Aeneid 2.671–678

Aen. 2.671Hinc ferrō accingor rūrsus clipeōque sinistram
īnsertābam aptāns, mēque extrā tēcta ferēbam.

From here I gird myself with the sword again, and fitting my left arm into the shield I slipped it on, and I was carrying myself out of the house.

Note. Hinc: 'next'. sinistram īnsertābam: 'I was fitting my left arm (into the shield's strap)'. The tense moves from vivid present (accingor) to imperfect.

Aen. 2.673Ecce autem complexa pedēs in līmine coniūnx
haerēbat, parvumque patrī tendēbat Iūlum:
675Sī peritūrus abīs, et nōs rape in omnia tēcum;

But look, my wife clung to me on the threshold, clasping my feet, and held out little Iulus to his father: "If you go away to die, take us with you too into whatever comes;

Note. Ecce: marks a sudden new event. complexa: deponent perfect participle, 'having embraced (his feet)'. coniūnx: Creusa. patrī: dative, 'to his father'. Sī peritūrus abīs: 'if you are going away to die'; the future participle expresses intention. in omnia: 'into everything (that comes)'.

Aen. 2.676sīn aliquam expertus sūmptīs spem pōnis in armīs,
hanc prīmum tūtāre domum.

but if from experience you place any hope in the arms you have taken up, guard this house first.

Note. sīn: 'but if'. aliquam … spem: 'some hope'. expertus: 'having tried (them)', i.e. from experience. tūtāre: imperative of the deponent tūtor, 'guard'.

Aen. 2.677Cui parvus Iūlus,
cui pater et coniūnx quondam tua dicta relinquor?

To whom is little Iulus left, to whom your father, and I, once called your wife?"

Note. Cui: interrogative, 'to whom?' coniūnx quondam tua dicta: 'I, once called your wife'. relinquor: first person, Creusa speaking of herself.