a pinnacle, battlement, palisade, 7.159.

    cavus, a, um: (adj.), hollow, 1.81; concave, 8.599; arching, vaulted, 2.487; cavae manūs, the palms of the hands, 12.86.

    quassō, āvī, ātus, 1, intens. a. and n.: to shake violently; shatter, 1.551; 4.53; shake, 5.855; brandish, 9.521. (quatiō)

    fervidus, a, um: adj. (ferveō), glowing hot; glowing; fired, 9.736; furious, 7.397; boiling, 7.24; threatening, 12.894; eager, impetuous, 12.748.

    dictum, ī, n.: a thing said; word, 1.197; command, precept, injunction, 1.695; promise, 8.643. (dīcō)

    ferōx, ōcis: adj. (ferus), wild; impetuous; ferocious, fiery, fierce, 5.277; warlike, martial; proud, 12.895.

    Iuppiter, Iovis, m.: Jupiter, son of Saturn and Rhea, and king of the gods, 1.223; Iuppiter Stygius, Pluto, 4.638.

    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)

    circumspiciō, spexī, spectus, 3, a. and n.: to look around; cast a glance round upon; survey, 2.68; look round and see, 12.896; observe, 3.517; look round for, look out, seek. (cīrcum and speciō, look)

    līmes, itis, m.: a cross path bounding two fields; border, boundary, train, 2.697; track, passage, 10.514. (rel. to līmen)

    līs, lītis, f.: a strife, contest, dispute, 12.898.

    discernō, crēvī, crētus, 3, a.: to distinguish one thing from another; determine, distinguish, decide, 12.898; perceive, 3.201; mark, set off; work, embroider, 4.264.

    lēctus, a, um: gathered, collected, 6.228; picked, culled; chosen, choice, 9.272, et al. (legō)

    bis: (adv.), twice, 1.381. (in composition bi-)

    sex: six, 9.272, et al. (num. indecl. adj.)

    cervīx, īcis, f.: the neck, including the back or nape of the neck, 1.477, et al.

    subeō, iī, itus (p. subiēns, euntis), 4, n. and a.: to go or come under, into, or up to; alone, or with acc. and prep., or with dat.; without a case, come up, 2.216; go under, bend, stoop down under, 10.522; come after; follow, 2.725; take one's place, 12.471; enter, 1.171; come into or upon the mind, suggest itself, occur, 2.560; with acc. and prep., go, advance towards, 8.359; with dat., come or go up to, down to, into, 5.203; succeed to, 5.176; come after, follow, 10.371; with acc., approach, enter, 1.400; go under a burden, bear, with abl. of instrument, 2.708; go under the yoke, draw, 3.113; enter the mind of, strike, occur to, 9.757; approach, reach, 3.512; approach, 7.22; meet, encounter, 10.798; attack, 9.344.

    prōdūcō, dūxī, ductus, 3, a.: to lead, draw forth, carry, bring, conduct, lead forth, 9.487; breed, produce, 12.900; prolong, protract, 2.637.

    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.

    trepidus, a, um: (adj.), agitated, uneasy, disturbed, trembling, affrighted, 2.380; excited, tumultuous, 11.300; confused, in disorder, 10.283; alarmed, fearful of, anxious for, w. gen., 12.589; panic-stricken, 12.583.

    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.

    īnsurgō, surrēxi, rēctus, 3, n.: to rise to; w. dat., 9.34; rise, spring to, ply, 3.207; (without case), lift or raise one's self, rise upward, 5.443.

    concieō, īvī, itus, 2, a.: to call together; incite, to stir up, arouse; enrage, fire, make furious, 9.694; hurl, shoot from, 12.921; disturb, 3.127; (pass.), to be impelled on, dart along, 11.744; hasten, speed, 12.902.

    hērōs, ōis, m.: a demigod; a hero, 6.192, et al.; an illustrious man, champion, hero, 5.453.

    immānis, e: (adj.), vast, huge, immense, 1.110; wild, savage, barbarous, 1.616; cruel, ruthless, 1.347; unnatural, monstrous, hideous, 6.624; (adv.), immāne, wildly, fiercely, 12.535.

    genū, ūs, n.: a knee, 1.320, et al. (γόνυ)

    labō, āvī, ātus, 1, n.: to give way, begin to yield; totter, 2.492; of the mind, waver, 4.22; falter, flag, despond, 12.223.

    gelidus, a, um: adj. (gelū), frosty, ice-cold; cold, cool, icy, chilling, 2.120; chilled, 3.30.

    concrēscō, crēvī, crētus, 3, n.: to grow together; grow thick; stiffen, 12.905; p., concrētus, a, um, concreted, matted, 2.277; formed by natural growth, contracted, accumulated, 6.738.

