Aeneid

Virgil

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

  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.