Aeneid 12.113–133

Aen. 12.113Postera vix summōs spargēbat lūmine montīs
orta diēs, cum prīmum altō sē gurgite tollunt
115sōlis equī lūcemque ēlātīs nāribus efflant:
campum ad certāmen magnae sub moenibus urbis
dīmēnsī Rutulīque virī Teucrīque parābant
in mediōque focōs et dīs commūnibus ārās
grāmineās.

Next day had scarcely risen and was scattering its light on the mountain tops, when the horses of the Sun first rise from the deep sea and breathe out light from their lifted nostrils: the Rutulian and Trojan men had measured out the field for the contest beneath the walls of the great city and were setting up hearths in the middle and grassy altars to the gods they shared.

Note. Postera … diēs: 'the next day'. cum prīmum: 'when first'. sōlis equī: the horses of the Sun's chariot. lūcem … efflant: 'breathe out light'. dīmēnsī: perfect participle of the deponent dīmētior, 'having measured out'. dīs commūnibus: 'to the gods they shared', since both peoples will swear by them. grāmineās: altars of turf.

Aen. 12.119Aliī fontemque ignemque ferēbant,
120vēlātī līmō et verbēnā tempora vīnctī.

Others were bringing spring water and fire, dressed in sacrificial aprons, their temples bound with sacred leaves.

Note. velātī līmō: 'dressed in the limus', a priest's apron bordered with purple. verbēnā tempora vīnctī: 'with their temples bound with sacred leaves'; tempora is accusative of respect with the passive participle.

Aen. 12.121Prōcēdit legiō Ausonidum, pīlātaque plēnīs
agmina sē fundunt portīs.

The Ausonian army comes forward, and the troops armed with javelins pour out of the crowded gates.

Note. legiō Ausonidum: 'the Ausonian host'; Ausonidum is genitive plural. pīlāta … agmina: 'columns armed with javelins'. sē fundunt: 'pour out'.

Aen. 12.122Hinc Trōius omnis
Tyrrhēnusque ruit variīs exercitus armīs,
haud secus īnstrūctī ferrō, quam sī aspera Mārtis
125pugna vocet;

From the other side the whole Trojan and Tuscan army rushes out in varied arms, equipped with steel just as if the harsh fighting of Mars were calling them;

Note. Trōius … Tyrrhēnusque … exercitus: the Trojans and their Etruscan allies. haud secus … quam sī: 'just as if'. aspera Martis pugna: 'the harsh fighting of Mars'.

Aen. 12.125nec nōn mediīs in mīlibus ipsī
ductōrēs aurō volitant ostrōque decōrī,
et genus Assaracī Mnēstheus et fortis Asīlās
et Messāpus equum domitor, Neptūnia prōlēs.

and in the middle of the thousands the leaders themselves dart about, splendid in gold and purple: Mnestheus of the line of Assaracus, brave Asilas, and Messapus, tamer of horses, Neptune's son.

Note. nec nōn: 'and also'. auro … ostrōque decōrī: 'splendid with gold and purple'. genus Assaracī: 'of the line of Assaracus', in apposition to Mnestheus; Assaracus was an ancestor of the Trojan kings. equum domitor: equum = equōrum, 'tamer of horses', a Homeric epithet. Neptūnia prōlēs: 'offspring of Neptune'.

Aen. 12.129Utque datō signō spatia in sua quisque recessit,
130dēfīgunt tellūre hastās et scūta reclīnant.

When the signal was given and each man withdrew to his own space, they plant their spears in the earth and lean their shields against them.

Note. Utque: 'and when'. datō signō: ablative absolute. dēfīgunt tellūre hastās: 'they plant their spears in the earth', a sign of truce.

Aen. 12.131Tum studiō effūsae mātrēs et volgus inermum
invalidīque senēs turrīs ac tēcta domōrum
obsēdēre, aliī portīs sublīmibus adstant.

Then the mothers, pouring out in their eagerness, and the unarmed crowd and feeble old men took their places on the towers and the roofs of the houses; others stand at the high gates.

Note. studiō effūsae mātrēs: 'the mothers, pouring out in their eagerness'. volgus inermum: 'the unarmed crowd'; inermum is a by-form of inermis. obsēdēre = obsēdērunt, 'they occupied'.