Aeneid 1.544–560

Aen. 1.544Rēx erat Aenēās nōbīs, quō iūstior alter,
545nec pietāte fuit, nec bellō maior et armīs.

Our king was Aeneas, and no one was more just than he, nor greater in devotion, nor in war and arms.

Note. quō iūstior alter nec … fuit: 'than whom no other was more just'; quō is an ablative of comparison. pietāte: Aeneas' defining quality, dutiful devotion to gods, family and country.

Aen. 1.546Quem sī fāta virum servant, sī vēscitur aurā
aetheriā, neque adhūc crūdēlibus occubat umbrīs,
nōn metus;

If the fates are keeping this man safe, if he still feeds on the air of heaven and does not yet lie among the cruel shades, there is nothing to fear;

Note. Quem … virum: connecting relative, 'and if the fates keep this man safe'. vēscitur aurā aetheriā: 'feeds on the air of heaven', i.e. is alive; vēscor takes the ablative. nōn metus (est): 'there is no fear'.

Aen. 1.548officiō nec tē certāsse priōrem
paeniteat.

and you would not regret having been the first to compete in kindness.

Note. officiō … certāsse prīōrem: 'to have been the first to compete in kindness'; certāsse is the syncopated form of certāvisse. paeniteat: present subjunctive, potential: 'you would not regret'.

Aen. 1.549Sunt et Siculīs regiōnibus urbēs
550arvaque, Trōiānōque ā sanguine clārus Acestēs.

In the region of Sicily too there are cities and fields, and famous Acestes, of Trojan blood.

Note. Acestes, born of a Trojan mother, ruled at Segesta in Sicily; he hosts the Trojans in Book 5.

Aen. 1.551Quassātam ventīs liceat subdūcere classem,
et silvīs aptāre trabēs et stringere rēmōs:
sī datur Ītaliam, sociīs et rēge receptō,
tendere, ut Ītaliam laetī Latiumque petāmus;

Allow us to beach our fleet, battered by the winds, and to shape timbers in the woods and trim oars, so that, if it is granted to make for Italy with our comrades and king recovered, we may gladly seek Italy and Latium;

Note. liceat: jussive subjunctive, 'let it be permitted'. trabēs aptāre … rēmōs stringere: to shape timber and trim branches into oars. sī datur … tendere: 'if it is granted to head for Italy'. ut … petāmus: purpose clause.

Aen. 1.555sīn absūmpta salūs, et tē, pater optume Teucrum,
pontus habet Lybiae, nec spēs iam restat Iūlī,
at freta Sīcaniae saltem sēdēsque parātās,
unde hūc advectī, rēgemque petāmus Acestēn.

but if our safety is taken away, and the sea of Libya holds you, best father of the Teucrians, and there is no longer any hope of Iulus, then at least let us seek the straits of Sicily and the homes made ready there, from where we came here, and King Acestes.'

Note. sīn: 'but if'. absūmpta (est). optume: old spelling of optime, vocative. Teucrum: genitive plural (= Teucrōrum). Lybiae: Vergil's text has this spelling of Libyae. Iūlī: genitive of Iulus, Aeneas' son. sēdēs parātās: Acestes' realm in Sicily. petāmus: jussive.

Aen. 1.559Tālibus Īlioneus;

So spoke Ilioneus;

Aen. 1.559cūnctī simul ōre fremēbant
560Dardanidae.

all the Dardanians murmured together with one voice.

Note. ōre fremēbant: they murmured agreement. Dardanidae: 'descendants of Dardanus', the Trojans.