English Translation |
Latin Text |
1.1-11
I sing of arms and a man, who exiled by fate first came from the shores of Troy to Italy and to the Lavinian shores, that man having been greatly buffeted both on the lands and on the deep by the force of those above, on account of the unforgetting anger of the cruel Juno, and also having suffered many things in war, until he might found the city and bring the gods to Latium; from which place were the Latin race and the Alban fathers and the fortifications of high Rome. Muse, recount to me the causes, because of what offended divinity, grieving at what, did the queen of the gods force a man splendid in loyalty to undergo so many misfortunes, to approach so many labors. Are the angers so great for the heavenly minds? |
1.1-11
Arma virumque cano, Troiae qui primus ab oris Italiam, fato profugus, Laviniaque venit litora, multum ille et terris iactatus et alto vi superum saevae memorem Iunonis ob iram; multa quoque et bello passus, dum conderet urbem, 5 inferretque deos Latio, genus unde Latinum, Albanique patres, atque altae moenia Romae. Musa, mihi causas memora, quo numine laeso, quidve dolens, regina deum tot volvere casus insignem pietate virum, tot adire labores 10 impulerit. Tantaene animis caelestibus irae? |
1.12-33
There was an ancient city (Tyrian colonists held it), Carthage, opposite Italy and far from the mouth of the Tiber, rich of resources and most fierce in pursuits of war, which alone Juno is said to cherish more than all the lands, Samo having been excepted. Here were the arms, here the chariot of that one. The goddess already then both nourishes and cherishes that this city be the ruling power for the peoples, if fate should allow it with anything. But indeed she had heard that the offspring which would destroy the Tyrian fortresses at some time was being led from Trojan blood; that this people ruling far and wide and arrogant in war would come for the destruction for Libya; that thus Parcae rolled. Saturnia, fearing this and mindful of the old war, which she had waged on Troy for her beloved Argos—not even yet had the causes of her angers and the savage pain fallen from her mind; the judgment of Paris and the injury to her rejected beauty and the hated race and the honors of plundered Ganymedes remain having been stored up in her deep mind: further enraged by this she was keeping off the Trojans, those remaining of the Danaans and of fierce Achilles, far from Latium, having been buffeted on the entire sea, and for many years they were wandering driven by fate around all the seas. It was of so great difficulty to found the race of Rome. |
1.12-33
Urbs antiqua fuit, Tyrii tenuere coloni, Karthago, Italiam contra Tiberinaque longe ostia, dives opum studiisque asperrima belli; quam Iuno fertur terris magis omnibus unam 15 posthabita coluisse Samo; hic illius arma, hic currus fuit; hoc regnum dea gentibus esse, si qua fata sinant, iam tum tenditque fovetque. Progeniem sed enim Troiano a sanguine duci audierat, Tyrias olim quae verteret arces; 20 hinc populum late regem belloque superbum venturum excidio Libyae: sic volvere Parcas. Id metuens, veterisque memor Saturnia belli, prima quod ad Troiam pro caris gesserat Argis-- necdum etiam causae irarum saevique dolores 25 exciderant animo: manet alta mente repostum iudicium Paridis spretaeque iniuria formae, et genus invisum, et rapti Ganymedis honores. His accensa super, iactatos aequore toto Troas, reliquias Danaum atque immitis Achilli, 30 arcebat longe Latio, multosque per annos errabant, acti fatis, maria omnia circum. Tantae molis erat Romanam condere gentem! |
1.34-54
Scarcely out of sight of the land of Sicily those happy ones were setting sail on the deep and were rushing over the foams of the salt with bronze, when Juno keeping the eternal wound under her chest said these things with herself: “That I, defeated, am desisting from my undertaking and am not able to turn the king of the Teucrians from Italy! Surely I am forbidden by the fates. Was Pallas able to burn a fleet of Argives and to drown those themselves in the sea on account of the crime and rages of Ajax of Oileus alone? She herself having hurled the swift fire of Jupiter both scattered the ships and overturned the seas with the winds, that man breathing flames from his pierced chest she snatched up with a storm and impaled on a sharp rock, but I, who walk as queen of the gods and sister and wife of Jupiter, with one race wage wars for so many years. And can anyone worship the divinity of Juno hereafter or place as a suppliant an honor on her altars?” Pondering such things with herself in her burning heart the goddess comes into the country of the clouds, places teeming with Austers, Aeolia. Here in a vast cave the king Aeolus represses the wrestling winds and roaring tempests with authority and checks them with chains and a prison. |
