Breach of the Treaty and Resumption of Battle — Virgil, Aeneid Book 12 (lines 237–317), Latin & English

237

cogemur, qui nunc lenti consedimus arvis.

we shall be forced, we who now sit sluggishly in the fields.

Talibus incensa est iuvenum sententia dictis

By such words the opinion of the young men was inflamed

iam magis atque magis, serpitque per agmina murmur;

now more and more, and a murmur creeps through the ranks;

240

ipsi Laurentes mutati ipsique Latini.

the Laurentines themselves were changed and the Latins themselves.

Qui sibi iam requiem pugnae rebusque salutem

Those who but now were hoping for rest from battle and safety for their state

sperabant, nunc arma volunt foedusque precantur

now wish for arms, and pray that the treaty be

infectum¹ et Turni sortem miserantur iniquam.

unmade, and pity the unjust lot of Turnus.

His aliud maius Iuturna adiungit et alto

To these Juturna adds another greater sign, and from high

245

dat signum caelo, quo non praesentius ullum

heaven gives an omen, than which none more powerfully

turbavit mentes Italas monstroque fefellit.

disturbed Italian minds and deceived them with its portent.

Namque volans rubra fulvus Iovis ales in aethra

For, flying in the red sky, the tawny bird of Jupiter

litoreas agitabat aves turbamque sonantem

was chasing the shore birds and the noisy crowd

agminis aligeri, subito cum lapsus ad undas

of the winged flock, when suddenly swooping to the waves

250

cycnum excellentem pedibus rapit improbus uncis.

it snatches with its curved talons, relentless, a splendid swan.

Adrexere animos Itali, cunctaeque volucres

The Italians alert their minds, and all the birds

convertunt clamore fugam, mirabile visu,

turn their flight with a clamor—wondrous to see—

aetheraque obscurant pennis hostemque per auras

and obscure the sky with their wings, and in a cloud

facta nube premunt, donec vi victus et ipso

press the enemy through the air, until overcome by force and by the very

255

pondere defecit, praedamque ex unguibus ales

weight the bird failed, and from its talons dropped the prey

proiecit fluvio penitusque in nubila fugit.

into the river and fled deep into the clouds.

Tum vero augurium Rutuli clamore salutant

Then indeed the Rutulians greet the omen with a shout

expediuntque manus; primusque Tolumnius augur

and prepare their hands; and first Tolumnius the augur

Hoc erat, hoc, votis, inquit, quod² saepe petivi.

says: “This was it, this, that I have often sought in my prayers.

260

Adcipio adgnoscoque deos; me, me duce ferrum

I accept and acknowledge the gods; with me, me as leader, snatch up

corripite, O miseri, quos improbus advena bello

the iron, O wretched ones, whom the relentless stranger terrifies

territat invalidas ut aves et litora vestra

with war like powerless birds, and ravages your shores

vi populat: petet ille fugam penitusque profundo

by force: he will take flight and deep into the deep

vela dabit. Vos unanimi densete catervas

give sail. Do you with one mind thicken your ranks

265

et regem vobis pugna defendite raptum.

and defend in battle your king snatched from you.”

Dixit et adversos telum contorsit in hostis

He spoke, and running forward hurled his weapon at the opposing enemy:

procurrens: sonitum dat stridula cornus et auras

the whirring cornel-wood spear makes a sound and cuts the air

certa secat. Simul hoc, simul ingens clamor et omnes

with certain aim. At once this, at once a huge clamor, and all

turbati cunei calefactaque corda tumultu.

the wedges of the ranks are thrown into confusion, and hearts are heated by the tumult.

270

Hasta volans, ut³ forte novem pulcherrima fratrum

The flying spear, as by chance nine most beautiful brothers

corpora constiterant contra, quos fida crearat

had stood in a body opposite—whom a single faithful

una tot Arcadio coniunx Tyrrhena Gylippo,

Tyrrhenian wife had borne to Arcadian Gylippus—

horum unum ad medium, teritur qua sutilis alvo

one of these at the waist, where the stitched belt

balteus et laterum iuncturas fibula mordet

rubs the belly and the buckle bites the joints of the sides,

275

egregium forma iuvenem et fulgentibus armis

a youth outstanding in form and with gleaming armor,

transadigit costas fulvaque effundit harena.

it pierces through the ribs and stretches him on the yellow sand.

At fratres, animosa phalanx accensaque luctu,

But the brothers, a courageous band and inflamed with grief,

pars, gladios stringunt manibus, pars missile ferrum

part draw their swords with their hands, part snatch up

corripiunt caecique ruunt. Quos agmina contra

missile iron and rush blindly. Against them the ranks

280

procurrunt Laurentum, hinc densi rursus inundant

of the Laurentines run forward; from here again in dense throng pour forth

Troes Agyllinique et pictis Arcades armis:

the Trojans, the Agyllines, and the Arcadians with painted armor:

sic omnis amor unus habet decernere ferro.

thus one love possesses all to decide the issue with the sword.

