Aeneid

Virgil

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

  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.
  1. At Jove's command Mezentius, breathing rage,
  2. now takes the field and leads a strong assault
  3. against victorious Troy. The Tuscan ranks
  4. meet round him, and press hard on him alone,
  5. on him alone with vengeance multiplied
  6. their host of swords they draw. As some tall cliff,
  7. projecting to the sea, receives the rage
  8. of winds and waters, and untrembling bears
  9. vast, frowning enmity of seas and skies,—
  10. so he. First Dolichaon's son he slew,
  11. Hebrus; then Latagus and Palmus, though
  12. they fled amain; he smote with mighty stone
  13. torn from the mountain, full upon the face
  14. of Latagus; and Palmus he let lie
  15. hamstrung and rolling helpless; he bestowed
  16. the arms on his son Lausus for a prize,
  17. another proud crest in his helm to wear;
  18. he laid the Phrygian Euanthus Iow;
  19. and Mimas, Paris' comrade, just his age,—
  20. born of Theano's womb to Amycus
  21. his sire, that night when royal Hecuba,
  22. teeming with firebrand, gave Paris birth:
  23. one in the city of his fathers sleeps;
  24. and one, inglorious, on Laurentian strand.
  25. As when a wild boar, harried from the hills
  26. by teeth of dogs (one who for many a year
  27. was safe in pine-clad Vesulus, or roamed
  28. the meres of Tiber, feeding in the reeds)
  29. falls in the toils at last, and stands at bay,
  30. raging and bristling, and no hunter dares
  31. defy him or come near, but darts are hurled
  32. from far away, with cries unperilous:
  33. not otherwise, though righteous is their wrath
  34. against Mezentius, not a man so bold
  35. as face him with drawn sword, but at long range
  36. they throw their shafts and with loud cries assail;
  37. he, all unterrified, makes frequent stand,
  38. gnashing his teeth, and shaking off their spears.
  1. From ancient Corythus had Acron come,
  2. a Greek, who left half-sung his wedding-song,
  3. and was an exile; him Mezentius saw
  4. among long lines of foes, with flaunting plumes
  5. and purple garments from his plighted spouse.
  6. Then as a starving lion when he prowls
  7. about high pasture-lands, urged on his way
  8. by maddening hunger (if perchance he see
  9. a flying she-goat or tall-antlered stag)
  10. lifts up his shaggy mane, and gaping wide
  11. his monstrous jaws, springs at the creature's side,
  12. feeding foul-lipped, insatiable of gore:
  13. so through his gathered foes Mezentius
  14. flew at his prey. He stretched along the ground
  15. ill-fated Acron, who breathed life away,
  16. beating the dark dust with his heels, and bathed
  17. his broken weapons in his blood. Nor deigned
  18. Mezentius to strike Orodes down
  19. as he took flight, nor deal a wound unseen
  20. with far-thrown spear; but ran before his face,
  21. fronting him man to man, nor would he win
  22. by sleight or trick, but by a mightier sword.
  23. Soon on the fallen foe he set his heel,
  24. and, pushing hard, with heel and spear, cried out:
  25. “Look ye, my men, where huge Orodes lies,
  26. himself a dangerous portion of this war!”
  27. With loyal, Ioud acclaim his peers reply;
  28. but thus the dying hero: “Victor mine,
  29. whoe'er thou art, I fall not unavenged!
  30. Thou shalt but triumph for a fleeting hour.
  31. Like doom for thee is written. Speedily
  32. thou shalt this dust inhabit, even as I!”
  33. Mezentius answered him with wrathful smile:
  34. “Now die! What comes on me concerns alone
  35. the Sire of gods and Sovereign of mankind.”
  36. So saying, from the wounded breast he plucked
  37. his javelin: and on those eyes there fell
  38. inexorable rest and iron slumber,
  39. and in unending night their vision closed.
  1. Then Caedicus cut down Alcathous,
  2. Sacrator slew Hydaspes, Rapo smote
  3. Parthenius and Orses stout and strong;
  4. Messapus, good blade cut down Clonius
  5. and Ericetes, fierce Lycaon's child;
  6. the one from an unbridled war-horse thrown,
  7. the other slain dismounted. Then rode forth
  8. Agis the Lycian, but bold Valerus,
  9. true to his valiant breeding, hurled him down;
  10. having slain Thronius, Salius was slain
  11. by skilled Nealces, of illustrious name
  12. for spear well cast and far-surprising bow.
