Aeneid 1:50-57 Course Notes

Latin IV:  Vergil, Aeneid

Instructor:  James Ransom

June 3, 2014

Aeneid 1:50-57

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

Talia flammato secum dea corde volutans               50
nimborum in patriam, loca feta furentibus austris,
Aeoliam venit. Hic vasto rex Aeolus antro
luctantes ventos tempestatesque sonoras
imperio premit ac vinclis et carcere frenat.
Illi indignantes magno cum murmure montis               55
circum claustra fremunt; celsa sedet Aeolus arce
sceptra tenens, mollitque animos et temperat iras.

Talia flammato secum dea corde volutans               50
nimborum in patriam, loca feta furentibus austris,
Aeoliam venit…

“talia” is accusative neuter plural of the adjective talis, tale m.f. / n. (3^rd), “such, of such kind.”  “flammato” is ablative singular neuter of the perfect passive participle of flammo, flammare, flammavi, flammatum, “to set ablaze.”  “flammato” agrees with “corde.”  “corde” is ablative singular of cor, cordis, n. (3^rd).  “secum”:  cf. line 37.  “dea” is feminine nominative singular of dea, deae (1^st).  “volutans” is present participle of voluto, volutare, volutavi, volutatum, “to ponder, turn over in the mind.” 

“nimborum” is genitive plural of nimbus, nimbi, m. (2^nd), “cloud, storm-cloud.”  The preposition “in” takes the accusative=”into.” “patriam” is accusative singular of patria, patriae, f. (1^st).  “loca” is accusative plural of locus, loci, m. (2^nd). The adjective “feta” is accusative plural of fetus, feta, fetum, “pregnant, filled with.” “furentibus” is ablative plural masculine of the present participle of the intransitive furo, furere, furui (3^rd); “furentibus austris”=”raging winds.” “austris” is ablative plural of auster, austri, m. (2^nd), “the south wind.” 

“Aeoliam” is accusative of Aeolia, Aeoliae, f. (1^st), “the country of Aeolus.”  “venit” is third person singular present indicative active of venio, venire, veni, ventum.   

Hic vasto rex Aeolus antro
luctantes ventos tempestatesque sonoras
imperio premit ac vinclis et carcere frenat.

The adverb “hic”=”here, hereupon.”  The adjective “vasto,” which modifies “antro,” is ablative singular neuter of vasto, vasta, vastum, “huge, vast.”  “rex” is nominative singular masculine of rex, regis, m. (3^rd). “antro” is ablative singular of antrum, antri, n. (2^nd), “cave.”   

“luctantes” is present participle of the intransitive deponent luctor, luctari, luctatus sum, “to struggle.”  “ventos” is accusative plural of ventus, venti, m. (2^nd), “wind.”  “tempestates” is accusative plural of tempestas, tempestatis, f. (3^rd), “storm.” The conjunction  –que links to “ventos.”  The adjective “sonoras,” qualifying “tempestates,” is accusative plural feminine of sonorus, sonora, sonorum, “loud, noisy.”

“imperio” is ablative singular of imperium, imperii, m. (2^nd), “command, rule, empire.”  “premit” is third person singular present indicative active of premo, premere, pressi, pressum, “press, keep down, keep in.”  The conjunction “ac”=”atque,” linking the verbs “premit” and “frenat.”   “vinclis” is a contracted form of “vinculus,” ablative plural of vinculum, vinculi, n. (2^nd), “chain.”   The conjunction “et” connects “vinclis” and “carcere,” two words expressing a single idea (hendiadys).  “carcere” is ablative singular of carcer, carceris, m. (3^rd), “prison.”   “frenat” is third person singular present indicative active of freno, frenare, frenavi, frenatum (1^st), “to control with reins, curb.” 

Illi indignantes magno cum murmure montis               55
circum claustra fremunt; celsa sedet Aeolus arce
sceptra tenens, mollitque animos et temperat iras.

“Ille” (here denoting “the winds”) is nominative plural masculine of the demonstrative pronoun ille, illa, illud.  “indignantes” is present participle (in agreement with “Ille”) of the intransitive deponent indignor, indignati, indignatus sum, “to think unworthy; to be wrathful.”  The adjective “magno” (qualifying “murmure”) is ablative singular neuter of  magnus, magna, magnum. “murmure” is ablative singular of murmur, murmuris, n. (3^rd), “murmur.”  The preposition “cum” controls “magno murmure”; ablative of manner.  “montis” is genitive singular of mons, montis, m. (3^rd), “mountain.” 

The preposition “circum” takes the accusative, here “claustra. “Claustra” is accusative plural of claustrum, claustri, n. (2^nd), “bar.” “fremo” is third person plural present indicative active of fremo, fremere, fremui, fremitum (3^rd),  “to roar, shout.”  The adjective “celsa,” qualifying “arce,” is ablative singular feminine of celsus, celsa, celsum, “lofty.”  “sedet” is third person singular present indicative active of sedeo, sedere, sedi, sessum (2^nd), “to sit.”  “Aeolus” is nominative singular of Aeolus, Aeoli, m., “king of the winds.”  “arce” is ablative singular of arx, arcis, f. (3^rd), “place of defense, citadel.”

“sceptra” is accusative plural of sceptrum, sceptri, n. (2^nd), “staff, scepter.”  The plural has intensive effect.  “tenens” is present participle of teneo, tenere, tenui, tentum (2^nd), “to hold.”  “mollit” is third person singular present indicative active of mollio, mollere, mollivi, mollitum (4^th), “to soften.”  “animos” is accusative plural of animus, animi, m. (2^nd), “spirits, wrath.” The conjunction “et” joins “mollit” and “temperat.”  “temperat” is third person singular present indicative active of tempero, temperare, temperavi, temperatum (1^st) “to check, to restrain; to refrain.”  “iras” is accusative plural of ira, irae, f. (1^st), “anger.”