Book Four
Aeneas* et Troiani Carthaginienses (acc. pl.), qui (who) oppidum
aedificant, spectant. Aedificatores (nom., pl. the builders) similes
(like, an adjective followed by the dative) apibus (bees, Dat. pl.)
laborant. Alii (some) muros, templa, et regiam aedificant; alii (some)
leges (acc. pl., laws) faciunt. Et Dido* femina--"dux femina facti."*
Aeneas* putat, "Forsan (perhaps) hoc (this) oppidum erit Nova Troia."
Venus Aeneam* in Africa manere non cupit; sed filium habere otium et
Troianos esse tutos cupit. Etiam Iuno (nom. sing., Juno) Aeneam* et
Troianos in Africa manere, et ad Italiam non procedere, et Novam Troiam non
aedificare cupit. Venus filium, Amorem (acc. sing., Cupid), ad reginam
mittit; Amor (nom. sing., Cupid) Didonem ( acc. sing.) verberat (strikes),
et subito Dido Aeneam amat.
Sed Iuppiter* Mercurium* mittit. Mercurius* Aeneae* dicit, "Hoc (this) non
tuum oppidum erit. Officium tuum est discedere." Etsi Didonem* (acc.) in
secreto amat. Aeneas* cum sociis navigare parat. Sed Dido* intellegit,
"Quis fallere possit amantem ?"* Misera Dido* (nom. sing.) Aeneam* accusat,
"Cur discedis? Nos (08.08) benigni (followed by the dative) Troianis
(dat.) fuimus, et tibi (08.08) meum oppidum donavi." Aeneas respondet,
"Est meum officium", et navigia Troianorum ad Italiam navigant. Dido pyram
(funeral pyre) aedificat, et se (acc.sing., herself) in flammis gladio
Aeneae* interficit.
* Aeneas is the nominative singular, all the other cases use the regular
first declension endings.
*Dido, legendary queen of Carthage.
* "dux femina facti" - famous quote, "a woman was the leader of the deed"
*Iuppiter, the Roman king of the gods, Jupiter (two p's in Latin, one in
English)
* Mercurius, Roman messenger of the gods (second declension)
*"Quis fallere possit amantem ?" , Who is able to deceive a lover?
Translation: Aeneas and the Trojan Carthaginians, who build the town, watch. The builders work like bees. They build some walls, temples, and a palace; they make some laws. And the woman Dido---"a woman was the leader of the deed." Aeneas thinks, "Perhaps this town will be New Troy."
Venus does not want Aeneas to stay in Africa; but he does wish the son to have leisure and the Trojans to be safe. Juno even wishes Aeneas and the Trojans to remain in Africa, to not advance to Italy, and to not build New Troy. Venus sends the son, Cupid, to the palace; Cupid strikes Dido, and suddenly Dido loves Aeneas.
But Jupiter sends Mercurius. Mercurius says to Aeneas, "This will not be your town. Your duty is to depart." And so he loves Dido in secret. Aeneas prepares to sail with allies. But Dido understands, "Who is able to deceive a lover?" Poor Dido accuses Aeneas, "Why do you go away? We have been kind to the Trojans, and I have given your town to you." Aeneas answers, "It is my duty", and the boats of Trojans sail to Italy. Dido builds a funeral pyre, and kills herself in the flames with the sword of Aeneas.
Translation: Aeneas and the Trojan Carthaginians, who build the town, watch. The builders work like bees. They build some walls, temples, and a palace; they make some laws. And the woman Dido---"a woman was the leader of the deed." Aeneas thinks, "Perhaps this town will be New Troy."
Venus does not want Aeneas to stay in Africa; but he does wish the son to have leisure and the Trojans to be safe. Juno even wishes Aeneas and the Trojans to remain in Africa, to not advance to Italy, and to not build New Troy. Venus sends the son, Cupid, to the palace; Cupid strikes Dido, and suddenly Dido loves Aeneas.
But Jupiter sends Mercurius. Mercurius says to Aeneas, "This will not be your town. Your duty is to depart." And so he loves Dido in secret. Aeneas prepares to sail with allies. But Dido understands, "Who is able to deceive a lover?" Poor Dido accuses Aeneas, "Why do you go away? We have been kind to the Trojans, and I have given your town to you." Aeneas answers, "It is my duty", and the boats of Trojans sail to Italy. Dido builds a funeral pyre, and kills herself in the flames with the sword of Aeneas.