  1. Thus Mars relentless holds in equal scale
  2. slaughters reciprocal and mutual woe;
  3. the victors and the vanquished kill or fall
  4. in equal measure; neither knows the way
  5. to yield or fly. Th' Olympians Iook down
  6. out of Jove's house, and pity as they see
  7. the unavailing wrath of either foe,
  8. and burdens measureless on mortals laid.
  9. Lo! Venus here, Saturnian Juno yon,
  10. in anxious watch; while pale Tisiphone
  11. moves on infuriate through the battling lines.
  12. On strode Mezentius o'er the gory plain,
  13. and swollen with rage waved wide-his awful spear.
  14. Like tall Orion when on foot he goes
  15. trough the deep sea and lifts his shoulders high
  16. above the waves; or when he takes his path
  17. along the mountain-tops, and has for staff
  18. an aged ash-tree, as he fixes firm
  19. his feet in earth and hides his brows in cloud;—
  20. so Ioomed Mezentius with his ponderous arms.
  1. To match him now, Aeneas, Iooking down
  2. the long array of war, came forth in arms
  3. to challenge and defy. But quailing not,
  4. a mass immovable, the other stood
  5. waiting his noble foe, and with a glance
  6. measured to cast his spear the space between.
  7. “May this right hand“, he said, “and this swift spear
  8. which here I poise, be favoring gods for me!
  9. The spoils from yonder robber's carcase stripped
  10. I vow to hang on thee, my Lausus, thou
  11. shalt stand for trophy of Aeneas slain.”
  12. He said, and hurled from far the roaring spear,
  13. which from the shield glanced off, and speeding still
  14. smote famed Antores 'twixt the loin and side—
  15. antores, friend of Hercules, who came
  16. from Argos, and had joined Evander's cause,
  17. abiding in Italia. Lo, a wound
  18. meant for another pierced him, and he lay,
  19. ill-fated! Iooking upward to the light,
  20. and dreaming of dear Argos as he died.
  21. Then good Aeneas hurled his spear; it passed
  22. through hollow orb of triple bronze, and through
  23. layers of flax and triple-twisted hides;
  24. then in the lower groin it lodged, but left
  25. its work undone. Aeneas, not ill-pleased
  26. to see the Tuscan wounded, swiftly drew
  27. the falchion from his thigh, and hotly pressed
  28. his startled foe. But Lausus at the sight
  29. groaned loud, so much he loved his father dear,
  30. and tears his cheek bedewed. O storied youth!
  31. If olden worth may win believing ear,
  32. let not my song now fail of thee to sing,
  33. thy noble deeds, thy doom of death and pain!
  34. Mezentius, now encumbered and undone,
  35. fell backward, trailing from the broken shield
  36. his foeman's spear. His son leaped wildly forth
  37. to join the fray; and where Aeneas' hand
  38. lifted to strike, he faced the thrusting sword
  39. and gave the hero pause. His comrades raised
  40. applauding cries, as shielded by his son
  41. the father made retreat; their darts they hurl,
  42. and vex with flying spears the distant foe:
  43. Aeneas, wrathful, stands beneath his shield.
  44. As when the storm-clouds break in pelting hail,
  45. the swains and ploughmen from the furrows fly,
  46. and every traveller cowers in sure defence
  47. of river-bank or lofty shelving crag,
  48. while far and wide it pours; and by and by,
  49. each, when the sun returns, his task pursues:
  50. so great Aeneas, by assault o'erwhelmed,
  51. endured the cloud of battle, till its rage
  52. thundered no more; then with a warning word
  53. to Lausus with upbraiding voice he called:
  54. “Why, O death-doomed, rush on to deeds too high
  55. for strength like thine. Thou art betrayed, rash boy,
  56. by thine own loyal heart!” But none the less
  57. the youth made mad defence; while fiercer burned
  58. the Trojan's anger; and of Lausus' days
  59. the loom of Fate spun forth the last thin thread;
  60. for now Aeneas thrust his potent blade
  61. deep through the stripling's breast and out of sight;
  62. through the light shield it passed—a frail defence
  63. to threaten with!—and through the tunic fine
  64. his mother's hand had wrought with softest gold:
  65. blood filled his bosom, and on path of air
  66. down to the shades the mournful soul withdrew,
  67. its body quitting. As Anchises' son
  68. beheld the agonizing lips and brow
  69. so wondrous white in death, he groaned aloud
  70. in pity, and reached o'er him his right hand,
  71. touched to the heart such likeness to behold
  72. of his own filial love. “Unhappy boy!
