Aeneid 12.766–790

Aen. 12.766Forte sacer Faunō foliīs oleaster amārīs
hīc steterat, nautīs ōlim venerābile lignum,
servātī ex undīs ubi fīgere dōna solēbant
Laurentī dīvō et vōtās suspendere vestēs,
770sed stirpem Teucrī nūllō discrīmine sacrum
sustulerant, pūrō ut possent concurrere campō.

By chance a wild olive with bitter leaves, sacred to Faunus, had stood here, a tree once revered by sailors, where those saved from the waves used to fix their gifts to the god of Laurentum and hang up the clothes they had vowed; but the Trojans, making no distinction, had cut down the sacred trunk, so that they could meet in battle on an open field.

Note. Faunus: an Italian god of woods and fields, father of Latinus. servātī ex undīs: sailors saved from shipwreck dedicated offerings and the clothes they had been wearing (vōtās … vestēs). stirpem … sacrum: Vergil here treats stirps as masculine. nūllō discrīmine: 'without distinction', i.e. not caring that it was sacred.

Aen. 12.772Hīc hasta Aenēae stābat, hūc impetus illam
dētulerat fīxam et lentā in rādīce tenēbat.

Here stood Aeneas' spear; its force had carried it here and held it fixed in the tough root.

Note. Aeneas' spear (thrown earlier) has lodged in the tough root of the olive. fīxam: 'stuck fast'.

Aen. 12.774Incubuit voluitque manū convellere ferrum
775Dardanidēs tēlōque sequī, quem prēndere cursū
nōn poterat.

The son of Dardanus bent over it and wanted to pull out the iron with his hand and pursue with a weapon the man he could not catch by running.

Note. Dardanidēs: 'descendant of Dardanus', Aeneas. quem prēndere cursū nōn poterat: 'whom he could not catch by running', because of his wound.

Aen. 12.776Tum vērō āmēns formīdine Turnus
Faune, precor, miserēre, inquit, tūque optima ferrum
terra tenē, coluī vestrōs sī semper honōrēs,
quōs contrā Aeneadae bellō fēcēre profānōs.

Then indeed Turnus, frantic with fear, said, 'Faunus, I beg you, have pity, and you, kindest earth, hold the iron fast, if I have always honoured your rites, which Aeneas' men by contrast have profaned with war.'

Note. miserēre: imperative of the deponent misereor, 'have pity'. optima … terra: vocative. colui vestrōs sī semper honōrēs: the word order puts sī late. Aeneadae: Aeneas' men had cut down Faunus' tree (sentence 28).

Aen. 12.780Dīxit opemque deī nōn cassa in vōta vocāvit.

He spoke, and called on the god's help with prayers not in vain.

Note. nōn cassa in vōta: 'in prayers not empty': the god hears him.

Aen. 12.781Namque diū luctāns lentōque in stirpe morātus
vīribus haud ūllīs valuit disclūdere morsūs
rōboris Aenēās.

For though Aeneas struggled long and lingered over the tough stump, with no strength could he open the grip of the wood.

Note. lentō … in stirpe: again stirps is masculine. morsūs rōboris: 'the bite of the wood', its grip on the spear.

Aen. 12.783Dum nītitur ācer et īnstat,
rūrsus in aurīgae faciem mūtāta Metiscī
785prōcurrit frātrīque ēnsem dea Daunia reddit.

While he strains fiercely and presses on, the Daunian goddess, changed once more into the shape of the charioteer Metiscus, runs forward and gives her brother back his sword.

Note. dea Daunia: Juturna, daughter of Daunus, again disguised as the charioteer Metiscus. frātrī … reddit: she gives Turnus back his own sword.

Aen. 12.786Quod Venus audācī nymphae indignāta licēre
adcessit tēlumque altā ab rādīce revellit.

Venus, angered that the bold nymph was allowed this, came up and wrenched the spear from deep in the root.

Note. Quod … indignāta licēre: 'angered that this was allowed (to the nymph)'. Quod is a connecting relative, 'this'. revellit: perfect, 'tore out'. Now both fighters are re-armed.

Aen. 12.788Ollī sublīmēs armīs animīsque refectī,
hic gladiō fīdēns, hic ācer et arduus hastā,
790adsistunt contrā certāmina Mārtis anhēlī.

They, tall in their arms and renewed in spirit, one trusting in his sword, the other fierce and towering with his spear, stand face to face, panting, for the contest of Mars.

Note. Ollī: archaic form of illī, 'they'. hic … hic: 'the one … the other' (Turnus with his sword, Aeneas with his spear). certāmina Mārtis: the contests of war.