Prīmus sē Danaüm magnā comitante catervā370
Androgeōs offert nōbīs, socia agmina crēdēns
īnscius, atque ultrō verbīs compellat amīcīs:
'Festīnāte, virī! Nam quae tam sēra morātur
sēgnitiēs? Aliī rapiunt incēnsa feruntque
Pergama: vōs celsīs nunc prīmum ā nāvibus ītis?'375
Dīxit, et extemplō (neque enim respōnsa dabantur
fīda satis) sēnsit mediōs dēlāpsus in hostīs.
Obstipuit retrōque pedem cum vōce repressit.
imprōvīsum asprīs velutī quī sentibus anguem
pressit humī nītēns trepidusque repente refūgit380
attollentem īrās et caerula colla tumentem,
haud secus Androgeōs vīsū tremefactus abībat.
Inruimus dēnsīs et circumfundimur armīs,
ignārōsque locī passim et formīdine captōs
sternimus; aspīrat prīmō fortūna labōrī.385
Atque hīc successū exsultāns animīsque Coroebus
'Ō sociī, quā prīma' inquit 'fortūna salūtis
mōnstrat iter, quāque ostendit sē dextra, sequāmur:
mūtēmus clipeōs Danaümque īnsignia nōbīs
aptēmus. Dolus an virtūs, quis in hoste requīrat?390
Arma dabunt ipsī.' Sīc fātus deinde comantem
Androgeī galeam clipeīque īnsigne decōrum
induitur laterīque Argīvum accommodat ēnsem.
Hoc Rhīpeus, hoc ipse Dymās omnisque iuventūs
laeta facit: spoliīs sē quisque recentibus armat.395
Vādimus immixtī Danaīs haud nūmine nostrō
multaque per caecam congressī proelia noctem
cōnserimus, multōs Danaüm dēmittimus Orcō.
diffugiunt aliī ad nāvīs et lītora cursū
fīda petunt; pars ingentem formīdine turpī400
scandunt rūrsus equum et nōtā conduntur in alvō.
notes
Disguised as Greeks, the Trojans work great havoc (F-B). Some Greeks mistake us for their comrades. Before they learn their error, we slay them. We put on their armor, and so surprise and kill many of our foes. (Knapp)
370-1 sē … offert: “comes to meet us” (H-H).
370 Danaum: Dana(ōr)um
371 crēdēns socia agmina: crēdēns (nōs esse) socia agmina.
372 ultrō: “unchallenged” (Howson).
772 compellat: supply nōs.
373 nam quae: in questions, nam expresses eagerness or impatience (Storr)
373 sera: transferred epithet, it is Aeneas and his men who are late (Knapp).
373 morātur: supply vōs.
374 rapiunt feruntque: “plunder and pillage” (Comstock).
374-5 incēnsa … Pergama: object of both rapiunt and ferunt (Pharr).
375 nunc prīmum ītis: “you are but just on your way” (Comstock).
375 vōs: adversative asyndeton (“others…while you”) (Austin).
376 neque … satis: "for indeed no answer that he could well trust was being given (by us)" (Page), i.e. the reply was ambiguous (Comstock).
376 respōnsa fīda: “reliable answers” (F-D).
376 dabantur: note the tense, indicating a suspicious hesitation where an immediate answer was expected (C-R).
377 sēnsit dēlāpsus: lit. “having fallen., he perceived (it).” sēnsit sē dēlāpsum esse (F-D).
378 retrō repressit : “checked” (F-D). Not a mere redundancy with repressit (F-B).
378 pedem cum vōce: zeugma.
379 velutī (ille) quī: “Like one who” (Bennet).
379 (in) sentibus asprīs: a syncope for asperīs (Howson), "amid rough brambles” (H-H).
380 pressit humī nītēns: “with firm step” (F-D). humī: locative genitive (AG 427.3.a) (Chase).
380 Trepidusque repente refūgit: refūgit here is transitive; the rapid rhythm admirably depicts the man’s sudden retreat (Bennet).
381 (anguem) attollentem īrās: “as it rises up in wrath”; īrās is a case of the abstract for the concrete (F-B).
