Aeneid

Virgil

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

  1. When from the eastern waves the light of morn
  2. began to peer, and from the upper sky
  3. Aurora flamed away the dark and dew,
  4. out of the forest sprang a startling shape
  5. of hunger-wasted misery; a man
  6. in wretched guise, who shoreward came with hands
  7. outstretched in supplication. We turned back
  8. and scanned him well. All grime and foulness he,
  9. with long and tangled beard, his savage garb
  10. fastened with thorns; but in all else he seemed
  11. a Greek, and in his country's league of arms
  12. sent to the seige of Troy. Then he beheld
  13. the Dardan habit, and our Trojan steel,
  14. he somewhat paused, as if in dread dismay
  15. such sight to see, and falteringly moved;
  16. but soon with headlong steps he sought the shore,
  17. ejaculating broken sobs and prayers:
  18. “By stars above! By gods on high! O, hear!
  19. By this bright heavenly air we mortals breathe,
  20. save me, sweet Trojans! Carry me away
  21. unto what land ye will! I ask no more.
  22. I came, I know it, in the ships of Greece;
  23. and I did war, 't is true, with Ilium's gods.
  24. O, if the crime deserve it, fling my corse
  25. on yonder waves, and in the boundless brine
  26. sink me forever! Give me in my death
  27. the comfort that by human hands I die.”
  28. He clasped our knees, and writhing on his own
  29. clung fast. We bid him tell his race and name,
  30. and by what fate pursued. Anchises gave
  31. his own right hand in swift and generous aid,
  32. and by prompt token cheered the exile's heart,
  33. who, banishing his fears, poured forth this tale :—