2018 ICA Latin 4 Virgil Aeneid 1.157-169 Course Notes

Aeneid 1:157-169

Course Notes

Dēfessī Aeneadae quae proxima lītora cursū

contendunt petere, et Libyae vertuntur ad ōrās.

Est in sēcessū longō locus: īnsula portum

efficit obiectū laterum, quibus omnis ab alto                    160

frangitur inque sinūs scindit sēsē unda reductōs.

Hinc atque hinc vāstae rūpēs geminīque minantur

in caelum scopulī, quōrum sub vertice lātē

aequora tūta silent; tum silvīs scaena coruscīs

dēsuper, horrentīque ātrum nemus imminet umbrā.       165

Fronte sub adversā scopulīs pendentibus antrum;

intus aquae dulcēs vīvōque sedīlia saxō,

nymphārum domus. Hīc fessās nōn vincula nāvēs

ūlla tenent, uncō nōn alligat ancora morsū.

SUGGESTED WORD ORDER

(A) Defessi Aeneadae contendunt petere litora quae [sunt] proxima cursu et vertuntur ad oras Libyae.  (B) Est locus in longo secessu, [ubi] insula efficit portum obiectu laterum quibus omis unda ab alto frangitur [et] scindit sese in reductos sinus. (C) Hinc atque hinc vastae rupes [et] gemini scopuli minantur in caelum, sub vertice quorum tuta aequora silent late;  (D) tum desuper [est] scaena coruscis silvis [et] nemus, atrum horrenti umbra, imminent; sub adversa fronte [est] antrum pendentibus scopulis [et] intus [sunt] dulces aquae [et] sedilia [in] vivo saxo, domus nympharum.  (E) Hic on ulla vincula tenant fessas navis, ancora non alligat [eas] unco morsu. 

CALDWELL

(A) The weary followers of Aeneas made for the nearest shore, and turned to the coast of Libya.  (B) They found a long bay made into a port by the island at its entrance, where the incoming wave broke and was divided into secluded coves. (C) On either side towered vast cliffs and twin peaks, and below the waters were safe and quiet.  (D) In the background were shimmering woods, and a dark grove shaded the waters below; In the back of the cove under hanging rocks was a cave, with fresh water and seats of natural rock, the home of nymphs.  (E) Here no chains held weary ships, no anchor bound them with crooked bite.

Defessi Aeneadae, quae proxima litora, cursu
contendunt petere, et Libyae vertuntur ad oras.

cursu ablative of manner, “swiftly”

“defessi,” modifying “Aeneadae,”  is nominative of the perfect passive participle of the intransitive deponent defetiscor, defetisci, defessus sum, ”to become exhausted, to grow weary.”   “Aeneadae,” the subject of “contendunt” in the following line, is nominative plural of Aeneadae, Aeneadarum, m. (1^st), “followers of Aeneas.”  “quae,” agreeing with “litora,” is nominative neuter plural of the relative pronoun qui, quae, quod.  The superlative adjective “proxima,” qualifying “litora,” is nominative neuter plural of proximus, proxima, proximum, “nearest.”  “litora” is nominative plural of litus, litoris, n. (3^rd), “seashore, coast, beach.”  “cursu” is ablative singular of cursus, cursus, m. (4^th), “running, course, direction.”  Ablative of manner, construed with “contendunt petere” in the following line.

“contendunt,” for which “Aeneadae” in the previous line is the subject, is third person plural present indicative active of contendo, contendere, contendi, contentum, “to strive, to stretch, to try to reach.”  “petere” is present infinitive of peto, petere, petivi, petitum, “to seek, to demand, to hasten to.”  “et”: copulative conjunction.  “Libyae” is genitive singular of Libya, Libyae, f. (1^st), “region of North Africa.”  “vertuntur” is third person plural present indicative passive of verto, vertere, verti, versum (3^rd), “to turn, to overturn, to turn up.”  The preposition “ad”+accusative, here governing “oras.”  “oras” is accusative plural of ora, orae, f. (1^st), “shore, coast.”

