Aeneid

Virgil

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

  1. Meanwhile Olympus, seat of sovereign sway,
  2. threw wide its portals, and in conclave fair
  3. the Sire of gods and King of all mankind
  4. summoned th' immortals to his starry court,
  5. whence, high-enthroned, the spreading earth he views—
  6. and Teucria's camp and Latium's fierce array.
  7. Beneath the double-gated dome the gods
  8. were sitting; Jove himself the silence broke:
  9. “O people of Olympus, wherefore change
  10. your purpose and decree, with partial minds
  11. in mighty strife contending? I refused
  12. such clash of war 'twixt Italy and Troy.
  13. Whence this forbidden feud? What fears
  14. seduced to battles and injurious arms
  15. either this folk or that? Th' appointed hour
  16. for war shall be hereafter—speed it not!—
  17. When cruel Carthage to the towers of Rome
  18. shall bring vast ruin, streaming fiercely down
  19. the opened Alp. Then hate with hate shall vie,
  20. and havoc have no bound. Till then, give o'er,
  21. and smile upon the concord I decree!”
  1. Thus briefly, Jove. But golden Venus made
  2. less brief reply. “O Father, who dost hold
  3. o'er Man and all things an immortal sway!
  4. Of what high throne may gods the aid implore
  5. save thine? Behold of yonder Rutuli
  6. th' insulting scorn! Among them Turnus moves
  7. in chariot proud, and boasts triumphant war
  8. in mighty words. Nor do their walls defend
  9. my Teucrians now. But in their very gates,
  10. and on their mounded ramparts, in close fight
  11. they breast their foes and fill the moats with blood.
  12. Aeneas knows not, and is far away.
  13. Will ne'er the siege have done? A second time
  14. above Troy's rising walls the foe impends;
  15. another host is gathered, and once more
  16. from his Aetolian Arpi wrathful speeds
  17. a Diomed. I doubt not that for me
  18. wounds are preparing. Yea, thy daughter dear
  19. awaits a mortal sword! If by thy will
  20. unblest and unapproved the Trojans came
  21. to Italy, for such rebellious crime
  22. give them their due, nor lend them succor, thou,
  23. with thy strong hand! But if they have obeyed
  24. unnumbered oracles from gods above
  25. and sacred shades below, who now has power
  26. to thwart thy bidding, or to weave anew
  27. the web of Fate? Why speak of ships consumed
  28. along my hallowed Erycinian shore?
  29. Or of the Lord of Storms, whose furious blasts
  30. were summoned from Aeolia? Why tell
  31. of Iris sped from heaven? Now she moves
  32. the region of the shades (one kingdom yet
  33. from her attempt secure) and thence lets loose
  34. Alecto on the world above, who strides
  35. in frenzied wrath along th' Italian hills.
  36. No more my heart now cherishes its hope
  37. of domination, though in happier days
  38. such was thy promise. Let the victory fall
  39. to victors of thy choice! If nowhere lies
  40. the land thy cruel Queen would deign accord
  41. unto the Teucrian people,—O my sire,
  42. I pray thee by yon smouldering wreck of Troy
  43. to let Ascanius from the clash of arms
  44. escape unscathed. Let my own offspring live!
  45. Yea, let Aeneas, tossed on seas unknown,
  46. find some chance way; let my right hand avail
  47. to shelter him and from this fatal war
  48. in safety bring. For Amathus is mine,
  49. mine are Cythera and the Paphian hills
  50. and temples in Idalium. Let him drop
  51. the sword, and there live out inglorious days.
  52. By thy decree let Carthage overwhelm
  53. Ausonia's power; nor let defence be found
  54. to stay the Tyrian arms! What profits it
  55. that he escaped the wasting plague of war
  56. and fled Argolic fires? or that he knew
  57. so many perils of wide wilderness
  58. and waters rude? The Teucrians seek in vain
  59. new-born Troy in Latium. Better far
  60. crouched on their country's ashes to abide,
  61. and keep that spot of earth where once was Troy!
  62. Give back, O Father, I implore thee, give
  63. Xanthus and Simois back! Let Teucer's sons
  64. unfold once more the tale of Ilium's woe!”
  1. Then sovereign Juno, flushed with solemn scorn,
  2. made answer. “Dost thou bid me here profane
  3. the silence of my heart, and gossip forth
  4. of secret griefs? What will of god or man
  5. impelled Aeneas on his path of war,
  6. or made him foeman of the Latin King?
  7. Fate brought him to Italia? Be it so!
  8. Cassandra's frenzy he obeyed. What voice —
  9. say, was it mine?—urged him to quit his camp,
  10. risk life in storms, or trust his war, his walls,
  11. to a boy-captain, or stir up to strife
  12. Etruria's faithful, unoffending sons?
  13. What god, what pitiless behest of mine,
  14. impelled him to such harm? Who traces here
  15. the hand of Juno, or of Iris sped
  16. from heaven? Is it an ignoble stroke
  17. that Italy around the new-born Troy
  18. makes circling fire, and Turnus plants his heel
  19. on his hereditary earth, the son
  20. of old Pilumnus and the nymph divine,
  21. Venilia? For what offence would Troy
  22. bring sword and fire on Latium, or enslave
  23. lands of an alien name, and bear away
  24. plunder and spoil? Why seek they marriages,
  25. and snatch from arms of love the plighted maids?
