Vix ea fātus erat: mediōs volat ecce per hostīs650

vectus equō spūmante Sacēs, adversa sagittā

saucius ōra, ruitque implōrāns nōmine Turnum:

'Turne, in tē suprēma salūs, miserēre tuōrum.

Fulminat Aenēās armīs summāsque minātur

dēiectūrum arcēs Italum excidiōque datūrum,655

iamque facēs ad tēcta volant. In tē ōra Latīnī,

in tē oculōs referunt; mussat rēx ipse Latīnus

quōs generōs vocet aut quae sēsē ad foedera flectat.

Praetereā rēgīna, tuī fīdissima, dextrā

occidit ipsa suā lūcemque exterrita fūgit.660

Sōlī prō portīs Messāpus et ācer Atīnās

sustentant aciēs. circum hōs utrimque phalanges

stant dēnsae strictīsque seges mūcrōnibus horret

ferrea; tū currum dēsertō in grāmine versās.'

Obstipuit variā cōnfūsus imāgine rērum665

Turnus et obtūtū tacitō stetit; aestuat ingēns

ūnō in corde pudor mixtōque īnsānia lūctū

et furiīs agitātus amōr et cōnscia virtūs.

Ut prīmum discussae umbrae et lūx reddita mentī,

ārdentīs oculōrum orbīs ad moenia torsit670

turbidus ēque rotīs māgnam respexit ad urbem.

Ecce autem flammīs inter tabulāta volūtus

ad caelum undābat vertex turrimque tenēbat,

turrim compāctīs trabibus quam ēdūxerat ipse

subdideratque rotās pontīsque īnstraverat altōs.675

'Iam iam Fāta, soror, superant, absiste morārī;

quō deus et quō dūra vocat fortūna sequāmur.

Stat cōnferre manum Aenēae, stat, quidquid acerbī est,

morte patī, neque mē indecorem, germāna, vidēbis

amplius. Hunc, ōrō, sine mē furere ante furōrem.'680

Dīxit, et ē currū saltum dedit ōcius arvīs

perque hostīs, per tēla ruit maestamque sorōrem

dēserit ac rapidō cursū media agmina rumpit.

Ac velutī montis saxum dē vertice praeceps

cum ruit āvulsum ventō, seu turbidus imber685

prōluit aut annīs solvit sublāpsa vetustās;

fertur in abruptum māgnō mōns improbus āctū

exsultatque solō, silvās armenta virōsque

involvēns sēcum: disiecta per agmina Turnus

sīc urbis ruit ad mūrōs, ubi plūrima fūsō690

sanguine terra madet strīduntque hastīlibus aurae,

sīgnificatque manū et māgnō simul incipit ōre:

'Parcite iam, Rutulī, et vōs tēla inhibēte, Latīnī.

quaecumque est fortūna, mea est; mē vērius ūnum

prō vōbīs foedus luere et dēcernere ferrō.'695

Discessēre omnēs mediī spatiumque dedēre.

    CORE VOCABULARY

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

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

    Sacēs, is, m.: a Latin, 12.651.

    sagitta, ae, f.: an arrow, 1.187, et al.

    saucius, a, um: (adj.), wounded, 2.223; pierced, 4.1.

    ruō, ruī, rutus, 3, n. and a.: to fall with violence; tumble down, fall, freq.; fall in battle, 10.756; of the sun, go down, set, 3.508; rush forward, 2.64; of the chariot of Nox, hasten up; ascend, rise, 2.250; advance, 10.256; plunge, rush, 2.353; flee, 12.505; tremble, quake, 8.525; hasten, pass away, 6.539; cause to fall; cast down, 9.516; plow, 1.35; cast, throw up, 1.85; throw up or together, 11.211.

    implōrō, āvī, ātus, 1, a.: to entreat, implore, supplicate, 4.617.

