Aeneid

Virgil

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

  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.”