  26. An olive-branch is in their hands; their ships
  27. make menace of grim steel. Thy power one day
  28. ravished Aeneas from his Argive foes,
  29. and gave them shape of cloud and fleeting air
  30. to strike at for a man. Thou hast transformed
  31. his ships to daughters of the sea. What wrong
  32. if I, not less, have lent the Rutuli
  33. something of strength in war? Aeneas, then,
  34. is far away and knows not! Far away
  35. let him remain, not knowing! If thou sway'st
  36. Cythera, Paphos, and Idalium,
  37. why rouse a city pregnant with loud wars,
  38. and fiery hearts provoke? That fading power
  39. of Phrygia, do I, forsooth, essay
  40. to ruin utterly? O, was it I
  41. exposed ill-fated Troy to Argive foe?
  42. For what offence in vast array of arms
  43. did Europe rise and Asia, for a rape
  44. their peace dissolving? Was it at my word
  45. th' adulterous Dardan shepherd came to storm
  46. the Spartan city? Did my hand supply
  47. his armament, or instigate a war
  48. for Cupid's sake? Then was thy decent hour
  49. to tremble for thy children; now too late
  50. the folly of thy long lament to Heaven,
  51. and objurgation vain.” Such Juno's plea;
  52. the throng of gods with voices loud or low
  53. gave various reply: as gathering winds
  54. sing through the tree-tops in dark syllables,
  55. and fling faint murmur on the far-off sea,
  56. to tell some pilot of to-morrow's storm.
  57. Then Jupiter omnipotent, whose hands
  58. have governance supreme, began reply;
  59. deep silence at his word Olympus knew,
  60. Earth's utmost cavern shook; the realms of light
  61. were silent; the mild zephyrs breathed no more,
  62. and perfect calm o'erspread the levelled sea.
  63. “Give ear, ye gods, and in your hearts record
  64. my mandate and decree. Fate yet allows
  65. no peace 'twixt Troy and Italy, nor bids
  66. your quarrel end. Therefore, what Chance this day
  67. to either foe shall bring, whatever hope
  68. either may cherish,—the Rutulian cause
  69. and Trojan have like favor in my eyes.
  70. The destinies of Italy constrain
  71. the siege; which for the fault of Troy fulfills
  72. an oracle of woe. Yon Rutule host
  73. I scatter not. But of his own attempt
  74. let each the triumph and the burden bear;
  75. for Jove is over all an equal King.
  76. The Fates will find the way.” The god confirmed
  77. his sentence by his Stygian brother's wave,
  78. the shadowy flood and black, abysmal shore.
  79. He nodded; at the bending of his brow
  80. Olympus shook. It is the council's end.
  81. Now from the golden throne uprises Jove;
  82. the train of gods attend him to the doors.
  1. Meanwhile at every gate the Rutule foe
  2. urges the slaughter on, and closes round
  3. the battlements with ring of flame. The host
  4. of Trojans, prisoned in the palisades,
  5. lies in strict siege and has no hope to fly.
  6. In wretched plight they man the turrets tall,
  7. to no avail, and with scant garrison
  8. the ramparts crown. In foremost line of guard
  9. are Asius Imbrasides, the twin
  10. Assaraci, and Hicetaon's son
  11. Thymoetes, and with Castor at his side
  12. the veteran Thymbris; then the brothers both
  13. of slain Sarpedon, and from Lycian steep
  14. Clarus and Themon. With full-straining thews
  15. lifting a rock, which was of some huge hill
  16. no fragment small, Lyrnesian Acmon stood;
  17. nor less than Clytius his sire he seemed,
  18. nor Mnestheus his great brother. Some defend
  19. the wall with javelins; some hurl down stones
  20. or firebrands, or to the sounding string
  21. fit arrows keen. But lo! amid the throng,
  22. well worth to Venus her protecting care,
  23. the Dardan boy, whose princely head shone forth
  24. without a helm, like radiant jewel set
  25. in burnished gold for necklace or for crown;
  26. or like immaculate ivory inclosed
  27. in boxwood or Orician terebinth;
  28. his tresses o'er his white neck rippled down,
  29. confined in circlet of soft twisted gold.
  30. Thee, too, the warrior nations gaze upon,
  31. high-nurtured Ismarus, inflicting wounds
  32. with shafts of venomed reed: Maeonia's vale
  33. thy cradle was, where o'er the fruitful fields
  34. well-tilled and rich, Pactolus pours his gold.
  35. Mnestheus was there, who, for his late repulse
  36. of Turnus from the rampart, towered forth
  37. in glory eminent; there Capys stood,
  38. whose name the Capuan citadel shall bear.
  1. While these in many a shock of grievous war
  2. hotly contend, Aeneas cleaves his way
  3. at midnight through the waters. He had fared
  4. from old Evander to th' Etruscan folk,
  5. addressed their King, and to him told the tale
  6. of his own race and name, his suit, his powers;
  7. of what allies Mezentius had embraced,
  8. and Turnus' lawless rage. He bids him know
  9. how mutable is man, and warning gives,
  10. with supplication joined. Without delay
  11. Tarchon made amity and sacred league,
  12. uniting with his cause. The Lydian tribe,
  13. now destined from its tyrant to be free,
  14. embarked, obedient to the gods, and gave
  15. allegiance to the foreign King. The ship
  16. Aeneas rode moved foremost in the line:
  17. its beak a pair of Phrygian lions bore;
  18. above them Ida rose, an emblem dear
  19. to exiled Trojans. On his Iofty seat
  20. was great Aeneas, pondering the events
  21. of changeful war; and clinging to his side
  22. the youthful Pallas fain would learn the lore
  23. of stars, the highway of dark night, and asks
  24. the story of his toils on land and sea.
  1. Now open Helicon and move my song,
  2. ye goddesses, to tell what host in arms
  3. followed Aeneas from the Tuscan shore,
  4. and manned his ships and traveiled o'er the sea!