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

    misereō, uī, itus, 2, n., and misereor, itus sum, 2, dep. n.: to pity, commiserate, have compassion, 2.645; impers., miseret (mē, tē, etc.), w. genit. of the object of pity, it grieves me for, I pity, etc., 5.354. (miser)

    tuī, ōrum, m.: your friends, kinsmen, countrymen, descendants, etc., 3.488; freq. (tuus)

    fulminō, 1, n. and a.: to lighten, or thunder, flash. (fulmen)

    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.

    minor, ātus sum, 1, dep. n. and a.: to jut out, project; ascend, tower, 1.162; threaten, menace, 3.540. (minae)

    dēiciō, iēcī, iectus, 3, a.: to cast down, 6.581; strike down, slay, 11.642; drive down, 4.152; shoot or bring down, 5.542; deprive of, 3.317; dēicere vultum, to cast down the eyes, 3.320; (pass.), dēicī, to be disheartened, dismayed, 10.858. (dē and iaciō)

    Italī, ōrum, m.: the Italians, 1.109. (Ītalia)

    excidium, iī, n.: a complete cutting or tearing down; razing, demolition, destruction. (exscindō)

    Latīnī, ōrum, m.: the people of Latium; the Latins, 12.823, et al.

    mussō, āvī, ātus, 1, intens. n. and a.: to speak low; mutter, complain, 11.454; whisper, hesitate, or fear to speak out, 11.345; waver, 12.657; to low faintly, 12.718. (mūtiō, mutter)

    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)

    gener, erī: a son-in-law, 2.344, et al.

    foedus, eris, n.: a treaty, league, alliance, freq., truce, 5.496; side or party, 12.658; covenant, contract, 4.339; laws of hospitality, hospitality, 10.91; pledge, love, 4.520; law, term, condition, rule, 1.62. (rel. to fīdō, trust)

    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.

    rēgīna, ae, f.: a queen, 1.9; princess, 1.273. (rēx)

    fīdus, a, um: adj. (fīdō), trustworthy, faithful, trusty, 1.188; safe, secure, hospitable, 5.24; w. gen., tuī fīdissima, most faithful to thee, 12.659.

    occidō, cidī, cāsus, 3, n.: to go down; set; fall, perish, 2.581; die. (ob and cadō)

    exter (exterus), era, erum: adj. (ex), on the outside; external, foreign, 4.350; superl., extrēmus (or extimus), a, um, outermost; outer, 12.925; last, most distant, farthest, 5.327; remotest, hindmost, last, 5.183; final, 3.714; consummating, finishing, 7.572; last in degree; extreme, basest, worst, 11.701; the instant of, verge of, 2.447; subst., extrēma, ōrum, pl. n., the most distant parts, 1.577; the last sufferings, death, 1.219; perils, 3.315; adv.; extrēma, for the last time, one’s last, 11.865.

    Messāpus, ī, m.: a Latin chief, allied with Turnus, 7.691, et al.

    Atīnas, ātis, m.: Atinas, a Latin chief, 12.661.

    sustentō, āvī, ātus, 1, intens. a.: to uphold; hold up, support, sustain, 10.339; poise, 10.304; second, support, 11.224; maintain, 12.662; bear up against, withstand, 11.873. (sustineō)

    circum: (adv.), about, around; (prep. with acc.), around, about.

    utrimque: (adv.), on or from either side; on both sides; on every side, 7.566. (uterque)

    phalanx, ngis, f.: a body of troops in compact array; a battalion, army, host, 6.489; of a fleet, 2.254.

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

    stringō, strīnxī, strīctus, 3, a.: to draw tight, bind; of a sword, draw out, draw, 2.334; graze, touch lightly, go near, 5.163; trim up, cut, 1.552; (fig.), touch the mind, 9.294.

    seges, etis, f.: a field of grain; standing corn, 2.304; crop, harvest, growth of spears, 3.46; pasture land, 4.129.

    mūcrō, ōnis, m.: a sharp point or edge, esp. of a weapon, 2.333; point of a spear, 11.817; a sword, blade, 2.449.

    horreō, 2, n. and a.: to bristle up or be bristling, 6.419; to bristle, 11.602; (fig.), to shudder, tremble, 2.12; shudder at, fear, dread, 4.209.

    ferreus, a, um: adj. (ferrum), of iron, iron-, 3.45; (fig.), inflexible, stern, iron; of death, 10.745.

