Latin Aeneid Outline Book VI page 1-41 In Front of the Temple at Cumae

1-8 Aeneas and his fleet land at Cumae, set up camp, and explore the countryside.

9-13 Aeneas approaches the citadel where the Sibyl has her awesome temple.

14-33 The doors of the temple are described in detail:

14-19 Daedalus, fleeing Minos, escaped to Cumae and dedicated this temple to Apollo.

20-22 In one panel is the death of Androgeos; also the Athenian boys who were sent to Crete to be sacrificed in atonement every year.

23-27 Opposite is Crete and the story of Pasiphae’s immoral love for the bull and the result: the Minotaur in its labyrinth.

28-30 Next, Daedalus pities Ariadne and helps her guide Theseus through the maze by means of a thread.

30-33 Oh Icarus, you would have had a place, but your father could not bring himself to depict the scene.

33-36 Aeneas would have stood marveling but Achates and the Sibyl approach him.

37-39 SIBYL (named Deiphobe): “No time for sightseeing; time to sacrifice properly.”

40-41 The Sibyl calls Aeneas, who does the sacrifices, into the lofty temple.

42-45 A description of the multi-mouthed cave of the Sibyl.

45-46 SIBYL: ”Time for prophecy! The god is near.”

46-51 The Sibyl’s appearance changes rapidly as the god approaches.

51-53 SIBYL: “Why do you cease your prayers at this critical moment?”

53-55 As she stops, a cold chill seizes the Trojans and then Aeneas prays.

56-60 AENEAS: “Oh Apollo, who has helped the Trojans and guide me thus far.

61-62 “We have reached Italy; let Troy’s bad fortunes end now.

63-65 “It is divinely allowed for all the gods who opposed Troy to cease their hatred.

65-68 “Oh Sibyl, grant the Trojans their fates and let them settle in Italy.

69-70 “In return for Apollo’s help, I will build a temple and set aside days to honor you.

71-74 “In return for the Sibyl’s help I will save your prophecies for future generations and name priests for you.

75-76 “One request: sing your prophecies and don’t put them on wind-blown leaves.”

77-82 As the Sibyl is possessed by Apollo, her words are carried through the doors.

83-86 SIBYL: “ Your troubles at sea are over, but you will wish you never came to Italy.

87-94 “You will repeat the Trojan War: more rivers of blood, another Achilles, a hostile Juno, and the cause again will be a foreign bride.

95-97 “But go more boldly. Help will come from an unexpected source - a Greek city.”

98-155 Aeneas Asks to Enter Hades; Sibyl Tells Him What Is Required First.

98-102 The Sibyl’s possession by Apollo comes to an end.

103-105 AENEAS: “You tell me nothing that I have not already heard and understood.

106-109 “My only request: show me the way through the underworld to my father.

110-116 “I saved him but then he died, but ordered me to seek you out for help for the trip to the underworld.

116-118 “Have pity on a son and father, oh powerful one whom Hecate put in charge.

119-123 “Other sons of the gods have entered the underworld; I claim descent from Jupiter also.”

124-131 SIBYL: “The path to Hell is always open and easy; returning from there is the difficult part, and only a few favorites of the gods have done so.

131-136 “If you insist on this difficult trek through forests and rivers, hear what must be done first.

137-144 “There’s a Golden Bough in the forest, which Proserpina has decreed must be plucked first.

145-148 “Find it; only the chosen ones can pluck it.

149-155 “But first you must bury a dead friend whose body pollutes your fleet; make proper sacrifices and then you will see the pathless underworld.”

157-162 Aeneas and Achates return to the fleet, wondering whom the Sibyl meant.

162-174 They find Misenus, Hector’s friend and a great trumpeter, who had rashly challenged a god (Triton) to a contest and had been drowned as a result.

175-184 The Trojans gather wood for his pyre; among them Aeneas takes the lead.

185-189 AENEAS: “If only that Golden Bough could be found now; since the Sibyl was all too right about you, oh Misenus.”

190-193 Two doves, his mother’s birds appear before Aeneas, who happily prays.

194-197 AENEAS: “Oh birds, guide me to the Golden Bough; oh mother, do not fail me now.”