  1. First Massicus his brazen Tigress rode,
  2. cleaving the brine; a thousand warriors
  3. were with him out of Clusium's walls, or from
  4. the citadel of Coste, who for arms
  5. had arrows, quivers from the shoulder slung,
  6. and deadly bows. Grim Abas near him sailed;
  7. his whole band wore well-blazoned mail; his ship
  8. displayed the form of Phoebus, all of gold:
  9. to him had Populonia consigned
  10. (His mother-city, she) six hundred youth
  11. well-proven in war; three hundred Elba gave,
  12. an island rich in unexhausted ores
  13. of iron, like the Chalybes. Next came
  14. Asilas, who betwixt the gods and men
  15. interprets messages and reads clear signs
  16. in victims' entrails, or the stars of heaven,
  17. or bird-talk, or the monitory flames
  18. of lightning: he commands a thousand men
  19. close lined, with bristling spears, of Pisa all,
  20. that Tuscan city of Alpheus sprung.
  21. Then Astur followed, a bold horseman he,
  22. Astur in gorgeous arms, himself most fair:
  23. three hundred are his men, one martial mind
  24. uniting all: in Caere they were bred
  25. and Minio's plain, and by the ancient towers
  26. of Pyrgo or Gravisca's storm-swept hill.
  1. Nor thy renown may I forget, brave chief
  2. of the Ligurians, Cinyrus; nor thine,
  3. Cupavo, with few followers, thy crest
  4. the tall swan-wings, of love unblest the sign
  5. and of a father fair: for legends tell
  6. that Cycnus, for his Phaethon so dear
  7. lamenting loud beneath the poplar shade
  8. of the changed sisters, made a mournful song
  9. to soothe his grief and passion: but erewhile,
  10. in his old age, there clothed him as he sang
  11. soft snow-white plumes, and spurning earth he soared
  12. on high, and sped in music through the stars.
  13. His son with bands of youthful peers urged on
  14. a galley with a Centaur for its prow,
  15. which loomed high o'er the waves, and seemed to hurl
  16. a huge stone at the water, as the keel
  17. ploughed through the deep. Next Ocnus summoned forth
  18. a war-host from his native shores, the son
  19. of Tiber, Tuscan river, and the nymph
  20. Manto, a prophetess: he gave good walls,
  21. O Mantua, and his mother's name, to thee,—
  22. to Mantua so rich in noble sires,
  23. but of a blood diverse, a triple breed,
  24. four stems in each; and over all enthroned
  25. she rules her tribes: her strength is Tuscan born.
  26. Hate of Mezentius armed against his name
  27. five hundred men: upon their hostile prow
  28. was Mincius in a cloak of silvery sedge,—
  29. Lake Benacus the river's source and sire.
  30. Last good Aulestes smites the depths below,
  31. with forest of a hundred oars: the flood
  32. like flowing marble foams; his Triton prow
  33. threatens the blue waves with a trumpet-shell;
  34. far as the hairy flanks its form is man,
  35. but ends in fish below—the parting waves
  36. beneath the half-brute bosom break in foam.
  37. Such chosen chiefs in thirty galleys ploughed
  38. the salt-wave, bringing help to Trojan arms.
  1. Day now had left the sky. The moon benign
  2. had driven her night-wandering chariot
  3. to the mid-arch of heaven. Aeneas sate,
  4. for thought and care allowed him no repose,
  5. holding the helm and tending his own sails.
  6. but, as he sped, behold, the beauteous train,
  7. lately his own, of nymphs, anon transformed
  8. by kind Cybebe to sea-ruling powers.
  9. In even ranks they swam the cloven wave,—
  10. nymphs now, but once as brazen galleys moored
  11. along the sandy shore. With joy they knew
  12. their King from far, and with attending train
  13. around him drew. Cymodocea then,
  14. best skilled in mortal speech, sped close behind,
  15. with her right hand upon the stern, uprose
  16. breast-high, and with her left hand deeply plied
  17. the silent stream, as to the wondering King
  18. she called: “So late on watch, O son of Heaven,
  19. Aeneas? Slack thy sail, but still watch on!
  20. We were the pine-trees on the holy top
  21. of Ida's mountain. Sea-nymphs now are we,
  22. and thine own fleet. When, as we fled, the flames
  23. rained o'er us from the false Rutulian's hand
  24. 't was all unwillingly we cast away
  25. thy serviceable chains: and now once more
  26. we follow thee across the sea. These forms
  27. our pitying mother bade us take, with power
  28. to haunt immortally the moving sea.
  29. Lo, thy Ascanius lies close besieged
  30. in moated walls, assailed by threatening arms
  31. and Latium's front of war. Arcadia,
  32. her horsemen with the bold Etruscan joined,
  33. stands at the place appointed. Turnus means,
  34. with troop opposing, their advance to bar
  35. and hold them from the camp. Arouse thee, then,
  36. and with the rising beams of dawn call forth
  37. thy captains and their followers. Take that shield
  38. victorious, which for thee the Lord of Fire
  39. forged for a gift and rimmed about with gold.
  40. To-morrow's light—deem not my words be vain!—
  41. shall shine on huge heaps of Rutulia's dead.”
  42. So saying, she pushed with her right hand the stern
  43. with skilful thrust, and vanished. The ship sped
  44. swift as a spear, or as an arrow flies
  45. no whit behind the wind: and all the fleet
  46. quickened its course. Anchises' princely son,
  47. dumb and bewildered stood, but took good heart
  48. at such an omen fair. Then in few words
  49. with eyes upturned to heaven he made his prayer:
  50. “Mother of gods, O Ida's Queen benign,
  51. who Iovest Dindymus and towns with towers,
  52. and lion-yokes obedient to thy rein,
  53. be thou my guide in battle, and fulfil
  54. thine augury divine. In Phrygia's cause
  55. be present evermore with favoring power!”