Diripuere aras, it toto turbida caelo

They stripped the altars; through the whole sky goes a turbulent

tempestas telorum ac ferreus ingruit imber,

storm of weapons, and an iron rain pours down,

285

craterasque focosque ferunt. Fugit ipse Latinus

and they carry off bowls and hearth-fires. Latinus himself flees,

pulsatos referens infecto foedere divos.

bearing back his defeated gods, the treaty unfulfilled.

Infrenant alii currus aut corpora saltu

Others rein in chariots, or leap

subiciunt in equos et strictis ensibus adsunt.

onto horses and are present with drawn swords.

Messapus regem regisque insigne gerentem,

Messapus, eager to confound the treaty,

290

Tyrrhenum Aulesten, avidus confundere foedus,

terrifies with opposing horse the Tyrrhenian Aulestes,

adverso proterret equo: ruit ille recedens

a king and bearing the emblem of a king; Aulestes falls as he retreats,

et miser oppositis a tergo involvitur aris

and wretchedly is entangled in the altars placed behind him,

in caput inque umeros. At fervidus advolat hasta

onto his head and shoulders. But hot-tempered Messapus flies up with his spear

Messapus teloque orantem multa trabali

and with his beam-like weapon, as Aulestes begs for many things,

295

desuper altus equo graviter ferit atque ita fatur:

strikes him heavily from his horse high above and speaks thus:

Hoc habet,⁴ haec melior magnis data victima divis.

”He has it! This is a better victim given to the great gods.”

Concurrunt Itali spoliantque calentia membra.

The Italians rush together and despoil the warm limbs.

Obvius ambustum torrem Corynaeus ab ara

Corynaeus, standing in the way, snatches a burnt brand from the altar

corripit et venienti Ebuso plagamque ferenti

and, as Ebusus comes up and offers a blow,

300

occupat os flammis: olli ingens barba reluxit

forestalls his face with flames: his huge beard shone

nidoremque ambusta dedit. Super ipse secutus

and, burnt, gave off a stench. Corynaeus following up in person

caesariem laeva turbati corripit hostis

grasps with his left hand the hair of his troubled enemy,

inpressoque genu nitens terrae adplicat ipsum:

and pressing down with his knee, straining, pins him to the earth:

sic rigido latus ense ferit. Podalirius Alsum

thus he strikes his side with his stiff sword. Podalirius, pursuing Alsus

305

pastorem primaque acie per tela ruentem,

the shepherd, as he rushes through weapons in the front line,

ense sequens nudo superimminet: ille securi

hangs over him with naked sword; Alsus, with ax

adversi frontem mediam mentumque reducta

drawn back, cleaves the middle of the forehead and the chin of his foe

disicit et sparso late rigat arma cruore.

and wets his weapons widely with scattered blood.

Olli dura quies oculos et ferreus urget

Hard rest and iron sleep press down his eyes,

310

somnus, in aeternam conduntur lumina noctem.

and his lights are closed in eternal night.

At pius Aeneas dextram tendebat inermem

But pious Aeneas stretched out his unarmed right hand

nudato capite atque suos clamore vocabat:

with bare head and called his men with a shout:

Quo ruitis? Quaeve ista repens discordia surgit?

”Whither do you rush? Or what is this sudden discord that rises?

O cohibete iras! Ictum iam foedus et omnes

Oh, restrain your rages! The treaty is already struck and all

315

compositae leges; mihi ius concurrere soli;

its laws are settled; the right to engage belongs to me alone;

me sinite atque auferte metus; ego foedera faxo⁵

leave me to it and banish fears; I will make the alliance

firma manu; Turnum debent haec iam mihi sacra.

firm with my hand; these sacred rites already owe Turnus to me.”

Syntax notes5 items

12.243infectum
Functions as a predicate adjective modifying "foedus" (treaty), serving as the object of "precantur" (they pray). It expresses their yearning for the treaty to be undone or rendered void.
12.259Hoc erat... quod
The relative clause beginning with "quod" refers back to "hoc". The imperfect "erat" highlights that "this was the very thing" the speaker had long been seeking in his prayers, emphasizing the arrival of the long-awaited moment.
12.270ut
The conjunction "ut" with the indicative pluperfect ("constiterant") introduces a temporal or circumstantial clause, describing the accidental alignment of the brothers at the precise moment the spear was flying.
12.296Hoc habet
A colloquial and idiomatic exclamation derived from the gladiatorial arena, meaning "He has it!" or "A hit!". Here it conveys Messapus's triumphant shout upon delivering the fatal blow to Aulestes.
12.316faxo
An archaic future perfect form (equivalent to "fecero"), expressing strong determination or guarantee. It serves as the main verb to assert Aeneas's resolute promise: "I will make (the treaty) firm."

Translated by Gemini 3.5 Flash (published 2026-05-22) · Revision history (1, latest 2026-09-21)

2026-09-21 AI review — translation 1

urn:cts:latinLit:phi0690.phi003.humanitext-lat2:12.237-12.317