Sunday, December 27, 2009

Aeneid 4.642-705

But Dido trembling and wild with her huge undertakings, rolling bloodshot eyes and flecked in respect to her trembling cheeks with blotches and pale with coming death, she breaks over the interior thresholds of the home and, raging, climbs the high pyres and uncovers the Dardanian sword, a gift not sought for these use (lit pl.). Here, after she saw the Trojan clothes and known bed, having delayed a little in tears and thought, she both lay back on the couch and said (these) last words, "Sweet spoils, while the fates and god allowed, receive this spirit and free me from these cares. I have lived and I have completed what course Fortune had given, and now the great image of myself will go under the lands. I have set up a splendid city; I have seen my walls; having avenged my husband, I have received punishments from my hostile brother--lucky, alas too lucky if only Dardanian keels had never touched our shores." She spoke, and having pressed her mouth to the bed, she said, "We die unavenged, but let us die. Thus, thus it is pleasing to go under the shades. Let the cruel Dardanian drink in this fire from the deep with his eyes and let him take with him the omens of our death."

(663) She had spoken, and her companions see that one having fallen on the iron in the middle of such (words) and the sword foaming with gore and her spattered hands. The clamor goes to the high atria: Fame revels through the shaken city. Houses roar with laments and groaning and feminine wailing, the aether resounds with great shrieks, not other than if all Carthage or ancient Tyre rushes with admitted enemies, and raging flames roll both through the rooftops of men and through (the rooftops) of gods. She heard, lifeless and terrified with a fearful run, befouling her face with her nails and her chest with blows, her sister rushes through the midst of them and shouts to the dying one by name, "This was it, sister? You sought me with fraud? That pyre, the fires and altars prepared this, this for me? What first, deserted, will I lament? Dying, did you scorn a sister as companion? You should have called me to the same fates; the same grief and the same hour should have born us both by the iron. I laid (it) out with these hands and called paternal gods with my voice, so that I would be absent with you laid upon (it), cruel one? You have killed yourself and me, sister, and your people and Sidonian fathers and your city. Grant that I bathe your wounds with the waters and that I catch with my mouth if any last breath wanders above." Thus having spoken, she had climbed the high steps and, having embraced her half-dead sister, she kept (her) warm in her lap with a groan and tried to dry the dark gore with her clothing. That one, having tried to lift her heavy eyes, again grew faint; the driven wound hissed under her chest. Three times lifting herself and having leaned upon the bed she rose, three times she fell back upon the bed and with wandering eyes she sought light in the high sky and groaned, (the light) having been found.

(693) Then all-powerful Juno, having pitied the long grief and difficult death (lit. pl.), sent Iris down from Olympus, who was to free the struggling spirit and tied limbs. For since she was dying neither by fate nor by merited death, but wretched before her day and burned by sudden fury, Proserpina had not yet taken the yellow hair from her head and damned her head to Stygian Orcus. Therefore dewy Iris flies downs through the sky on saffron wings, dragging a thousand varied colors against the sun and alights above her head. "I bear this sacrifice to Dis, as ordered, and I release you from this body." Thus she spoke and cut her hair with her right hand, and all at once the heat slipped away and her life receded into the winds.

Aeneid 4.296-449

But the queen--who could hope to deceive a lover--sensed the tricks, and first picked up on the future moves, fearing everything, although safe. The same impious Rumor reported to the furious one: the fleet is being armed and flight prepared. Destitute in mind and incensed she rages through the whole city, like a Maenad excited by the frenzied rites when, with Bacchus heard, they spur on the revels of alternating years and the nocturnal Cithaeron calls with a shout.

(304) At last with these voices she rebukes Aeneas of her own accord, "Did you even hope to be able to cover such wrong, faithless one, and to silently leave my land? Neither our love (holds) you nor our right hand once given nor does Dido about to die in cruel death hold you? But even with the winter star you hurry to build a fleet and in the midst of the northern winds to go through the deep, cruel one? Why, if you should not seeking foreign fields and unknown homes, and ancient Troy should remain, would Troy be sought by fleets through the wave-filled sea? Do you flee me? Through these tears and your right hand I beg you--since I myself have left myself, now wretched, nothing else--though our wedding, through our begun marriage (both lit. pl), if I have well deserved anything from you or there was anything sweet in me for you, pity (these) perishing homes and cast off that thought, if there is still any place for prayers. On account of you the Libyan tribes and the tyrants of the Nomads hate (us), the Tyrians are enraged; on account of the same you my decency is lost and my prior reputation, by which alone I was going to the stars. Guest--because this name alone remains from husband--to whom do you abandon me, dying? Why do I delay? Either until my brother Pygmalion destroys the walls or Gaetulian Iarbas leads me away as captive? At least if some offspring had been received by me from you before your flight, if some itty-bitty Aeneas were playing in my hall, who at least would bring you back in face, indeed I would not seem altogether vanquished and abandoned."

(331) She had spoken. That one held his eyes unmoved on the warnings of Jove and, resolute, was pressing his care under his heart. At last he returns a few words, "I will never deny that you, queen, deserve the very many things which you prevail to list in your speaking, and it will not displease me to remember Elissa while I myself am mindful of myself, which spirit rules these limbs. I will say a few things for my own case. Neither did I hope to conceal this flight by deceit--don't imagine it--nor did I ever extend marriage torches or come into these pacts. If the fates had allowed me to lead a life by my auspices and to settle my cares by my own will, I would first tend the city of Troy and the sweet remainders of my people, the high homes of Priam would remain, and I would have established reborn Pergama for the conquered by my hand. But now Grynean Apollo (and) Lycian lots have ordered that I seize great Italy, Italy; this is my love, this is my homeland. If the citadels of Carthage and the sight of the Libyan city detain you, a Phoenician, what is the envy that at last Trojans settle in Ausonian land? And it is right that we seek external kingdoms. The gloomy image of my father Anchises admonishes and terrifies me in my dreams as often as night covers the lands with dewy shadows, as often as the fiery stars rise; my boy Ascanius admonishes me and the wrong done to his dear head, whom I cheat of the kingdom of Hesperia and his fated fields. Now even the intermediary of the gods, sent from Jove himself--I swear on each head--has brought orders through the swift breezes: I myself saw the god in the plain light entering the walls and I drank in his voice with these ears. Stop rousing both me and yourself with your complaints; I follow Italy not by my own free will.

(362) Long before, opposite (him), she eyes the one saying such things, rolling her eyes here and there, and roaming him wholly with silent eyes and thus inflamed she speaks out, "You had neither divine parent nor was Dardanus the founder of your race, false one, but on hard reefs the rough Caucasus bore you and Hyrcanian tigers gave (you) their breasts. For why am I to pretend, or for what more am I to reserve myself? Surely he did not groan at our weeping? Surely he did not end his gaze? Surely he did not tears, beaten, or pity his lover? What things shall I put before what? Now, now neither greatest Juno nor the Saturnian father looks at these things with unbiased eyes. Faith is never safe. I took him in, a castaway on the shore, needy, and--mad woman--I placed him in part of the kingdom. I lead back his lost fleet, his allies from death--alas I am born, burned by the furies--now the augur Apollo, now the Lycian lots, and now an intermediary sent by Jove himself bears horrid orders of the gods through the breezes. Perhaps this is work for the gods, this care disturbs those quiet beings. Neither do I hold you nor do I refute your words: go, pursue Italy by the winds, seek kingdoms through the waves. I hope indeed that in the middle of the rocks, if pious powers can (do) anything, you will drink in your punishments and often call Dido by name. I, absent, will follow with black fires and when cold death separates your limbs from your spirit, I will be a shadow present in all places. You will give payment, wicked one. I will hear and this rumor will come to me under the lowest shades." She breaks off her speech in the middle with these words and, ill, flees the breezes and turns herself from his eyes and withdraws, leaving him hesitating much in fear and preparing to say many things. Her household slaves pick (her) up and carry her collapsed limbs to her marble bedchamber and place her on her couches.

(393) But pious Aeneas, although he desires to lighten her grief with solace and to avert her cares with his words, groaning much and shaken in mind by her great love, yet he follows the orders of the gods and returns to the fleet. Then indeed the Trojans press on and lead down the lofty ships along the whole shore. The greased keel swims, they carry leafy oars and, in the zeal for flight, unshaped oaks from the woods. You might see them wandering and rushing from the whole city: and as when ants, mindful of winter, plunder a huge pile of grain and place it in their home, the black column goes in the fields and transports their booty through the grasses on a narrow path; some push large grains with their shoulders, determined, others drive the line and chastise the delays, the whole path teams with work. What feeling then had you, Dido, seeing such things, or what groans were you giving, when widely you saw the shore teaming from the highest citadel, and you saw the whole sea stirred up with such clamors before your eyes! Wicked love, to what do you not drive mortal hearts! Again she is driven to go into tears, again to try by begging and as a suppliant to submit her feelings to her lover, lest in vain about to die she leave anything untried.

(416) Anna, you see things rushed all around on the whole shore: they have gathered from everywhere; the canvass now calls the winds and the happy sailors have put garlands on the sterns. If I was able to anticipate this grief so great, I will be able even to endure, sister. Seek yet this one thing for wretched me; for that false man cherished you alone, he entrusted his secret feelings even to you; you alone know the soft approaches and times of the man. Go, sister, and as a suppliant speak to our proud enemy: I did not swear with the Greeks at Aulis to cut down the Trojan race or send a fleet to Pergama, nor did I tear up the ash and shades of his father Anchises: why does he deny that my words reach his hard ears? Where does he rush? Let him give this last gift to his lover: let him await both an easy flight and favorable winds. I ask no longer for our old marriage, which he has betrayed, nor that he lack his dear Latium and leave his kingdom: I seek empty time, rest and a space for my fury, while my fortune teaches beaten me to grieve. I ask this last favor--pity a sister--which when to me he has given (it) I will repay increased at my death."

(437) She was begging with such words, and her most wretched sister carries such tears and carries (them) again. But that man is moved by no tears nor tractable does he hear any words; the fates stand in the way and the god stops the easy ears of the man. And as when the Alpine north winds strive among themselves to rip out a strong oak tree with ancient strength now here now there with the blasts; the screech rises and high leaves from the shaken trunk cover the land; the tree itself clings to the cliffs and reaches as high to the airy breezes with its top as it holds into Tartarus with its root: hardly otherwise, this way and that, is the hero pounded by these constant voices, and he feels the cares in his great heart; his mind remains unmoved, empty tears roll down.