198-211 The birds fly ahead, leading Aeneas along. He finds the branch, which is compared to mistletoe in a SIMILE; he then plucks it and carries it back to the Sibyl’s temple.

211-219 The Trojans build a pyre on the shore and prepare the body.

220-231 The body is burned and the priest Corynaeus gathers the ashes in an urn.

232-235 Aeneas builds a mound, with his weapons and trumpet, on a mountain which is still called Misenus.

236-247 In a deep cave alongside Avernus (the Birdless Place), the Sibyl sacrifices to Hecate.

248-254 Aeneas sacrifices to Night, to Earth, to Proserpina, and to Dis.

255-263 At dawn the earth rumbles; the Sibyl cries, “Away, unholy ones.” Aeneas, with drawn sword, follows the Sibyl into the Underworld.

264-267 Invocation of the gods of the Underworld by Vergil for permission to reveal the things below the earth.

268-281 Moving along in darkness as with an uncertain moon, they encounter personified evils, like Grief, Disease, Death, and Poverty, on the very threshold they see War, the bedrooms of the Furies, and Discord.

282-293 In the middle is an elm, the home of False Dreams; all about are the monsters: Centaurs, Scylla, Briareus, the Beast of Lerna, Chimaera, Gorgons, Harpies, Geryon. Aeneas was ready to attack, but the Sibyl pointed out that they were only shadows.

295-425 They see Charon on the banks of the Styx, meet Palinurus, cross the river after showing the Golden Bough, and pass by Cerberus.

296-304 Following the road, they see Charon, the filthy ferryman.

305-316 The unburied souls flock to the shore, like leaves falling at the first frost or birds gathering at the shore in the fall; Charon accepts some into his boat, but drives others away.

317-320 Aeneas asks the Sibyl: “What do these souls want? Why do some cross and others stay?”

321-330 The Sibyl explains: “This is the Styx, and Charon transports only the buried; those unburied must wander a hundred years before being admitted.”

331-336 Aeneas pities the souls, spotting two of the men who died in the great storm in Book I, Leucaspis and Orontes.

337-346 When Palinurus appears, Aeneas asks: “What god drowned you? For Apollo predicted that you would reach Italy safely.”

347- 362 Palinurus answers: “Apollo did not lie. When I fell into the sea, I tore part of the helm with me. Fearing only for you and the fleet, I clung and was driven over the sea for three nights. I came to shore at last and was climbing up a cliff, when the natives attacked me in my wretched condition, killed me, and left me unburied on the shore.

363-371 “I beg you now, either cast some earth on me among the Velini or take me with you across the Styx, if Venus is showing you the way.”

372-383 The Sibyl declares: “Where does this mad desire come from, Palinurus? Would you cross the Styx unburied? Your consolation will be a tomb erected by the people and the place will bear your name.” He withdraws, content at last.

384-397 As they approach the river, Charon addresses them: “Stop there and tell me why you come here. This is the land of the dead, and I may not carry the living. The sons of gods I did transport acted badly: Hercules tried to take Cerberus and Theseus and Pirithous tried to steal Proserpina.”

398-407 The Sibyl replies: “No such treachery here. This is Trojan Aeneas, on his way to see his father. Here is the Golden Bough.”

407-416 Placated, Charon empties his boat of souls, accepts them into his now-leaky boat, and safely poles them across the river.

417-425 The Sibyl tosses the huge watchdog Cerberus drugged food and they pass the sleeping guard by safely.

426-439 The first space holds infants snatched from life, those condemned to death on a false charge, and suicides. Minos is their judge and hears their stories.

440-449 Nearby are the Mourning Fields (Lugentes Campi), where those dead because of love reside: Phaedra, Procris, Eriphyle, Evadne, Pasiphae, Laodamia, and Caenus.

450-453 Aeneas recognizes the newly dead Dido in the shadows in the Fields of Mourning (reserved for those who died prematurely or from love).

453-454 SIMILE of the light to moonlight

455-458 AENEAS (in tears):”Was I the cause of your death?

458-464 “I swear by the gods I left you unwillingly and I don’t believe that my departure caused such grief.

