Aeneid

Virgil

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

  1. “Hark now! for of the glories I will tell
  2. That wait our Dardan blood; of our sons' sons
  3. Begot upon the old Italian breed,
  4. Who shall be mighty spirits, and prolong
  5. Our names, their heritage. I will unfold
  6. The story, and reveal the destined years.
  7. Yon princeling, thou beholdest leaning there
  8. Upon a royal lance, shall next emerge
  9. Into the realms of day. He is the first
  10. Of half-Italian strain, the last-born heir
  11. To thine old age by fair Lavinia given,
  12. Called Silvius, a royal Alban name
  13. (Of sylvan birth and sylvan nurture he),
  14. A king himself and sire of kings to come,
  15. By whom our race in Alba Longa reign.
  16. Next Procas stands, our Trojan people's boast;
  17. Capys and Numitor, and, named like thee,
  18. Aeneas Sylvius, like thee renowned
  19. For faithful honor and for deeds of war,
  20. When he ascends at last his Alban throne.
  21. Behold what warrior youth they be! How strong
  22. Their goodly limbs! Above their shaded brows
  23. The civic oak they wear! For thee they build
  24. Nomentum, and the walls of Gabii,
  25. Fidena too, and on the mountains pile
  26. Collatia's citadels, Pometii,
  27. Bola and Cora, Castrum-Inui—
  28. Such be the names the nameless lands shall bear.
  29. See, in that line of sires the son of Mars,
  30. Great Romulus, of Ilian mother born,
  31. From far-descended line of Trojan kings!
  32. See from his helm the double crest uprear,
  33. While his celestial father in his mien
  34. Shows forth his birth divine! Of him, my son,
  35. Great Rome shall rise, and, favored of his star,
  36. Have power world-wide, and men of godlike mind.
  37. She clasps her seven hills in single wall,
  38. Proud mother of the brave! So Cybele,
  39. The Berecynthian goddess, castle-crowned,
  40. On through the Phrygian kingdoms speeds her car,
  41. Exulting in her hundred sons divine,
  42. All numbered with the gods, all throned on high.
  43. “Let now thy visionary glance look long
  44. On this thy race, these Romans that be thine.
  45. Here Caesar, of Iulus' glorious seed,
  46. Behold ascending to the world of light!
  47. Behold, at last, that man, for this is he,
  48. So oft unto thy listening ears foretold,
  49. Augustus Caesar, kindred unto Jove.
  50. He brings a golden age; he shall restore
  51. Old Saturn's sceptre to our Latin land,
  52. And o'er remotest Garamant and Ind
  53. His sway extend; the fair dominion
  54. outruns th' horizon planets, yea, beyond
  55. The sun's bright path, where Atlas' shoulder bears
  56. Yon dome of heaven set thick with burning stars.
  57. Against his coming the far Caspian shores
  58. Break forth in oracles; the Maeotian land
  59. Trembles, and all the seven-fold mouths of Nile.
  1. Not o'er domain so wide Alcides passed,
  2. Although the brazen-footed doe he slew
  3. And stilled the groves of Erymanth, and bade
  4. The beast of Lerna at his arrows quail.
  5. Nor half so far triumphant Baechus drove,
  6. With vine-entwisted reins, his frolic team
  7. Of tigers from the tall-topped Indian hill.
  8. “Still do we doubt if heroes' deeds can fill
  9. A realm so wide? Shall craven fear constrain
  10. Thee or thy people from Ausonia's shore?
  11. Look, who is he I may discern from far
  12. By olive-branch and holy emblems known?
  13. His flowing locks and hoary beard, behold!
  14. Fit for a Roman king! By hallowed laws
  15. He shall found Rome anew—from mean estate
  16. In lowly Cures led to mightier sway.
  17. But after him arises one whose reign
  18. Shall wake the land from slumber: Tullus then
  19. Shall stir slack chiefs to battle, rallying
  20. His hosts which had forgot what triumphs be.
  21. Him boastful Ancus follows hard upon,
  22. o'erflushed with his light people's windy praise.
  23. Wilt thou see Tarquins now? And haughty hand
  24. Of vengeful Brutus seize the signs of power?
  25. He first the consul's name shall take; he first
  26. Th' inexorable fasces sternly bear.
  27. When his own sons in rash rebellion join,
  28. The father and the judge shall sentence give
  29. In beauteous freedom's cause—unhappy he!
  30. Howe'er the age to come the story tell,
  31. 't will bless such love of honor and of Rome.