Est in secessu longo locus: insula portum
efficit obiectu laterum, quibus omnis ab alto               160
frangitur inque sinus scindit sese unda reductos.

obiectu ablative of means

quibus ablative of means

in reductos sinos “into receding ripples”

“est” is third person singular present indicative active of sum, esse, fui, futurus; subject is “locus.”  The preposition “in”+ablative governs “secessu.”  “secessu” is ablative singular of secessus, secessus, m. (4^th), “retreat, hiding place.” The adjective “longo,” modifying “secessu,” is ablative singular of longus, longa, longum, “long; deep; far-off, remote.”  “locus” is nominative singular of locus, loci, m. (2^nd), “place, position.”  “insula,” the subject of “efficit” in the following line, is nominative singular of insula, insulae, f. (1^st), “island.”  “portum,” the direct object of “efficit” in the following line, is accusative singular of portus, portus,m. (4^th), “harbor, haven, port.” 

“efficit,” the subject of which is “insula” in the previous line, is third person singular present indicative active of efficio, efficere, effeci, effectum (3^rd), “to bring about, to make”; the direct object is “portum” in the previous line.  “obiectu” is ablative singular of obiectus, obiectus, m. (4^th), “lying against or oppositive, thrown or placed across.”  Instrumental ablative.  “laterum” is genitive plural of latus, lateris, n. (3^rd), “side.”  See Ganiban note 160-161.  “quibus,” agreeing with “laterum,”  is ablative neuter plural of the relative pronoun qui, quae, quod.  The adjective “omnis,” qualifying “unda” in the following line, is nominative singular feminine of omnis, omne.  The preposition “ab”+ablative governs “alto.” “alto” is ablative singular of altum, alti, n. (2^nd), “the deep,” i.e. deep waters, the high sea.  Ablative of place from which.

“frangitur” is third person singular present indicative passive of frango, frangere, fregi, fractum (3^rd); “unda” is the subject.  The preposition “in”+accusative governs “sinus.” “-que”=conjunction linking “frangitur” and “scindit.”   “sinus” is accusative singular of sinus, sinus, m. (4^th), “bay”; but see Ganiban note 160-161 (“ ‘sinus’ can be taken either as 1) ‘curves of the shore,’ ‘bays,’ or 2) “ripples” of the water.’ “)  “scindit” is third person singular present indicative active of scindo, scindere, scidi, scissum (3^rd), “to rend, to tear asunder”; “unda” is the subject.  “sese,” accusative of the  reflexive pronoun , is the direct object of “scindit.” “reductus,” agreeing with “sinus,” is accusative of the perfect passive participle of reduco, reducere, reduxi, reductum(3^rd), “to lead back, draw back.”   

Hinc atque hinc vastae rupes geminique minantur
in caelum scopuli, quorum sub vertice late
aequora tuta silent;…

The correlative adverbs of place hinc…hinc = “on this side…on that side.” The conjunction “atque” links “hinc” and “hinc.”  The adjective “vastae,” qualifying “rupes,” is nominative plural feminine of vastus, vasta, vastum, “vast, enormous.”  “rupes” is nominative plural of rupes, rupes, f. (3^rd), “rock, cliff, cavern.”  The adjective “gemini,” agreeing with “scopuli” in the following line, is nominative plural masculine of geminus, gemina, geminum, “twin, double; two.”  “-que”:  conjunction joining “rupes” to “scopuli” in the following line.  “minantur” is third person plural present indicative of the intransitive deponent minor, minari, minatus sum(1^st),  “to project menacingly, obtrude, jut forth.”  The subjects are “rupes” and “scopuli.”

The preposition “in”+accusative governs “caelum.”  “caelum” is accusative singular of caelum, caeli, n. (2^nd).  The relative pronoun “quorum” is genitive plural masculine of qui, quae, quod; the antecedent is “scopuli.” The preposition “sub”+ablative governs “vertice.”  “vertice” is ablative singular of vertex, verticis, m. (3^rd), “summit, height.”  The adverb “late” = “broadly, widely”; construe with “aequora” in the following line.    

“aequora,” the subject of “silent,” is nominative plural of aequor, aequoris, n. (3^rd), “the sea.”  The adjective “tuta,” modifying “aequora,” is nominative plural neuter of tutus, tuta, tutum, “safe, protected, guarded.”  “silent” is third person plural present indicative active of the intransitive sileo, silere, silui,  “to be still, silent.” 