  56. He spoke no more. For now the wheels of day
  57. had sped full circle into perfect light,
  58. the dark expelling. Then, for his first care,
  59. he bade his captains heed the signal given,
  60. equip their souls for war, and wait in arms
  61. the coming fray. Now holds he full in view
  62. his Trojans and their fortress, as he stands
  63. upon his towering ship. With his left hand
  64. he lifts his radiant shield; then from the wall
  65. the Dardan warriors send a battle-cry
  66. that echoes to the stars, as kindling hope
  67. their rage renews. A flight of spears they hurl:
  68. 't was like the cranes of Strymon, through dark clouds
  69. each other calling, when they cleave the skies
  70. vociferous, outwinging as they fly
  71. the swift south winds—Ioud music them pursues.
  72. Amazement on Ausonia's captains fell
  73. and Turnus, as they gazed. But soon they saw
  74. ships pointing shoreward and the watery plain
  75. all stirring with a fleet. Aeneas' helm
  76. uplifted its bright peak,—like streaming flame
  77. the crimson crest; his shield of orbed gold
  78. poured forth prodigious fire: it seemed as when
  79. in cloudless night a comet's blood-red beam
  80. makes mournful splendor, or the Dog-star glows,
  81. which rises to bring drought and pestilence
  82. to hapless men, and with ill-omened ray
  83. saddens the sky. But Turnus, undismayed,
  84. trusted not less to hurl th' invaders back
  85. and hold the shore against them. “Look!” he cried,
  86. your prayer is come to pass,—that sword in hand
  87. ye now may shatter them. The might of Mars
  88. is in a true man's blow. Remember well
  89. each man his home and wife! Now call to mind
  90. the glory and great deeds of all your sires!
  91. Charge to yon river-bank, while yet they take
  92. with weak and fearful steps their shoreward way!
  93. Fortune will help the brave.” With words like these,
  94. he chose, well-weighing, who should lead the charge,
  95. who at the leaguered walls the fight sustain.
  1. Aeneas straightway from his lofty ships
  2. lets down his troop by bridges. Some await
  3. the ebbing of slack seas, and boldly leap
  4. into the shallows; others ply the oar.
  5. Tarchon a beach discovers, where the sands
  6. sing not, nor waves with broken murmur fall,
  7. but full and silent swells the gentle sea.
  8. Steering in haste that way, he called his crews:
  9. “Now bend to your stout oars, my chosen brave.
  10. Lift each ship forward, till her beak shall cleave
  11. yon hostile shore; and let her keel's full weight
  12. the furrow drive. I care not if we break
  13. our ship's side in so sure an anchorage,
  14. if once we land.” While Tarchon urged them thus,
  15. the crews bent all together to their blades
  16. and sped their foaming barks to Latium's plain,
  17. till each beak gripped the sand and every keel
  18. lay on dry land unscathed:—all save thine own,
  19. O Tarchon! dashed upon a sand-bar, she!
  20. Long poised upon the cruel ridge she hung,
  21. tilted this way or that and beat the waves,
  22. then split, and emptied forth upon the tide
  23. her warriors; and now the drifting wreck
  24. of shattered oars and thwarts entangles them,
  25. or ebb of swirling waters sucks them down.
  1. Turnus no lingering knows, but fiercely hurls
  2. his whole line on the Teucrians, and makes stand
  3. along the shore. Now peals the trumpet's call.
  4. Aeneas in the van led on his troop
  5. against the rustic foe, bright augury
  6. for opening war, and laid the Latins low,
  7. slaughtering Theron, a huge chief who dared
  8. offer Aeneas battle; through the scales
  9. of brazen mail and corselet stiff with gold
  10. the sword drove deep, and gored the gaping side.
  11. Then smote he Lichas, from his mother's womb
  12. ripped in her dying hour, and unto thee,
  13. O Phoebus, vowed, because his infant days
  14. escaped the fatal steel. Hard by him fell
  15. stout Cisseus and gigantic Gyas; these
  16. to death were hurled, while with their knotted clubs
  17. they slew opposing hosts; but naught availed
  18. Herculean weapons, nor their mighty hands,
  19. or that Melampus was their sire, a peer
  20. of Hercules, what time in heavy toils
  21. through earth he roved. See next how Pharon boasts!
  22. But while he vainly raves, the whirling spear
  23. smites full on his loud mouth. And also thou,
  24. Cydon, wast by the Trojan stroke o'erthrown,
  25. while following in ill-omened haste the steps
  26. of Clytius, thy last joy, whose round cheek wore
  27. its youthful golden down: soon hadst thou lain
  28. in death, unheeding of thy fancies fond
  29. which ever turned to youth;—but now arose
  30. the troop of all thy brothers, Phorcus' sons,
  31. a close array of seven, and seven spears
  32. they hurled: some from Aeneas' helm or shield
  33. glanced off in vain; some Venus' kindly power,
  34. just as they touched his body, turned away.
  35. Aeneas then to true Achates cried:
  36. “Bring on my spears: not one shall fruitless fly
  37. against yon Rutules, even as they pierced
  38. the breasts of Greeks upon the Ilian plain.”
  39. Then one great shaft he seized and threw; it sped
  40. straight into Maeon's brazen shield, and clove
  41. his mail-clad heart. Impetuous to his aid
  42. brother Alcanor came, and lifted up
  43. with strong right hand his brother as he fell:
  44. but through his arm a second skilful shaft
  45. made bloody way, and by the sinews held
  46. the lifeless right hand from the shoulder swung.
