Vergil, Aeneid III 613-654

'Sum patriā ex Ithacā, comes īnfēlīcis Ulixī,

nōmine Achaemenidēs, Trōiam genitōre Adamastō

paupere (mānsissetque utinam fortūna!) profectus.615

Hīc mē, dum trepidī crūdēlia līmina linquunt,

immemorēs sociī vāstō Cyclōpis in antrō

dēseruēre. Domus saniē dapibusque cruentīs,

intus opāca, ingēns. Ipse arduus, altaque pulsat

sīdera (dī tālem terrīs āvertite pestem!)620

nec vīsū facilis nec dictū adfābilis ūllī;

vīsceribus miserōrum et sanguine vēscitur ātrō.

Vīdī egomet duo dē numerō cum corpora nostrō

prēnsa manū magnā mediō resupīnus in antrō

frangeret ad saxum, saniēque aspersa natārent625

līmina; vīdī ātrō cum membra fluentia tābō

manderet et tepidī tremerent sub dentibus artūs—

haud impūne quidem, nec tālia passus Ulixēs

oblītusve suī est Ithacus discrīmine tantō.

Nam simul explētus dapibus vīnōque sepultus630

cervīcem īnflexam posuit, iacuitque per antrum

immēnsus saniem ērūctāns et frūsta cruentō

per somnum commixta merō, nōs magna precātī

nūmina sortītīque vicēs ūnā undique circum

fundimur, et tēlō lūmen terebrāmus acūtō635

ingēns quod torvā sōlum sub fronte latēbat,

Argolicī clipeī aut Phoebēae lampadis īnstar,

et tandem laetī sociōrum ulcīscimur umbrās.

Sed fugite, ō miserī, fugite atque ab lītore fūnem

rumpite.640

nam quālis quantusque cavō Polyphēmus in antrō

lānigerās claudit pecudēs atque ūbera pressat,

centum aliī curva haec habitant ad lītora vulgō

īnfandī Cyclōpes et altīs montibus errant.

Tertia iam lūnae sē cornua lūmine complent645

cum vītam in silvīs inter dēserta ferārum

lustra domōsque trahō vāstōsque ab rūpe Cyclōpas

prōspiciō sonitumque pedum vōcemque tremēscō.

vīctum īnfēlīcem, bācās lapidōsaque corna,

dant rāmī, et vulsīs pāscunt rādīcibus herbae.650

Omnia conlūstrāns hanc prīmum ad lītora classem

cōnspexī venientem. Huic mē, quaecumque fuisset,

addīxī: satis est gentem effūgisse nefandam.

Vōs animam hanc potius quōcumque absūmite lētō.'

    CORE VOCABULARY

    Ithaca, ae, f.: Ithaca, the island of Ulysses in the Ionian sea, 3.272.

    īnfēlīx, īcis: (adj.), unlucky; unfortunate, luckless, unhappy, 1.475, et al.; sad, miserable, 2.772; of ill omen, ill-starred, ill-boding, fatal, 2.245; unfruitful.

    Ulixēs, is, eī or ī, m.: Ulysses, son of Laertes, king of Ithaca, and one of the Greek chiefs at Troy, distinguished for shrewdness and cunning, 2.44, et al.

    Achaemenidēs, ae, m.: Achaemenides, a companion of Ulysses, 3.614.

    Trōia, ae, f.: 1. Troy, the capital of the Troad, 2.625, et al. 2. A city built by Helenus in Epirus, 3.349. 3. A part of the city of Acesta in Sicily, 5.756. 4. The name of an equestrian game of Roman boys, 5.602.

    genitor, ōris, m.: he who begets; father, sire, 1.155, et al. (gignō)

    Adamastus, ī, m.: the father of Achaemenides, 3.614.

    utinam: (interj.), O that! would that! with subj., 1.575.

    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.

    crūdēlis, e: adj. (crūdus), unfeeling, ruthless, cruel, inhuman, 2.124; relentless, 1.547; unnatural, 6.24; mortal, deadly, 2.561; bloody, 1.355; bitter, 1.361.

    linquō, līquī, 3, a.: to leave, 1.517, and freq.; desert, abandon, flee from, 3.213; pass by, 3.705; depart from, leave, 3.124; of death, yield up, 3.140; give up or over, desist from, 3.160.

    immemor, oris: (adj.), not remembering, without memory, oblivious, 6.750; unconscious, 9.374; reckless, heedless, 2.244; often w. gen., unmindful, forgetful of, 5.39.