465-466 “Stay! This is the last time I can talk with you,”

467-469 Aeneas weeps as Dido stands unmoved and glares at him.

470-471 SIMILE of the unmoved Dido to flint or a mountain crag.

472-474 Dido flees to the comforting presence of her first love, Sychaeus.

475-476 Aeneas is shaken and in tears pities the departing Dido.

477-493 Nearby are the farthest fields, where those famed in war live: Tydeus, Parthenopaeus, Adrastus; the Trojan warriors Glaucus, Medon, Thersilochus, Antenor’s three sons, Polyboetes, Idaeus. All flock around Aeneas with questions, but the Greek souls tremble with fear, ready to flee, as they did once at Troy.

494-508 When he sees the maimed and disfigured spirit of Deiphobus, Aeneas says: “Who wrought such cruel punishment on you? I heard you fell at Troy, exhausted on top of a pile of dead Greeks. Unable to find you before I left, I set up a mound and performed funeral rites for you.”

509-512 Deiphobus answers: “You did all you could, but my fates and the crimes of Helen left these wounds.

513-519 “On that fate-filled last night, she feigned a solemn dance around the horse, leading our women in procession, and with her torch gave signals to the Greeks.

520-530 “I slept at home in our marriage bed. My noble wife Helen removed all my weapons, including my faithful sword from beneath my head, and called in her old husband Menelaus, in an attempt to atone for her past sins. Ulysses came along to help him. May the gods give similar punishments to the Greeks.

531-534 “But what brings you here to this sad place while you still live?”

535-543 As the two talk, the Sibyl interrupts: “Night is rushing in and we are at the crossroads: on the right is our road past Dis’ walls to Elysium, while on the left is the road to Tartarus.”

544-547 Deiphobus answers: “Don’t be angry, o priestess. I return to my place among the dead. Go, glorious Aeneas; use a better fate.”

548-561 Aeneas looks back at a castle under a cliff, surrounded by three walls and the burning river Phlegethon; in a castle tower sits the Fury Tisiphone, watching the gate; from within come groans and the sounds of torture machines. Aeneas asks: “What crimes and punishments are found in there?”

562-579 The Sibyl answers: “When Hecate put me in charge of Avernus, she taught me about this. Rhadamanthus is the judge here, forcing confessions of crimes hidden in the world above. Tisiphone whips them through the opening gates, where just within the Hydra sits. Then Tartarus gapes below, twice as deep as the view to Olympus.

580-607 “Here are imprisoned the great evil-doers: the Titans, who tried to overthrow Jupiter; the sons of Aloeus, who tried also; Salmoneus, who pretended to be Jupiter in Elis and was struck by a thunderbolt in his chariot; Tityos, who attacked Latona and is stretched out with a vulture eating his liver; the Lapithae, Ixion, who attacked Juno, and Pirithous, who attacked Proserpina.

608-627 “Here also are many others: those who hated their brothers, beat their father, deceived a client, or hoarded their wealth without sharing, which is the largest group; also those killed because of adultery, those who fought against the state in civil wars, those who betrayed their word to their masters. Don’t seek to learn their punishments; Theseus is the judge and the punishments are horrifying. Phlegyas, a Lapith who set Apollo’s temple at Delphi on fire, warns:  “Beware, learn justice and do not scorn the gods.” Here are traitors, corrupt legislators, those who committed incest. All dared a great evil. I could never unfold all the crimes and punishments.

628-636 “Let us now go on with our journey; here are the walls of Dis, where we should put your gift.” As they enter the door, Aeneas sprinkles his body with water and leaves the Golden Bough on the threshold.

637-644 They enter the Elysian Fields, whose inhabitants are enjoying a pleasurable existence.

645-659 He sees Orpheus and the founders of the Trojan race; whatever they liked to do in the world above they continue to enjoy and do in the Underworld.

660-671 Amid the crowds of those who died fighting for their homeland, who were prophets, or who bettered humankind, they recognize Musaeus, a poet-musician; the Sibyl asks: “Where is Anchises, whom we search for?”

679-694 In a valley Anchises is reviewing his descendants-to-be; recognizing Aeneas, he says: “Have you finally come? I know what you have endured to get here.”

