Hīc laeta extrēmīs spēs est accēnsa duōbus,

Sergestō Mnēstheīque, Gyān superāre morantem.

Sergestus capit ante locum scopulōque propinquat,185

nec tōtā tamen ille prior praeëunte carīnā;

parte prior, partim rōstrō premit aemula Pristis.

At mediā sociōs incēdēns nāve per ipsōs

hortātur Mnēstheus: 'Nunc, nunc īnsurgite rēmīs,

Hectoreī sociī, Trōiae quōs sorte suprēmā190

dēlēgī comitēs; nunc illās prōmite vīrīs,

nunc animōs, quibus in Gaetūlīs Syrtibus ūsī

Īoniōque marī Maleaeque sequācibus undīs.

Nōn iam prīma petō Mnēstheus neque vincere certō

(quamquam ō!—sed superent quibus hoc, Neptūne, dedistī);195

extrēmōs pudeat rediisse: hoc vincite, cīvēs,

et prohibēte nefās.' Ollī certāmine summō

prōcumbunt: vāstīs tremit ictibus aerea puppis

subtrahiturque solum, tum crēber anhēlitus artūs

āridaque ōra quatit, sūdor fluit undique rīvīs.200

Attulit ipse virīs optātum cāsus honōrem:

namque furēns animī dum prōram ad saxa suburget

interior spatiōque subit Sergestus inīquō,

īnfēlīx saxīs in prōcurrentibus haesit.

concussae cautēs et acūtō in mūrice rēmī205

obnīxī crepuēre inlīsaque prōra pependit.

Cōnsurgunt nautae et magnō clāmōre morantur

ferrātāsque trudēs et acūtā cuspide contōs

expediunt frāctōsque legunt in gurgite rēmōs.

At laetus Mnēstheus successūque ācrior ipsō210

agmine rēmōrum celerī ventīsque vocātīs

prōna petit maria et pelagō dēcurrit apertō.

Quālis spēluncā subitō commōta columba,

cui domus et dulcēs latebrōsō in pūmice nīdī,

fertur in arva volāns plausumque exterrita pennīs215

dat tēctō ingentem, mox āëre lāpsa quiētō

rādit iter liquidum celerīs neque commovet ālās:

sīc Mnēstheus, sīc ipsa fugā secat ultima Pristis

aequora, sīc illam fert impetus ipse volantem.

et prīmum in scopulō luctantem dēserit altō220

Sergestum brevibusque vadīs frūstrāque vocantem

auxilia et frāctīs discentem currere rēmīs.

inde Gyān ipsamque ingentī mōle Chimaeram

cōnsequitur; cēdit, quoniam spoliāta magistrō est.

    CORE VOCABULARY

    accendō, ī, cēnsus, 3, a.: to set fire to, light up, enkindle, 5.4; enrage, exasperate, incense, 1.29; incite, rouse, 4.232. (ad and candō, rel. to candeō)

    Sergestus, ī, m.: commander of one of the ships of Aeneas, 1.510, et al.

    Mnestheus, and Menestheus, eī and eos, m.: Mnestheus, one of the Trojan chiefs under Aeneas, 5.117; 10.129, et al.

    Gyās, ae, m.: 1. Gyas, commander of one of the ships of Aeneas, 1.222. 2. A Latin slain by Aeneas, 10.318.

    scopulus, ī, m.: a projecting ledge of rock; a high cliff or rock, 1.180; crag, 1.45; ledge, reef, 1.145; detached rock, fragment of rock, 12.531.

    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)

    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.

    praeeō, īvī, or iī, itus, īre, irreg. n. and a.: to go before; p., praeiēns, euntis, going before, preceding, 5.186.

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

    rōstrum, ī: a bill, beak, 6.597; the beak of a ship, 5.143; pl., Rōstra, ōrum, n., the platform or tribunal for magistrates and orators in the Roman forum, so called because adorned with the beaks of the captured ships of Antium; the Rostra. (rōdō, gnaw)

    aemulus, a, um: (adj.), striving to equal; competing, rivaling, 5.187; envious, 5.415; a rival for, aspiring, 10.371.

    pristis, is, f.: 1. A sea-monster, 10.211. 2. Pristis, the Pristis, one of the ships of Aeneas, 5.154. (another form for pistrīx)

    incēdō, cessī, cessus, 3, a. and n.: to step onward; walk, especially with pomp or dignity; advance, 1.497; move (for am), 1.46, et al.; march, proceed, 9.308.

