Aeneid

Virgil

Vergil. The Aeneid of Virgil. Williams, Theodore, C, translator. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1910.

  1. Day now had left the sky. The moon benign
  2. had driven her night-wandering chariot
  3. to the mid-arch of heaven. Aeneas sate,
  4. for thought and care allowed him no repose,
  5. holding the helm and tending his own sails.
  6. but, as he sped, behold, the beauteous train,
  7. lately his own, of nymphs, anon transformed
  8. by kind Cybebe to sea-ruling powers.
  9. In even ranks they swam the cloven wave,—
  10. nymphs now, but once as brazen galleys moored
  11. along the sandy shore. With joy they knew
  12. their King from far, and with attending train
  13. around him drew. Cymodocea then,
  14. best skilled in mortal speech, sped close behind,
  15. with her right hand upon the stern, uprose
  16. breast-high, and with her left hand deeply plied
  17. the silent stream, as to the wondering King
  18. she called: “So late on watch, O son of Heaven,
  19. Aeneas? Slack thy sail, but still watch on!
  20. We were the pine-trees on the holy top
  21. of Ida's mountain. Sea-nymphs now are we,
  22. and thine own fleet. When, as we fled, the flames
  23. rained o'er us from the false Rutulian's hand
  24. 't was all unwillingly we cast away
  25. thy serviceable chains: and now once more
  26. we follow thee across the sea. These forms
  27. our pitying mother bade us take, with power
  28. to haunt immortally the moving sea.
  29. Lo, thy Ascanius lies close besieged
  30. in moated walls, assailed by threatening arms
  31. and Latium's front of war. Arcadia,
  32. her horsemen with the bold Etruscan joined,
  33. stands at the place appointed. Turnus means,
  34. with troop opposing, their advance to bar
  35. and hold them from the camp. Arouse thee, then,
  36. and with the rising beams of dawn call forth
  37. thy captains and their followers. Take that shield
  38. victorious, which for thee the Lord of Fire
  39. forged for a gift and rimmed about with gold.
  40. To-morrow's light—deem not my words be vain!—
  41. shall shine on huge heaps of Rutulia's dead.”
  42. So saying, she pushed with her right hand the stern
  43. with skilful thrust, and vanished. The ship sped
  44. swift as a spear, or as an arrow flies
  45. no whit behind the wind: and all the fleet
  46. quickened its course. Anchises' princely son,
  47. dumb and bewildered stood, but took good heart
  48. at such an omen fair. Then in few words
  49. with eyes upturned to heaven he made his prayer:
  50. “Mother of gods, O Ida's Queen benign,
  51. who Iovest Dindymus and towns with towers,
  52. and lion-yokes obedient to thy rein,
  53. be thou my guide in battle, and fulfil
  54. thine augury divine. In Phrygia's cause
  55. be present evermore with favoring power!”
  56. He spoke no more. For now the wheels of day
  57. had sped full circle into perfect light,
  58. the dark expelling. Then, for his first care,
  59. he bade his captains heed the signal given,
  60. equip their souls for war, and wait in arms
  61. the coming fray. Now holds he full in view
  62. his Trojans and their fortress, as he stands
  63. upon his towering ship. With his left hand
  64. he lifts his radiant shield; then from the wall
  65. the Dardan warriors send a battle-cry
  66. that echoes to the stars, as kindling hope
  67. their rage renews. A flight of spears they hurl:
  68. 't was like the cranes of Strymon, through dark clouds
  69. each other calling, when they cleave the skies
  70. vociferous, outwinging as they fly
  71. the swift south winds—Ioud music them pursues.
  72. Amazement on Ausonia's captains fell
  73. and Turnus, as they gazed. But soon they saw
  74. ships pointing shoreward and the watery plain
  75. all stirring with a fleet. Aeneas' helm
  76. uplifted its bright peak,—like streaming flame
  77. the crimson crest; his shield of orbed gold
  78. poured forth prodigious fire: it seemed as when
  79. in cloudless night a comet's blood-red beam
  80. makes mournful splendor, or the Dog-star glows,
  81. which rises to bring drought and pestilence
  82. to hapless men, and with ill-omened ray
  83. saddens the sky. But Turnus, undismayed,
  84. trusted not less to hurl th' invaders back
  85. and hold the shore against them. “Look!” he cried,
  86. your prayer is come to pass,—that sword in hand
  87. ye now may shatter them. The might of Mars
  88. is in a true man's blow. Remember well
  89. each man his home and wife! Now call to mind
  90. the glory and great deeds of all your sires!
  91. Charge to yon river-bank, while yet they take
  92. with weak and fearful steps their shoreward way!
  93. Fortune will help the brave.” With words like these,
  94. he chose, well-weighing, who should lead the charge,
  95. who at the leaguered walls the fight sustain.