Aeneid - Book VI

[AoM]

Lines 477-534:

- iamque arva tenebant (477): cf. II.209, of the twin serpents.
- frequentant (478): cf. frequentes (I.707); along with frequentes (486) below, a chilling resonance.
- lines 479-83: a long tricolon crescens.
- Tydeus (479): cf. Tydide (I.97); Tydides (I.471; II.164, 197); the father finally appears.
- inclutus armis (479): cf. incluta fama (II.82); incluta bello (II.241).
- Dardanidae (482): tragic enjambment.
- longo ordine (482): cf. pueri et pavidae longo ordine matres (II.766).
- etiam currus, etiam arma (485): cf. hic illius arma, / hic currus fuit (I.16-7, of Juno).
- veniendi discere causas (488): cf. veniendi poscere causas (I.414).
- proceres (489): cf. alii proceres (I.740); delectos populi ad proceres (III.58); o proceres (III.103).
- Agamemnoniaeque phalanges (489): cf. res Agamemnonias (III.54).
- fulgentiaque arma (490): cf. fulgentibus armis (217).
- trepidare...vertere... / ...tollere (491-2): three historic infinitives, intensifying the chaos.
- pars vertere terga, / ceu quondam petiere rates (491-2): cf. patrias vento petiere Mycenas (II.180); diffugiunt alii ad navis et litora cursu / fida petunt; pars ingentem formidine turpi / scandunt rursus equum et nota conduntur in alvo (II.399-401).
- hiantis (493): cf. inhians (IV.64); hiatu (237).
- Priamiden (494): cf. Priamiden Helenum (III.295); Priamides Helenus (III.346).
- corpore toto (494): cf. tum gelidus toto manabat corpore sudor (III.175, of Aeneas); hinc toto praeceps se corpore ad undas / misit avi similis (IV.253-4, of Mercury); toto descendit corpore pestis (V.683, of the Trojan fleet).
- lacerum (495): cf. quid miserum, Aenea, laceras? (III.41, said by Polydorus); lacerumque (V.275, of the snake metaphor during the ship race).
- ora, / ora (495-6): cf. lumina frustra, / lumina (II.405-6, of Cassandra).
- populataque...raptis (496): cf. non nos aut ferro Libycos populare Penatis / venimus, aut raptas ad litora vertere praedas (I.527-8); ac velut ingentem formicae farris acervum / cum populant (IV.402-3).
- truncas (497): cf. iacet ingens litore truncus (II.557); obtruncat (II.663; III.55, 332).
- pavitantem (498): cf. pavitans (II.107, of Sinon).
- et notis compellat vocibus ultro (499): cf. atque ultro verbis compellat amicis (II.372, of Androgeos); tandem his Aenean compellat vocibus ultro (IV.304, of Dido).
- Deiphobe armipotens (500): cf. divae armipotentis (II.425).
- genus alto a sanguine Teucri (500): cf. IV.230, of Aeneas.
- fessum vasta caede (503): cf. multa vastabat caede cruentus (I.471, of Diomedes).
- tumulum...inanem (505): cf. Hectoreum ad tumulum...inanem (III.304).
- voce vocavi (506): cf. voce vocans (247).
- sed me (511): cf. 461.
- scelus exitiale (511): cf. innuptae donum exitiale Minervae (II.31); connecting Helen and the Trojan horse.
- Lacaenae (511): cf. Tyndaridis facies invisa Lacaenae (II.601).
- his...malis (512): cf. tu ne cede malis (95); eripe me his, invicte, malis (365).
- mersere (512): cf. immerserat (174); mersas (267); mersit (342, 348, 429).
- supremam falsa inter gaudia noctem (513): literal chiasmus.
- nimium meminisse necesse est (514): tattoo-worthy.
- fatalis equus (515): cf. scandit fatalis machina muros / feta armis (II.237-8).
- ardua (515): cf. arduus... / ...equus (II.328-9).
- armatum peditem (516): cf. armato milite (II.20).
- alvo (516): cf. curvam...alvum (II.51); in alvo (II.401).
- simulans euhantis orgia circum (517): cf. ubi audito stimulant trieterica Baccho / orgia (IV.302-3).
- confectum curis (520): cf. confectum aetate parentem (IV.599, of Anchises).
- somnoque gravatum (520): cf. madida cum veste gravatum (359).
- placidaeque simillima morti (522): cf. volucrique simillima somno (II.794, of Creusa's ghost).
- famam exstingui (527): cf. exstinctus pudor et... / fama prior (IV.322-3, of Dido).
- quid moror? (528): cf. quidve moror? (II.102, of Sinon); quid moror? (IV.325, of Dido).
- hortator scelerum (529): cf. scelerumque inventor (II.164).
- instaurate (530): cf. instaurati animi (II.451); instaurata...proelia (II.669); instauramus Polydoro funus (III.62); instauratque diem donis (IV.63); instauratque choros (IV.145); inceptos genitori instaurat honores (V.94).
- age fare vicissim (531): cf. fare age (389); lumenque obscura vicissim / luna premi (IV.80-1); hic patris Aeneae suspensam blanda vicissim / gaudia pertemptant mentem (V.827-8).
- monitu divum (533): cf. attonitus tanto monitu imperioque deorum (IV.282); Iovis monitis (IV.331); terribili monitu (IV.465).
- loca turbida (534): cf. turbidus (296).

