Lines 425-449

Question 1

Iam rapidus torrens sitientes Sirius Indos
ardebat caelo, et medium sol igneus orbem
hauserat; arebant herbae et cava flumina siccis
faucibus ad limum radii tepefacta coquebant:

Answer 1

Now the Sirius blazed in the sky, fiercely parching
the thirsty Indians, and the fiery sun had consumed
half his course: the grasses withered, and deep rivers having been heated
were baking, by the rays at their parched sources, down to the mud:

Question 2

cum Proteus consueta petens e fluctibus antra
ibat; eum vasti circum gens umida ponti
exsultans rorem late dispergit amarum.

Answer 2

when Proteus came from the sea, seeking his customary cave.
The moist race of the vast sea frolicking around him,
scattered the salt spray far and wide.

Question 3

Sternunt se somno diversae in litore phocae.
Ipse, velut stabuli custos in montibus olim,
vesper ubi e pastu vitulos ad tecta reducit,
auditisque lupos acuunt balatibus agni,
considit scopulo medius numerumque recenset.

Answer 3

The seals lay themselves about in sleep here and there on the shore:
he himself sat on the rock in the middle, just like the guardian
of a sheepfold on the hills used to, when Vesper brings back
the calves home from pasture, and you hear the bleating of lambs rouses
the wolf, hearing them, and the shepherd counts his flock.

Question 4

Cuius Aristaeo quoniam est oblata facultas,
vix defessa senem passus componere membra
cum clamore ruit magno manicisque iacentem
occupat. Ille suae contra non immemor artis
omnia transformat sese in miracula rerum,
ignemque horribilemque feram fluviumque liquentem.

Answer 4

Aristaeus seeing that a chance offered itself,
hardly allowing the old man to settle his weary limbs
when he rushed on him, with a great shout, and seized him
in shackles as he lay there. He in opposition not forgetting of his magic arts,
transforms himself into every marvellous thing,
fire, and hideous creature, and flowing river.

Question 5

Verum ubi nulla fugam reperit fallacia, victus

in sese redit atque hominis tandem ore locutus:

Answer 5

But when no trickery achieves escape, he returns

to his own shape, beaten, and speaks at last with human voice:

Question 6

‘Nam quis te, iuvenum confidentissime, nostras
iussit adire domos? Quidve hinc petis?’ inquit. At ille:
‘Scis, Proteu, scis ipse; neque est te fallere quicquam
sed tu desine velle. Deum praecepta secuti
venimus hinc lapsis quaesitum oracula rebus.

Answer 6

‘For who has ordered you to invade our home, boldest of youths?
What do you look for here?’ he said, but Aristaeus replied:
‘You know, yourself, Proteus, you know: nothing has deceived you
but you want to cease. Having followed divine counsel,
we come seeking the oracle here regarding my weary tale.’