1.34-54
Vix e conspectu Siculae telluris in altum vela dabant laeti, et spumas salis aere ruebant, 35 cum Iuno, aeternum servans sub pectore volnus, haec secum: 'Mene incepto desistere victam, nec posse Italia Teucrorum avertere regem? Quippe vetor fatis. Pallasne exurere classem Argivom atque ipsos potuit submergere ponto, 40 unius ob noxam et furias Aiacis Oilei? Ipsa, Iovis rapidum iaculata e nubibus ignem, disiecitque rates evertitque aequora ventis, illum expirantem transfixo pectore flammas turbine corripuit scopuloque infixit acuto. 45 Ast ego, quae divom incedo regina, Iovisque et soror et coniunx, una cum gente tot annos bella gero! Et quisquam numen Iunonis adoret praeterea, aut supplex aris imponet honorem?' Talia flammato secum dea corde volutans 50 nimborum in patriam, loca feta furentibus austris, Aeoliam venit. Hic vasto rex Aeolus antro luctantes ventos tempestatesque sonoras imperio premit ac vinclis et carcere frenat. |
1.55-80
Those ones angry roar around the bars of the mountain with a great rumble; in the high citadel Aeolus sits holding scepters and tames their spirits and calms their angers. If he should not, surely those whirling things would carry off the seas and the lands and the high heavens with themselves and sweep through the winds; but the all-powerful father fearing this hid them in the dark caves and placed upon them the mass and the high mountains above, and gave them a king who would with a sure agreement know both how to repress and how to give free reins having been ordered. To whom Juno as a suppliant used these voices; “Aeolus (for the father of the gods and the king of men has granted the power to you both to soothe the waves or to raise them with the wind), a race hostile to me sails the Tyrrhenian sea bearing Ilium and their conquered household gods into Italy: strike violence into the winds and crush the sunken ships, or drive those scattered and disperse their bodies onto the sea. There are for me twice seven Nymphs excelling in their bodies, of which the one who is most beautiful in shape is Deiopea, her I will dedicate in lasting marriage united and as your own, that she may pass all her years with you and make you a father by beautiful offspring, as rewards for such things.” Aeolus said these things opposite: “Your task is to search out what you wish, O queen; the duty for me is to perform the commands. You win over for me whatever this is of a kingdom, you this scepter and Jupiter, you grant me reclining at the banquets of the gods and make me ruling over the clouds and storms.” |
1.55-80
Illi indignantes magno cum murmure montis 55 circum claustra fremunt; celsa sedet Aeolus arce sceptra tenens, mollitque animos et temperat iras. Ni faciat, maria ac terras caelumque profundum quippe ferant rapidi secum verrantque per auras. Sed pater omnipotens speluncis abdidit atris, 60 hoc metuens, molemque et montis insuper altos imposuit, regemque dedit, qui foedere certo et premere et laxas sciret dare iussus habenas. Ad quem tum Iuno supplex his vocibus usa est: 'Aeole, namque tibi divom pater atque hominum rex 65 et mulcere dedit fluctus et tollere vento, gens inimica mihi Tyrrhenum navigat aequor, Ilium in Italiam portans victosque Penates: incute vim ventis submersasque obrue puppes, aut age diversos et disiice corpora ponto. 70 Sunt mihi bis septem praestanti corpore nymphae, quarum quae forma pulcherrima Deiopea, conubio iungam stabili propriamque dicabo, omnis ut tecum meritis pro talibus annos exigat, et pulchra faciat te prole parentem.' 75 Aeolus haec contra: 'Tuus, O regina, quid optes explorare labor; mihi iussa capessere fas est. Tu mihi, quodcumque hoc regni, tu sceptra Iovemque concilias, tu das epulis accumbere divom, nimborumque facis tempestatumque potentem.' 80 |
