Cambridge IGCSE Latin Aeneid Book III (Harpies) Set Text Translation (2023-2025)

servatum ex undis Strophadum me litora primum excipiunt.

When I had been saved from the waves, first the shores of the Strophades welcomed me.

Strophades Graio stant nomine dictae insulae Ionio in magno, quas dira Celaeno Harpyiaeque colunt aliae,

The Strophades are islands called by a Greek name situated in the great Ionian sea, which terrifying Celaeno and the other Harpies dwell in,

Phineia postquam clausa domus mensasque metu liquere priores.

once the house of Phineus was closed to them and they had abandoned their previous tables out of fear.

tristius haud illis monstrum, nec saevior ulla pestis et ira deum Stygiis sese extulit undis.

No monster is uglier than those, nor has any crueller pestilence or punishment from the gods ever emerged from the waters of Styx.

virginei volucrum vultus, foedissima ventris proluvies uncaeque manus et pallida semper ora fame.

The faces of the birds are like those of virgins, but there is a most foul excrement from the stomachs, their hands are hooked, and their faces are always pale with hunger.

huc ubi delati portus intravimus, ecce laeta boum passim campis armenta videmus caprigenumque pecus nullo custode per herbas.

When, after being carried to this place we entered the harbour, lo! we saw sleek herds of cows everywhere in the fields and goat-born cattle with no guard throughout the grass.

inruimus ferro et divos ipsumque vocamus in partem praedamque Iovem;

We rushed in with our weapons and called on the gods and with Jove himself to partake of the prey;

tum litore curvo exstruimusque toros dapibusque epulamur opimis.

then on the curved beach we constructed couches and feasted on the rich banquet.

at subitae horrifico lapsu de montibus adsunt Harpyiae et magnis quatiunt clangoribus alas,

But suddenly with horrific swooping down from the mountains the Harpies arrived with loud flapping of their wings.

diripiuntque dapes contactuque omnia foedant immundo; tum vox taetrum dira inter odorem.

They tore apart the feast and fouled everything with their unclean touch; then there was a terrifying screaming in the midst of a disgusting smell.

rursum in secessu longo sub rupe cavata [arboribus clausam circum atque horrentibus umbris] instruimus mensas arisque reponimus ignem;

Once again in a deep recess beneath a hollowed out cliff closed round with trees and frightening shadows we arranged the tables and replaced the fire on the altars;

rursum ex diverso caeli caecisque latebris turba sonans praedam pedibus circumvolat uncis,
polluit ore dapes.

once again from various parts of the sky and their unseen hiding places a noisy crowd flew around the prey with their hooked feet, and polluted the feast with their mouths.

sociis tunc arma capessant edico, et dira bellum cum gente gerendum.

Then I commanded my comrades to seize their weapons and told them that war must be waged against the dreadful tribe.

haud secus ac iussi faciunt tectosque per herbam disponunt enses et scuta latentia condunt.

They did exactly as they were ordered and here and there hid swords through the grass and concealed shields out of sight.

ergo ubi delapsae sonitum per curva dedere litora, dat signum specula Misenus ab alta aere cavo.

Therefore, when the birds swooped, screaming, along the curved beach, Misenus gave a signal on a bronze trumpet from a high look

invadunt socii et nova proelia temptant, obscenas pelagi ferro foedare volucres.

My comrades invaded and attempted a new kind of battle, trying to wound these obscene ocean creatures with their swords

sed neque vim plumis ullam nec vulnera tergo accipiunt, celerique fuga sub sidera lapsae semesam praedam et vestigia foeda relinquunt.

But the birds did not feel any violence to their feathers or wounds to their backs, and gliding with swift flight towards the stars they abandoned their half-eaten prey and foul traces.

una in praecelsa consedit rupe Celaeno, infelix vates, rumpitque hanc pectore vocem;

One of them, Celaeno, an ominous prophetess, perched on a lofty cliff and poured these words from her breast:

'bellum etiam pro caede boum stratisque iuvencis, Laomedontiadae, bellumne inferre paratis et patrio Harpyias insontes pellere regno?

"Is it war, in return for the cows you killed and bullocks you slaughtered, descendants of Laomedon, is it war you are preparing to bring and to drive us innocent Harpies from our father’s kingdom?

accipite ergo animis atque haec mea figite dicta, quae Phoebo pater omnipotens, mihi Phoebus Apollo praedixit, vobis Furiarum ego maxima pando.

Therefore take these words of mine to your hearts then, and set them there. I, the eldest of the harpies reveal to you what the all powerful Father prophesized to Apollo, and Phoebus Apollo to me.

Italiam cursu petitis ventisque vocatis: ibitis Italiam portusque intrare licebit.

You are heading for Italy on your course and with the winds you have called on. You shall indeed go to Italy and will be permitted to enter the harbors.

sed non ante datam cingetis moenibus urbem quam vos dira fames nostraeque iniuria caedis
ambesas subigat malis absumere mensas.'

But you will not surround the city you have been granted with walls before terrible hunger, punishment for trying to kill us, forces you to bite round your tables and consume them with your jaws."

dixit, et in silvam pennis ablata refugit. at sociis subita gelidus formidine sanguis deriguit:

She spoke and, carried away on her wings, she took refuge in a wood. But my comrades' blood froze cold with sudden dread;

cecidere animi, nec iam amplius armis, sed votis precibusque iubent exposcere pacem,
sive deae seu sint dirae obscenaeque volucres.

their spirits fell and they no longer commanded me to seek peace with weapons but with vows and prayers, whether they were goddesses or terrifying and obscene birds.

et pater Anchises passis de litore palmis numina magna vocat meritosque indicit honores:

And my father Anchises, spreading his palms from the shore, called on the great gods and indicated the honours due to them:

'di, prohibete minas; di, talem avertite casum et placidi servate pios.'

"Gods, prevent these threats; gods, avert such a misfortune, and graciously save those who are dutiful to you."

tum litore funem deripere excussosque iubet laxare rudentes.

Then he ordered us to snatch the mooring-rope from the beach and shake out and loosen the sheets.

tendunt vela Noti: fugimus spumantibus undis qua cursum ventusque gubernatorque vocabat.

The South Winds filled out the sails; we fled through the foaming waters where the wind and the helmsman were calling the course.

iam medio apparet fluctu nemorosa Zacynthos Dulichiumque Sameque et Neritos ardua saxis.

Now wooded Zacynthus appeared in the middle of the waves, Dulichium, Same and Neritos’s steep cliffs.

effugimus scopulos Ithacae, Laertia regna, et terram altricem saevi exsecramur Ulixi.

We escaped from the rocky shore of Ithaca, Laertes' kingdom, and cursed the land which had reared cruel Ulysses.

mox et Leucatae nimbosa cacumina montis et formidatus nautis aperitur Apollo.

Soon the cloudy tops of Mount Leucata were revealed and the temple of Apollo feared by sailors.

hunc petimus fessi et parvae succedimus urbi; ancora de prora iacitur, stant litore puppes.

We made for this temple, exhausted, and approached the small city; the anchor was thrown from the prow; the sterns stood on the beach.