Aeneid
Virgil
Vergil. The Aeneid of Virgil. Williams, Theodore, C, translator. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1910.
- In mocking answer to the prophetess
- the warrior thus replied: “That stranger fleet
- in Tiber moored, not, as thy folly prates,
- of me unnoted lies. Vex me no more
- with thy fantastic terror. Juno's power
- is watchful of my cause. 'T is mere old age,
- gone to decay and dotage, fills thy breast
- with vain foreboding, and, while kings contend,
- scares and deceives thy visionary eye.
- Guard thou in yonder temple's holy shade
- the images divine! Of peace and war
- let men and warriors the burden bear!”
- So kindled he Alecto's wrath to flame;
- and even as he spoke a shudder thrilled
- the warrior's body, and his eyeballs stood
- stonily staring at the hydra hair
- which hissed and writhed above the grisly head
- of the large-looming fiend. With eyes of fire
- horribly rolling, she repelled him far,
- while he but faltered speechless. She upraised
- two coiling snakes out of her tresses, cracked
- the lashes of her scourge, and wrathfully,
- with raving lips replied: “Look well on me,
- gone to decay and dotage of old age!
- And mocked with foolish fear while kings contend!
- Wilt hearken now! Behold me, hither flown
- from where my sister-furies dwell! My hands
- bring bloody death and war.” She spoke, and hurled
- her firebrand at the hero, thrusting deep
- beneath his heart her darkly smouldering flame.
- Then horror broke his sleep, and fearful sweat
- dripped from his every limb. He shrieked aloud
- for arms; and seized the ready arms that lay
- around his couch and hall. Then o'er his soul
- the lust of battle and wild curse of war
- broke forth in angry power, as when the flames
- of faggots round the bubbling cauldron sing,
- and up the waters leap; the close-kept flood
- brims over, streaming, foaming, breaking bound,
- and flings thick clouds in air. He, summoning
- his chieftains, bade them on Latinus move,
- break peace, take arms, and, over Italy
- their shields extending, to thrust forth her foe:
- himself for Teucrian with Latin joined
- was more than match. He called upon the gods
- in witness of his vows: while, nothing loth,
- Rutulia's warriors rushed into array;
- some by his youth and noble beauty moved,
- some by his kingly sires and fame in arms.
- While Turnus stirred Rutulia's valiant souls,
- Alecto on her Stygian pinions sped
- to where the Teucrians lay. She scanned the ground
- with eager guile, where by the river's marge
- fair-browed Iulus with his nets and snares
- rode fiercely to the chase. Then o'er his hounds
- that hell-born virgin breathed a sudden rage,
- and filled each cunning nostril with the scent
- of stags, till forth in wild pursuit they flew.
- Here all the woe began, and here awoke
- in rustic souls the swift-enkindling war.
- For a fair stag, tall-antlered, stolen away
- even from its mother's milk, had long been kept
- by Tyrrhus and his sons—the shepherd he
- of all the royal flocks, and forester
- of a wide region round. With fondest care
- their sister Silvia entwined its horns
- with soft, fresh garlands, tamed it to run close,
- and combed the creature, or would bring to bathe
- at a clear, crystal spring. It knew the hands
- of all its gentle masters, and would feed
- from their own dish; or wandering through the wood,
- come back unguided to their friendly door,
- though deep the evening shade. Iulus' dogs
- now roused this wanderer in their ravening chase,
- as, drifted down-stream far from home it lay,
- on a green bank a-cooling. From bent bow
- Ascanius, eager for a hunter's praise,
- let go his shaft; nor did Alecto fail
- his aim to guide: but, whistling through the air,
- the light-winged reed pierced deep in flank and side.
- Swift to its cover fled the wounded thing,
- and crept loud-moaning to its wonted stall,
- where, like a blood-stained suppliant, it seemed
- to fill that shepherd's house with plaintive prayer.
- Then Silvia the sister, smiting oft
- on breast and arm, made cry for help, and called
- the sturdy rustics forth in gathering throng.
- These now (for in the silent forest couched
- the cruel Fury) swift to battle flew.
- One brandished a charred stake, another swung
- a knotted cudgel, as rude anger shapes
- its weapon of whate'er the searching eye
- first haps to fall on. Tyrrhus roused his clans,
- just when by chance he split with blows of wedge
- an oak in four; and, panting giant breath,
- shouldered his woodman's axe. Alecto then,
- prompt to the stroke of mischief, soared aloft
- from where she spying sate, to the steep roof
- of a tall byre, and from its peak of straw
- blew a wild signal on a shepherd's horn,
- outflinging her infernal note so far
- that all the forest shuddered, and the grove
- throbbed to its deepest glen. Cold Trivia's lake
- from end to end gave ear, and every wave
- of the white stream of Nar, the lonely pools
- of still Velinus heard: while at the sound
- pale mothers to their breasts their children drew.
