Aeneid
Virgil
Vergil. The Aeneid of Virgil. Williams, Theodore, C, translator. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1910.
- Soon as the breaking dawn its glory threw
- along the hills, and from the sea's profound
- leaped forth the horses of the sun-god's car,
- from lifted nostrils breathing light and fire,
- then Teucrian and Rutulian measured out
- a place for duel, underneath the walls
- of the proud city. In the midst were set
- altars of turf and hearth-stones burning bright
- in honor of their common gods. Some brought
- pure waters and the hallowed flame, their thighs
- in priestly skirt arrayed, and reverend brows
- with vervain bound. Th' Ausonians, spear in hand,
- out from the city's crowded portals moved
- in ordered column: next the Trojans all,
- with Tuscan host in various martial guise,
- equipped with arms of steel, as if they heard
- stern summons to the fight. Their captains, too,
- emerging from the multitude, in pride
- of gold and purple, hurried to and fro:
- Mnestheus of royal stem, Asilas brave;
- and Neptune's offspring, tamer of the steed,
- Messapus. Either host, at signal given,
- to its own ground retiring, fixed in earth
- the long shafts of the spears and stacked the shields.
- Then eagerly to tower and rampart fly
- the women, the infirm old men, the throng
- of the unarmed, and sit them there at gaze,
- or on the columned gates expectant stand.
- But Juno, peering from that summit proud
- which is to-day the Alban (though that time
- nor name nor fame the hallowed mountain knew),
- surveyed the plain below and fair array
- of Trojan and Laurentine, by the walls
- of King Latinus. Whereupon straightway
- with Turnus' sister she began converse,
- goddess with goddess; for that nymph divine
- o'er Alba's calm lakes and loud rivers reigns;
- Jove, the high monarch of th' ethereal sky,
- gave her such glory when he stole away
- her virgin zone. “O nymph“, she said, “who art
- the pride of flowing streams, and much beloved
- of our own heart! thou knowest thou alone
- hast been my favorite of those Latin maids
- that to proud Jove's unthankful bed have climbed;
- and willingly I found thee place and share
- in our Olympian realm. So blame not me,
- but hear, Juturna, what sore grief is thine:
- while chance and destiny conceded aught
- of strength to Latium's cause, I shielded well
- both Turnus and thy city's wall; but now
- I see our youthful champion make his war
- with fates adverse. The Parcae's day of doom
- implacably impends. My eyes refuse
- to Iook upon such fight, such fatal league.
- If for thy brother's life thou couldst be bold
- to venture some swift blow, go, strike it now!
- 'T is fit and fair! Some issue fortunate
- may tread on sorrow's heel.” She scarce had said,
- when rained the quick tears from Juturna's eyes.
- Three times and yet again her desperate hand
- smote on her comely breast. But Juno cried,
- “No tears to-day! But haste thee, haste and find
- what way, if way there be, from clutch of death
- to tear thy brother free; arouse the war;
- their plighted peace destroy. I grant thee leave
- such boldness to essay.” With this command
- she left the nymph dismayed and grieving sore.
- Meanwhile the kings ride forth: Latinus first,
- looming tall-statured from his four-horse car;
- twelve rays of gold encircle his bright brow,
- sign of the sun-god, his progenitor;
- next Turnus, driving snow-white steeds, is seen,—
- two bread-tipped javelins in his hand he bears;
- Aeneas, of Rome's blood the source and sire,
- with star-bright shield and panoply divine,
- far-shining comes; Ascanius by his side—
- of Roman greatness the next hope is he.
- To camp they rode, where, garbed in blameless white,
- with youngling swine and two-year sheep unshorn,
- the priest before the flaming altars drove
- his flock and offering: to the rising sun
- all eyes are lifted, as with careful hand
- the salted meal is scattered, while with knives
- they mark each victim's brow, outpouring wine
- from shallow bowls, the sacrifice to bless.
- Then good Aeneas, his sword drawn, put forth
- this votive prayer: “O Sun in heaven; and thou,
- Italia, for whom such toils I bear,
- be witness of my orison. On thee,
- Father omnipotent, I call; on thee,
- his Queen Saturnia,—now may she be
- more gracious to my prayer! O glorious Mars,
- beneath whose godhead and paternity
- all wars begin and end, on thee I call;
- hail, all ye river-gods and haunted springs;
- hail, whatsoever gods have seat of awe
- in yonder distant sky, and ye whose power
- is in the keeping of the deep, blue sea:
- if victory to Ausonian Turnus fall,
- then let my vanquished people take its way
- unto Evander's city! From these plains
- Iulus shall retire—so stands the bond;
- nor shall the Trojans with rebellious sword
- bring after-trouble on this land and King.
- But if on arms of ours success shall shine,
- as I doubt not it shall (may gods on high
- their will confirm!), I purpose not to chain
- Italian captive unto Teucrian lord,
- nor seek I kingly power. Let equal laws
- unite in federation without end
- the two unconquered nations; both shall share
- my worshipped gods. Latinus, as my sire,
- shall keep his sword, and as my sire receive
- inviolable power. The Teucrians
- shall build my stronghold, but our citadel
- shall bear forevermore Lavinia's name.”
- Aeneas thus: then with uplifted eyes
- Latinus swore, his right hand raised to heaven:
- “I too, Aeneas, take the sacred vow.
- By earth and sea and stars in heaven I swear,
- by fair Latona's radiant children twain,
- and two-browed Janus; by the shadowy powers
- of Hades and th' inexorable shrines
- of the Infernal King; and may Jove hear,
- who by his lightnings hallows what is sworn!
- I touch these altars, and my lips invoke
- the sacred altar-fires that 'twixt us burn:
- we men of Italy will make this peace
- inviolate, and its bond forever keep,
- let come what will; there is no power can change
- my purpose, not if ocean's waves o'erwhelm
- the world in billowy deluge and obscure
- the bounds of heaven and hell. We shall remain
- immutable as my smooth sceptre is“
- (By chance a sceptre in his hand he bore),
- “which wears no more light leaf or branching shade;
- for long since in the grove 't was plucked away
- from parent stem, and yielded to sharp steel
- its leaves and limbs; erewhile 't was but a tree,
- till the wise craftsman with fair sheath of bronze
- encircled it and laid it in the hands
- of Latium's royal sires.” With words like these
- they swore the bond, in the beholding eyes
- of gathered princes. Then they slit the throats
- of hallowed victims o'er the altar's blaze,
- drew forth the quivering vitals, and with flesh
- on loaded chargers heaped the sacrifice.