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.

    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 dextradextra is made to agree with fortūna instead of  (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 decōruminsigne 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).

    CORE 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.

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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-ii-370-401