Aeneid 12.134–160

Aen. 12.134At Iūnō ē summō, quī nunc Albānus habētur,
135tum neque nōmen erat nec honōs aut glōria montī,
prōspiciēns tumulō campum aspectābat et ambās
Laurentum Trōumque aciēs urbemque Latīnī.

But Juno, looking out from the top of the hill now called the Alban (then the mountain had no name, honour or glory), was watching the plain and both armies, of Laurentum and of Troy, and the city of Latinus.

Note. ē summō: supply monte, 'from the top of the mountain'. quī nunc Albānus habētur: the Alban Mount, later the site of the Latin festival. tum … erat: 'at that time it had no name'; monti is dative of possession. Laurentum Trōumque: genitive plurals, 'of the Laurentines and the Trojans'.

Aen. 12.138Extemplō Turnī sīc est adfāta sorōrem
dīva deam, stagnīs quae flūminibusque sonōrīs
140praesidet (hunc illī rēx aetheris altus honōrem
Iuppiter ēreptā prō virginitāte sacrāvit):
Nympha, decus fluviōrum, animō grātissima nostrō,
scīs ut tē cūnctīs ūnam, quaecumque Latīnae
magnanimī Iovis ingrātum ascendēre cubīle,
145praetulerim caelīque lubēns in parte locārim:
disce tuum, nē mē incūsēs, Iūturna, dolōrem.

At once the goddess spoke like this to Turnus' sister, a goddess too, who rules over pools and sounding rivers (Jupiter, high king of heaven, gave her this honour for the virginity he took from her): 'Nymph, glory of rivers, dearest to my heart, you know how I preferred you alone above all the Latin women who climbed into great Jupiter's thankless bed, and gladly gave you a place in part of heaven: learn of your grief, Juturna, so that you do not blame me.

Note. Juno addresses Juturna. dīva deam: two goddesses side by side, a deliberate juxtaposition. hunc illī … honōrem … sacrāvit: Jupiter made her goddess of waters as compensation for taking her virginity. animō grātissima nostrō: 'most dear to my heart'. quaecumque … ascendēre: 'all the Latin women who climbed'; ascendēre = ascendērunt. ingrātum … cubīle: 'the thankless bed', Juno's bitter view of Jupiter's affairs. lubēns = libēns, 'gladly'. locārim = locāverim, perfect subjunctive in the indirect question after scīs ut. disce tuum … dolōrem: 'learn of your grief'.

Aen. 12.147Quā vīsa est Fortūna patī Parcaeque sinēbant
cēdere rēs Latiō, Turnum et tua moenia tēxī:
nunc iuvenem imparibus videō concurrere fātīs,
150Parcārumque diēs et vīs inimīca propinquat.

As long as Fortune seemed to allow it and the Fates let things go well for Latium, I protected Turnus and your city: now I see the young man meeting a fate he cannot match, and the day of the Fates and their hostile power are drawing near.

Note. Quā: 'as far as, while'. vīsa est Fortūna patī: 'Fortune seemed to allow it'. cēdere rēs Latiō: 'things to go well for Latium'. imparibus … fātīs: 'with an unequal fate', a fate he cannot match. Parcārum diēs: 'the day of the Fates', the day of death.

Aen. 12.151Nōn pugnam aspicere hanc oculīs, nōn foedera possum.

I cannot look on this fight with my eyes, nor on this treaty.

Note. Juno cannot bear to watch: the goddess of marriage will not see the treaty that gives Lavinia to Aeneas.

Aen. 12.152Tū prō germānō sīquid praesentius audēs,
perge: decet.

If you dare anything more effective for your brother, go ahead: it is right.

Note. prō germānō: 'for your brother'. sīquid praesentius audēs: 'if you dare anything more effective'. perge: 'go on'. decet: 'it is fitting'.

Aen. 12.153Forsan miserōs meliōra sequentur.

Perhaps better things will follow the wretched.'

Note. Forsan: 'perhaps'. meliōra sequentur: future, 'better things will follow'.

Aen. 12.154Vix ea, cum lacrimās oculīs Iūturna profūdit
155terque quaterque manū pectus percussit honestum.

Scarcely had she said this when Juturna poured tears from her eyes and struck her lovely breast three and four times with her hand.

Note. Vix ea: supply dīxerat, 'scarcely had she said this'. cum … profūdit: 'when (suddenly) she poured out', the 'inverted' cum. terque quaterque: 'three and four times', a gesture of grief.

Aen. 12.156Nōn lacrumīs hoc tempus, ait Sāturnia Iūnō:
Adcelerā et frātrem, sīquis modus, ēripe mortī,
aut tū bella ciē conceptumque excute foedus:
auctor ego audendī.

'This is no time for tears,' says Saturnian Juno: 'Hurry, and if there is any way snatch your brother from death, or stir up war and wreck the treaty they have made: I authorise the daring.'

Note. Nōn lacrimīs hoc tempus: 'this is no time for tears'; lacrimīs is dative of purpose. Saturnia Iūnō: daughter of Saturn. Adcelerā: 'hurry'. sīquis modus: 'if there is any way'. auctor ego audendī: 'I am the author of the daring', i.e. I take responsibility; audendī is the genitive of the gerund.

Aen. 12.159Sīc exhortāta relīquit
160incertam et trīstī turbātam volnere mentis.

With this encouragement she left her, uncertain and troubled by a sad wound of the mind.

Note. exhortāta: from the deponent exhortor, 'having urged on'. incertam et … turbātam: Juturna, left uncertain and troubled. vulnere mentis: 'a wound of the mind'.