hic uero Alcidae furiis exarserat atro

felle dolor: rapit arma manu nodisque grauatum220

robur, et aerii cursu petit ardua montis.

tum primum nostri Cacum uidere timentem

turbatumque oculis; fugit ilicet ocior Euro

speluncamque petit, pedibus timor addidit alas.

ut sese inclusit ruptisque immane catenis225

deiecit saxum, ferro quod et arte paterna

pendebat, fultosque emuniit obice postis,

ecce furens animis aderat Tirynthius omnemque

accessum lustrans huc ora ferebat et illuc,

dentibus infrendens. ter totum feruidus ira230

lustrat Auentini montem, ter saxea temptat

limina nequiquam, ter fessus ualle resedit.

stabat acuta silex praecisis undique saxis

speluncae dorso insurgens, altissima uisu,

dirarum nidis domus opportuna uolucrum.235

hanc, ut prona iugo laeuum incumbebat ad amnem,

dexter in aduersum nitens concussit et imis

auulsam soluit radicibus, inde repente

impulit; impulsu quo maximus intonat aether,

dissultant ripae refluitque exterritus amnis.240

at specus et Caci detecta apparuit ingens

regia, et umbrosae penitus patuere cauernae,

non secus ac si qua penitus ui terra dehiscens

infernas reseret sedes et regna recludat

pallida, dis inuisa, superque immane barathrum245

cernatur, trepident immisso lumine Manes.

ergo insperata deprensum luce repente

inclusumque cauo saxo atque insueta rudentem

desuper Alcides telis premit, omniaque arma

aduocat et ramis uastisque molaribus instat.250

ille autem, neque enim fuga iam super ulla pericli,

faucibus ingentem fumum (mirabile dictu)

euomit inuoluitque domum caligine caeca

prospectum eripiens oculis, glomeratque sub antro

fumiferam noctem commixtis igne tenebris.255

non tulit Alcides animis, seque ipse per ignem

praecipiti iecit saltu, qua plurimus undam

fumus agit nebulaque ingens specus aestuat atra.

hic Cacum in tenebris incendia uana uomentem

corripit in nodum complexus, et angit inhaerens260

elisos oculos et siccum sanguine guttur.

    CORE VOCABULARY

    Alcīdēs, ae., m.: a descendant of Alceus; Hercules, 5.414, et al.

    furiae, ārum, f.: rage, fury, madness, frenzy, 1.41, et al.; vengeance, 8.494; personif., Furiae, ārum, the goddesses of vengeance, the Furies, Allecto, Megaera, and Tisiphone; the Avengers, 3.331; for the Harpies, 3.252. (furō)

    exārdēscō, ārsī, ārsus, 3, inc. n.: to begin to burn; (fig.), to be roused to anger; kindle, burn, 2.575; 5.172.

    āter, tra, trum: (adj.), black; dark, gloomy, 1.60, et al.; smoky, lurid, 7.456; 4.384; clotted, dark, 3.622; soiled, blackened, 2.272; (fig.), sad, fatal, 6.429; venomous, deadly; of the odor of smoke, 12.591.

    fel, fellis, n.: the gall bladder; gall, bile; poison, 12.857; (fig.), wrath, 8.220.

    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.

    nōdus, ī, m.: a knot, 1.320, et al.; of a tree, 11.553; bond, 1.296; coil, 2.220; (fig.), difficult point; center of strife, 10.428.

    gravō, āvī, ātus, 1, a.: to weigh down, 9.437; oppress, burden, 2.708; (pass.), to resist, yield reluctantly, 10.628. (gravis)

    rōbur, oris, n.: hard oak or wood, 6.181; a tree, 8.315; (meton.), timber, a wooden structure; fabric, 2.260; (fig.), sturdiness, strength, firmness, courage, vigor, 2.639; pl., rōbora, wood, timber, 4.399; vigor, flower, 8.518.