  73. What reward worthy of heroic deeds
  74. can I award thee now? Wear still those arms
  75. so proudly worn! And I will send thee home
  76. (Perhaps thou carest!) to the kindred shades
  77. and ashes of thy sires. But let it be
  78. some solace in thy pitiable doom
  79. that none but great Aeneas wrought thy fall.”
  80. Then to the stripling's tardy followers
  81. he sternly called, and lifted from the earth
  82. with his own hand the fallen foe: dark blood
  83. defiled those princely tresses braided fair.
  1. Meanwhile Mezentius by the Tiber's wave
  2. with water staunched his wound, and propped his weight
  3. against a tree; upon its limbs above
  4. his brazen helmet hung, and on the sward
  5. his ponderous arms lay resting. Round him watched
  6. his chosen braves. He, gasping and in pain,
  7. clutched at his neck and let his flowing beard
  8. loose on his bosom fall; he questions oft
  9. of Lausus, and sends many a messenger
  10. to bid him back, and bear him the command
  11. of his sore-grieving sire. But lo! his peers
  12. bore the dead Lausus back upon his shield,
  13. and wept to see so strong a hero quelled
  14. by stroke so strong. From long way off the sire,
  15. with soul prophetic of its woe, perceived
  16. what meant their wail and cry. On his gray hairs
  17. the dust he flung, and, stretching both his hands
  18. to heaven, he cast himself the corpse along.
  19. “O son,” he cried, “was life to me so sweet,
  20. that I to save myself surrendered o'er
  21. my own begotten to a foeman's steel?
  22. Saved by these gashes shall thy father be,
  23. and living by thy death? O wretched me,
  24. how foul an end have I! Now is my wound
  25. deep! deep! 't was I, dear son, have stained
  26. thy name with infamy—to exile driven
  27. from sceptre and hereditary throne
  28. by general curse. Would that myself had borne
  29. my country's vengeance and my nation's hate!
  30. Would my own guilty life my debt had paid—
  31. yea, by a thousand deaths! But, see, I live!
  32. Not yet from human kind and light of day
  33. have I departed. But depart I will.”
  34. So saying, he raised him on his crippled thigh,
  35. and though by reason of the grievous wound
  36. his forces ebbed, yet with unshaken mien
  37. he bade them lead his war-horse forth, his pride,
  38. his solace, which from every war
  39. victorious bore him home. The master then
  40. to the brave beast, which seemed to know his pain,
  41. spoke thus: “My Rhoebus, we have passed our days
  42. long time together, if long time there be
  43. for mortal creatures. Either on this day
  44. thou shalt his bloody spoils in triumph bear
  45. and that Aeneas' head,—and so shalt be
  46. avenger of my Lausus' woe; or else,
  47. if I be vanquished, thou shalt sink and fall
  48. beside me. For, my bravest, thou wouldst spurn
  49. a stranger's will, and Teucrian lords to bear.”
  50. He spoke and, mounting to his back, disposed
  51. his limbs the wonted way and filled both hands
  52. with pointed javelins; a helm of brass
  53. with shaggy horse-hair crest gleamed o'er his brow.
  54. Swift to the front he rode: a mingled flood
  55. surged in his heart of sorrow, wrath, and shame;
  56. and thrice with loud voice on his foe he called.
  1. Aeneas heard and made exulting vow:
  2. “Now may the Father of the gods on high,
  3. and great Apollo hear! Begin the fray!”
  4. He said, and moved forth with a threatening spear.
  5. The other cried: “Hast robbed me of my son,
  6. and now, implacable, wouldst fright me more?
