Lines 305-417

Question 1

At pius Aeneas, per noctem plurima volvens,
ut primum lux alma data est, exire locosque
explorare novos, quas vento accesserit oras,
qui teneant, nam inculta videt, hominesne feraene,
quaerere constituit, sociisque exacta referre.

Answer 1

But dutiful Aeneas, turning many things over through the night,
as soon as kindly dawn has delivered, decides, to go out
and explore the new place, to find what shores he has reached on the wind,
who owns them (for he sees desert) man or beast,
and bring back the details to his friends.

Question 2

Classem in convexo nemorum sub rupe cavata
arboribus clausam circum atque horrentibus umbris
occulit; ipse uno graditur comitatus Achate,
bina manu lato crispans hastilia ferro.

Answer 2

He conceals the fleet in an over-hanging grove under a hollow cliff,
enclosed by trees and bristling shade:
accompanied only by Achetes he walks,
grasping twinned broad-bladed spears in his hand.

Question 3

Cui mater media sese tulit obvia silva,
virginis os habitumque gerens, et virginis arma
Spartanae, vel qualis equos Threissa fatigat
Harpalyce, volucremque fuga praevertitur Hebrum.

Answer 3

His mother met him herself, in the middle of the trees,
with the face and appearance of a virgin, and a virgin’s weapons,
a Spartan girl, or such as Harpalyce of Thrace,
she outlasts the horses, and outdoes winged Hebrus in flight.

Question 4

Namque umeris de more habilem suspenderat arcum
venatrix, dederatque comam diffundere ventis,
nuda genu, nodoque sinus collecta fluentis.

Answer 4

For she’d slung her bow from her shoulders, according to custom,
like a huntress, and loosed her hair for the wind to scatter,
with her knees bare, and her flowing tunic gathered up in a knot.

Question 5

Ac prior, “Heus” inquit “iuvenes, monstrate mearum
vidistis si quam hic errantem forte sororum,
succinctam pharetra et maculosae tegmine lyncis,
aut spumantis apri cursum clamore prementem.”

Answer 5

And she said first: ‘Hello, young men, tell me,
if you’ve seen my sister wandering here by any chance,
wearing a quiver, and the hide of a dappled lynx,
or shouting, hot on the track of a slavering boar?

Question 6

Sic Venus; et Veneris contra sic filius orsus:

“Nulla tuarum audita mihi neque visa sororum—

Answer 6

So Venus (said); and so Venus’s son began in answer:
‘I’ve not seen or heard any of your sisters,

Question 7

O quam te memorem, virgo? Namque haud tibi voltus
mortalis, nec vox hominem sonat: O, dea certe—
an Phoebi soror? an nympharum sanguinis una?—
sis felix, nostrumque leves, quaecumque, laborem,

Answer 7

oh how should I name you, virgin? For your looks are not mortal
nor does your voice sound human: oh, a goddess for certain!
Or Phoebus’s sister? Or one of the race of Nymphs?
Be fortunate, whoever you may be, and lighten our labour,

Question 8

et, quo sub caelo tandem, quibus orbis in oris
iactemur, doceas. Ignari hominumque locorumque
erramus, vento huc vastis et fluctibus acti:
multa tibi ante aras nostra cadet hostia dextra.”

Answer 8

and I beg you teach us what sky we’re under, on what shores
we are landed on the edge of: knowing nothing of the people or the country:
we are adrift, driven by wind and vast seas,
many a sacrifice will fall to you before the altars, under our hand.’

Question 9

Tum Venus: “Haud equidem tali me dignor honore;
virginibus Tyriis mos est gestare pharetram,
purpureoque alte suras vincire cothurno.

Answer 9

Then Venus (said): ‘I don’t think myself worthy of such honours:
it’s the custom of Tyrian girls to carry a quiver,
and lace our calves high up, over red hunting boots.

Question 10

Punica regna vides, Tyrios et Agenoris urbem;

sed fines Libyci, genus intractabile bello.

Answer 10

You see the kingdom of Carthage, Tyrians, and Agenor’s city:

but bordered by Libyans, a people formidable in war.

Question 11

Imperium Dido Tyria regit urbe profecta,
germanum fugiens. Longa est iniuria, longae
ambages; sed summa sequar fastigia rerum.