381 caerula colla tumentem: “puffs out its dark-blue neck,” colla is a Greek accusative of specification (AG 397.b) (F-B); accusative of respect (Pharr).
382 abībat: “began to move off” (F-B). Inceptive imperfect (AG 471c) (Chase).
382 haud secus:“like him” (Comstock), litotes (Pharr), = sīc (Knapp).
383 circumfundimur (iīs): a middle use; “we pour ourselves around (them), i.e., we surround them” (Pharr).
384 passim, “in all directions” (Comstock), with sternimus (Bennet).
384 formīdine captōs: “a prey to fear " (Howson).
385 aspīrat: metaphor of a favoring breeze (Sidgwick); “smiles upon,” (P-H).
385 prīmō: probably the adverb, but it might be adjectival (Austin).
385 labōrī: dative with compound verb adspiro (Pharr).
386 hīc: temporal (F-B).
386 successū, animīsque: ablatives of cause; both success and boldness of spirit make the youth exult (F-D) (AG 404).
387 quā: (viā) “wherever” (Comstock), “where” (F-B).
387 salūtis: objective genitive with iter (Pharr).
388 ostendit sē dextra: dextra is made to agree with fortūna instead of sē (Pharr), “shows herself favorable”, a variation for dextram, the adj. agreeing with subject instead of the object (Sidgwick); dextra is a predicate nominative, by attraction for dextram (F-B).
389 mūtēmus, “exchange,” not “change” (Comstock).
389 īnsignia: "martial ornaments," the arms by which the Greeks were distinguished from the Trojans, especially their helmets and shields (F-D).
390 dolus an virtūs… requirat?: “whether deceit or valor, who would ask in warfare?” Supply sit (indirect question) (AG 574) (F-B).
390 in hoste: “in dealing with an enemy” (G-K).
392 clipeī īnsigne decōrum: insigne is a noun. Shields were often adorned with raised work in metal (F-D).
393 induitur: "puts on,” reflexive or middle use (H-H), with galeam clipeique insigne as direct object (Austin).
394 Hoc Rhīpeus: supply facit.
394 ipse: of the chief, as distinguished from his men (Storr). Probably ipse applies to Rhipeus also (Austin).
394 iuventūs: applies both to Rhipeus and Dymas (Storr).
395 recentibus: “fresh-won” (C-R), “just captured” (Carter).
395 laeta: they follow Coroebus’ lead with alacrity (Austin).
396 Danaīs: dative with compound verb cōnserimus (AG 370) (Pharr).
396 haud nūmine nostrō: ablative of manner (AG 412), “led by no god of ours”, an imaginative touch, as though the putting on of Greek armor brought them under strange gods (Sidgwick); these words contain a hint of the oncoming disaster because one cannot cajole the gods (Knapp).
397 congressī: “meeting the foe.” The perfect participle here denotes contemporary action (Bennet); with multa, “over and over again” (Knapp); “in close conflict” (F-B).
398 multōs Danaüm: in prose, would be multos Danaos, however the accusative along with partitive genitive construction is common in poetry (Knapp); emphatic asyndeton and anaphora (multa ... multos) (F-B).
398 Orcō: = ad Orcum (Knapp).
399-400 lītora … fīda: "the safe refuge of the coast," i.e. because the ships were moored there (Howson).
399 cursū: “in haste” (C-R); “speedily” (H-H).
401 equum: the last mention of the Horse, with Vergil’s favorite epithet, ingentem (Austin).
401 nota conduntur: “and bury themselves in their old haunt in its belly,” (Howson), middle = se condunt (Pharr).
vocabulary
Danaī, ōrum, m.: the Greeks, 2.327.
comitor, ātus sum, 1. dep. a.: to accompany, attend, follow, 3.660; p., comitātus, a, um, attended, accompanied, 1.312, et al. (comes)
caterva, ae, f.: a troop, squadron, band, 2.370; crowd, throng, multitude, 2.40; flock, 11.456.