 

[AoM]

Lines 535-572:

- roseis...quadrigis (535): cf. rosea cervice (I.402, of Venus); roseoque...ore (II.593, of Venus).
- medium aetherio cursu...axem (536): chiasmus; also, cf. aedibus in mediis nudoque sub aetheris axe (II.512).
- admonuit (538): cf. admoneat (293).
- nox ruit (539): cf. ruit Oceano nox (II.250).
- iter Elysium (542): cf. iter Italiam (III.507).
- i decus, i, nostrum (546): the repetition is essential.
- melioribus utere fatis (546): cf. meliora sequamur (III.188); melioribus, opto, / auspiciis (III.498-9).
- in verbo (547): cf. dicto citius (I.142).
- vestigia torsit (547): cf. vestigia pressit (331); ad sonitum vocis vestigia torsit (III.669, of Polyphemus).
- triplici...muro (549): cf. triplici...versu (V.119).
- rapidus flammis...torrentibus amnis (550): chiasmus; flammis...torrentibus - cf. torrere parant flammis (I.179); rapidus montano flumine torrens (II.305); viscera torrent (V.103).
- sonantia saxa (551): cf. sonantis / ...scopulos (I.200-1); resonantia saxa (III.432); scopulosque sonantis (V.169).
- columnae (552): cf. immanisque columnas (I.428); another chilling resonance.
- exscindere (553): cf. nec posse Argolicis exscindi Pergama telis (II.177); Troianam exscindere gentem (IV.425).
- caelicolae (554): cf. caelicolis (II.592); caelicolae (II.641); caelicolum regi (III.21).
- noctesque diesque (556): cf. noctemque diemque (V.766).
- exterritus (559): cf. magnis exterrita monstris (III.307, of Andromache); penitusque exterrita tellus / Italiae (III.673-4); fatis exterrita Dido (IV.450); Aeneas subitis exterritus umbris (IV.571); trepidoque exterrita cursu (IV.672, of Anna); exterrita (V.215, of a dove); exterrita (V.505, again of a dove).
- dux inclute (562): cf. inclutus armis (479).
- cum lucis Hecate praefecit Avernis (564): cf. nec te / nequiquam lucis Hecate praefecit Avernis (117-8).
- castigatque (567): cf. castigantque moras (IV.407).
- furto (568): cf. suppostaque furto (24).
- in seram commissa piacula mortem (569): chiasmus.
- accincta flagello (570): cf. palla succincta cruenta (555).
- ultrix (570): cf. ultricesque...Dirae (IV.473); Dirae ultrices (IV.610); ultrices...Curae (274).
- Tisiphone (571): cf. 555-6; her reappearance emphasizes the power she has over the region and its victims.
- insultans (571): cf. insultans (II.330, of Sinon); exsultans...Coroebus (II.386); exsultat (II.470, of Pyrrhus); exsultantque vada (III.557); exsultantiaque... / corda (V.137-8); colles...resultant (V.150); exsultat fidens (V.398, of Dares).
- vocat agmina saeva sororum (572): cf. hic Iuno Scaeas saevissima portas / prima tenet sociumque furens a navibus agmen / ferro accincta vocat (II.612-4).

 

[AoM]

Two questions:

tandem corripuit sese atque inimica refugit
in nemus umbriferum, coniunx ubi pristinus illi
respondet curis aequatque Sychaeus amorem. (472-4)

Dido fleeing from Aeneas back to Sychaeus. But does Sychaeus, her husband, respond to her concerns? Or does he respond to her with his concerns? For what it's worth, Horsfall takes the latter.

haec ubi nos praecepta iubent deponere dona. (632)

The Sibyl speaking to Aeneas. The gods' praecepta as subject, or with haec...dona? Here Horsfall takes the former.