Aeneid 4.160-295

Meanwhile with a great murmur the sky begins to be mixed, a cloud follows with hail mixed in, and the Tyrian companions and Trojan youth and the Dardanian grandson of Venus everywhere sought in fear various roofs through the fields; the rivers rush from the mountains. Dido and the Trojan leader will find the same cave. Both first Earth and bridal Juno give the sign; fires gleamed and the aether was witness to the ceremonies and the Nymphs howled from the highest peak. That day first was the cause of death and first of evils; for neither by appearance nor reputation is Dido moved and now she does not think on a secret love: she calls it marriage; by this name she covered her fault.

(173) Immediately Rumor goes through the great cities of Libya, Rumor, than whom not any other evil is faster: she thrives by moving and seeks strength by going, small by fear at first, soon she lifts herself into the breezes and walks on the ground and lifts her head among the clouds. Earth, her parent, provoked by anger at the gods, bore that one last, as the say, sister to Coeus and Enceladus, swift on feel and agile wings, a horrible monster, huge, who has as many watchful eyes below as there are feathers on her body--wondrous to say--as many tongues, just as many mouths sound, as many ears raise up. She flies at night midway between the sky and earth, screeching through the shadow, and she does not lower her eyes in sweet sleep; she sits as guard by day either at the top of the highest roof or in high towers, and she terrifies great cities, as persistent in fiction and distortion as a messenger of truth. Then this one was filling the peoples with her shifting story, rejoicing, and was singing equally deeds and things not done: Aeneas has come, created from the blood of Troy, to whom beautiful Dido deigns to join herself; now they warm the winter between themselves with indulgence, however long, forgetful of kingdoms and captured by shameful desire. The foul goddess everywhere pours these things into the faces of men. Straightway she bends her courses to king Iarbas and fires his mind with words and heaps up his angers.

(198) This one, begotten by Hammon by a raped Garamantian nymph, has placed a hundred immense temples to Jove in his wide kingdoms, a hundred altars, and had sanctified watchful fire, eternal sentries of the gods; the ground was rich with the blood of sheep and the thresholds flower with mixed garlands. And this one, mad in heart and burned by bitter rumor is said before the altars among the middle of the powers of the gods, with hands upturned, to have begged Jove many times as a suppliant, "Jupiter all-powerful, to whom now the Moorish race, having feasted on painted couches, pour out Bacchic honor--do you see these things? Father, when you hurl lightening, can it be that we fear you in vain, and do unseeing fires in the clouds frighten our minds and mix the empty rumblings? The woman, who established her tiny city for a price, wandering into our territory, to whom we gave a plowable coast and to whom (we gave) laws of the place, spurns our marriages and received Aeneas as her lord in the kingdom. And now that Paris with his eunuch band, bound at the chin and wet hair by a Maeonian mitra, becomes master of the thing he has stolen: we bring gifts to your temples, as you see, and cherish an empty story.

(219) The all-powerful one heard the one praying with such words and gripping the altars, and turned his eyes to the royal walls and lovers having forgotten better reputation. Then he speaks thus to Mercury and entrusts such: "Go, go, son, call the Zephyr and glide to the Dardanian leader on your wings, who waits now in Tyrian Carthage and does not look to cities given by the fates, speak and carry my words through the swift breezes. His most beautiful mother did not promise that sort of a man to us and not for that reason did she twice claim (him) from the weapons of the Greeks, but he would be the one who ruled Italy pregnant with empires and clamoring for war, he would produce a race from the high blood of Teucer, and he would send the whole world under the laws. If no glory of such affairs inflames (him) and besides he himself does not undertake the labor for his own praise, does the father begrudge Roman citadels for Ascanius? What does he plan? Or with what hope does he delay among a hostile race and look upon neither Ausonian offspring nor Lavinian fields? Let him sail! This is the last; let this be our message."

(238) He had spoken. Than one was preparing to obey the order of his great father; and first he ties the golden sandals to his feet, which carry him aloft with wing over either seas or land equally with the rapid breeze. Then he seizes his wand: with this that one calls pale spirits from Orcus, he sends others down to sad Tartarus, he gives and withdraws dreams and he unseals eyes from death. Relying on that, he drives the winds and passes through turbulent clouds. And now flying, he sees the summit and lofty sides of hard Atlas, who supports the sky on his head, of Atlas, whose pine-bearing head is constantly girt with black clouds and beaten by wind and rain, poured snow covers his shoulders, then rivers flow from the chin of the old man and his rough beard is stiff with ice. Here first gleaming Cyllenius stops on even wings; from here with his whole body he sent himself headlong to the waters like a bird which flies low near the waters around the shores, around the rocks teaming with fish. Hardly otherwise was he flying between the lands and sky near the sandy shore of Libya, he was cutting the winds, the Cyllenian offspring coming from his maternal grandfather.

(259) As soon as he touched the huts with winged feet he sees Aeneas founding citadels and creating homes. And that man had a sword starry with yellow stone and a cloak, hung from his shoulders, was blazing with Tyrian purple, riches which Dido had made as gifts and she had marked the web with thin gold. He immediately attacked, "Do you now place the foundations of lofty Carthage and build her beautiful city, uxorious one? Alas, one forgetful of your kingdom and your affairs! The ruler of the gods himself, who turns the sky and lands by his will, sends me down to you from bright Olympus, he himself orders that I bear these commands through the swift breezes: what do you plan? Or with what hope do you wear out in Libyan lands? If no glory of such affairs moves you--and besides you yourself do not undertake the labor for your own praise--look to growing Ascanius and the hope of your heir Iulus, to whom the kingdom of Italy and the Roman land is owed." Cyllenius spoke with such a speech; in the middle of the speech he left mortal sight and far from their eyes vanished into thin air.

(279) But indeed Aeneas frantic at the sight was dumbstruck, and his hair stood up with fright and his voice stuck in his throat (lit. pl.) He burns to go in flight and leave the sweet lands, struck by such a warning and the command of the gods. Alas, what should he do? With what speech now should he dare solicit the mad queen? What first beginnings should he take up? And he divides his speedy mind now this way, now that and hurries in to various directions and turns through everything. This opinion seemed more powerful to the one wavering: he calls Mnestheus and Sergestes and brave Serestus, let them silently fit the fleet and gather the allies to the shores, let them prepare arms and let them hide what cause there is for the new circumstances; meanwhile because best Dido does not know and does not hope for such loves to be broken, he will try (to find) approaches and what times are softest for speaking, what method right for the circumstances. Too quickly everyone happily obeys his command and eagerly performs his orders.

Aeneid 4.1-159

But the queen, long since wounded with heavy care, nourishes the wound in her veins and she is harried by a blind fire. The great courage of the man and the great honor of his race returns to her mind. His looks and words cling, fixed in her heart, and her care does not give placid rest to her limbs.

(6) Next Aurora with Phoebus' light was illuminating the lands and had removed the dewy shadow from the sky, when thus the hardly sane woman speaks to her loving sister, "Sister Anna, what visions frighten anxious me! Who! this new guest enters our homes, bearing what a self in his face, how brave in heart and arms! I believe indeed--and it is no empty faith--that his is the race of the gods. Fear reveals degenerate spirits. Alas, with what fates that man has been shaken! Of what endured wars he was singing! If not to my mind it were set fixed and immovable not to wish to join myself to anyone in marriage bond, after my first love deceived disappointed me with death, if there had not been weariness of the marriage bed and torch, I was able to succumb to this one fault, perhaps. For I will admit it-Anna, after the fates of wretched Sychaeus, my husband, and Penates spattered with slaughter committed by a brother, this one alone has bent my feelings and pushed my slipping mind. I recognize the traces of the old flame. But I would first wish either that the lowest earth cleave open to me or the all-powerful father drive me to the shades with lightening, the pale shades in Erebus and the profound night, before I violate you, Shame, or I disperse your oaths. That man, who first joined me to himself, has stolen my loves; let that man have (them) with him and protect (them) in the grave." Thus having spoken, she filled her lap with risen tears.

(31) Anna responds, "O woman more cherished by her sister than the light, will you alone, mourning, be worn away in perpetual youth and know neither the sweet children of Venus nor her prizes? Do you believe that ash or sepulchral spirits care about this? So be it! no mates ever bent you in your illness, not in Libya not in Tyre before; Iarbus was scorned and the other leaders, whom Africa nourishes, a land rich in triumphs: will you fight still a pleasing love? Does it not come into your mind in whose fields you have settled? On this side the Gaetulian cities, a race unconquerable in war, and the unbridled Numidians and the inhospitable Syrtis surround; on that side a region wasted with drought and Barcaeans raging widely. What should I say about the wars rising from Tyre and the threats of your brother? I think with the gods as augers and Juno favorable the Trojan keeps held this course by the wind. What a city, this one you will see rise, sister, what kingdoms from such a marriage! With the arms of the Teucrians accompanying, with what great accomplishments Punic glory will lift itself! You only ask the gods for pardon, and, having made sacred offerings, indulge the guest and weave reasons for delaying, while the winter rages on the sea and Orion is rainy and the ships are shaken, while the sky is not manageable.

(54) With these things having been said, she inflamed her burning spirit with love and gave hope to a hesitating mind and released her shame. First they go to the shrines and seek peace through the altars; they sacrifice chosen sheep by custom to Ceres and Phoebus and father Lycaeus, to Juno before all, for whom are marriage bonds (for) a care. Most beautiful Dido herself, holding the bowl in her right hand, pours between the middle of the horns or the white cow, or before the faces of the gods approaches the rich altars and renews the day with gifts and, with the chests of the beasts opened, gazing, consults the breathing entrails. Alas, ignorant minds of seers! How do vows, how do shrines aid the maddened?

(67) Meanwhile a flame eats her soft marrows and a silent wound lives under her chest Unlucky Dido burns and wanders the whole city, raging, like a doe with a cast arrow, whom incautious among the Cretan woods from afar a shepherd hunting with his javelins has pierced and leaves the flying weapon unaware: that one in flight wanders the woods and Dictaean groves; the lethal shaft clings to her side. Now she leads Aeneas with her through the midst of her walls and shows off Sidonian wealth and her prepared city, she begins to speak and stops in the middle of her speech; now with the day slipping by she seeks the same banquets and demented demands to hear Trojan labors again and again she hangs from the lip of the narrator. After when they have left and the dark moon presses her light in turn and the falling stars persuade sleep, she alone grieves in the empty home and lies upon abandoned couches. Absent she both hears and sees that one absent, or with a groan she detains Ascanius, captured by the image of his father, (as) if she could deceive unspeakable love. Begun turrets do not rise, youth do not practice arms or prepare ports or safe defenses for war: interrupted works and huge threats of walls and machine equal to the sky hang down.

