Aeneid
Virgil
Vergil. The Aeneid of Virgil. Williams, Theodore, C, translator. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1910.
- Soon fell the night, and peaceful slumbers breathed
- on all earth's weary creatures; the loud seas
- and babbling forests entered on repose;
- now midway in their heavenly course the stars
- wheeled silent on; the outspread lands below
- lay voiceless; all the birds of tinted wing,
- and flocks that haunt the merge of waters wide
- or keep the thorny wold, oblivious lay
- beneath the night so still; the stings of care
- ceased troubling, and no heart its burden knew.
- Not so the Tyrian Queen's deep-grieving soul!
- To sleep she could not yield; her eyes and heart
- refused the gift of night; her suffering
- redoubled, and in full returning tide
- her love rebelled, while on wild waves of rage
- she drifted to and fro. So, ceasing not
- from sorrow, thus she brooded on her wrongs:
- “What refuge now? Shall I invite the scorn
- of my rejected wooers, or entreat
- of some disdainful, nomad blackamoor
- to take me to his bed—though many a time
- such husbands I made mock of? Shall I sail
- on Ilian ships away, and sink to be
- the Trojans' humble thrall? Do they rejoice
- that once I gave them bread? Lives gratitude
- in hearts like theirs for bygone kindnesses?
- O, who, if so I stooped, would deign to bear
- on yon proud ships the scorned and fallen Queen?
- Lost creature! Woe betide thee! Knowest thou not
- the perjured children of Laomedon?
- What way is left? Should I take flight alone
- and join the revelling sailors? Or depart
- with Tyrians, the whole attending train
- of my own people? Hard the task to force
- their hearts from Sidon's towers; how once more
- compel to sea, and bid them spread the sail?
- Nay, perish! Thou hast earned it. Let the sword
- from sorrow save thee! Sister of my blood—
- who else but thee,—my own tears borne down,
- didst heap disaster on my frantic soul,
- and fling me to this foe? Why could I not
- pass wedlock by, and live a blameless life
- as wild things do, nor taste of passion's pain?
- But I broke faith! I cast the vows away
- made at Sichaeus' grave.” Such loud lament
- burst from her breaking heart with doleful sound.
- Meanwhile Aeneas on his lofty ship,
- having made ready all, and fixed his mind
- to launch away upon brief slumher fell.
- But the god came; and in the self-same guise
- once more in monitory vision spoke,
- all guised as Mercury,—his voice, his hue,
- his golden locks, and young limbs strong and fair.
- “Hail, goddess-born! Wouldst linger on in sleep
- at such an hour? Nor seest thou the snares
- that hem thee round? Nor hearest thou the voice
- of friendly zephyrs calling? Senseless man!
- That woman's breast contrives some treachery
- and horrid stroke; for, resolute to die,
- she drifts on swollen floods of wrath and scorn.
- Wilt thou not fly before the hastening hour
- of flight is gone? To-morrow thou wilt see
- yon waters thronged with ships, the cruel glare
- of fire-brands, and yonder shore all flame,
- if but the light of morn again surprise
- thee loitering in this land. Away! Away!
- Stay not! A mutable and shifting thing
- is woman ever.” Such command he spoke,
- then melted in the midnight dark away.
- Aeneas, by that fleeting vision struck
- with an exceeding awe, straightway leaped forth
- from slumber's power, and to his followers cried :
- “Awake, my men! Away! Each to his place
- upon the thwarts! Unfurl at once the sails!
- A god from heaven a second time sent down
- urges our instant flight and bids us cut
- the twisted cords. Whatever be thy name,
- behold, we come, O venerated Power!
- Again with joy we follow! Let thy grace
- assist us as we go! And may thy power
- bring none but stars benign across our sky.”
- So saying, from its scabbard forth he flashed
- the lightning of his sword, with naked blade
- striking the hawsers free. Like ardor seized
- on all his willing men, who raced and ran;
- and, while their galleys shadowed all the sea,
- clean from the shore they scudded, with strong strokes
- sweeping the purple waves and crested foam.