  7. That way, that only, was it in thy power
  8. to cast me down. No fear of death I feel.
  9. Nor from thy gods themselves would I refrain.
  10. Give o'er! For fated and resolved to die
  11. I come thy way: but; bring thee as I pass
  12. these offerings.” With this he whirled a spear
  13. against his foe, and after it drove deep
  14. another and another, riding swift
  15. in wide gyration round him. But the shield,
  16. the golden boss, broke not. Three times he rode
  17. in leftward circles, hurling spear on spear
  18. against th' unmoved Aeneas: and three times
  19. the Trojan hero in his brazen shield
  20. the sheaf of spears upbore. But such slow fight,
  21. such plucking of spent shafts from out his shield,
  22. the Trojan liked not, vexed and sorely tried
  23. in duel so ill-matched. With wrathful soul
  24. at length he strode forth, and between the brows
  25. of the wild war-horse planted his Iong spear.
  26. Up reared the creature, beating at the air
  27. with quivering feet, then o'er his fallen lord
  28. entangling dropped, and prone above him lay,
  29. pinning with ponderous shoulder to the ground.
  30. The Trojans and the Latins rouse the skies
  31. with clamor Ioud. Aeneas hastening forth
  32. unsheathes his sword, and looming o'er him cries:
  33. “Where now is fierce Mezentius, and his soul's
  34. wild pulse of rage?” The Tuscan in reply
  35. with eyes uprolled, and gasping as he gave
  36. long looks at heaven, recalled his fading mind:
  37. “Why frown at me and fume, O bitterest foe?
  38. Why threaten death? To slay me is no sin.
  39. Not to take quarter came I to this war,
  40. not truce with thee did my lost Lausus crave,
  41. yet this one boon I pray,—if mercy be
  42. for fallen foes: O, suffer me when dead
  43. in covering earth to hide! Full well I know
  44. what curses of my people ring me round.
  45. Defend me from that rage! I pray to be
  46. my son's companion in our common tomb.”
  47. He spoke: then offered with unshrinking eye
  48. his veined throat to the sword. O'er the bright mail
  49. his vital breath gushed forth in streaming gore.
  1. Up from the sea now soared the dawning day:
  2. Aeneas, though his sorrow bids him haste
  3. to burial of the slain, and his sad soul
  4. is clouded with the sight of death, fulfils,
  5. for reward to his gods, a conqueror's vow,
  6. at morning's earliest beam. A mighty oak
  7. shorn of its limbs he sets upon a hill
  8. and clothes it o'er with glittering arms, the spoil
  9. of King Mezentius, and a trophy proud
  10. to thee, great lord of war. The hero's plumes
  11. bedewed with blood are there, and splintered spears;
  12. there hangs the corselet, by the thrusting steel
  13. twelve times gored through; upon the left he binds
  14. the brazen shield, and from the neck suspends
  15. the ivory-hilted sword. Aeneas thus,
  16. as crowding close his train of captains throng,
  17. addressed his followers: “Ye warriors mine,
  18. our largest work is done. Bid fear begone
  19. of what is left to do. Behold the spoils!
  20. Yon haughty King was firstfruits of our war.
  21. See this Mezentius my hands have made!
  22. Now to the Latin town and King we go.
  23. Arm you in soul! With heart of perfect hope
  24. prepare the war! So when the gods give sign
  25. to open battle and lead forth our brave
  26. out of this stronghold, no bewilderment,
  27. nor tarrying, nor fearful, faltering mind
  28. shall slack our march. Meanwhile in earth we lay
  29. our comrades fallen; for no honor else
  30. in Acheron have they. Go forth,” said he,
  31. “bring gifts of honor and of last farewell
  32. to those high hearts by shedding of whose blood
  33. our country lives. To sad Evander's town
  34. bear Pallas first; who, though he did not fail
  35. of virtue's crown, was seized by doom unblest,
  36. and to the bitterness of death consigned.”
