(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.
Saturday, December 26, 2009
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!
(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.
(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.
(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?
(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.
(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.
(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.
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