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.
Monday, May 12, 2008
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Aeneid lines 6.724-853 (class translation)
At first the spirit within nourishes the sky and the land and the liquid fields and the shining sphere of the moon and the Titan stars, and the mind, spread through his limbs, drives the whole mass and joins itself with its huge body. From there the race of mankind and beasts and the lives of flying things and what prodigies the sea bears under the shining water. Those seeds have a fiery force and a heavenly origin, so far as the harmful bodies do not slow and the earthly joints and dying limbs weaken. From here they fear and desire, grieve and rejoice, and (the spirits) closed in shadows and dark prison do not despise the lights. But at last when even life leaves on the last day, nevertheless not every evil and not all bodily plagues do not completely leave the wretched, and it is necessary that many things long ingrained grow deeply in wonderful ways. Therefore they are tormented by their punishments and pay the sufferings of old evils: some shadowy spirits are spread out, hung toward the winds, for others the ingrained crime is washed away below the vast whirlpool or is burned up by fire. We each suffer our own ghosts; thence we are sent through spacious Elysium and we few hold the happy fields—until the long day, the circle of time having been completed, removes the set-in stain, and leaves a cleansed ethereal feeling and a fire of simple spirit. The gods calls out all these when they have turned the wheel through 1000 years, to the river Lethe in the great line of battle doubtless as the forgetful ones again revisit the lofty vaults and begin to want to be returned (in)to bodies.”
(752) Anchises had spoken, and he draws his son together with the Sybil into the middle of the assemblies and the sounding crowd, and he seizes a mound whence he was able to pick out all those opposite in a long line and to learn the faces of those coming.
“Now come, what glory thence follows the Dardanian offspring, what descendants remain from the Italian tribe, the shining spirits about to come into our name; I will set forth in words and I will teach you your fates. That youth, you see, who leans on a pure spear, by lot holds the next places of light, the first mixed with the Italian blood, he will rise to the ethereal sky, Silvius, an Alban name, your last offspring whom your wife Lavinia will lead out late for aged you in the forests as a king and a parent of kings, whence our race will rule Alba Longa. That one nearest (is) Procas, the glory of the Trojan race, both Capys and Numator and Silvius Aeneas, who will return you in name, outstanding equally in piety as arms if ever he receives Alba to be ruled. (770) What youths! Look what strength they show and (how) they pass the darkened times by the civil wreath! These (will found) Nomentum and Gabii and the city of Fidena, they will place Colentian citadels on the mountains; Pometii and Fort Inus, and Bola, and Cora. Then these will be the names; the lands now are without names. But indeed also Mavortian Romulus will add himself as companion to the grandfather, whom mother Illia will lead from Assaracus' blood. Do you see how the twin crests stand on his head and the father himself marks (him) as a god with his own honor. Behold, child, by the auspices of this one that famous Rome will equal the rule among the lands and the spirits on Olympus, and will surround seven citadels with its one wall, fortunate offspring of men: as the turreted Berecyntian mother rides on a carriage through Phrygian cities, rejoicing in the birth of the gods, having embraced a hundred grandchildren, all the gods, all those holding the heights above. To this place now turn twin eyes, see this race and your Romans. Here is Caesar and the whole race of Iulus about to come under the great pole of the sky. (791) This man, this is he whom you have often heard (would) be sent to you, Augustus Caesar, son of the god (Iulius), who will lead the golden ages again through the fields once ruled by Saturn in Latium and will extend control over the Garamantes and the Indi; the earth spreads out beyond the stars, beyond the paths of the yearly sun, where sky holding Atlas twists the axle, studded with burning stars, on his shoulder. In the coming of this one, now already both the Caspian kingdoms and the Maeotian land bristle at the responses of the gods, and the agitated mouths of the sevenfold Nile are roiled. Nor truly does Hercules pass over so much of the land, it is permitted that he pierce the bronze hoofed doe, or give peace to the woods of Erymanthus and make Lerna tremble with his bow; nor Liber the victor, who bends the yokes with his reigns of vine, driving his tigers from the lofty summit of Nisa. And do we yet hesitate to extend virtue by deeds, or does fear forbid [us] to stand upon Ausonian land? Who (is) that man, marked by branches of olive, at a distance moreover carrying sacred items? I am acquainted with the hair and the white beard of the Roman king who will found the first city with laws in little Cures and poor land, sent into great command. To whom then Tullus will submit who will break reposes of the fatherland and will move lazy men to weapons and the lines of battle already unaccustomed to triumphs. Next to whom more boastful Ancus now also follows, already rejoicing too much in popular opinion. (817) Do you want to see both the Tarquinian kings and the proud spirit of Brutus the avenger and the received fasces? This one first will take up command of the consul and savage battle axes, and the father will call his children moving new rebellions to punishment for beautiful freedom. Unlucky one! However posterity will bear these deeds: the love of the fatherland and immense desire of praises will win out. Nay even look at the Decii and the Drusi from afar and Torquatus, savage with his battle axe, and Camillus, bearing back the standards. Those harmonious spirits, moreover, whom you discern flashing in equal arms, now and while oppressed by night, alas how great a war between them, what great battle lines and strategy will they arouse if their lives touch the light; the father-in-law coming down from the Alpine ramparts and citadel of Monoecus, the son-in-law drawn up with the eastern adversaries. Do not, children, do not in your minds become accustomed to such great wars, nor turn valiant strength onto the vitals of the fatherland. And you first, you, who lead your race from Olympus, spare (us), throw down the weapons from your hand, my blood. (836) That one as a victor, marked by slaughtered Greeks, will lead his chariot to high Capitoline with Corinth conquered. That one will overthrow Argi and Agamemnon’s Mycenae and the descendants of Aeacus [Hercules] himself, the race of Achilles powerful in arms, having avenged the ancestors of Troy and the violated temples of Minerva. Great Cato, who might leave you unmentioned, or you, Cossus? Who (might leave unmentioned) the race of Gracchus or the twins Scipios, the two thunderbolts of war, the disaster of Libya, and Fabricius, powerful in little, or you, Serranus, sowing in his furrow? Where do you pull me wearied, Fabius? You are that man Maximus, one who by delaying restores the state for us. Others will forge bronze breathing more gently (I believe indeed), they will lead living faces from marble, they will argue cases better, and they will describe the motions of the sky on its compass and will name the rising constellations: you Roman, remember to rule the people with your power (these will be your arts), and impose the law of peace, spare the beaten, and beat down the prideful.
(752) Anchises had spoken, and he draws his son together with the Sybil into the middle of the assemblies and the sounding crowd, and he seizes a mound whence he was able to pick out all those opposite in a long line and to learn the faces of those coming.
