Virgil Flashcards
Nisus erat portae custos, acerrimus armis, Hyrtacides,
Nisus, the son of Hyrtacus, a guard of the gate, was very brave with arms,
comitem Aeneae quem miserat Ida venatrix iaculo celerem levibusque sagittis;
whom the huntress Ida had sent to Aeneas. He is quick with the lance and light with the arrows;
et iuxta comes Euryalus, quo pulchrior alter non fuit Aeneadum Troians neque induit arma, ora puer prima signans intonsa iuventa.
and nearby was his companion Euryalus, than whom no other of Aeneas’ men were more handsome, nor anyone who put on Trojan arms, a boy showing the first signs of manhood.
his amor unus erat, pariterque in bella ruebant: tum quoque communi portam statione tenebant.
They were one in love, they were rushing into battle together, also at this time they were holding watch at the gate together.
Nisus ait: “dine hunc ardorem mentibus addunt, Euryale, an sua cuique deus fit dira cupido?
Nisus said: “Is it the gods who put passion in our minds, or does one’s ow n dreadful desires become his own god?
aut pugnam aut aliquid iandudum invadere magnum men agitat nec placida contenta quiete est.
My mind has been driving me for a long time to enter into a great battle or something like that nor will it be content with quiet.
cernis quae Rutulos habeat fiducia rerum: lumina rara micany, somno vinoque soluti procubere, silent late loca.
You percieve the confidence which the tribe, the Rutuli have in their affairs: lights gleam here and there, relaxed in sleep and wine they fall fowards, thr place is silent far and wide.
percipe porro quid dubitem et quae nunc anime sententia surgat.
Furthermore you percieve what I am considering what in my mind is surging.
Aenean acciri omnes, populsque patresque, exposcunt mittique viros, qui certa reportent.
Everyone, the people and elders are demanding that Aeneas be summoned, who will report back.
Si tibi quae posco promittunt (nam mihi facti fama sat est), tumulo videor reperire sub illo posse viam ad muros et moenia Pallantea”
If they promise to you what I asked for (the fame of the deed), I think to find a way under the mound to the fortifications of Pallanteum”
Section 2 - 308-323
protinus armati incedunt; quos omnis euntis primorum manus ad portas iuvenumque senumque prosequitur votis.
Immediately they bore arms; all the leaders of the company to carry the young men and old men gave their prayers to accompany them.
nec non et pulcher Iulus, ante annos animumque gerens curanque virilem,
Likewise and the beautiful Iulus, wise beyone his years he showed concern and a many mind,
multa patri mandata danat portanda: sed aurae omnia discerpunt et nubibus inrita donant.
He was giving many orders to carry to his father: but the breezes scattered everything and gave them, useless, to the clouds
egressi superant fossas noctisque per umbram castra inimica petunt, multis tamen ante futuri exitio.
Having left, they cross the ditches and seek the hostile camp through the shadows of the night.
passim somno vinoque per herbam corpora fusa vident, arrectos litore currus,
Everywhere they see bodies spread over the grass in drunken sleep, chariots upturned on the shore,
inter lora rotasque viros, simul arma iacere, vina simul.
Men, arms and wine jars as well, lying among the reins and wheels.
prior Hyrtacides sic ore locutus: “Euryale audendum dextra: nunc ipsa vocat res. hac iter est.
The son of Hyrtacus (Nisus) spoke first from his mouth as follows: “Euryalus you must be bold with your right hand, the deed now presents itself (to us)
tu, ne qua manus se attollere nobis a tergo possit, custodi et consule longe; haec ego vasta debo et lato te limite ducam.”
You, watch and look out afar, lest any band of men may be able to rise up against us from the rear; I will lay these places waste and lead you on a broad path”
impastus ceu plena leo per ovilia turbans (suadet enom vesana fames) manditque trahitque molle mutumque metu, fremit ore cruento.
Just as a hungry lion creating havoc throughout the full sheepfolds (for raging hunger is urging him on) both devours and tears apart the gentle flock which is dumb with fear, and roars with bloodstained mouth.
nec minor Euryali caedes; incensus et ipse perfurit ac multam in medio sine nomine plebem,
The carnage done by Euryalus is just as great. He too, incensed, rages madly and falls upon many nameless common soldiers in the middle (of his path),
Fadumque Herbesumque subit Rhoetumque Abarimque, ignaros,
Also Fadus, Herbesus, Rhoetus and Abaris, were (caught) unaware,
Rhoetum vigilantem et cuncta videntem, sed magum metuens se post cratera tegebat.
Rhoetum was awake and saw everything, but in his fear tried to hide himself behind a big mixing vessel.
pectore in adverso totum cui comminus ensen condidit adsurgenti et multa morte recepit.
As he (Rhoetus) rose, Euryalus buried the whole of his sword at close quarters in the opposing breast, and withdrew it dripping with much blood.
purpuream vomit ille animam et cum sanguine mixta vina refert moriens; hic furto fervidus instat.
Rhoetus spews forth his dark red life-blood and, as he dies, brings back (lots of) wine mixed with blood, impetuous Euryalus pursues his stealthy acts.
iamque ad Messapi socios tendebat; ibi ignem deficere extremum et religatos rite videbat carpere gramen equos;
And now he began to make his way towards the companions of Messapus; there he saw that the fire was dying down and that the horses;
breviter cum talis Nisus (sensit enim nimia caede atque cupidine ferri)
duly tethered, were grazing on the grass, when Nisus briefly spoke as follows (for he felt that Euryalus was being carried away by excessive slaughter and passion)
“Absistamus” ait “nam lux inimica propinquat. poenarum exhaustum satis est, via facta per hostis”
“Let us stop” he said “for the unfriendly daylight is approaching. Enough punishment has been inflicted, a way has been made through the enemy”.