Monday, May 12, 2008

Aeneid lines 6.854-901 (class translation)

Thus father Anchises and he adds for those wondering at these things: “Look how Marcellus, marked by the rich spoils advances and as a victor towers above all men. This man will stay the Roman state from the great roiling tumult, as a knight he will lay low the Carthaginians and the Gallic rebellion, and he will hang the third captured arms for father Quirinus.” And here Aeneas (for at the same time he saw the young man going outstanding in form and gleaming arms, but his brow was too little happy and his face downcast at the eyes) “Who, father, is that man who thus accompanies the coming man? A son, or someone from the great stock of our descendants? What clamoring(s) of the crowd surround (him)! What a presence he has in himself! But a black night encircles his head with a dark cloud.” Then father Anchises began with tears welling up, “Oh son, do not ask about the great grief of our people; the fates will show such a man to the lands nor allow him to be longer. The Roman offspring was seen (to be) too powerful by you, lofty ones, if these gifts were permanent. How many groans of men will that field drive to the great city of Mars! Or, Tiber, what funerals you will see when you glide past the fresh tomb! Neither will any boy from the Ilian race lift the Latin grandfathers to such by hope (of him),nor will the land of Romulus ever boast itself so much in any nursling. Ah piety, ah previous faith and right hands unconquered in war! Not any would have carried himself [away] with impunity meeting that man armed, whether he would go as a infantryman toward the enemy or he would pierce the flanks of his foaming horse with his spurs. Alas, boy to be pitied, if in any way you break those rough fates, you will be Marcellus. Give lilies with full hands, let me sprinkle purple flowers and honor the spirit of my descendent with these gifts, and let me perform the empty offering.” Thus they wander everywhere through the whole region in the wide fields of fog and they survey everything. After which Anchises led his child through each thing and kindled his spirit with the love of coming fame, thence he details for the man what wars then must be waged, and he teaches about the people of Laurentum and the city of Latinus, and how he might both flee and bear each labor.

There are twin gates of Sleep, one of which is said to be horn, from/by which an easy departure is given to true shades, the other made gleaming with white ivory, but (through this gate) the ghosts sent false dreams to the sky. Then in that place, with these things having been said, Anchises escorts his son together with the Sybil and he sends [them] from the ivory gate. That man cuts the way toward the ships and revisits his allies. Then he bears himself toward the harbor of Caieta straight along the shore. The anchor was thrown from the prow; the ships stand on the shore.

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