1.81-105
When these things were said, he struck the hollow mountain on its side, his spear having been turned: and the winds, just as a column having been made, rush out where the gate was given and blow over the lands in a storm. They settled over the seas and together both Eurus and Notos and Africus with frequent gusts overturn the whole sea from its deepest seats, and roll the vast waves to the shores. Both the shouting of the men and the whipping of the cables follow; suddenly the clouds snatch away both the sky and the day from the eyes of the Teucrians; dark night settles over the sea; the poles thunder and the sky flashes with frequent lightning and all things threaten instant death for the men. Immediately Aeneas’s limbs are loosened with a chill; he groans and, holding both palms to the constellations, repeats such words in voice: “O three and four times blessed, for whom before the faces of their fathers under the high walls of Troy it befell to meet death! O Tydides, most brave of the race of Danaans! That I was not able to fall and pour out this soul by your right hand at the plains of Ilium, where the fierce Hector lies by the spear of Aeacides, where the huge Sarpedon lies, where the Simois rolls so many shields and helmets and brave bodies of men having been snatched up under the waves!” For him uttering such words the roaring gale opposite beats the sail with Aquilo, and raises the waves to the constellations. The oars are shattered, then the prow turns away and gives the side to the waves; a steep mountain pursues in a heap of water. |
1.81-105
Haec ubi dicta, cavum conversa cuspide montem impulit in latus: ac venti, velut agmine facto, qua data porta, ruunt et terras turbine perflant. Incubuere mari, totumque a sedibus imis una Eurusque Notusque ruunt creberque procellis 85 Africus, et vastos volvunt ad litora fluctus. Insequitur clamorque virum stridorque rudentum. Eripiunt subito nubes caelumque diemque Teucrorum ex oculis; ponto nox incubat atra. Intonuere poli, et crebris micat ignibus aether, 90 praesentemque viris intentant omnia mortem. Extemplo Aeneae solvuntur frigore membra: ingemit, et duplicis tendens ad sidera palmas talia voce refert: 'O terque quaterque beati, quis ante ora patrum Troiae sub moenibus altis 95 contigit oppetere! O Danaum fortissime gentis Tydide! Mene Iliacis occumbere campis non potuisse, tuaque animam hanc effundere dextra, saevus ubi Aeacidae telo iacet Hector, ubi ingens Sarpedon, ubi tot Simois correpta sub undis 100 scuta virum galeasque et fortia corpora volvit?' Talia iactanti stridens Aquilone procella velum adversa ferit, fluctusque ad sidera tollit. Franguntur remi; tum prora avertit, et undis dat latus; insequitur cumulo praeruptus aquae mons. 105 |
1.106-31
These men hang on the highest wave; for these the gaping waves open the land between the waves, the tide rages on the sands. Notus twists three ships having been snatched up against hidden stones (the Italians call the stones which are in the middle of the waves the Altars, a huge ridge on the highest sea), Eurus drives three ships from the deep into the shallows and sand bars, piteous to see, both dashes them into the shallows and encircles them with banks of sand. The giant sea strikes one ship, which was carrying the Lycians and the faithful Orontes, upon its stern from the peak before the eyes of himself: the helmsman is shaken off and whirled headlong, but the wave driving around twists that ship three times in the same place and a rapid whirlpool swallows it up in the sea. Those swimming having been scattered, the weapons of the men and boards and the treasures of Troy appear in the vast whirpool through the waves. Now the mighty ship of Ilioneus, now the ship of the brave Achates, and the ship by which Abas is carried, and by which the aged Aletes, the storm conquered; all receive the hostile water by the loose joints of the sides and are split by means of cracks. Meanwhile Neptune felt that the sea was stirred with a great murmur and that the storms were sent and that the still waters were poured back from the deepest depths, heavily disturbed, and lifted up his calm head looking out from the highest wave over the sea. He sees the scattered fleet of Aeneas on the whole sea, the Trojans oppressed by the waves and the ruins of the sky; neither did the tricks and angers of Juno escape the notice of her brother. He calls Eurus and Zephyrus to himself, then speaks such words: |
