Preparations for the Duel and Juno's Appeal to Juturna — Virgil, Aeneid Book 12 (lines 78–158), Latin & English

non Teucros agat¹ in Rutulos, Teucrum arma quiescant

Let him not lead the Teucrians against the Rutulians, let the arms of the Teucrians be still,

et Rutuli; nostro dirimamus sanguine bellum,

and the Rutulians too; let us decide the war with our own blood,

illo quaeratur coniunx Lavinia campo.

on that field let Lavinia be sought as wife.

Haec ubi dicta dedit rapidusque in tecta recessit.

When he had spoken these words and retreated quickly into the palace,

poscit equos gaudetque tuens ante ora frementis,

he called for his horses and rejoiced, seeing them neighing before his face,

Pilumno quos ipsa decus dedit Orithyia,

which Orithyia herself had given as a glory to Pilumnus,

qui candore nives anteirent, cursibus auras.

such as would surpass the snows in whiteness and the winds in speed.

Circumstant properi aurigae manibusque lacessunt

The swift charioteers stood around and with hollow hands excited

pectora plausa cavis et colla comantia pectunt.

their patted chests and combed their maned necks.

Ipse dehinc auro squalentem alboque orichalco

Then he himself bound about his shoulders his corselet rough with gold

circumdat loricam umeris; simul aptat habendo²

and white orichalcum; at the same time he fitted for wearing

ensemque clipeumque et rubrae cornua cristae.

both his sword and shield, and the horns of his red-crested helmet:

ensem, quem Dauno ignipotens deus ipse parenti

the sword which the lord of fire himself had made for his father Daunus

fecerat et Stygia candentem tinxerat unda.

and had dipped, glowing white-hot, in the Stygian wave.

Exin quae mediis ingenti adnixa columnae

Then, what was standing in the middle of the hall leaning against a huge column,

aedibus adstabat, validam vi corripit hastam,

he seized with force: a strong spear,

Actoris Aurunci spolium, quassatque trementem

the spoil of Auruncan Actor, and shook it as it quivered,

vociferans: Nunc, O numquam frustrata vocatus

crying out:

hasta meos, nunc tempus adest: te maximus Actor

”Now, O spear that never failed my calls,

te Turni nunc dextra gerit. Da sternere³ corpus

now the time is here: once greatest Actor, now the right hand of Turnus wields you. Grant me to lay low the body

loricamque manu valida lacerare revulsam

and with strong hand to tear open the shattered breastplate

semiviri Phrygis et foedare in pulvere crinis

of the effeminate Phrygian, and to defile in the dust his hair,

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vibratos calido ferro murraque madentis.

curled with hot iron and dripping with myrrh.”

His agitur furiis; totoque ardentis ab ore

By these furies he was driven; and from the whole face of the burning man

scintillae absistunt, oculis micat acribus ignis:

sparks flew, fire flashed from his sharp eyes:

mugitus veluti cum prima in proelia taurus

just as when a bull, at the beginning of a fight, raises

terrificos ciet atque irasci in cornua temptat,

terrifying bellows, and tries to vent his rage into his horns,

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arboris obnixus trunco, ventosque lacessit

butting against the trunk of a tree, and challenges the winds

ictibus aut sparsa ad pugnam proludit harena.

with blows, or practices for the fight by scattering sand.

Nec minus interea maternis saevos in armis

No less meanwhile, fierce in the armor of his mother,

Aeneas acuit Martem et se suscitat ira,

Aeneas whetted his martial spirit and roused himself with anger,

oblato gaudens componi foedere bellum,

rejoicing that the war was being settled by the proposed treaty.

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tum socios maestique metum solatur Iuli,

Then he comforted his companions and the fear of sad Iulus,

fata docens, regique iubet responsa Latino

teaching them the fates, and commanded his men to carry back

certa referre viros et pacis dicere leges.

certain answers to King Latinus and to declare the terms of peace.

Postera vix summos spargebat lumine montis

The following day had scarcely begun to sprinkle the mountaintops with light,

orta dies, cum primum alto se gurgite tollunt

when first from the deep gulf the horses of the sun

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solis equi lucemque elatis naribus efflant:

raise themselves and breathe out light from their high nostrils:

campum ad certamen magnae sub moenibus urbis

the field under the walls of the great city for the combat

dimensi Rutulique viri Teucrique parabant

both the Rutulian men and the Teucrians measured and prepared,

in medioque focos et dis communibus aras

and in the middle hearths and grassy altars for their common gods

gramineas. Alii fontemque ignemque ferebant,

they built. Others were bringing water and fire,

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velati limo⁴ et verbena tempora vincti.

veiled in sacrificial aprons and their temples bound with sacred verbena.