(90) Whom, as soon as the dear wife of Jove sensed that (she was) held with such disease and reputation did not prevent her madness, with such words Saturnia approaches Venus, "You and your boy take back outstanding praise indeed and ample spoils indeed--a great and memorable power--if one woman has been conquered by the trick of two gods. And truly it does not deceive me that you, fearing our walls, consider the homes of high Carthage as suspicious. But what will be the end, or to what purpose now (do we struggle) in such a contest? Why not rather we cultivate eternal peace and pledged weddings? You have what you sought with your whole mind: loving Dido burns and has drug madness through her bones. Therefore let us rule this people in common and with equal auspices; let it be permitted that she slave for a Phrygian husband and hand over Tyrians as dowry to your right hand."

(105) Thus--for she sensed that she spoke with pretended intention in order that she avert the kingdom of Italy to Libyan shores--in response to her Venus began, "Who, mad, would refuse such things or prefer to contend with you in war, if only fortune might follow as a deed what you recount? But I am tossed uncertain by the fates, if Jupiter wants there to be one city for Tyrians and those having set out from Troy or he approves that the people be mixed or pacts be joined. You are his wife, it is right for you to try his mind by asking. Go on, I will follow."

(115) Then thus queen Juno picked up, "That will be a labor for me. Now by what means what presses can be accomplished, I will teach in a few (words)--pay attention. Aeneas and most wretched Dido together prepare to go to the forest to hunt, when tomorrow's Titan will have brought out his first risings and uncovered the region with his rays. I will pour down on these from above a black cloud with hail mixed in, while the wings are beating and they circle the forest with the net, and I will rouse the whole sky with thunder. The companions will flee and be covered with dark night: Dido and the Trojan leader will come to the same cave. I will be there and, if your will is sure to me, I will join (them) in steady wedlock and I will call her his own. This will be a marriage." Not averse to the one seeking, Cytheria nodded and laughed at the found tricks.

(129) Meanwhile Aurora, rising, left Ocean. Chosen youth go from the ports at risen daylight; wide-meshed nets, traps, hunting spears with wide iron, and Massylian horsemen rush and the scenting force of dogs. The first of the Poeni await the queen, lingering at the threshold of her bedchamber, her horse stands (lit. the one making sounds with its feet, distinguished with purple and gold, and chomps the foaming harnesses fiercely. At last she advances, with a great crowd accompanying, wearing (lit. surrounded in respect to) a Sidonian cloak with embroidered border; whose quiver is gold, her hair is (lit. pl.) knotted in gold, gold pins fasten her purple clothes. And indeed (lit. not not) both the Phrygian companions and happy Iulus approach. Aeneas himself, most handsome before all others, brings himself in as an ally and unites the bands. As when Apollo leaves wintery Lycia and the streams of the Xanthus and visits maternal Delos and renews the chorus, and, mixed around the altars, both the Cretans and Dryopes and the painted Agathyrsi clamor; he himself steps along the ridges of Cynthus and, grooming, he presses his flowing hair with soft leaf and winds (it) with gold, his weapons sound on his shoulders: Aeneas was going hardly more sluggish than that one, just so his glory shines from his distinguished face. After it is come into the high mountains and pathless wilderness, look! wild goats dislodged from the top of the rock ran down from the ridges; from another part dusty herds of hind pass over open fields at a run and gather in flight and leave the mountains. But the boy Ascanius in the middle of the valleys rejoices in his fierce horse and pass by now these, now those at a run, and he hopes a foaming boar be given to his prayers among the helpless herds or that a tawny lion descend from the mountain.

Saturday, December 26, 2009

Aeneid 12.791-842 and 887-952

(791) Meanwhile the all-powerful king of Olympus speaks to Juno, viewing the fights from a yellow cloud, "What end will there now be, wife? What finally remains? You yourself know and admit you know that Aeneas is owed to the sky as a native god and is born by the fates to the stars. What do you construct? Or to what hope do you cling in the cold clouds? Was it right that a god be violated by a mortal wound? or that the rescued sword--for what might Juturna avail without you--be returned to Turnus and that strength grow for the conquered? Stop now at last and bend to our prayers lest such grief consume you in silence and your sad cares flow back to me often from your sweet mouth. It is come to the end. You have been able to drive the Trojans on the lands or the seas, to summon unspeakable war, to mar a home and to mix wedding songs with grief: I forbid that you try farther."

(807) Thus Jupiter began; thus the Saturnian goddess with downcast face in reply, "Since indeed that your will was known to me, great Jupiter, I unwillingly left Turnus and the lands; nor would you see me alone now in my airy seat enduring worthy (and) unworthy things, but I would stand, girt with flames, under the battle-line itself and drawing the Teucrians into the hostile battles. I persuaded Juturna--I admit it--to help her wretched brother and approved that she dare greater things for his life, yet not that she contend with arrows, not with the bow; I swear by the implacable head of the Stygian fountain, which one superstition there is for the gods above. And now I yield, indeed, and I abandon the fights in loathing. I beg of you that which is held by no law of fate, for Latium, for the majesty of your peoples: when now they will construct peace by happy marriages (so be it), when now they will join laws and treaties, do not order that the native Latins change their old name, nor that they become Trojans and be called Teucrians or that the men change their language or alter their clothes. Let Latium be, let there be Alban kings through the ages, let Roman offspring be powerful with Italian virtue: Troy has fallen and you should allow that it has fallen with its name.

(829) Smiling at her, the originator of men and things: "You are the twin sister of Jove and the other offspring of Saturn, you roll such waves of anger under your heart. But come and calm this rage begun in vain: I give what you want, and I both beaten and willingly submit myself. The Ausonians will hold paternal speech and manners, and, as is their name, (so) will it be; the Teucrians will subside, only mixed with the body. I will add custom and rites of the sacred and I will make all Latins with one face. Hence you will see the race which will rise, mixed with Ausonian blood, go above men, above gods in piety, and not any race will celebrate your honors equally." Juno assented to these and happily changed her mind; meanwhile she left the sky and left her cloud.


(887) Aeneas pursues, opposite, and brandishes his huge, tree-like spear, and speaks thus from his savage chest, "What now then is the delay? Or why now, Turnus, do you retreat? Not by running, but with savage arms it must be contended face-to-face. Turn yourself into every shape and summon whatever powers whether in spirits or art; wish to follow lofty stars by wings and hide yourself shut in the hollow earth."

(894) That one, shaking his head, "Your hot words do not frighten me, fierce one; the gods scare me, and Jupiter as my enemy." And not having said more, he catches sight of a huge rock, a huge ancient rock, which lay by chance in the field, a boundary placed in the field to settle disputes in the fields. Scarcely twice six chosen men could lift it to their neck such bodies of men does now the earth produce; that hero turned it seized with a trembling hand against the enemy, riding higher and having moved at a run. But he recognized himself neither running nor going nor lifting with his hand nor moving the huge rock; his knees slip; his icy blood congeals with cold. Then the man's stone itself, rolling through the empty air, neither covered the whole space nor struck a blow.

(908) And just as in dreams when languid rest has pressed eyes in the night we seem to want to extend eager courses in vain and in the middle of our trials we give way, ill; the tongue is not strong and known strength is lacking in the body, neither voice nor words follow: thus Turnus, by whatever virtue he sought a way, the dread goddess denies success. Then various feelings turn in his chest; he sees the Rutulians and the city and delays with fear and trembles at death pressing in, and he does not ever see either where he might snatch himself, nor by any strength he might hold against the enemy, nor his chariot or his sister charioteer.

(919) Aeneas shakes his deadly spear at the wavering one, having chosen fortune with his eyes, and he launches from a great distance with his whole body. Rocks impelled from a city-battering siege engine never roar thus nor do such crashes burst forth from lightening. Like a black whirlwind the spear bearing harsh death flies and pierced the layers of the breastplate and the outer rings of his seven-layered shield; hissing it passes through the middle of his thigh. Huge Turnus falls to the ground, struck, on bent knee. The Rutulians rise with a groan and the whole mountain groans around and the high woods send back the call widely.

(930) That man, a humble suppliant, stretching forth his eyes and entreating right hand, says, "Indeed I deserve this and I do not beg off; use your advantage (lit. lot). If any care of a wretched parent can touch you, I beg--such a father even was Anchises to you--pity old Daunus and return me to my people, or if your prefer, a body despoiled of the light. You have won and the Ausonians have seen me, conquered, stretching out my palms; Lavinia is your wife; do not reach farther in hate (lit. pl.).

(939) Aeneas stood fierce in arms, rolling his eyes, and he repressed his right hand; and now and now more he had begun to bend the hesitating man with his speech, when the unlucky baldric appeared on his high shoulder and the straps of the boy Pallas gleamed with the known studs, whom Turnus had laid low, beaten by his wound, and he was wearing the hostile emblem on his shoulders. That one, after he drank in with his eyes the monuments and spoils of savage grief, burned with furies and terrible with anger: "Are you, wearing the spoils of my people, to be ripped hence from me? Pallas with this wound, Pallas sacrifices you and takes punishment from evil blood." Saying this, he buries the sword under the chest opposite, boiling hot; but the limbs of that man are loosened with chill, and his life flees with a groan, indignant, down to the shades.

Aeneid 10.420-509

Whom thus Pallas seeks, having prayed before: “Give now luck and a path through the chest of tough Halaesus, father Thybrus, to the iron, which I poise, about to be sent. Your oak will have these weapons and the spoils of the man.” The god heard these words; while Halaesus protected Imaon the unlucky man gave his unarmed chest to the Arcadian spear.

(426) But Lausus, a huge part of the war, does not desert his troops, terrified by such slaughter of the man; first he destroys Abas, opposite, both the knot and the delayer of the battle. The offspring of Arcadia is laid low, the Etruscans (are cut down) and you, Teucrians, bodies not destroyed by the Greeks. The lines join battle with both equal leaders and strength; the rear columns close up and the crowd does not allow weapons and hands be moved. On this side Pallas presses and urges on, on that side Lausus opposes, and their age does not differ much, (both) excellent in form, but to whom Fortune denies return into the homeland. Yet not at all did the ruler of great Olympus allow those men to fight against the other (lit. themselves); soon their fates await them under a greater enemy.

