Aeneid

Virgil

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

  1. Meanwhile Aeneas, now well launched away,
  2. steered forth with all the fleet to open sea,
  3. on his unswerving course, and ploughed the waves,
  4. sped by a driving gale; but when his eyes
  5. looked back on Carthage, they beheld the glare
  6. of hapless Dido's fire. Not yet was known
  7. what kindled the wild flames; but that the pang
  8. of outraged love is cruel, and what the heart
  9. of desperate woman dares, they knew too well,
  10. and sad foreboding shook each Trojan soul.
  11. Soon in mid-sea, beyond all chart of shore,
  12. when only seas and skies were round their way,
  13. full in the zenith loomed a purple cloud,
  14. storm-laden, dark as night, and every wave
  15. grew black and angry; from his Iofty seat
  16. the helmsman Palinurus cried, “Alas!
  17. What means this host of storms encircling heaven?
  18. What, Neptune, wilt thou now?” He, having said,
  19. bade reef and tighten, bend to stronger stroke,
  20. and slant sail to the wind; then spake again:
  21. “High-souled Aeneas, not if Jove the King
  22. gave happy omen, would I have good hope
  23. of making Italy through yonder sky.
  24. Athwart our course from clouded evening-star
  25. rebellious winds run shifting, and the air
  26. into a cloud-wrack rolls. Against such foes
  27. too weak our strife and strain! Since now the hand
  28. of Fortune triumphs, let us where she calls
  29. obedient go. For near us, I believe,
  30. lies Eryx' faithful and fraternal shore:
  31. here are Sicilian havens, if my mind
  32. of yon familiar stars have knowledge true.”
  33. then good Aeneas: “For a friendly wind
  34. long have I sued, and watched thee vainly strive.
  35. Shift sail! What happier land for me and mine,
  36. or for our storm-beat ships what safer shore,
  37. than where Dardanian Acestes reigns;
  38. the land whose faithful bosom cherishes
  39. Anchises' ashes?” Heedful of his word,
  40. they landward steer, while favoring zephyrs fill
  41. the spreading sail. On currents swift and strong
  42. the fleet is wafted, and with thankful soul
  43. they moor on Sicily's familiar strand.
  1. From a far hill-top having seen with joy
  2. the entering ships, and knowing them for friends,
  3. good King Acestes ran to bid them hail.
  4. Garbed in rough pelt of Libyan bear was he,
  5. and javelins he bore, in sylvan guise:
  6. for him the river-god Crimisus sired
  7. of Trojan wife. Remembering in his heart
  8. his ancient blood, he greeted with glad words
  9. the wanderers returned; bade welcome to
  10. his rude abundance, and with friendly gifts
  11. their weariness consoled. The morrow morn,
  12. soon as the new beams of a golden day
  13. had banished every star, Aeneas called
  14. a council of his followers on the shore,
  15. and from a fair green hillock gave this word:
  16. “Proud sons of Dardanus, whose lofty line
  17. none but the gods began! This day fulfils
  18. the annual cycle of revolving time,
  19. since the dear relics of my god-like sire
  20. to earth we gave, and with dark offerings due
  21. built altars sorrowful. If now I err not,
  22. this is my day—ye gods have willed it so! —
  23. for mourning and for praise. Should it befall
  24. me exiled in Gaetulia's wilderness,
  25. or sailing some Greek sea, or at the walls
  26. of dire Mycenae, still would I renew
  27. unfailing vows, and make solemnity
  28. with thankful rites, and worshipful array,
  29. at altars rich with gifts. But, lo, we come,
  30. beyond all hope, where lie the very bones
  31. of my great sire. Nor did it come to pass
  32. without divine intent and heavenly power,
  33. that on these hospitable shores we stand.
  34. Up, then! For we will make a festal day,
  35. imploring lucky winds! O, may his spirit
  36. grant me to build my city, where his shrines
  37. forever shall receive perpetual vows
  38. made in his name! This prince of Trojan line,
  39. Acestes, upon every ship bestows
  40. a pair of oxen. To our offerings call
  41. the powers that bless the altars and the fires
  42. of our ancestral hearth; and join with these
  43. the gods of good Acestes. Presently,
  44. when the ninth dawn shall bring its beam benign
  45. to mortal men, and show the radiant world,
  46. or all my Teucrian people I ordain
  47. a holiday of games; the flying ships
  48. shall first contend; then swiftest runners try
  49. a foot-race; after that the champions bold
  50. who step forth for a cast of javelins,
  51. or boast the soaring arrow; or fear not
  52. the boxing-bout, with gauntlet of thick thongs.
  53. This summons is for all; let all have hope
  54. to earn some noble palm! And from this hour
  55. speak but well-boding words, and bind your brows
  56. with garlands green.” So saying, he twined a wreath
  57. of his own mother's myrtle-tree, to shade
  58. his sacred brow; the hero Helymus,
  59. and King Acestes for his tresses gray,
  60. like coronals took on; Ascanius
  61. and all the warrior youth like emblems wore.
  62. Then in th' attendant throng conspicuous,
  63. with thousands at his side, the hero moved
  64. from place of council to his father's tomb.
  65. There on the ground he poured libation due,
  66. two beakers of good wine, of sweet milk two,
  67. two of the victim's blood—and scattered flowers
  68. of saddest purple stain, while thus he prayed:
  69. “Hail, hallowed sire! And hail, ye ashes dear
  70. of him I vainly saved! O soul and shade
  71. of my blest father! Heaven to us denied
  72. to find together that predestined land
  73. of Italy, or our Ausonian stream
  74. of Tiber—ah! but where?” He scarce had said,
  75. when from the central shrine a gliding snake,
  76. coiled seven-fold in seven spirals wide,
  77. twined round the tomb and trailed innocuous o'er
  78. the very altars; his smooth back was flecked
  79. with green and azure, and his changeful scales
  80. gleamed golden, as the cloud-born rainbow flings
  81. its thousand colors from th' opposing sun.
  82. Aeneas breathless watched the serpent wind
  83. among the bowls and cups of polished rim,
  84. tasting the sacred feast; where, having fed,
  85. back to the tomb all harmless it withdrew.
  86. Then with new zeal his sacrifice he brings
  87. in honor of his sire; for he must deem
  88. that serpent the kind genius of the place,
  89. or of his very father's present shade
  90. some creature ministrant. Two lambs he slew,
  91. the wonted way, two swine, and, sable-hued,
  92. the yoke of bulls; from shallow bowl he poured
  93. libation of the grape, and called aloud
  94. on great Anchises' spirit, and his shade,
  95. from Acheron set free. Then all the throng,
  96. each from his separate store, heap up the shrines
  97. with victims slain; some range in order fair
  98. the brazen cauldrons; or along the grass,
  99. scattered at ease, hold o'er the embers bright
  100. the spitted flesh and roast it in the flames.