Vergil, Aeneid IV 474-503

Ergō ubi concēpit furiās ēvicta dolōre

dēcrēvitque morī, tempus sēcum ipsa modumque475

exigit, et maestam dictīs adgressa sorōrem

cōnsilium vultū tegit ac spem fronte serēnat:

'Invēnī, germāna, viam (grātāre sorōrī)

quae mihi reddat eum vel eō mē solvat amantem.

Ōceanī fīnem iūxtā sōlemque cadentem480

ultimus Aethiopum locus est, ubi maximus Atlās

axem umerō torquet stellīs ārdentibus aptum:

hinc mihi Massӯlae gentis mōnstrāta sacerdōs,

Hesperidum templī custōs, epulāsque dracōnī

quae dabat et sacrōs servābat in arbore rāmōs,485

spargēns ūmida mella sopōriferumque papāver.

Haec sē carminibus prōmittit solvere mentēs

quās velit, ast aliīs dūrās immittere cūrās,

sistere aquam fluviīs et vertere sīdera retrō,

nocturnōsque movet Mānīs: mūgīre vidēbis490

sub pedibus terram et dēscendere montibus ornōs.

Testor, cāra, deōs et tē, germāna, tuumque

dulce caput, magicās invītam accingier artīs.

Tū sēcrēta pyram tēctō interiōre sub aurās

ērige, et arma virī thalamō quae fīxa relīquit495

impius exuviāsque omnīs lectumque iugālem,

quō periī, super impōnās: abolēre nefandī

cūncta virī monimenta iuvat mōnstratque sacerdōs.'

Haec effāta silet, pallor simul occupat ōra.

Nōn tamen Anna novīs praetexere fūnera sacrīs500

germānam crēdit, nec tantōs mente furōrēs

concipit aut graviōra timet quam morte Sychaeī.

Ergō iussa parat.

    CORE VOCABULARY

    concipiō, cēpī, ceptus, 3, a.: to take completely; assume, 11.519; take in; conceive, 5.38; imagine, 4.502; to be possessed, filled with, 4.474; conceive, form, or express in words; form, draw up, 12.13. (com- and capiō)

    furiae, ārum, f.: rage, fury, madness, frenzy, 1.41, et al.; vengeance, 8.494; personif., Furiae, ārum, the goddesses of vengeance, the Furies, Allecto, Megaera, and Tisiphone; the Avengers, 3.331; for the Harpies, 3.252. (furō)

    ēvincō, vīcī, victus, 3, a.: to conquer completely; overcome, 2.630; move, 4.548, et al.; bear down, sweep away, 2.497.

    tempus, oris, n.: 1. Time in general, a period, time, 1.278; interval or space of time, 4.433; crisis, circumstance, juncture, 7.37; season, fitting time, opportunity, proper moment, 4.294; ex longō (tempore), in or for a long time, 9.64. 2. The temple of the forehead, 9.418; commonly pl., 2.684; of animals, 12.173.

    modus, ī, m.: a method, 4.294; mode, manner, way, 1.354, et al.; a measure, of song, measure, strain, note, 7.701, et al.; bound, limit, end, 4.98, et al.; fashion, of building, 11.328; abl., modō, in the manner or fashion; like, 9.119.

    dictum, ī, n.: a thing said; word, 1.197; command, precept, injunction, 1.695; promise, 8.643. (dīcō)

    aggredior, gressus sum, 3, dep. n. and a.: attempt, dare, with inf., 2.165; to advance toward; attempt, 3.38; attack, 9.325; assail, hew, 2.463; accost, address, 3.358. (ad and gradior)

    atque, or ac: (conj.), and in addition, or and besides; and, as well, and indeed, and, 1.575; freq.; even, 2.626; in comparisons, as, 4.90; than, 3.561.

    serēnō, āvī, ātus, 1, a. and n.: to make clear or calm, 1.255; spem serēnāre, to exhibit the calm or cheerful look of hope, 4.477. (serēnus)

    germānus, a, um: (adj.), of the same parentage; particularly, of the same father; own; subst., germānus, ī, m., own brother; brother, 1.341, et al.; germāna, ae, f., own sister; sister, 4.478.

    grātor, ātus sum, 1, dep. n.: to wish joy to; w. dat. (the acc. is doubtful), rejoice with; congratulate, 4.478; greet, welcome (perhaps w. esse), 5.40. (grātus)

    Ōceanus, ī, m.: the god Oceanus; the waters encompassing the lands; the ocean, 1.287; distinguished as eastern and western, 7.101.

    iūxtā: (adv. and prep. w. acc.), near, close, near by, 2.513; at the same time, 2.666; near to, 3.506.

