Vergil, Aeneid IX 77-106

Quis deus, ō Mūsae, tam saeva incendia Teucrīs

āvertit? tantōs ratibus quis dēpulit īgnīs?

Dīcite: Prīsca fidēs factō, sed fāma perennis.

Tempore quō prīmum Phrygiā fōrmābat in Īdā80

Aenēās classem et pelagī petere alta parābat,

ipsa deum fertur genetrīx Berecyntia māgnum

vōcibus hīs adfāta Iovem: 'Dā, nāte, petentī,

quod tua cāra parēns domitō tē poscit Olympō.

Pīnea silva mihī multōs dīlēcta per annōs,85

lūcus in arce fuit summā, quō sacra ferēbant,

nigrantī piceā trabibusque obscūrus acernīs.

hās ego Dardaniō iuvenī, cum classis egēret,

laeta dedī; nunc sollicitam timor anxius angit.

Solve metūs atque hōc precibus sine posse parentem,90

nē cursū quassātae ūllō neu turbine ventī

vincantur: prōsit nostrīs in montibus ortās.'

Fīlius huic contrā, torquet quī sīdera mundī:

'Ō genetrīx, quō fāta vocās? aut quid petis istīs?

Mortālīne manū factae immortāle carīnae95

fās habeant? certusque incerta perīcula lūstret

Aenēās? cui tanta deō permissa potestās?

Immō, ubi dēfūnctae fīnem portūsque tenēbunt

Ausoniōs ōlim, quaecumque ēvāserit undīs

Dardaniumque ducem Laurentia vexerit arva,100

mortālem ēripiam fōrmam māgnīque iubēbō

aequoris esse deās, quālis Nērēïa Dōtō

et Galatēa secant spūmantem pectore pontum.'

Dīxerat idque ratum Stygiī per flūmina frātrīs,

per pice torrentīs ātrāque vorāgine rīpās105

adnuit, et tōtum nūtū tremefēcit Olympum.

    CORE VOCABULARY

    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.

    Mūsa, ae, f.: a muse; one of the nine daughters of Jupiter and Mnemosyne, goddesses who preside over the liberal arts of poetry, music, etc., 1.8, et al.; (meton.), a poem or song.

    incendium, iī, n.: a burning, conflagration; flame, fire, 2.706; desolation, 1.566; fiery material, firebrand, 9.71. (incendō)

    Teucrī, ōrum, m.: the Trojans, descendants of Teucer, 1.38, et al.; adj., Teucrian, Trojan, 9.779, et al. (Teucer)

    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.

    ratis, is, f.: a raft, float; bark, boat, ship, 1.43, et al.

    dēpellō, pulī, pulsus, 3, a.: to push, drive from or away; drive away from, w. acc. and abl., 5.727.

    prīscus, a, um: (adj.), old, former, ancient, 7.706; Prīscī Latīnī, the ancient Latins, occupying Latium prior to the foundation of Rome, 5.598.

    perennis, e: adj. (per and annus), throughout the year; lasting, continual, perpetual, endless, 9.79.

    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.

    Phrygius, a, um: Phrygian, Trojan, 1.381; subst., Phrygiae, ārum, f., Phrygian or Trojan women, 518. (Phryx)

    fōrmō, āvī, ātus, 1, a.: to form, fashion, train; build, 9.80. (fōrma)

    Īda, ae, f.: 1. Mount Ida in Crete, where Jupiter was reared, 12.412. 2. A mountain in the Troad, where Ganymede was caught up by the eagle of Jupiter, 2.801. 3. A Nymph, 9.177.

    Aenēās, ae, m.: 1. A Trojan chief, son of Venus and Anchises, and hero of the Aeneid, 1.92. 2. Aenēās Silvius, one of the Alban kings, 6.769.

    pelagus, ī, n.: the sea; open sea, main, 1.138; flood, 1.246.

    altum, ī, n.: the deep; the lofty; the deep sea, the main, the deep, 1.3; the sky, heaven, air, 1.297; from far, far-fetched, remote, 8.395. (altus)

    genetrīx, īcis, f.: she who brings forth; mother, 1.590, et al. (gignō)

    Berecyntius, a, um: (adj.), pertaining to Berecyntus, a mountain of Phrygia, sacred to Cybele, 6.784.

    adfor, fātus sum, 1, dep. a.: to speak to; address, 1.663; beseech, supplicate, 2.700; bid adieu, farewell to, 2.644.

    Iuppiter, Iovis, m.: Jupiter, son of Saturn and Rhea, and king of the gods, 1.223; Iuppiter Stygius, Pluto, 4.638.

    domō, uī, itus, 1, a.: to tame, train, vanquish, 2.198; subdue, 6.80; till, 9.608.

    Olympus, ī, m.: Olympus, the name of several mountains in Greece and Asia Minor, the most famous of which was Mount Olympus in the northeastern part of Thessaly; the home of the superior gods; heaven, Olympus, 1.374; referring to the gods, 8.533.

    pīneus, a, um: adj. (pīnus), of pine, made of pine, produced from pine, piny, 11.786; pine-, 2.258; piny, pine-growing, 11.320.

    dīligō, lēxī, lēctus, 3, a.: to love, 8.590; p., dīlēctus, a, um, loved, dear, 1.344.

    lūcus, ī, m.: a consecrated wood; sacred grove, 6.259, et al.; in general, a grove, wood, forest.