 

[Pacifica]

Two questions:

tandem corripuit sese atque inimica refugit
in nemus umbriferum, coniunx ubi pristinus illi
respondet curis aequatque Sychaeus amorem. (472-4)

Dido fleeing from Aeneas back to Sychaeus. But does Sychaeus, her husband, respond to her concerns? Or does he respond to her with his concerns? For what it's worth, Horsfall takes the latter.

I take it as the latter too. The other interpretation, with two datives ("responds to her, to [her] concerns"), seems less natural.

haec ubi nos praecepta iubent deponere dona. (632)
The Sibyl speaking to Aeneas. The gods' praecepta as subject, or with haec...dona? Here Horsfall takes the former.

I first took it as the former, too, but I'm not sure.

 

[AoM]

Thanks for the feedback. Some editors don't address either, which is odd.

--

Lines 573-627:

- stridentes (573): cf. stridor ferri (558).
- panduntur portae (574): cf. II.27 (of Troy).
- atris immanis hiatibus (576): cf. vastoque immanis hiatu (237).
- tum Tartarus ipse / bis patet in praeceps tantum tenditque sub umbras / quantus ad aetherium caeli suspectus Olympum (577-9): cf. quantum vertice ad auras / aetherias, tantum radice in Tartara tendit (IV.445-6).
- fulmine deiecti (581): cf. infesto fulmine morti, / si mereor, demitte (V.691-2, said by Aeneas).
- fundo volvuntur in imo (581): cf. fundoque exaestuat imo (III.577, of Etna).
- lampada (587): cf. Phoebeae lampadis (III.637); Phoebea lampade (IV.6).
- quassans (587): cf. quassatam ventis...classem (I.551); quassataeque rates (IV.53); quassat (V.855, of Sleep).
- demens (590): cf. 172, 280.
- telum / contorsit (592-3): cf. hastam / ... / contorsit (II.50-2, of Laocoön throwing his spear into the horse); primusque rudentem / contorsit laevas proram Palinurus ad undas (III.561-2).
- rostroque...obunco (597): cf. rostrisque tridentibus (V.143).
- rimatur (599): cf. accepit rimosa (414).
- fibris requies...ulla renatis (600): chiasmus.
- iam iam lapsura (602): cf. iam iamque manu tenet et premit hasta (II.530); iam iam nulla mora est (II.701); iam iam nec maxima Iuno / nec Saturnius haec oculis pater aspicit aequis (IV.371-2).
- ante ora paratae (604): cf. ante ora parentum (308).
- regifico luxu (605): cf. regali...luxu (I.637); luxu (IV.193).
- Furiarum maxima (605): cf. Furiarum...maxima (III.252, of Celaeno).
- intonat ore (607): cf. tonat ore (IV.510).
- dum vita manebat (608): cf. V.724; dum regna manebant (II.22, 455).
- fraus innexa clienti (609): cf. causasque innecte morandi (IV.51).
- quae maxima turba est (611): greed as the largest vice.
- saxum ingens volvunt (616): cf. manibus subvolvere saxa (I.424, of the Carthaginians).
- infelix Theseus (618): suspenseful enjambment.
- magna testatur voce (619): cf. magna manis ter voce vocavi (506, said by Aeneas); magna supremum voce ciemus (III.68); magna praeconis voce (V.245, of Aeneas); magna proclamat voce Diores (V.345).
- non temnere divos (620): cf. si genus humanum et mortalia temnitis arma (I.542); qui tela Typhoia temnis (I.665); contemnere ventos (III.77).
- vetitosque hymenaeos (623): cf. inconcessosque hymenaeos (I.651, of Helen).
- omnis scelerum comprendere formas, / omnia poenarum percurrere nomina (626-7): emphatic parallel structure, stressing both the tedium in speaking for the Sibyl, and the tedium in being tortured for those in Tartarus.

 

[Pacifica]

Thanks for the feedback. Some editors don't address either, which is odd.

Perhaps that's just because they felt no hesitation in their interpretation, so that the passages didn't draw their attention and hence the idea of a note didn't occur to them.

 

[AoM]

Sure, but the job of a commentator is to lay out all (or most, at any rate) of the arguments/interpretations of the text. So if there's any ambiguity, it seems necessary to address the word/line/etc. in question. It just seems a little lazy/negligent on their part. Though everyone seems so next to Horsfall, I guess.

