Aeneid 1.157–179

Aen. 1.157Dēfessī Aeneadae, quae proxima lītora, cursū
contendunt petere, et Libyae vertuntur ad ōrās.

The weary followers of Aeneas strive to make for the nearest shores, and turn towards the coast of Libya.

Note. Aeneadae: 'the followers of Aeneas', the Trojans. quae proxima lītora: the antecedent is drawn into the relative clause: 'the shores which are nearest'. cursū: 'by their course' or 'at speed'. vertuntur: middle sense, 'turn themselves'.

Aen. 1.159Est in sēcessū longō locus: īnsula portum
160efficit obiectū laterum, quibus omnis ab altō
frangitur inque sinūs scindit sēsē unda reductōs.

There is a place in a deep inlet: an island forms a harbour by the barrier of its sides, on which every wave from the open sea breaks and divides into the receding bays.

Note. Est … locus: a standard opening for describing a place (ekphrasis). in sēcessū longō: 'in a deep inlet'. obiectū laterum: 'by the barrier of its sides'. quibus: 'on which', dative or ablative. in sinūs … reductōs: 'into the receding bays'; sēsē scindit, 'divides itself'.

Aen. 1.162Hinc atque hinc vāstae rūpēs geminīque minantur
in caelum scopulī, quōrum sub vertice lātē
aequora tūta silent;

On this side and that huge cliffs and twin crags tower threateningly towards the sky, and beneath their summit the sheltered water lies silent far and wide;

Note. Hinc atque hinc: 'on this side and that'. geminī … scopulī: 'twin crags'. minantur in caelum: 'tower threateningly towards the sky'. aequora tūta: 'the sheltered waters'.

Aen. 1.164tum silvīs scaena coruscīs
165dēsuper horrentīque ātrum nemus imminet umbrā.

then above it is a backdrop of shimmering woods, and a dark grove looms overhead with bristling shade.

Note. silvīs scaena coruscīs: 'a backdrop of shimmering woods'; scaena is the painted back wall of a theatre stage, so the landscape is framed like a stage. horrentī … umbrā: 'with bristling shade'.

Aen. 1.166Fronte sub adversā scopulīs pendentibus antrum,
intus aquae dulcēs vīvōque sedīlia saxō,
nymphārum domus: hīc fessās nōn vincula nāvīs
ūlla tenent, uncō nōn alligat ancora morsū.

Under the facing headland is a cave with hanging rocks, inside it fresh water and seats in the living rock, a home of the nymphs: here no cables hold tired ships, no anchor binds them with its hooked bite.

Note. Fronte sub adversā: 'under the facing front (of the cliff)'. scopulīs pendentibus antrum: 'a cave with overhanging rocks'. vīvō … saxō: 'of living rock', natural rather than cut. nympharum domus: in apposition. nōn vincula … ūlla: 'no cables'. uncō … morsū: 'with its hooked bite', of the anchor.

Aen. 1.170Hūc septem Aenēās collēctīs nāvibus omnī
ex numerō subit;

Aeneas comes in here with seven ships gathered from his whole number;

Note. septem … nāvibus: seven of his twenty ships; the rest are thought lost. subit: 'comes in'.

Aen. 1.171ac magnō tellūris amōre
ēgressī optātā potiuntur Trōēs harēnā,
et sale tābentīs artus in lītore pōnunt.

and with great longing for the land the Trojans disembark and take possession of the longed-for sand, and lay their brine-soaked limbs on the shore.

Note. magnō tellūris amōre: 'with great longing for the land'. ēgressī: 'disembarking', deponent. optātā potiuntur … harēnā: potior takes the ablative, 'take possession of the longed-for sand'. sale tābentīs artūs: 'limbs soaked with brine'.

Aen. 1.174Ac prīmum silicī scintillam excūdit Achātēs,
175succēpitque ignem foliīs, atque ārida circum
nūtrīmenta dedit, rapuitque in fōmite flammam.

And first Achates struck a spark from flint, caught the fire in leaves, put dry fuel round it, and fanned the flame in the kindling.

Note. silicī: dative of separation, 'from the flint'. succēpit = suscēpit. nūtrīmenta: 'fuel', what feeds the fire. rapuit … flammam: 'caught the flame', fanned it into life. in fōmite: 'in the kindling'.

Aen. 1.177Tum Cererem corruptam undīs Cereāliaque arma
expediunt fessī rērum, frūgēsque receptās
et torrēre parant flammīs et frangere saxō.

Then, weary of their troubles, they bring out the grain spoiled by the waves and the tools of Ceres, and prepare to parch the rescued corn over the fire and grind it with stone.

Note. Cererem: Ceres, goddess of grain, stands for the grain itself (metonymy). Cereālia arma: 'the tools of Ceres', for grinding and baking. fessī rērum: 'weary of their troubles', genitive with an adjective. frūgēs receptās: 'the rescued grain'. torrēre: grain was parched before grinding.