    Aethiops, opis, m.: an Aethiopian.

    Atlās, antis, m.: Atlas, a king of Mauretania, famed for his knowledge of the stars, and hence said to have borne the heavens on his head and shoulders, transformed, according to mythology, by Perseus with the Gorgon’s head into the mountain that bears his name, 1.741, et al.

    axis, is, m.: an axle; synecdoche, car, chariot, 5.820; the axis of the heavens, the sky, the heavens, 4.482; the pole; the north pole, the north.

    umerus, ī, m.: the upper bone of the arm; the shoulder, 1.501, and freq.

    torqueō, torsī, tortus, 2, a.: to wind, turn, twist, 4.575; roll along, 6.551; whirl, hurl, 3.208; shoot, 5.497; cast, dash, 1.108; direct, 4.220; turn away, 6.547; turn, cause to revolve, 4.269; control, 12.180; p., tortus, a, um, whirled, whirling, impetuous, 7.567.

    ārdēns, entis: burning, hot, sparkling, flaming, 5.637; bright, 4.482; impassioned, ardent, eager, 1.423; spirited, fiery, 1.472; glowing, lofty, 6.130; fierce, furious, 2.529; angry, 6.467. (ardeo)

    Massӯlus, a, um: adj. (Massӯlī), Massylian, Libyan, 4.132.

    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)

    Hesperis, idis, pl., Hesperides, um, f.: the daughters of Hesperus, the Hesperides; called also daughters of Erebus and Nox, to whom was given the care of the fabled gardens of the Hesperides, in an island of the Atlantic west of Mount Atlas, 4.484; adj., Hesperian, Italian, 8.77.

    epulae, ārum, f.: a banquet, feast, 1.79; food, 1.216. (sing. epulum)

    dracō, ōnis, m.: a dragon or fabulous kind of serpent, 4.484; a serpent, 2.225.

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

    spargō, sparsī, sparsus, 3, a.: to scatter, strew; cast in fragments, 3.605; disperse, 1.602; shower, hurl, 12.51; sprinkle, 4.512; besprinkle, bedew, stain, 8.645; infuse, 4.486; (fig.), spread abroad, disseminate, 2.98; bring over or upon, diffuse, 7.754.

    ūmidus, a, um: adj. (ūmeō), moist, wet, damp, dewy, 2.8, et al.; liquid, 4.486.

    mel, mellis, n., pl., mella, abl., mellibus (no gen. or dat.): honey, 6.420.

    sopōrifer, era, erum: adj. (sopor and ferō), somniferous, sleep-bringing, 4.486.

    papāver, eris, n.: the poppy, 4.486.

    immittō, mīsī, missus, 3, a.: to send upon or to; drive to, 6.312; bring upon, 4.488; let in, 2.495; let fly, go, loosen, 6.1; hurl, fling, cast, 11.562; (with sē), rush into, 6.262; p., immissus, a, um, of the reins of horses, let loose; hence, (fig.), swiftly running, 5.146; unchecked, unbridled, 5.662; of the hair or beard, descending, left growing, neglected, long, 3.593.

    sistō, stitī, status, 3, a. and n.: to cause to stand, put, set, place, w. abl. of place, 2.245, et al.; place before one, bring, 4.634; fix, plant, 10.323; stop, 12.355; arrest, stay, 6.465; support, sustain, maintain, 6.858; set, place, 6.676; n., stand still, to stop, remain, abide, 3.7; stand in fight, 11.873.

    fluvius, iī, m.: a stream; river, 1.607; water, fountains, abundant water; secundō fluviō, by the favoring stream, with or down the stream, 7.494. (fluō)

    retrō: (adv.), back, backwards, 2.753. (re-)

    nocturnus, a, um: adj. (nox), pertaining to the night; nightly, nocturnal, in the night, by night, 4.490.