    āerius, a, um: (adj.), pertaining to the air; airy, aërial, 5.520; rising into the air; towering, lofty, 3.291; air-cleaving, 9.803.

    arduum, uī, n.: a high place; height, 5.695; 7.562.

    nostrī, ōrum, m.: our friends, kindred, allies, etc., 2.411. (noster)

    Cācus, ī, m.: Cacus, the giant of the Aventine, slain by Hercules, 8.194.

    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)

    īlicet: (adv.), straightway, immediately, at once, instantly, 2.424. (īre and licet)

    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.

    Eurus, ī, m.: the southeast wind, 1.85, et al.; wind, 1.383, et al.

    spēlunca, ae, f.: a cavern, 1.60; retreat, 5.213.

    āla, ae, f.: a wing, 1.301; the feather of an arrow, 9.578; the wing of an army; cavalry, 11.730; troop, battalion, 11.604; horsemen, mounted huntsmen, 4.121.

    inclūdō, clūsī, clūsus, 3, a.: to shut in, inclose, 6.680; secrete, 2.19; for interclūdō, stop, choke, 7.534; to mount, set, inlay, adorn, 12.211. (1. in and claudō)

    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.

    catēna, ae, f.: a chain, fetter, 6.558.

    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)

    paternus, a, um: adj. (pater), pertaining to a father; a father's, of a father, 5.81; derived from a father; paternal, ancestral, 3.121.

    pendeō, pependī, 2, n.: to hang, foll. by abl. alone or w. prep., 2.546, et al.; 5.511; be suspended, 1.106; cling, 9.562; bend, stoop forward, 5.147; (meton.), linger, delay, 6.151; listen, hang upon, 4.79.

    fulciō, fulsī, fultus, 4, a.: to sustain, support, uphold, 4.247.

    ēmūniō, iī, ītus, 4, a.: to fortify; make strong, secure, 8.227.

    ōbex, icis, m. and f.: an obstacle; a barrier, 10.377; a bolt, bar, 8.227. (ob and iaciō)

    postis, is, m.: a post; doorpost, jamb, 3.287; door, 2.480. (rel. to pōnō)

    furō, uī, 3, n.: to be mad; freq., to rave, be frantic, rage, 1.491; to be furious, burn, storm (for war), 7.625; to be burning or mad with love, 1.659; to be frenzied, in a frenzy, 6.100; inspired, 2.345; distracted with grief, 3.313; plunge madly, 9.552; boil, 7.464; with cognate acc., give vent to one's fury, 12.680.

    adsum, adfuī, esse, irreg. n.: to be near or by; to be present, at hand, or here, 1.595; to have arrived, 2.132; to be with, attend, 2.701; aid, accompany, 10.547; be propitious, 3.116; to beset, 2.330; inf., adfore, to be about to come, destined to come, 7.270. (imp. subj., adforem, -ēs, -et, -ent)

    Tīrynthius, a, um: adj. (Tīryns), of Tiryns, a town in Argolis, where Hercules was brought up; Tirynthian; subst., Tīrynthius, iī, m., the Tirynthian; Hercules, 7.662.

    accessus, ūs, m.: a going near to; an access, approach, 3.570. (accēdō)

    lūstrō, āvī, ātus, 1, a.: to purify by atonement, 3.279; go round the fields with the victims; hence to bless, ask for a blessing on; go or dance around an altar or the image of a god, 7.391; traverse, pass across, around, or over, 1.608; pass in review, parade before, 5.578; run through, 2.528; search, 1.577; observe, survey, 1.453; watch, mark, 11.763; of the sun, illuminate, 4.607. (lūstrum)

    dēns, dentis, m.: a tooth, 3.664; the fluke of an anchor, 6.3.

    īnfrendeō, 2, n., and īnfrendō, 3, n.: to gnash, 3.664.

    ter: (num. adv.), thrice, three times, 1.94, et al. (trēs)

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

    Aventīnus, ī, m.: the Aventine mount in Rome, 7.659; a Latin chief, 7.657.

    saxeus, a, um: adj. (saxum), rocky, stony, 9.711.