(439) Meanwhile his gentle sister warns Turnus to aid Lausus, who cuts the middle of the line with his flying chariot. As he saw the allies, "It is time to cease from the fight; I alone am born against Pallas, Pallas is owed to me alone. I could wish that his parent himself was present as a witness." Thus he says, and the allies yielded from the ordered level (area). But then, at the withdrawal of the Rutulians, the youth, wondering at the proud commands, is astounded at Turnus and rolls his eyes over the huge body and goes over everything at the savage sight from afar, and with such words now he proceeds against the words of the tyrant: "Either I will be praised now for the best captured spoils or for an outstanding death: my father is equal to each lot. Remove your threats." Having spoken, he advances into the middle of the level (space); cold blood congeals in the hearts of the Arcandians. Turnus jumped down from his chariot, he readies his feet to go face to face; and as a lion, when from a high vantage-point he has seen a bull practicing for battles, standing afar in the plains, flies forth, hardly other is the image of Turnus coming.

(457) When he trusted that this man would be in range of his sent spear, Pallas went first, if in any way chance might aid him daring with unequal strength, and thus he speaks to the great sky, "Through the hospitality and tables of my father, which you have come to as a stranger, I pray to you, Hercules, (that) you be present for my huge undertakings. Let him see me seize the bloody arms from his half-dead self and let the dying eyes of Turnus endure (me) as victor." Hercules heard the youth and pressed a huge groan under his inmost heart and poured down empty tears. Then the father says to his son with friendly words, "His own day stands for each, there is a short and irretrievable time of life for all; but to extend fame by deeds, this is the work of virtue. Under the high walls of Troy so many sons of the gods fell, in fact Sarpedon fell at the same time, my son; his own fates call even Turnus, and he has arrived at the turning point of his given life." Thus he speaks and turns his eyes back tot he fields of the Rutulians. But Pallas sends out his spear with great strength and snatches his gleaming sword from its hollow sheath. That flying (spear) strikes where the top coverings of the shoulder rises and, forcing a ways through the layers of the shield, at last grazed off the great body of Turnus.

(479) Here Turnus throws the oak tipped with sharp iron at Pallas, long balancing, and thus speaks, "See whether our weapon is more piercing." He had spoken; but the shield--which so many coverings of iron, so many of bronze, a hide of bull, having encircled, surrounded so many times--with shuddering blow the spear-point pierced the middle and punctures the delays of the breastplate and his huge chest. That one snatches the hot weapon from the wound in vain: by one and the same path his blood and spirit follow. He collapses on his wound--his weapons gave a sound over (him)--and dying he seeks the ground with his bloody mouth.

(490) Over whom Turnus, standing, says, "Arcadians, remembering, take back these my words to Evander: I send back Pallas just as he deserved. Whatever honor of the tomb, whatever solace of burial there is, I bestow. Hardly little will hospitality for Aeneas cost him." And having said this he pressed the dead with his left foot, snatching the immense weight and engraved impiety of the baldric: under one nuptial night a band of young men foully slaughtered and bloody bedchambers, which Clonus son of Eurytus had engraved with much gold; having gotten which booty Turnus now celebrates and rejoices.

(501) Mind of men, unknowing of fate and future lot and how to keep measure, lifted up by favorable events! There will be a time for great Turnus when he will have wished that an untouched Pallas had been bought and when he will have hated those spoils and (that) day. But with a great groan and tears the allies thronging around bore back Pallas placed on a shield. O grief and great glory about to return to your father, this first day gave you to war, this same (day) bears you away, when yet you leave the huge heaps of Rutulians!

Thursday, December 3, 2009

Aeneid 2.730-804

And now I near the gates and seemed to have escaped every path, when suddenly a constant sound of feet seemed to be in my ears, and my father, looking forward through the shadow, exclaims, 'Son, flee, son; they are near; I see shining shields and flashing bronze.' Here some hostile (lit. badly friendly) power snatched away from me my confused mind. For while I follow the trackless way at a run and leave the known region of the paths, alas, unlucky Creusa, snatched by wretched fate, either stopped or she wandered from the path or she sank down exhausted--it is uncertain; she was neither returned afterward to our eyes, nor did I catch sight of her lost or bend back my mind before we came to the mound of ancient Ceres and her sacred seat. Here finally, with everyone collected, was that one missing, and she slipped away from her companions and child and husband. Whom of both men and the gods did I not accuse, crazed, or what crueler thing in the overturned city did I see?

(747) I entrust Ascanius and Anchises my parent and the Teucrian Penates to my allies and hide (them) away in the curved valley; I myself seek again the city and put on gleaming arms. It stands to renew all misfortunes and to return through all Troy and the subject my head again to the dangers. In the beginning I seek again the walls and the dark thresholds of the gate by which I had lead out my step, and I follow back tracks observed through the night and scan with my eye: everywhere the terror in my mind and the silence itself terrify me at the same time. Then I took myself home, if by chance, if by chance she had returned (there); the Greeks had invaded and held my whole house. Suddenly consuming fire rolls to the top peaks with the wind; the flames tower above, the heat rages to the airs. I advance and revisit the homes and citadel of Priam: and now in the empty porticos , the sanctuary of Iuno, chosen watchmen, Phoenix and hard ulysses, were protecting the booty. To this place from everywhere Trojan treasure, snatched from burning shrines is gathered, and the tables of the gods and mixing bowls of solid gold, and captured clothing. Boys and fearful mothers stand around in a long line.

(768) In fact I dared even to throw voices through the shadow and filled the streets with a clamor, and I called 'Creusa" in vain, mournful, groaning again and again. To me seeking and rushing to/from houses without end, the unlucky ghost of Creusa herself appeared before my eyes and the image, greater than as known. I stopped silent and my hair stood up and my voice clung in my throat. Then thus she spoke and lessened my cares with these words: 'Why is it pleasing to indulge so in insane grief, o sweet husband? These things do not happen without the will of the gods; and it is not right for you to carry Creusa as a companion hence, nor does the ruler himself of Olympus above allow (it). Long exiles and the vast water of the sea must be plowed by you, and you will come to Hesperia, where a Lydian Tiber flows among the best fields of men with a gentle line. There happy circumstances and a kingdom and a royal wife have been created for you; put aside tears for your cherishe Creusa. I will not see the proud homes of the Myrmidons or of the Dolopians nor will I go to serve Greek mothers, a Dardanian and daughter-in-law of the goddess Venus; but the great mother of the gods detains me on these shores. And now goodbye and keep the love of our common child.' When she gave these words, she left me crying and wishing to say many things, and receded into the thin breezes. Three times then I tried to put arms around her neck; three times in vain the grasped image fled my hands, equal to light winds, and most like a flying dream. Thus at last I revisit my allies, the night having been used up.

(796) And here I find a huge, astonishing number of new companions had streamed together, both mothers and men, the youth collected for exile, a wretched crowd. From everywhere they came together prepared in hearts and resources for whatever lands I should wish to lead them by the sea. And now Lucifer was rising from the ridges of highest Ida and was leading the day, and the Greeks were holding the besieged thresholds of the gates and not any hope of aid was given. I yielded and sought the mountains with my uplifted father.

Saturday, November 28, 2009

Aeneid 2.679-729

Shouting such things, the whole house filled with groaning, when a sudden portent, wondrous to speak of, arises. For between the hands and faces of his sad parents, look! a thin peak seemed to pour out light from the top of Iulus' head, and harmless flames (seemed) to lick his soft hair with a touch and to feed around his temples. We, terrified, rush around with fear both to cast off the burning hair and and to put out the sacred fires from their sources. But father Anchises happily lifted his eyes to the stars and held his hands to the sky (along) with his voice: 'All-powerful Jupiter, if you are bent by any prayers, see us, this so great thing, and, if we earn (it) by our piety, then give us help and confirm all these things, father.'

(692) Hardly had the too-old man said these things, and suddenly with a crash the left sounded, and from the sky a star, having slipped through the shadows, leading a fiery tail, ran with much light. We see that, sinking over the highest tops of the house, bury itself bright in the forest of Mt. Ida and marking the ways; then from the long path the trail gives light and widely around the places smoke with sulphur. Here indeed, my conquered father lifted himself to the airs and speaks to the gods and worships the holy star: 'Now, now there is no delay; I follow and where you lead I am there, gods of my fathers; save this house, save my grandson. Yours is this portent, in your power is Troy. I yield indeed a, child, I do not refuse to go as companion to you.' That man had spoken, and now a clearer fire is heard through the walls, and nearer the fires roll the heat waves.

(707) Therefore come, dear father, clasp our neck; I myself will place (you) on my shoulders and that labor will not weigh me down; wherever things will fall, one and common danger, one safety will be for us both. Little Iulus will be a companion to me, and my wife will guard my steps at a distance. You, household slaves, turn your thoughts to what I say. There is for those having left the city a mound and an old temple of deserted Ceres, and nearby an ancient Cypress, protected through the many years by the religion of my fathers; we will come into the one seat from diverse (directions). You, father, take the sacred items and our fathers' Penates in your hand; it is wrong that I touch (them) having come from such war and fresh slaughter until I have cleansed myself in flowing water.' Having said these things, I covered over my broad shoulders and lowered neck with a cloak and the tawny pelt of a lion, and advance to the burden; little Iulus joins himself to my right hand and follows his father with unequal steps; my wife comes up behind. We are born through the shadows of the places, and whom recently not any thrown weapon and not collected Greeks with hostile swarm, now every breeze terrifies me, every sound excites, anxious and fearing equally for my companion and my burden.

Aeneid 2.624-678

Then indeed all Ilium seemed to settle into fires and Neptunian Troy (seemed) to be turned from the bottom: and just as when in the tops of the mountains farmers in rivalry press to fell an ancient ash tree, cut by the iron and thick axe (blows), that (tree) threatens and, made to tremble, sways its foliage with shaken top, until, conquered little by little by its wounds, it groaned its last and dragged ruin, torn from the ridges. I descend and, with a god leading, I am sped among the flame and enemies: the weapons give way and the flames recede.

