2018 ICA Latin 4 Virgil Aeneid 1.494-506 Course Notes

Aeneid 1:494-506

Course Notes

Haec dum Dardaniō Aenēae mīranda videntur,
dum stupet obtūtūque haeret dēfixus in ūnō,                    495
rēgīna ad templum, formā pulcherrima Dīdō,
incessit magnā iuvenum stīpante catervā.
Quālis in Eurōtae rīpīs aut per iuga Cynthī
exercet Dīāna chorōs, quam mille secūtae
hinc atque hinc glomerantur Orēades; illa pharetram       500
fert umerō gradiēnsque deās superēminet omnēs
(Lātōnae tacitum pertemptant gaudia pectus):
tālis erat Dīdō, tālem sē laeta ferēbat
per mediōs, īnstans operī rēgnīsque futūrīs.

Tum foribus dīvae, mediā testūdine templī,                        505
saepta armīs, soliōque altē subnīxa resēdit.

SUGGESTED WORD ORDER

Dum hae Miranda videntur Dardanio Aeneae, dum stupet [et] haeret defixus in uno obtutu, Dido, regina pulcherrima forma, incessit ad templum magna caterva iuvenum stipante.  Qualis Diana exercet choros in ripis Eurotae aut per iuga Cynthi, quam mille secutae Oreades glomerantur hinc atque hind; illa fert pharetram [in] umero [et] gradiens supereminet omnis deas (gaudia pertemptant tacitum pectus Latonae): talis erat Dido, laeta ferebat se talem per medios [viros] instans operi [et] futuris regnis.  Tum saepta armis [et] subnixa alte solio resedit foribus divae, [sub] media testudine templi.

CALDWELL

While Trojan Aeneas wondered at these sights, stunned and unable to turn his eyes away, beautiful Queen Dido came to the temple with a large throng.  Like quiver-bearing Diana, when she leads dances on the banks of the Eurotas or the edges of Cynthus, surrounded by a thousand mountain nymphs, and walks a head above the other goddesses, while silent joy fills the heart of Latona, so Dido walked through the crowd happily directing the work of building a kingdom.  She entered the holy gate and sat high on a throne in the center, surrounded by armed men…

Haec dum Dardanio Aeneae miranda videntur,
dum stupet, obtutuque haeret defixus in uno,               495

494            The demonstrative pronoun “haec,” subject of “videntur,” is nominative plural neuter of hic, haec, hoc.  The temporal particle “dum” = “while.”  The adjective “Dardanio,” qualifying “Aeneae,” is dative singular masculine of Dardanius, Dardania, Dardanium, “Trojan (i.e., ‘Son of Dardanus,’ founder of the Trojan dynasty).” “Aeneae”:  dative singular.  “miranda,” agreeing with “haec,” is nominative plural of the gerundive (= verbal adjective) of the deponent miror, mirari, miratus sum, “to wonder at, to behold with awe.”)  “videntur” is third person plural present indicative passive of video, videre, vidi, visum. The subject is “haec.” 

495            “dum”:  repetition = anaphora.  “stupet” is third person singular present indicative of the intransitive stupeo, stupere, stupui, “to be amazed”; subject is “Aeneae” from the previous line.  “obtutu,” governed by the preposition “in”+ablative later in this line,  is ablative singular of obtutus, obtutus, m. (4^th), “gaze.”  “-que” links “obtutu” and “haeret.”  “haeret” is third person singular present indicative active of the intransitive haero, haerere, haersi, haersum, “to cling.”  “defixus” is nominative masculine of the perfect passive participle of defigo, defigere, defixi, defixum, “to fix on, to focus.”  The preposition “in”+ablative governs “obtutu.”  “uno,” agreeing with “obtutu,” is ablative singular masculine of unus, una, unum.   

regina ad templum, forma pulcherrima Dido,
incessit magna iuvenum stipante caterva.

496            “regina,” subject of  “incessit” in the following line, is nominative singular of regina, reginae, f., “queen.”  The preposition “ad”+accusative governs “templum.”  “templum” is accusative singular of templum, templi, n. (2^nd), “temple.” “forma” is ablative singular of forma,  formae, f. (1^st), “form, shape.”  Ablative of specification. The superlative adjective “pulcherrima,” agreeing with “Dido,” is nominative singular of pulcherrimus, pulcherrima, pulcherrimum, “most fair, most beautiful.”  “Dido” is nominative singular of Dido, Didonis, f. (3^rd). 

