Aeneid

Virgil

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

  1. Meanwhile the warrior Turnus far afield
  2. pursued a scattered few; but less his speed,
  3. for less and less his worn steeds worked his will;
  4. and now wind-wafted to his straining ear
  5. a nameless horror came, a dull, wild roar,
  6. the city's tumult and distressful cry.
  7. “Alack,” he cried, “what stirs in yonder walls
  8. such anguish? Or why rings from side to side
  9. such wailing through the city?” Asking so,
  10. he tightened frantic grasp upon the rein.
  11. To him his sister, counterfeiting still
  12. the charioteer Metiscus, while she swayed
  13. rein, steeds, and chariot, this answer made:
  14. “Hither, my Turnus, let our arms pursue
  15. the sons of Troy. Here lies the nearest way
  16. to speedy triumph. There be other swords
  17. to keep yon city safe. Aeneas now
  18. storms against Italy in active war;
  19. we also on this Trojan host may hurl
  20. grim havoc. Nor shalt thou the strife give o'er
  21. in glory second, nor in tale of slain.”
  22. Turnus replied, “O sister, Iong ago
  23. I knew thee what thou wert, when guilefully
  24. thou didst confound their treaty, and enlist
  25. thy whole heart in this war. No Ionger now
  26. thy craft divine deceives me. But what god
  27. compelled thee, from Olympus fallen so far,
  28. to bear these cruel burdens? Wouldst thou see
  29. thy wretched brother slaughtered? For what else
  30. is in my power? What flattering hazard still
  31. holds forth deliverance? My own eyes have seen
  32. Murranus (more than any now on earth
  33. my chosen friend) who, calling on my name,
  34. died like a hero by a hero's sword.
  35. Ill-fated Ufens fell, enduring not
  36. to Iook upon my shame; the Teucrians
  37. divide his arms for spoil and keep his bones.
  38. Shall I stand tamely, till my hearth and home
  39. are levelled with the ground? For this would be
  40. the only blow not fallen. Shall my sword
  41. not give the lie to Drances' insolence?
  42. Shall I take flight and let my country see
  43. her Turnus renegade? Is death a thing
  44. so much to weep for? O propitious dead,
  45. O spirits of the dark, receive and bless
  46. me whom yon gods of light have cast away!
  47. Sacred and guiltless shall my soul descend
  48. to join your company; I have not been
  49. unworthy offspring of my kingly sires.”