(634) And when now it had been arrived at the thresholds of my paternal seat and ancient homes, my father, whom I first hoped to lift into high mountains and first sought, he declined to lead on life with Troy destroyed and to endure exile. 'O you, who have blood untouched by age,' he says, 'and whose solid strength stands with its oak, you pursue flight. If the gods had wished me to lead on my life, they would have saved these abodes for me. We have seen one destruction, enough and more, and we have survived a captured city. Depart, o thus having addressed this corpse placed thus. I myself will find death by my hand; the enemy will pity (me) and seek spoils. The loss of burial is easy. For a long time now hated by the gods and, useless, I have delayed the years, from which the father of the gods and king of men breathed upon me with the winds of lightening and touched (me) with fire.'

(650) Recalling such things he stood firm and remained fixed. We, in response, drenched with tears, both my wife Creusa and Ascanius and the whole house, lest my father wish to turn over everything with him and add his weight to pressing doom. He refused and clings to his undertaking and the seats themselves. Again I am born into armor and most wretched hope for death. For what plan or what fortune was now given? 'Did you believe that I could retreat with you abandoned, father, and does such wrong fall from a father's mouth? If it pleases the gods that nothing be left from such a city and this sits in your mind and it pleases to add yourself and yours to ruined Troy, the door lies open to that death, and now Pyrrhus will be here from the copious blood of Priam, who kills a son before the face (lit. pl.) of a father and a father before the altars. This it was, dear parent, (for) what you snatch me through the weapons, through the fires, to see the enemy in the inner recesses and to see Ascanius and my father and Creusa nearby, (all) slaughtered, the one in the blood of the other? Arms, men, take arms; the last light calls the beaten. Return me to the Danaans; allow that I revisit renewed battles. Never will we all die unavenged today.

(671) Hence I put on my sword again and I inserted my left hand to the shield, fitting (it), and I bore myself outside my home. But look, my wife, having embraced my feet at the threshold and holding little Iulus to his father: 'If you go t die take us also into everything with you; but if having tried you put some hope in arms taken up, protect this home first. To whom little Iulus, to whom your father and I, once called your wife, am left?

Aeneid 2.559-623

But then first a savage horror surrounded me. I stood silent; the image of my dear father steals in as I saw a king of like age with a cruel wound, breathing out his life; abandoned Creusa steals in and my plundered home and the downfall of little Iulus. I look back and scan what force is around me. Everyone, weary, has left, and with a wretched leap gave sick bodies to the earth or to the fires.

(567) And now indeed I was one left, when I catch sight of Tyndareus' daughter watching over the thresholds of Vesta and, silent, hiding in the hidden abode; bright fires give light to one wandering and everywhere bearing eyes through everything. That one fearing Teucrians hostile to her on account of overturned Pergama and the punishment of the Danaans and the rages of her deserted husband, the common Erinys of Troy and her fatherland, she had hidden herself and hated was sitting upon the altars. Fires burned in my mind. Anger enters to avenge my falling fatherland and to exact criminal punishments. 'Surely this one will look upon Sparta, safe, and paternal Mycenae, she will go, a queen, with triumph won? She will see both husband and home, fathers and children, accompanied by a crowd of Trojan women and Phrygian ministers? Priam will have fallen by the sword? Troy will have burned with fire? The Dardanian shore will have been soaked so many times with blood? Not so. For even if there is no memorable name in the punishment of a woman and (this) victory has no praise, but I will be praised having killed (this) wrong and having taken merited punishments, and it will please to have filled my mind with avenging flame and to have satisfied the ashes of my people.'

(588) I was considering such things and with a crazed mind I was born, when my dear parent brought herself to me, not before so clear to my eyes, to be seen, and she gleamed in pure light through the night, revealed as a goddess and such and as great as she is accustomed to be seen by the gods, she held me, seized with her right hand, and with rosy mouth she adds these things in addition, 'Child, what such great grief rouses untamable angers? Why do you rage? Or to what place does your care for ours retreat you? WIll you not first see where you left Anchises, your parent weary with age, does your wife Creusa and the boy Ascanius survive? Around all of whom the Greek battle-lines wander and unless my care makes a stand now flames would have born (away) and a hostile sword would have drained. The face of the Laconian daughter of Tyndareus is not hateful to you nor is Paris to blame, the harshness of the gods, of the gods, overturns these resources and lays low Troy from the zenith. Look--for I will tear away the whole cloud which now having covered the one viewing dim your mortal sights and, damp, make clouds around; you do not fear any orders of your parent not refuse to obey her commands--here, when you see the divided masses and rocks torn from rocks, surging smoke with mingled dust, Neptune shakes the walls and foundations moved with his great trident and overthrows the whole city from its seats. Here Scaean Juno, most savage, girt with a sword, first holds the gates and, raging, calls the allied line from the ships. Now Tritonian Pallas sits on the highest citadels, look, gleaming from a cloud and savage with her Gorgon. The father himself gives courage to the Danaans and second strength, he himself stirs the gods against Dardanian arms. Seize flight, child, and put an end to your work; I will never be absent and I will set you safe on your father's threshold.' She had spoken and hid herself in the thick shadows of the night. Harsh faces appear and the great powers of the gods, hostile to Troy.

Aeneid 2.506-58

Perhaps you also ask what were the fates of Priam. When he saw the fall of his captured city and the uprooted thresholds of his homes and the enemy amidst in the innermost chambers, long too old in vain he puts unaccustomed arms and useless sword on shoulders trembling with age, and is born about to die into the dense enemy. In the middle of the shrines and under the bare axle of the sky was an altar, huge and encircled close by the Penates. Here Hecuba and her daughters around the altars in vain, like doves headlong from the dark storm, sat crowded together and clinging to the images of the gods. But with youthful arms having been taken up, as she saw Priam himself, she said 'what so hard a mind, most wretched husband, forced (you) to put on these weapons? or to where do you rush? The time is not needing such aid nor such defenders: not if now my Hector himself were present. To this at least yield: this altar will protect all, or you will die simultaneously (with us).' This having spoken with his mouth, she received him to herself and put the old man on the sacred seat.

(526) But look, Polites having slipped from the slaughter of Pyrrhus through the weapons, through the weapons, one of the sons of Priam flees from the long porticos and, wounded, seeks the empty atriums. Pyrrhus, burning, attacks that man with a hostile wound, now and already he holds by hand and presses with the spear. When at last he escaped before the eyes and faces of his parents he fell and poured out his life with much blood. Here Priam, although held already in the middle of death, however did not hold back and did not spare his voice and anger; he shouts, 'But for the crime for such reckless acts may the gods pay you back worthy thanks and return owed rewards, if there is any piety in the sky which cares for such things, who made me openly see the death of my child and befouled a fathers face (lit. pl.). But that Achilles, from whom you falsely claim you were born, was not such to Priam in enmity; but he blushed at the rights and faith of a suppliant and returned the bloodless body of Hector to a tomb and sent me back into my kingdoms.' Thus the too old man spoke and threw his feeble spear without a blow, which was straightway repulsed by the raucous bronze and in vain hung from the high boss of the shield. To whom Pyrrhus: ' Therefore you will bear back these (words) and a messenger you will go to my father, son of Peleus. Remember to tell that man my sad deeds and (of) the degenerate Neoptolemus. Now die.' Saying this, he drug him trembling to the altars himself and slipping in the plentiful (lit. much) blood of his son, and wound his hair in his left hand, and with his right he brought out his flashing sword and buried (it) as far as the hilt in his side. This was the end of the fates of Priam, this end bore him away by lot, seeing Troy burned and Pergama collapsed, once the proud ruler of so many peoples and lands of Asia. He throws the huge trunk on the shore and the head torn from his shoulders and the body without a name.

Aeneid 2.453-505

There was a threshold and hidden doors and a utility passage between (lit. among themselves) the homes of Priam, and doorposts remote in the back, by which unlucky Andromache more often was accustomed to bear herself, unaccompanied, while the royal powers remained, to her in-laws and used to bring the boy Astyanax to his grandfather. I escape to the steps of the high summit, whence the wretched Teucrians were throwing vain weapons by hand. With my sword having attacked around the turret standing at the precipice and rising up under the stars from the highest roofs, whence all Troy and the ships of the Danaans and the Achaean camps were accustomed to be seen, by which the highest floors give shaky joints, we uproot from the high seats and overthrew (it); this, having slipped suddenly brought ruin and a sound and fell over the lines of the Danaans widely. But others come up; neither the rocks nor any tribe of weapons meanwhile cease.

(469) Before the vestibule itself and on the first threshold, Pyrrhus exults, flashing with spears ad bright bronze: as when a snake, having fed on evil grasses, which winter covered, swollen, under the cold earth, now, new with skins put aside and shining with youthfulness, rolls slippery backs, lofty with chest lifted to the sun, and flickers with forked tongues in his mouth. Together huge Periphas and driver of Achilles' horses, armor-bearer Automedon together with the whole Scyrian youth advance to the roof and throw flames to the gables. He himself among the first bursts the hard thresholds wiht a snatched double-axe and tears the bronze doorposts from the hinge; and now, with the beam split, he cuts through stout oak and gave a huge window with a wide mouth. The inner home appears and the long atriums are revealed; the innermost recesses of Priam and your kings are exposed and they see armed men standing in the first threshold. But the inner home is mixed with groaning and wretched tumult, and deep within the hollow rooms howl with womanly lamentations; the clamor strikes the golden stars. Then fearful mothers wander in the huge homes and, having embraces the doorposts, hold on and press kisses. Pyrrhus presses on the fatherland with violence; neither the bolts nor guards themselves prevail to endure; the door slips with bronze ram, and the dislodged doorposts lean forward on the hinge. The way is made by force; the admitted Danaans burst the approaches and slaughter the first men and fill places with extensive soldiery. Not thus, when a frothy stream goes out of broken banks and overwhelms opposing barriers with the whirlpool, raging with a wave it is born into the fields and through all the plains and drags the hers with the stables. I myself saw Neoptolemus raging with slaughter and the twin sons of Atreus on the threshold, I saw Hecuba and the hundred daughters-in-law and Priam amid altars befouled with blood, which fires he himself had consecrated. Those fifty bedchambers, such great hope of descendants, doorposts with barbarian gold and proud with spoils lean down; the Danaans hold where fire falls short.