1.106-31
Hi summo in fluctu pendent; his unda dehiscens terram inter fluctus aperit; furit aestus harenis. Tris Notus abreptas in saxa latentia torquet-- saxa vocant Itali mediis quae in fluctibus aras-- dorsum immane mari summo; tris Eurus ab alto 110 in brevia et Syrtis urget, miserabile visu, inliditque vadis atque aggere cingit harenae. Unam, quae Lycios fidumque vehebat Oronten, ipsius ante oculos ingens a vertice pontus in puppim ferit: excutitur pronusque magister 115 volvitur in caput; ast illam ter fluctus ibidem torquet agens circum, et rapidus vorat aequore vortex. Adparent rari nantes in gurgite vasto, arma virum, tabulaeque, et Troia gaza per undas. Iam validam Ilionei navem, iam fortis Achati, 120 et qua vectus Abas, et qua grandaevus Aletes, vicit hiems; laxis laterum compagibus omnes accipiunt inimicum imbrem, rimisque fatiscunt. Interea magno misceri murmure pontum, emissamque hiemem sensit Neptunus, et imis 125 stagna refusa vadis, graviter commotus; et alto prospiciens, summa placidum caput extulit unda. Disiectam Aeneae, toto videt aequore classem, fluctibus oppressos Troas caelique ruina, nec latuere doli fratrem Iunonis et irae. 130 Eurum ad se Zephyrumque vocat, dehinc talia fatur: |
1.132-56
“Does so great confidence of your birth hold you back? Now you dare to stir the sky and the earth without my divine will, winds, and to raise so great masses? Whom I—but it is better to calm the having been stirred up waves. Afterward you will atone for the crimes to me by no similar punishment. Hasten flight and say these words to your king: that the power of the sea and the fierce trident was not given by fate to that one, but to me. That one holds the immense stones, your home, Eurus; let Aeolus boast himself in those halls and rule in the enclosed prison of the winds.” Thus he speaks, and more quickly than the thing having been spoken calms the swollen sea and puts to flight the gathered clouds and brings back the sun. At the same time Cymothoe and Triton striving dislodge the ships from the sharp rock; he himself lifts with the trident and opens the vast reefs and calms the sea and glides over the highest waves with light wheels. And just as, often, when a riot arises in a great people and the mob rages with common spirits and now torches and stones fly, the rage supplies weapons; then, if by chance they have seen some man venerable in duty and merit, they are still and stand with raised ears; that man rules their spirits with words and calms their hearts: thus the crash of the sea subsides altogether, after the father looking out on the seas and being carried on the open sky guides the horses and flying gives reins to the following chariot. |
1.132-56
'Tantane vos generis tenuit fiducia vestri? Iam caelum terramque meo sine numine, venti, miscere, et tantas audetis tollere moles? Quos ego—sed motos praestat componere fluctus. 135 Post mihi non simili poena commissa luetis. Maturate fugam, regique haec dicite vestro: non illi imperium pelagi saevumque tridentem, sed mihi sorte datum. Tenet ille immania saxa, vestras, Eure, domos; illa se iactet in aula 140 Aeolus, et clauso ventorum carcere regnet.' Sic ait, et dicto citius tumida aequora placat, collectasque fugat nubes, solemque reducit. Cymothoe simul et Triton adnixus acuto detrudunt navis scopulo; levat ipse tridenti; 145 et vastas aperit syrtis, et temperat aequor, atque rotis summas levibus perlabitur undas. Ac veluti magno in populo cum saepe coorta est seditio, saevitque animis ignobile volgus, iamque faces et saxa volant—furor arma ministrat; 150 tum, pietate gravem ac meritis si forte virum quem conspexere, silent, arrectisque auribus adstant; ille regit dictis animos, et pectora mulcet,-- sic cunctus pelagi cecidit fragor, aequora postquam prospiciens genitor caeloque invectus aperto 155 flectit equos, curruque volans dat lora secundo. |
1.157-79