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

    grāmen, inis, n.: grass, 3.537, et al.; a blade of grass or of grain, 7.809; plant; herb, 2.471; pasture, meadow; grassy field, plain, 7.655.

    versō, āvī, ātus, 1, freq. a.: to turn much; writhe, 11.753; turn, 5.408; handle, wield, 9.747; to buffet, drive, beat round and round, 5.460; drive to and fro, 12.664; toss about, 6.362; turn, hurry, 4.286; involve in or distract with, 7.336; with or without mente, pectore, etc., revolve, meditate, devise, consider, 1.657. (vertō)

    obstipēscō, stipuī (stupuī), 3, inc. n.: to become stupefied; to be astonished, amazed, 1.613.

    cōnfundō, fūdī, fūsus, 3, a.: to pour together; mingle with, 3.696; trouble, confuse, 2.736; disturb, interrupt, violate, 5.496.

    obtūtus, ūs, m.: a looking at; look, gaze, 1.495. (obtueor)

    aestuō, āvī, ātus, 1, n.: to glow, to be dried up or parched; boil up; heave, foam, 6.297; fume, 8.258; rage, seethe, 12.666. (aestus)

    īnsānia, ae, f.: unsoundness; insanity, madness, folly, frenzy, 2.42; violence, fury, 7.461. (īnsānus)

    lūctus, ūs, m.: a mourning; sorrow, grief, woe, lamentation, 2.298, and freq.; personif., 6.274. (lūgeō)

    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)

    cōnscius, a, um: adj. (com- and sciō), having complete knowledge; conscious, 5.455; conscious of, 2.141; conscious of guilt, guilty, 2.99; witnessing (w. dat.), 4.167; having knowledge in common, or a mutual understanding; confederate, 2.267.

    discutiō, cussī, cussus, 3, a.: to shake off, strike off, 9.810; disperse, dissipate, dispel. (dis- and quatiō)

    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)

    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.

    turbidus, a, um: adj. (turbō), confused; mingled, foul, 6.296; dismal, dark, 6.534; whirling, 5.696; of the mind, sad, troubled, 4.353; startled, in alarm, 11.814; furious, 11.742.

    rota, ae, f.: a wheel, 1.147; (fig.), circle or orbit of time, 6.748.

    tabulātum, ī, n.: a planking; floor, platform, story, 2.464. (tabula)

    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.

    undō, āvī, ātus, 1, n.: to rise in waves; of flame, smoke, dust, etc., surge, 2.609; overflow, stream forth, burst forth, gush, 10.908; boil, seethe, 6.218; of lines or reins, hang free, flow, 5.146. (unda)

    vertex, icis, m.: a whirl; whirlpool, 7.567; vortex, 1.117; whirling column of flame, 12.673; the top, crown of the head, the head, 1.403; summit, top, 1.163; mountain summit, height, 3.679; ā vertice, from on high, from above, 1.114. (vertō)

    turris, is, f.: a tower, 2.445, et al.

    compingō, pēgī, pāctus, 3, a.: to join together; p., compāctus, a, um, close-jointed, 12.674. (com- and pangō)

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

    subdō, didī, ditus, 3, a.: to put under; place or fasten under, 12.675; bury, 7.347.

    pōns, pontis, m.: a bridge; a bridge connecting battlements and towers, 9.530; gangway, bridge for embarking, 10.288.

    īnsternō, strāvī, strātus, 3, a.: to spread over; cover, 2.722; saddle, 7.277; extend over, 12.675.

    iam: (adv.), at that time, at this time; even then, even now; already, 1.437, et al.; with tum, even, 1.18; w. imperat., at length, at once, 3.41, et al.; soon, presently, immediately, 4.566; then, at length, 1.272; marking a transition, now, 2.567, et al.; iam iam, emphatic, now indeed, 4.371; now, now, 2.530; iam dūdum, iam prīdem, already for some time, long, 1.580, et al.; iam inde, iam ab illō tempore, even from then or that time, 1.623; iam tum, even then; iam — iam, at one time, at another time, now — now; nōn iam, no longer, 4.431; iamdūdum, at once.

    absistō, abstitī, 3, n.: to stand off or away from, followed by the abl., alone or with prep.; withdraw from, 6.259; fly, dart from, 12.102; (with infin.), desist, cease, 6.399; (alone), stop, cease, 1.192.

    fortūna, ae, f.: fortune, destiny, lot, chance, fate, 1.628; success, 10.422; the proper moment, a chance, 12.920; misfortune, calamity, 12.593; personified, 3.53, et al. (fors)

    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.

    acerbus, a, um: harsh, bitter, in taste; (fig.), cruel, fierce, 5.462; fatal, direful, sorrowful, sad, mournful, 5.49; 6.429; pl., acerba, ōrum, n., vengeful deeds, 12.500; (adv.), acerba, harshly, savagely, fiercely, 9.794.

    indecor, oris, and indecoris, e: (adj.), disgraceful, bringing disgrace, 7.231; disgraced, infamous, 11.423; unhonored, 11.845.

