Lines 250-262

Question 1

“nos, tua progenies, caeli quibus adnuis arcem”

(But) we, your race, to whom you grant the heights of heaven,

Answer 1

Sharp triplet referring to Jupiter’s obligations.

1. nos is emphatic- feels personally for them.
2. progenies- Emphasis that Aeneas is a direct relation, and therefore should be more important to him than Antenor.
3. ‘caeli…arcem’- reminds Jupiter of his previous promises.

Question 2

“navibus (infandum!) amissis, unius ob iram
prodimur, atque Italis longe disiungimur oris. “
lost our ships (shameful!), we are betrayed because of one person’s anger,
and kept far away from the shores of Italy.

Answer 2

Second triplet, focus on accusations:
1) ships lost
2) one person responsible (Juno)
3) Jupiter’s betrayal
Venus is exaggerating for effect.

Question 3

infandum!

shameful

Answer 3

Emphatic exclamation of ‘infandum!’ given in parenthesis, perhaps to show that Venus’ calm and logical argument is showing cracks where her emotions come through.

Question 4

Parenthesis

Answer 4

A word or phrase inserted into a passage which is grammatically complete without it

Question 5

‘unius’

one person’s

Answer 5

Refers to Juno, though Venus is careful not to mention her by name in front of her husband.

Question 6

‘reponis’

restore

Answer 6

Venus is referring to the power she lost at Troy which she had expected to see restored in Italy.

Question 7

hic pietatis honos? sic nos in sceptra reponis?’

Is this the prize for virtue? Is this how you restore our rule?’

Answer 7

They ask whether Jupiter pays his debts or keeps to his words – a serious accusation in the ancient world where friends and family are concerned.

Question 8

‘olli’

Answer 8

archaic form of illi

Question 9

subridens/ oscula libavit natae

smiling/ kissed his daughter’s lips

Answer 9

Trying to charm her. Contrast with her previous feelings.

Question 10

‘fabor’ ‘fatorum’

Speak, Destiny

Answer 10

Word play comparing Jupiter’s words to fate.

Question 11

Cytherea

Answer 11

Cytherea = Venus.
Named after the island of Cythera.
After she was born in the sea (not from Jupiter but from Saturn’s genitals), she was said to have touched on that island, before finally reaching her destination at Paphos in Cyprus.
It’s interesting that it is being used by Jupiter here – is he dismissing her argument due to lack of relationship?
Contrast to the use of ‘natae’ in line 256.

Question 12

‘sublimemque feres ad sidera caeli
magnanimum Aenean; neque me sententia vertit’
and you will raise great-hearted Aeneas high, to the starry sky:
No thought has changed my mind.

Answer 12

‘magnanimum’, matched by ‘sublimem’ are in the emphatic first positions.