Aeneid

Virgil

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

  1. While thus in distant region moves the war,
  2. down to bold Turnus Saturn's daughter sends
  3. celestial Iris. In a sacred vale,
  4. the seat of worship at his grandsire's tomb,
  5. Pilumnus, Faunus' son, the hero mused.
  6. And thus the wonder-child of Thaumas called
  7. with lips of rose: “O Turnus, what no god
  8. dared give for reward of thy fondest vow,
  9. has come unbidden on its destined day.
  10. Behold, Aeneas, who has left behind
  11. the city with his fleet and followers,
  12. is gone to kingly Palatine, the home
  13. of good Evander. Yea, his march invades
  14. the far Etrurian towns, where now he arms
  15. the Lydian rustics. Wilt thou longer muse?
  16. Call for thy chariot and steeds! Away!
  17. Take yonder tents by terror and surprise!”
  18. She spoke; and heavenward on poising wings
  19. soared, cleaving as she fled from cloud to cloud
  20. a vast, resplendent bow. The warrior saw,
  21. and, lifting both his hands, pursued with prayer
  22. the fading glory: “Beauteous Iris, hail!
  23. Proud ornament of heaven! who sent thee here
  24. across yon cloud to earth, and unto me?
  25. Whence may this sudden brightness fall? I see
  26. the middle welkin lift, and many a star,
  27. far-wandering in the sky. Such solemn sign
  28. I shall obey, and thee, O god unknown!”
  29. So saying, he turned him to a sacred stream,
  30. took water from its brim, and offered Heaven
  31. much prayer, with many an importuning vow.