    īnsurgō, surrēxi, rēctus, 3, n.: to rise to; w. dat., 9.34; rise, spring to, ply, 3.207; (without case), lift or raise one's self, rise upward, 5.443.

    rēmus, ī, m.: originally steering-oar; an oar, 1.104.

    Hectoreus, a, um: adj. (Hector), of Hector, 2.543; Hectorean, Trojan, 1.273.

    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.

    dēligō, lēgī, lēctus, 3, a.: to choose from; choose, 2.18. (dē and legō)

    prōmō, prōmpsī, prōmptus, 3, a.: to take, give, bring forth, exhibit, put forth, 5.191; with sē, come forth, 2.260. (prō and emō)

    Gaetūlus, a, um: (adj.), Gaetulian, African, 5.351.

    syrtis, is, f.: a sand-bank or shoal in the sea; esp., Syrtis Maior and Syrtis Minor, on the northern coast of Africa, 4.41; a sand-bank, shoal, 1.111.

    Īonius, a, um: (adj.), Ionian, 3.671; subst., Īonium, iī, n., the Ionian sea, 3.211.

    Malea, ae, f.: one of the southern promontories of Peloponnesus, 5.193.

    sequāx, ācis: adj. (sequor), prone to follow; following, pursuing, swiftly pursuing; darting, lambent, 8.432; rapid, 5.193.

    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.

    Neptūnus, ī, m.: Neptune, one of the sons of Saturn, and brother of Jupiter, Juno, and Pluto; identified by the Romans, as god of the sea, with the Greek Poseidon, 1.125.

    pudeō, uī, itus, 2, a. and n.: to be ashamed; to make ashamed; impers., pudet, puditum est, w. acc. of person, it shames one; one is ashamed, 5.196.

    redeō, īvī or iī, itus, īre, irreg. n.: to go, come back, return; retreat, 9.794.

    certāmen, inis, n.: a striving, a struggle; effort, 5.197; combat, emulation, strife, 3.128; battle, war, 8.639; contest, game, 5.286. (certō)

    prōcumbō, cubuī, cubitus, 3, n.: to lie down; to bend, lean forward, lie along, 8.83; bend down, lie prostrate; fall upon, 11.150; bend to, ply the oars, 5.198; to fall in death or battle, 2.426; fall down, sink in ruins, 2.505.

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

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

    aereus, a, um: adj. (aes), made of copper or bronze; bronze, brazen (see def. of aes), 1.448; brazen beaked, 5.198; of the copper or bronze plates or scales of a corselet, 10.313.

    puppis, is, f.: the hinder part of a ship; the stern, 5.12; (by synecdoche), a vessel, boat, ship, 1.69; (meton.), crew, 8.497.

    subtrahō, trāxī, trāctus, 3, a.: to draw from beneath; withdraw, 6.465; sweep away, 5.199.

    solum, ī, n.: the bottom or ground of anything; soil, earth, ground, 1.367, et al.; land, 3.698; foundation, 10.102; the water beneath a ship, as its support; the water, sea, 5.199; support, table, 7.111.

    crēber, bra, brum: (adj.), repeated, frequent, 2.731; coming thick and fast, 11.611; blowing fresh; fresh, 5.764; abounding in, full of, 1.85.

    anhēlitus, ūs, m.: hard-breathing; puffing, panting, 5.199. (anhēlō)

    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)

    āridus, a, um: adj. (āreō), dry, parched, 5.200; thirsty.

    quatiō, no perf., quassus, 3, a.: to shake, freq.; brandish, 11.767; flap, 3.226; shatter, 2.611; make tremble, 5.200; thrill, penetrate, 3.30; ransack, beat up, search, scour, 11.513; torment, 6.571; assault, 9.608; spur, 12.338.

    sūdor, ōris, m.: sweat, 2.174. (sūdō)

    rīvus, ī, m.: a small stream; a rill, brook, rivulet, stream, 3.350.

    optātus, a, um: desired, longed for, much desired, 1.172; (adv.), optātō, according to one's wish; in good time, 10.405.

    furō, uī, 3, n.: to be mad; freq., to rave, be frantic, rage, 1.491; to be furious, burn, storm (for war), 7.625; to be burning or mad with love, 1.659; to be frenzied, in a frenzy, 6.100; inspired, 2.345; distracted with grief, 3.313; plunge madly, 9.552; boil, 7.464; with cognate acc., give vent to one's fury, 12.680.

    prōra, ae, f.: the extreme forward part of a ship; the prow, 1.104.

    suburgeō, 2, a.: to push up to, 5.202.

