Aeneid

Virgil

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

  1. But now the Queen, whose whole heart shrank in fear
  2. from these new terms of duel, wept aloud,
  3. and like one dying clasped her fiery son:
  4. “O Turnus, by these tears-if in thy heart
  5. thou honorest Amata still—O thou
  6. who art of our distressful, dark old age
  7. the only hope and peace, the kingly name
  8. and glory of Latinus rests in thee;
  9. thou art the mighty prop whereon is stayed
  10. our falling house. One favor I implore:
  11. give o'er this fight with Trojans. In such strife
  12. thy destined doom is destined to be mine
  13. by the same fatal stroke. For in that hour
  14. this hated life shall cease, nor will I look
  15. with slave's eyes on Aeneas as my son.”
  16. Lavinia heard her mother's voice, and tears
  17. o'erflowed her scarlet cheek, where blushes spread
  18. like flame along her warm, young face and brow:
  19. as when the Indian ivory must wear
  20. ensanguined crimson stain, or lilies pale
  21. mingled with roses seem to blush, such hues
  22. her virgin features bore; and love's desire
  23. disturbed his breast, as, gazing on the maid,
  24. his martial passion fiercer flamed; whereon
  25. in brief speech he addressed the Queen: “No tears!
  26. No evil omen, mother, I implore!
  27. Make me no sad farewells, as I depart
  28. to the grim war-god's game! Can Turnus' hand
  29. delay death's necessary coming? Go,
  30. Idmon, my herald, to the Phrygian King,
  31. and tell him this—a word not framed to please:
  32. soon as Aurora from her crimson car
  33. flushes to-morrow's sky, let him no more
  34. against the Rutule lead the Teucrian line;
  35. let Teucrian swords and Rutule take repose,
  36. while with our own spilt blood we twain will make
  37. an end of war; on yonder mortal field
  38. let each man woo Lavinia for his bride.”