  47. Then from his brother's body Numitor
  48. the weapon plucked and hurled it, furious,
  49. upon Aeneas; but it could not strike
  50. the hero's self, and grazed along the thigh
  51. of great Achates. Next into the fight
  52. Clausus of Cures came, in youthful bloom
  53. exulting, and with far-thrown javelin
  54. struck Dryops at the chin, and took away
  55. from the gashed, shrieking throat both life and voice;
  56. the warrior's fallen forehead smote the dust;
  57. his lips poured forth thick blood. There also fell
  58. three Thracians, odspring of the lordly stem
  59. of Boreas, and three of Idas' sons
  60. from Ismara, by various doom struck down.
  61. Halaesus here his wild Auruncans brings;
  62. and flying to the fight comes Neptune's son,
  63. Messapus, famous horseman. On both sides
  64. each charges on the foe. Ausonia's strand
  65. is one wide strife. As when o'er leagues of air
  66. the envious winds give battle to their peers,
  67. well-matched in rage and power; and neither they
  68. nor clouds above, nor plunging seas below
  69. will end the doubtful war, but each withstands
  70. the onset of the whole—in such wild way
  71. the line of Trojans on the Latian line
  72. hurls itself, limb on limb and man on man.
  1. But at a distance where the river's flood
  2. had scattered rolling boulders and torn trees
  3. uprooted from the shore, young Pallas spied
  4. th' Arcadian band, unused to fight on foot,
  5. in full retreat, the Latins following close—
  6. who also for the roughness of the ground
  7. were all unmounted: he (the last resource
  8. of men in straits) to wild entreaty turned
  9. and taunts, enkindling their faint hearts anew:
  10. “Whither, my men! O, by your own brave deeds,
  11. O, by our lord Evander's happy wars,
  12. the proud hopes I had to make my name
  13. a rival glory,—think not ye can fly!
  14. Your swords alone can carve ye the safe way
  15. straight through your foes. Where yonder warrior-throng
  16. is fiercest, thickest, there and only there
  17. your Country's honor calls for men like you,
  18. and for your captain Pallas. Nay, no gods
  19. against us fight; we are but mortal men
  20. pressed by a mortal foe. Not more than ours
  21. the number of their lives or swords. Behold,
  22. the barrier of yonder spreading sea
  23. emprisons us, and for a craven flight
  24. yon lands are all too small. Ha! Shall we steer
  25. across the sea to Troy?” He said, and sprang
  26. full in the centre of his gathered foes.
  1. First in his path was Lagus, thither led
  2. by evil stars; whom, as he tried to lift
  3. a heavy stone, the shaft of Pallas pierced
  4. where ribs and spine divide: backward he drew
  5. the clinging spear; But Hisbo from above
  6. surprised him not, though meaning it; for while
  7. (In anger blind for friend unpitying slain)
  8. at Pallas' face he flew:—he, standing firm,
  9. plunged deep into that swelling breast the sword.
  10. Then Sthenius he slew; and next Anchemolus
  11. of Rhoetus' ancient line, who dared defile
  12. his step-dame's bridal bed. And also ye,
  13. fair Thymber and Larides, Daucus' twins,
  14. fell on that Rutule field; so like were ye,
  15. your own kin scarce discerned, and parents proud
  16. smiled at the dear deceit; but now in death
  17. cruel unlikeness Pallas wrought; thy head
  18. fell, hapless Thymber, by Evander's sword;
  19. and thy right hand, Larides, shorn away,
  20. seemed feeling for its Iord; the fingers cold
  21. clutched, trembling, at the sword. Now all the troop
  22. of Arcady, their chief's great action seen,
  23. and by his warning roused, made at their foes,
  24. spurred on by grief and shame. Next Pallas pierced
  25. the flying Rhoetus in his car; this gained
  26. for Ilus respite and delay, for him
  27. the stout spear aimed at; but its flight was stopped
  28. by Rhoetus, as in swift retreat he rode,
  29. by the two high-born brothers close pursued,
  30. Teuthras and Tyres: from his car he rolled,
  31. making deep furrows with his lifeless heels
  32. along the Rutule plain. Oft when the winds
  33. of summer, long awaited, rise and blow,
  34. a shepherd fires the forest, and the blaze
  35. devours the dense grove, while o'er the fields,
  36. in that one moment, swift and sudden spread
  37. grim Vulcan's serried flames; from some high seat
  38. on distant hill, the shepherd peering down
  39. sees, glad at heart, his own victorious fires:
  40. so now fierce valor spreads, uniting all
  41. in one confederate rage, 'neath Pallas' eyes.
  42. But the fierce warrior Halaesus next
  43. led on the charge, behind his skilful shield
  44. close-crouching. Ladon and Demodocus
  45. and Pheres he struck down; his glittering blade
  46. cut Strymon's hand, which to his neck was raised,
  47. sheer off; with one great stone he crushed the brows
  48. of Thoas, scattering wide the broken skull,
  49. bones, brains, and gore. Halaesus' prophet-sire,
  50. foreseeing doom, had hid him in dark groves;
  51. but when the old man's fading eyes declined
  52. in death, the hand of Fate reached forth and doomed
  53. the young life to Evander's sword; him now
  54. Pallas assailed, first offering this prayer:
  55. “O Father Tiber, give my poising shaft
  56. through stout Halaesus' heart its lucky way!
  57. The spoil and trophy of the hero slain
  58. on thine own oak shall hang.” The god received
  59. the vow, and while Halaesus held his shield
  60. over Imaon, his ill-fated breast
  61. lay naked to th' Arcadian's hungry spear.
  1. But Lausus, seeing such a hero slain,
  2. bade his troop have no fear, for he himself
  3. was no small strength in war; and first he slew
  4. Abas, who fought hard, and had ever seemed
  5. himself the sticking-point and tug of war.