 

[AoM]

Lines 628-678:

- haec ubi dicta (628): cf. I.80; II.790; V.32, 315.
- longaeva sacerdos (629): cf. 321.
- acceleremus (630): cf. accelerat simul Aeneas (V.675).
- caminis (630): cf. ruptis...caminis (III.580).
- praecepta (632): as noted above, either as subject, or with haec...dona, a dei understood.
- per opaca viarum (633): cf. per opaca locorum (II.725).
- occupat Aeneas aditum (635): cf. 424 (of Cerberus's cave); the formula marks the transitions to Tartarus and to Elysium.
- corpusque recenti / spargit aqua (635-6): cf. spargens rore levi et ramo felicis olivae (230); me bello e tanto digressum et caede recenti / attrectare nefas, donec me flumine vivo / abluero (II.718-20).
- his demum exactis (637): cf. his actis (236).
- perfecto munere divae (637): cf. perfecto...honore (III.178); perfectis...votis (III.548).
- devenere locos laetos (638): cf. devenere locos (I.365).
- amoena (638): cf. amoena piorum / concilia (V.734-5, said by Anchises).
- virecta (638): cf. cornea... / virgulta (III.22-3); frondem ac virgulta (V.661).
- lumine... / purpureo (640-1): cf. lumenque... / purpureum (I.590-1).
- solemque suum, sua sidera (641): chiastic arrangement; note also the alliteration in asyndeton.
- pars in gramineis exercent membra palaestris (642): cf. exercent patrias oleo labente palaestras (III.281).
- fulva...harena (643): cf. fulva moribundum extendit harena (V.374).
- luctantur (643): cf. luctantes ventos (I.53); luctantem animam (IV.695, of Dido); luctantem... / Sergestum (V.220-1).
- pars pedibus plaudunt (644): resonant alliteration.
- Threicius longa cum veste sacerdos (645): cf. vestit (640); madida cum veste (359); also, note the chiasmus.
- pectine pulsat eburno (647): cf. cornipedum pulsu...equorum (591); pulsatusve parens (609).
- hic genus antiquum Teucri, pulcherrima proles (648): cf. hic genus antiquum Terrae, Titania pubes (580).
- magnanimi heroes (649): cf. magnanimum heroum (307).
- Ilusque (650): cf. Ilus erat, dum res stetit Ilia regno (I.268, of Ascanius).
- Assaracusque (650): cf. domus Assaraci (I.284).
- Troiae Dardanus auctor (650): cf. Dardanus auctor (III.503).
- passimque... / per campum (652-3): cf. passim campis (III.220).
- tellure repostos (655): cf. terras...repostas (III.364).
- vescentis (656): cf. si vescitur aura / aetheria (I.546-7, of Aeneas); superatne et vescitur aura? (III.339, of Ascanius); sanguine vescitur atro (III.622, of Polyphemus).
- odoratum (658): cf. divinum...odorem (I.403); taetrum...inter odorem (III.228); odora canum vis (IV.132).
- plurimus Eridani per silvam volvitur amnis (659): plurimus...amnis frames the line, stressing its size.
- lines 660-4: cf. 608-14.
- nivea...vitta (665): cf. niveis...velis (I.469); niveamque Paron (III.126); velleribus niveis (IV.459).
- cinguntur tempora vitta (665): cf. circum tempora vittae (II.133); vittis et sacra redimitus tempora lauro (III.81); tuque ipsa pia tege tempora vitta (IV.637); cingite tempora ramis (V.71); cingit viridanti tempora lauro (V.539).
- plurima turba (667): cf. quae maxima turba est (611); size in Tartarus is contrasted with population in Elysium.
- illius ergo (670): before this, I didn't know ergo could be used as a postposition.
- lucis habitamus opacis (673): cf. urbes habitant magnas (III.106); habitabant vallibus imis (III.110).
- facili...tramite (676): cf. cito decurrit tramite (V.610, of Iris).
- camposque nitentis (677): cf. nitentis / ...equos (654-5).
- ostentat (678): cf. ostentat... / moenia (III.703-4); Sidoniasque ostentat opes urbemque paratam (IV.75); faciem ostentabat et udo / turpia membra fimo (V.357-8); ostentans artemque pater arcumque sonantem (V.521); frontemque ostentans...albam (V.567).
- cacumina (678): cf. Leucatae nimbosa cacumina montis (III.274).

