Dīxerat, et liquidās resilit dea rūrsus in undās,
Praecipitī et saltū gurgite mersa latet. 100
Ast ego, quae īnfantis causā dubitāre solēbam
Antea, tunc rediēns ōmine certa fuī.
Mercurium, crēdō, Nymphae sub imāgine Olympō
Dēmissum, ut dominae sīc mihi fāta canat.
Nunc supplex tendō iūnctās ad sīdera palmās 105
Prō tālī auguriō; nec mihi cassa fidēs.
Haec ego cum cernam complērī in prīncipe vātēs,
Spērō caelicolās inter habēre locum.
notes
The nymph leaves Luisa Sigaea to her thoughts.
99 et liquidās resilit dea rūrsus in undās: beautiful line with dea nestled right in the middle. Reorder: et dea rursus resilit in liquidas undas, “and the goddess jumped back into the liquid water.”
100 praecipitī et saltū: ablative of means, “with a headfirst jump.”
100 gurgite mersa latet: mersa latet goes together and gurgite is an ablative of place where, “she lurks submerged in the whirlpool.”
101 Infantis causā: "for the sake of the princess." Infanta is the term given to a princess who is not in the line of succession.
101 dubitāre solēbam: “I was accustomed to be concerned,” “I was accustomed to worry.”
102 anteā: adverbial, “previously.”
102 rediēns: “upon returning,” i.e. once she’s heard the prophecy.
102 omine: "because of the omen", ablative of cause.
103-104 Mercurium, crēdō, Nymphae sub imāgine, Olympō Dēmissum: Reorder, credo Mercurium demissum (esse) Olympo sub imagine Nymphae, “I believe that Mercury was sent from Olympus disguised as a nymph.” Sets up the purpose clause that comes after it.
104 Demissum: supply esse
106 pro tali augurio: “for the sake of such a prophecy,” “in return for such a (favorable) prophecy.”
106 cassa: "empty, vain, unfulfilled."
106 nec mihi cassa fidēs: “and that my faith is not unfulfilled.”
107 haec: "these (prophecies)"
107 cum cernam: "whenever I will see"
107 in principe: "in regard to the princess"
107 Haec ego cum cernam complērī in prīncipe vātēs: reorder, cum ego, vates, cernam haec compleri in principe, “whenever I, the poet, will see these things fulfilled in regard to the princess. Cernam sets up an indirect statement.
107 vates: "a poet." Augustan poets often give themselves the title vates prophet, when they are inspired to prophesy the future, as inspired by the god.
108 spero...habere: spero introduces indirect statement but the subject of the indirect discourse is implied. Either me or eam could be implied. Is she making this wish for herself or for the princess?
vocabulary
liquidus –a –um : clear, liquid, melodious
resiliō silīre siluī — : to leap back, spring back
dea deae f. : goddess
praeceps praecipitis : plunging head-foremost, falling; headlong; rushing (of winds etc.)
saltus saltūs m. : pasture, ravine
gurges –itis m. : a whirlpool, gulf; flood; wave, billow; rolling, raging sea, abyss; sea, ocean
mergō –ere mersī mersus : to dip, immerse, plunge, w. abl. alone, or w. prep.; cover; (fig.), involve, overwhelm
īnfāns –antis : not capable of speech; an infant
anteā : before, before this; formerly, previously, in the past
ōmen ōminis n. : omen
Mercurius –iī m. : Mercury, an Italian god, identified with the Greek Hermes, son of Jupiter and Maia, and messenger of the gods
nympha –ae (nymphē –ēs) f. : a bride, mistress, young woman; nymph, demi-goddess inhabiting water or other natural parts
Olympus –ī m. : Olympus
dēmittō dēmittere dēmīsī dēmissum : to send down, drop; cause (ideas, etc.) to enter (one’s consciousness), make (someone) absorb
supplex supplicis : suppliant; a suppliant (> supplico, beseech)
palma palmae f. : hand, palm
augurium argurī(ī) n. : augury, prophecy
cassus –a –um : void; deprived of; fruitless, vain
compleō complēre complēvī complētus : to fill (up/in); be big enough to fill; occupy space, crowd; furnish, supply, man; finish, complete, perfect; make pregnant; fulfill, make up, complete, satisfy
caelicola –ae m./f. : an inhabitant of heaven; a god, et al. (> caelum and colo)