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

    Cyclōps, ōpis, m.: a Cyclops, one of the Cyclopes, fabulous giants of Sicily, supposed to have a round eye in the middle of the forehead, 3.569.

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

    saniēs, em, ē, f.: putrid, corrupt blood; bloody matter; gore, 3.618. (rel. to sanguis)

    daps, dapis, f.: a feast, banquet, 1.210; food, viands, 1.706; flesh of sacrificial victims, 6.225; usually found in the pl., but the gen. pl. is not used.

    cruentus, a, um: (adj.), bloody, blood-stained, 1.296; covered with blood, 10.498.

    intus: (adv.), within, 1.294, et al. (in)

    opācus, a, um: (adj.), shady, 6.283; obscure, dark, 3.619; subst., opāca, ōrum, n., partitive; opāca viārum, dark pathways, roads, 6.633.

    arduus, a, um: (adj.), steep; erect, high, raised high, 2.475; 5.480; lofty, towering, 2.328; rearing, 11.638.

    pulsō, āvī, ātus, 1, intens. a. and n.: to beat much; batter, buffet, 5.460; strike, 6.647; lash, 3.555; beat with the hoofs, dash along, 11.660; violate, insult, 12.286; pulsate, throb, 5.138; rebound, 4.313. (pellō)

    āvertō, vertī, versus, 3, a.: to turn (anything) away from, followed by an abl. with or without a prep., 1.38, et al.; turn or drive away, 1.472, et al.; transfer, with acc. of place, 4.106; drive away, end, 4.547; neut. by omission of se, to turn away, 1.402; (pass.), avertī, as middle or dep., with acc., to be averse to; to shun, loathe.

    pestis, is, f.: destruction, 5.699; plague, pest, scourge, 3.215; death, 9.328; infection, pollution, 6.737; fatal, baneful passion, 1.712. (perdō)

    nec or neque: (adv. and conj.), and not; neither, nor, 1.643, et al.; in prohibition, 3.394, et al.; neque (nec) — neque (nec), neither — nor, 5.21, et al.; nec — et, or -que, may be rendered neither — nor, 12.801; 2.534; nec nōn, and also, nor less, 6.183; nec nōn et, and also, 1.707.

    adfābilis, e: adj. (adfor), that can be spoken to; easy to be approached, 3.621.

    vīscus, eris, n.: an inner part of the body; pl., vīscera, um, the entrails, vitals, 6.599; the flesh, 1.211; heart, bosom, 6.833.

    vescor, 3, dep. n. and a.: (with abl., or absolute); to feed upon, 3.622; breathe, 1.546; banquet, feast, 6.657.

    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.

    prehendō (prēndō), ī, ēnsus, 3, a.: to lay hold of; seize, 2.592; catch, 3.450; seize, hold for defense, 2.322; overtake, reach, 6.61.

    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.

    resupīnus, a, um: (adj.), bent back; lying extended on the back; supine, thrown backwards, 1.476; stretched out, 3.624.

    aspergō, spersī, spersus, 3, a.: to sprinkle upon, to sprinkle. (ad and spargō)

    nātō, āvī, ātus, 1, n.: to swim, 5.181; float, 4.398; overflow, swim with, 3.625.

    tābum, ī, n.: corrupt matter; putrid blood; gore, 3.29. (tābeō)

    mandō, mandī, mānsus, 3, a.: to chew, bite, champ, 4.135; eat, devour, 3.627; of falling in battle, bite the dust, 11.669.

    tepidus, a, um: adj. (tepeō), lukewarm, tepid; warm, 3.66; smoking, reeking, 9.455.

    tremō, uī, 3, n. and a.: to tremble, quake, shake, quiver, 5.198; tremble at, fear, dread, 8.296.

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

    artus, ūs, m.: a joint of the body of man or beast, 5.422; a limb, 2.173, et al.; part, member, 6.726; frame, body, 9.490. (generally in the pl., except in later writers)

    impūne: (adv.), without punishment or retribution; with impunity, 3.628; without harm, 12.559. (impūnis, unpunished)

    oblīvīscor, oblītus sum, 3, dep. n. and a.: to forget, w. acc. or gen. of object, 2.148; to be heedless, unmindful, forgetful of, 5.174; p., oblītus, a, um, having forgotten; forgetful, 4.528.

