Aeneid 6.801–853

Aen. 6.801Nec vērō Alcīdēs tantum tellūris obīvit,
fīxerit aeripedem cervam licet, aut Erymanthī
pācārit nemora, et Lernam tremefēcerit arcū;

Not even Alcides travelled over so much of the earth, though he pierced the bronze-footed hind, brought peace to the woods of Erymanthus and made Lerna tremble with his bow;

Note. Augustus is compared with Hercules (Alcīdēs) and Bacchus (Līber), two mortals who became gods by their labours and travels. tantum tellūris: partitive genitive, 'so much of the earth'. obīvit: 'went over'. fīxerit … licet … pācārit … tremefēcerit: licet with the subjunctive, 'although he pierced'. pācārit = pācāverit. The labours: the Cerynean hind with bronze feet, the boar of Erymanthus and the Hydra of Lerna.

Aen. 6.804nec, quī pampineīs victor iuga flectit habēnīs,
805Līber, agēns celsō Nȳsae dē vertice tigrēs.

nor Liber, who in triumph steers his team with reins of vine-shoots, driving his tigers down from the lofty peak of Nysa.

Note. nec quī: supply tantum tellūris obīvit. pampineīs … habēnīs: 'with reins of vine-shoots'. Līber: Bacchus, who drove a chariot drawn by tigers in his triumph from India. Nȳsae: Mount Nysa, where Bacchus was brought up. iuga flectit: 'steers the team'; iuga, 'yokes', stands for the yoked animals.

Aen. 6.806Et dubitāmus adhūc virtūte extendere vīrēs,
aut metus Ausoniā prohibet cōnsistere terrā?

And do we still hesitate to extend our power by courage, or does fear keep us from settling in the Ausonian land?

Note. Et dubitāmus: 'and do we still hesitate?', an indignant question addressed to Aeneas and to all Romans. virtūte extendere vīrēs: 'to extend our power by courage'; some texts read virtūtem extendere factīs. Ausoniā … terrā: Italy.

Aen. 6.808Quis procul ille autem rāmīs īnsignis olīvae
sacra ferēns?

But who is that in the distance, marked out by olive branches, carrying the sacred things?

Note. Quis … ille: 'who is that?' rāmīs … olīvae: branches of olive, a sign of peace and of religion. sacra ferēns: 'carrying sacred objects', as a priest-king. This is Numa Pompilius, Rome's second king, who founded its religious institutions.

Aen. 6.809Nōscō crīnēs incānaque menta
810rēgis Rōmānī, prīmus quī lēgibus urbem
fundābit, Curibus parvīs et paupere terrā
missus in imperium magnum.

I know the hair and the grey beard of the Roman king who will found the city on laws, sent from little Cures and a poor land to a great empire.

Note. Nōscō: 'I recognise'. incāna menta: 'the grey chin', i.e. beard, a poetic plural. prīmus quī … fundābit: 'who will be the first to found the city on laws'; lēgibus is ablative of means, and fundābit is from fundō, -āre, 'found'. Curibus parvīs: Cures, a little Sabine town, Numa's home. missus in imperium magnum: Numa was called from his country to rule Rome.

Aen. 6.812Cui deinde subībit,
ōtia quī rumpet patriae residēsque movēbit
Tullus in arma virōs et iam dēsuēta triumphīs
815agmina.

After him will come Tullus, who will break his country's peace and rouse to arms men grown idle and armies long unused to triumphs.

Note. Cui … subībit: 'whom Tullus will succeed'; subeō with the dative. Tullus Hostilius, the third king, a warrior. ōtia … patriae: 'the peace of his country'. residēs … virōs: 'men grown idle'. dēsuēta triumphīs: 'unaccustomed to triumphs'.

Aen. 6.815Quem iūxtā sequitur iactantior Ancus,
nunc quoque iam nimium gaudēns populāribus aurīs.

Close behind him follows Ancus, too boastful, even now rejoicing too much in the breezes of popular favour.