497            “incessit,” agreeing with the subject “Dido,” is third person singular perfect indicative active of incedo, incedere, incessi, incessum, “to go in, proceed in (formally); to march in.”  The adjective “magna,” qualifying “caterva,” is ablative singular feminine of magnus, magna, magnum, “large, great.”  “iuvenum,” also modifying “caterva,” is genitive plural of iuvenis, iuvenis, m., “young man.”   “stipante,”  agreeing with “caterva,” is present active participle (in ablative absolute construction) of stipo, stipare, stipavi, stipatum, “to crowd around, surround.”  “caterva” is ablative singular of caterva, catervae, f. (1^st), “crowd.”  
 

Qualis in Eurotae ripis aut per iuga Cynthi
exercet Diana choros, quam mille secutae
hinc atque hinc glomerantur Oreades;          …                    500

498            “Qualis,” introducing the epic simile, and agreeing with “Diana” in the next line, is nominative singular feminine of qualis, quale, “just as…”; “as when….”   The preposition “in”+ablative governs “ripis.”  “Eurotae,” modifying  “ripis,” is genitive singular of Eurotas, Eurotae, m. (1^st), “river in Lacedamonia, near Sparta.”  “ripis” is ablative plural of ripa, ripae, f. (1^st), “river bank.”  The conjunction “aut” = “or.”   The preposition “per”+accusative governs “iuga.”  “iuga” is accusative plural of iugum, iugi, n. (2^nd), “mountain ridge.”  “Cynthi,” a possessive genitive limiting “iuga,” is genitive singular of Cynthus, Cynthi, m. (2^nd), “high mountain in Delos sacred to Apollo and Diana.” 

499            “exercet,” agreeing with its subject “Diana,”  is third person singular present indicative active of  exerceo, exercere, exercui, exercitum, “to exercise, to train, to lead in formation.”  “Diana” is nominative singular of Diana, Dianae, f. (1^st), “the goddess of hunting and sister of Apollo.”  “choros,” direct object of “exercet,” is accusative plural of chorus, chori, m. (2^nd), “chorus of singers and dancers; band of nymphs.” The relative pronoun “quam,” agreeing with its antecedent “Diana,”  is accusative singular feminine of qui, quae, quod.  The indeclinable numerary adjective “mille” = “one thousand; a large number.”   “secutae,” agreeing with “Oreades” in the following line,  is perfect participle of the deponent sequor, sequi, secutus sum, “to follow.”

500            The expression “hinc atque hinc” = “on this side and that; on the one side, and on the other.”  “hinc” is an adverb of place.   “atque”: copulative conjunction.  “glomerantur,” agreeing with its subject “Oreades,” is third person plural present indicative passive of glomero, glomerare, glomeravi, glomeratum, “to gather together, form a circle.”  “Oreades” is nominative plural of Oreas, Oreadis, f. (3^rd), “mountain nymphs.” 

                                       …illa pharetam                                500
fert umero, gradiensque deas supereminet omnis:

500            The demonstrative pronoun “illa,” referring to “Diana,” is nominative singular feminine of ille, illa, illud. “illa” is the subject of  “fert” in the following line.  “pharetam,” direct object of “fert” in the following line, is accusative singular of pharetra, pharetrae, f. (1^st), “quiver (of arrows).” 

501            “fert,” agreeing with its subject “illa,” is third person singular present indicative active of  fero, ferre, tuli, latum, “to bring, bear or carry.”  “umero” is ablative singular of umerus, umeri, m. (2^nd), “shoulder.”  Instrumental ablative.  “gradiens,” agreeing with its subject “supereeminent,” is present active participle of the deponent intransitive gradior, gradii, gressus sum, “to step forward, advance.” “-que” links “gradiens” and “supereminet.”  “deas,” direct object of “supereminet,” is accusative plural of dea, deae, f. (1^st,), “goddess.”  “supereminet” is third person singular present indicative active of superemineo, supereminere, supereminui, “to stand out above.”  The adjective “omnis,” agreeing with “deas,” is accusative plural feminine of omnis, omne.    