Answer 11

Dido rules this empire, having set out from the city of Tyre,
fleeing her brother. It’s a long tale of wrong, with many
windings: but I’ll trace the main chapters of the story.

Question 12

“Huic coniunx Sychaeus erat, ditissimus agri
Phoenicum, et magno miserae dilectus amore,
cui pater intactam dederat, primisque iugarat
ominibus. Sed regna Tyri germanus habebat
Pygmalion, scelere ante alios immanior omnes.

Answer 12

Sychaeus was her husband, a Phoenician richest of fields,
and held dear in love by the most unfortunate woman,
her father had given her to him untouched, and joined (her to him) first with marriage omens,
But her brother Pygmalion had the kingdom of Tyre,
more monstrous in villainy than all others.

Question 13

Quos inter medius venit furor. Ille Sychaeum
impius ante aras, atque auri caecus amore,
clam ferro incautum superat, securus amorum
germanae; factumque diu celavit, et aegram,
multa malus simulans, vana spe lusit amantem.

Answer 13

Alienating rage came between them.
He impious before the altars, and blind by love of gold,
secretly overpowered Sychaeus unawares with a dagger,
unconcerned about the loves of his sister; and he hid the deed for a long time,
and imitating many evils, with empty hopes he deceived the lovesick (Dido).

Question 14

Ipsa sed in somnis inhumati venit imago
coniugis, ora modis attollens pallida miris,
crudeles aras traiectaque pectora ferro
nudavit, caecumque domus scelus omne retexit.

Answer 14

But the ghost itself of her unburied husband came (to her) in sleep,
raising its pale mouth in a strange manner,
he revealed the cruelty at the altars and the dagger transfixed in his heart,
and uncovered all the secret wickedness of the house.

Question 15

Tum celerare fugam patriaque excedere suadet,
auxiliumque viae veteres tellure recludit
thesauros, ignotum argenti pondus et auri.

Answer 15

Then he advised her to make haste an escape and depart her fatherland,
and for help on the journey he uncovered an ancient treasure from the earth,
an unknown weight of gold and silver.

Question 16

His commota fugam Dido sociosque parabat:
conveniunt, quibus aut odium crudele tyranni
aut metus acer erat; navis, quae forte paratae,
corripiunt, onerantque auro: portantur avari
Pygmalionis opes pelago; dux femina facti.

Answer 16

Moved by these things Dido was preparing her escape and allies:
They assembled, either because of hatred of the cruel tyrant
or it was bitter fear; the ships, which were prepared by chance,
they seized, and they loaded them with gold:
the riches of greedy Pygmalion was carried over the sea; a woman made the leader.

Question 17

Devenere locos, ubi nunc ingentia cernis
moenia surgentemque novae Karthaginis arcem,
mercatique solum, facti de nomine Byrsam,
taurino quantum possent circumdare tergo.

Answer 17

They came to this place, where you now see
the vast walls, and resurgent stronghold, of new Carthage,
and bought land, as much as they could enclose with the hide
from a single bull, and from that deed they called it Byrsa.

Question 18

Sed vos qui tandem, quibus aut venistis ab oris,
quove tenetis iter? “Quaerenti talibus ille
suspirans, imoque trahens a pectore vocem:

Answer 18

But who then (are you)? Or from what shores do you come?
What course do you take?’ He, sighing as she questioned him on such things,
and drawing his voice from deep in his heart (he replied):

Question 19

“O dea, si prima repetens ab origine pergam,
et vacet annalis nostrorum audire laborum,
ante diem clauso componat Vesper Olympo.

Answer 19

‘O goddess, if going right back to the start I might proceed at the beginning,
and there is time to hear the story of our toils,
before then Vesper would have shut day away within closed Olympus.

Question 20

Nos Troia antiqua, si vestras forte per auris
Troiae nomen iit, diversa per aequora vectos
forte sua Libycis tempestas adpulit oris.

Answer 20

We, being carried across the various seas from ancient Troy,
if by chance the name of Troy has come to your ears,
a storm drove us by its own chance to Libya’s shores.

Question 21

Sum pius Aeneas, raptos qui ex hoste Penates
classe veho mecum, fama super aethera notus.
Italiam quaero patriam et genus ab Iove summo.

