Perseus section G

Question 1

utque Iovis praepes, vacuo cum vidit in arvo

Answer 1

and just as Jupiter’s bird (i.e. an eagle), when it has seen, in some deserted field,

Question 2

praebentem Phoebo liventia terga draconem,

Answer 2

a basking snake exposing its lead-coloured back to
Phoebus, [the sun god]

Question 3

occupat aversum, neu [neve] saeva retorqueat ora,

Answer 3

seizes it and in case [the snake] twists back its cruel mouth,

Question 4

squamigeris avidos figit cervicibus ungues,

Answer 4

fixes its greedy talons in the scaly neck,

Question 5

sic celeri missus praeceps per inane volatu

Answer 5

so he [Perseus] swooped in swift flight, headlong through the empty [sky]

Question 6

terga ferae pressit dextroque frementis in armo

Answer 6

and bore down on the back of the creature.

Question 7

Inachides ferrum curvo tenus abdidit hamo.

Answer 7

The descendant of Inachus hid his sword in right up to its
curved hilt in the right shoulder of the bellowing beast.

Question 8

vulnere laesa gravi modo se sublimis in auras

Answer 8

The beast, harmed by the deep wound now raised itself up high into the air,

Question 9

attollit, modo subdit aquis, modo more ferocis

Answer 9

now dived deep in the waters, now it twisted [in circles] like a

Question 10

versat apri, quem turba canum circumsona terret;

Answer 10

fierce boar which a baying pack of dogs terrifies.

Question 11

ille avidos morsus velocibus effugit alis,

Answer 11

Perseus fled on his swift wings [from] the greedy jaws, and

Question 12

quaque patet, nunc terga cavis super obsita conchis,

Answer 12

and wherever there was an opportunity, with his curved sword he wounded [the beast]

Question 13

nunc laterum costas, nunc qua tenuissima cauda

Answer 13

now [on] his back studded with hollow shells, now [in] the ribs on his flanks,

Question 14

desinit in piscem, falcato vulnerat ense.

Answer 14

now where his tail was thinnest and tapered like a fish.

Question 15

belua puniceo mixtos cum sanguine fluctus ore vomit;

Answer 15

The monster spewed out water mixed with red blood;

Question 16

maduere graves aspergine pennae.

Answer 16

and[ the hero’s] wings were wet and heavy with spray.

Question 17

nec bibulis ultra Perseus talaribus ausus

Answer 17

Perseus did not dare to trust his soaking winged sandals anymore,

Question 18

credere conspexit scopulum, qui vertice summo

Answer 18

he caught sight of a cliff whose highest peak

Question 19

stantibus exstat aquis, operitur ab aequore moto;

Answer 19

stood out from the waters when they were calm but was covered when the sea was rough.

Question 20

nisux eo rupisque tenens iuga prima sinistra

Answer 20

He leaned on this and grasping the topmost ridge of the rock with his left hand,

Question 21

ter quater exegit repetita per ilia ferrum. litora cum plausu clamor superasque deorum

Answer 21

he drove his sword three times, four times, over and again into [the monster’s] belly. A shout filled with applause the shores

Question 22

implevere domos; gaudent generumque salutant

Answer 22

and the lofty houses of the gods; Cassiope and Cepheus, [the girl’s] father, rejoiced and greeted their son-in-law,

Question 23

auxiliumque domus servatoremque fatentur Cassiope Cepheusque pater.

Answer 23

and acknowledged him as the help and saviour of their house.