Aeneid

Virgil

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

  1. Forth o'er the seas we sped and kept our course
  2. nigh the Ceraunian headland, where begins
  3. the short sea-passage unto Italy.
  4. Soon sank the sun, while down the shadowed hills
  5. stole deeper gloom; then making shore, we flung
  6. our bodies on a dry, sea-bordering sand,
  7. couched on earth's welcome breast; the oars were ranged
  8. in order due; the tides of slumber dark
  9. o'erflowed our lives. But scarce the chariot
  10. of Night, on wings of swift, obedient Hours,
  11. had touched the middle sky, when wakeful sprang
  12. good Palinurus from his pillowed stone:
  13. with hand at ear he caught each airy gust
  14. and questioned of the winds; the gliding stars
  15. he called by name, as onward they advanced
  16. through the still heaven; Arcturus he beheld,
  17. the Hyades, rain-bringers, the twin Bears,
  18. and vast Orion girt in golden arms.
  19. He blew a trumpet from his ship; our camp
  20. stirred to the signal for embarking; soon
  21. we rode the seas once more with swelling sail.