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

    vallēs, is, f.: a valley, dell, dale, ravine, vale, 1.186, et al.

    resīdō, sēdī, 3, n.: to sit or settle down; seat one's self, 1.506; settle, take up one's abode, 5.702; retreat, 9.539; sink, subside, 7.27; come to an end, 9.643; of passion, become quiet, calm, subside, 6.407.

    acūtus, a, um: sharpened, pointed, sharp, 1.45. (acuō)

    silex, icis, m. and f.: a hard stone, flint, 1.174; rock, 6.602; crag, 6.471.

    praecīsus, a, um: abrupt, ragged, 8.233. (prae and caedō)

    dorsum, ī, n.: the back, 11.577; a ridge, reef of rocks, 1.110; a bank, 10.303.

    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.

    vīsus, ūs, m.: a seeing; vision, sight, 4.277; a phenomenon, spectacle, appearance, sight, 2.212; aspect, 11.271; prodigy, 3.36. (videō)

    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.

    nīdus, ī, m.: a nest; brood, nestling, 5.214.

    opportūnus, a, um: adj. (ob and portus, opposite to, or at the entrance of a harbor), convenient, fit, 8.235; proper.

    prōnus, a, um: (adj.), inclined, stooping or bending forward, 3.668; leaning 8.236; descending, falling, 11.485; going down, 9.713; favorable, safe, 5.212.

    laevus, a, um: (adj.), the left, 10.495; (situated) on the left, 3.412; the left, 3.420; (fig.), ill-starred, unpropitious, baleful, 10.275; infatuated, blind, 2.54.

    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.

    nitēns, entis: shining, glittering, sparkling; bright, 1.228; (fig.), sleek, well-fed, 3.20.

    concutiō, cussī, cussus, 3, a.: to shake completely; shake, 2.629; push, 8.237; rouse, spur, 8.3; sift, examine, search, 7.338; agitate, strike with panic, terrify, 4.666; smite, afflict, 5.700. (com- and quatiō)

    āvellō, vellī or vulsī, vulsus, 3, a.: to pluck, or tear off, or away from, with acc. and abl., take away, steal, 2.165; to force away, 11.201; p., avulsus, a, um, torn from, 2.608; torn, rent, 3.575.

    rādīx, īcis, f.: a root, 3.27, et al.

    repēns, entis: (adv.), suddenly, unexpectedly, 1.594.

    impellō, pulī, pulsus, 3, a.: to push, thrust, drive to or upon; push onward, impel, 5.242; push, open, 7.621; smite, 1.82; ply, 4.594; put in motion, urge on, 8.3; shoot, 12.856; move, disturb, 3.449; (w. inf.), lead on, impel, induce, persuade, 2.55; force, compel, 1.11.

    impulsus, ūs, m.: an impelling; impulse, shock, 8.239. (impellō)

    intonō, uī, ātus 1, n. and a.: to thunder, 1.90; (impers.), intonat, it thunders, 2.693.

    dissultō, 1, n.: to leap asunder; spring back or apart, 8.240; burst from, 12.923. (dis- and saltō)

    refluō, 3, n.: to flow back, 8.240.

    exter (exterus), era, erum: adj. (ex), on the outside; external, foreign, 4.350; superl., extrēmus (or extimus), a, um, outermost; outer, 12.925; last, most distant, farthest, 5.327; remotest, hindmost, last, 5.183; final, 3.714; consummating, finishing, 7.572; last in degree; extreme, basest, worst, 11.701; the instant of, verge of, 2.447; subst., extrēma, ōrum, pl. n., the most distant parts, 1.577; the last sufferings, death, 1.219; perils, 3.315; adv.; extrēma, for the last time, one’s last, 11.865.

    at and ast: (conj., denoting addition either with the notion of difference, or of decided opposition), but, 1.46; yet, still, after conditional propositions; in adding new particulars, and in transitions, but also, but, now, 4.1; denoting indignation, with execration, 2.535.

    specus, ūs, m., f., and n.: a cave, cavern; cavity, deep wound, 9.700.

    dētegō, tēxī, tēctus, 3, a.: to uncover, 10.133; lay bare, expose to view, 8.241.