Androgeōs, eō, and Androgeus, eī, m.: 1. Androgeus, a son of the Cretan king Minos, murdered by the Athenians, 6.20. 2. A Greek chief at Troy, 2.371.
īnscius, a, um: not knowing; unaware, unwitting, ignorant, 1.718; amazed, bewildered, 2.307; w. gen., ignorant of, 12.648.
ultrō: (adv.), to the farther side; furthermore, over and above, moreover, 2.145, et al.; even, 9.127; beyond the limit of necessity; uncompelled, unasked, unimpelled; apart from all external influences, of one's self, of one's own accord or motion, voluntarily, willingly; unprompted by any words on another's part, first, 2.372; 4.304; unaddressed, 10.606; promptly, 10.282; impetuously, 12.3. (cf. ulterior)
compellō, āvī, ātus, 1, a.: to address, accost, speak to, 1.581; greet, salute, 3.299; chide, upbraid, 5.161.
festīnō, āvī, ātus, 1, n. and a.: to make haste, hasten, 2.373; speed, quicken, hasten, 4.575.
sērus, a, um: (adj.), late, freq.; late in life, 6.764; slow, tardy, 2.373; too late, 5.524; (adv.), sērum, late, 12.864.
sēgnitiēs, ēī, f.: sloth, tardiness, delay, 2.374. (sēgnis)
incendō, cendī, cēnsus, 3, a.: to set fire to, burn, 2.353; kindle, 3.279; illuminate, 5.88; (fig.), of the mind, fire, inflame, 1.660; arouse, rouse to action, 5.719; excite, irritate, enrage, madden, provoke, 4.360; disturb, rend, fill, 10.895.
Pergama, ōrum, n., Pergamum, ī, n., and Pergamus (-os), ī, f.: 1. The citadel or walls of Troy, 3.87; Troy, 4.344, et al. 2. The Trojan citadel of Helenus in Epirus, 3.336.
celsus, a, um: adj. (cellō, rise), high, lofty, 1.56, et al.
extemplō: (adv.), immediately, forthwith, at once, directly, 6.210. (ex and tempus)
respōnsum, ī, n.: an answer, reply, 2.376; oracular answer, response, 6.799. (respondeō)
fīdus, a, um: adj. (fīdō), trustworthy, faithful, trusty, 1.188; safe, secure, hospitable, 5.24; w. gen., tuī fīdissima, most faithful to thee, 12.659.
dēlābor, lāpsus sum, 3, dep. n.: to glide, slip, or fall down; descend, 3.238; fall in with or upon, 2.377.
obstipēscō, stipuī (stupuī), 3, inc. n.: to become stupefied; to be astonished, amazed, 1.613.
retrō: (adv.), back, backwards, 2.753. (re-)
reprimō, pressī, pressus, 3, a.: to press back; stop, restrain, withhold, check, arrest, 2.378. (re- and premō)
imprōvīsus, a, um: (adj.), unforeseen; unlooked for, unexpected, 1.595.
asper, era, erum: (adj.), rough, 2.379; rugged, craggy, jagged, 6.360; chased, embossed, 5.267; (fig.), of the weather, stormy, 2.110; of temperament, spirit, or nature, barbarous, 5.730; formidable, fierce, 1.14; full of strife, warlike, 1.291; cruel, stern, 6.882; angry, 1.279; bitter, 2.96; displeased, 8.365.
sentis, is, m. and f.: a thorn, brier, bramble, 2.379.
anguis, is, m. and f.: a snake of any kind, serpent, 2.379; hydra, 8.300.
nītor, nīsus or nīxus sum, 3, dep. n.: to lean or rest upon, w. abl., 6.760; tread, walk upon, 2.380; to be borne upon, poised or balanced upon, 4.252; push, press, struggle forward or upward; ascend, 2.443.