    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)

    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.

    inīquus, a, um: unequal; uneven in surface, rounding, 10.303; of the sun, torrid, 7.227; too narrow, dangerous, 5.203; treacherous, 11.531; morally, unfavorable, hard, inequitable, 4.618; unjust, cruel, 1.668, et al.

    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.

    prōcurrō, cucurrī or currī, cursus, 3, n.: to run forth or forward, 12.267; advance, sally forth, 9.690; roll, rush along, 11.624; jut, run out, project, 5.204.

    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.

    concutiō, cussī, cussus, 3, a.: to shake completely; shake, 2.629; push, 8.237; rouse, spur, 8.3; sift, examine, search, 7.338; agitate, strike with panic, terrify, 4.666; smite, afflict, 5.700. (com- and quatiō)

    cautēs, is, f.: a craggy or pointed rock, or cliff; rock, crag, 3.534.

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

    mūrex, icis, m.: the murex or purple fish; a sharp-pointed shellfish from which was obtained the Tyrian purple; (meton.), purple dye, purple, 4.262; a pointed or jagged rock, 5.205.

    obnītor, nīxus or nīsus sum, 3, dep. n.: to press, push against, w. dat., 12.105; without an object, push, 4.406; struggle, resist, 4.332; bear up, 5.21; strive, strike against, 5.206.

    crepō, uī, itus, 1, n. and a.: to rattle; creak, crack, 5.206; rustle, 11.775.

    inlīdo, līsī, līsus, 3, a.: to dash upon, thrust, drive upon, 1.112; dash into, 5.480. (1. in and laedō)

    pendeō, pependī, 2, n.: to hang, foll. by abl. alone or w. prep., 2.546, et al.; 5.511; be suspended, 1.106; cling, 9.562; bend, stoop forward, 5.147; (meton.), linger, delay, 6.151; listen, hang upon, 4.79.

    cōnsurgō, surrēxī, surrēctus, 3, n.: to rise together, rise up; rise at once, 8.110; rise, 5.20; rise or spring to the oars, ply, 10.299.

    nauta, ae, m.: a boatman, ferryman, 6.315; sailor, mariner, 3.207. (nāvis)

    ferrātus, a, um: adj. (ferrum), furnished or covered with iron; iron, 7.622; iron pointed, iron shod, 5.208; iron spurred, armed with the spur, 11.714.

    trudis, is, f.: a pole, boathook, pike, 5.208. (trudō)

    cuspis, idis, f.: a spear point, 7.817; point, 5.208; spear, lance, javelin; a spear, 12.386; a spear or, perhaps, the shaft of a spear as a scepter, 1.81.

    contus, ī, m.: a pole, 5.208.

    expediō, īvī or iī, ītus, 4, a.: to make the foot free; to extricate, disentangle; bring forth, get ready, 1.178; seize, use, 5.209; serve, 1.702; unfold, describe, disclose, 3.379, 460; declare, 11.315; pass. in middle sig., make one’s way out, escape, 2.633. (ex and pēs)

    gurges, itis, m.: a whirlpool, gulf, 3.421; flood, 2.497; wave, billow, 3.564; rolling, raging sea, abyss, 1.118; sea, ocean, 7.704.

    successus, ūs, m.: a going up, an advance; success, good fortune, 2.386; speed, 12.616. (succēdō)

    prōnus, a, um: (adj.), inclined, stooping or bending forward, 3.668; leaning 8.236; descending, falling, 11.485; going down, 9.713; favorable, safe, 5.212.