- Swift to the signal of the dreadful horn,
- snatching their weapons rude, the freeborn swains
- assembled for the fray; the Trojan bands
- poured from their bivouac with instant aid
- for young Ascanius. In array of war
- both stand confronting. Not mere rustic brawl
- with charred oak-staff and cudgel is the fight,
- but with the two-edged steel; the naked swords
- wave like dark-bladed harvest-field, while far
- the brazen arms flash in the smiting sun,
- and skyward fling their beam: so some wide sea,
- at first but whitened in the rising wind,
- swells its slow-rolling mass and ever higher
- its billows rears, until the utmost deep
- lifts in one surge to heaven. The first to fall
- was Almo, eldest-born of Tyrrhus' sons,
- whom, striding in the van, a loud-winged shaft
- laid low in death; deep in his throat it clung,
- and silenced with his blood the dying cry
- of his frail life. Around him fell the forms
- of many a brave and strong; among them died
- gray-haired Galaesus pleading for a truce:
- righteous he was, and of Ausonian fields
- a prosperous master; five full flocks had he
- of bleating sheep, and from his pastures came
- five herds of cattle home; his busy churls
- turned with a hundred ploughs his fruitful glebe.
- While o'er the battle-field thus doubtful swung
- the scales of war, the Fury (to her task
- now equal proven) having dyed the day
- a deep-ensanguined hue, and opened fight
- with death and slaughter, made no tarrying
- within Hesperia, but skyward soared,
- and, Ioud in triumph, insolently thus
- to Juno called: “See, at thy will, their strife
- full-blown to war and woe! Could even thyself
- command them now to truce and amity?
- But I, that with Ausonia's blood befoul
- their Trojan hands, yet more can do, if thou
- shift not thy purpose. For with dire alarms
- I will awake the bordering states to war
- enkindling in their souls the frenzied lust
- the war-god breathes; till from th' horizon round
- the reinforcement pours—I scattering seeds
- of carnage through the land.” In answer spoke
- juno: “Enough of artifice and fear!
- Thy provocation works. Now have they joined
- in close and deadly combat, and warm blood
- those sudden-leaping swords incarnadines,
- which chance put in their hands. Such nuptial joys,
- such feast of wedlock, let the famous son
- of Venus with the King Latinus share!
- But yon Olympian Sire and King no more
- permits thee freely in our skies to roam.
- Go, quit the field! Myself will take control
- of hazards and of labors yet to be.”
- Thus Saturn's daughter spoke. Alecto then,
- unfolding far her hissing, viperous wings,
- turned toward her Stygian home, and took farewell
- of upper air. Deep in Italia lies
- a region mountain-girded, widely famed,
- and known in olden songs from land to land:
- the valley of Amsanctus; deep, dark shades
- enclose it between forest-walls, whereby
- through thunderous stony channel serpentines
- a roaring fall. Here in a monstrous cave
- are breathing-holes of hell, a vast abyss
- where Acheron opes wide its noisome jaws:
- in this Alecto plunged, concealing so
- her execrable godhead, while the air
- of earth and heaven felt the curse removed.
- Forthwith the sovereign hands of Juno haste
- to consummate the war. The shepherds bear
- back from the field of battle to the town
- the bodies of the slain: young Almo's corse
- and gray Galaesus' bleeding head. They call
- just gods in heaven to Iook upon their wrong,
- and bid Latinus see it. Turnus comes,
- and, while the angry mob surveys the slain,
- adds fury to the hour. “Shall the land
- have Trojan lords? Shall Phrygian marriages
- debase our ancient, royal blood—and I
- be spurned upon the threshold?” Then drew near
- the men whose frenzied women-folk had held
- bacchantic orgies in the pathless grove,
- awed by Amata's name: these, gathering,
- sued loud for war. Yea, all defied the signs
- and venerable omens; all withstood
- divine decrees, and clamored for revenge,
- prompted by evil powers. They besieged
- the house of King Latinus, shouting-loud
- with emulous rage. But like a sea-girt rock
- unmoved he stood; like sea-girt rock when surge
- of waters o'er it sweeps, or howling waves
- surround; it keeps a ponderous front of power,
- though foaming cliffs around it vainly roar;
- from its firm base the broken sea-weeds fall.
- But when authority no whit could change
- their counsels blind, and each event fulfilled
- dread Juno's will, then with complaining prayer
- the aged sire cried loud upon his gods
- and on th' unheeding air: “Alas,” said he,
- “My doom is shipwreck, and the tempest bears
- my bark away! O wretches, your own blood
- shall pay the forfeit for your impious crime.
- O Turnus! O abominable deed!
- Avenging woes pursue thee; to deaf gods
- thy late and unavailing prayer shall rise.
- Now was my time to rest. But as I come
- close to my journey's end, thou spoilest me
- of comfort in my death.” With this the King
- fled to his house and ceased his realm to guide.
