Virgil - Dido prepares to curse Aeneas

Question 1

at regina, pyra penetrali in sede sub auras erecta ingenti taedis atque ilice secta,

Answer 1

Meanwhile the queen, having built in the heart of her home a funeral-pyre up to the breezes, huge with pine branches and cut down oak,

Question 2

intenditque locum sertis et fronde coronat funerea;

Answer 2

she spreads the place with garlands and crowns it with funeral foliage;

Question 3

super exuvias ensemque relictum effigiemque toro locat haud ignara futuri.

Answer 3

on top of the couch she laid the left behind clothing and sword, and his image, not unaware of the future.

Question 4

stant arae circum et crines effusa sacerdos

Answer 4

Altars are standing all around, and a priestess with flowing hair,

Question 5

ter centum tonat ore deos, Erebumque Chaosque

Answer 5

she thunders forth from her mouth 300 gods, and Erebus and Chaos

Question 6

tergeminamque Hecaten, tria virginis ora Dianae.

Answer 6

and three-bodied Hecate, the three faces of the virgin Diana.

Question 7

sparserat et latices simulatos fontis Averni,

Answer 7

And she had sprinkled water imitating of the spring of Avernus,

Question 8

falcibus et messae ad lunam quaeruntur aënis pubentes herbae nigri cum lacte veneni;

Answer 8

powerful herbs are found and gathered with bronze sickles by moonlight, with milk of black poison;

Question 9

quaeritur et nascentis equi de fronte revulsus et matri praereptus amor.

Answer 9

also a love charm is being sought, having been torn from the forehead of a horse being born, and stolen from its mother.

Question 10

ipsa mola manibusque piis altaria iuxta

Answer 10

[Dido] herself, [is] standing beside the altars, with sacred grain and hands

Question 11

unum exuta pedem vinclis, in veste recincta,

Answer 11

one foot having been stripped of its straps, in a loosened dress,

Question 12

testatur moritura deos et conscia fati sidera;

Answer 12

about to die, she calls the Gods and the stars with knowledge of fate to witness;

Question 13

tum, si quod non aequo foedere amantes curae numen habet iustumque memorque, precatur.

Answer 13

then she prays to whatever divine power, just and mindful, has under its care lovers in an unequal relationship.