Aeneid

Virgil

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

  1. So spake the river-god, and sank from view
  2. down to his deepest cave; then night and sleep
  3. together from Aeneas fled away.
  4. He rose, and to the orient beams of morn
  5. his forehead gave; in both his hollowed palms
  6. he held the sacred waters of the stream,
  7. and called aloud: “O ye Laurentian nymphs,
  8. whence flowing rills be born, and chiefly thou,
  9. O Father Tiber, worshipped stream divine,
  10. accept Aeneas, and from peril save!
  11. If in some hallowed lake or haunted spring
  12. thy power, pitying my woes, abides,
  13. or wheresoe'er the blessed place be found
  14. whence first thy beauty flows, there evermore
  15. my hands shall bring thee gift and sacrifice.
  16. O chief and sovereign of Hesperian streams,
  17. O river-god that hold'st the plenteous horn,
  18. protect us, and confirm thy words divine!”
  19. He spoke; then chose twin biremes from the fleet,
  20. gave them good gear and armed their loyal crews.