Vergil, Aeneid IX 367-419

Intereā praemissī equitēs ex urbe Latīnā,

cētera dum legiō campīs īnstrūcta morātur,

ībant et Turnō rēgī respōnsa ferēbant,

ter centum, scūtātī omnēs, Volcente magistrō.370

Iamque propinquābant castrīs mūrōsque subībant

cum procul hōs laevō flectentīs līmite cernunt,

et galea Euryalum sublūstrī noctis in umbrā

prōdidit immemorem radiīsque adversa refulsit.

Haud temerē est vīsum. Conclāmat ab agmine Volcēns:375

'Stāte, virī. Quae causa viae? quīve estis in armīs?

quōve tenētis iter?' nihil illī tendere contrā,

sed celerāre fugam in silvās et fīdere noctī.

Obiciunt equitēs sēsē ad dīvortia nōta

hinc atque hinc, omnemque aditum cūstōde corōnant.380

Silva fuit lātē dūmīs atque īlice nigrā

horrida, quam dēnsī complērant undique sentēs;

rāra per occultōs lūcēbat sēmita callīs.

Euryalum tenebrae rāmōrum onerōsaque praeda

impediunt, fallitque timor regiōne viārum.385

Nīsus abit; iamque imprūdēns ēvāserat hostis

atque locōs quī post Albae de nōmine dictī

Albānī (tum rēx stabula alta Latīnus habēbat),

ut stetit et frūstrā absentem respexit amīcum:

'Euryale īnfēlīx, quā tē regiōne relīquī?390

quāve sequar?' rūrsus perplexum iter omne revolvēns

fallācis silvae simul et vestīgia retrō

observāta legit dūmīsque silentibus errat.

Audit equōs, audit strepitūs et sīgna sequentum;

Nec longum in mediō tempus, cum clāmor ad aurīs395

pervenit ac videt Euryalum, quem iam manus omnis

fraude locī et noctis, subitō turbante tumultū,

oppressum rapit et cōnantem plūrima frūstrā.

Quid faciat? quā vī iuvenem, quibus audeat armīs

ēripere? an sēsē mediōs moritūrus in ēnsēs400

īnferat et pulchram properet per vulnera mortem?

Ōcius adductō torquet hastīle lacertō

suspiciēns altam lūnam et sīc vōce precātur:

'Tū, dea, tū praesēns nostrō succurre labōrī,

astrōrum decus et nemorum Lātōnia cūstōs.405

Sī qua tuīs umquam prō mē pater Hyrtacus ārīs

dōna tulit, sī qua ipse meīs vēnātibus auxī

suspendīve tholō aut sacra ad fastīgia fīxī,

hunc sine me turbāre globum et rege tēla per aurās.'

Dīxerat et tōtō cōnīxus corpore ferrum410

cōnicit. hasta volāns noctis dīverberat umbrās

et venit āversī in tergum Sulmōnis ibīque

frangitur, ac fissō trānsit praecordia līgnō.

volvitur ille vomēns calidum dē pectore flūmen

frīgidus et longīs singultibus īlia pulsat.415

Dīversī circumspiciunt. Hōc ācrior īdem

ecce aliud summā tēlum lībrābat ab aure.

Dum trepidant, it hasta Tagō per tempus utrumque

strīdēns trāiectōque haesit tepefacta cerebrō.

    CORE VOCABULARY

    intereā: (adv.), amid these things; meanwhile, in the meantime, 1.418, et al.

    praemittō, mīsī, missus, 3, a.: to send before, in advance, or forward; dispatch, 6.34.

    Latīnus, a, um: adj. (Latium), of Latium; Latin, 1.6, et al.; Latīna, ae, f., a Latin woman, 12.604.

    īnstruō, strūxi, strūctus, 3, n.: to build upon; build up; arrange, draw up ships or troops, 2.254; 8.676; prepare, 1.638; furnish, equip, supply, 3.231; support, 6.831; instruct, train, 2.152.

