2018 ICA Latin 4 Virgil Aeneid 1.12-22 Course Notes

Aeneid 1:12-22

Course Notes

Urbs antiqua fuit, Tyrii tenuere coloni,
Karthago, Italiam contra Tiberinaque longe
ostia, dives opum studiisque asperrima belli;
quam Iuno fertur terris magis omnibus unam          15            
posthabita coluisse Samo; hic illius arma,
hic currus fuit; hoc regnum dea gentibus esse,
si qua fata sinant, iam tum tenditque fovetque.
Progeniem sed enim Troiano a sanguine duci
audierat, Tyrias olim quae verteret arces;                 20
hinc populum late regem belloque superbum
venturum excidio Libyae: sic volvere Parcas.

SUGGESTED WORD ORDER

(A) Fuit antiqua urbs, Karthago, [quam] Tyrii coloni tenuere [tenuerunt], contra Italiam [et] ostia Tiberine longe, dives opum [et] asperrima [in] studiis belli.  (B) Quam, fertur, Iuno coulisse unam magis omnibus terries, Samo posthabita:  hic [fuerunt] arma illius, hic fuit currus; iam tum dea [et] tendit [et] fovet hoc [i.e., urbem] esse regnum [omnibus] gentibus, si qua Fata sinant.  (C) Se denim audierat [audiverat] progeniem duci a Troiano sanguine quae olim verteret Tyrias arces, hinc populum regem late [et] superbum bello venturum [esse] excidio Libyae: sic [dea audiverat] Parcas volvere.

CALDWELL

Carthage was an ancient city inhabited by settlers from Tyre, far from Italy and the mouths of the Tiber, a rich and warlike city which Juno is said to have preferred over all other lands, even over Samos.  Here were her arms and chariot, and even then the goddess hoped that Carthage would rule the world if the Fates allowed.  But she had heard that a race would come from Trojan blood to overturn the Tyrian towers, that a people ruling widely and proud in war would come to destroy Libya—this was ordained by the Fates. 

Urbs antiqua fuit, Tyrii tenuere coloni,
Karthago…

 “fuit” is third person singular perfect indicative active of sum, esse, fui, futurus.  “tenuere” is an archaic and poetic alternative to “tenuerunt,” which is third person plural perfect indicative active of teneo, tenere, tenui, tentum, “to hold, possess, occupy, control.” 

“urbs” is nominative singular of urbs, urbis, f. (3^rd), “a walled city.”  The adjective “antiqua” is nominative feminine singular of antiquus, antiqua, antiquum (1^st/2^nd).  “Tyrii” is genitive plural of Tyrus, Tyrii, f. (2^nd),“Tyre” (Phoenician city).  “coloni” is nominative plural of colonus, coloni, m. (2^nd).  “Karthago” is nominative of Karthago, Karthaginis, f. (3^rd), Carthage, in North Africa, near present-day Tunis. 

…Italiam contra Tiberinaque longe
ostia…

Across the sea from distant Italy and the Tiber’s mouth;

“Italiam” is accusative of Italia, Italiae, f. (1st), “Italy.”  The preposition “contra”=”against, opposite,” and takes the accusative: here, both the direct objects “Italiam” and  “Tiberina…ostia.” “Tiberina” is neuter accusative plural of Tiberinus, Tiberina, Tiberinum.  “ostia” is accusative plural of ostium, ostii, n., “entrance, estuary, mouth.” The adverb “longe”=  “distant, afar.”

…dives opum studiisque asperrima belli

studiis ablative of respect

“dives” is feminine nominative singular of dives, divitis (3^rd), “rich, wealthy, talented.” “opum” is genitive plural of opes, opum, f. (3^rd), “power, resources, wealth.”  “studiis” is ablative plural of  studium, studii, n. (2^nd), “study, eagerness, zeal.” Ablative of respect; see Ganiban note 14.  “asperrima” is superlative of the adjective asper, aspera, asperum (1^st/2^nd), “rough, rude, savage.”  “belli” is genitive singular of bellum, belli,n. (2^nd), “war.”   

 quam Iuno fertur terris magis omnibus unam               15
posthabita coluisse Samo;

omnibus terris ablative of comparison

Samo posthabita ablative absolute; “with [even] Samos held in lesser regard”

“fertur” is third person singular present indicative passive of fero, ferre, tuli, latum, “to bear, report.”  Construe with “coluisse, the perfect infinitive active of colo, colere, colui, cultum, “to worship, honor.”:  “is said to have cherished…”

“quam”: conjunction=”than.” “Iuno”:  nominative of Iuno, Iunonis, f. (3^rd). “terris” is ablative plural of terra, terrae, f. (1^st); ablative of comparison. “magis”: indeclinable adverb=”more, greater.” “omnibus” is feminine ablative plural of the adjective omnis, omne, m./f. (3^rd), “every, all.”  “unam”is accusative feminine singular ofunus.  Here it has intensive effect. 