    rēgia: a palace, 7.171. (rēgius, a, um, sc. domus)

    umbrōsus, a, um: adj. (umbra), shady; dark, shadowy, 8.242.

    penitus: adv. (cf. penes), inwardly, far within, deep, deeply, 1.200; wholly, entirely, 6.737; afar, 11.623; far away, 1.512.

    caverna, ae, f.: a hollow; cavern, 2.53, et al. (cavus)

    secus: following, late; otherwise, differently; nōn or haud secus, not otherwise, not less; likewise, even so, 2.382, et al.; none the less, nevertheless, 5.862; haud secus ac, nor otherwise than, just as. (comp. adv.), sētius, less, the less; haud sētius, not the less, 7.781.

    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.

    quis, qua or quae, quid or quod: (indef. pron., adj., and subst.), any, some, 2.94, et al.; some one, any one, any body, anything, something, 1.413, et al.; sī quis, nē quis, etc., if any, lest any, etc., freq.; (adv.), quid, as to anything, in anything, at all, freq.; sī quid, if at all, freq.

    dehīscō, hīvī, 3, n.: to gape, yawn, 1.106; stand open, open, 6.52.

    īnfernus, a, um: adj. (īnferus), that which is below; of Hades, infernal, 3.386.

    reserō, āvī, ātus, 1, a.: unbolt; open, 7.613.

    reclūdō, clūsī, clūsus, 3, a.: to unclose; to open, freq.; throw open, 3.92; reveal, disclose, 1.358; unsheathe, 4.646; cut or lay open, 4.63. (re- and claudō)

    pallidus, a, um: adj. (palleō), pale, pallid, 3.217; ghastly, 8.197.

    invīsus, a, um: hated, hateful, odious, 1.387; (act.), inimical, an enemy, hostile, 11.364.

    super: (adv.), above, 4.684, et al.; above, from above, 10.384; moreover, 4.606; besides, 1.29; more than enough, 2.642; remaining, surviving, left (with ellipsis of esse), 3.489, et al.; still (or above), 4.684; of time, in, during, 9.61.

    barathrum, ī, n.: an abyss, chasm, gulf, 3.421.

    trepidō, āvī, ātus, 1, n. and a.: to be in trepidation, alarm or panic, 10.788; to hurry, hasten to and fro or about, 2.685; to hasten (with inf.), 9.114; to strive nervously, make trembling effort, 12.403. (trepidus)

    immittō, mīsī, missus, 3, a.: to send upon or to; drive to, 6.312; bring upon, 4.488; let in, 2.495; let fly, go, loosen, 6.1; hurl, fling, cast, 11.562; (with sē), rush into, 6.262; p., immissus, a, um, of the reins of horses, let loose; hence, (fig.), swiftly running, 5.146; unchecked, unbridled, 5.662; of the hair or beard, descending, left growing, neglected, long, 3.593.

    Mānēs, ium, m.: the deities of the lower world, 6.896; gods or powers below, 12.646; the spirits or souls of the dead in Hades; ghosts, shades, Manes, 3.63; penalties of the lower world, punishments, expiations, purgatory, 6.743; abode of the dead, 4.387; infernal regions, the world below, 10.820.

    īnspērātus, a, um: (adj.), unhoped for, 3.278; unexpected, 8.247.

    dēprēndō, prēndī, prēnsus, 3, a.: to catch, surprise, overtake, 5.52; intercept, 10.98.

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

    īnsuētus, a, um (trisyll.): (adj.), unaccustomed; unused, unwonted, 6.16; (pl. n. as adv.), īnsuēta, strangely; hideously, 8.248.

    rudō, īvī, ītus, 3, n. and a.: to send forth a loud, rough sound; bellow, roar, of men, 8.248; of beasts, 7.16; of the roaring sound of the rushing water, 3.561. (p. gen. pl., rudentum, 7.16)

    dēsuper: (adv.), from above; above, 1.165.

    advocō, āvī, ātus, 1, a.: to call; summon, 5.44.

    rāmus, ī, m.: a branch, bough, 4.485, et al.; limb, 8.318; wreath, 5.71.