    Mānēs, ium, m.: the deities of the lower world, 6.896; gods or powers below, 12.646; the spirits or souls of the dead in Hades; ghosts, shades, Manes, 3.63; penalties of the lower world, punishments, expiations, purgatory, 6.743; abode of the dead, 4.387; infernal regions, the world below, 10.820.

    mūgiō, īvī or iī, 4, n.: to low, bellow, 8.218; (fig.), of a trumpet, 8.526; of the tripod, 3.92; to make a roaring sound, rumble, of the ground, 4.490.

    ornus, ī, f.: a mountain-ash, 2.626, et al.

    testor, ātus sum, 1, dep. a.: to testify, bear witness to, with acc. of object witnessed, 3.487; to call to witness, appeal to, with acc. of witness called upon, 2.155; invoke, 12.496; w. object omitted, adjure, implore, 3.599; declare, proclaim, 6.619; beseech (call to witness the offering), 11.559. (testis)

    magicus, a, um: (adj.), pertaining to magi, or magicians; magic, 4.493.

    invītus, a, um: (adj.), unwilling, 6.460; unfriendly, 2.402.

    accingō, cīnxī, cīnctus (pass. inf., accingier, 4.493), 3, a.: to gird on; gird, 2.614; arm, equip, 6.184; make one’s self ready; prepare, 1.210; resort to, 4.493. (ad and cingō)

    sēcrētus, a, um: separated, apart, retired, solitary, 2.299; secret; unnoticed, 4.494. (sēcernō)

    pyra, ae, f.: a funeral pile, pyre, 4.494.

    interior, ius: (adj.), inner, interior; interior or inner part of, 1.637; on the inner side, 5.170; superl., intimus, a, um, innermost, 1.243. (compar. of obs. interus, rel. to inter)

    ērigō, rēxī, rēctus, 3, a.: to raise up, rear, erect, 4.495; cast upward, 3.423. (ex and regō)

    thalamus, ī, m.: a bedchamber; chamber, 2.503; couch, 6.280; marriage, 4.18; bridals, the bride, 7.388; pl., thalamī, ōrum, nuptials, wedlock, marriage, 6.94.

    fīgō, fīxī, fīxus, 3, a.: to fix or fasten; freq., the object in or on which, in the abl., 1.212; abl. w. prep., 6.636; acc. w. prep., 9.408; fasten up, suspend from, 3.287; hang up, 1.248; set up, establish, make, 6.622; transfix, pierce, 5.516; hurl (fix by hurling), 10.883; wound, 10.343; inscribe, 11.84.

    impius, a, um: undutiful in sacred relations; iniquitous, impious, 2.163; nefarious, detestable, perfidious, 4.496; with reference to civil war, 6.612; of actions, 4.596.

    exuviae, ārum, f.: that which has been taken off; a garment, vestment, 4.496; armor, arms; spoils, 2.275; memorials, relics, 4.651; skin, 2.473; hide, 11.577. (exuō)

    lēctus, ī, m.: a gathering, as of boughs, leaves, straw, etc.; a couch, 4.496. (legō, to gather)

    iugālis, e: adj. (iugum), pertaining to the yoke; yoked together; matrimonial, nuptial, 4.16; subst., iugālēs, ium, m., yoked, or harnessed horses; a team, 7.280.

    pereō, iī, itus, īre, irreg. n.: to go out of sight; to be lost, undone, 4.497; perish, 2.660; die, 2.408.

    super: (adv.), above, 4.684, et al.; above, from above, 10.384; moreover, 4.606; besides, 1.29; more than enough, 2.642; remaining, surviving, left (with ellipsis of esse), 3.489, et al.; still (or above), 4.684; of time, in, during, 9.61.

    aboleō, ēvī, itus, 2, a.: to cause to wane or waste; to destroy, 4.497; cleanse, efface, wipe out, 11.789; obliterate the memory of, 1.720.

    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.

    monumentum, ī, n.: a means of admonishing, reminding, or instructing; a memorial, 3.486; record, tradition, 3.102; memento, 12.945; token, 6.512. (cf. moneō)

    effor, fātus sum, 1, dep. a. and n.: to speak forth; speak, say, 6.560. (ex and for)

    sileō, uī, 2, n. and a.: to be, keep, remain silent, 2.126; be hushed, calm, still, 1.164; w. acc., to pass over in silence; leave unmentioned, unsung, 10.793.

    pallor, ōris, m.: paleness, pallor, 4.499. (palleō)

    Anna, ae, f.: a sister of Dido, 4.9.

    praetexō, texuī, textus, 3, a.: to weave in front; to fringe, 6.5; (fig.), palliate, cloak, 4.172; conceal, 4.500.

    sacrum, ī, n.: a holy thing; pl., sacra, ōrum, n., sacred symbols, rites, 12.13; sacred rites, ceremonies, sacrifices, 2.132; sacred things, utensils, symbols, 2.293; mysteries, 3.112.

    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.

    Sӯchaeus, ī, m.: a Tyrian prince, the husband of Dido, 1.343, et al.

    iussum, ī, n.: a thing ordered; command, injunction, order, 1.77, et al. (iubeō)

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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-iv-474-503