Aeneid

Virgil

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

  1. Aeneas then drew forth, with downcast eyes,
  2. From that dark cavern, pondering in his heart
  3. The riddle of his fate. His faithful friend
  4. Achates at his side, with paces slow,
  5. Companioned all his care, while their sad souls
  6. Made mutual and oft-renewed surmise
  7. What comrade dead, what cold and tombless clay,
  8. The Sibyl's word would show.
  9. But as they mused,
  10. Behold Misenus on the dry sea-sands,
  11. By hasty hand of death struck guiltless down!
  12. A son of Aeolus, none better knew
  13. To waken heroes by the clarion's call,
  14. With war-enkindling sound. Great Hector's friend
  15. In happier days, he oft at Hector's side
  16. Strode to the fight with glittering lance and horn.
  17. But when Achilles stripped his fallen foe,
  18. This dauntless hero to Aeneas gave
  19. Allegiance true, in not less noble cause.
  20. But, on a day, he chanced beside the sea
  21. To blow his shell-shaped horn, and wildly dared
  22. Challenge the gods themselves to rival song;
  23. Till jealous Triton, if the tale be true,
  24. Grasped the rash mortal, and out-flung him far
  25. 'mid surf-beat rocks and waves of whirling foam.
  26. Now from all sides, with tumult and loud cry,
  27. The Trojans came,—Aeneas leading all
  28. In faithful grief; they hasten to fulfil
  29. The Sibyl's mandate, and with many a tear
  30. Build, altar-wise, a pyre, of tree on tree
  31. Heaped high as heaven : then they penetrate
  32. The tall, old forest, where wild creatures bide,
  33. And fell pitch-pines, or with resounding blows
  34. Of axe and wedge, cleave oak and ash-tree through,
  35. Or logs of rowan down the mountains roll.