Procedit legio Ausonidum, pilataque plenis

The legion of the Ausonians advanced, and the spear-armed

agmina se fundunt portis. Hinc Troïus omnis

ranks poured out from the crowded gates. On this side all the Trojan

Tyrrhenusque ruit variis exercitus armis,

and Tyrrhenian army rushed in varied armor,

haud secus instructi ferro, quam si aspera Martis

equipped with iron no otherwise than if the harsh battle of Mars

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pugna vocet; nec non mediis in milibus ipsi

were calling them; and moreover, in the midst of the thousands,

ductores auro volitant ostroque decori,

the leaders themselves flew about, adorned with gold and purple,

et genus Assaraci Mnestheus et fortis Asilas

both Mnestheus, offspring of Assaracus, and brave Asilas,

et Messapus equum domitor, Neptunia proles.

and Messapus, tamer of horses, offspring of Neptune.

Utque dato signo spatia in sua quisque recessit,

And when, the signal given, each retired to his own space,

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defigunt tellure hastas et scuta reclinant.

they fixed their spears in the earth and leaned their shields.

Tum studio effusae matres et volgus inermum

Then, poured out in their eagerness, mothers and the unarmed crowd

invalidique senes turris ac tecta domorum

and weak old men beset the towers and the roofs of the houses,

obsedere, alii portis sublimibus adstant.

others stood at the high gates.

At Iuno e summo, qui nunc Albanus habetur,

But Juno, from the summit of the hill which is now called Alban,

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tum neque nomen erat nec honos aut gloria monti,

(then there was neither name nor honor nor glory to the mountain,)

prospiciens tumulo campum aspectabat et ambas

looking forth from the height, gazed upon the plain and both

Laurentum Troumque acies urbemque Latini.

the lines of the Laurentines and Trojans, and the city of Latinus.

Extemplo Turni sic est adfata sororem

Immediately she thus addressed the sister of Turnus,

diva deam, stagnis quae fluminibusque sonoris

a goddess to a goddess, who rules over the pools and sounding rivers

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praesidet (hunc illi rex aetheris altus honorem

(this honor high Jupiter, the king of heaven,

Iuppiter erepta pro virginitate sacravit):

consecrated to her in return for her ravished virginity):

Nympha, decus fluviorum, animo gratissima nostro,

”Nymph, glory of rivers, most pleasing to my heart,

scis ut⁵ te cunctis unam, quaecumque Latinae

you know how I have preferred you alone of all the Latin girls who have ascended

magnanimi Iovis ingratum ascendere cubile,

to the thankless bed of great-souled Jupiter,

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praetulerim caelique lubens in parte locarim:

and have gladly placed you in a part of heaven:

disce tuum, ne me incuses, Iuturna, dolorem.

learn your grief, Juturna, lest you should blame me.

Qua visa est Fortuna pati Parcaeque sinebant

As far as Fortune seemed to permit and the Fates allowed

cedere res Latio, Turnum et tua moenia texi:

things to yield to Latium, I protected Turnus and your walls:

nunc iuvenem imparibus video concurrere fatis,

now I see the youth rushing into unequal fates,

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Parcarumque dies et vis inimica propinquat.

and the day of the Fates and the hostile power approaches.

Non pugnam aspicere hanc oculis, non foedera possum.

I cannot look upon this battle with my eyes, nor upon this treaty.

Tu pro germano siquid praesentius audes,

If you dare anything more present for your brother,

perge: decet. Forsan miseros meliora sequentur.

go on: it is fitting. Perhaps better things will follow the wretched.”

Vix ea, cum lacrimas oculis Iuturna profudit

Scarcely had she said these words, when Juturna poured tears from her eyes

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terque quaterque manu pectus percussit honestum.

and three and four times struck her beautiful breast with her hand.

Non lacrumis hoc tempus, ait Saturnia Iuno:

”This is no time for tears,” said Saturnian Juno:

Adcelera et fratrem, siquis modus, eripe morti,

”Hasten, and if there is any way, snatch your brother from death,

aut tu bella cie conceptumque excute foedus:

or stir up wars and shatter the treaty that has been conceived.”

Syntax notes5 items

12.78non Teucros agat
The present subjunctive agat with non expresses a prohibition or negative wish ("let him not lead..."). In classical prose, ne is standard for negative commands/wishes, but non is frequently used in poetry, particularly by Vergil.
12.88aptat habendo
habendo is the dative of the gerund from habere ("to hold, wear"). It expresses purpose or suitability ("makes it fit for wearing") and is dependent on the verb aptat.
12.97Da sternere
da (present imperative of dare) is followed by three infinitives (sternere, lacerare, foedare). In poetic Latin, dare commonly takes an infinitive with the sense of "allow" or "grant that."
12.120velati limo
Manuscripts vary between limo (a sacrificial apron) and lino (linen garments). The translation adopts limo, referring to the traditional apron worn by priests or attendants during sacrifices.
12.143scis ut
The verb of knowing scis introduces an indirect question with ut ("how"). Consequently, the verbs in the subordinate clause, praetulerim and locarim (syncopated form of locaverim), are in the perfect subjunctive.

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-lat2:12.78-12.158