  1. Weeping he spoke, and slowly backward drew
  2. to the tent-door, where by the breathless clay
  3. of Pallas stood Acoetes, aged man,
  4. once bearer of Evander's arms, but now
  5. under less happy omens set to guard
  6. his darling child. Around him is a throng
  7. of slaves, with all the Trojan multitude,
  8. and Ilian women, who the wonted way
  9. let sorrow's tresses loosely flow. When now
  10. Aeneas to the lofty doors drew near,
  11. all these from smitten bosoms raised to heaven
  12. a mighty moaning, till the King's abode
  13. was loud with anguish. There Aeneas viewed
  14. the pillowed head of Pallas cold and pale,
  15. the smooth young breast that bore the gaping wound
  16. of that Ausonian spear, and weeping said:
  17. “Did Fortune's envy, smiling though she came,
  18. refuse me, hapless boy, that thou shouldst see
  19. my throne established, and victorious ride
  20. beside me to thy father's house? Not this
  21. my parting promise to thy King and sire,
  22. Evander, when with friendly, fond embrace
  23. to win imperial power he bade me go;
  24. yet warned me anxiously I must resist
  25. bold warriors and a stubborn breed of foes.
  26. And haply even now he cheats his heart
  27. with expectation vain, and offers vows,
  28. heaping with gifts the altars of his gods.
  29. But we with unavailing honors bring
  30. this lifeless youth, who owes the gods of heaven
  31. no more of gift and vow. O ill-starred King!
  32. Soon shalt thou see thy son's unpitying doom!
  33. What a home-coming! This is glory's day
  34. so Iong awaited; this the solemn pledge
  35. I proudly gave. But fond Evander's eyes
  36. will find no shameful wounding on the slain,
  37. nor for a son in coward safety kept
  38. wilt thou, the sire, crave death. But woe is me!
  39. How strong a bulwark in Ausonia falls!
  40. What loss is thine, Iulus!” Thus lamenting,
  41. he bids them lift the body to the bier,
  42. and sends a thousand heroes from his host
  43. to render the last tributes, and to share
  44. father's tears:—poor solace and too small
  45. for grief so great, but due that mournful sire.
  46. Some busy them to build of osiers fine
  47. the simple litter, twining sapling oaks
  48. with evergreen, till o'er death's Iofty bed
  49. the branching shade extends. Upon it lay,
  50. as if on shepherd's couch, the youthful dead,
  51. like fairest flower by virgin fingers culled,
  52. frail violet or hyacinth forlorn,
  53. of color still undimmed and leaf unmarred;
  54. but from the breast of mother-earth no more
  55. its life doth feed. Then good Aeneas brought
  56. two broidered robes of scarlet and fine gold,
  57. which with the gladsome labor of her hands
  58. Sidonian Dido wrought him long ago,
  59. the thin-spun gold inweaving. One of these
  60. the sad prince o'er the youthful body threw
  61. for parting gift; and with the other veiled
  62. those tresses from the fire; he heaped on high
  63. Laurentum's spoils of war, and bade to bring
  64. much tribute forth: horses and arms he gave,
  65. seized from the fallen enemy; with hands
  66. fettered behind them filed a captive train
  67. doomed to appease the shades, and with the flames
  68. to mix their flowing blood. He bade his chiefs
  69. set up the trunks of trees and clothe them well
  70. with captured arms, inscribing on each one
  71. some foeman's name. Then came Acoetes forth,
  72. a wretched, worn old man, who beat his breast
  73. with tight-clenched hands, and tore his wrinkled face
  74. with ruthless fingers; oft he cast him down
  75. full length along the ground. Then lead they forth
  76. the blood-stained Rutule chariots of war;
  77. Aethon, the war-horse, of his harness bare,
  78. walks mournful by; big teardrops wet his cheek.
  79. Some bear the lance and helm; for all the rest
  80. victorious Turnus seized. Then filed along
  81. a mournful Teucrian cohort; next the host
  82. Etrurian and the men of Arcady
  83. with trailing arms reversed. Aeneas now,
  84. when the long company had passed him by,
  85. spoke thus and groaned aloud: “Ourselves from hence
  86. are summoned by the same dread doom of war
  87. to other tears. Farewell forevermore!
  88. Heroic Pallas! be forever blest!
  89. I bid thee hail, farewell!” In silence then
  90. back to the stronghold's Iofty walls he moved.
  1. Now envoys from the Latin citadel
  2. came olive-crowned, to plead for clemency:
  3. would he not yield those bodies of the dead
  4. sword-scattered o'er the plain, and let them lie
  5. beneath an earth-built tomb? Who wages war
  6. upon the vanquished, the unbreathing slain?