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

    dēcurrō, cucurrī or currī, cursus, 3, n. and a.: to run down, hasten down, 2.41; descend, 5.610; run completely round, 11.189; sail over, sweep over, 5.212.

    aperiō, uī, tus, 4, a.: to uncover, lay bare, 1.107; throw open, open, 2.60; disclose to the view, 3.206; disclose, reveal, 6.12; (pass.), aperīrī, to appear, 8.681; p., apertus, a, um, opened, 8.585; unguarded, 11.748; adj., open, 1.155; clear, pure, 1.587. (ab and root par, whence pariō)

    spēlunca, ae, f.: a cavern, 1.60; retreat, 5.213.

    commoveō, mōvī, mōtus, 2, a.: to move completely; move rapidly in procession, 4.301; rouse, start from cover, 7.494; shake, stir, 5.217; disturb, move, 1.126; agitate, terrify 1.360.

    columba, ae, f.: a pigeon, dove, 2.516.

    latebrōsus, a, um: adj. (latebra), full of lurking places or recesses; full of holes; porous, 5.214; secret, 8.713.

    pūmex, icis, m.: pumice stone; rock abounding in crevices; pumice stone, porous, hollow rock, 5.214.

    nīdus, ī, m.: a nest; brood, nestling, 5.214.

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

    plausus, ūs, m.: a beating, clapping, flapping; fluttering sound, 5.215; plaudit, applause, 5.148. (plaudō)

    exterreō, uī, itus, 2, a.: to frighten; alarm, startle, terrify, 3.307; flutter in terror, 5.505; p., exterritus, a, um, startled; roused, 4.571.

    penna (pinna), ae, f.: a feather, 12.750; wing, pinion, 3.258; in the form pinna, a pinnacle, battlement, palisade, 7.159.

    lābor, lapsus sum, 3, dep. n.: to slide, glide down, or slip, freq.; fall down, 2.465; ebb, 11.628; pass away, 2.14; descend, 2.262; glide, sail, skim along, 8.91; flow, 3.281; fall, perish, 2.430; decline, 4.318; faint, 3.309.

    quiēscō, quiēvī, quiētus, 3, n.: to rest, 7.6; repose, rest in death, 1.249; be hushed, still, quiet, 4.523; cease from action, 5.784; lie, 10.836; p., quiētus, a, um, at rest, quiet, 5.848; still, calm, tranquil, 5.216; peaceful, in repose, 4.379; gentle, friendly, 1.303. (quiēs)

    rādō, rāsī, rāsus, 3, a.: to rub, scrape, graze; skim along or over, 5.170; coast along, sail near to, 3.700.

    liquidus, a, um: adj. (liqueō), flowing, liquid, fluid, 5.217, et al.; clear, serene, 6.202.

    āla, ae, f.: a wing, 1.301; the feather of an arrow, 9.578; the wing of an army; cavalry, 11.730; troop, battalion, 11.604; horsemen, mounted huntsmen, 4.121.

    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.

    impetus, ūs, m.: an attack; a strong impulsion; pressure, impulse, impetus, 5.219; vehemence, violence, 2.74. (impetō, attack)

    lūctor, ātus sum, 1, dep. n.: to struggle, strive, contend, 1.53; wrestle, 6.643; w. inf., 12.387.

    vadum, ī, n.: a ford; a shallow, shoal, 1.112; sand-bank, 10.303; shallow water, 11.628; bottom, depth, 1.126; water, tide, stream, 6.320; water of the sea, 5.158; wave, sea, 7.198.

    frangō, frēgī, frāctus, 3, a: to break, 1.104; crush, grind, 1.179; dishearten, discourage, 2.13; baffle; weaken, impair, ruin, destroy, 3.53.

    mōlēs, is, f.: a cumbrous mass; a heavy pile or fabric; mound, rampart, 9.35; dike, 2.497; a mass of buildings, vast buildings, 1.421; structure, 11.130; frame or figure, 2.32; bulk, 5.118; weight, 7.589; pile, mass, 1.61; gigantic frame, 5.431; warlike engine, siege tower, 5.439; array, pomp, train, 12.161; body of soldiers, phalanx, 12.575; heavy storm, tempest, 5.790; toil, work, labor, 1.33.

    Chimaera, ae, f.: 1. A monster, said to have infested Lycia, having the head of a lion, the body of a goat, and the tail of a dragon, and breathing out fire, 6.288. 2. The name of one of the ships of Aeneas, 5.118.

    spoliō, āvī, ātus, 1, a.: to take the spoils; to strip; despoil, 12.297; plunder, rob, 5.661; with acc. and abl., strip, deprive, despoil of, 5.224, et al. (spolium)

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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-v-183-224