Aeneid

Virgil

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

  1. Straightway he calls assembly of his friends, —
  2. Acestes first in honor,—and makes known
  3. Jove's will, the counsel of his cherished sire,
  4. and his own fresh resolve. With prompt assent
  5. they hear his word, nor does Acestes fail
  6. the task to share. They people the new town
  7. with women; and leave every wight behind
  8. who wills it—souls not thirsting for high praise.
  9. Themselves re-bench their ships, rebuild, and fit
  10. with rope and oar the flame-swept galleys all;
  11. a band not large, but warriors bold and true.
  12. Aeneas, guiding with his hand a plough,
  13. marks out the city's ground, gives separate lands
  14. by lot, and bids within this space appear
  15. a second Troy. Trojan Acestes takes
  16. the kingly power, and with benignant joy
  17. appoints a forum, and decrees just laws
  18. before a gathered senate. Then they raise
  19. on that star-circled Erycinian hill,
  20. the temple to Idalian Venus dear;
  21. and at Anchises' sepulchre ordain
  22. a priesthood and wide groves of hallowed shade.