  7. To people once his hosts and kindred called,
  8. would he not mercy show? To such a prayer,
  9. deemed not unworthy, good Aeneas gave
  10. the boon, and this benignant answer made:
  11. “Ye Latins, what misfortune undeserved
  12. has snared you in so vast a war, that now
  13. you shun our friendship? Have you here implored
  14. peace for your dead, by chance of battle fallen?
  15. Pain would I grant it for the living too.
  16. I sailed not hither save by Heaven's decree,
  17. which called me to this land. I wage no war
  18. with you, the people; 't was your King refused
  19. our proffered bond of peace, and gave his cause
  20. to Turnus' arms. More meet and just it were
  21. had Turnus met this death that makes you mourn.
  22. If he would end our quarrel sword in hand,
  23. thrusting us Teucrians forth, 't was honor's way
  24. to cross his blade with mine; that man to whom
  25. the gods, or his own valor, had decreed
  26. the longer life, had lived. But now depart!
  27. Beneath your lost friends light the funeral fires!”
  28. So spoke Aeneas; and with wonder mute
  29. all stood at gaze, each turning to behold
  30. his neighbor's face. Then Drances, full of years,
  31. and ever armed with spite and slanderous word
  32. against young Turnus, made this answering plea:
  33. “O prince of mighty name, whose feats of arms
  34. are even mightier! Trojan hero, how
  35. shall my poor praise exalt thee to the skies?
  36. Is it thy rectitude or strenuous war
  37. most bids me wonder? We will bear thy word
  38. right gladly to the city of our sires;
  39. and there, if Fortune favor it, contrive
  40. a compact with the Latin King. Henceforth
  41. let Turnus find his own allies! Ourselves
  42. will much rejoice to see thy destined walls,
  43. and our own shoulders will be proud to bear
  44. the stone for building Troy.” Such speech he made,
  45. and all the common voice consented loud.
  46. So twelve days' truce they swore, and safe from harm
  47. Latins and Teucrians unmolested roved
  48. together o'er the wooded hills. Now rang
  49. loud steel on ash-tree bole; enormous pines,
  50. once thrusting starward, to the earth they threw;
  51. and with industrious wedge asunder clove
  52. stout oak and odorous cedar, piling high
  53. harvest of ash-trees on the creaking wain.
  1. Now Rumor, herald of prodigious woe,
  2. to King Evander hied, Evander's house
  3. and city filling, where, but late, her word
  4. had told in Latium Pallas' victory.
  5. th' Arcadians thronging to the city-gates
  6. bear funeral torches, the accustomed way;
  7. in lines of flame the long street flashes far,
  8. lighting the fields beyond. To meet them moves
  9. a Phrygian company, to join with theirs
  10. its lamentation loud. The Latin wives,
  11. soon as they saw them entering, aroused
  12. the whole sad city with shrill songs of woe.
  13. No hand could stay Evander. Forth he flew
  14. into the midmost tumult, and fell prone
  15. on his dead Pallas, on the resting bier;
  16. he clung to the pale corse with tears, with groans,
  17. till anguish for a space his lips unsealed:
  18. “Not this thy promise, Pallas, to thy sire,
  19. to walk not rashly in the war-god's way.
  20. I knew too well how honor's morning-star,
  21. and sweet, foretasted glory tempt and woo
  22. in a first battle. O first-fruit forlorn
  23. of youth so fair! O prelude pitiless
  24. of war approaching! O my vows and prayers,
  25. which not one god would hear! My blessed wife,
  26. how happy was the death that spared thee not
  27. to taste this bitterness! But I, the while,
  28. by living longer lived to meet my doom,—
  29. a father sole-surviving. Would I myself
  30. had perished by the Rutule's cruel spear,
  31. the Trojan's cause espousing! This breath of life
  32. how gladly had I given! And O, that now
  33. yon black solemnity were bearing home
  34. myself, not Pallas, dead! Yet blame I not,
  35. O Teucrians, the hallowed pact we made,
  36. nor hospitable bond and clasp of hands.