    Turnus, ī, m.: the chief of the Rutulians, 7.56, et al.

    respōnsum, ī, n.: an answer, reply, 2.376; oracular answer, response, 6.799. (respondeō)

    ter: (num. adv.), thrice, three times, 1.94, et al. (trēs)

    scūtātus, a, um: adj. (scūtum), equipped or armed with a shield, 9.370.

    Volcēns, entis, m.: a Latin chief, 9.370.

    propinquō, āvī, ātus, 1, a. and n.: to bring near; render favorable, 10.254; to draw near, approach, w. dat., 2.730, et al. (propinquus)

    subeō, iī, itus (p. subiēns, euntis), 4, n. and a.: to go or come under, into, or up to; alone, or with acc. and prep., or with dat.; without a case, come up, 2.216; go under, bend, stoop down under, 10.522; come after; follow, 2.725; take one's place, 12.471; enter, 1.171; come into or upon the mind, suggest itself, occur, 2.560; with acc. and prep., go, advance towards, 8.359; with dat., come or go up to, down to, into, 5.203; succeed to, 5.176; come after, follow, 10.371; with acc., approach, enter, 1.400; go under a burden, bear, with abl. of instrument, 2.708; go under the yoke, draw, 3.113; enter the mind of, strike, occur to, 9.757; approach, reach, 3.512; approach, 7.22; meet, encounter, 10.798; attack, 9.344.

    laevus, a, um: (adj.), the left, 10.495; (situated) on the left, 3.412; the left, 3.420; (fig.), ill-starred, unpropitious, baleful, 10.275; infatuated, blind, 2.54.

    flectō, flexī, flexus, 3, a. and n.: to bend; make by twisting, weave, 7.632; turn, guide, 1.156; rein, manage, 9.606; influence, sway, bend, move; retain, check, 12.46.

    līmes, itis, m.: a cross path bounding two fields; border, boundary, train, 2.697; track, passage, 10.514. (rel. to līmen)

    galea, ae, f.: a helmet, either of leather or of metal, 3.468, et al.

    Euryalus, ī, m.: a Trojan youth among the followers of Aeneas, 5.294.

    sublūstris, e: adj. (sub and cf. lūx), faintly gleaming, lurid, 9.373.

    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.

    radius, iī, m.: a staff, rod; spoke of a wheel, 6.616; beam, ray, 5.65; a shuttle, 9.476; the representation of rays on a crown, 12.163.

    refulgeō, fulsī, fulsus, 2, n.: to flash back; shine forth, flash, be radiant, 1.402; glitter, glisten, 6.204.

    temerē: (adv.), by chance; promiscuously, 9.329; in vain, 9.375.

    conclāmō, āvī, ātus, 1, n. and a.: to call out aloud; shout, cry, 3.523; call together, 7.504.

    contrā: (prep. and adv.; prep. w. acc.), over against; opposite to, 1.13; against, 5.370; to, 9.280; on the contrary, 12.779; on the other hand, in reply, 1.76.

    celerō, āvī, ātus, 1, a.: to speed, hasten, 1.357, et al. (celer)

    fīdō, fīsus sum, 3, n.: to confide, trust, rely; freq., w. dat., 7.290; w. abl., 5.398; w. inf., dare, 5.69; p., fīdēns, entis, trusting, bold, confident, w. abl., dat., or gen., freq. (rel. to πείθω, persuade)

    obiciō, iēcī, iectus, 3, a.: to throw against or towards; throw to, 6.421; present, oppose, 2.444; bar against, shut, 9.45; cast upon, 7.480; subject, expose, 4.549; (pass.), to be presented, appear, 5.522; p., obiectus, a, um, thrown towards or against; opposite, projecting, 3.534. (ob and iaciō)

    dīvortium, iī, n.: a separation; a parting, or crossway, 9.379. (dīvortō or dīvertō)

    aditus, ūs, m.: a going to; an approach, avenue, access, passage, entrance, 2.494; (fig.), approach, 4.423. (adeō)

    corōnō, āvī, ātus, 1, a.: to encircle with a crown or garland; crown, wreathe, 4.506; encompass, surround, 9.380. (corōna)

    lātē: (adv.), widely; far and wide, 1.21; on all sides, far around, 1.163; all over, 12.308. (lātus)

    dūmus, ī, m.: a bramble, 4.526; brake, thicket.

