Aeneid

Virgil

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

  1. A sacred custom the Hesperian land
  2. of Latium knew, by all the Alban hills
  3. honored unbroken, which wide-ruling Rome
  4. keeps to this day, when to new stroke she stirs
  5. the might of Mars; if on the Danube's wave
  6. resolved to fling the mournful doom of war,
  7. or on the Caspian folk or Arabs wild;
  8. or chase the morning far as India's verge,
  9. ind from the Parthian despot wrest away
  10. our banners Iost. Twin Gates of War there be,
  11. of fearful name, to Mars' fierce godhead vowed:
  12. a hundred brass bars shut them, and the strength
  13. of uncorrupting steel; in sleepless watch
  14. Janus the threshold keeps. 'T is here, what time
  15. the senate's voice is war, the consul grave
  16. in Gabine cincture and Quirinal shift
  17. himself the griding hinges backward moves,
  18. and bids the Romans arm; obedient then
  19. the legionary host makes Ioud acclaim,
  20. and hoarse consent the brazen trumpets blow.
  21. Thus King Latinus on the sons of Troy
  22. was urged to open war, and backward roll
  23. those gates of sorrow: but the aged king
  24. recoiled, refused the loathsome task, and fled
  25. to solitary shades. Then from the skies
  26. the Queen of gods stooped down, and her sole hand
  27. the lingering portal moved; Saturnia
  28. swung on their hinges the barred gates of war.
  29. ausonia from its old tranquillity
  30. bursts forth in flame. Foot-soldiers through the field
  31. run to and fro; and mounted on tall steeds
  32. the cavaliers in clouds of dust whirl by.
  33. All arm in haste. Some oil the glittering shield
  34. or javelin bright, or on the whetstone wear
  35. good axes to an edge, while joyful bands
  36. uplift the standards or the trumpets blow.
  37. Five mighty cities to their anvils bring
  38. new-tempered arms: Atina—martial name —
  39. proud Tibur, Ardea, Crustumium,
  40. and river-walled Antemnae, crowned with towers
  41. strong hollow helmets on their brows they draw
  42. and weave them willow-shields; or melt and mould
  43. corselets of brass or shining silver greaves;
  44. none now for pruning-hook or sacred plough
  45. have love or care: but old, ancestral swords
  46. for hardier tempering to the smith they bring.
  47. Now peals the clarion; through the legions pass
  48. the watchwords: the impatient yeoman takes
  49. his helmet from the idle roof-tree hung;
  50. while to his chariot the master yokes
  51. the mettled war-horse, dons a shining shield
  52. and golden mail, and buckles his good sword.