  6. Down went Arcadia's warriors, and slain
  7. etruscans fell, with many a Trojan brave
  8. the Greek had spared. Troop charges upon troop
  9. well-matched in might, with chiefs of like renown;
  10. the last rank crowds the first;—so fierce the press
  11. scarce hand or sword can stir. Here Pallas stands,
  12. and pushes back the foe; before him looms
  13. Lausus, his youthful peer, conspicuous both
  14. in beauty; but no star will them restore
  15. to home and native land. Yet would the King
  16. of high Olympus suffer not the pair
  17. to close in battle, but each hero found
  18. a later doom at hands of mightier foes.
  1. Now Turnus' goddess-sister bids him haste
  2. to Lausus' help. So he, in wheeling car,
  3. cut through the lines; and when his friends he saw,
  4. “Let the fight stop! “ he cried, “for none but I
  5. may strike at Pallas; unto me alone
  6. the prize of Pallas falls. I would his sire
  7. stood by to see.” He spake: his troop withdrew
  8. a fitting space. But as they made him room,
  9. the young prince, wondering at the scornful words,
  10. looked upon Turnus, glancing up and down
  11. that giant frame, and with fierce-frowning brows
  12. scanned him from far, hurling defiant words
  13. in answer to the King's. “My honor now
  14. shall have the royal trophy of this war,
  15. or glorious death. For either fortune fair
  16. my sire is ready. Threaten me no more!”
  17. So saying, to the midmost space he strode,
  18. and in Arcadian hearts the blood stood still.
  19. Swift from his chariot Turnus leaped, and ran
  20. to closer fight. As when some lion sees
  21. from his far mountain-lair a raging bull
  22. that sniffs the battle from the grassy field,
  23. and down the steep he flies—such picture showed
  24. grim Turnus as he came. But when he seemed
  25. within a spear's cast, Pallas opened fight,
  26. expecting Fortune's favor to the brave
  27. in such unequal match; and thus he prayed:
  28. “O, by my hospitable father's roof,
  29. where thou didst enter as a stranger-guest,
  30. hear me, Alcides, and give aid divine
  31. to this great deed. Let Turnus see these hands
  32. strip from his half-dead breast the bloody spoil!
  33. and let his eyes in death endure to see
  34. his conqueror!” Alcides heard the youth:
  35. but prisoned in his heart a deep-drawn sigh,
  36. and shed vain tears; for Jove, the King and Sire, .
  37. spoke with benignant accents to his son:
  38. “To each his day is given. Beyond recall
  39. man's little time runs by: but to prolong
  40. life's glory by great deeds is virtue's power.
  41. Beneath the lofty walls of fallen Troy
  42. fell many a son of Heaven. Yea, there was slain
  43. Sarpedon, my own offspring. Turnus too
  44. is summoned to his doom, and nears the bounds
  45. of his appointed span.” So speaking, Jove
  46. turned from Rutulia's war his eyes away.
  47. But Pallas hurled his lance with might and main,
  48. and from its hollow scabbard flashed his sword.
  49. The flying shaft touched where the plated steel
  50. over the shoulders rose, and worked its way
  51. through the shield's rim—then falling, glanced aside
  52. from Turnus' giant body. Turnus then
  53. poised, without haste, his iron-pointed spear,
  54. and, launching it on Pallas, cried, “Look now
  55. will not this shaft a good bit deeper drive?”
  56. He said: and through the mid-boss of the shield,
  57. steel scales and brass with bull's-hide folded round,
  58. the quivering spear-point crashed resistlessly,
  59. and through the corselet's broken barrier
  60. pierced Pallas' heart. The youth plucked out in vain
  61. the hot shaft from the wound; his life and blood
  62. together ebbed away, as sinking prone
  63. on his rent side he fell; above him rang
  64. his armor; and from lips with blood defiled
  65. he breathed his last upon his foeman's ground.
  66. Over him Turnus stood: “Arcadians all,”
  67. He cried, “take tidings of this feat of arms
  68. to King Evander. With a warrior's wage
  69. his Pallas I restore, and freely grant
  70. what glory in a hero's tomb may lie,
  71. or comfort in a grave. They dearly pay
  72. who bid Aeneas welcome at their board.”
  73. So saying, with his left foot he held down
  74. the lifeless form, and raised the heavy weight
  75. of graven belt, which pictured forth that crime
  76. of youthful company by treason slain,
  77. all on their wedding night, in bridal bowers
  78. to horrid murder given,—which Clonus, son
  79. of Eurytus, had wrought in lavish gold;
  80. this Turnus in his triumph bore away,
  81. exulting in the spoil. O heart of man,
  82. not knowing doom, nor of events to be!
  83. Nor, being lifted up, to keep thy bounds
  84. in prosperous days! To Turnus comes the hour
  85. when he would fain a prince's ransom give
  86. had Pallas passed unscathed, and will bewail
  87. cuch spoil of victory. With weeping now
  88. and lamentations Ioud his comrades lay
  89. young Pallas on his shield, and thronging close
  90. carry him homeward with a mournful song:
  91. alas! the sorrow and the glorious gain
  92. thy sire shall have in thee. For one brief day
  93. bore thee to battle and now bears away;
  94. yet leavest thou full tale of foemen slain.
  1. No doubtful rumor to Aeneas breaks
  2. the direful news, but a sure messenger
  3. tells him his followers' peril, and implores
  4. prompt help for routed Troy. His ready sword
  5. reaped down the nearest foes, and through their line
  6. clove furious path and broad; the valiant blade
  7. through oft-repeated bloodshed groped its way,
  8. proud Turnus, unto thee! His heart beholds
  9. Pallas and Sire Evander, their kind board
  10. in welcome spread, their friendly league of peace
  11. proffered and sealed with him, the stranger-guest.