Answer 21

I am dutiful Aeneas, who carries my household gods in my ship with me,
having been snatched from the enemy, my fame is known beyond the sky.
I seek my country Italy, and a people (born of) Jupiter on high.

Question 22

Bis denis Phrygium conscendi navibus aequor,
matre dea monstrante viam, data fata secutus;
vix septem convolsae undis Euroque supersunt.

Answer 22

I embarked on the Phrygian sea with twenty ships,
having followed my given fate, my mother, a goddess, showing the way:
barely seven are left, wrenched from the wind and waves.

Question 23

Ipse ignotus, egens, Libyae deserta peragro,
Europa atque Asia pulsus.” Nec plura querentem
passa, Venus medio sic interfata dolore est:

Answer 23

I myself wander, in need (and) unknown, in the Libyan desert,
driven from Europe and Asia.’ Venus not putting up with
him complaining more, broke into the middle of his lament like this:

Question 24

“Quisquis es, haud, credo, invisus caelestibus auras

vitalis carpis, Tyriam qui adveneris urbem.

Answer 24

‘Whoever you are I believe you don’t draw the breath of life

while hated by the gods, since you have reached a city of Tyre.

Question 25

Perge modo, atque hinc te reginae ad limina perfer,
Namque tibi reduces socios classemque relatam
nuntio, et in tutum versis aquilonibus actam,
ni frustra augurium vani docuere parentes.

Answer 25

Only carry on, and from here take yourself to the queen’s threshold,
for I announce to you that your friends are restored,
and your ships recalled, driven to safety by the shifting winds,
unless my parents taught me false prophecies, in vain.

Question 26

Aspice bis senos laetantis agmine cycnos,
aetheria quos lapsa plaga Iovis ales aperto
turbabat caelo; nunc terras ordine longo
aut capere, aut captas iam despectare videntur:

Answer 26

See, those twelve swans rejoicing in a line,
that an eagle, Jupiter’s bird, swooping from the open expanse of heavens,
was scattering in the open sky: now, in a long line, they seem
to have settled, or be gazing down those who already have.

Question 27

ut reduces illi ludunt stridentibus alis,
et coetu cinxere polum, cantusque dedere,
haud aliter puppesque tuae pubesque tuorum
aut portum tenet aut pleno subit ostia velo.
perge modo, et, qua te ducit via, derige gressum.’

Answer 27

As, returning, they play about with screeching wings,
and in a crowd they circle the zenith, and give their song,
so in another manner, your ships and your people
are holding in harbour, or at its entrance under full sail.
Only carry on, and direct your steps to where the path takes you.’

Question 28

Dixit, et avertens rosea cervice refulsit,
ambrosiaeque comae divinum vertice odorem
spiravere, pedes vestis defluxit ad imos,
et vera incessu patuit dea. Ille ubi matrem
adgnovit, tali fugientem est voce secutus:

Answer 28

She spoke, and turning away she reflected the light from her rose-tinted neck,
and breathed a divine perfume from her head of her ambrosial hair:
her robes trailed down to the ends of her feet,
and, in her step, showed her a true goddess. Where he recognised his mother,
as she vanished he followed her with such a voice:

Question 29

“Quid natum totiens, crudelis tu quoque, falsis
ludis imaginibus? Cur dextrae iungere dextram
non datur, ac veras audire et reddere voces?”

Answer 29

‘You too are cruel, why do you taunt your son so often with false
phantoms? Why am I not allowed to join hand
with hand, and speak and hear true words?’

Question 30

Talibus incusat, gressumque ad moenia tendit:
at Venus obscuro gradientes aere saepsit,
et multo nebulae circum dea fudit amictu,
cernere ne quis eos, neu quis contingere posset,
molirive moram, aut veniendi poscere causas.

Answer 30

He accuses her with such words, and turns his steps towards the city.
But Venus veiled them with a dark mist as they walked,
and the goddess spread a thick cloak of cloud around them,
so that no one could see them, or was able to touch them,
or cause a delay, or ask them where they were going.

Question 31

Ipsa Paphum sublimis abit, sedesque revisit
laeta suas, ubi templum illi, centumque Sabaeo
ture calent area, sertisque recentibus halant.

Answer 31

She herself soars high to Paphos, and returns to her home
with delight, where her temple and its hundred altars
steam with Sabean incense, fragrant with fresh garlands.