Aeneid

Virgil

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

  1. The hearts of the Rutulian host stood still
  2. in panic, and Messapus terrified
  3. his trembling horses reined; the sacred stream
  4. of Father Tiber, harshly murmuring,
  5. held back his flood and checked his seaward way.
  6. But Turnus' courage failed not; he alone
  7. his followers roused, and with reproachful words
  8. alone spoke forth: “These signs and prodigies
  9. threaten the Trojan only. Jove himself
  10. has stripped them of their wonted strength: no more
  11. can they abide our deadly sword and fire.
  12. The Trojan path to sea is shut. What hope
  13. of flight is left them now? The half their cause
  14. is fallen. The possession of this land
  15. is ours already; thousands of sharp swords
  16. Italia's nations bring. Small fear have I
  17. of Phrygia's boasted omens. What to me
  18. their oracles from heaven? The will of Fate
  19. and Venus have achieved their uttermost
  20. in casting on Ausonia's fruitful shore
  21. yon sons of Troy. I too have destinies:
  22. and mine, good match for theirs, with this true blade
  23. will spill the blood of all the baneful brood,
  24. in vengeance for my stolen wife. Such wrongs
  25. move not on Atreus' sons alone, nor rouse
  26. only Mycenae to a righteous war.
  27. Say you, ‘Troy falls but once?’ One crime, say I,
  28. should have contented them; and now their souls
  29. should little less than loathe all womankind.
  30. These are the sort of soldiers that be brave
  31. behind entrenchment, where the moated walls
  32. may stem the foe and make a little room
  33. betwixt themselves and death. Did they not see
  34. how Troy's vast bulwark built by Neptune's hand
  35. crumbled in flame? Forward, my chosen brave!
  36. Who follows me to cleave his deadly way
  37. through yonder battlement, and leap like storm
  38. upon its craven guard? I have no need
  39. of arms from Vulcan's smithy; nor of ships
  40. a thousand strong against our Teucrian foes,
  41. though all Etruria's league enlarge their power.
  42. Let them not fear dark nights, nor coward theft
  43. of Pallas' shrine, nor murdered sentinels
  44. on their acropolis. We shall not hide
  45. in blinding belly of a horse. But I
  46. in public eye and open day intend
  47. to compass their weak wall with siege and fire.
  48. I'll prove them we be no Pelasgic band,
  49. no Danaan warriors, such as Hector's arm
  50. ten years withstood. But look! this day hath spent
  51. its better part. In what remains, rejoice
  52. in noble deeds well done; let weary flesh
  53. have rest and food. My warriors, husband well
  54. your strength against to-morrow's hopeful war.”
  55. Meanwhile to block their gates with wakeful guard
  56. is made Messapus' work, and to gird round
  57. their camp with watchfires. Then a chosen band,
  58. twice seven Rutulian chieftains, man the walls
  59. with soldiery; each leads a hundred men
  60. crested with crimson, armed with glittering gold.
  61. Some post to separate sentries, and prepare
  62. alternate vigil; others, couched on grass,
  63. laugh round the wine and lift the brazen bowls.
  64. The camp-fires cheerly burn; the jovial guard
  65. spend the long, sleepless night in sport and game.