506 - 525 Priam arms himself, but his wife tries to dissuade him from fighting Translation

Question 1

fortisan et Priami fuerint quae fata requiras.
urbis uti captae casum convulsaque vidit
limina tectorum et medium in penetralibus hostem,

Answer 1

Perhaps you may also ask what was the fate of Priam. When he saw the fall of the captured city, the entrances of the houses torn apart and the enemy in their midst in the inner chambers,

Question 2

arma diu senior desueta trementibus aevo
circumdat nequiquam umeris et inutile ferrum
cingitur, ac densos fertur moriturus in hostes.

Answer 2

the old man vainly puts on his shoulders trembling with age weapons to which he had long been unaccustomed, girds on his useless sword and, doomed to die rushes into the closely packed enemy.

Question 3

aedibus in mediis nudoque sub aetheris axe
ingens ara fuit iuxtaque veterrima laurus
incumbens arae atque umbra complexa penates.

Answer 3

In the middle of the palace, beneath the open vault of heaven, was a huge altar and, nearby, a very ancient bay tree overhanging the altar and embracing the household gods with its shade.

Question 4

hic Hecuba et natae nequiquam altaria circum,
praecipites atra ceu tempestate columbae,
condensae et divum amplexae simulacra sedebant.

Answer 4

Here, Hecuba and her daughters sat, pressed closely together in vain around the altar and embracing the images of the gods, like doves driven headlong by a black storm.

Question 5

ipsum autem sumptis Priamum iuvenalibus armis
ut vidit, ‘quae mens tam dira, miserrime coniunx,
impulit his cingi telis? aut quo ruis?’ inquit

Answer 5

However, when [Hecuba] saw Priam himself having put on youthful arms, she said, ‘What purpose so dreadful, most wretched husband, has driven [you] to gird yourself with these weapons? Or where are you rushing off to?

Question 6

‘non tali auxilio nec defensoribus istis

tempus eget; non, si ipse meus nunc adforet Hector.

Answer 6

‘The circumstances do not need such aid nor that sort of defenders; no, [not even] if my Hector himself were now present.

Question 7

huc tandem concede; haec ara tuebitur omnes,
aut moriere simul.’ sic ore effata recepit
ad sese et sacra longaevum in sede locavit.

Answer 7

Please come here; this altar will guard everyone, or you will die together [with me].’ Having uttered this from her mouth, she drew the aged man to herself and placed him on the sacred throne.