    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.

    amplus, a, um: (adj.), spacious, large, ample, 2.310; splendid, magnificent, glorious, 4.93; comp., amplior, us, larger; (adv.), amplius, more, longer, 1.683.

    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.

    saltus, ūs, m.: a leap, bound, spring, 2.565; an ascending, 6.515. (saliō)

    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.

    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.

    rapidus, a, um: adj. (rapiō), that tears away; violent, fierce; swiftly moving, rapid, 1.42; speedy, quick, prompt, 5.513.

    praeceps, cipitis: adj. (prae and caput), head foremost; headlong, 2.307; deep, 11.888; hurried, hasty, quick, speedy, 4.573; flying, running swiftly, 2.516; 3.598; rash, impetuous, fiery, 9.685; prolept., ready to sink, 10.232; subst., praeceps, n., a steep, precipice, verge, 2.460; in praeceps, headlong; downwards, 6.578.

    āvellō, vellī or vulsī, vulsus, 3, a.: to pluck, or tear off, or away from, with acc. and abl., take away, steal, 2.165; to force away, 11.201; p., avulsus, a, um, torn from, 2.608; torn, rent, 3.575.

    imber, imbris, m.: a rain-storm; shower, 1.743, et al.; rain-cloud, 3.194; of sea-water, flood, 1.123; hail, 8.429.

    prōluō, luī, lūtus, 3, a.: to wash forth or out, cast out; wash away, 12.686; wet, drench, fill, 1.739.

    sublābor, lāpsus sum, 3, dep. n.: to slip or glide beneath, 7.354; sink down, decline, ebb, wane, 2.169; pass silently by, 2.686.

    vetustās, ātis, f.: oldness; age, antiquity; length of time, duration, continuance, 3.415; period, length of time, 10.792. (vetus),

    abrumpō, rūpī, ruptus, 3, a.: to break off, away, or tear away from, 9.118; tear asunder, rend, 3.199; end suddenly or abruptly, 4.388; put an end to, 4.631; violate, 3.55; p. abruptus, a, um, having burst, bursting, breaking forth, subst., abruptum, ī, n., anything broken off; a precipice; abyss, chasm, 3.422; in abruptum, headlong, 12.687.

    improbus, a, um: (adj.), not good; bad; malicious, wicked; cruel, 2.80; savage, 10.727; furiously impelled, destructive, 12.687; unappeasable, ravenous, rapacious, 12.250; importunate, raging, 2.356; of military devices, with warlike craft, 11.512; with murderous intent, 11.767; subst., m., shameless, impudent boaster, braggart, 5.397; wretch, 4.386.

    āctus, ūs, m.: a driving or impelling; speed, swift descent, 12.687. (agō)

    exsultō, āvī, ātus, 1, intens. n.: to spring; move with bold or exulting strides, 2.470; 10.643; advance proudly, 10.550; bound, 12.688; rise, surge in billows, swell, 3.557; bubble, 7.464; pant, 5.137; exult, rejoice, triumph, 2.386. (exsiliō)

    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.

    armentum, ī, n.: collective (arō), beasts used for plowing; cattle, 2.499, et al.; of all kinds of animals, a herd, drove; of deer, 1.185; of horses, 3.540.

    involvō, volvī, volūtus, 3, a.: to roll on or in; cast upon, 12.292; roll along, carry, 12.689; cover up, obscure, 3.198; conceal, involve, 6.100.

    dīsiciō, iēcī, iectus, 3, a.: to throw, cast asunder; overthrow, demolish, 8.355; scatter, disperse, 1.70; cleave, 12.308. (dis- and iaciō)

    madeō, 2, n.: to be moist, wet; drenched, 12.691; p., madēns, entis, wet, moist; besmeared, perfumed, 4.216.

    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.

    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)

    sīgnificō, āvī, ātus, 1, a. and n.: to make a sign, signal, beckon, 12.692. (sīgnum and faciō)

    Rutulī, ōrum, m.: the Rutulians, an ancient tribe of Latium dwelling south of the Tiber, 1.266, et al.

    inhibeō, uī, itus, 2, a.: to hold back, hold in, keep back, 12.693. (1. in and habeō)

    luō, uī, 3, a.: to set free by atonement; pay for, atone for, expiate, 1.136, et al.; suffer, 11.849. (rel. to λύω, loosen)

    discēdō, cessī, cessus, 3, n.: to go apart or away, retire, withdraw, depart, 2.644; open, 9.20.

    article Nav

    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-xii-650-696