Note. Quem iūxtā: 'next to whom', the preposition after its object. Ancus Marcius, the fourth king. iactantior: comparative, 'too boastful'. nunc quoque: already now, even as a soul. populāribus aurīs: 'the breezes of popular favour', a metaphor from sailing: a politician who trims his sails to the wind of popularity.

Aen. 6.817Vīs et Tarquiniōs rēgēs, animamque superbam
ultōris Brūtī, fascēsque vidēre receptōs?

Do you wish to see the Tarquin kings too, and the proud soul of Brutus the avenger, and the fasces won back?

Note. Vīs … vidēre: 'do you wish to see?'. Tarquiniōs rēgēs: the Etruscan kings Tarquin the Elder and Tarquin the Proud. animam … superbam: the proud soul of Lucius Junius Brutus, who drove out the Tarquins in 509 BC; superbus was the last king's own nickname, here transferred to his conqueror. ultōris: Brutus avenged the rape of Lucretia. fascēsque … receptōs: the fasces, the bundle of rods carried before magistrates, 'recovered' by the people.

Aen. 6.819Cōnsulis imperium hic prīmus saevāsque secūrēs
820accipiet, nātōsque pater nova bella moventēs
ad poenam pulchrā prō lībertāte vocābit.

He will be the first to receive the power of a consul and the cruel axes, and, a father, he will call his own sons to punishment when they stir up new war, for the sake of fair freedom.

Note. Cōnsulis imperium: Brutus was one of the first two consuls. saevās … secūrēs: the axes in the fasces, symbols of the power of life and death. nātōs … pater: the juxtaposition of 'sons' and 'father' sharpens the tragedy. Brutus' sons plotted to restore the Tarquins, and he had them executed. nova bella moventēs: present participle, 'stirring up rebellion'. pulchrā prō lībertāte: the ideal of the Republic.

Aen. 6.822Īnfēlīx, utcumque ferent ea facta minōrēs,
vincet amor patriae laudumque immēnsa cupīdō.

Unhappy man, however later ages will judge that deed: love of his country will win, and a boundless desire for praise.

Note. Īnfēlīx: 'unhappy man', referring to Brutus. utcumque ferent ea facta minōrēs: 'however later generations will judge those deeds'; ferre here is 'report, judge'. minōrēs: 'descendants'. vincet amor patriae laudumque immēnsa cupīdō: love of country and love of glory win over a father's love; Vergil leaves the praise ambiguous.

Aen. 6.824Quīn Deciōs Drūsōsque procul saevumque secūrī
825aspice Torquātum et referentem signa Camillum.

Look too at the Decii and the Drusi in the distance, and Torquatus, cruel with his axe, and Camillus bringing back the standards.

Note. Quīn: 'indeed', 'what's more'. Deciōs: father and son of the same name, who each 'devoted' themselves to the gods of the underworld and charged to their death to win a battle. Drūsōs: the Livii Drusi, the family of Livia, Augustus' wife. saevum … secūrī … Torquātum: T. Manlius Torquatus, who executed his son for fighting against orders; secūrī is ablative, 'with the axe'. referentem signa Camillum: Camillus, said to have recovered the standards taken by the Gauls when they sacked Rome (c. 390 BC); there may be an allusion to Augustus' recovery of the standards from the Parthians in 20 BC.

Aen. 6.826Illae autem, paribus quās fulgere cernis in armīs,
concordēs animae nunc et dum nocte premuntur,
heu quantum inter sē bellum, sī lūmina vītae
attigerint, quantās aciēs strāgemque ciēbunt!

But those souls you see shining in matching armour, in harmony now and while they are held down by night, alas, what a war they will stir up between them if they reach the light of life, what battle lines, what slaughter!

Note. Illae … animae: Julius Caesar and Pompey, the opponents in the civil war of 49–45 BC. paribus … in armīs: 'in matching armour', as they are Romans on both sides. fulgere: 'to shine', an old third-conjugation form (fulgĕre) used by Vergil. concordēs … nunc: 'in harmony now', while they are still in the dark of the underworld. sī lūmina vītae attigerint: future perfect, 'if they reach the light of life'. quantum … bellum … quantās aciēs strāgemque ciēbunt: exclamations.