  32. See Decius, sire and son, the Drusi, see!
  33. Behold Torquatus with his axe! Look where
  34. Camillus brings the Gallic standards home!
  35. “But who are these in glorious armor clad
  36. And equal power? In this dark world of cloud
  37. Their souls in concord move;—but woe is me!
  38. What duel 'twixt them breaks, when by and by
  39. The light of life is theirs, and forth they call
  40. Their long-embattled lines to carnage dire!
  41. Allied by nuptial truce, the sire descends
  42. From Alpine rampart and that castled cliff,
  43. Monoecus by the sea; the son arrays
  44. His hostile legions in the lands of morn.
  45. Forbear, my children! School not your great souls
  46. In such vast wars, nor turn your giant strength
  47. Against the bowels of your native land!
  48. But be thou first, 0 first in mercy! thou
  49. Who art of birth Olympian! Fling away
  50. Thy glorious sword, mine offspring and mine heir!
  51. “Yonder is one whose chariot shall ascend
  52. The laurelled Capitolian steep; he rides
  53. In glory o'er Achaea's hosts laid low,
  54. And Corinth overthrown. There, too, is he
  55. Who shall uproot proud Argos and the towers
  56. Of Agamemnon; vanquishing the heir
  57. Even of Aeacus, the warrior seed
  58. Of Peleus' son; such vengeance shall be wrought
  59. For Troy's slain sires, and violated shrines!
  60. “Or who could fail great Cato's name to tell?
  61. Or, Cossus, thine? or in oblivion leave
  62. The sons of Gracchus? or the Scipios,
  63. Twin thunderbolts of war, and Libya's bane?
  64. Or, more than kingly in his mean abode,
  65. Fabricius? or Serranus at the plough?
  66. Ye Fabii, how far would ye prolong
  67. My weary praise? But see! 'T is Maximus,
  68. Who by wise waiting saves his native land.
  69. “Let others melt and mould the breathing bronze
  70. To forms more fair,—aye! out of marble bring
  71. Features that live; let them plead causes well;
  72. Or trace with pointed wand the cycled heaven,
  73. And hail the constellations as they rise;
  74. But thou, 0 Roman, learn with sovereign sway
  75. To rule the nations. Thy great art shall be
  76. To keep the world in lasting peace, to spare
  77. humbled foe, and crush to earth the proud.”
  1. So did Anchises speak, then, after pause,
  2. Thus to their wondering ears his word prolonged:
  3. “Behold Marcellus, bright with glorious spoil,
  4. In lifted triumph through his warriors move!
  5. The Roman power in tumultuous days
  6. He shall establish; he rides forth to quell
  7. Afric and rebel Gaul; and to the shrine
  8. Of Romulus the third-won trophy brings.”
  9. Then spoke Aeneas, for he now could see
  10. A beauteous youth in glittering dress of war,
  11. Though of sad forehead and down-dropping eyes:
  12. “Say, father, who attends the prince? a son?
  13. Or of his greatness some remoter heir?
  14. How his friends praise him, and how matchless he!
  15. But mournful night Tests darkly o'er his brow.”
  16. With brimming eyes Anchises answer gave:
  17. “Ask not, 0 son, what heavy weight of woe
  18. Thy race shall bear, when fate shall just reveal
  19. This vision to the world, then yield no more.
  20. 0 gods above, too glorious did ye deem
  21. The seed of Rome, had this one gift been sure?
  22. The lamentation of a multitude
  23. Arises from the field of Mars, and strikes
  24. The city's heart. 0 Father Tiber, see
  25. What pomp of sorrow near the new-made tomb
  26. Beside thy fleeting stream! What Ilian youth
  27. Shall e'er his Latin kindred so advance
  28. In hope of glory? When shall the proud land
  29. Of Romulus of such a nursling boast?
  30. Ah, woe' is me! 0 loyal heart and true!
  31. 0 brave, right arm invincible! What foe
  32. Had 'scaped his onset in the shock of arms,
  33. Whether on foot he strode, or if he spurred
  34. The hot flanks of his war-horse flecked with foam?
  35. 0 lost, lamented child! If thou evade
  36. Thy evil star, Marcellus thou shalt be.
  37. 0 bring me lilies! Bring with liberal hand!