    Ithacus, a, um: adj. (Ithaca), of Ithaca, Ithacan; subst., Ithacus, ī, m., the Ithacan, Ulysses, 2.104, et al.

    discrīmen, inis, n.: a separating interval, space, 5.154; separation, division, 10.382; distance, 3.685; difference, distinction, 1.574; variation, division, of sound; note, 6.646; crisis, danger, peril, 1.204; pl., difference, 10.529. (discernō)

    simul: (adv.), at once, together, at the same time, 1.144, et al.; w. abl. (cum being omitted), 5.357; simul ac or atque, as soon as, 4.90; without ac, as soon as, when; w. et, 1.144; simul — simul, and at the same time — and, 1.631; both — and, 1.513, et al.; as soon as — then, no sooner — than, 12.268.

    expleō, plēvī, plētus, 2, a.: to fill completely; fill up; gorge, 3.630; satisfy, 1.713; finish, complete, 1.270; w. gen., satiate, glut, 2.586.

    sepeliō, pelīvī or peliī, pultus, 4, a.: to perform the rites of sepulture, whether by interring (humāre), or cremation (cremāre); to bury, 3.41; p., sepultus, a, um, buried, 4.34; of slumber, 6.424, et al.

    cervīx, īcis, f.: the neck, including the back or nape of the neck, 1.477, et al.

    īnflectō, flexī, flexus, 3, a.: to bend, 3.631; (fig.), move, sway, change, 4.22; (pass.), to be bent or swayed, 12.800.

    immēnsus, a, um: unmeasured; boundless; vast, immense, 2.204; mighty, 3.672; insatiate, unbounded, 6.823.

    ēructō, āvī, ātus, 1, n. and a.: to belch out; to vomit, throw forth or out, 3.632; discharge, 6.297.

    frūstum, ī, n.: a piece, 1.212.

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

    merus, a, um: (adj.), pure, unmixed, 5.77; subst. n., merum (sc. vīnum), unmixed wine; wine, 1.729.

    sortior, ītus sum, 4, dep. n. and a.: to cast lots; obtain, get, take by lot, 3.634; share, 8.445; distribute, 3.510; assign, allot, appoint, 3.376; select, choose, 2.18; 12.920. (sors)

    vicis, gen. f.: a change, turn in affairs; stage, interchange, 6.535; vicissitude, event, 3.376; combat, encounter, peril, 2.433, part, place, post, 3.634; watch, guard, 9.175. (nom. sing. wanting)

    ūnā: (adv.), in one place or at one time, together with, at once, at the same time, 3.634, et al.; with -que following, 11.864.

    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.

    terebrō, āvī, ātus, 1, a.: to bore through; pierce, penetrate, 2.38; take out by boring, bore out, 3.635. (terebra, an instrument for boring)

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

    torvus, a, um: stern, grim, wild; savage, lowering, 3.677; fierce, 6.571; shaggy, 3.636; adv., torvum and torva, sternly, wildly, 7.399; 6.467.

    Argolicus, a, um: (adj.), of Argolis; Argolic; Greek, 2.55.

    clipeus, ī, m., and clipeum, ī, n.: a round shield; a shield, 2.227, et al.

    Phoebēus, a, um: adj. (Phoebus), pertaining to Phoebus or the sun; Phoebean, 3.637.

    lampas, adis, f.: a light, torch, 6.587; firebrand, 9.535.

    īnstar, indecl., n.: an image; figure; noble or majestic form, majesty, 6.865; w. gen., likeness; the size of, as large as, 2.15; like, 3.637. (1. in and stō)

    ulcīscor, ultus sum, 3, dep. a.: to take revenge for, to avenge, 2.576.

    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.

    fūnis, is, m.: a rope, 2.239, et al.; cord, string, 5.488.

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

    Polyphēmus, ī, m.: a cyclops, son of Neptune, 3.657.

    lāniger, era, erum: adj. (lāna, wool, and gerō), bearing wool; fleecy, 3.660.

    pecus, udis, f.: one animal of a flock or herd; an animal, 1.743; a sheep, 3.120; victim for sacrifices, 4.63.

    ūber, eris, n.: a teat, an udder, 3.392; the breast, 5.285; breast, bosom, 3.95; (meton.), richness, fertility, fruitfulness, productiveness, 1.531.

    pressō, āvī, ātus, 1, intens. a.: to press hard; squeeze, press; milk.

    curvus, a, um: (adj.), curved, bent, bending, 2.51; winding, 2.748; crooked.

    habitō, āvī, ātus, 1, intens. a. and n.: to have continually, have in possession; occupy, inhabit, 3.106; dwell, 3.110. (habeō)