  37. This doom ye bring me was writ long ago,
  38. for my old age. And though my child is fallen
  39. untimely, I take comfort that he fell
  40. where thousands of the Volscians slaughtered lie,
  41. and into Latium led the Teucrian arms.
  42. What brighter glory could I crave in death
  43. for thee, my Pallas, than Aeneas brings,
  44. and Phrygian princes, and Etrurian lords
  45. with all Etruria's legions? Lo, they bear
  46. yon glittering spoils of victims of thy sword!
  47. Thou, Turnus, too, wert now an effigy
  48. in giant armor clad, if but his years
  49. and strength full ripe had been fair match for thine!
  50. But now my woes detain the Trojan host
  51. from battle. I beseech ye haste away,
  52. and bear this faithful message to your King:
  53. since I but linger out a life I loathe,
  54. without my Pallas, nothing but thy sword
  55. can bid me live. Then let thy sword repay
  56. its debt to sire and son by Turnus slain!
  57. Such deed alone may with thy honor fit,
  58. and happier fortunes. But my life to me
  59. has no joy left to pray for, save to bring
  60. my son that solace in the shadowy land.”
  1. Meanwhile o'er sorrowing mortals the bright morn
  2. had lifted her mild beam, renewing so
  3. the burden of man's toil. Aeneas now
  4. built funeral pyres along the winding shore,
  5. King Tarchon at his side. Each thither brought
  6. the bodies of his kin, observing well
  7. all ancient ritual. The fuming fires
  8. burned from beneath, till highest heaven was hid
  9. in blackest, overmantling cloud. Three times
  10. the warriors, sheathed in proud, resplendent steel,
  11. paced round the kindling pyres; and three times
  12. fair companies of horsemen circled slow,
  13. with loud lamenting, round the doleful flame.
  14. The wail of warriors and the trumpets' blare
  15. the very welkin rend. Cast on the flames
  16. are spoils of slaughtered Latins,—helms and blades,
  17. bridles and chariot-wheels. Yet others bring
  18. gifts to the dead familiar, their own shields
  19. and unavailing spears. Around them slain
  20. great herds of kine give tribute unto death:
  21. swine, bristly-backed, from many a field are borne,
  22. and slaughtered sheep bleed o'er the sacred fire.
  23. So on the shore the wailing multitude
  24. behold their comrades burning, and keep guard
  25. o'er the consuming pyres, nor turn away
  26. till cooling night re-shifts the globe of heaven,
  27. thick-strewn with numberless far-flaming stars.
  1. Likewise the mournful Latins far away
  2. have built their myriad pyres. Yet of the slain
  3. not few in graves are laid, and borne with tears
  4. to neighboring country-side or native town;
  5. the rest—promiscuous mass of dead unknown—
  6. to nameless and unhonored ashes burn;
  7. with multitude of fires the far-spread fields
  8. blaze forth unweariedly. But when from heaven
  9. the third morn had dispelled the dark and cold,
  10. the mournful bands raked forth the mingled bones
  11. and plenteous ashes from the smouldering pyres,
  12. then heaped with earth the one sepulchral mound.
  13. Now from the hearth-stones of the opulent town
  14. of old Latinus a vast wail burst forth,
  15. for there was found the chief and bitterest share
  16. of all the woe. For mothers in their tears,
  17. lone brides, and stricken souls of sisters fond,
  18. and boys left fatherless, fling curses Ioud
  19. on Turnus' troth-plight and the direful war:
  20. “Let him, let Turnus, with his single sword
  21. decide the strife,”—they cry,—“and who shall claim
  22. Lordship of Italy and power supreme.”
  23. Fierce Drances whets their fury, urging all
  24. that Turnus singly must the challenge hear,
  25. and singly wage the war; but others plead
  26. in Turnus' favor; the Queen's noble name
  27. protects him, and his high renown in arms
  28. defends his cause with well-won trophies fair.