Aeneid 2.402-52

Alas it is not at all right for anyone to trust unwilling gods! Look! Cassandra, the maiden daughter of Priam was being dragged, with her hair spread out, from the temple and shrines of Minerva, holding fiery eyes to the sky in vain, eyes, for bonds confine her tender palms. Coroebus did not bear this sight, with a crazed mind, and throws himself into the middle of the line of battle, about to die; we all follow and rush into the dense weapons. Here first from the high summit of the shrine we are ruined by the weapons of our men and a most wretched slaughter arises because of the form of our arms and the error of the Greek crests. Then the Danaans attack, with a lament and anger over the stolen maiden, having gathered from all over, most fierce Ajax and the twin sons of Atreus and the whole army of the Dolopians: as once opposing winds with a burst whirlwind clash, both the Zephyr and the Notus and the fertile Eurus with eastern horses; the woods shriek and foamy Nereus rages with his trident and stirs the seas from the lowest depth(s). Those also appear, if we rout and rouse anyone from ambush in the dark night through the shadow in the whole city; the first recognize the shields and lying spears and notice different voices by the tone. Immediately we are rushed upon by the number, and Coroebus first falls upon the right hand of Peneleus at the altar of the warlike goddess; and Rhipeus falls, who was the most just one among the Teucrians and the greatest protector of right (it seemed to the gods otherwise); both Hypanis and Dymas die, pierced by their allies; and your very great piety and the fillets of Apollo did not protect you, dying, Panthus. Trojan ashes and last fires of my people, I swear, in your fall I avoided neither spears nor any exchanges of the Danaans, and if the fates had been that I fall, I had earned it by (my) hand. Then we were torn away, Iphitus and Pelias with me (of whom Iphitus heavier now with age, and Pelias slow with a wound of Ulysses) called straightaway to the homes of Priam by a clamor.

(438) Here indeed we saw a huge battle, as if other battles were nowhere, in the whole city no one linger, (we saw) untamed Mars and Danaans rushing tot he roofs and the threshold besieged with driven tortoise. Ladders cling to the walls, and under the posts themselves they strive on the steps; they put up shields against the spears, covered by their left hands, they grasp the gables with their right hands. The Dardanians in return pluck up the towers and the whole roofs of the houses; with these weapons, because they see the last things, they prepare to defend themselves now at the brink of death, and they roll down golden beams, high glories of old ancestors; others with drawn swords sit on the lowest gates, they preserve these with a dense line. Renewed spirits run to help the houses of the king and to relieve men with aid and add force to the beaten.

Friday, November 27, 2009

Aeneid 2.356-401

Thus fury has been added to the spirits of the youths. Then as plundering wolves in a black cloud, whom a wicked hunger of the belly has driven out and the abandoned pups await with dry jaws, through spears, through enemies we forge into hardly dubious death and we hold a journey for the middle of the city. Black night encircles with empty shadow. Who in telling might unfold the slaughter of that night, the deaths, or who could equal the labors with tears? The ancient city rushes down, having ruled through many years; very many lifeless bodies are strewn through the streets everywhere and through the homes and the sacred thresholds of the gods. And not only Teucrians give punishment with blood; sometimes also courage returns in the hearts of the conquered (dat. pos.) and conquering Danaans fall. Cruel grief is everywhere, everywhere is panic and very great image of death.

(370) First Androgeos offers himself to us, with a great crowd of Danaans accompanying, trusting allied bands unknowing, and he addresses voluntarily with friendly words: 'Hurry, men! For what so late sluggishness delays? Others seize and carry burn Pergama: do you come now first from the lofty ships?' He spoke and immediately (for not faithful enough responses were given) he sensed that he had slipped into the middle of the enemies. He stood silent ad pressed his foot backward with his voice. As one who has pressed upon an unseen snake in the rough briars, stepping upon the ground, and fearful immediately flees back from the one lifting his ires and swelling his greenish-blue necks; hardly otherwise does Androgeos, trembling at the sight, went back. We rush in and are surrounded by the dense arms, and we lay low everywhere those ignorant of the place and captured by fear: Fortune breathes upon our first labor. And here Corobeus, reveling in success and his spirits, says, 'O allies, where first Fortune shows the way for safety, and where a right/favorable hand offers itself, let us follow: let us change shields and let us fit the emblems of the Danaans to ourselves. Trick or courage, who asks in war (lit. enemy)? They themselves will give the weapons.' Thus having spoken, then he puts on the plumed helmet of Androgeos and the noble emblem of his shield and he fits the Argive sword to his side. Rhipeus does this, Dymas himself and the whole happy band of youth does this: each arms himself with recent spoils. We advance, mixed with the Danaans, hardly by our own power, and through the blind night we join many battles, having attacked, we send many of the Danaans to Orcus. Some flee to the ships and seek trusted shores at a run; others (lit. some) climb the huge horse again with shameful fear and hide in the known belly.

Aeneid 2.298-355

Meanwhile, the walls are mixed with diverse grief, and more and more, although the home of his parent Anchises, secluded and covered by trees, is set back, sounds grow loud and the horror of weapons threatens. Shaken from sleep, I both go up to the gables of the top of the house by climbing and stand with alert ears: as when flame falls upon a field of wheat with the raging South Winds, or a rapid torrent lays low the fields with mountain river, it lays low rich crops and the labors of the oxen and drags the forests headlong; the unknowing shepherd stands silent at the high peak of a rock, taking in the sound. Then indeed faith is clearly visible, the tricks of the Danaans are evident. Now spacious home of Deiphobus gave to ruin with Vulcan conquering, now neighboring Ucalegon burns; the wide Sigean straits light up with fire. both a clamor of men and a crying of crowds arise. Out of my mind, I take arms and there is not enough reason in weapons, but minds burn to join bands in war and run together in the citadel with allies; madness and anger cast down the mind, and it occurs that it is beautiful to die in arms.

(318) But look, Panthus, having slipped from the weapons of the Acheans, Panthus son of Othryas, priest of the citadel and of Phoebus, himself drags the sacred items with his hand and conquered gods and his little grandson and, out of his mind, he clings to the threshold in his run. 'In what place is the decisive struggle, Panthus? What stronghold do we hold?' Hardly had I spoken these things, when with a groan her responds: 'The final day and inescapable time of Dardania has come. We were Trojans, Ilium was and the huge glory of the Teucrians; savage Jupiter has turned everything over to Argos; the Danaans are in control in the kindled city. The lofty horse, standing in the middle of the walls, pours out armed men, and the victorious Sinon scatters fires, jeering. Some are at the wide open gates, as many thousands ever came from great Mycenae; others besiege the narrows of the streets with opposed spears; the line of battle, stripped of iron, stands with shaking sword-point, prepared to die; hardly do the first watchmen of the gates try battles and resit blind Mars.'

(336) With such words of the son of Othryas and with the will of the gods I am born into flames and into weapons, where the sad Erinys, where the roar calls and the clamor lifted tot he airs. Rhipeus and Epytus, greatest in arms, add themselves as allies, presented through the moon, both Hypanis and Dymas alson join our side, and the youth Coroebus, son of Mygdon--in those days by chance he had come to Troy, burned by mad love for Cassandra, and he was bringing aid as a son-in-law to Priam and the Phrygians, the unlucky fellow who did not hear the orders of his promised! To whom, when I saw those gathered and daring for battle, I began moreover with these (words): 'Youths, bravest hearts in vain, if you have a certain eagerness to follow me daring last thing, you see what fortune the circumstances have, the gods by whom this power had stood have all left, with the shrines and altars having been left; you run to aid a kindled city. Let us die and let us rush into the middle of the weapons. The one safety for the beaten is to hope for no safety.'

Aeneid 2.250-297

Meanwhile the sky turns and night rushes from the Ocean, covering both the earth and the sky and the tricks of the Myrmidons with a great shadow; spread out through the walls, the Teucrians were silent; sleep embraces their weary limbs. And now the Argive phalanx, with the ships drawn up, went from Tenedos through the friendly silence(s) of the quiet moon, seeking known shores, when the royal ship had lifted the torches, and Sinon, defended by the unfair fates of the gods secretly frees the Danaans, shut in the belly, and the pine bolts. The horse, laid open, returns those men to the airs and happily they bring themselves forth from the hollow oak, Thessandrus and Sthenelus, the leaders, and hard Ulysses, having slipped along the let-down rope, and Acamas and Thoas and the son of Peleus, Neoptolemus, and first Machaon and Menelaus and Epeos himself, the builder of the horse. They invade a city buried in sleep and wine; the watchmen are slaughtered, and with the gates having been opened, they receive all their allies and join knowing lines of battle.

(268) It was the time in which first rest begins for weary mortals and by gift of the gods most pleasingly winds. Behold, in dreams most sad Hector seemed to me to be present before my eyes and to pour our great tears, snatched by the two-horse chariot as once (he was), and black with bloody dust and pierced through his swelling feet (by) thongs—ah me, such as he was so much was he changed from that Hector who returns clothed in the spoils of Achilles or having thrown Phrygian fires at the ships of the Danaans!—bearing a dirty beard and hair stiff with blood and those very many wounds which he received around the paternal walls. Weeping, voluntarily he himself seemed to address the man and to bring out sad voices: o light of Dardania, o most faithful hope of the Teucrians, what such great delays have held (you)? From what shores, awaited Hector, do you come? How weary do we behold you after many deaths of your people, after changing labors of the men and city! What unworthy cause befouled your calm face (lit. faces)? Or why do I see these wounds? That man (responds) nothing, and does not delay over me asking empty things, but gravely leading groans from his deepest chest says, ‘Alas, flee, one born from a goddess, and snatch yourself from these flames. The enemy has the walls; Troy rushes from her high summit. Enough has been given to the fatherland and to Priam: if Pergama could have been defended by a right hand, it would have been defended even by this one, Troy entrusts her sacred items and her Penates to you; take these as companions of your fates, seek great walls for these which you will set up finally with the sea having been wandered over.’ Thus he speaks and brings with his hands the fillets and powerful Vesta and the eternal fire form the innermost shrines.

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Aeneid 2.199-249

Here something greater and much more to be trembled at is presented to the wretched and disturbs unforeseeing hearts. Laocoon, priest of Neptune, chosen by lot, was sacrificing a huge bull at the traditional altars. But look! twin snakes with huge coils—I shudder in recalling—press upon the sea from Tenedos through the tranquil deep and the strive equally for the shore; whose raised chests and bloody crests tower over the waves, part skims over the sea in the rear and winds backs immense with the roll. A sound arises from the salty foam; and now they make for the fields and, suffused with blood and fire in respect to their burning eyes, they lick hissing mouths with vibrating tongues. We flee, bloodless at the sight. Those in a certain battle line seek Laocoon; and first having embraced the little bodies of his two sons, each serpent enfolds and feeds upon their wretched limbs with a bite; afterwards they seize and with huge coils bind him coming up with aid and bearing spears; and now having embraced twice around the middle, having put scaly backs twice around his neck, they tower over with their head(s) and high necks. That one at the same time struggles to rip away the knots with his hands, drenched at his fillets with bloody gore and black venom, at the same time he lifts terrible shouts to the stars—like bellowing(s) when a wounded bull flees the altar and has shaken the unsure axe from its neck. But the twin dragons with a slip flee to the high shrines and seek the citadel of savage Tritona, protected under the feet of the goddess and under the orb of her shield.

