Aeneid

Virgil

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

  1. She ceased; and swiftly from the peak of heaven
  2. moved earthward, trailing cloud-wrack through the air,
  3. and girdled with the storm. She took her way
  4. to where Troy's warriors faced Laurentum's line.
  5. There of a hollow cloud the goddess framed
  6. a shape of airy, unsubstantial shade,
  7. Aeneas' image, wonderful to see,
  8. and decked it with a Dardan lance and shield,
  9. a crested helmet on the godlike head;
  10. and windy words she gave of soulless sound,
  11. and motion like a stride—such shapes, they say,
  12. the hovering phantoms of the dead put on,
  13. or empty dreams which cheat our slumbering eyes.
  14. Forth to the front of battle this vain shade
  15. stalked insolent, and with its voice and spear
  16. challenged the warrior. At it Turnus flew,
  17. and hurled a hissing spear with distant aim;
  18. the thing wheeled round and fled. The foe forthwith,
  19. thinking Aeneas vanquished, with blind scorn
  20. flattered his own false hope: “Where wilt thou fly,
  21. Aeneas? Wilt thou break a bridegroom's word?
  22. This sword will give thee title to some land
  23. thou hast sailed far to find!” So clamoring loud
  24. he followed, flashing far his naked sword;
  25. nor saw the light winds waft his dream away.