    īlex, icis, f.: the holm-oak, scarlet oak, ilex, 6.180.

    horridus, a, um: adj. (horreō), rough, bristling, 3.23, et al.; bristling with arms; shaggy, grizzly, stiffened, 4.251; blustering, tempestuous, 9.670; terrible, fearful, 1.296.

    dēnsus, a, um: (adj.), thick, dense, crowded, compact, in close array, serried, 2.383; frequent, 5.459.

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

    sentis, is, m. and f.: a thorn, brier, bramble, 2.379.

    occulō, culuī, cultus, 3, a.: to cover up; hide, conceal, 1.312; p., occultus, a, um, secret, hidden, 3.695.

    lūceō, lūxī, 2, n.: to shine, beam, gleam, glisten, 10.137, et al.; to be exposed to view, show, 11.693.

    sēmita, ae, f.: a byway, lane, 9.383; path, 1.418. (sē- and cf. meō, to go)

    callis, is, m.: a narrow, uneven footpath; path, 4.405.

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

    onerōsus, a, um: adj. (onus), burdensome, heavy, 5.352.

    impediō, īvī or iī, ītus, 4, a.: to hinder, 9.385; hamper, 10.553; involve, intersect, 5.585; combine, 8.449. (1. in and pēs)

    Nīsus, ī, m.: a follower of Aeneas, 5.294.

    abeō, īvī, or iī, itus, īre, irreg. n.: to go away, depart, 2.675; go off, go aside, turn off, 5.162; pass into, sink into, 9.700; go forward, take the lead, 5.318; retreat, 2.382; change or be transformed.

    imprūdēns, entis: (adj.), not seeing or knowing beforehand; unconscious, 9.386; unwarned.

    ēvādō, vāsī, vāsus, 3, n. and a.: to go out, forth, or up; ascend, 2.458; come in flight, 2.531; come forth from, w. the idea of danger surmounted; (w. acc.), to escape the dangers of, 2.731; escape, 5.689; 6.425; w. dat., 11.702; 9.99.

    Alba, ae, f.: Alba or Alba Longa, a town on the Alban hills in Latium, from which Rome originated, 1.271.

    Albānus, a, um: adj. (Alba), pertaining to Alba; Alban, 1.7; subst., Albānī, ōrum, m., the Albans, 5.600.

    stabulum, ī, n.: stable, stall, 2.499; a shepherd's dwelling, grange, 7.512; den, haunt, 6.179; cattle-camp, 8.207. (stō)

    Latīnus, ī, m.: Latinus, a king of Latium, whose capital was Laurentum, and whose daughter, Lavinia, became the wife of Aeneas, 6.891, et al. (Latium)

    absēns, entis: (adj.), absent, 4.83. (absum)

    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.

    perplexus, a, um: (adj.), much entangled; puzzling, intricate, 9.391.

    revolvō, volvī, volūtus, 3, a.: to roll back, 5.336; (fig.), bring back, recall, repeat, 2.101; retrace, 9.391; go over again, suffer again, 10.61; turn, change again, 6.449; (pass.), revolvor, fall back, fall down, 9.476; p., revolūtus, a, um, rolling, 10.660; returning, following, 10.256.

    fallāx, ācis: adj. (fallō), prone to cheat; deceitful, treacherous, false, 5.850, et al.

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

    observō, āvī, ātus, 1, a.: to note, observe, mark, watch, 6.198; remember, 9.393; observe, respect, revere.

    silēns, entis (gen. pl. -tum, 6.432): still, silent, noiseless, voiceless, 6.264.

    strepitus, ūs, m.: a noise; an uproar; din, 6.559; stir, noise of festivity, 1.725; confused noise, 1.422. (strepō)

    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.

    medium, iī, n.: medium, iī, n., the middle, midst, 2.218; the intervening space, 6.131; ad medium, in the middle of the body, 12.273; in medium, into the midst, in public; before them, 5.401; for the common weal, 11.335.

