Aeneid 12.593–613

Aen. 12.593Accidit haec fessīs etiam fortūna Latīnīs,
quae tōtam lūctū concussit funditus urbem.

This misfortune too befell the weary Latins, which shook the whole city to its foundations with grief.

Note. Accidit: perfect, 'befell'. haec … fortūna: 'this misfortune'.

Aen. 12.595Rēgīna ut tēctīs venientem prōspicit hostem,
incessī mūrōs, ignīs ad tēcta volāre,
nusquam aciēs contrā Rutulās, nūlla agmina Turnī:
īnfēlīx pugnae iuvenem in certāmine crēdit
exstīnctum et, subitō mentem turbāta dolōre,
600sē causam clāmat crīmenque caputque malōrum,
multaque per maestum dēmēns effāta furōrem
purpureōs moritūra manū discindit amictūs
et nōdum īnfōrmis lētī trabe nectit ab altā.

When the queen sees from her palace the enemy coming, the walls under attack, fire flying to the roofs, nowhere any Rutulian lines opposing them, no columns of Turnus, the unhappy woman believes that the young man has been killed in the struggle of battle and, her mind confused by sudden grief, cries out that she is the cause, the guilt and the source of these evils; and, saying many things in her grief-stricken frenzy, resolved to die, she tears her purple robes with her own hand and ties from a high beam the noose of a hideous death.

Note. Rēgīna: Amata, wife of Latinus, who had always supported Turnus. incessī … volāre: infinitives depending on prōspicit, 'she sees the walls attacked, fires flying'. iuvenem: Turnus. moritūra: future participle, 'about to die', 'resolved to die'. nōdum … nectit: 'ties the noose'. Death by hanging was thought especially shameful.

Aen. 12.604Quam clādem miserae postquam accēpēre Latīnae,
605fīlia prīma manū flāvōs Lāvīnia crīnīs
et roseās laniāta genās, tum cētera circum
turba furit: resonant lātē plangōribus aedēs.

When the wretched Latin women heard of this disaster, first her daughter Lavinia, tearing her golden hair and rosy cheeks with her hand, then the rest of the crowd around her rages: the palace resounds far and wide with the beating of breasts.

Note. Quam cladem: 'this disaster', a connecting relative. accēpēre = accēpērunt. Latīnae: 'the Latin women'. flāvōs … crīnīs and rosēās … genās: accusatives with the middle participle laniāta, 'tearing her golden hair and rosy cheeks'.

Aen. 12.608Hinc tōtam īnfēlīx volgātur fāma per urbem.

From here the unhappy news is spread through the whole city.

Note. vulgātur: 'is spread abroad', from vulgō, -āre, 'make common'.

Aen. 12.609Dēmittunt mentēs;

Spirits sink;

Note. Dēmittunt mentēs: 'they let their spirits sink'.

Aen. 12.609it scissā veste Latīnus,
610coniugis attonitus fātīs urbisque ruīnā,
cānitiem immundō perfūsam pulvere turpāns.

Latinus goes with his clothes torn, stunned by his wife's fate and the ruin of his city, defiling his grey hair with filthy dust poured over it.

Note. scissā veste: ablative absolute, 'his clothing torn', a sign of mourning, as is the dust on his head. coniugis … fātīs: 'by the fate of his wife'.