                                          …tum silvis scaena coruscis
desuper horrentique atrum nemus imminet umbra.               165

coruscis silvis ablative of quality, “of shimmering woodlands”

horrenti umbra ablative of manner, “with bristling shade”

The adverb “tum” may be translated “while”; its force is weak.  “silvis” is ablative plural of silva, silvae, f. (1^st), “wood, forest.”  “scaena” is nominative singular of scaena, scaenae, f. (1^st), “stage, scene; background; shady spot.”  The adjective “coruscis,” qualifying “silvis,” is ablative plural of coruscus, corusca, coruscum, “waving, vibrating, shimmering.”

The adverb “desuper”= “above, higher.” “horrenti,” qualifying “umbra,” is the ablative of the present participle of the intransitive defective horreo, horrere,   “to stand on end, to bristle (i.e., ones hair stands on end from fear; cf. English “horror”).  The conjunction “-que” links “scaena” in the previous line to “nemus.” The adjective “atrum,” qualifying “nemus,” is nominative singular neuter of ater, atra, atrum, “black, gloomy.” “nemus” is nominative singular of nemus, nemoris, n. (3^rd), “grove, wood.”  “imminet” is third person singular present indicative active of the intransitive defective immineo, imminere,  “to project over, to overhang, to threaten.”  “umbra” is ablative singular of umbra, umbrae, f. (1^st), “shadow, shade.” 

Fronte sub adversa scopulis pendentibus antrum,

intus aquae dulces, vivoque sedilia saxo,

nympharum domus.  Hic fessas non vincula navis

ulla tenent, unco non alligat ancora morsu.

pendentibus scopulis ablative of quality, “fashioned of hanging rocks”

vivo saxo ablative of place where

unco morsu ablative of means, “with hooked bite”

Fronte is ablative feminine singular of frons, frontis f. “façade, front,” here the face of the cliff looking out toward the island and the bay. “scopulis” is ablative masculine plural of scopulus, scopuli m., ledge, rock. The adjective “adversa,” modifying “fronte,” is feminine ablative singular of adversus, adversa, adversum, “facing, opposite.”   “fronte” is feminine ablative singular of frons, frontis f. “façade, front.”  “pendentibus” is masculine ablative plural of the present active participle of pendeo, pendere, pependi (2), “to be suspended; to hang down.”  “antrum” is nominative singular of antrum, antri n. “cavern, grotto.”

The adverb “intus” = “within, inside.  “aquae” is nominative plural of aqua, aquae f. “water.” The adjective “dulces,” modifying “aquae,” is feminine nominative plural of dulcis, dulce “fresh, sweet.”  The adjective “vivo,” modifying “saxo,” is neuter ablative singular of vivus, viva, vivum “living” [here = “natural”].  “sedilia” is nominative plural of sedile, sedilis n. “bench, seat.”  “saxo” is ablative singular of saxum, saxi n., “rock.” 

“nympharum” is genitive plural of nympha, nymphae f. “nymph.”  “domus” is nominative singular of domus, domi f. “dwelling place, haunt.”  The adverb “hic” = “here, in this place.”  The adjective “fessas,” modifying “navis,” is feminine accusative plural of fessus, fessa, fessum, “exhausted, weary.”  “navis” is accusative plural of navis, navis f. “ship.”   “vincula” is nominative plural of vinculum, vinculi n. “cable, chain.” 

The adjective “ulla” is neuter nominative plural of ullus, ulla, ullum, “any.” “tenant” is third person plural present indicative active of teneo, tere, tenui, tentus (2), “ to hold, restrain.”  The adjective “unco,” modifying “morsu,” is ablative singular of uncus, unca, uncum, “curved, hooked.” “morsu” is ablative singular of morsus, morsus m. “the [act of] biting, seizing.”  “alligat” is third person singular present indicative active of alligo, alligare, alligavi, alligatum, “to hold fast; secure.” 

Dickinson College Commentary, Virgil Aeneid 1.157-169

The Trojans land in a sheltered spot and prepare a meal (Walpole). 

