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.
Saturday, November 14, 2009
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?"
(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.”
(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.
(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.
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. . .
{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. . .
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