  12. So Sulmo's sons, four warriors, and four
  13. of Ufens sprung, he took alive—to slay
  14. as victims to the shades, and pour a stream
  15. of captives' blood upon a flaming pyre.
  16. Next from afar his hostile shaft he threw
  17. at Mago, who with wary motion bowed
  18. beneath the quivering weapon, as it sped
  19. clean over him; then at Aeneas' knees
  20. he crouched and clung with supplicating cry:
  21. “O, by thy father's spirit, by thy hope
  22. in young Iulus, I implore thee, spare
  23. for son and father's sake this life of mine.
  24. A lofty house have I, where safely hid
  25. are stores of graven silver and good weight
  26. of wrought and unwrought gold. The fate of war
  27. hangs not on me; nor can one little life
  28. thy victory decide.” In answer spoke
  29. Aeneas: “Hoard the silver and the gold
  30. for thy own sons. Such bartering in war
  31. finished with Turnus, when fair Pallas fell.
  32. Thus bids Anchises' shade, Iulus—thus!”
  33. He spoke: and, grasping with his mighty left
  34. the helmet of the vainly suppliant foe,
  35. bent back the throat and drove hilt-deep his sword.
  36. A little space removed, Haemonides,
  37. priest of Phoebus and pale Trivia, stood,
  38. whose ribboned brows a sacred fillet bound:
  39. in shining vesture he, and glittering arms.
  40. Him too the Trojan met, repelled, and towered
  41. above the fallen form, o'ermantling it
  42. in mortal shade; Serestus bore away
  43. those famous arms a trophy vowed to thee,
  44. Gradivus, Iord of war! Soon to fresh fight
  45. came Caeculus, a child of Vulcan's line,
  46. and Umbro on the Marsic mountains bred:
  47. these met the Trojan's wrath. His sword shore off
  48. Anxur's left hand, and the whole orbed shield
  49. dropped earthward at the stroke: though Anxur's tongue
  50. had boasted mighty things, as if great words
  51. would make him strong, and lifting his proud heart
  52. as high as heaven, had hoped perchance to see
  53. gray hairs and length of days. Then Tarquitus
  54. strode forth, exulting in his burnished arms
  55. (Him Dryope, the nymph, to Faunus bore),
  56. and dared oppose Aeneas' rage. But he
  57. drew back his lance and, charging, crushed at once
  58. corselet and ponderous shield; then off he struck
  59. the supplicating head, which seemed in vain
  60. preparing speech; while o'er the reeking corpse
  61. the victor stood, and thrusting it away
  62. spoke thus with wrathful soul: “Now lie thou there,
  63. thou fearsome sight! No noble mother's hand
  64. shall hide thee in the ground, or give those limbs
  65. to their ancestral tomb. Thou shalt be left
  66. to birds of ravin; or go drifting far
  67. along yon river to engulfing seas,
  68. where starving fishes on those wounds shall feed.”
  69. Antceus next and Lucas he pursues,
  70. though all in Turnus' van; and Numa bold
  71. and Camers tawny-tressed, the son and heir
  72. of Volscens the stout-hearted, whose domain
  73. surpassed the richest of Ausonia's lords,
  74. when over hushed Amyclae he was king.
  75. Like old Aegaeon of the hundred arms,
  76. the hundred-handed, from whose mouths and breasts
  77. blazed fifty fiery blasts, as he made war
  78. with fifty sounding shields and fifty swords
  79. against Jove's thunder;—so Aeneas raged
  80. victorious o'er the field, when once his steel
  81. warmed to its work. But lo, he turns him now
  82. where come Niphaeus' bold-advancing wheels
  83. and coursers four, who, when at furious speed
  84. they faced his giant stride and dreadful cry,
  85. upreared in panic, and reversing spilled
  86. their captain to the ground, and bore away
  87. the chariot to the river's distant shore.
  1. Meanwhile, with two white coursers to their car,
  2. the brothers Lucagus and Liger drove
  3. into the heart of battle: Liger kept
  4. with skilful hand the manage of the steeds;
  5. bold Lucagus swung wide his naked sword.
  6. Aeneas, by their wrathful brows defied,
  7. brooked not the sight, but to the onset flew,
  8. huge-looming, with adverse and threatening spear.
  9. Cried Liger, “Not Achilles' chariot, ours!
  10. Nor team of Diomed on Phrygia's plain!
  11. The last of life and strife shall be thy meed
  12. upon this very ground.” Such raving word
  13. flowed loud from Liger's lip: not with a word
  14. the Trojan hero answered him, but flung
  15. his whirling spear; and even as Lucagus
  16. leaned o'er the horses, goading them with steel,
  17. and, left foot forward, gathered all his strength
  18. to strike—the spear crashed through the under rim
  19. of his resplendent shield and entered deep
  20. in the left groin; then from the chariot fallen,
  21. the youth rolled dying on the field, while thus
  22. pious Aeneas paid him taunting words:
  23. “O Lucagus, thy chariot did not yield
  24. because of horses slow to fly, or scared
  25. by shadows of a foe. It was thyself
  26. leaped o'er the wheel and fled.” So saying, he grasped
  27. the horses by the rein. The brother then,
  28. spilled also from the car, reached wildly forth
  29. his helpless hands: “O, by thy sacred head,
  30. and by the parents who such greatness gave,
  31. good Trojan, let me live! Some pity show
  32. to prostrate me!” But ere he longer sued,
  33. Aeneas cried, “Not so thy language ran
  34. a moment gone! Die thou! Nor let this day
  35. brother from brother part!” Then where the life
  36. hides in the bosom, he thrust deep his sword.
