The Aeneid, Liber I Selections: Translation

A man dressed in a loose brown robe speaks to a woman dressed in fancier attire of red and gold The goal of this section of the text is to practice translation. We have included some notes to help you through these passages.

Image note: This painting, titled Juno and King Aeolus at the Cave of Winds by Antonio Randa, was completed in the 16th century (the exact date is unknown). Note the clothing that Juno is wearing: it reflects medieval fashions, which was a common technique for painters in this period.

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Vergil Aeneid Commentaries will serve as a detailed source for notes while reading or translating this text. It is handy to have this document open while working through your reading passage.

Meter Review

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Line 34-87 Summary

Between the conclusion of the lines you read previously and the text contained next, Juno summons the master of the winds, Aeolus, asking him to scuttle Aeneas' fleet. Juno succeeds in appealing to Aelous, who unleashes his winds on Aeneas and his ships.

Aeneid Book I: 88-107

Ēripiunt subitō nūbēs caelumque diemque
Teucrōrum ex oculīs; pontō nox incubat ātra;
Intonuēre polī et crēbrīs micat ignibus aethēr 90
praesentemque virīs intentant omnia mortem.
Extemplō Aenēae solvuntur frīgore membra;
ingemit et duplicēs tendēns ad sīdera palmās
tālia vōce refert: 'Ō terque quaterque beātī,
quīs ante ōra patrum Trōiae sub moenibus altīs 95
contigit oppetere! ō Danaüm fortissime gentis
Tӯdīdē! Mēne Īliacīs occumbere campīs
nōn potuisse tuāque animam hanc effundere dextrā,
saevus ubi Aeacidae tēlō iacet Hector, ubi ingēns
Sarpēdōn, ubi tot Simois correpta sub undīs 100
scūta virum galeāsque et fortia corpora volvit!'
Tālia iactantī strīdēns Aquilōne procella
vēlum adversa ferit, flūctūsque ad sīdera tollit.
franguntur rēmī, tum prōra āvertit et undīs
dat latus, īnsequitur cumulō praeruptus aquae mōns. 105
Hī summō in flūctū pendent; hīs unda dehīscēns
terram inter flūctūs aperit, furit aestus harēnīs.

Notes on Names

This section refers to several proper nouns. Below is a list of these nouns to help you make sense of the references.

Aeacidae = Aeacides – descendent of Aeacus, i.e., Achilles
Aquilone = Aquilo - the North wind
Danaum = Danaorum – Danaans (Greeks). If you see this noun, remember it refers to the Greeks.
Hector = leader of the Trojans
Iliacis = of Ilium (Trojan)
Sarpedon = king of Lydia, ally of the Trojans
Simois = river near Troy
Teucrorum (Teucri) = this is another name for the Trojans. If you see this noun, remember it refers to the Trojans.
Tydide = Tydides – son of Tydeus, i.e., Diomedes

Aeneid Book I: 496-508

These lines serve as an introduction to one of the main characters in the Aeneid, Dido, queen of Carthage. Dido and her interactions with Aeneas impact the story deeply, so take time to get to know this character.

Rēgīna ad templum, fōrmā pulcherrima Dīdō,
incessit magnā iuvenum stīpante catervā.
Quālis in Eurōtae rīpīs aut per iuga Cynthī
exercet Dīāna chorōs, quam mīlle 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 īnstāns operī rēgnīsque futūrīs.
Tum foribus dīvae, mediā testūdine templī, 505
saepta armīs soliōque altē subnīxa resēdit.
Iūra dabat lēgēsque virīs, operumque labōrem
partibus aequābat iūstīs aut sorte trahēbat.

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