The tired followers of Aeneas hasten to seek the shores which are nearest by course, and are turned to the shores of Libya. The place is in a long inlet: the island forms a harbor by means of the projection of its sides, on which every wave is broken and splits itself into the bay having been brought back from the deep. On this and that side the vast cliffs and twin rocks tower into the sky, the protected waters of which from the top are silent far and wide; then from above with the quivering woods there is a stage, and the black grove hangs over with a trembling shadow. Under the opposite face with hanging rocks is a cave; within are fresh waters and seats of living stone, the home of Nymphs. Here not any chains hold the wearied ships, an anchor does not bind the ships by means of a curved bite. To this place Aeneas moves seven from the whole number the ships having been collected, with great longing for land the Trojans having disembarked gained the desired sand and lay their limbs soaked with salt on the shore. And Achates first struck out a spark from flint and caught up a fire by means of leaves and gave dry fuel around and snatched up the flame with tinder. Then weary of things they bring out the Ceres spoiled by the waves and the tools of Ceres, and they prepare both to parch the grain having been recovered by means of flames and to crush by means of stone. |
1.157-79
Defessi Aeneadae, quae proxima litora, cursu contendunt petere, et Libyae vertuntur ad oras. Est in secessu longo locus: insula portum efficit obiectu laterum, quibus omnis ab alto 160 frangitur inque sinus scindit sese unda reductos. Hinc atque hinc vastae rupes geminique minantur in caelum scopuli, quorum sub vertice late aequora tuta silent; tum silvis scaena coruscis desuper horrentique atrum nemus imminet umbra. 165 Fronte sub adversa scopulis pendentibus antrum, intus aquae dulces vivoque sedilia saxo, nympharum domus: hic fessas non vincula navis ulla tenent, unco non alligat ancora morsu. Huc septem Aeneas collectis navibus omni 170 ex numero subit; ac magno telluris amore egressi optata potiuntur Troes harena, et sale tabentis artus in litore ponunt. Ac primum silici scintillam excudit Achates, succepitque ignem foliis, atque arida circum 175 nutrimenta dedit, rapuitque in fomite flammam. Tum Cererem corruptam undis Cerealiaque arma expediunt fessi rerum, frugesque receptas et torrere parant flammis et frangere saxo. |
1.180-209
Meanwhile Aeneas climbs the cliff, and seeks every prospect toward the sea far and wide, if he should see any having been buffeted by the winds Antheus and the Phrygian biremes or Capys or the weapons on the high decks of Caicus. He sees no ships in sight, three wandering stags on the shore; entire herds follow these from the rear and a long column grazes through the valleys. Here he has stopped and has snatched up with his hand his bow and his swift arrows, which weapons faithful Achates was carrying, and first he lays low the leaders themselves carrying their high heads with branching horns, then he stirs up the herd and the entire mob driving them among the leafy woods by means of his weapons; neither does he stop sooner than he lays down as victor seven giant bodies on the ground and makes the number equal with his ships; from here he seeks the harbor and divides them among all his companions. Then he distributes the wines which the kind Acestes had loaded in jars on the Trinacrian shores and which the hero had given to those departing, and with things having been said he soothes their mournful chests: “O companions (surely we are not unaware of previous misfortunes), O you having suffered graver things, the god will give an end to these also. You have both approached the Scyllaean rage and the deeply resounding cliffs, and you have experienced the Cylopean stones: recall your spirits and send off your gloomy fear; perhaps at some time it will please us to remember even these things. Through various misfortunes, through so many crises of things we press on into Latium, where the fates have promised quiet seats; there it is divine will that the kingdoms of Troy rise again. Endure, and save yourselves for favorable things.” He repeats such things with voice and sick with huge concerns he imitates hope with his face, represses the pain deep in his heart. |