  1. Amid these tumults of the wrathful throng,
  2. lo, the ambassadors to Diomed
  3. arrive with cloudy forehead from their quest
  4. in his illustrious town; for naught availed
  5. their toilsome errand, nor the gifts and gold,
  6. nor strong entreaty. Other help in war
  7. the Latins now must find, or humbly sue
  8. peace from the Trojan. At such tidings dire
  9. even Latinus trembles: Heaven's decrees
  10. and influence of gods too visible
  11. sustain Aeneas; so the wrath divine
  12. and new-filled sepulchres conspicuous
  13. give warning clear. Therefore the King convenes
  14. a general council of his captains brave
  15. beneath the royal towers. They, gathering,
  16. throng the approaches thither, where their Iord,
  17. gray-haired Latinus, takes the central throne,
  18. wearing authority with mournful brow.
  19. He bids the envoys from Aetolia's King
  20. sent back, to speak and tell the royal words
  21. in order due. Forthwith on every tongue
  22. fell silence, while the princely Venulus,
  23. heeding his Iord's behest, began the parle:
  1. “My countrymen,” he said, “our eyes have seen
  2. strongholds of Greeks and Diomed the King.
  3. We braved all perils to our journey's end
  4. and clasped that hand whereof the dreadful stroke
  5. wrought Ilium's fall. The hero built a town,
  6. Argyripa, hereditary name,
  7. near mount Garganus in Apulian land:
  8. passing that city's portal and the King's,
  9. we found free audience, held forth thy gifts,
  10. and told our names and fatherland. We showed
  11. what condict was enkindled, and what cause
  12. brought us to Arpi's King. He, hearing all,
  13. with brow benign made answer to our plea:
  14. ‘O happy tribes in Saturn's kingdom born,
  15. Ausonia's ancient stem! What fortune blind
  16. tempts ye from peace away, and now ensnares
  17. in wars unknown? Look how we men that dared
  18. lay Ilium waste (I speak not of what woes
  19. in battling neath her lofty walls we bore,
  20. nor of dead warriors sunk in Simois' wave)
  21. have paid the penalty in many a land
  22. with chastisement accurst and changeful woe,
  23. till Priam's self might pity. Let the star
  24. of Pallas tell its tale of fatal storm,
  25. off grim Caphereus and Eubcea's crags.
  26. Driven asunder from one field of war,
  27. Atrides unto farthest Egypt strayed,
  28. and wise Ulysses saw from Aetna's caves
  29. the Cyclops gathering. Why name the throne
  30. of Pyrrhus, or the violated hearth
  31. whence fled Idomeneus? Or Locri cast
  32. on Libya's distant shore? For even he,
  33. Lord of Mycenae by the Greeks obeyed,
  34. fell murdered on his threshold by the hand
  35. of that polluted wife, whose paramour
  36. trapped Asia's conqueror. The envious gods
  37. withheld me also from returning home
  38. to see once more the hearth-stone of my sires,
  39. the wife I yearn for, and my Calydon,
  40. the beauteous land. For wonders horrible
  41. pursue me still. My vanished followers
  42. through upper air take wing, or haunt and rove
  43. in forms of birds the island waters o'er:
  44. ah me, what misery my people feel!
  45. The tall rocks ring with their lament and cry.
  46. Naught else had I to hope for from that day
  47. when my infatuate sword on gods I drew,
  48. and outraged with abominable wound
  49. the hand of Venus. Urge me not, I pray,
  50. to conflicts in this wise. No more for me
  51. of war with Trojans after Ilium's fall!
  52. I take no joy in evils past, nor wish
  53. such memory to renew. Go, lay these gifts,
  54. brought to my honor from your ancient land,
  55. at great Aeneas' feet. We twain have stood
  56. confronting close with swords implacable
  57. in mortal fray. Believe me, I have known
  58. the stature of him when he lifts his shield,
  59. and swings the whirlwind of his spear. If Troy
  60. two more such sons had bred, the Dardan horde
  61. had stormed at Argos' gates, and Greece to-day
  62. were for her fallen fortunes grieving sore.
  63. Our lingering at Ilium's stubborn wall,
  64. our sluggard conquest halting ten years Iong,
  65. was his and Hector's work. Heroic pair!
  66. Each one for valor notable, and each
  67. famous in enterprise of arms,—but he
  68. was first in piety. Enclasp with his
  69. your hands in plighted peace as best ye may:
  70. but shock of steel on steel ye well may shun.’
  71. now hast thou heard, good King, a king's reply,
  72. and how his wisdom sits in this vast war.”