(Latonae tacitum pertemptant gaudia pectus):

502            “Latonae,” possessive genitive modifying “pectus,” is genitive singular of Latona, Latonae, f. (1^st).  The adjective “tacitum,” qualifying “pectus,” is accusative singular neuter of tacitus, tacita, tacitum, “silent.”  “pertemptant,” agreeing with its subject “gaudia,” is third person singular present indicative active of pertempto, pertemptare, pertemptavi, pertemptatum, “to test, try; to explore thoroughly.”  “gaudia,” subject of “pertentant,” is nominative plural of gaudium, gaudii, n. (2^nd), “joy.”  “pectus,” direct object of “pertemptant,” is accusative singular of pectus, pectoris, n. (3^rd), “breast.”

talis erat Dido, talem se laeta ferebat
per medios, instans operi regnisque futuris.

503            The demonstrative adjective “talis,” agreeing with “Dido,” and introducing the clause which completes the epic simile, is nominative singular feminine of talis, tale, “of such kind, such as.”  “erat,” agreeing with its subject “Dido,” is third person singular imperfect indicative active ofsum, esse, fui, futurus.  “talem,” accusative of the reiterated adjective talis, tale, agrees with the reflexive “se.”  “se,” referring to “Dido,” is accusative singular of the reflexive pronoun and the direct object of “ferebat.”  The adjective “laeta,” agreeing with “Dido,” is nominative singular feminine of laetus, laeta, laetum, “joyful, happy.”  “ferebat,” agreeing with its subject “Dido,” is third person singular imperfect indicative active of the irregular fero, ferre, tuli, latum.

504            The preposition “per”+accusative governs “medios.” The adjective “medios,” here used substantively, is accusative plural masculine of medius, media, medium, “midst, middle.”  The participle “instans,” agreeing with “Dido” understood, is nominative singular feminine present participle of the intransitive insto, instare, institi, instatum, “to press on, to apply oneself.” “operi,” part of a compound indirect object along with “regnis,” is dative singular of opus, operis, n. (3^rd), “work, task, project.”  “regnis,” joined with “operi” by “-que,” is dative plural of regnum, regni, n. (2^nd), “kingdom.” “futuris,” formed from the future participle of sum, qualifying “regnis,” is dative plural neuter of futurus, futura, futurum.     

Tum foribus dīvae, mediā testūdine templī,               505
saepta armīs, soliōque altē subnīxa resēdit.

505            “Tum”=temporal adverb; “at that time, then.”  “foribus” is ablative plural of foris, foris, f. (3^rd), “door.”  The possessive genitive “divae,” modifying “foribus,” is genitive singular of diva, divae, f. (1^st), “”goddess.” The adjective “media,” qualifying “testudine,” is ablative singular feminine of medius, media, medium, “middle, in the middle.”  “testudine” is ablative singular of testudo, testudinis, f. (3^rd), “tortoise, tortoise shell”; metaphorically from the shape of the shell, as here, “vaulted roof, arch, dome.” The possessive genitive “templi,” limiting “testudine,” is genitive singular of templum, templi, n. (2^nd), “temple.” 

506            The participle “saepta,” agreeing with its nominative singular feminine subject “Dido” understood, is perfect passive participle of saepio, saepire, saepsi, saeptum, “to hedge in, enclose, surround.”  The instrumental ablative “armis,” construed with “saepta,” is ablative plural of arma, armorum, n., “arms.”  “solio” is dative singular of solium, solii, n. (2^nd), “throne.”  The adverb “alte”= “on high.”  The participle “subnixa,” joined by “-que” to  and agreeing with “saepta,” is perfect passive participle of the intransitive deponent subnitor, subniti, subnixus sum, “to rest upon.”  “resedit,” agreeing with its subject Dido understood, is third person singular perfect indicative active of the intransitive resido, residere, resedi resessum, “to sit down.”  