  37. Thus o'er the field of war the Dardan King
  38. moved on, death-dealing: like a breaking flood
  39. or cloudy whirlwind seemed his wrath. Straightway
  40. the boy Ascanius from the ramparts came,
  41. his warriors with him; for the siege had failed.
  1. Now Jupiter to Juno thus began:
  2. “O ever-cherished spouse and sister dear,
  3. surely 't is Venus—as thy mind misgave—
  4. whose favor props—O, what discernment thine!
  5. Yon Trojan power; not swift heroic hands,
  6. or souls of fury facing perilous war!”
  7. Juno made meek reply: “O noblest spouse!
  8. Why vex one sick at heart, who humbly fears
  9. thy stern command? If I could claim to-day
  10. what once I had, my proper right and due,
  11. love's induence, I should not plead in vain
  12. to thee, omnipotent, to give me power
  13. to lead off Turnus from the fight unscathed,
  14. and save him at his father Daunus' prayer.
  15. Aye, let him die! And with his loyal blood
  16. the Teucrians' vengeance feed! Yet he derives
  17. from our Saturnian stem, by fourth remove
  18. sprung from Pilumnus. Oft his liberal hands
  19. have heaped unstinted offering at thy shrine.”
  20. Thus in few words th' Olympian King replied:
  21. “If for the fated youth thy prayer implores
  22. delay and respite of impending doom,
  23. if but so far thou bidst me interpose,—
  24. go—favor Turnus' flight, and keep him safe
  25. in this imperilled hour; I may concede
  26. such boon. But if thy pleading words intend
  27. some larger grace, and fain would touch or change
  28. the issue of the war, then art thou fed
  29. on expectation vain.” With weeping eyes
  30. Juno made answer: “Can it be thy mind
  31. gives what thy words refuse, and Turnus' life,
  32. if rescued, may endure? Yet afterward
  33. some cruel close his guiltless day shall see—
  34. or far from truth I stray! O, that I were
  35. the dupe of empty fears! and O, that thou
  36. wouldst but refashion to some happier end
  37. the things by thee begun—for thou hast power!”
  1. She ceased; and swiftly from the peak of heaven
  2. moved earthward, trailing cloud-wrack through the air,
  3. and girdled with the storm. She took her way
  4. to where Troy's warriors faced Laurentum's line.
  5. There of a hollow cloud the goddess framed
  6. a shape of airy, unsubstantial shade,
  7. Aeneas' image, wonderful to see,
  8. and decked it with a Dardan lance and shield,
  9. a crested helmet on the godlike head;
  10. and windy words she gave of soulless sound,
  11. and motion like a stride—such shapes, they say,
  12. the hovering phantoms of the dead put on,
  13. or empty dreams which cheat our slumbering eyes.
  14. Forth to the front of battle this vain shade
  15. stalked insolent, and with its voice and spear
  16. challenged the warrior. At it Turnus flew,
  17. and hurled a hissing spear with distant aim;
  18. the thing wheeled round and fled. The foe forthwith,
  19. thinking Aeneas vanquished, with blind scorn
  20. flattered his own false hope: “Where wilt thou fly,
  21. Aeneas? Wilt thou break a bridegroom's word?
  22. This sword will give thee title to some land
  23. thou hast sailed far to find!” So clamoring loud
  24. he followed, flashing far his naked sword;
  25. nor saw the light winds waft his dream away.
  1. By chance in covert of a lofty crag
  2. a ship stood fastened and at rest; her sides
  3. showed ready bridge and stairway; she had brought
  4. Osinius, king of Clusium. Thither came
  5. Aeneas' counterfeit of flight and fear,
  6. and dropped to darkness. Turnus, nothing loth,
  7. gave close chase, overleaping every bar,
  8. and scaling the high bridge; but scarce he reached
  9. the vessel's prow, when Juno cut her loose,
  10. the cables breaking, and along swift waves
  11. pushed her to sea. Yet in that very hour
  12. Aeneas to the battle vainly called
  13. the vanished foe, and round his hard-fought path
  14. stretched many a hero dead. No longer now
  15. the mocking shadow sought to hide, but soared
  16. visibly upward and was Iost in cloud,
  17. while Turnus drifted o'er the waters wide
  18. before the wind. Bewildered and amazed
  19. he looked around him; little joy had he
  20. in his own safety, but upraised his hands
  21. in prayer to Heaven: “O Sire omnipotent!
  22. Didst thou condemn me to a shame like this?
  23. Such retribution dire? Whither now?
  24. Whence came I here? What panic wafts away
  25. this Turnus—if 't is he? Shall I behold
  26. Laurentum's towers once more? But what of those
  27. my heroes yonder, who took oath to me,
  28. and whom—O sin and shame!—I have betrayed
  29. to horrible destruction? Even now
  30. I see them routed, and my ears receive
  31. their dying groans. What is this thing I do?
  32. Where will the yawning earth crack wide enough
  33. beneath my feet? Ye tempests, pity me!
  34. On rocks and reef—'t is Turnus' faithful prayer,
  35. let this bark founder; fling it on the shoals
  36. of wreckful isles, where no Rutulian eye
  37. can follow me, or Rumor tell my shame.”
  38. With such wild words his soul tossed to and fro,
  39. not knowing if to hide his infamy
  40. with his own sword and madly drive its blade
  41. home to his heart, or cast him in the sea,
  42. and, swimming to the rounded shore, renew
  43. his battle with the Trojan foe. Three times
  44. each fatal course he tried; but Juno's power
  45. three times restrained, and with a pitying hand
  46. the warrior's purpose barred. So on he sped
  47. o'er yielding waters and propitious tides,
  48. far as his father Daunus' ancient town.