157: defessi: de as a prefix is intensive (F-B). Aeneadae: “followers of Aeneas.” The patronymic is used in an extended sense (F-B). quae… petere: contendunt petere litora, quae (sunt) proxima (in) cursu (Cooper). quae proxima litora: sc. sunt. litora is a nominative case attracted into the relative clause (F-B) (AG 307b). “Strive to reach in their course the shores that are nearest” (Anthon). cursu: = rapidē, “quickly” as in 2.321 (Conington).
159: est: “there is.” The substantive verb often stands first in descriptions (F-B). secessu longo: “in a deep inlet.” portum efficit: “makes a perfect harbor.” efficit is stronger than facit. The island lies across the entrance of the inlet (F-B). As object of efficit understand eum referring to secessu or locus; portum is predicate accusative (Bennett).
160: quibus: the ablative, means of frangitur and scindit; “by which every wave from the deep is broken, and divides itself into the deep windings of the bay” (Frieze). ab alto: = veniens ab alto (Walpole).
161: sinus: may have two meanings: (1) a horizontal curve, and so a bay or indentation of the shore; (2) a vertical curve, and so an undulation, billow, or ripple (Page).
162: hinc atque hinc: “on this side and on this”; “on either side”; not hinc atque illinc, because the two points are conceived to be equally near to the spectator (Frieze). rupes: sc. sunt. minantur in caelum: “loom up toward heaven” (F-B).
164: tuta: seems to include the two notions, protected from the wind, and safe for ships (Conington). tum: “then too,” or “further,” introducing a fresh point in the description (F-B). silvis scaena coruscis: “a scene of shimmering woods.” silvis is an ablative of quality (AG 415). The scaena is properly the “scene” or back wall of a Roman stage, the rupes corresponding to the side walls of the theater. coruscis is used of the waving tree-tops gleaming in the sunlight (F-B). silvis curuscis is an ablative of quality or description (Frieze).
165: horrentique…: “and a grove overhangs, dark with gloomy shade.” Vergil carefully contrasts the dark grove with the sunny tree-tops. (F-B). “Bristling and quivering,” a typical example of the Vergilian economy of saying one thing by a word which itself suggests another thing also ... here the effect upon the spectator, who cannot help trembling too (Conway). nemus: added to scaena by way of epexegesis (Frieze).
166: fronte sub adversa: “under the brow (of the cliffs) facing one,” i.e., as one enters the harbor (F-B).
167: dulces: “fresh” (F-B). vivo sedilia saxo: “seats of living rock,” contrasted with artificial benches (Conway).
168: Nympharum domus: may be in either vague apposition to the two preceding lines, or in strict apposition to antrum (Conington). The Nymphs were often associated with grottoes and most frequently with springs of fresh water (Page). hīc: “here” (Carter). fessas navēs: by a natural personification the ships are regarded as living things (F-B).
169: non: = nulla (Comstock). morsu: the “toothed” anchor is thought of as biting into the
ground (Carter).

Virgil Aeneid 1.157-169 Scansion*

Dēfēs|si Aēnĕăd|aē || quaē| prōxĭmă| lītŏră| cūrsū

cōntēn|dūnt pĕtĕr|e, ēt || Lĭbŷ|aē vēr|tūntŭr ăd| ōrās.

ēst īn| sēcēs|sū || lōn|gō lŏcŭs|: īnsŭlă| pōrtŭm

ēffĭcĭt| ōbiēc|tū || lătĕr|ūm, quĭbŭs| ōmnĭs ăb| āltō160

frāngĭtŭr| īnquĕ sĭn|ūs || scīn|dīt sēs|e ūndă rĕd|ūctōs.

hīnc āt|que hīnc vās|taē || rūp|ēs gĕmĭn|īquĕ mĭn|āntŭr

īn caēl|ūm scŏpŭl|ī, || quōr|ūm sūb| vērtĭcĕ| lātē

aēquŏră| tūtă sĭl|ēnt; || tūm| sīlvīs| scaēnă cŏr|ūscīs

dēsŭpĕr|, hōrrēn|tīque || āt|rūm nĕmŭs| īmmĭnĕt| ūmbrā.165

frōntĕ sŭb| ādvēr|sā || scŏpŭl|īs pēn|dēntĭbŭs| āntrŭm;

īntŭs ă|quaē dūl|cēs || vīv|ōquĕ sĕd|īlĭă| sāxō,

NŶmphār|ūm dŏmŭs|. hīc || fēs|sās nōn| vīncŭlă| nāvēs

ūllă tĕn|ēnt, ūn|cō || nōn| āllĭgăt| āncŏră| mōrsū.

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