1.180-209
Aeneas scopulum interea conscendit, et omnem 180 prospectum late pelago petit, Anthea si quem iactatum vento videat Phrygiasque biremis, aut Capyn, aut celsis in puppibus arma Caici. Navem in conspectu nullam, tris litore cervos prospicit errantis; hos tota armenta sequuntur 185 a tergo, et longum per vallis pascitur agmen. Constitit hic, arcumque manu celerisque sagittas corripuit, fidus quae tela gerebat Achates; ductoresque ipsos primum, capita alta ferentis cornibus arboreis, sternit, tum volgus, et omnem 190 miscet agens telis nemora inter frondea turbam; nec prius absistit, quam septem ingentia victor corpora fundat humi, et numerum cum navibus aequet. Hinc portum petit, et socios partitur in omnes. Vina bonus quae deinde cadis onerarat Acestes 195 litore Trinacrio dederatque abeuntibus heros, dividit, et dictis maerentia pectora mulcet: 'O socii—neque enim ignari sumus ante malorum-- O passi graviora, dabit deus his quoque finem. Vos et Scyllaeam rabiem penitusque sonantis 200 accestis scopulos, vos et Cyclopea saxa experti: revocate animos, maestumque timorem mittite: forsan et haec olim meminisse iuvabit. Per varios casus, per tot discrimina rerum tendimus in Latium; sedes ubi fata quietas 205 ostendunt; illic fas regna resurgere Troiae. Durate, et vosmet rebus servate secundis.' Talia voce refert, curisque ingentibus aeger spem voltu simulat, premit altum corde dolorem. |
1.418-40
Meanwhile they snatched up the road, where the path shows itself. And now they were ascending a hill, which very large hangs over the city and faces the opposite citadels from above. Aeneas admires the mass, once huts, admires the gates and the noise and the pavements of the roads. Those eager Tyrians press on: part to extend the walls and to make the fortress and to roll up the stones by their hands, part to choose a place for a house and to enclose it by a furrow; [they choose laws and magistrates and the sacred Senate;] here some dig out harbors; here others place deep foundations for theaters, and cut out huge columns from the cliffs, high ornaments for future scenes. Such as work keeps the bees busy in the new summer through the flowery country under the sun, when the adults lead the offspring of the race; or when they stow the flowing honeys and stretch the cells with sweet nectar, or receive the burdens of those coming, or a column having been made keep of the drones, the lazy swarm, from the hives; the work boils and the fragrant honeys smell of thyme. “O fortunate ones, whose walls already rise!” Aeneas says and looks up at the summit of the city. He bears himself having been inclosed in a mist (miraculous to speak of) through the middle of them and mingles among the men and is not distinguished by anyone. |
1.418-40
Corripuere viam interea, qua semita monstrat. Iamque ascendebant collem, qui plurimus urbi imminet, adversasque adspectat desuper arces. 420 Miratur molem Aeneas, magalia quondam, miratur portas strepitumque et strata viarum. Instant ardentes Tyrii pars ducere muros, molirique arcem et manibus subvolvere saxa, pars optare locum tecto et concludere sulco. 425 [Iura magistratusque legunt sanctumque senatum;] hic portus alii effodiunt; hic alta theatris fundamenta locant alii, immanisque columnas rupibus excidunt, scaenis decora alta futuris. Qualis apes aestate nova per florea rura 430 exercet sub sole labor, cum gentis adultos educunt fetus, aut cum liquentia mella stipant et dulci distendunt nectare cellas, aut onera accipiunt venientum, aut agmine facto ignavom fucos pecus a praesepibus arcent: 435 fervet opus, redolentque thymo fragrantia mella. 'O fortunati, quorum iam moenia surgunt!' Aeneas ait, et fastigia suspicit urbis. Infert se saeptus nebula, mirabile dictu, per medios, miscetque viris, neque cernitur ulli. 440 |
1.494-504
While these marvelous things are seen by the Dardanian Aeneas, while he is dazed and clings fixed by one view, the queen, the most beautiful in form Dido, marches to the temple, a great troop of young men crowding around. Such as on the banks of the Eurotas or through the ridges of the Cynthus Diana trained the company, following whom a thousand Oreads on this and that side are gathered; that one carries the quiver on her shoulder and proceeding towers above all the goddesses (joys possess the quiet chest of Latona): such was Dido, blessed she was bearing herself so through the middle of them, urging on the work and her future kingdoms. |
