Aeneid 12.411–440

Aen. 12.411Hīc Venus, indignō nātī concussa dolōre,
dictamnum genetrīx Crētaeā carpit ab Īdā,
pūberibus caulem foliīs et flōre comantem
purpureō;

At this, Venus, his mother, shaken by her son's undeserved pain, picks dittany from Cretan Ida, a stalk with downy leaves and a crown of purple flower;

Note. Hīc: 'at this point'. indignō nātī … dolōre: 'by the undeserved pain of her son'. dictamnum: dittany, a healing herb of Mount Ida in Crete. pūberibus … foliīs: 'with downy leaves'. flōre comantem purpureō: 'crowned with a purple flower'.

Aen. 12.414nōn illa ferīs incognita caprīs
415grāmina, cum tergō volucrēs haesēre sagittae:
hoc Venus, obscūrō faciem circumdata nimbō,
dētulit;

that herb is not unknown to the wild goats, when winged arrows have stuck in their backs: this Venus brought down, her face wrapped in a dark cloud;

Note. illa … grāmina: supply sunt; the wild goats know the herb, and were believed to eat it to drive out arrows. cum … haesēre: 'when arrows have stuck'. faciem circumdata: 'having her face wrapped', Greek accusative of respect.

Aen. 12.417hōc fūsum labrīs splendentibus amnem
īnficit occultē medicāns spargitque salūbris
ambrosiae sūcōs et odōriferam panacēam.

with this she secretly steeps the water poured into the gleaming bowls, giving it healing power, and sprinkles the healthful juices of ambrosia and fragrant panacea.

Note. hōc: 'with this'. fūsum labrīs … amnem: 'the water poured into the gleaming bowls'. īnficit: 'steeps', 'tinctures'. medicāns: 'giving it healing power'. salūbris: genitive with ambrosiae, 'healthful ambrosia'.

Aen. 12.420Fōvit eā volnus lymphā longaevus Iāpyx
ignōrāns, subitōque omnis dē corpore fūgit
quippe dolor, omnis stetit īmō volnere sanguis;

With that water old Iapyx bathed the wound, not knowing it, and suddenly all the pain fled from the body, and all the blood stopped deep in the wound;

Note. ignōrāns: Iapyx does not know what Venus has done. quippe: 'and indeed'. omnis … sanguis: 'all the blood'; stetit, 'stopped'.

Aen. 12.423iamque secūta manum nūllō cōgente sagitta
excidit, atque novae rediēre in prīstina vīrēs.

and now the arrow, following his hand without any force, fell out, and his strength came back fresh, as it was before.

Note. secūta manum: the arrowhead 'followed his hand'. nūllō cōgente: ablative absolute, 'with no one forcing it'. in prīstina: 'to their former state'.

Aen. 12.425Arma citī properāte virō!

'Bring arms for the man, quickly!

Note. Iapyx speaks. citī: nominative plural used like an adverb, 'quickly!' virō: 'for the man'.

Aen. 12.425Quid statis?

Why are you standing there?'

Note. Quid: 'why?'

Aen. 12.425Iāpyx
conclāmat prīmusque animōs adcendit in hostem.

Iapyx shouts, and is first to fire their spirits against the enemy.

Note. conclāmat: 'shouts aloud'. animōs accendit: 'fires their spirits'.

Aen. 12.427Nōn haec hūmānīs opibus, nōn arte magistrā
prōveniunt neque tē, Aenēā, mea dextera servat:
maior agit deus atque opera ad maiōra remittit.

'This does not come from human resources or by the guidance of skill, nor is it my hand that saves you, Aeneas: a greater god is at work and sends you back to greater deeds.'

Note. Nōn haec …: 'these things do not come about through human resources'. arte magistrā: 'with skill as guide'. maior … deus: 'a greater god' is at work.

Aen. 12.430Ille avidus pugnae sūrās inclūserat aurō
hinc atque hinc ōditque morās hastamque coruscat.

He, eager for battle, had already enclosed his calves in gold on either side; he hates delay and brandishes his spear.

Note. Ille: Aeneas. avidus pugnae: 'eager for battle'. sūrās … aurō: his greaves of gold enclose his 'calves'; the pluperfect incluserat shows how quickly he has armed. hinc atque hinc: 'on either side'.

Aen. 12.432Postquam habilis laterī clipeus lōrīcaque tergō est,
Ascanium fūsīs circum complectitur armīs
summaque per galeam dēlībāns ōscula fātur:
435Disce, puer, virtūtem ex mē vērumque labōrem,
fortūnam ex aliīs.

When the shield was fitted to his side and the breastplate to his back, he puts his arms around Ascanius in their armour and, kissing him lightly through the helmet, says: 'Learn courage from me, my boy, and true toil; good fortune from others.

Note. habilis … est: 'is fitted'. fūsīs circum … armīs: 'with his armour around him'. summa … ōscula dēlībāns: 'lightly touching kisses', through the helmet. Aeneas' words to his son are famous: learn courage and true toil from me, good fortune from others.

Aen. 12.436Nunc tē mea dextera bellō
dēfēnsum dabit et magna inter praemia dūcet.

Now my hand will defend you in war and lead you among great rewards.

Note. dēfēnsum dabit: 'will keep you defended'. magna inter praemia: 'among great rewards'.

Aen. 12.438Tū facitō, mox cum mātūra adolēverit aetās,
sīs memor, et tē animō repetentem exempla tuōrum
440et pater Aenēās et avunculus excitet Hector.

See that you remember, soon, when your age has grown to maturity, and as you recall in your mind the examples of your family, let your father Aeneas and your uncle Hector rouse you.'

Note. facitō: future imperative, 'see that you …'. sīs memor: 'be mindful', subjunctive after facitō. adolēverit: future perfect, 'when your age has ripened'. avunculus … Hector: Hector, the brother of Ascanius' mother Creusa, was his uncle.