Aeneid 4.571–583

Aen. 4.571Tum vērō Aenēās, subitīs exterritus umbrīs,
corripit ē somnō corpus, sociōsque fatīgat:
Praecipitēs vigilāte, virī, et cōnsīdite trānstrīs;

Then indeed Aeneas, terrified by the sudden apparition, snatches himself up from sleep and rouses his companions: 'Wake up at once, men, and sit to the rowing benches;

Note. subitīs … umbrīs: 'by the sudden apparition'. corripit … corpus: 'snatches up his body', a vivid way to say he leaps up. Praecipitēs vigilāte: 'wake at once', the adjective used like an adverb.

Aen. 4.574solvite vēla citī.

unfurl the sails, quickly.

Note. citī: adjective used adverbially, 'quickly'.

Aen. 4.574Deus aethere missus ab altō
575festīnāre fugam tortōsque incīdere fūnēs
ecce iterum stimulat.

A god sent down from high heaven is urging us again, look, to speed our flight and cut the twisted cables.

Note. tortōsque incīdere fūnēs: 'and to cut the twisted cables'; incīdere here is from incīdō, 'cut'.

Aen. 4.576Sequimur tē, sāncte deōrum,
quisquis es, imperiōque iterum pārēmus ovantēs.

We follow you, holy one among the gods, whoever you are, and once more we obey your command with joy.

Note. sāncte deōrum: 'holy one among the gods', a partitive genitive. quisquis es: Aeneas does not presume to name the god for certain, a Roman habit of prayer. ovantēs: 'rejoicing'.

Aen. 4.578Adsīs ō placidusque iuvēs, et sīdera caelō
dextra ferās.

Be with us and help us kindly, and bring favourable stars in the sky.'

Note. Adsīs … iuvēs … ferās: optative subjunctives, 'may you be present … help … bring'. sīdera … dextra: 'favourable stars', dexter meaning 'lucky'.

Aen. 4.579Dīxit, vāgīnāque ēripit ēnsem
580fulmineum, strictōque ferit retinācula ferrō.

He spoke, and draws his flashing sword from its sheath, and strikes the mooring-ropes with the drawn blade.

Note. vāgīnā: ablative of separation, 'from its sheath'. strictō … ferrō: 'with the drawn blade'.

Aen. 4.581Īdem omnēs simul ardor habet, rapiuntque ruuntque;

The same eagerness takes hold of them all at once, and they seize and they rush;

Note. Idem … ardor: 'the same eagerness'. rapiuntque ruuntque: the doubled -que gives a breathless rhythm.

Aen. 4.582lītora dēseruēre;

they have left the shore;

Note. dēseruēre = dēseruērunt, the poetic perfect.

Aen. 4.582latet sub classibus aequor;

the sea is hidden beneath the ships;

Note. latet sub classibus aequor: 'the sea is hidden beneath the fleet', a striking image of the crowd of ships.

Aen. 4.583adnīxī torquent spūmās et caerula verrunt.

they strain, churning the foam and sweeping the blue water.

Note. adnīxī: 'straining', from the deponent adnītor. caerula: 'the blue (sea)', a neuter plural adjective used as a noun. verrunt: 'sweep'.