952-973

Amphitryon asks Hercules what is wrong. Hercules then claims that, having conquered the earth, seas, and Underworld, he has only heaven left to achieve. In a terrifying turn, he threatens war against heaven if he is forbidden to enter, promising to release Saturn and the Titans from the Underworld and lead them in an assault on the gods. To climb there he will pile Mount Olympus, Ossa, and Pelion on top of each other.

953 quō: “why,” “for what purpose.” Amphitryon’s questions describe Hercules’ psychotic episode and indicate that an eclipse is not real but only Hercules’ hallucination.

954 aciēque turbidā: “with confused vision.”

955–59 Hercules’ hallucination becomes more grandiose. He imagines proceeding from a pacified earth into his father’s heaven.

955 perdomita tellūs: supply est.

956 sensēre: = sensērunt.

957 immune: “untouched” (Fitch 2018).  Being immunis is usually a good thing, but Hercules in his megalomania seems to see it as a flaw. Alcīdē: ablative of specification with the adjective dignus (AG 418), as at 927.

958 sublīmis: a predicative adjective: translate with ferar.

958–59 ferar … petatur: hortatory subjunctives (AG 439).

959 astra prōmittit pater: “the stars are my father’s promise”: Jupiter has promised to deify Hercules.

960–64 Hercules questions whether heaven will in fact admit him.

960 quid, sī negāret: a present contrary to fact condition: “what if he should now refuse?” (AG 514C). nōn capit terra Herculem: i.e., the earth cannot restrain Hercules from seeking heaven.

963 ūnā vetante: ablative absolute (AG 420), referring to Juno. recipis et reserās polum?: it is unclear whether the question is addressed to Jupiter or Juno.

964 an … trahō: “or should I tear down…?” The indicative instead of deliberative subjunctive is colloquial (AG 444.a Note). But there may be a hint of Hercules’ coming madness: with the indicative, he seems to imagine that he is already engaged in a war with heaven.

965 dubitātur etiam?:  “is there still hesitation?” vincla Sāturnō exuam: Hercules will free Saturn from his restraints in the Underworld, where he has been imprisoned since Jupiter defeated the Titans.

966 impiī: Hercules calls Jupiter impius because he attacked his own father—exactly what Hercules himself is plotting to do. Impotens, modifying regnum, means “lacking self-restraint” (rather than “powerless”). Hercules criticizes Jupiter for not ruling with moderation.

967 parent: hortatory subjunctive (AG 439): “let the Titans prepare war” against Jupiter.

968 mē duce: ablative absolute, “with me as their leader” (AG 419).

968–69 saxa ... iuga: Hercules threatens to tear up trees and huge rocks to use as weapons in his attack.

969 Centaurīs: ablative with plēna: “full of Centaurs.” The Thessalian mountain ranges were the traditional home of the Centaurs.

970 monte geminō: ablative of means (AG 408).

971 videat: hortatory subjunctive (AG 439), “let Chiron see.” The Centaur Chiron lived on Mount Pelion.

972–73 in caelum … perveniet aut mittetur: “will reach to the sky or will be hurled” there. tertiō … gradū: “on the third step,” locative ablative. Olympus will be the third step up to the gods, after Pelion and Ossa.