Aeneid

Virgil

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

  1. Aeneas then, assembling all to hear,
  2. by a far-sounding herald's voice proclaimed
  3. Cloanthus victor, and arrayed his brows
  4. with the green laurel-garland; to the crews
  5. three bulls, at choice, were given, and plenteous wine
  6. and talent-weight of silver; to the chiefs
  7. illustrious gifts beside; the victor had
  8. a gold-embroidered mantle with wide band
  9. of undulant Meliboean purple rare,
  10. where, pictured in the woof, young Ganymede
  11. through Ida's forest chased the light-foot deer
  12. with javelin; all flushed and panting he.
  13. But lo! Jove's thunder-bearing eagle fell,
  14. and his strong talons snatched from Ida far
  15. the royal boy, whose aged servitors
  16. reached helpless hands to heaven; his faithful hound
  17. bayed fiercely at the air. To him whose worth
  18. the second place had won, Aeneas gave
  19. a smooth-linked golden corselet, triple-chained,
  20. of which his own victorious hand despoiled
  21. Demoleos, by the swift, embattled stream
  22. of Simois, under Troy,—and bade it be
  23. a glory and defence on valor's field;
  24. scarce might the straining shoulders of two slaves,
  25. Phegeus and Sagaris, the load endure,
  26. yet oft Demoleos in this armor dressed
  27. charged down full speed on routed hosts of Troy.
  28. The third gift was two cauldrons of wrought brass,
  29. and bowls of beaten silver, cunningly
  30. embossed with sculpture fair. Bearing such gifts,
  31. th' exultant victors onward moved, each brow
  32. bound with a purple fillet. But behold!
  33. Sergestus, from the grim rock just dragged off
  34. by cunning toil, one halting rank of oars
  35. left of his many lost, comes crawling in
  36. with vanquished ship, a mockery to all.
  37. As when a serpent, on the highway caught,
  38. some brazen wheel has crushed, or traveller
  39. with heavy-smiting blow left half alive
  40. and mangled by a stone; in vain he moves
  41. in writhing flight; a part is lifted high
  42. with hissing throat and angry, glittering eyes;
  43. but by the wounded part a captive still
  44. he knots him fold on fold: with such a track
  45. the maimed ship labored slow; but by her sails
  46. she still made way, and with full canvas on
  47. arrived at land. Aeneas then bestowed
  48. a boon upon Sergestus, as was meet
  49. for reward of the ship in safety brought
  50. with all its men; a fair slave was the prize,
  51. the Cretan Pholoe, well taught to weave,
  52. and twin boy-babes upon her breast she bore.