Aeneid 1:29-33 Course Notes

Latin IV:  Vergil, Aeneid

Instructor:  James Ransom

May 27, 2014

Aeneid 1:29-33

Course Notes
© 2014 James Ransom, M.A., J.D.

His accensa super, iactatos aequore toto
Troas, reliquias Danaum atque immitis Achilli,               30
arcebat longe Latio, multosque per annos
errabant, acti fatis, maria omnia circum.
Tantae molis erat Romanam condere gentem!

His accensa super, iactatos aequore toto
Troas

Still burning with resentment, Juno kept the Trojans on the storm-tossed sea

“accensa” is nominative feminine singular perfect passive participle of accendo, accendere, accensi, accendi, accensum, “to inflame, arouse.” 

“iactatos” is accusative masculine plural of the perfect passive participle of iacto, iactare, iactavi, iactatum, “to toss, throw; to disturb, disquiet.”

“his”: ablative plural of “hic.” The adverb “super”=  “in addition, besides.”  “aequore”: ablative singular of aequor, aequoris, n. (3^rd), “the sea.”  The adjective “toto” is ablative  masculine singular of totus, tota, totum (1^st/2^nd).  “Troas” is accusative plural of Tros, Trois, Troy’s founder, Tros, here=Trojans.

reliquias Danaum atque immitis Achilli,               30
arcebat longe Latio, multosque per annos
errabant, acti fatis, maria omnia circum.

Achilles’ rage and genocidal Greeks they had survived; 
but, far from their new home, and lost at sea,  

sentenced by fate to ride the rolling waves, 
they marked the passing years, while time stood still;  

 “arcebat” is third person singular imperfect indicative active of arceo, arcere, arui, arcitumi, “to shut up, enclose, trap.”  “errabant” is third person singular imperfect indicative active of erro, errare, erravi, erratum, “to wander.” 

“reliquias” is accusative plural of reliquiae, reliquiarum, f., “that which is left, remnant.”  “Danaum” the alternative genitive form of Danai, Danaorum, “the Greeks.”  The adjective immitis, immitis, immite= “bitter, harsh, fierce,” i.e. the “rage of Achilles.”  “Achilli” is the alternative genitive form of Achilles, Achillis, m.  The adverb longe=”far, afar.”  “Latio” is ablative of Latium, Latii, n.  “multos” is accusative masculine plural of multus, multa, multum (1^st/2^nd).  The preposition “per”=”through, throughout.”  “annos” is accusative plural of annus, anni, m. (2^nd).  “fatis” is ablative plural of fatum, fati, n. (2^nd), “destiny, fate.”  “acti” is perfect passive participle of ago, agere, egi, actum (3^rd).  “maria” is accusative plural of mare, maris, n. (3^rd). “omnia” is accusative plural of omnis, omne, m.f. (3^rd).  The preposition “circum” takes the accusative and controls “maria omnia.”  

Tantae molis erat Romanam condere gentem!

Such hardships bore the men who founded Rome;

“condere” is present infinitive of condo, condere, condidi, conditum, “to build, establish; to thrust or strike in deep, plunge” (cf. Ganiban note 33 and Aeneas’ slaying of Turnus at 12:950).  “erat” is third person singular imperfect indicative active of sum, esse, fui, futurus.   

“tantae molis”:  genitive of description.  “molis” is genitive singular of moles, molis, f.(3^rd), “rock, boulder.”  The adjective “Romanam” is accusative feminine singular of Romanus, Romana, Romanum.   “gentem” is accusative singular of gens, gentis, f.(3^rd).