 

[AoM]

Lines 679-702:

- inclusas (680): cf. inclusi poenam exspectant (614).
- lustrabat (681): cf. lustrat...singula (I.453); Libyae lustrare extrema (I.577); dum montibus umbrae / lustrabunt convexa (I.607-8); quae sit me circum copia lustro (II.564); lumine lustro (II.754); omnia conlustrans (III.651).
- fataque fortunasque virum moresque manusque (683): probably the most aesthetically pleasing line of verse I've seen.
- isque ubi (684): cf. isque ubi Dardanios habitus et Troia vidit (III.596).
- alacris (685): cf. V.380.
- tetendit (685): cf. tendentem (684); Conington comments: ""Tetendit" after "tendentem" is one of those carelessnesses which Virg. occasionally admits." But to me, it seems to be stressing the closeness of father and son.
- et notas audire et reddere voces (689): cf. ac veras audire et reddere voces (I.409, Aeneas to Venus).
- quantis iactatum...periclis! (693): cf. multum ille et terris iactatus et alto (I.3); quibus ille / iactatus fatis! (IV.13-4).
- tua tristis imago (695): cf. turbida...imago (IV.353).
- da iungere dextram (697): cf. cur dextrae iungere dextram / non datur (I.408-9, Aeneas to Venus).
- teque amplexu ne subtrahe nostro (698): cf. teque aspectu ne subtrahe nostro (465); the tone, however, is completely different.
- largo fletu (699): cf. largosque...fletus (II.271, of Hector); longosque... / fletus (III.344-5, of Andromache).
- rigabat (699): cf. placidam per membra quietam / inrigat (I.691-2); fessos sopor inrigat artus (III.511).
- lines 700-2: cf. II.792-4; Aeneas can never embrace those he's lost.

 

[AoM]

Lines 703-751:

- virgulta sonantia (704): cf. amoena virecta (638).
- Lethaeumque domos placidas qui praenatat amnem (705): framed line; note also the chiasmus.
- hunc circum...volabant (706): cf. volitantque haec litora circum (329).
- lines 707-9: cf. I.430-6.
- in pratis (707): cf. prata recentia rivis (674).
- apes aestate serena (707): cf. apes aestate nova (I.430).
- candida... / lilia (708-9): cf. candida Dido (V.571).
- horrescit visu subito (710): cf. horresco referens (II.204); nec tu mensarum morsus horresce furturos (III.394).
- inscius Aeneas (711): cf. inscia Dido (I.718); stupet inscius (II.307); Androgeos... / inscius (II.371-2).
- Lethaei ad fluminis undam (714): cf. secreti ad fluminis undam (III.389).
- securos latices (715): cf. secura (I.290, of Venus); securus amorum / germanae (I.350-1, of Pygmalion).
- hanc prolem cupio enumerare meorum (717): cf. quae plurima fando / enumerare vales (IV.333-4).
- sublimis (720): cf. 357.
- quae lucis miseris tam dira cupido? (721): cf. unde haec, o Palinure, tibi tam dira cupido? (373).
- suscipit Anchises atque ordine singula pandit (723): cf. Anchisen facio certum remque ordine pando (III.179).
- caelum ac terras camposque liquentis (724): cf. maria ac terras caelumque profundum (I.58); terras inter caelumque (IV.256).
- inde hominum pecudumque genus (728): cf. unde hominum genus et pecudes (I.743).
- volantum (728): cf. volantes (191, 239).
- caelestis origo (730): cf. prodigiis...caelestibus (379).
- hinc metuunt cupiuntque, dolent gaudentque, neque auras (733): a rhythmic line.
- clausae (734): cf. inclusas (680).
- supremo...lumine (735): cf. digressu...supremo (III.482).
- modis...miris (738): cf. ora modis attollens pallida miris (I.354).
- veterumque malorum (739): cf. famam...veterum...malorum (527, of Helen).
- sub gurgite vasto (741): cf. in gurgite vasto (I.118); gurgite vasto (III.197); gurgite vastos (III.421).
- infectum (742): cf. sanguine...sparsoque infecta cerebro (V.413).
- quisque suos patimur manis (743): tattoo-worthy.
- per amplum / ...Elysium (743-4): cf. per ampla... / atria (I.725-6).
- laeta arva tenemus (744): cf. iamque arva tenebant (477).
- ubi mille rotam volvere per annos (748): cf saxum ingens volvunt alii, radiisque rotarum / districti pendent (616-7); reversal of fortune.
- agmine magno (749): cf. tanto...agmine (712).
- supera...convexa (750): cf. supera ad convexa (241).