    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.

    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.

    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.

    fraus, fraudis, f.: fraud, deception, treachery, deceit, guile, 4.675; stratagem, ambuscade, 11.522; wickedness; fault, offense, 9.428; mischance, harm, 10.72; hurt, harm, 11.708; treacherous nature, uncertainty, 9.397.

    subitus, a, um: having come up suddenly; unexpected, sudden, 2.692; suddenly, 3.225. (subeō)

    tumultus, ūs, m.: commotion; uproar; outcry, 9.397; shouting, cries, 3.99; haste, 11.447; uprising, 6.857. (tumeō)

    opprimō, pressī, pressus, 3, a.: to press against; press down, overpower, overwhelm, 1.129; come upon suddenly; surprise, 9.398. (ob and premō)

    ōcior, ius: adj. comp. (superl., ōcissimus, a, um), swifter, more fleet, 5.319, et al.; (adv.), ōcius, more swiftly; rapidly, speedily, quickly, swiftly, 12.681.

    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.

    hastīle, is, n.: the shaft of a spear; a spear, lance, javelin, 1.313, et al.; a spear-like sapling or branch; a shoot, 3.23. (hasta)

    lacertus, ī, m.: the upper arm, from the shoulder to the elbow; the arm, 5.141, et al.

    suspiciō, spexī, spectus, 3, a. and n.: to look up to, 6.668; behold, see; look upon with wonder; admire; survey, 1.438. (sub and speciō, look)

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

    succurrō, currī, cursus, 3, n.: to run up; run to assist; with dat., to aid, succor, relieve, help, 1.630; impers., succurrit, it comes into the mind, occurs, seems, 2.317. (sub and currō)

    Lātōnius, a, um: adj. (Lātōna), of Latona, Latonian, 9.405, et al.; subst., Lātōnia, ae, f., Diana, 11.534.

    quis, qua or quae, quid or quod: (indef. pron., adj., and subst.), any, some, 2.94, et al.; some one, any one, any body, anything, something, 1.413, et al.; sī quis, nē quis, etc., if any, lest any, etc., freq.; (adv.), quid, as to anything, in anything, at all, freq.; sī quid, if at all, freq.

    Hyrtacus, ī, m.: the father of Nisus, 9.406.

    vēnātus, ūs, m.: a hunting, the chase, 7.747; the spoils of the chase, 9.407. (vēnor)

    suspendō, pendī, pēnsus, 3, a.: to hang up, 6.859; hang, 1.318; p., suspēnsus, a, um, suspended, scarcely touching the ground or water, 7.810; hanging, 8.190; as adj., in suspense, uncertain, doubtful, in doubt, 6.722; anxious, 2.729; filled with awe, 3.372.

    tholus, ī, m.: a cupola, dome, the vault of a temple, vaulted shrine, 9.408.

    fastīgium, iī, n.: that which is carried to a point or apex; the apex or point of a pediment; a gable, upper part of a house; roof, pinnacle, battlement, 2.444; slope of a trench; (fig.), chief point, 1.342. (fastīgō)

    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.

    globus, ī, m.: any body of a spherical form; a globe, ball, 3.574; sphere, 6.725; phalanx, battalion, mass of assailants, 9.515; a mass of smoke or dust; a cloud, 9.36.

    tōtus, a, um: (adj.), the whole, total, entire, 1.128, et al.; tōtō corpore, with all one's strength, 12.920.

    cōnītor, nīxus or nīsus sum, 3, dep. n.: to lean or brace one’s self against; struggle, strive, put forth all one’s strength, 5.264; strain every nerve, 9.769.

    coniciō, iēcī, iectus, 3, a.: to throw together; pile up, 5.662; throw, cast, hurl, 2.545; turn, 12.483. (com- and iaciō)

    hasta, ae, f.: a spear, 2.50, and freq.; hasta pūra, a headless spear, 6.760; pampinea hasta, a thyrsus, 7.396.

    volō, āvī, ātus, 1, n.: to fly, 1.300, et al.; of rumor, to be spread rapidly, noised or spread abroad, 3.121.

    dīverberō, no perf., ātus, 1, a.: to strike asunder, cleave, cut, 5.503.