“Now come, what glory thence follows the Dardanian offspring, what descendants remain from the Italian tribe, the shining spirits about to come into our name; I will set forth in words and I will teach you your fates. That youth, you see, who leans on a pure spear, by lot holds the next places of light, the first mixed with the Italian blood, he will rise to the ethereal sky, Silvius, an Alban name, your last offspring whom your wife Lavinia will lead out late for aged you in the forests as a king and a parent of kings, whence our race will rule Alba Longa. That one nearest (is) Procas, the glory of the Trojan race, both Capys and Numator and Silvius Aeneas, who will return you in name, outstanding equally in piety as arms if ever he receives Alba to be ruled. (770) What youths! Look what strength they show and (how) they pass the darkened times by the civil wreath! These (will found) Nomentum and Gabii and the city of Fidena, they will place Colentian citadels on the mountains; Pometii and Fort Inus, and Bola, and Cora. Then these will be the names; the lands now are without names. But indeed also Mavortian Romulus will add himself as companion to the grandfather, whom mother Illia will lead from Assaracus' blood. Do you see how the twin crests stand on his head and the father himself marks (him) as a god with his own honor. Behold, child, by the auspices of this one that famous Rome will equal the rule among the lands and the spirits on Olympus, and will surround seven citadels with its one wall, fortunate offspring of men: as the turreted Berecyntian mother rides on a carriage through Phrygian cities, rejoicing in the birth of the gods, having embraced a hundred grandchildren, all the gods, all those holding the heights above. To this place now turn twin eyes, see this race and your Romans. Here is Caesar and the whole race of Iulus about to come under the great pole of the sky. (791) This man, this is he whom you have often heard (would) be sent to you, Augustus Caesar, son of the god (Iulius), who will lead the golden ages again through the fields once ruled by Saturn in Latium and will extend control over the Garamantes and the Indi; the earth spreads out beyond the stars, beyond the paths of the yearly sun, where sky holding Atlas twists the axle, studded with burning stars, on his shoulder. In the coming of this one, now already both the Caspian kingdoms and the Maeotian land bristle at the responses of the gods, and the agitated mouths of the sevenfold Nile are roiled. Nor truly does Hercules pass over so much of the land, it is permitted that he pierce the bronze hoofed doe, or give peace to the woods of Erymanthus and make Lerna tremble with his bow; nor Liber the victor, who bends the yokes with his reigns of vine, driving his tigers from the lofty summit of Nisa. And do we yet hesitate to extend virtue by deeds, or does fear forbid [us] to stand upon Ausonian land? Who (is) that man, marked by branches of olive, at a distance moreover carrying sacred items? I am acquainted with the hair and the white beard of the Roman king who will found the first city with laws in little Cures and poor land, sent into great command. To whom then Tullus will submit who will break reposes of the fatherland and will move lazy men to weapons and the lines of battle already unaccustomed to triumphs. Next to whom more boastful Ancus now also follows, already rejoicing too much in popular opinion. (817) Do you want to see both the Tarquinian kings and the proud spirit of Brutus the avenger and the received fasces? This one first will take up command of the consul and savage battle axes, and the father will call his children moving new rebellions to punishment for beautiful freedom. Unlucky one! However posterity will bear these deeds: the love of the fatherland and immense desire of praises will win out. Nay even look at the Decii and the Drusi from afar and Torquatus, savage with his battle axe, and Camillus, bearing back the standards. Those harmonious spirits, moreover, whom you discern flashing in equal arms, now and while oppressed by night, alas how great a war between them, what great battle lines and strategy will they arouse if their lives touch the light; the father-in-law coming down from the Alpine ramparts and citadel of Monoecus, the son-in-law drawn up with the eastern adversaries. Do not, children, do not in your minds become accustomed to such great wars, nor turn valiant strength onto the vitals of the fatherland. And you first, you, who lead your race from Olympus, spare (us), throw down the weapons from your hand, my blood. (836) That one as a victor, marked by slaughtered Greeks, will lead his chariot to high Capitoline with Corinth conquered. That one will overthrow Argi and Agamemnon’s Mycenae and the descendants of Aeacus [Hercules] himself, the race of Achilles powerful in arms, having avenged the ancestors of Troy and the violated temples of Minerva. Great Cato, who might leave you unmentioned, or you, Cossus? Who (might leave unmentioned) the race of Gracchus or the twins Scipios, the two thunderbolts of war, the disaster of Libya, and Fabricius, powerful in little, or you, Serranus, sowing in his furrow? Where do you pull me wearied, Fabius? You are that man Maximus, one who by delaying restores the state for us. Others will forge bronze breathing more gently (I believe indeed), they will lead living faces from marble, they will argue cases better, and they will describe the motions of the sky on its compass and will name the rising constellations: you Roman, remember to rule the people with your power (these will be your arts), and impose the law of peace, spare the beaten, and beat down the prideful.
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