Aen. 6.830Aggeribus socer Alpīnīs atque arce Monoecī
dēscendēns, gener adversīs īnstrūctus Eōīs.

The father-in-law coming down from the Alpine ramparts and the citadel of Monoecus, the son-in-law with the East drawn up against him.

Note. socer … gener: Caesar was Pompey's 'father-in-law', since Pompey married Caesar's daughter Julia. Aggeribus … Alpīnīs atque arce Monoecī: 'from the Alpine ramparts and the citadel of Monoecus' (Monaco); Caesar came south from Gaul. adversīs … Eōīs: 'with the eastern peoples drawn up against him', Pompey's eastern allies at Pharsalus. Supply 'will come'.

Aen. 6.832Nē, puerī, nē tanta animīs adsuēscite bella,
neu patriae validās in viscera vertite vīrēs;

No, my children, do not make such wars familiar to your hearts, and do not turn your country's mighty strength against her own vitals;

Note. Nē, puerī, nē: Anchises speaks directly to the future souls, as a father to his children. nē … adsuēscite: a prohibition with nē and the imperative, poetic. animīs: dative, 'make your minds grow used to'. neu … vertite: 'and do not turn'. patriae … in viscera: 'into your country's vitals'.

Aen. 6.834tūque prior, tū parce, genus quī dūcis Olympō,
835prōice tēla manū, sanguis meus!—
Ille triumphātā Capitōlia ad alta Corinthō
victor aget currum, caesīs īnsignis Achīvīs.

and you, be the first to spare, you who draw your descent from Olympus, throw the weapons from your hand, my own blood! That one will drive his chariot as a victor to the lofty Capitol after triumphing over Corinth, famous for the Achaeans he has slain.

Note. tūque prior, tū parce: Anchises appeals to Caesar, who claimed descent from Venus and so from Olympus (genus quī dūcis Olympō). prōice tēla manū: 'throw away the weapons from your hand'. sanguis meus: vocative, 'my own blood'. The line is left incomplete (a 'half-line', one of many in the unfinished Aeneid). Ille: L. Mummius, who destroyed Corinth in 146 BC and celebrated a triumph over the Achaeans. triumphātā … Corinthō: ablative absolute. currum: accusative singular of currus.

Aen. 6.838Ēruet ille Argōs Agamemnoniāsque Mycēnās,
ipsumque Aeacidēn, genus armipotentis Achillī,
840ultus avōs Troiae, templa et temerāta Minervae.

That one will overthrow Argos and Agamemnon's Mycenae, and the very descendant of Aeacus, of the line of Achilles mighty in arms, avenging his Trojan ancestors and the defiled temple of Minerva.

Note. Ēruet ille: L. Aemilius Paullus, who defeated Perseus, king of Macedon, at Pydna (168 BC). Perseus claimed descent from Achilles, so Vergil calls him Aeacidēn, 'descendant of Aeacus' (Achilles' grandfather). Argōs, Mycēnās: the Greek cities that destroyed Troy. ultus avōs Troiae: perfect participle of the deponent ulcīscor: 'avenging his Trojan ancestors'. templa et temerāta Minervae: 'the temple of Minerva which was defiled', when the Greek Ajax dragged Cassandra from it at the fall of Troy. The Roman conquest of Greece is presented as Troy's revenge.

Aen. 6.841Quis tē, magne Catō, tacitum, aut tē, Cosse, relinquat?

Who would leave you unmentioned, great Cato, or you, Cossus?

Note. Quis … relinquat: a potential subjunctive in a rhetorical question, 'who could leave you unmentioned?'. tacitum: 'unspoken', i.e. unmentioned. magne Catō: Cato the Elder (234–149 BC), the stern censor and enemy of Carthage. Cosse: A. Cornelius Cossus, who won the spolia opima, the 'rich spoils' taken by a Roman general from an enemy commander killed in single combat.

