Perge, sequar
“Go on, I will follow.”
Virgil, Aeneid 4.114
What does “Perge, sequar” mean?
Perge, sequar translates as “Go on, I will follow.”
An offer of support and agreement: you lead, and I will come after you.
“Perge, sequar” word by word
| Latin | English | Grammar |
|---|---|---|
| Perge | go on! | a command (imperative) of pergo, “I go on, I proceed”; addressed to one person |
| sequar | I will follow | first person singular future indicative of sequor, “I follow” (a deponent verb: passive form, active meaning) |
How to pronounce “Perge, sequar”
The difference is the g in perge: hard (as in “get”) in Classical Latin, soft (as in “gem”) in Church Latin. The stress falls on the first syllable of both words.
The story behind it
Word for word the line says “proceed, I will follow”. Two short verbs, and the second answers the first: one person sets the pace, the other promises to come after.
The words come from Virgil’s Aeneid, Book 4, line 114, an epic poem written in the 1st century BC. In the scene, Venus replies to Juno, who has laid out a plan to bring Dido and Aeneas together, and Venus agrees to go along with it.
In the poem the agreement is full of scheming, since each goddess has her own motives. Taken out of context, the line has become a neat way to say “you lead, I am with you”.
How to use “Perge, sequar”
It suits a message of trust between partners, friends or colleagues, a short motto about following someone’s lead, or a tattoo for a bond of loyalty. As a quote in an essay, it is best used with a note on where it comes from.
- Latin
- Perge, sequar
- English
- Go on, I will follow.
- Source
- Virgil, Aeneid 4.114
- Era
- Antiquity
- Theme
- Loyalty
Common mistakes
- It is not a general vow of lifelong devotion. In the Aeneid it is a quick reply agreeing to a plan.
- Sequar is future (“I will follow”), not present. “I follow” would be sequor.
- Perge is addressed to one person. To a group you would say pergite.
- The comma matters. Joined as one phrase, the two verbs lose the back-and-forth of command and answer.
Questions about “Perge, sequar”
What does “Perge, sequar” mean literally?
“Go on, I will follow.” Perge is a command to proceed, and sequar is the promise to come after.
Who said “Perge, sequar”?
It comes from Virgil’s Aeneid 4.114, where Venus says it to Juno.
How do you pronounce “Perge, sequar”?
Classical: PER-geh SEH-kwar. Church Latin softens the g: PER-jeh SEH-kwar.
Is “Perge, sequar” correct Latin for a tattoo?
Yes. It is a short quotation from a classical poem, with grammar that is entirely correct. Remember that perge addresses one person only.
More to explore
Translation and grammar checked by Latin Quoter · last reviewed November 2026
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