“posthabita…Samo”:  ablative absolute.  “posthabita” is perfect passive participle of posthabeo, posthabere, posthabui, posthabitum, “to place, after, esteem less.”  “Samo”:  ablative of Samos, f., island birthplace of Juno and home to her major cult.    

                                    …hic illius arma,
hic currus fuit;…

 “fuit” is third person singular perfect indicative active of sum, esse, fui, futurus. 

The adverb “hic”= “here,” i.e, at Carthage.  “illius” is genitive singular of the personal pronoun ille, illa, illud. “arma” is nominative of arma, armorum, n.  “currus” is nominative singular of currus, currus, m. (4^th),“chariot.” 

hoc regnum dea gentibus esse,
si qua fata sinant, iam tum tenditque fovetque.

hoc refers to antededent urbs but attracted to gender of regnum

[omnibus] gentibus dative of reference

sinant potential subjunctive in subordinate clause reflecting Juno’s virtually quoted thoughts

si qua fata sinant si qua with subjunctive expresses great doubt and almost despair at the result [RG]

qua indefinite adverb, “where, by which route; by any chance, in any way.”

sinant is third person plural present subjunctive active of sino, sinere, sivi, situm (3), [with accusative and infinitive (cf. regnum esse)] “to let, permit; suffer.” 

tendit is third person singular present indicative active of tendo, tendere, tetendi, tentum (3), “to extend; strive for.”

iam tum “already then,” emphasizing the deep-rooted nature of Juno’s love for Carthage [RG]

fovet is third person singular present indicative active of foveo, fovere, fovi, fotus, “to cherish [a hope that)…

tenditque fovetque polysyndeton

Progeniem sed enim Troiano a sanguine duci
audierat

“audierat” is third person singular pluperfect indicative active of audio, audire, audivi, auditum (4^th), “to hear, listen, pay attention.” “duci” is present passive infinitive of duco, ducere, duxi, ductum, “to lead, guide; draw, pull.” 

“progeniem” is accusative singular of progenies, progenei, f., “offspring, progeny, race.”  

“sed enim”: see Ganiban note 19.  The adjective  “Troiano” is ablative singular of Troianus, Troiana, Troianum, “Trojan.” “sanguine” is ablative singular of sanguis, sanguinis, f. (3^rd), “blood.” 

Tyrias olim quae verteret arces;               20

Tyrias…arces separation of adjective and noun and delay ov a connecting word are peculiarities of word order common to Latin verse.  The allusion is to Rome’s defeat of Carthage in the Pubnic Wars and the final destruction of the city in 146 BC

“verteret” is third person singular imperfect subjunctive active of verto, vertere, versi, versum, “overthrow, turn around, reverse.”

The adjective “Tyrias” is feminine accusative plural of Tyrius, Tyria, Tyrium, “Tyrian,” here=Carthaginian.  The adjective modifies “arces,” the plural accusative of arx, arcis, f. (3^rd), “citadel, defenses.” The adverb “olim”=”some day, one day.” 

hinc populum late regem belloque superbum
venturum excidio Libyae: sic volvere Parcas.

excidio dative of purpose, “for the destruction”

volvere historical infinitive

“venturum” is future active participle of venio, venire, veni, ventum.  “volvere” is present infinitive of volvo, volvere, volvi, volutum, “to roll.” 

The adverb “hinc”=“the race of Troy.”  “populum” is accusative singular of populum, populi, m. (2^nd).   in agreement with “regem.”  The adverb “late”= “broadly, widely”; qualifies “regem.”  “regem” is accusative singular of rex, regem, m. (3^rd).  “populum late regem”= “a people ruling widely.” cf. Ganiban note 21.  “bello”  is ablative singular of bellum, belli, n. (2^nd).  The adjective  “superbum” is accusative singular of superbus, superba, superbum, n., “proud, arrogant, haughty.”

“excidio” is dative singular of excidium, excidii, n. (2^nd), “destruction in war, demolition.” “Libyae” is dative of Libya, Libyae, f.  “Parcas”: accusative plural;  “the Fates.”