Aen. 6.842Quis Gracchī genus, aut geminōs, duo fulmina bellī,
Scīpiadās, clādem Libyae, parvōque potentem
Fabricium vel tē sulcō Serrāne, serentem?

Who would pass over the family of Gracchus, or the two Scipios, two thunderbolts of war, the ruin of Libya, and Fabricius, powerful in his poverty, or you, Serranus, sowing in your furrow?

Note. Supply relinquat from the line before. Gracchī genus: the family of the Gracchi, including the reformers Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus. geminōs … Scīpiadās: the two Scipios Africani, Scipio Africanus who defeated Hannibal (202 BC) and Scipio Aemilianus who destroyed Carthage (146 BC). duo fulmina bellī: 'two thunderbolts of war', a pun on Scipio and Greek skēptos, 'thunderbolt'. clādem Libyae: 'the destruction of Libya'. parvō … potentem: 'powerful on little', Fabricius, famous for refusing bribes from Pyrrhus. sulcō … serentem: Regulus Serranus, said to have been found sowing his field when called to be consul; the name was linked with serere, 'to sow'.

Aen. 6.845quō fessum rapitis, Fabiī?

Where are you hurrying me, weary as I am, you Fabii?

Note. quō fessum rapitis: 'where are you sweeping me, tired as I am?' Anchises is breathless from naming so many. Fabiī: the great Fabian clan.

Aen. 6.845Tū Maxumus ille es,
ūnus quī nōbīs cūnctandō restituis rem.

You are that famous Maximus, the one man who restores our state by delaying.

Note. Tū Maxumus ille es: Q. Fabius Maximus Cunctator, 'the Delayer', who wore Hannibal down by avoiding battle. ūnus quī nōbīs cūnctandō restituis rem: a line quoted, with one change, from the old poet Ennius (ūnus homō nōbīs cunctandō restituit rem). cūnctandō: gerund, ablative of means. Maxumus = Maximus.

Aen. 6.847Excūdent aliī spīrantia mollius aera,
crēdō equidem, vīvōs dūcent dē marmore voltūs,
ōrābunt causās melius, caelīque meātūs
850dēscrībent radiō, et surgentia sīdera dīcent:
tū regere imperiō populōs, Rōmāne, mementō;

Others, I do believe, will hammer out breathing bronzes more delicately, will draw living faces from marble, will plead cases better, will chart the movements of the sky with the rod and tell the rising of the stars: you, Roman, remember to rule the peoples with your power

Note. The most famous lines of the speech. aliī: 'others', the Greeks, unnamed. Excūdent … spīrantia mollius aera: 'will hammer out breathing bronzes more softly', i.e. lifelike bronze statues. crēdō equidem: 'I do believe', a concession. vīvōs dūcent dē marmore voltūs: 'will draw living faces from marble'; voltūs = vultūs. ōrābunt causās melius: the Greeks as orators, a striking admission for a Roman. caelīque meātūs dēscrībent radiō: astronomy, drawn with the rod (radius) in sand. tū … Rōmāne, mementō: the singular address to the Roman people; mementō is the future imperative of meminī. regere imperiō populōs: 'to rule the peoples with your power' — the special Roman art.

Aen. 6.852hae tibi erunt artēs;

(these will be your arts)

Note. hae tibi erunt artēs: a parenthesis, 'these will be your arts', set against the Greek arts listed before.

Aen. 6.852pācisque impōnere mōrem,
parcere subiectīs, et dēbellāre superbōs.

and to impose the custom of peace, to spare the conquered and to war down the proud.'

Note. pācisque impōnere mōrem: 'and to impose the custom of peace'; some editors read pācī, 'to impose civilisation upon peace'. parcere subiectīs: 'to spare those who submit', with the dative; et dēbellāre superbōs: 'and to war down the proud'. The two infinitives sum up Roman ideals of empire, mercy and force. Anchises' speech reaches its peak here, and the grammar is complete only across the parenthesis: regere … (hae tibi erunt artēs) … impōnere, parcere, dēbellāre, all depending on mementō.