Aeneid

Virgil

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

  1. So saying, with aspect terrible she sped
  2. earthward her way; and called from gloom of hell
  3. Alecto, woeful power, from cloudy throne
  4. among the Furies, where her heart is fed
  5. with horrid wars, wrath, vengeance, treason foul,
  6. and fatal feuds. Her father Pluto loathes
  7. the creature he engendered, and with hate
  8. her hell-born sister-fiends the monster view.
  9. A host of shapes she wears, and many a front
  10. of frowning black brows viper-garlanded.
  11. Juno to her this goading speech addressed:
  12. “O daughter of dark Night, arouse for me
  13. thy wonted powers and our task begin!
  14. Lest now my glory fail, my royal name
  15. be vanquished, while Aeneas and his crew
  16. cheat with a wedlock bond the Latin King
  17. and seize Italia's fields. Thou canst thrust on
  18. two Ioving brothers to draw sword and slay,
  19. and ruin homes with hatred, calling in
  20. the scourge of Furies and avenging fires.
  21. A thousand names thou bearest, and thy ways
  22. of ruin multiply a thousand-fold.
  23. Arouse thy fertile breast! Go, rend in twain
  24. this plighted peace! Breed calumnies and sow
  25. causes of battle, till yon warrior hosts
  26. cry out for swords and leap to gird them on.”