Aeneid

Virgil

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

  1. Amid these tumults of the wrathful throng,
  2. lo, the ambassadors to Diomed
  3. arrive with cloudy forehead from their quest
  4. in his illustrious town; for naught availed
  5. their toilsome errand, nor the gifts and gold,
  6. nor strong entreaty. Other help in war
  7. the Latins now must find, or humbly sue
  8. peace from the Trojan. At such tidings dire
  9. even Latinus trembles: Heaven's decrees
  10. and influence of gods too visible
  11. sustain Aeneas; so the wrath divine
  12. and new-filled sepulchres conspicuous
  13. give warning clear. Therefore the King convenes
  14. a general council of his captains brave
  15. beneath the royal towers. They, gathering,
  16. throng the approaches thither, where their Iord,
  17. gray-haired Latinus, takes the central throne,
  18. wearing authority with mournful brow.
  19. He bids the envoys from Aetolia's King
  20. sent back, to speak and tell the royal words
  21. in order due. Forthwith on every tongue
  22. fell silence, while the princely Venulus,
  23. heeding his Iord's behest, began the parle:
  1. “My countrymen,” he said, “our eyes have seen
  2. strongholds of Greeks and Diomed the King.
  3. We braved all perils to our journey's end
  4. and clasped that hand whereof the dreadful stroke
  5. wrought Ilium's fall. The hero built a town,
  6. Argyripa, hereditary name,
  7. near mount Garganus in Apulian land:
  8. passing that city's portal and the King's,
  9. we found free audience, held forth thy gifts,
  10. and told our names and fatherland. We showed
  11. what condict was enkindled, and what cause
  12. brought us to Arpi's King. He, hearing all,
  13. with brow benign made answer to our plea:
  14. ‘O happy tribes in Saturn's kingdom born,
  15. Ausonia's ancient stem! What fortune blind
  16. tempts ye from peace away, and now ensnares
  17. in wars unknown? Look how we men that dared
  18. lay Ilium waste (I speak not of what woes
  19. in battling neath her lofty walls we bore,
  20. nor of dead warriors sunk in Simois' wave)
  21. have paid the penalty in many a land
  22. with chastisement accurst and changeful woe,
  23. till Priam's self might pity. Let the star
  24. of Pallas tell its tale of fatal storm,
  25. off grim Caphereus and Eubcea's crags.
  26. Driven asunder from one field of war,
  27. Atrides unto farthest Egypt strayed,
  28. and wise Ulysses saw from Aetna's caves
  29. the Cyclops gathering. Why name the throne
  30. of Pyrrhus, or the violated hearth
  31. whence fled Idomeneus? Or Locri cast
  32. on Libya's distant shore? For even he,
  33. Lord of Mycenae by the Greeks obeyed,
  34. fell murdered on his threshold by the hand
  35. of that polluted wife, whose paramour
  36. trapped Asia's conqueror. The envious gods
  37. withheld me also from returning home
  38. to see once more the hearth-stone of my sires,
  39. the wife I yearn for, and my Calydon,
  40. the beauteous land. For wonders horrible
  41. pursue me still. My vanished followers
  42. through upper air take wing, or haunt and rove
  43. in forms of birds the island waters o'er:
  44. ah me, what misery my people feel!
  45. The tall rocks ring with their lament and cry.
  46. Naught else had I to hope for from that day
  47. when my infatuate sword on gods I drew,
  48. and outraged with abominable wound
  49. the hand of Venus. Urge me not, I pray,
  50. to conflicts in this wise. No more for me
  51. of war with Trojans after Ilium's fall!
  52. I take no joy in evils past, nor wish
  53. such memory to renew. Go, lay these gifts,
  54. brought to my honor from your ancient land,
  55. at great Aeneas' feet. We twain have stood
  56. confronting close with swords implacable
  57. in mortal fray. Believe me, I have known
  58. the stature of him when he lifts his shield,
  59. and swings the whirlwind of his spear. If Troy
  60. two more such sons had bred, the Dardan horde
  61. had stormed at Argos' gates, and Greece to-day
  62. were for her fallen fortunes grieving sore.
  63. Our lingering at Ilium's stubborn wall,
  64. our sluggard conquest halting ten years Iong,
  65. was his and Hector's work. Heroic pair!
  66. Each one for valor notable, and each
  67. famous in enterprise of arms,—but he
  68. was first in piety. Enclasp with his
  69. your hands in plighted peace as best ye may:
  70. but shock of steel on steel ye well may shun.’
  71. now hast thou heard, good King, a king's reply,
  72. and how his wisdom sits in this vast war.”