Aeneid

Virgil

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

  1. Thus in their doubtful cause the chieftains strove.
  2. Meanwhile Aeneas his assaulting line
  3. moved forward. The ill tidings wildly sped
  4. from royal hall to hall, and filled the town
  5. with rumors dark: for now the Trojan host
  6. o'er the wide plains from Tiber's wave was spread
  7. in close array of war. The people's soul
  8. was vexed and shaken, and its martial rage
  9. rose to the stern compulsion. Now for arms
  10. their terror calls; the youthful soldiery
  11. clamor for arms; the sires of riper days
  12. weep or repress their tears. On every side
  13. loud shouts and cries of dissonant acclaim
  14. trouble the air, as when in lofty grove
  15. legions of birds alight, or by the flood
  16. of Padus' fishy stream the shrieking swans
  17. far o'er the vocal marish fling their song.
  18. Then, seizing the swift moment, Turnus cried:
  19. “Once more, my countrymen,—ye sit in parle,
  20. lazily praising peace, while yonder foe
  21. speeds forth in arms our kingdom to obtain.”
  22. He spoke no more, but hied him in hot haste,
  23. and from the housetop called, “Volusus, go!
  24. Equip the Volscian companies! Lead forth
  25. my Rutules also! O'er the spreading plain,
  26. ye brothers Coras and Messapus range
  27. our host of cavalry! Let others guard
  28. the city's gates and hold the walls and towers:
  29. I and my followers elsewhere oppose
  30. the shock of arms.” Now to and fro they run
  31. to man the walls. Father Latinus quits—
  32. the place of council and his large design,
  33. vexed and bewildered by the hour's distress.
  34. He blames his own heart that he did not ask
  35. Trojan Aeneas for his daughter's Iord,
  36. and gain him for his kingdom's lasting friend.
  37. They dig them trenches at the gates, or lift
  38. burden of stakes and stones. The horn's harsh note
  39. sounds forth its murderous signal for the war;
  40. striplings and women, in a motley ring,
  41. defend the ramparts; the decisive hour
  42. lays tasks on all. Upon the citadel
  43. a train of matrons, with the doleful Queen,
  44. toward Pallas' temple moves, and in their hand
  45. are gifts and offerings. See, at their side
  46. the maid Lavinia, cause of all these tears,
  47. drops down her lovely eyes! The incense rolls
  48. in clouds above the altar; at the doors
  49. with wailing voice the women make this prayer:
  50. “Tritonian virgin, arbitress of war!
  51. Break of thyself yon Phrygian robber's spear!
  52. Hurl him down dying in the dust! Spill forth
  53. his evil blood beneath our lofty towers!”
  54. Fierce Turnus girds him, emulous to slay:
  55. a crimson coat of mail he wears, with scales
  56. of burnished bronze; beneath his knees are bound
  57. the golden greaves; upon his naked brow
  58. no helm he wears; but to his thigh is bound
  59. a glittering sword. Down from the citadel
  60. runs he, a golden glory, in his heart
  61. boldly exulting, while impatient hope
  62. fore-counts his fallen foes. He seemed as when,
  63. from pinfold bursting, breaking his strong chain,
  64. th' untrammelled stallion ranges the wide field,
  65. or tries him to a herd of feeding mares,
  66. or to some cooling river-bank he knows,
  67. most fierce and mettlesome; the streaming mane
  68. o'er neck and shoulder flies. Across his path
  69. Camilla with her Volscian escort came,
  70. and at the city-gate the royal maid
  71. down from her charger leaped; while all her band
  72. at her example glided to the ground,
  73. their horses leaving. Thus the virgin spoke:
  74. “Turnus, if confidence beseem the brave,
  75. I have no fear; but of myself do vow
  76. to meet yon squadrons of Aeneadae
  77. alone, and front me to the gathered charge
  78. of Tuscan cavalry. Let me alone
  79. the war's first venture-prove. Take station, thou,
  80. here at the walls, this rampart to defend.”
  81. With fixed eyes on the terror-striking maid,
  82. Turnus replied, “O boast of Italy,
  83. O virgin bold! What praise, what gratitude
  84. can words or deeds repay? But since thy soul
  85. so large of stature shows, I bid thee share
  86. my burden and my war. Our spies bring news
  87. that now Aeneas with pernicious mind
  88. sends light-armed horse before him, to alarm
  89. the plains below, while through the wilderness
  90. he climbs the steep hills, and approaches so
  91. our leaguered town. But I in sheltered grove
  92. a stratagem prepare, and bid my men
  93. in ambush at a mountain cross-road lie.
  94. Meet thou the charge of Tuscan cavalry
  95. with all thy banners. For auxiliar strength
  96. take bold Messapus with his Latin troop
  97. and King Tiburtus' men: but the command
  98. shall be thy task and care.” He spoke, and urged
  99. with like instruction for the coming fray
  100. Messapus and his captains; then advanced
  101. to meet the foe. There is a winding vale
  102. for armed deception and insidious war
  103. well fashioned, and by interlacing leaves
  104. screened darkly in; a small path thither leads,
  105. through strait defile-a passage boding ill.
  106. Above it, on a mountain's lofty brow,
  107. are points of outlook, level spaces fair,
  108. and many a safe, invisible retreat
  109. from whence on either hand to challenge war,
  110. or, standing on the ridges, to roll down
  111. huge mountain boulders. Thither Turnus fared,
  112. and, ranging the familiar tract, chose out
  113. his cunning ambush in the dangerous grove.