Aeneid

Virgil

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

  1. Now in Aeneas' ever-burdened breast
  2. the voice of hope revived. He bade make haste
  3. to raise the masts, spread canvas on the spars;
  4. all hands hauled at the sheets, and left or right
  5. shook out the loosened sails, or twirled in place
  6. the horn-tipped yards. Before a favoring wind
  7. the fleet sped on. The line in close array
  8. was led by Palinurus, in whose course
  9. all ships were bid to follow. Soon the car
  10. of dewy Night drew near the turning-point
  11. of her celestial round. The oarsmen all
  12. yielded their limbs to rest, and prone had fallen
  13. on the hard thwarts, in deep, unpillowed slumber.
  14. Then from the high stars on light-moving wings,
  15. the God of Sleep found passage through the dark
  16. and clove the gloom,—to bring upon thy head,
  17. O Palinurus, an ill-boding sleep,
  18. though blameless thou. Upon thy ship the god
  19. in guise of Phorbas stood, thus whispering:
  20. “Look, Palinurus, how the flowing tides
  21. lift on thy fleet unsteered, and changeless winds
  22. behind thee breathe! 'T is now a happy hour
  23. take thy rest. Lay down the weary head.
  24. Steal tired eyes from toiling. I will do
  25. thine office for thee, just a little space.”
  26. But Palinurus, lifting scarce his eyes,
  27. thus answered him: “Have I not known the face
  28. of yonder placid seas and tranquil waves?
  29. Put faith in such a monster? Could I trust —
  30. I, oft by ocean's treacherous calm betrayed —
  31. my lord Aeneas to false winds and skies?”