1.494-504
Haec dum Dardanio Aeneae miranda videntur, dum stupet, obtutuque haeret defixus in uno, 495 regina ad templum, forma pulcherrima Dido, incessit magna iuvenum stipante caterva. Qualis in Eurotae ripis aut per iuga Cynthi exercet Diana choros, quam mille secutae hinc atque hinc glomerantur oreades; illa pharetram 500 fert umero, gradiensque deas supereminet omnis: Latonae tacitum pertemptant gaudia pectus: talis erat Dido, talem se laeta ferebat per medios, instans operi regnisque futuris. |
1.505-43
Then she sat in the doorways of the goddess, in the middle of the dome of the temple, enclosed by arms and resting in the high throne. She was giving laws and decrees to the men, and was making equal the labor of works in fair parts or was drawing by lot: when suddenly Aeneas sees that Anthea and Sergestus and the brave Cloanthus and others of the Trojans whom the black storm had dispersed on the sea and had borne away wholly to other shores are approaching in the great crowd. Both he himself stood agape, and Achates was struck both with joy and dread; eager they were burning to join right hands, but the unknown affair was confusing their spirits. They hide and watch enfolded by the hollow mist what fortune is for the men, on what shore they leave the fleet, for what they come; for chosen from all the ships praying for grace they were going and were seeking the temple with shouting. After they had entered and had been given rights of speaking openly, the greatest Ilioneus with a calm chest began thus: “O queen, to whom Jupiter gave a new city to found and proud peoples to restrain with equality, we wretched Trojans, carried through all the seas by the winds, beg you: hold back the unspeakable fires from our ships, spare this pious people and look upon our affairs more closely. We have not come either to plunder the household gods of Libya by the sword, or to turn the snatched spoils to the shores; this violence is not in our minds, nor is so great arrogance for the conquered. There is a place, which the Greeks call Hesperia in name, an ancient land, powerful in arms and in the fertility of the soil; Oenotrian men have cultivated it, now the rumor is that the descendants have called the nation Italy, from the name of their leader. This was the course, when suddenly rising up in a wave the stormy Orion bore us into the blind shallows and scattered us by howling Auster both through the waves, the swell overcoming, and through the pathless stones; we few have swum here to your shores. What type of men is this? Or what so barbaric country permits this custom? We are prohibited from the welcome of the sand; they rouse up wars and forbid that we stand on the first ground. If you despise the human race and mortal weapons, at least suppose that the gods are remembering of right and wrong. |
1.505-43
Tum foribus divae, media testudine templi, 505 saepta armis, solioque alte subnixa resedit. Iura dabat legesque viris, operumque laborem partibus aequabat iustis, aut sorte trahebat: cum subito Aeneas concursu accedere magno Anthea Sergestumque videt fortemque Cloanthum, 510 Teucrorumque alios, ater quos aequore turbo dispulerat penitusque alias avexerat oras. Obstipuit simul ipse simul perculsus Achates laetitiaque metuque; avidi coniungere dextras ardebant; sed res animos incognita turbat. 515 Dissimulant, et nube cava speculantur amicti, quae fortuna viris, classem quo litore linquant, quid veniant; cunctis nam lecti navibus ibant, orantes veniam, et templum clamore petebant. Postquam introgressi et coram data copia fandi, 520 maximus Ilioneus placido sic pectore coepit: 'O Regina, novam cui condere Iuppiter urbem iustitiaque dedit gentis frenare superbas, Troes te miseri, ventis maria omnia vecti, oramus, prohibe infandos a navibus ignis, 525 parce pio generi, et propius res aspice nostras. Non nos aut ferro Libycos populare Penatis venimus, aut raptas ad litora vertere praedas; non ea vis animo, nec tanta superbia victis. Est locus, Hesperiam Grai cognomine dicunt, 530 terra antiqua, potens armis atque ubere glaebae; Oenotri coluere viri; nunc fama minores Italiam dixisse ducis de nomine gentem. Hic cursus fuit: cum subito adsurgens fluctu nimbosus Orion 535 in vada caeca tulit, penitusque procacibus austris perque undas, superante salo, perque invia saxa dispulit; huc pauci vestris adnavimus oris. Quod genus hoc hominum? Quaeve hunc tam barbara morem permittit patria? Hospitio prohibemur harenae; 540 bella cient, primaque vetant consistere terra. Si genus humanum et mortalia temnitis arma at sperate deos memores fandi atque nefandi. |