    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.

    Sulmō, ōnis, m.: a Latin, 9.412.

    findō, fidī, fissus, 3, a.: to split, cleave, sever, crack; separate, divide, 6.540.

    trānseō, iī, itus, īre, irreg. n. and a.: to go across; go through, pass, 12.926; pass by, 5.326; pass away, 1.266; run over, 5.274; pass through, 9.413.

    praecordia, ōrum, n.: the diaphragm or midriff; the vital parts; the heart, 9.413; the heart as the seat of courage, 2.367; spirit, heart, 9.596. (prae and cor)

    līgnum, ī, n.: wood; structure, frame, 2.45; tree, 12.767.

    volvō, volvī, volūtus, 3, a.: to roll, 1.86; roll along or down, 1.101; roll or cast up, 3.206; toss, hurl, 12.906; roll over, roll in the dust, 12.329; cast, hurl down, 1.116; 9.512; roll, wheel, 1.163; of books, open, unroll, 1.262; of the Fates, fix the circle of events, decree, ordain, dispose, 1.22; 3.376; of the mind, revolve, meditate, reflect upon, 1.305; pass, continue, live through, experience, endure, suffer, 1.9; rotam volvere, to complete a cycle, period; (pass.), volvī, roll over, roll, 10.590; turn or wind about, 7.350; to be shed, to flow, 4.449; roll on, revolve, 1.269.

    vomō, uī, itus, 3, a.: to vomit; belch, vomit forth, 5.682.

    calidus, a, um: adj. (caleō), warm, hot, 6.218; reeking, 10.486; of the spirit or disposition, hot, fiery.

    frīgidus, a, um: adj. (frīgeō), cold, 7.715; chilling, benumbing; chill, shuddering, 3.29; cool; (fig.), without spirit, slow, w. dat., 11.338.

    singultus, ūs, m.: a gasp.

    īlia, ium, n. pl.: the groin, flank, 7.499; belly, 10.778.

    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)

    circumspiciō, spexī, spectus, 3, a. and n.: to look around; cast a glance round upon; survey, 2.68; look round and see, 12.896; observe, 3.517; look round for, look out, seek. (cīrcum and speciō, look)

    lībrō, āvī, ātus, 1, a.: to balance, poise; of weapons, to aim, 5.479; to dart, 9.417. (lībra, a balance)

    trepidō, āvī, ātus, 1, n. and a.: to be in trepidation, alarm or panic, 10.788; to hurry, hasten to and fro or about, 2.685; to hasten (with inf.), 9.114; to strive nervously, make trembling effort, 12.403. (trepidus)

    Tagus, ī, m.: a Rutulian, 9.418.

    strīdeō, 2, n., and strīdō, strīdī, 3: to produce a grating or shrill sound; to creak, 1.449; gurgle, 4.689; rustle, 1.397; whiz, roar, 1.102; hiss, 8.420; twang, 5.502.

    trāiciō, iēcī, iectus, 3, a. and n.: to throw across, over; pass over, cross, 6.536; pierce, 2.273; transfix, 1.355; p., trāiectus, a, um, drawn or passed through, 5.488; transfixed, pierced, 9.419. (trāns and iaciō)

    haereō, haesī, haesus, 2, n.: to stick; foll. by dat., or by abl. w. or without a prep.; hang, cling, adhere, cling to, 1.476, et al.; stop, stand fixed, 6.559; halt, 11.699; adhere to as companion, 10.780; stick to in the chase, 12.754; persist, 2.654; dwell, 4.4; pause, hesitate, 3.597; be fixed or decreed, 4.614.

    tepefaciō, fēcī, factus, 3, a.: to make tepid or warm; (pass.), to reek, 9.333.

    cerebrum, ī, n.: the brain, 5.413, et al.

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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-ix-367-419