    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.

    nigrō, āvī, ātus, 1, n. and a.: to be or make black; p., nigrāns, antis, black, dusky, dark, 5.97; cloud-covered, 8.353; gloomy, 9.87. (niger)

    picea, ae, f.: the pitch-pine; the pine, 6.180. (pix)

    trabs, trabis, f.: a beam; timber, 1.552; post, jamb, 1.449; trunk, 6.181; tree, 9.87; ship, 3.191.

    obscūrus, a, um: (adj.), dim, dark, dusky, obscure, 1.411; uncertain; of persons, unseen, 2.135; in the darkness, 6.268; pl., obscūra, ōrum, dim places; obscurity, uncertainty, 6.100.

    acernus, a, um: of maple; maple-, 2.112. (acer, maple)

    Dardanius, a, um: adj. (Dardanus), Dardanian, Trojan, 5.711; subst., Dardanius, iī, m., the Dardanian; the Trojan, 12.14.

    egeō, uī, 2, n.: to be in want or need; (w. abl. or gen.), to want, need, 2.522; to be poor, destitute, 1.384; to feel the need of, be desirous of, 5.751.

    sollicitus, a, um: adj. (sollus, whole, and cieō), wholly excited; of the mind, solicitous, troubled, burdened with care, anxious, 3.389.

    ānxius, a, um: adj. (angō), troubled or troubling, disquieting, 9.89.

    angō, ānxī, ānctus or ānxus, 3, a.: to squeeze, compress, 8.260.

    possum, potuī, posse, irreg. n.: to be able; can, 1.242, et al.; to avail, have influence, power, 4.382. (potis and sum)

    nēve or neu: (conj.), or not, and not, nor, neither, w. subj. or imperat., 7.202; ne — neu (nēve), that not — nor, lest — or lest, 2.188.

    quassō, āvī, ātus, 1, intens. a. and n.: to shake violently; shatter, 1.551; 4.53; shake, 5.855; brandish, 9.521. (quatiō)

    turbō, inis, m.: a tornado, whirlwind; storm, tempest, 1.442; whirling cloud, 3.573; wind accompanying the lightning; lightning-blast, 1.45; 6.594; whirling or stormy force, 11.284, et al.; a whirling top, a child's top, 7.378. (cf. turba)

    prōsum, prōfuī, prōdesse, irreg. n.: to be advantageous, useful, profitable; to benefit, profit, avail, 5.684.

    fīlius, iī, m.: a son, 1.325. (rel. to fēmina)

    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.

    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.

    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.

    immortālis, e: (adj.), undying, immortal, unperishable, 6.598.

    carīna, ae, f.: the keel of a ship, ship, 4.398; a boat, 6.391; frame, timber, 5.682.

    fās, indecl. n.: divine right or law; duty, justice, 3.55; privilege, 9.96; as predicate with esse, permitted, lawful, proper, incumbent, 1.77, et al. (rel. to for)

    incertus, a, um: (adj.), uncertain, 2.740; wavering; fickle, 2.39; doubtful, 3.7; undistinguished, base, 11.341.

    lūstrō, āvī, ātus, 1, a.: to purify by atonement, 3.279; go round the fields with the victims; hence to bless, ask for a blessing on; go or dance around an altar or the image of a god, 7.391; traverse, pass across, around, or over, 1.608; pass in review, parade before, 5.578; run through, 2.528; search, 1.577; observe, survey, 1.453; watch, mark, 11.763; of the sun, illuminate, 4.607. (lūstrum)

    immō: yes indeed; nay rather, 1.753; but, 9.98.

    dēfungor, fūnctus sum, 3, dep. n.: to complete, finish a duty, etc.; go through with, 6.83; to have done with, 6.306; used absolutely; to get through, fulfill one’s destiny or course, 9.98.

    portus, ūs, m.: a port, harbor, haven, 1.159, et al; (fig.), 7.598.

    Ausonius, a, um: adj. (Auson), Ausonian; Italian, 4.349; subst., Ausoniī, ōrum, m., the Ausonians; Italians, 11.253.

    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.

    Laurentius, a, um: adj. (Laurentum), of Laurentum, the ancient capital of Latium; Laurentine, Laurentian, 10.709.

    iubeō, iussī (fut. perf. iussō for iusserō, 11.467), iussus, 2, a.: to order, request, usually w. inf., freq.; bid, 2.3; ask, invite, 1.708; will, wish, desire, 3.261; direct, enjoin, admonish, 3.697; persuade, advise, 2.37; to clear by command, 10.444; w. subj., 10.53.

    Nērēius, a, um: adj. (Nēreus), of Nereus; Nereian, 9.102.

    Dōtō, ūs, f.: a sea nymph, 9.102.

    Galatēa, ae, f.: a sea-nymph, daughter of Nereus, 9.103.

    secō, secuī, sectus, 1, a.: to cut, freq.; cut off, 4.704; engrave, carve, 3.464; cut through, cleave, 5.218, et al.; of the channel of a river, 8.63; sail through, pass, 8.96; speed, 6.899; shape out mentally, form, 10.107.

    spūmō, āvī, ātus, 1, n. and a.: to foam, 3.534, et al. (spūma)

    Stygius, a, um: adj. (Styx), pertaining to the Styx; of Hades; Stygian, 4.638, et al.

    pix, picis, f.: pitch.

    torreō, uī, tostus, 2, a. and n.: to burn, scorch, roast, parch, 1.179; rush, roll, 6.550; of a river bank, 9.105; p., torrēns, entis, subst., a torrent, 7.567.

    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.

    vorāgō, inis, f.: a chasm, abyss, gulf, whirlpool, 6.296; torrent, 9.105. (vorō)

    adnuō, nuī (ūtus, rare), 3, a. and n.: to nod to; with dat., acc. and dat., and infin.; ascent, consent, 4.128; promise, 1.250; direct, permit, 11.20.

    nūtus, ūs, m.: a nod, 9.106; will, decree, command, pleasure, 7.592. (nuō, nod)

    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)

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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-77-106