 

[AoM]

Lines 752-800:

- turbamque sonantem (753): cf. plurima turba (667).
- venientum (755): cf. venientibus (291).
- inlustris animas nostrumque in nomen ituras (758): cf. inclusas animas superumque ad lumen ituras (680).
- expediam dictis (759): cf. III.379, Helenus to Aeneas.
- tibi longaevo (764): cf. tertia dum Latio regnantem viderit aestas (I.265); so, a father's hope for his son?
- silvis (765): difficult to get the connection to Silvius across in English.
- genus Longa nostrum...Alba (766): synchysis.
- dominabitur (766): cf. victis dominabitur Argis (I.285).
- umbrata...civili tempora quercu (772): synchysis.
- Silvius Aeneas, pariter pietate vel armis / egregius (769-70): cf. Troius Aeneas, pietate insignis et armis (403).
- Mauvortius (777): cf. Mavortia... / moenia (I.276-7).
- Romulus (778): cf. revelatory enjambment.
- geminae...cristae (779): cf. cristatus Achilles (I.468); cristasque comantis (III.468); odd coincidence.
- imperium terris, animos aequabit Olympo (782): cf. imperium oceano, fama qui terminet astris (I.287).
- septemque...arces (783): framed line stressing their importance.
- felix prole virum (784): cf. felix nati pietate (III.480).
- turrita (785): cf. turriti scopuli (III.536).
- huc geminas nunc flecte acies (788): periphrasis worthy of Anchises.
- progenies (790): cf. progeniem sed enim Troiano a sanguine duci (I.19); tua progenies (I.250); tua clara, Polite, / progenies (V.564-5).
- hic vir, hic est (791): emphatic anaphora.
- regnata per arva / Saturno quondam (793-4): cf. acri quondam regnata Lycurgo (III.14).
- ubi caelifer Atlas / axem umero torquet stellis ardentibus aptum (796-7): cf. ubi maximus Atlas / axem umero torquet stellis ardentibus aptum (IV.481-2).
- septemgemini...Nili (800): cf. centumgeminus Briareus (287).

 

[AoM]

incanaque menta (809)

Is in- intensifying cana, or is it just a variant? L&S give "quite gray, hoary". I'm trying to think of other instances of this.

 

[Dantius]

The OLD gives "increpo" and "insono" as examples of in acting intensively:

The OLD also defines incanus as "quite gray, hoary".

 

[AoM]

Can you think of any other adjectives with in- (that aren't negatives)?

 

[Dantius]

Not at the moment.

 

[AoM]

____________manibus date lilia plenis
purpureos spargam flores (883-4)

The explanations I've seen given:

"Allow me to scatter lilies, purple flowers, with full hands..."

"Give lilies with full hands, so I may scatter purple flowers..."

"Give lilies with full hands, I will scatter purple flowers..."

Any first impressions?

 

[Dantius]

It seems odd to imply an ut at the start of a purpose clause (which the second interpretation seems to do). I've also never seen do in the sense of "allow" with a subjunctive.

manibus date lilia plenis​

purpureos spargam flores animamque nepotis
his saltem accumulem donis, et fungar inani
munere.

The other verbs of the sentence make it clear that it can't be just a future tense, so I'd translate it as "give lilies with full hands; let me scatter purple flowers...". But I'm not sure.

 

[AoM]

Conington writes: "The sense here, as Wagn. remarks, is probably the same as if he had written "date lilia ut spargam flores," the lilies and the "purpurei flores" being identical."

He also cites IV.683:

_________________date vulnera lymphis
abluam

So would you take that as:

"Give water to/for her wounds; let me wash them away..."

Though Conington notes that many punctuate "date, vulnera lymphis".

Btw, the last translation (of the three above) is close to Horsfall's, but I haven't checked his note.

 

[Pacifica]

I've also never seen do in the sense of "allow" with a subjunctive.

I'm pretty sure it can be done and that's what we have here.

_________________date vulnera lymphis
abluam

So would you take that as:

"Give water to/for her wounds; let me wash them away..."

No. Imagining the object of date here is a noun (rather than the whole subjunctive clause) it would be "give the wounds to waters", since vulnera is acc., but that seems unlikely, so I take the object to be the subjunctive clause: "allow me to wash the wounds with water."

 

[AoM]

I'm pretty sure it can be done and that's what we have here.

So you'd take everything together with spargam?