Aeneid Book I: The Storm, Part 2

Let's read! For this page, read Book I, lines 81-123. For notes on vocabulary and grammar along with additional insights, please download the Aeneid Reading Handout.

Additionally, download and use the Aeneid Reading Notes Handout for taking notes and practicing scansion. As you read, remember to occasionally stop and attempt to scan (check the meter) a few lines. Being able to determine the meter of a line of poetry is an important, and continuing, part of the process of reading it correctly!

Juno travels to the realm of the southern winds and calls upon Aeolus to unleash his furious winds on the Trojans.

Aeneid Book I: 81-123 - Aeolus Raises a Storm

Haec ubi dicta, cavum conversā cuspide montem
impulit in latus; ac ventī velut agmine factō,
quā data porta, ruunt et terrās turbine perflant.
Incubuēre marī tōtumque ā sēdibus īmīs
ūnā Eurusque Notusque ruunt crēberque procellīs 85
Āfricus, et vāstōs volvunt ad lītora flūctūs.
īnsequitur clāmorque virum strīdorque rudentum;
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.
Trīs Notus abreptās in saxa latentia torquet
(saxa vocant Italī mediīs quae in flūctibus Ārās,
dorsum immāne marī summō), trēs Eurus ab altō 110
in brevia et syrtēs urget, miserābile vīsū,
inlīditque vadīs atque aggere cingit harēnae.
Ūnam, quae Lyciōs fīdumque vehēbat Orontēn,
ipsius ante oculōs ingēns ā vertice pontus
in puppim ferit: excutitur prōnusque magister 115
volvitur in caput, ast illam ter flūctus ibīdem
torquet agēns circum et rapidus vorat aequore vertex.
Appārent rārī nantēs in gurgite vāstō,
arma virum tabulaeque et Trōia gaza per undās.
Iam validam Īlioneī nāvem, iam fortis Achātae, 120
et quā vectus Abās, et quā grandaevus Alētēs,
vīcit hiems; laxīs laterum compāgibus omnēs
accipiunt inimīcum imbrem rīmīsque fatīscunt.

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.

Abas = a Trojan leader
Achatae = Achates - a faithful comrade of Achilles
Aeacidae = Aeacides – descendent of Aeacus, i.e., Achilles
Africus = the Southwest wind
Aletes = a Trojan leader
Aquilone = Aquilo - the North wind
Danaum = Danaorum – Danaans (Greeks). If you see this noun, remember it refers to the Greeks.
Eurus = the East wind
Hector = leader of the Trojans
Iliacis = of Ilium (Trojan)
Ilionei = Ilioneus - a Trojan leader
Lycios = Lycians - an ally of the Trojans
Oronten = Orontes - leader of the Lycians
Notus = the South wind
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

Practice Activity

Now that you've read these lines, see if you can answer the following practice questions.

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