Aeneid 6.628–636

Aen. 6.628Haec ubi dicta dedit Phoebī longaeva sacerdōs:
Sed iam age, carpe viam et susceptum perfice mūnus;

When the aged priestess of Phoebus had spoken these words, she said: 'But come now, take to the road and complete the task you have undertaken.

Note. Haec ubi dicta dedit: a formula, 'when she had spoken these words'. longaeva sacerdōs: the Sibyl, priestess of Phoebus Apollo at Cumae. age: an imperative used as an interjection, 'come!'. susceptum … mūnus: the gift of the golden bough, which must be laid at Proserpina's palace.

Aen. 6.630adcelerēmus ait;

Let us hurry,' she said.

Note. adcelerēmus: hortatory subjunctive, 'let us hurry'. ait interrupts the speech, as often.

Aen. 6.630Cyclōpum ēducta camīnīs
moenia cōnspiciō atque adversō fornice portās,
haec ubi nōs praecepta iubent dēpōnere dōna.

'I see the walls brought forth from the Cyclopes' forges, and the gates with their arch facing us, where our instructions bid us lay down this gift.'

Note. Cyclōpum … camīnīs: the walls were made in the forges of the Cyclopes, Vulcan's smiths. ēducta: 'raised up'. adversō fornice: 'with the arch facing us'. haec ubi … iubent: ubi is relative, 'where'. praecepta: the instructions the Sibyl received; dōna is the bough, which Proserpina was to receive as her gift.

Aen. 6.633Dīxerat, et pariter, gressī per opāca viārum,
corripiunt spatium medium, foribusque propinquant.

She had spoken, and side by side they made their way along the dark paths, covered the space between, and drew near the doors.

Note. Dīxerat: the pluperfect marks a quick transition, 'she had spoken'. gressī: perfect participle of the deponent gradior. opāca viārum: 'the dark parts of the paths', a neuter plural adjective with a partitive genitive, a favourite poetic construction. foribus: dative with propinquant.

Aen. 6.635Occupat Aenēās aditum, corpusque recentī
spargit aquā, rāmumque adversō in līmine fīgit.

Aeneas takes the entrance, sprinkles his body with fresh water, and fixes the bough on the threshold before him.

Note. Occupat … aditum: 'takes possession of the entrance'. recentī … aquā: purification before entering a holy place, needed after his passage through the world of the dead. fīgit: the bough is fixed in the threshold as an offering.