Aeneid 12.869–886

Aen. 12.869At procul ut Dīrae strīdōrem adgnōvit et ālās,
870īnfēlīx crīnīs scindit Iūturna solūtōs,
unguibus ōra soror foedāns et pectora pugnīs:
Quid nunc tē tua, Turne, potest germāna iuvāre?

But when far off Juturna recognised the Dira's whirring wings, the unhappy sister tears her loosened hair, disfiguring her face with her nails and her breast with her fists: 'What can your sister do to help you now, Turnus?

Note. Juturna recognises the Dira's wings and knows the end has come. crīnīs … solūtōs: loosened hair, a sign of mourning. unguibus … pugnīs: chiastic order, 'face with nails and breast with fists'.

Aen. 12.873Aut quid iam dūrae superat mihi?

Or what is left for me, hard as I am?

Note. dūrae … mihi: 'for me, hard (as I am)', i.e. an immortal who cannot die with him. superat: 'is left'.

Aen. 12.873Quā tibi lūcem
arte morer?

By what art can I prolong your life?

Note. Quā … arte: 'by what art'. lūcem … morer: 'prolong your life (your light)', deliberative subjunctive.

Aen. 12.874Tālin possum mē oppōnere mōnstrō?

Can I set myself against such a monster?

Note. Tālin = tālīne, 'such a (monster)?' The question expects 'no'.

Aen. 12.875Iam iam linquō aciēs.

Now, now I leave the battlefield.

Note. iam iam: 'now, now', an emphatic doubling.

Aen. 12.875Nē mē terrēte timentem,
obscēnae volucrēs: ālārum verbera nōscō
lētālemque sonum, nec fallunt iussa superba
magnanimī Iovis.

Do not frighten me, already afraid, you obscene birds: I know the beat of your wings and their deadly sound, and I do not mistake the proud commands of great-hearted Jupiter.

Note. obscēnae volucrēs: 'birds of ill omen', the Dirae. alārum verbera: 'the beating of the wings'. magnanimī Iovis: bitterly ironic.

Aen. 12.878Haec prō virginitāte repōnit?

Is this his repayment for my virginity?

Note. Jupiter had made Juturna immortal in return for her virginity (he had seduced her). Haec … repōnit: 'is this what he pays back?'

Aen. 12.879Quō vītam dedit aeternam?

Why did he give me eternal life?

Note. Quō: 'to what end, why?'

Aen. 12.879Cūr mortis adēmptast
880condiciō?

Why has the condition of death been taken from me?

Note. ademptast = adempta est. mortis … condiciō: 'the condition of death', the right to die.

Aen. 12.880Possem tantōs fīnīre dolōrēs
nunc certē et miserō frātrī comes īre per umbrās!

Then surely I could end such great sorrows now and go with my poor brother through the shades!

Note. Possem: potential subjunctive, 'I could' (if I were mortal).

Aen. 12.882Immortālis ego?

I, immortal?

Note. An exclamation of bitter disbelief: 'I, immortal?'

Aen. 12.882Aut quicquam mihi dulce meōrum
tē sine, frāter, erit?

Or will anything of mine be sweet to me without you, brother?

Note. meōrum: 'of my things', anything of mine. tē sine: the preposition after its object.

Aen. 12.883Ō quae satis īma dēhīscet
terra mihi Mānīsque deam dēmittet ad īmōs?

O what earth will gape deep enough for me and send me, a goddess, down to the lowest shades?'

Note. quae … terra: 'what earth?' Mānīs … ad īmōs: 'to the lowest shades'; Mānīs = Mānēs.

Aen. 12.885Tantum effāta caput glaucō contēxit amictū
multa gemēns et sē fluviō dea condidit altō.

So she spoke, and covered her head with a grey-green veil, groaning much, and the goddess plunged into the deep river.

Note. Tantum effāta: 'having said so much'. glaucō … amictū: a grey-green veil, the colour of water: she is a river nymph and returns to her river.