Aeneid

Virgil

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

  1. Now the nine days of funeral pomp are done,
  2. and every altar has had honors due
  3. from all the folk. Now tranquil-breathing winds
  4. have levelled the great deep, while brisk and free,
  5. a favoring Auster bids them launch away.
  6. But sound of many a wailing voice is heard
  7. along the winding shore; for ere they go,
  8. in fond embraces for a night and day
  9. they linger still. The women—aye, and men! —
  10. who hated yesterday the ocean's face
  11. and loathed its name, now clamor to set sail
  12. and bear all want and woe to exiles known.
  13. But good Aeneas with benignant words
  14. their sorrow soothes, and, not without a tear,
  15. consigns them to Acestes' kindred care.
  16. Then bids he sacrifice to Eryx' shade
  17. three bulls, and to the wind-gods and the storm
  18. a lamb, then loose the ships in order due.
  19. He, with a garland of shorn olive, stood
  20. holding aloft the sacrificial bowl
  21. from his own vessel's prow, and scattered far
  22. the sacred entrails o'er the bitter wave,
  23. with gift of flowing wine. Swift at the stern
  24. a fair wind rose and thrust them; while the crews
  25. with rival strokes swept o'er the spreading sea.