    īnfandus, a, um: (adj.), not to be uttered; unutterable, inexpressible, unspeakable, 4.85; cruel, 1.525; dreadful, horrible, 10.673; accursed, perfidious, 4.613; fatal, 2.132; neut., in exclamations, īnfandum! O shame, O woe unutterable! 1.251; pl., īnfanda, as(adv.), 8.489.

    lūna, ae, f.: the moon, 1.742, et al.; moonlight, 2.340, et al. (rel. to lūceō)

    compleō, ēvī, ētus, 2, a.: to fill up; fill, 2.20; complete, 5.46; fulfill, 9.108.

    dēsertus, a, um: desolate; abandoned, 12.664; uninhabited, solitary, lonely, 3.646.

    lūstrum, ī, n.: a purifying atonement; the national lustrum or atoning sacrifice, the suovetaurilia, made at Rome every fifth year, at the taking of the census; the period of a lustrum, five years; an indefinite period; age, 1.283. (luō, to atone)

    rūpēs, is, f.: a rock, cliff, crag, ledge, freq.; quarry, 1.429. (rumpō)

    prōspiciō, spexī, spectus, 3, n. and a.: to look forth, forward; to see afar, in the distance, descry, see, 3.648; to look forth or out upon, w. dat., 1.127. (prō and speciō, look)

    sonitus, ūs, m.: a sounding; noise, 2.732, et al.; roaring, 2.209; thunder, 6.586. (sonō)

    tremēscō, 3, inc. n. and a.: to begin to tremble; to tremble, quake, 5.694; to tremble at, 3.648. (tremō)

    vīctus, ūs, m.: a living; nourishment, sustenance, food, 1.214. (vīvō)

    bāca, ae, f.: a berry, 3.649.

    lapidōsus, a, um: adj. (lapis), full of stones; hard as stone, stony, 3.649.

    cornum, ī, n.: the cornel cherry or cornel berry, 3.649.

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

    vellō, vellī or vulsī, vulsus, 3, a.: to pluck; pull up, 3.28; wrench, tear away, 2.480; tear down, 9.506; move, 11.19; seize, lift, 10.381; vellere sīgna, pluck up the standards from the ground; move the camp, depart.

    pāscō, pāvī, pāstus, 3, a. and n.: to furnish with food; to feed; rear, breed, 6.655; nourish, 1.608; (fig.), 1.464; let grow, 7.391; cherish, indulge, nourish, 10.627; pass. as dep., pāscor, pāstus sum, 3, a. and n., to graze, 1.186; feed upon, eat, 2.471; use for pasture, to pasture, 11.319.

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

    herba, ae, f.: any grassy or herbaceous growth; grass, turf, 1.214, et al; fodder; herb, plant, 3.650; grassy land, pasture, meadow, 3.221; a plant.

    conlūstrō, āvī, ātus, 1, a.: to cast light upon; to look at, inspect, survey, 3.651.

    cōnspiciō, spexī, spectus, 3, a.: to have a complete view of; to look at, see, behold, 1.152; descry, discover, find, 6.508; p., cōnspectus, a, um, conspicuous. (com- and speciō, look)

    veniō, vēnī, ventus: to come, freq.; come forth; approach, 6.755; rise, appear, 1.353; dawn, 10.241; to present one's self or itself, 5.344; descend, spring from, 5.373; impers., ventum est, we, they came or have come, 4.151.

    addīcō, dīxī, dictus, 3, a.: to pronounce for; assign to; give up to, 3.653.

    satis or sat: (adj. and adv.), sufficient, enough; w. gen., 2.314; alone as subject, 2.291; as predicate, 2.642; comp., satius, better, preferable, 10.59.

    effugiō, fūgī, 3, n. and a.: to flee forth or away; glide away, 2.226; get off, escape; speed along, 5.151; pass swiftly from, flee from, escape from, 2.793; 3.272; escape, 3.653. (ex and fugiō)

    nefandus, a, um: adj. (nē and farī), not to be spoken; impious, execrable, accursed, abominable, 5.785; perfidious, 4.497; subst., nefandum, ī, n., wrong, 1.543.

    potius: (adv.), preferably; rather, 3.654. (potis)

    quīcumque, quaecumque, quodcumque: (indef. rel.), whoever, whatever, whosoever, whatsoever, 1.610; no matter who; who, 12.143. (quī and indef. adv. -cumque)

    absūmō, sūmpsī, sūmptus, 3, a.: to take away; of death, to end, destroy, 3.654; exhaust, spend, 7.301; consume, devour, 3.257; cut off, end, 1.555.

    lētum, ī, n.: death, destruction, 2.134, et al. (cf. dēleō)

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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-iii-613-654