Aeneid 2.679–691

Aen. 2.679Tālia vōciferāns gemitū tēctum omne replēbat,
680cum subitum dictūque oritur mīrābile mōnstrum.

Crying out such words she was filling the whole house with lamentation, when a sudden portent arises, wonderful to tell.

Note. vōciferāns: present participle of the deponent vōciferor. cum … oritur: inverse cum, 'when suddenly …', with the main action in the cum-clause. dictū: supine of dīcō, 'wonderful to tell'.

Aen. 2.681Namque manūs inter maestōrumque ōra parentum
ecce levis summō dē vertice vīsus Iūlī
fundere lūmen apex, tāctūque innoxia mollis
lambere flamma comās et circum tempora pāscī.

For between the hands and faces of his grieving parents, look, a light tongue of flame was seen to pour out light from the top of Iulus' head, and, harmless to touch, to lick his soft hair and to feed around his temples.

Note. manūs inter … ōra: inter placed after its first object. vīsus (est) … fundere: 'a light tip (of flame) was seen to pour out light'. apex is the subject. tāctū: ablative of respect, 'harmless to the touch'. lambere … pāscī: further infinitives with vīsus. The flame is a sign of future greatness; Romans told a similar story of Servius Tullius.

Aen. 2.685Nōs pavidī trepidāre metū, crīnemque flagrantem
excutere et sānctōs restinguere fontibus ignīs.

We, frightened, began to tremble with fear, and to shake out his blazing hair and to quench the holy fire with water from the springs.

Note. trepidāre, excutere, restinguere: historic infinitives, used in vivid narrative instead of a finite verb: 'we began to tremble …'. sānctōs … ignīs: 'the holy fires', as they did not yet know.

Aen. 2.687At pater Anchīsēs oculōs ad sīdera laetus
extulit, et caelō palmās cum vōce tetendit:
Iuppiter omnipotēns, precibus sī flecteris ūllīs,
690aspice nōs;

But father Anchises joyfully raised his eyes to the stars and stretched his palms to the sky with his voice: "Almighty Jupiter, if you are moved by any prayers, look on us;

Note. caelō: dative of direction, 'towards the sky'. Iuppiter omnipotēns: the prayer begins. sī flecteris: 'if you are moved'; sī here does not express doubt but builds the argument of the prayer.

Aen. 2.690hoc tantum, et, sī pietāte meremur,
dā deinde auxilium, pater, atque haec ōmina firmā.

this only, and if we deserve it by our piety, then give us your help, father, and confirm these omens."

Note. hoc tantum: supply aspice, 'look on us, this only'. sī … meremur: 'if we deserve it'. da … auxilium: 'give help'. ōmina firmā: 'confirm the omens'. A second sign was needed to confirm the first.