695-702 Aeneas: “I have come at your bidding. Let me embrace you.” Three times Aeneas tries and fails to embrace the elusive ghost, just as with Creusa in Book II.

703-712 Aeneas sees a huge throng of souls in groves near the river Lethe, like swarms of bees in fields during the summer, and he asks his father who they are.

713-718 Anchises: “These souls are owed a second body, after they drink at the Lethe. I have wanted to tell you about them so that you would rejoice in the Italy to come.”

719-721 Aeneas: “Are we to think that some souls return to human bodies? Why do these wretched souls desire life so fiercely.”

722-751 Anchises: “A spirit within and a mind poured through all nourishes the heaven, the earth, the moon and the stars; from this fiery source come all creatures. Mixed with human bodies this fiery divine origin is polluted with human emotions. At death traces remain, which must be purified with punishments of all sorts. Some of us make our way to Elysium, to spend our time here. These others, after a thousand years, the god summons to the Lethe to drink; then they return to human bodies.”

752-755 Anchises leads the Sibyl and Aeneas to a mound, from where they can review the souls.

756-766 Anchises: “Look at the mixture of Trojan and Italian blood. The first is your son by Lavinia Silvius, who shall start our long rule in Alba Longa.

767-776 “There are the other Alban kings: Procas, Capys, Numitor (grandfather of Romulus and Remus) and Silvius Aeneas, who will only get his throne after a long struggle. What men, what places! Now lands without names, but not for long.

777-787 “Here is Romulus, a child of Ilia and Mars; see how mars has marked him and his city for world rule, just as Cybele, the Great Mother, presides over her kingdom with power and joy.

788-807 “Here is Augustus Caesar, who shall spread his power to the ends of the world, ruling as much land as Hercules wandered over in his labors or as much as Bacchus on his return from India. Do we hesitate to extend ourselves when we see such greatness?

808-823 “Here are the early kings of Rome: Numa, Tullus, Ancus, and the two Tarquinii (Tarquinius Priscus and Tarquinius Superbus). There is Brutus, the first to serve as consul, and the father who put his sons to death when they revolted, an unlucky man motivated by patriotism and desire for praise.

824-825 “There are the Decii, the Drusi, Torquatus, and Camillus, all famous for great deeds of sacrifice.

826-835 “Here are two souls harmonious now, but what carnage they will stir up, when the father-in-law (Julius Caesar) comes down from the Alps against his son-in-law (Pompey the Great) with his Eastern legions. Don’t turn your power against the state; you, my descendant, throw down your weapon.”

836-846 “Here are other great heroes of Rome’s future: the conquerors of Greece, Mummius, Aemilius Paullus; then Cato and Cossus, the two Gracchi, the two Scipio Africanus, Fabricius, Regulus Serranus, and finally Quintus Fabius Maximus Cunctantor.

847-850 Anchises: "Others have skills in the arts, the sciences, and oratory.

851-853 “Oh Roman, remember your arts: to wield power, to impose peace, to spare the conquered and to crush the arrogant.”

854-859 ANCHISES adds: “Do you see that outstanding warrior? It is Marcellus, who beat the Carthaginians and the Gauls, and also won the spolia opima.”

860-866 AENEAS (noticing a sad young man accompanying Marcellus):” Who is that young man and what is the reason for this sorrow?”

867-871 ANCHISES: “Don’t ask! The gods won’t let Rome have him for long, because Rome would be too powerful.

872-874 “Oh Tiber, what a funeral and lamentation you will see!

875-877 “No boy will ever make our land so proud.

878-879 “Oh piety, oh faith, oh invincible right hand!

879-881 “No one faced him in battle with impunity.

882-883 “If you could break the fates, you will be Marcellus. (Augustus’ adopted heir who died prematurely in 23 BC)

883-886 “Let me sprinkle flowers and honor my descendant in his death.”

887-892 As they wander in the Elysian Fields, Anchises tells Aeneas what will happen in Italy and what to do about it.

893-898 There are two gates from the underworld, one of horn and the other of ivory; Aeneas leaves by the gate of ivory.

899-901 Aeneas heads to his fleet, which sails up the coast to Caieta and anchors there.