(228) Then a new fear winds its way into trembling hearts, and they say Laocoon, deserving, paid for his crime, who harmed the sacred oak with the spear-point and hurled the criminal spear into its back. They shout that the image must be lead into the shrines and the powers of the goddess must be entreated. We divide the walls and open the fortifications of the city. All gird themselves for the work and put the slipping of wheels under the feet, and stretch flaxen ropes to the neck; the deadly machine climbs the walls, pregnant with weapons. Boys and unwed girls sing sacred (songs) around it and rejoice to touch the rope with a hand; that (machine) steals in and threatening slips into the middle of the city. O fatherland, o home of the gods, Ilium, and walls of the Dardanians, famous in war! Four times it stuck on the very threshold of the gate and four times the weapons gave a sound in the belly; yet we press on, heedless and blind with madness, and we set the unhappy monster upon the sacred citadel. Then even Cassandra opens her mouth(s) to future fates, by the order of the god never believed by the Teucrians. We, wretched ones, for whom that day was the last, veil the shrines of the gods with festive foliage throughout the city.

Saturday, November 14, 2009

Aeneid 2.152-198

He had spoken. That man, instructed by tricks and Greek art, he lifted palms stripped of chains to the stars, “I swear to you, eternal fires, and your inviolable divine power,” she says, “you altars and unspeakable swords which I fled, and fillets of the gods, which I endured as a sacrifice: it is right for me to break the sacred oaths of the Greeks, it is right to hate the men and bear everything to the airs, if they cover anything, and I am not held by the fatherland or any laws. You, saved Troy, only abide by your promises and serve faith, if I will tell the truth, if I will weigh out great things. All hope of the Danaans and the faith of the begun war always stood in the aid of Pallas. But for from which (time) impious Diomedes and Ulysses the inventor of the crimes proceeded to tear away the deadly Paladium from the sacred temple, the guards of the highest citadel having been killed, they snatched the sacred image with bloody hands, having dared to touch the maiden fillets of the goddess, from that (time) the collapsed hope of the Danaans flowed and was born back, the mind of the goddess was hostile. Nor Tritonia gave these signals with unambiguous signs. Scarcely was the image placed in the camp, flashing fires burned from her excited eyes, and a salty sweat went through its limbs, and three times—wondrous to say—it sprang to the ground itself, bearing its shield and trembling spear. Immediately Calchas sings that the sea must be tried by flight and that Pergama cannot be destroyed by Argive spears unless they recover everything in Argos and bring back the divine power (which they carried with them on the sea in ships and now as to that fact they have sought paternal Mycenas by the wind, they prepare weapons and gods as companions, and with the sea re-traversed, they will be present unforeseen); thus Calchas interprets everything.

(183) Warned, they set up this image for the Palladium, for the injured divine power, which would expiate the sad impiety. Calchas ordered, however, that they lift this high mass with woven oak and lead (it) to the sky lest it could be taken into the gates or lead into the walls, least it protect a people under ancient religion. For if your hand would have violated the gifts of Minerva, then it would be a great ruin for the power of Priam and Phrygia (which omen may the gods first send upon himself); but if with your hands it would have climbed into your city, voluntarily with great war Asia would come to the walls of Pelops and these fates would remain for our grandsons.” With such tricks and lying art of Sinon the matter was believed, and (we were) captured by tricks and forced tears, whom neither Diomeder nor Larisaean Achilles, not ten years, not a thousand ships tamed.

Friday, November 13, 2009

Aeneid 2.105-51

Then indeed we burn to know and seek the causes, unaware of such crimes and of Greek art. He describes in detail, in a state of fear, and with pretend heart says: “Often the Greeks wanted to plan flight with Troy left behind wearily leave the long war; would that they had done so! Often harsh winter cut them off from the sea and Auster frightened them going. Especially when now this woven horse stood with maple beams, the clouds sound in the whole sky. In suspense we sent Eurypylum to learn the oracles of Phoebus, and he reports these sad words from the shrines: (116) ‘You pleased the winds with blood and slaughtered maiden, as soon as you came to Ithican shores, Danaans; returns must be sought with blood and must be atoned or with an Argive life.’ When this (lit. which) voice came to the ears of the crowd, their spirits were silent and a cold terror ran down through their inmost bones for whom the fates prepare, whom Apollo demands. Here the Ithacan with a great tumult drags the prophet Calchas forward into the middle; he demands what these powers of the gods are. And for me now many were singing the cruel wickedness of the devisor and quietly saw the things coming. Twice five days that man is silent and covered he refuses to betray with his voice or to expose anyone to death. (128) Scarcely, finally, driven by the great shouts of the Ithacan, he broke into voice as agreed and marks me for the altar. Everyone burned and what each one feared for himself, they brought the reversal upon the ruin of one wretch. And now the unspeakable day was at hand; the sacrifices were prepared for me and the salted grains and the fillets around my temples. I snatched myself from death, I admit it, and I broke the bonds, and in a reedy lake through the night I concealed myself, dark in the sedge, until they gave sails, if by chance they would have given (them). Neither was there now any hope of seeing my ancient fatherland nor my sweet children and hoped for father, from whom perhaps those men will demand punishment for our escape, and they will expiate this crime by the death of the wretched. But I beg you through the gods and divine powers conscience of truth, through if there is any pure faith which remains still ever for mortals, pity such labors, pity a spirit bearing unworthy things.”

(145) We give life to these tears and pity of our own accord. Priam himself first orders the manacles and tight chains lifted from the man and speaks thus with friendly words: "Whoever you are, from here now forget your lost Greeks--you are ours--and relate these true words to the one asking: for whom did you build this mass of a huge horse? Who is the creator? Or what do they seek? What religion? Or what machine of war?"

Aeneid 2.57-104

Look, meanwhile Trojan herdsmen with a great shout were dragging to the king a youth bound at his hands behind his back, who of his own accord had thrust himself, unknown to those coming, to set in place this very thing and to open Troy to the Argives, trusting in his courage and prepared for either outcome, whether to implement his trick or to fall to certain death. From all sides the Trojan youth, having poured around with an eagerness to see, rush in and strive to mock the captive. Receive now the tricks of the Danaans and learn about them all from one crime. For, agitated in the middle of the survey, as he stood unarmed and looked around the Phrygian battle lines with his eyes, he said, “Alas who earth now, what waters can receive me? Or what now finally remains for wretched me, for whom (there is) not any place among the Danaans and besides the hostile Trojans themselves demand punishment with blood?” With this (lit. which) groan our minds were turned, and every attack was suppressed. We urge him to tell from what blood he was born and what he endured; he should remember what faith there is for a captive.

(76) That man says these things, at last with fear having been set aside: “I will say all true things indeed to you, king, whatever will be,” he says, “and I will not deny that I am from the Argive race. This first, and if wicked Fortune made Sinon wretched, yet she did not make him empty and lying. If by chance some name of Palamedes son of Belus has come to your ears in the telling and his glory famous by rumor, whom under a false betrayal the Greeks sent down to be killed, innocent of an unspeakable charge because he was trying to avoid the wars, now they mourn the one bereft of the light: to that man hither my poor father sent me as a companion and one close in blood-kinship into arms from the first years. While safe in kingship and the assemblies of the kings he was flourishing, we even bore some name and glory. Afterward, by the envy of deceitful Ulysses (hardly do I mention unknown things) he withdrew form the shores above, afflicted I drew out a life in shadows and grief and I resented the downfall of my innocent friend. Nor, mad one, was I silent, and if any chance had brought (it about), if ever I were to return as victor to paternal Argos, I would have offered myself an avenger, and I moved harsh hatred with my words. Hence was the first taint of evil for me, hence always Ulysses terrorized with new crimes, hence he sprinkled devious words in the crowd and guilty (aware) he sought weapons. For he did not rest until with Calchas as an accomplice—but moreover why do I go over again these unpleasant things in vain, or why do I delay? If you have all Argives in one class, and this is enough to hear, take already take your revenge: the Ithacan wants this and the sons of Atreus would buys for a great price.”

Aeneid 2.1-56

Everyone became silent and intently held their mouths; then father Aeneas from the high couch thus began to speak, “You order me to renew unspeakable grief, queen, how the Danaans rooted up the Trojan wealth and pitiable kingdom, and what most wretched things I saw and a great part of which I was. Who of the Myrmidons or the Dolopians or a soldier of hard Ulysses in telling such things might restrain (themselves) from tears? And now humid night plunges from the sky and the falling stars persuade sleep. But if there is such passion to learn of our misfortunes and briefly hear the last labor of Troy, although the mind shudders to remember and flees from the grief, I will begin.

(13) Broken by war and driven back by the fates, the leaders of the Danaans, with so many years already slipping by, build a horse like a mountain by the divine art of Pallas and weave ribs with cut fir-wood; they pretend (it is) a vow for their return; this rumor roams. Here in the gloomy flank they secretly shut in the select bodies of men, having drawn lots, and fill the huge caverns and the belly with an army. Tenedos is in site, an island most famous by reputation while the riches of power and the kingdom of Priam remained, now only a bay and a anchorage for ships, hardly trusted for ships; carried forth to this place they hide themselves on the deserted shore; we thought that they had left and had sought Mycenas by the wind.

(26) Therefore all Teucria frees itself from long grief. The gates are opened; it pleases to go and see the Doric camp and the deserted places and the abandoned shore: here (was) the band of the Dolopians, here savage Achilles held; here the place for the ships, here they were accustomed to strive in the battle line. Part were astounded at the deadly gift for unwed Minerva and wonder at the mass of the horse; first Thymoetes urges that it be lead between the walls and placed on the citadel, whether by a trick or now thus the fates of Troy were leading. But Capys, and (those) whose mind held a better thought, order either that (we) hurl down the treachery of the Danaans to the sea and (we) burn the suspected gifts with flames placed under or that (we) bore through and try the hidden hollows of the belly. The uncertain crowd is split in contrary factions.

