[5.12] mentēs cum oculīs: ‘minds and eyes alike.’ The emphasis is on mentēs; they were thinking only of the show.
[5.13] In rapid historical narrative, clauses are often set side by side without a connective. See also [n. 5] above.
[5.14] Haec, referring to the matters related in the preceding paragraph, should theoretically be neuter, but is feminine because the predicate noun causa is feminine. Such attraction is the rule in Latin. H 396, 2 (445, 4): A 195, d: G 211, 5: B 246, 5.
[5.15] ob virginēs raptās: ‘on account of the stolen maidens’ = ‘on account of the seizure of the maidens.’ A participle agreeing with a noun is preferred in Latin to an abstract noun with a dependent genitive.
[5.16] sūmō.
[5.17] dat.; why?
[5.18] ‘they happened upon’ (nancīscor).
[5.19] forte . . . ierat: ‘had gone by chance’ = ‘happened to have gone.’ Forte is often best rendered by a clause: ‘as it happened,’ or ‘it so happened.’
[5.20] supine denoting purpose; see [p. xviii], E 6, and H 633 (546): M 1005: A 302: G 435: B 340, 1.
[6.1] The subjunctive here, as in gererent, is due to implied indirect discourse; sī perdūxisset represents the fut. perf. indic. of direct discourse sī perdūxeris, ‘if you shall have led’ = ‘if you (shall) lead’; H 646 (527, I): M 1034, 1038: A 337: G 656-7: B 319, B.