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.
repēns, entis: (adv.), suddenly, unexpectedly, 1.594.
refugiō, fūgī, 3, n. and a.: to fly, 3.258; flee away, 6.472; recede, stand distant, 3.536; shrink, 2.12; w. acc., start back from, 2.380; shrink from, refuse, 7.618; fugere, refugere, to fly to and fro, 12.753.
attollō, 3, a.: to lift or raise up, throw, cast up, 3.574; rear, build, 2.185; (fig.), to rouse, excite, 2.381; with se, lift one’s self or itself, 4.690; come into view, appear, 3.205; (fig.), arise, be exalted, 4.49; (pass.), attollī, to rise, 5.127. (ad and tollō)
caerulus, a, um: (adj.), dark blue, 2.381; sea-colored, azure, 5.819; dark; black, 3.64; subst., caerula, ōrum, n., the dark blue waters; the sea, 3.208.
collum, ī, n.: the neck of men and animals, 1.654, et al.; of a plant, 9.436; pl., the neck, 11.692.
tumeō, uī, 2, n.: to swell, 2.381; to be puffed up, boastful, 11.854; p., tumēns, entis, swollen, 2.381.
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.
vīsus, ūs, m.: a seeing; vision, sight, 4.277; a phenomenon, spectacle, appearance, sight, 2.212; aspect, 11.271; prodigy, 3.36. (videō)
tremefaciō, fēcī, factus, 3, a.: to cause to tremble or quake; to shake, 9.106; make to tremble with fear; cause to tremble, 6.803; p., tremefactus, a, um, trembling, 2.382; 10.102; quivering, 2.629. (tremō and faciō)
inruō, ruī, 3, n. and a.: to rush in, break in, 2.757; rush on, 2.383; rush, 9.555.
dēnsus, a, um: (adj.), thick, dense, crowded, compact, in close array, serried, 2.383; frequent, 5.459.
circumfundō, fūdī, fūsus, 3, a.: to pour around; to encompass, surround; (pass.), circumfundor, fūsus sum, (in middle signif.), to rush around, surround, 2.383; p., circumfūsus, a, um, surrounding, 1.586; gathering around, 6.666.
ignārus, a, um: (adj.), not knowing; freq.; unaware, ignorant, 11.154; often w. genit., ignorant of, 1.630; unsuspicious of, 2.106; unconscious, 9.345; not knowing the land; (pass.), unknown, a stranger, 10.706.
passim: (adv.), here and there, in all directions; everywhere, 2.364, et al. (passus)
formīdō, inis, f.: dread, dismay, apprehension, terror, fear, 2.76; awe, 7.608; personif., Fear, Dismay, 12.335. (formīdō)
sternō, strāvī, strātus, 3, a.: to spread out, spread, 1.700; stretch on the ground, strike down, slay, 1.190; cast down, prostrate, devastate, 2.306; make level, smooth, calm, 5.763; spread, cover, 8.719; strew, litter; overthrow, conquer, 6.858; pass. (in middle sense), sternor, ī, to stretch one's self, lie down, 3.509.
adspīrō, āvī, ātus, 1, a. and n.: to breathe to or upon, 5.607; breathe or emit fragrance, 1.694; (fig.), inspire, 9.525; aid, favor, prosper, 2.385; aspire, 12.352.
successus, ūs, m.: a going up, an advance; success, good fortune, 2.386; speed, 12.616. (succēdō)
exsultō, āvī, ātus, 1, intens. n.: to spring; move with bold or exulting strides, 2.470; 10.643; advance proudly, 10.550; bound, 12.688; rise, surge in billows, swell, 3.557; bubble, 7.464; pant, 5.137; exult, rejoice, triumph, 2.386. (exsiliō)
Coroebus, ī, m.: Coroebus, a Phrygian chief, son of Mygdon, lover of Cassandra, 2.341.
ō: (interj. expressing joy, grief, astonishment, desire, or indignation), O! oh! ah! w. voc., 2.281, et al.; w. sī and the subj., oh that, 11.415; sometimes placed after the word to which it relates, 2.281.
mōnstrō, āvī, ātus, 1, a.: to show, point out, indicate, 1.444; inform, tell, 1.321; direct, incite, 9.44; ordain, appoint, prescribe, 4.636. (mōnstrum)
clipeus, ī, m., and clipeum, ī, n.: a round shield; a shield, 2.227, et al.