DICKINSON COLLEGE COMMENTARY

Dido, attended by a numerous retinue, enters the temple and seated on a throne begins the royal duties. Meanwhile Aeneas sees his lost companions entering the temple (Wetherell). 
494: Dardanio: Especially appropriate, as Aeneas had been lost in a Trojan reverie (Walpole). Aeneae: dative of the agent (Frieze).
496: forma: ablative of respect after pulcherrima (Robertson). Ablative of specification (F-B) (AG 418).
497: incessit: “advanced” (Frieze). “has advanced” (Walpole). Conveys the idea of blended dignity and grace. Observe the beautiful use of the perfect in incessit: “While Aeneas stands lost in silent musing, the queen has come” (Anthon).
498–500: qualis…: in the Odyssey (6.102–10) this simile is applied to Nausicaa, the daughter of Alcinous (F-B).
498: Eurotae: the river Eurotas of Sparta (F-B). Cynthi: Cynthus, the mountain of Delos, where Diana and Apollo were born (F-B). Diana frequented the banks of the Eurotas, the principal river of Sparta. Like her brother, Apollo, she was also believe to resort at times, with her nymphs, to Mount Cynthus (Frieze).
499: choros: “choral dances” (Walpole). quam secutae: literally, “following whom,” i.e., “in whose train” (F-B).
500: hinc atque hinc: “on either side” (Frieze). glomerantur: a passive, with middle sense, “throng” (F-B). illa: “(but) she.” Note the emphatic asyndeton after the bucolic diaeresis (F-B).
501: gradiens: i.e., as she walks (Walpole). deas: the nymphs (Walpole). I.e., the Oreads (F-B).
502: Latonae: Leto, the mother of Diana and Apollo (F-B). tacitum...pectus: i.e., she is possessed with unspeakable joy (F-B). pertemptant: “thrill” (F-B).
504: instans operi regnisque futuris: “pressing on the work of her kingdom to be.” A case of hendiadys (F-B). operi: dat. after instans (Robertson).
505–6: The order of the construction is: Saepta armis subnixaque alte solio resedit foribus divae, media testudine templi (Robertson).
505: foribus divae: “at the door of the goddess” (i.e., of her shrine), not the outer doors of the temple, but the doors of the inner cella, which enclosed the image of the goddess (F-B). foribus: “in,” or “within, the doors”; so near the portal as to appear to the spectator to be in it. The Queen had been advancing with her train towards (ad) the temple. She has now ascended the flight of steps, crossed the broad platform or colonnade in front, passed through the door, and taken her seat on a high throne placed directly in the rear of the wide portal (Frieze). media testudine templi: “beneath the temple’s central dome.” The ablative is local (F-B). “Within the vault of the temple,” or “in the interior of the vaulted temple.” Vergil has in view, as before, Roman temples, in which extensive use was made of the arch and dome (Frieze).
506: septa armis: i.e., armed men (F-B). solio subnixa: “supported by, seated upon a throne” (Frieze).

Virgil Aeneid 1.494-506 Scansion*

Haēc dūm| Dārdănĭ|o Aēnē|aē || mīr|āndă vĭd|ēntŭr,

dūm stŭpĕt| ōbtūt|ūque || haēr|ēt dēf|īxŭs ĭn| ūnō,495

rēgīn|a ād tēm|plūm, || fōr|mā pūl|chērrĭmă| Dīdō,

īncēs|sīt māg|nā || iŭvĕn|ūm stīp|āntĕ căt|ērvā.

quālĭs ĭn| Eūrōt|aē || rīp|īs aūt| pēr iŭgă| CŶnthī

ēxēr|cēt Dī|ānă || chŏr|ōs, quām| mīllĕ sĕc|ūtaē

hīnc āt|que hīnc glŏmĕr|āntŭr || Ŏr|ēădĕs|; īllă phăr|ētrăm500

fērt ŭmĕr|ō grădĭ|ēnsquĕ || dĕ|ās sŭpĕr|ēmĭnĕt| ōmnēs

(Lātōn|aē tăcĭt|ūm || pēr|tēmptān|t gaūdĭă| pēctŭs):

tālĭs ĕr|āt Dīd|ō, || tāl|ēm sē| laētă fĕr|ēbăt

pēr mĕdĭ|ōs īn|stāns || ŏpĕr|ī rēg|nīsquĕ fŭt|ūrīs.

tūm fŏrĭb|ūs dīv|aē, || mĕdĭ|ā tēs|tūdĭnĕ| tēmplī,505

saēpta ār|mīs sŏlĭ|ōque || āl|tē sūb|nīxă rĕs|ēdĭt.

*With acknowledgment and thanks to https:hands-up-education.org/aplatin.html for making this resource available.