(40) First then before all, with a great crowd attending, ardent Laocoon runs from the top of the citadel and (shouts) from afar, “O wretched citizens, what is this so geat madness? Do you believe that the enemies have sailed away? Or do you think that any gifts of the Danaans lack tricks? Thus is Ulysses known? Either Achaeans lie hidden, enclosed in this wood, or this is a siege engine built against our walls, about to observe our homes and come over the city, or some other trick lies hidden; do not trust the horse, Teucrians. Whatever it is, I fear the Danaans, even bearing gifts.” Thus having spoken, he twisted his huge spear with powerful strength into the side and into the belly curved with joins of iron. That stood quivering, with the belly having been struck the hollow caverns sounded and gave a groan. And, if the fates of the gods, if their mind had not been unfavorable, he would have driven (us) to pollute the Argive hiding-places with the sword and Troy would now stand, you, lofty citadel of Priam, would remain.

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Aeneid lines 1.494-519

While these wondrous things are seen by Dardanian Aeneas, while he gapes and clings, fixed on one view, the queen, Dido, most beautiful in shape, approaches the temple with a great thronging crowd of youths. As Diana on the banks of the Eurota or through the ridges of the Cynthus trains her choruses, (around) whom a thousand following Oreads gather on this side and that; that one bears a quiver on her shoulder and proceeding towers above all the goddesses (joys possess the quiet heart of Latona): such was Dido, the joyful woman bore herself such, urging on the work and future kingdoms through the middle of the men. Then in the doors of the goddess, in the middle of the vault of the temple, she sits enclosed by weapons and resting on a throne loftily. She was giving orders and laws to men, and she was equalizing the labor of the works with fair shares or drawing by lot: when suddenly Aeneas sees Antheus and Sergestus and brave Cloanthus and other Teucrians approaching in a great crowd, whom a black storm had driven apart on the sea and had born away wholly to other shores. He himself at once stood agape, Achates at the same time astounded both by joy and by fear; eager to join right hands they burned, but the unknown situation perplexes their spirits. They keep themselves hidden (lit. they disguise) and watch wrapped in a hollow cloud what fortune the men have, on what shore they leave the fleet, why they come; for, chosen from all the ships, they were going, asking favor and seeking the temple with a clamor.

Aeneid lines 1.411-45

But Venus encloses those proceeding with a dark mist, and the goddess surrounds (them) with a great wrap of cloud, lest any can see or touch them or effect delay or demand the reasons of their coming. She herself goes to Paphos and happily revisits her own seats, where she has a temple, and a hundred altars burn with Sabaean incense and are fragrant with fresh garlands.

Meanwhile they seized a way by which a path shows (itself). And now were climbing the hill, which hangs large over the city and faces the opposite heights from above. Aeneas wonders at the mass, once huts, he wonders at the gates and noise and pavements of the streets. The eager Tyrians press on: part lead the walls and make the citadel and roll stones up with their hands, part choose the spot for a house and enclose (it) with a trench; the choose laws and magistrates and a holy senate. Here some excavate ports; here others place the foundations for theaters and they cut huge columns from cliffs, lofty ornaments fro future backgrounds. As work exercises bees in early summer through flowery country districts under the sun, when they lead out the adult offspring of the race, or when the stuff liquid honeys and stretch the cells with sweet nectar, or they receive the burdens of those coming, or, the column having been formed, they keep off the drones, lazy herd, from the hives; the labor teems and the sweet-smelling honeys are fragrant. “O blessed ones, whose walls already rise!” Aeneas says and looks up at the summits of the city. Enclosed by a cloud he bears himself through the middle of the men and mixes with men and is not perceived by anyone. There was a grove in the middle of the city, most productive of shade, in which spot the Poeni, tossed by the waves and whirlwind, first excavated a token which royal Juno had shown, the head of a spirited horse; for thus the race would be outstanding in war and easy in victory through the ages.

Aeneid lines 1.142-196

Thus he speaks, and, more swiftly than his having spoken, he calms the swelling waters and routs the gathered clouds and leads back the sun. Cymothoe and Triton at the same time dislodge the ships from the sharp rock; (Neptune) himself lifts with his trident and opens the vast reefs and controls the sea and glides over the top of the waters with light wheels. And just as in a great people when often a riot has arisen and the common crowd rages in their spirits and now torches and rocks fly, madness supplies weapons; then, they are quiet and stand with alert ears if by chance they have caught sight of some man weighty with piety and merits; that man rules their spirits with words and soothe their hearts: thus the whole uproar of the sea subsided, after the father, looking out on the waters and conveyed in an open cloud guides his horses and, flying, gives reins to his obedient chariot.

{157} The weary men of Aeneas strive with speed to seek the shores which (are) nearest, and they are turned to the shores of Libya. There is a place in a long inlet: an island makes a port by an overhang of the sides, by which all from the sea is broken, and a wave divides itself into receding waves. On this side and that (there are) vast cliffs and twin rocks tower into the sky, under the summit of which safe waters are widely silent; then (there is) a stage above with quivering woods, and a black wood threatens with bristling shade. Under the face opposite (is) a cave with hanging rocks; (there are) sweet streams within and seats in living rock, the home of Nymphs. Here no (lit. not any) chains hold weary ships, anchor does not bind with curved bite. Aeneas comes upon this place with seven ships having been gathered from his whole number, and with great love of land the Trojans, having disembarked, gain possession of wished-for sand and put limbs dripping with salt upon the shore. As soon as possible Achates struck out a spark from the flint and caught the fire with leaves and gave dry fuel around and seized the flame in tinder. Then those weary of their circumstances prepare grain spoilt by the waves and the utensils of Ceres, and they prepare both to roast recovered grains with flames and break (them) with a rock.

{180} Aeneas meanwhile climbs the cliff and seeks widely the whole view over the sea, if he might see any Antheus, tossed by the wind, and the Phrygian biremes or Capys or the weapons of Caicus on his lofty ships. He sees no ship in his view, (but) three stags wandering on the shore; all the herds follow those from behind and the long line feeds through the valleys. He stopped here and snatched his bow in his hand and swift arrows, which weapons faithful Achates carried, and he first lay low those same leaders, bearing heads high with branching horns, then the herd, and he mingles the whole crowd into the leafy woods, driving with his missiles; and he does not stop before he throws down seven huge bodies upon the ground and makes the number equal to his ships; from here he seeks port and distributes (them) among all his companions. Then the hero distributes wines which good Acestes had loaded in jars on the Trinacrian shore and had given to those departing. . .

Aeneid lines 1.102-123

For (Aeneas) saying such things, the storm, shrieking with the Aquilo, strikes the sail crossways, and lifts the waves to the stars. Oars break, then prows turn and give side to the waves, a steep mountain of water follows the mass. These hang at the top of the wave; the cleaving wave opens the earth between the waves for them, the boiling surge rages upon the sands. Notus twists three snatched (ships) onto hidden rocks (the Italians call the rocks which are in the middle of the waves the Aras [Altars], a huge ridge on the surface of the sea), the Eurus drives three from the sea into the shallows and the reefs, wretched to see, and dashes them on the shoals and encircles (them) with a mound of sand. One, which bore the Lycians and faithful Orontes, the huge sea from the summit strikes on the stern before the eyes of (Aeneas) himself: the pilot is shaken off and rolls headlong, leaning forward, but in the same place three times a wave twists that (ship), driving (it) around and swift whirlpool swallows (it) in the sea. Scattered men, swimming in the vast abyss, appear through the waves, arms of men and tablets and Trojan treasure. Now the storm defeated the stout ship of Ilioneus, now of brave Achates, and (the one) on which Abas was carried, and on which aged Aletes; all receive hostile rain by the open joints of their sides and they gape with cracks.

Aeneid lines 1.50-101

Pondering with herself such things in her enflamed heart, the goddess comes into the country of the clouds, the places pregnant with raging (south) winds. Here in his vast cave the king Aeolus presses the struggling winds and the howling storms and he reins (them) with chains and prison. Those, angry, roar around the barriers of the mountain with a great rumble; holding his powers, Aeolus sits in his lofty citadel, he both sooths their spirits and calms their angers. If he should not do, indeed the swift (winds) would bear both the lands and the boundless sky with them and (would) sweep (them) through the airs; but the father almighty hid (them) in black caves fearing this and put mass and high mountains above, and he gave (them) a king who knew with sure treaty both how to control and to give loose reins, having been so ordered. To whom then Juno as a suppliant used these words: “Aeolus (for the father of the gods and the king of men gave to you both to soften and to lift the waves by the winds), a race hateful to me sails the Tyrrhenian Sea, carrying Troy and beaten household gods into Italy: strike force into the winds and crush sunken ships, or drive (them) scattered and disperse their bodies on the sea. I have [there are for me] twice seven Nymphs, of excellent body, of whom Deiopea, who (is) most beautiful in shape, I will join in stable marriage and will call your own so that she passes all the years with you and makes you a parent with beautiful offspring for such favors.”

Aeolus in response to these: “Your work, o queen, (is) to search out what you wish; it is right for me to perform the orders. You unite me to this whatever of a kingdom, you (unite me to) the powers and Jove, you give that I recline at the feasts of the gods, and you make me powerful over the clouds and storms.”

{81} When these words (have been) said, he strikes the hollow mountain in the side with his reversed spear; and the winds rush the gates where given, just as if a column has been formed, and blow over the lands in a whirlwind. The fell upon the sea and the Eurus [east wind] and the Notus [south wind] and the Africus [southwest wind], thick with storms, together rush the whole (sea) and turn vast waves to the shores. Both a shout of men and a screech of ropes follow; the clouds suddenly seize both sky and day from the eyes of the Teucrians; black night falls upon the sea; the skies thunder and the upper air flashes with frequent fires and everything threatens present death to men. Immediately the limbs of Aeneas are loosened with cold; he groans and, holding both hands to the stars, bears such things with his voice: “O three and four times blessed, whom it befell to die before the faces of their parents under the high walls of Troy! O son of Tydeus [Diomedes], bravest of the race of the Greeks! Was I not able to die on Trojan plains and pour out my spirit on your right hand, where savage Hector lay by the spear of Achilles, where huge Sarpedon (died), where the Simois rolled so many snatched shields of men and helmets and brave bodies under the waves!”