īnsīgne, is, n.: a distinguishing mark; symbol, ensign, 10.188; trophy, 12.944; pl., īnsīgnia, ium, distinctive arms, tokens, 2.339; royal ensigns or insignia, 8.506; trappings, 11.89.
aptō, āvī, ātus, 1, a.: to fit, join, or fasten to; with acc. and dat., 8.721; put on, 2.390; get ready, prepare, 10.259; fit out, prepare, 1.552; with abl. of manner, 8.80. (aptus)
requīrō, quīsīvī or quīsiī, quīsītus, 3, a.: to seek much or earnestly; seek out, search for, 3.170; demand; ask, question, 2.390; inquire, 2.506; speak with regret of, mourn, 1.217. (re- and quaerō)
comāns, antis: hairy, 3.468; crested, 2.391; leafy, 12.413. (como -are)
galea, ae, f.: a helmet, either of leather or of metal, 3.468, et al.
decōrus, a, um: adj. (decor), fit, proper, becoming, 5.343; graceful, beautiful, 1.589; adorned, 5.133; shining, 11.194.
induō, uī, ūtus, 3, a.: to put into; put on, assume, 1.684; clothe; surround, crown, 3.526; pierce, slay, 10.682; (pass. as middle, w. acc.), gird one's self with, put on, 2.393; induere in vultūs, transform to the features, 7.20.
Argīvus, a, um: adj. (Argos), belonging to Argos; Argive; Greek, 2.254; subst., Argīvī, ōrum, Argives, Greeks, 1.40.
accommodō, āvī, ātus, 1, a.: to fit one thing to another; to buckle, gird, 2.393. (ad and commodō)
ēnsis, is, m.: a sword, 2.393, et al.; knife, 2.155.
Rīpheus (dissyll.), eī, m.: a Trojan slain in the sack of Troy, 2.339.
Dymās, antis, m.: Dymas, a Trojan warrior, 2.340.
iuventūs, ūtis, f.: youthfulness; the age of youth; collective, young people, the youth; warriors, 1.467. (iuvenis)
spolium, I, n.: that which is taken from the body of a slain man or beast; spoil, trophy, 1.289; spolia opīma, the arms or spoils taken by a victorious general from the body of a hostile commander slain in battle, 6.855.
armō, āvī, ātus, 1, a.: to equip with arms; arm, equip, 2.395, et al.; fit out, make ready, prepare, 4.299; (fig.), imbue, charge, 9.773; p., armātus, a, um, armed, charged, 12.857; subst., armātī, ōrum, m., armed men, warriors, 2.485. (arma)
vādō, 3, n.: to go, walk, advance, go on, 2.396, et al.; rush, 2.359; move, speed on, 8.702; imperat., vāde, away, go on! 3.462.
immisceō, miscuī, mixtus or mistus, 2, a.: to mingle with; usually w. dat., 2.396; blend with, vanish in, 4.570.
congredior, gressus sum, 3, dep. n.: to step, go together; encounter, 1.475; join battle; proceed to battle, 12.13. (com- and gradior)
cōnserō, seruī, sertus, 3, a.: to tie together; fasten, 3.594; arm, 11.771; cōnserere proelia, to join battle, engage in, fight, 2.398.
multī, ōrum, m.: subst., many men, many, 2.124, et al.
dēmittō, mīsī, missus, 3, a.: to send down, 1.297; shed, 6.455; let down into, receive, admit, (of the mind or the senses), 4.428; consign, condemn, 2.85; convey, conduct, 5.29; transmit, hand down, 1.288; dēmittere mentem, to lose heart, sink into despair, 12.609.
Orcus, ī, m.: Orcus, the lower world, Hades, 4.242; personif., the god of the lower world, Orcus, Dis, Pluto.
diffugiō, fūgī, 3, n.: to flee apart; run away, flee, 2.212.
scandō, scandī, scānsus, 3, a.: to climb, 2.401; ascend, 2.237.
alvus, ī, f.: the abdomen, the belly; waist, 12.273; body, 2.51.
