Aeneid 12.843–868

Aen. 12.843Hīs āctīs aliud genitor sēcum ipse volūtat
Iūturnamque parat frātris dīmittere ab armīs.

When this was done the father turns over another plan in his mind, and prepares to send Juturna away from her brother's side.

Note. His āctīs: ablative absolute. Jupiter now plans to separate Juturna from Turnus.

Aen. 12.845Dīcuntur geminae pestēs cognōmine Dīrae,
quās et Tartaream Nox intempesta Megaeram
ūnō eōdemque tulit partū paribusque revīnxit
serpentum spīrīs ventōsāsque addidit ālās.

There are twin plagues, called the Dirae by name, whom untimely Night bore in one and the same birth with Tartarean Megaera, and wreathed with equal coils of snakes, and gave them wings like the wind.

Note. The Dirae, 'Dread Ones', are Furies who wait at Jupiter's throne. Nox intempesta: 'untimely Night', the dead of night, their mother. Megaera is one of the Furies of the underworld. ūnō eōdemque … partū: 'in one and the same birth'.

Aen. 12.849Hae Iovis ad solium saevīque in līmine rēgis
850adpārent acuuntque metum mortālibus aegrīs,
sīquandō lētum horrificum morbōsque deum rēx
mōlītur meritās aut bellō territat urbēs.

These appear at the throne of Jupiter and on the threshold of the stern king, and sharpen the fear of wretched mortals whenever the king of the gods sends dreadful death and diseases, or terrifies guilty cities with war.

Note. Hae: the two Dirae. sīquandō: 'whenever'. meritās … urbēs: 'deserving cities', cities that deserve punishment.

Aen. 12.853Hārum ūnam celerem dēmīsit ab aethere summō
Iuppiter inque ōmen Iūturnae occurrere iussit.

Jupiter sent down one of these, swift, from the top of the sky and ordered her to meet Juturna as an omen.

Note. in ōmen Iūturnae occurrere: 'to meet Juturna as an omen', a sign she cannot mistake.

Aen. 12.855Illa volat celerīque ad terram turbine fertur.

She flies off and is carried to the earth in a swift whirlwind.

Note. turbine: 'whirlwind'.

Aen. 12.856Nōn secus ac nervō per nūbem impulsa sagitta,
armātam saevī Parthus quam felle venēnī,
Parthus sīve Cydōn, tēlum immedicābile, torsit,
strīdēns et celerīs incognita trānsilit umbrās:
860tālis sē sata Nocte tulit terrāsque petīvit.

Just like an arrow driven through a cloud by the bowstring, which a Parthian has shot, a Parthian or a Cretan, armed with the gall of cruel poison, a weapon past healing, and it leaps hissing and unseen through the swift shadows: so the daughter of Night sped off and made for the earth.

Note. Simile of a poisoned arrow. armātam … quam: 'which (the arrow), armed with poison'. Parthus sīve Cydōn: Parthians and Cretans were famed archers. sata Nocte: 'daughter of Night', from serō, 'sow, beget'.

Aen. 12.861Postquam aciēs videt Īliacās atque agmina Turnī,
ālitis in parvae subitam conlēcta figūram,
quae quondam in bustīs aut culminibus dēsertīs
nocte sedēns sērum canit importūna per umbrās,
865hanc versa in faciem Turnī sē pestis ob ōra
fertque refertque sonāns clipeumque ēverberat ālīs.

When she sees the Trojan lines and the columns of Turnus, she shrinks suddenly into the shape of a small bird, which sometimes sits by night on tombs or deserted roofs and sings its late, ill-omened song through the darkness; changed into this form the plague flies again and again, screeching, in Turnus' face, and beats his shield with her wings.

Note. ālitis in parvae … figūram: the Dira shrinks into a small bird, an owl, which sings at night on tombs and empty roofs (a bad omen). sērum canit: 'sings late' (adverbial accusative). fertque refertque: 'flies to and fro'.

Aen. 12.867Ollī membra novus solvit formīdine torpor,
adrēctaeque horrōre comae, et vōx faucibus haesit.

A strange numbness loosens his limbs with dread, his hair stood on end with horror, and his voice stuck in his throat.

Note. Ollī = illī, 'his (limbs)'. adrēctae … comae: supply sunt, 'his hair stood on end'. vōx faucibus haesit: 'his voice stuck in his throat'.