Aeneid 6.535–547

Aen. 6.535Hāc vice sermōnum roseïs Aurōra quadrīgīs
iam medium aetheriō cursū trāiēcerat axem;

During this exchange of words Aurora, with her rosy four-horse team, had already crossed the middle of the sky in her heavenly course;

Note. Hāc vice sermōnum: 'during this exchange of words'. roseīs: the diaeresis marks three syllables. Aurōra … trāiēcerat axem: the Dawn had passed the midpoint of the sky: it is past noon in the upper world. This suggests Aeneas has a single day for his journey.

Aen. 6.537et fors omne datum traherent per tālia tempus;

and perhaps they would have spent all the time granted them in such talk,

Note. fors: 'perhaps'. traherent: imperfect subjunctive in a contrary-to-fact condition, with the 'if' implied: they would have spent the time, had the Sibyl not warned them.

Aen. 6.538sed comes admonuit, breviterque adfāta Sibylla est:
Nox ruit, Aenēā;

but the Sibyl, his companion, warned him and spoke briefly: 'Night is rushing on, Aeneas;

Note. Sibylla: the prophetess of Apollo at Cumae, Aeneas' guide. Nox ruit: 'night is rushing on'. Aenēā: Greek vocative, scanned long; the line requires it (nōx ruit | Aenē|ā nōs | flendō …).

Aen. 6.539nōs flendō dūcimus hōrās.

we are passing the hours in weeping.

Note. nōs flendō dūcimus hōrās: 'we are spending the hours in weeping'; flendō is an ablative of the gerund.

Aen. 6.540Hic locus est, partēs ubi sē via findit in ambās:
dextera quae Dītis magnī sub moenia tendit,
hāc iter Ēlysium nōbīs;

This is the place where the road divides in two: the right-hand way, which runs below the walls of great Dis, is our road to Elysium;

Note. Hic locus est: 'this is the place'. partēs … in ambās: 'into two parts'. via findit sē: 'the road divides'. dextera: 'the right-hand way', which leads past the walls of Dis to Elysium. Here right is the good way and left the bad, as in Plato's myth of Er (Republic 614c). hāc: 'this way'. Ēlysium: accusative of motion towards.

Aen. 6.542at laeva malōrum
exercet poenās, et ad impia Tartara mittit.

but the left works the punishments of the wicked and sends them to unholy Tartarus.'

Note. laeva: supply via. exercet poenās: 'carries out the punishments', a bold personification of the road. impia Tartara: 'unholy Tartarus', neuter plural.

Aen. 6.544Dēiphobus contrā: Nē saevī, magna sacerdōs;

Deiphobus answered: 'Do not be angry, great priestess;

Note. Dēiphobus contrā: supply ait. Nē saevī: 'do not be angry'; nē with the imperative is poetic.

Aen. 6.545discēdam, explēbō numerum, reddarque tenebrīs.

I will go away, I will make up the number and return to the darkness.

Note. explēbō numerum: 'I will make up the number', i.e. return to the crowd of shades. reddar tenebrīs: 'I will be given back to the darkness'.

Aen. 6.546Ī decus, ī, nostrum;

Go, our glory, go;

Note. Ī decus, ī nostrum: 'go, our glory, go'. A farewell blessing to Aeneas, the hope of the Trojans.

Aen. 6.546meliōribus ūtere fātīs!

enjoy a better fate.'

Note. meliōribus ūtere fātīs: 'enjoy a better fate'; ūtor takes the ablative.

Aen. 6.547Tantum effātus, et in verbō vestīgia torsit.

Only this he said, and at the word he turned his steps away.

Note. Tantum effātus: 'having said only this'. in verbō: 'at the word', i.e. as he spoke.