More questions from LLPSI Cap. XL

Latin Learning Latin
1

  1. Extemplo Fama per urbes Libyae it, Fama qua non aliud malum ullum velocius est..
    Fama dea est?..

  2. …..Haec tum vario sermone aures hominum complebat gaudens, et pariter vera ac falsa narrabat: ‘Aeneam Troia venisse, cum quo viro pulchra Dido concubuisset; eos nunc regni oblitos in luxu hiemem agere, turpi cupidine captos!’

= Haec Fama gaudens vario sermone aures hominum complebat.
This rumour, rejoicing filled the ears of men with different stories…

Nonne Fama guadens…?

  1. Iuppiter vero, ubi haec audivit, Mercurium sic alloquitur et haec mandat: "Age vade, fili, et defer mea dicta per auras ad ducem Dardanium, qui nunc Karthagine moratur neque fatorum promissa respicit.

a)Defer mea dicta per auras [tuas? : dicta mea quae in auras tuas ponam]

b) ‘neque fatorum promissa respicit’…? nor remembers the promises which were made / of what was spoken (for, fari, fatus sum : fatorum - perf. pass. part. (neut. gen. pl.)) ?

aut ‘fatorum’ neut. gen. of fate…? …nor remembers the promises of fate…?

  1. Si ipse tantarum rerum gloria non accenditur, num Ascanio filio pater regnum invidet? Quid struit? aut qua spe in gente inimica moratur? Naviget! Hoc est mandatum nostrum!"

If not inspired with the glory of these things will the father refuse the kingdom to the son Ascanius [Ascanio dat. : invideo, invidere + dat]. What is he thinking and with what hope does he delay amongst enemies.

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1 and 2: Fama is the personification of rumor–an imaginary being. Fama gaudens – “Rumor [not “this rumor,” but rumor personified] gleefully filled the ears of men with various stories.” The Latin adj. seems best translated here by an Eng. adverb.

3a. auras, not aures. “Carry my words through the air” (literally, “through the breezes”).

3b. fatorum promissa – “the promises of the fates”, i.e., “what the fates have promised.” Destiny has promised Aeneas that he will eventually reach Italy and found the lineage that over time will lead to the founding of Rome and Augustus.

  1. If he isn’t fired up by the glory of such great things himself, does he, as a father, begrudge his son Ascanius a kingdom? [Translation needs to draw contrast between Aeneas and his son.] What is he planning? or with what expectation is he wasting time [maybe translate freely: ‘what does he expect to accomplish by wasting time’] in a hostile nation? Let him set sail! That is our command!
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Quimmik. Many thanks. Noted - esp. per auras.