- A sacred custom the Hesperian land
- of Latium knew, by all the Alban hills
- honored unbroken, which wide-ruling Rome
- keeps to this day, when to new stroke she stirs
- the might of Mars; if on the Danube's wave
- resolved to fling the mournful doom of war,
- or on the Caspian folk or Arabs wild;
- or chase the morning far as India's verge,
- ind from the Parthian despot wrest away
- our banners Iost. Twin Gates of War there be,
- of fearful name, to Mars' fierce godhead vowed:
- a hundred brass bars shut them, and the strength
- of uncorrupting steel; in sleepless watch
- Janus the threshold keeps. 'T is here, what time
- the senate's voice is war, the consul grave
- in Gabine cincture and Quirinal shift
- himself the griding hinges backward moves,
- and bids the Romans arm; obedient then
- the legionary host makes Ioud acclaim,
- and hoarse consent the brazen trumpets blow.
- Thus King Latinus on the sons of Troy
- was urged to open war, and backward roll
- those gates of sorrow: but the aged king
- recoiled, refused the loathsome task, and fled
- to solitary shades. Then from the skies
- the Queen of gods stooped down, and her sole hand
- the lingering portal moved; Saturnia
- swung on their hinges the barred gates of war.
- ausonia from its old tranquillity
- bursts forth in flame. Foot-soldiers through the field
- run to and fro; and mounted on tall steeds
- the cavaliers in clouds of dust whirl by.
- All arm in haste. Some oil the glittering shield
- or javelin bright, or on the whetstone wear
- good axes to an edge, while joyful bands
- uplift the standards or the trumpets blow.
- Five mighty cities to their anvils bring
- new-tempered arms: Atina—martial name —
- proud Tibur, Ardea, Crustumium,
- and river-walled Antemnae, crowned with towers
- strong hollow helmets on their brows they draw
- and weave them willow-shields; or melt and mould
- corselets of brass or shining silver greaves;
- none now for pruning-hook or sacred plough
- have love or care: but old, ancestral swords
- for hardier tempering to the smith they bring.
- Now peals the clarion; through the legions pass
- the watchwords: the impatient yeoman takes
- his helmet from the idle roof-tree hung;
- while to his chariot the master yokes
- the mettled war-horse, dons a shining shield
- and golden mail, and buckles his good sword.
- Virgins of Helicon, renew my song!
- Instruct me what proud kings to battle flown
- with following legions throng the serried plain.
- Tell me what heroes and illustrious arms
- Italia's bosom in her dawning day
- benignant bore: for your celestial minds,
- have memory of the past, but faint and low
- steals glory's whisper on a mortal ear.
- Foremost in fight, from shores Etrurian came
- Mezentius, scornful rebel against Heaven,
- his people all in arms; and at his side
- Lausus his heir (no fairer youth than he,
- save Turnus of Laurentum), Lausus, skilled
- o break proud horses and wild beasts to quell;
- who from Agylla's citadel in vain
- led forth his thousand warriors: worthy he
- to serve a nobler sire, and happier far
- he had ne'er been born Mezentius' son.
- Next after these, conspicuous o'er the plain,
- with palm-crowned chariot and victorious steeds,
- rode forth well-moulded Aventinus, sprung
- from shapely Hercules; upon the shield
- his blazon was a hundred snakes, and showed
- his father's hydra-cincture serpentine;
- him deep in Aventine's most secret grove
- the priestess Rhea bore—a mortal maid
- clasped in a god's embrace the wondrous day
- when, flushed with conquest of huge Geryon,
- the lord of Tiryns to Laurentum drove,
- and washed in Tiber's wave th' Iberian kine.
- His followers brandished pointed pikes and staves,
- or smooth Sabellian bodkin tipped with steel;
- but he, afoot, swung round him as he strode
- a monstrous lion-skin, its bristling mane
- and white teeth crowning his ferocious brow:
- for garbed as Hercules he sought his King.
- Then came twin brethren, leaving Tibur's keep
- (named from Tiburtus, brother of them twain)
- Catillus and impetuous Coras, youth
- of Argive seed, who foremost in the van
- pressed ever where the foemen densest throng:
- as when two centaurs, children of the cloud,
- from mountain-tops descend in swift career,
- the snows of Homole and Othrys leaving,
- while crashing thickets in their pathway fall.
- Nor was Praeneste's founder absent there,
- by Vulcan sired, among the herds and hinds,
- and on a hearth-stone found (so runs the tale
- each pious age repeats) King Caeculus
- with rustic legions gathered from afar:
- from steep Praeneste and the Gabian vale
- to Juno dear, from Anio's cold stream,
- from upland Hernic rocks and foaming rills,
- from rich Anagnia's pastures, and the plain
- whence Amasenus pours his worshipped wave.
- Not all of armor boast, and seldom sound
- the chariot and shield; but out of slings
- they hurl blue balls of lead, or in one hand
- a brace of javelins bear; pulled o'er their brows
- are hoods of tawny wolf-skin; as they march
- the left foot leaves a barefoot track behind,
- a rawhide sandal on the right they wear.