  38. Sad purple blossoms let me throw—the shade
  39. Of my own kin to honor, heaping high
  40. My gifts upon his grave! So let me pay
  41. An unavailing vow!”
  42. Then, far and wide
  43. Through spacious fields of air, they wander free,
  44. Witnessing all; Anchises guides his son
  45. From point to point, and quickens in his mind
  46. Hunger for future fame. Of wars he tells
  47. Soon imminent; of fair Laurentum's tribes;
  48. Of King Latinus' town; and shows what way
  49. Each task and hardship to prevent, or bear.
  1. Now Sleep has portals twain, whereof the one
  2. Is horn, they say, and easy exit gives
  3. To visions true; the other, gleaming white
  4. With polished ivory, the.dead employ
  5. To people night with unsubstantial dreams.
  6. Here now Anchises bids his son farewell;
  7. And with Sibylla, his companion sage,
  8. Up through that ivory portal lets him rise.
  9. Back to his fleet and his dear comrades all
  10. Aeneas hastes.Then hold they their straight course
  11. Into Caieta's bay. An anchor holds
  12. Each lofty prow; the sterns stand firm on shore.
  1. One more immortal name thy death bequeathed,
  2. Nurse of Aeneas, to Italian shores,
  3. Caieta; there thy honor hath a home;
  4. Thy bones a name: and on Hesperia's breast
  5. Their proper glory.When Aeneas now
  6. The tribute of sepulchral vows had paid
  7. Beside the funeral mound, and o'er the seas
  8. Stillness had fallen, he flung forth his sails,
  9. And leaving port pursued his destined way.
  10. Freshly the night-winds breathe; the cloudless moon
  11. Outpours upon his path unstinted beam,
  12. And with far-trembling glory smites the sea.
  13. Close to the lands of Circe soon they fare,
  14. Where the Sun's golden daughter in far groves
  15. Sounds forth her ceaseless song; her lofty hall
  16. Is fragrant every night with flaring brands
  17. Of cedar, giving light the while she weaves
  18. With shrill-voiced shuttle at her linens fine.
  19. From hence are heard the loud lament and wrath
  20. Of lions, rebels to their linked chains
  21. And roaring all night long; great bristly boars
  22. And herded bears, in pinfold closely kept,
  23. Rage horribly, and monster-wolves make moan;
  24. Whom the dread goddess with foul juices strong
  25. From forms of men drove forth, and bade to wear
  26. the mouths and maws of beasts in Circe's thrall.
  27. But lest the sacred Trojans should endure
  28. such prodigy of doom, or anchor there
  29. on that destroying shore, kind Neptune filled
  30. their sails with winds of power, and sped them on
  31. in safety past the perils of that sea.
  1. Now morning flushed the wave, and saffron-garbed
  2. Aurora from her rose-red chariot beamed
  3. in highest heaven; the sea-winds ceased to stir;
  4. a sudden calm possessed the air, and tides
  5. of marble smoothness met the laboring oar.
  6. Then, gazing from the deep, Aeneas saw
  7. a stretch of groves, whence Tiber's smiling stream,
  8. its tumbling current rich with yellow sands,
  9. burst seaward forth: around it and above
  10. shore-haunting birds of varied voice and plume
  11. flattered the sky with song, and, circling far
  12. o'er river-bed and grove, took joyful wing.
  13. Thither to landward now his ships he steered,
  14. and sailed, high-hearted, up the shadowy stream.
  1. Hail, Erato! while olden kings and thrones
  2. and all their sequent story I unfold!
  3. How Latium's honor stood, when alien ships
  4. brought war to Italy, and from what cause
  5. the primal conflict sprang, O goddess, breathe
  6. upon thy bard in song. Dread wars I tell,
  7. array of battle, and high-hearted kings
  8. thrust forth to perish, when Etruria's host
  9. and all Hesperia gathered to the fray.
  10. Events of grander march impel my song,
  11. and loftier task I try. Latinus, then
  12. an aged king, held long-accepted sway
  13. o'er tranquil vales and towns. He was the son
  14. of Faunus, so the legend tells, who wed
  15. the nymph Marica of Laurentian stem.
  16. Picus was Faunus' father, whence the line
  17. to Saturn's Ioins ascends. O heavenly sire,
  18. from thee the stem began! But Fate had given
  19. to King Latinus' body no heirs male:
  20. for taken in the dawning of his day
  21. his only son had been; and now his home
  22. and spacious palace one sole daughter kept,
  23. who was grown ripe to wed and of full age
  24. to take a husband. Many suitors tried
  25. from all Ausonia and Latium's bounds;
  26. but comeliest in all their princely throng
  27. came Turnus, of a line of mighty sires.
  28. Him the queen mother chiefly loved, and yearned
  29. to call him soon her son. But omens dire
  30. and menaces from Heaven withstood her will.
  31. A laurel-tree grew in the royal close,
  32. of sacred leaf and venerated age,
  33. which, when he builded there his wall and tower,
  34. Father Latinus found, and hallowed it
  35. to Phoebus' grace and power, wherefrom the name
  36. Laurentian, which his realm and people bear.
  37. Unto this tree-top, wonderful to tell,
  38. came hosts of bees, with audible acclaim
  39. voyaging the stream of air, and seized a place
  40. on the proud, pointing crest, where the swift swarm,
  41. with interlacement of close-clinging feet,
  42. swung from the leafy bough. “Behold, there comes,”
  43. the prophet cried, “a husband from afar!
  44. To the same region by the self-same path
  45. behold an arm'd host taking lordly sway
  46. upon our city's crown!” Soon after this,
  47. when, coming to the shrine with torches pure,
  48. Lavinia kindled at her father's side
  49. the sacrifice, swift seemed the flame to burn
  50. along her flowing hair—O sight of woe!
  51. Over her broidered snood it sparkling flew,
  52. lighting her queenly tresses and her crown
  53. of jewels rare: then, wrapt in flaming cloud,
  54. from hall to hall the fire-god's gift she flung.
  55. This omen dread and wonder terrible
  56. was rumored far: for prophet-voices told
  57. bright honors on the virgin's head to fall
  58. by Fate's decree, but on her people, war.