Aeneid

Virgil

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

  1. Meanwhile o'er sorrowing mortals the bright morn
  2. had lifted her mild beam, renewing so
  3. the burden of man's toil. Aeneas now
  4. built funeral pyres along the winding shore,
  5. King Tarchon at his side. Each thither brought
  6. the bodies of his kin, observing well
  7. all ancient ritual. The fuming fires
  8. burned from beneath, till highest heaven was hid
  9. in blackest, overmantling cloud. Three times
  10. the warriors, sheathed in proud, resplendent steel,
  11. paced round the kindling pyres; and three times
  12. fair companies of horsemen circled slow,
  13. with loud lamenting, round the doleful flame.
  14. The wail of warriors and the trumpets' blare
  15. the very welkin rend. Cast on the flames
  16. are spoils of slaughtered Latins,—helms and blades,
  17. bridles and chariot-wheels. Yet others bring
  18. gifts to the dead familiar, their own shields
  19. and unavailing spears. Around them slain
  20. great herds of kine give tribute unto death:
  21. swine, bristly-backed, from many a field are borne,
  22. and slaughtered sheep bleed o'er the sacred fire.
  23. So on the shore the wailing multitude
  24. behold their comrades burning, and keep guard
  25. o'er the consuming pyres, nor turn away
  26. till cooling night re-shifts the globe of heaven,
  27. thick-strewn with numberless far-flaming stars.
  1. Likewise the mournful Latins far away
  2. have built their myriad pyres. Yet of the slain
  3. not few in graves are laid, and borne with tears
  4. to neighboring country-side or native town;
  5. the rest—promiscuous mass of dead unknown—
  6. to nameless and unhonored ashes burn;
  7. with multitude of fires the far-spread fields
  8. blaze forth unweariedly. But when from heaven
  9. the third morn had dispelled the dark and cold,
  10. the mournful bands raked forth the mingled bones
  11. and plenteous ashes from the smouldering pyres,
  12. then heaped with earth the one sepulchral mound.
  13. Now from the hearth-stones of the opulent town
  14. of old Latinus a vast wail burst forth,
  15. for there was found the chief and bitterest share
  16. of all the woe. For mothers in their tears,
  17. lone brides, and stricken souls of sisters fond,
  18. and boys left fatherless, fling curses Ioud
  19. on Turnus' troth-plight and the direful war:
  20. “Let him, let Turnus, with his single sword
  21. decide the strife,”—they cry,—“and who shall claim
  22. Lordship of Italy and power supreme.”
  23. Fierce Drances whets their fury, urging all
  24. that Turnus singly must the challenge hear,
  25. and singly wage the war; but others plead
  26. in Turnus' favor; the Queen's noble name
  27. protects him, and his high renown in arms
  28. defends his cause with well-won trophies fair.