1.544-78
Aeneas was the king for us, than whom there was not another more just in loyalty, nor greater in war and arms. If the fates save which man, if he feeds up the upper air, and is not yet lying in the cruel shadows, there is not dread for us; it would not cause you regret to have contended first in kindness. There are also cities and arms in the Sicilian region and the bright Acestes of Trojan blood. Let it be permitted for us to lead up the fleet shaken by the winds and to prepare beams and strip oars from the forests: if it is given to us to reach Italy, our companions and our king having been recovered, to seek Italy and Latium happy; but if safety is taken away, and the sea of Libya holds you, best father of the Teucrians, neither now does the hope of Iulus remain, but at least we should seek the straits of Sicily and the prepared seats, from where we were carried to here, and the king Acestes.” Ilioneus spoke with such words; at the same time the Dardanians were murmuring together with their mouths. Then shortly Dido speaks having been cast down in her face: “Release the dread from your hearts, Teucrians, put off your cares. Harsh affairs and the newness of the kingdom force me to undertake such things and to watch the borders far and wide by means of a guard. Who would not know the race of Aeneas, who the city of Troy, both the virtues and the men, or the fires of so great a war? We Phoenicians do not bear chests dulled to such an extent, neither does the Sun tie up its horses so turned away from the Tyrian city. Whether you hope for the great Hesperia and the Saturnian fields, or the territory of Eryx and the king Acestes, I will send you out safe by means of aid and I will help you by means of resources. And you wish to settle in these kingdoms equally with me? The city which I found is yours; lead up your ships; the Trojan and the Tyrian will be conducted by me with no difference. And oh that the king Aeneas himself driven by the same Notus was present! Indeed I will send out certain men through the shores and will command them to survey the extremes of Libya, if having been cast out he wanders in which forests or cities.” |
1.544-78
'Rex erat Aeneas nobis, quo iustior alter, nec pietate fuit, nec bello maior et armis. 545 Quem si fata virum servant, si vescitur aura aetheria, neque adhuc crudelibus occubat umbris, non metus; officio nec te certasse priorem poeniteat. Sunt et Siculis regionibus urbes armaque, Troianoque a sanguine clarus Acestes. 550 Quassatam ventis liceat subducere classem, et silvis aptare trabes et stringere remos: si datur Italiam, sociis et rege recepto, tendere, ut Italiam laeti Latiumque petamus; sin absumpta salus, et te, pater optime Teucrum, 555 pontus habet Libyae, nec spes iam restat Iuli, at freta Sicaniae saltem sedesque paratas, unde huc advecti, regemque petamus Acesten.' Talibus Ilioneus; cuncti simul ore fremebant Dardanidae. 560 Tum breviter Dido, voltum demissa, profatur: 'Solvite corde metum, Teucri, secludite curas. Res dura et regni novitas me talia cogunt moliri, et late finis custode tueri. Quis genus Aeneadum, quis Troiae nesciat urbem, 565 virtutesque virosque, aut tanti incendia belli? Non obtusa adeo gestamus pectora Poeni, nec tam aversus equos Tyria Sol iungit ab urbe. Seu vos Hesperiam magnam Saturniaque arva, sive Erycis finis regemque optatis Acesten, 570 auxilio tutos dimittam, opibusque iuvabo. Voltis et his mecum pariter considere regnis; urbem quam statuo vestra est, subducite navis; Tros Tyriusque mihi nullo discrimine agetur. Atque utinam rex ipse Noto compulsus eodem 575 adforet Aeneas! Equidem per litora certos dimittam et Libyae lustrare extrema iubebo, si quibus eiectus silvis aut urbibus errat.' |