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

    molāris, is, m.: a millstone; (meton.), a huge stone, 8.250. (mola)

    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.

    faucēs, ium, f.: the jaws, throat, 2.358; (fig.), mouth, entrance, jaws, 6.241; defiles, 11.516.

    fūmus, ī, m.: smoke, 2.609, et al.

    mīrābilis, e: adj. (mīror), wonderful, extraordinary, wondrous, admirable, 1.652, et al.; strange, 2.680.

    ēvomō, uī, itus, 3, a.: to vomit out or up, 8.253.

    involvō, volvī, volūtus, 3, a.: to roll on or in; cast upon, 12.292; roll along, carry, 12.689; cover up, obscure, 3.198; conceal, involve, 6.100.

    cālīgō, inis, f.: mist, fog, 3.203; misty, obscurity; darkness, dimness, obscurity, 6.267; smoke, 11.187; cloud of dust, 9.36; blinding dust, 12.466.

    prōspectus, ūs, m.: a looking forth, view, 9.168; sight, prospect, view, w. dat. of the object, 1.181. (prōspiciō)

    glomerō, āvī, atus, 1, a.: to gather into a ball or mass; roll, whirl, 3.577; collect; assemble, gather, 2.315; (pass.), glomerārī, in mid. signif., to throng, gather; troop, flock, 1.500. (glomus, ball)

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

    fūmifer, era, erum: adj. (fūmus and ferō), smoke bearing; smoky, 8.255.

    commisceō, uī, mixtus or mistus, 2, a.: to mix together, freq.; blend, mingle, 3.633.

    praeceps, cipitis: adj. (prae and caput), head foremost; headlong, 2.307; deep, 11.888; hurried, hasty, quick, speedy, 4.573; flying, running swiftly, 2.516; 3.598; rash, impetuous, fiery, 9.685; prolept., ready to sink, 10.232; subst., praeceps, n., a steep, precipice, verge, 2.460; in praeceps, headlong; downwards, 6.578.

    saltus, ūs, m.: a leap, bound, spring, 2.565; an ascending, 6.515. (saliō)

    nebula, ae, f.: a cloud, 10.82; mist, fog, 1.412.

    aestuō, āvī, ātus, 1, n.: to glow, to be dried up or parched; boil up; heave, foam, 6.297; fume, 8.258; rage, seethe, 12.666. (aestus)

    incendium, iī, n.: a burning, conflagration; flame, fire, 2.706; desolation, 1.566; fiery material, firebrand, 9.71. (incendō)

    vomō, uī, itus, 3, a.: to vomit; belch, vomit forth, 5.682.

    corripiō, ripuī, reptus, 3, a.: to take completely or eagerly; to grasp, snatch, seize, catch, 1.45; hurry away, 1.100; tear away; hasten on, take, 1.418; raise quickly, rouse, 4.572; sē corripere, to hasten away, 6.472. (com- and rapiō)

    complector, plexus sum, 3, dep. a.: to embrace; cover, 2.514; hold, 5.31; seize, grasp, 11.743.

    angō, ānxī, ānctus or ānxus, 3, a.: to squeeze, compress, 8.260.

    inhaereō, haesī, haesus, 2, n.: to stick to; cling to, hang upon, fasten upon, 8.260; embrace, w. abl., 10.845.

    ēlīdō, līsī, līsus, 3, a.: to dash forth, out, up, 3.567; suffocate, strangle, 8.289; force out, cause to start out, 8.261. (ex and laedō)

    siccus, a, um: (adj.), dry, 3.135; thirsty, dry, hungry, fasting, 2.358; nearly equivalent to carēns or prīvātus, with abl. foll., drained of blood, 8.261; hence, thirsting for blood, 9.64; subst., siccum, ī, n., dry ground, sand, or land, 10.301.

    guttur, uris, n.: the throat, 6.421.

    article Nav

    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/it/vergil-aeneid/vergil-aeneid-viii-219-261