    frīgus, oris, n.: cold, frost, 6.309; cold weather, a cold storm; coolness, cool breeze; frost; chilling, paralyzing fear, 1.92; the chill of death, 12.951. (rel. to frīgeō)

    ināne, is, n.: void space, a void, 12.354.

    volvō, volvī, volūtus, 3, a.: to roll, 1.86; roll along or down, 1.101; roll or cast up, 3.206; toss, hurl, 12.906; roll over, roll in the dust, 12.329; cast, hurl down, 1.116; 9.512; roll, wheel, 1.163; of books, open, unroll, 1.262; of the Fates, fix the circle of events, decree, ordain, dispose, 1.22; 3.376; of the mind, revolve, meditate, reflect upon, 1.305; pass, continue, live through, experience, endure, suffer, 1.9; rotam volvere, to complete a cycle, period; (pass.), volvī, roll over, roll, 10.590; turn or wind about, 7.350; to be shed, to flow, 4.449; roll on, revolve, 1.269.

    ēvādō, vāsī, vāsus, 3, n. and a.: to go out, forth, or up; ascend, 2.458; come in flight, 2.531; come forth from, w. the idea of danger surmounted; (w. acc.), to escape the dangers of, 2.731; escape, 5.689; 6.425; w. dat., 11.702; 9.99.

    perferō, tulī, lātus, ferre, irreg. a.: to carry or bear through; carry, restore, return, 11.717; report, 5.665; convey completely, carry home, 10.786; reach the mark, 12.907; undergo, endure, suffer, 3.323; (w. reflex. pron.), betake one's self, go, 1.389; p., perlātus, a, um, carried to the mark; striking, 11.803.

    atque, or ac: (conj.), and in addition, or and besides; and, as well, and indeed, and, 1.575; freq.; even, 2.626; in comparisons, as, 4.90; than, 3.561.

    languidus, a, um: adj. (langueō), languid, 12.908.

    nox, noctis, f.: night, freq.; darkness, 1.89; dark cloud, black storm-cloud, 3.198; sleep, 4.530; death, 12.310; personif., Nox, Night, the goddess of night, 3.512.

    quiēs, ētis, f.: rest, repose, 3.495; sleep, 2.268; respite, intermission, 1.723.

    nēquīquam: (adv.), in vain, to no purpose, 2.515.

    avidus, a, um: adj. (aveō, desire), longing, eager, 1.514; eagerly, quickly, 6.210; with longing, 3.132; eager for destruction, devouring, destructive, baneful; with infin., 12.290; with gen., eagerly, desirous of, eager for, 9.661.

    extendō, tendī, tentus or tēnsus, 3, a.: to stretch forth; stretch, extend, 5.374; continue, 12.909; magnify, advance, 6.806.

    cōnātus, ūs, m.: an effort, attempt, 12.910. (cōnor)

    succidō, 3, n.: to fall down; sink down, 12.911. (sub and cadō)

    sufficiō, fēcī, fectus, 3, a. and n.: to make or produce underneath or within anything; dye; tinge, suffuse, 2.210; raise up, produce; supply, lend, afford, 2.618; to be adequate to, sufficient for; strong enough, able, 5.22. (sub and faciō)

    quācumque: (adv.), by whatever way, wherever; by whatever means, by all means, wherever; separated by tmesis, 11.762.

    successus, ūs, m.: a going up, an advance; success, good fortune, 2.386; speed, 12.616. (succēdō)

    dīrus, a, um: (adj.), accursed; portentous; fearful, dreadful, awful, dire, cruel, horrible, freq.; accursed, 2.261; unhallowed, impious, 6.373; foul, carrion, 3.262; wild, furious, ardent, 9.185; pl., dīra (adv.), fearfully, 10.572.

    Rutulī, ōrum, m.: the Rutulians, an ancient tribe of Latium dwelling south of the Tiber, 1.266, et al.

    aspectō, āvī, ātus, 1, intens. a.: to look at or upon, behold, 10.4; survey earnestly, 6.186; with admiration, 1.420; with regret, 5.615. (ad and spectō)

    cunctor, ātus sum, 1, dep. n.: to delay, hesitate, linger, wait, 4.133; keep one's ground, stand at bay, 10.717.

    tremēscō, 3, inc. n. and a.: to begin to tremble; to tremble, quake, 5.694; to tremble at, 3.648. (tremō)

    ūsquam: (adv.), anywhere, 1.604; by any means, at all, 8.568.

    aurīga, ae, m.: a charioteer, 5.146; a groom, 12.85.

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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/vergil-aeneid/vergil-aeneid-xii-887-918