Complete Works of Virgil

by Virgil

  obsedere fores, has seruant agmine denso. 450

  The nether doorways of the place in close arrayment hedge.

  instaurati animi regis succurrere tectis

  Blazed up our hearts again to aid this palace of a king,

  auxilioque leuare uiros uimque addere uictis.

  To stead their toil, to vanquished men a little help to bring.

  Limen erat caecaeque fores et peruius usus

  A door there was, a secret pass into the common way

  tectorum inter se Priami, postesque relicti

  Of all King Priam’s houses there, that at the backward lay

  a tergo, infelix qua se, dum regna manebant, 455

  As one goes by: in other days, while yet the lordship was,

  saepius Andromache ferre incomitata solebat

  Hapless Andromache thereby unto the twain would pass

  ad soceros et auo puerum Astyanacta trahebat.

  Alone, or leading to the king Astyanax her boy.

  euado ad summi fastigia culminis, unde

  And thereby now I gain the tower, whence wretched men of Troy

  tela manu miseri iactabant inrita Teucri.

  In helpless wise from out their hands were casting darts aloof.

  turrim in praecipiti stantem summisque sub astra 460

  There was a tower, a sheer hight down, builded from highest roof

  eductam tectis, unde omnis Troia uideri

  Up toward the stars; whence we were wont on Troy to look adown,

  et Danaum solitae naues et Achaica castra,

  And thence away the Danaan ships, the Achæan tented town.

  adgressi ferro circum, qua summa labantis

  Against the highest stage hereof the steel about we bear,

  iuncturas tabulata dabant, conuellimus altis

  Just where the joints do somewhat give: this from its roots we tear,

  sedibus impulimusque; ea lapsa repente ruinam 465

  And heave it up and over wall, whose toppling at the last

  cum sonitu trahit et Danaum super agmina late

  Bears crash and ruin, and wide away the Danaans are down cast

  incidit. ast alii subeunt, nec saxa nec ullum

  Beneath its fall: but more come on: nor drift of stones doth lack,

  telorum interea cessat genus.

  Nor doth all kind of weapon-shot at any while grow slack.

  Vestibulum ante ipsum primoque in limine Pyrrhus

  Lo, Pyrrhus in the very porch forth to the door doth pass

  exsultat telis et luce coruscus aena: 470

  Exulting; bright with glittering points and flashing of the brass;

  qualis ubi in lucem coluber mala gramina pastus,

  — E’en as a snake to daylight come, on evil herbage fed,

  frigida sub terra tumidum quem bruma tegebat,

  Who, swollen, ‘neath the chilly soil hath had his winter bed,

  nunc, positis nouus exuuiis nitidusque iuuenta,

  And now, his ancient armour doffed, and sleek with youth new found,

  lubrica conuoluit sublato pectore terga

  With front upreared his slippery back he coileth o’er the ground

  arduus ad solem, et linguis micat ore trisulcis. 475

  Up ‘neath the sun; his three-cleft tongue within his mouth gleams clear: —

  una ingens Periphas et equorum agitator Achillis,

  And with him Periphas the huge, Achilles’ charioteer,

  armiger Automedon, una omnis Scyria pubes

  Now shield-bearer Automedon and all the Scyrian host

  succedunt tecto et flammas ad culmina iactant.

  Closed on the walls and on the roof the blazing firebrands tost.

  ipse inter primos correpta dura bipenni

  Pyrrhus in forefront of them all catches a mighty bill,

  limina perrumpit postisque a cardine uellit 480

  Beats in the hardened door, and tears perforce from hinge and sill

  aeratos; iamque excisa trabe firma cauauit

  The brazen leaves; a beam hewn through, wide gaped the oak hard knit

  robora et ingentem lato dedit ore fenestram.

  Into a great-mouthed window there, and through the midst of it

  apparet domus intus et atria longa patescunt;

  May men behold the inner house; the long halls open lie;

  apparent Priami et ueterum penetralia regum,

  Bared is the heart of Priam’s home, the place of kings gone by;

  armatosque uident stantis in limine primo. 485

  And close against the very door all armèd men they see.

  at domus interior gemitu miseroque tumultu

  That inner house indeed was mazed with wail and misery,

  miscetur, penitusque cauae plangoribus aedes

  The inmost chambers of the place an echoing hubbub hold

  femineis ululant; ferit aurea sidera clamor.

  Of women’s cries, whose clamour smites the far-off stars of gold,

  tum pauidae tectis matres ingentibus errant

  And through the house so mighty great the fearful mothers stray,

  amplexaeque tenent postis atque oscula figunt. 490

  And wind their arms about the doors, and kisses on them lay.

  instat ui patria Pyrrhus; nec claustra nec ipsi

  But Pyrrhus with his father’s might comes on; no bolt avails,

  custodes sufferre ualent; labat ariete crebro

  No man against the might of him; the door all battered fails,

  ianua, et emoti procumbunt cardine postes.

  The door-leaves torn from off of hinge tumble and lie along:

  fit uia ui; rumpunt aditus primosque trucidant

  Might maketh road; through passage forced the entering Danaans throng,

  immissi Danai et late loca milite complent. 495

  And slay the first and fill the place with armour of their ranks.

  non sic, aggeribus ruptis cum spumeus amnis

  Nay nought so great is foaming flood that through its bursten banks

  exiit oppositasque euicit gurgite moles,

  Breaks forth, and beateth down the moles that ‘gainst its going stand.

  fertur in arua furens cumulo camposque per omnis

  And falls a fierce heap on the plain, and over all the land

  cum stabulis armenta trahit. uidi ipse furentem

  Drags off the herds and herd-houses. There saw I Pyrrhus wild

  caede Neoptolemum geminosque in limine Atridas, 500

  With death of men amidst the door, and either Atreus’ child;

  uidi Hecubam centumque nurus Priamumque per aras

  And Hecuba and hundred wives her sons wed saw I there,

  sanguine foedantem quos ipse sacrauerat ignis.

  And Priam fouling with his blood the very altars fair

  quinquaginta illi thalami, spes tanta nepotum,

  Whose fires he hallowed: fifty beds the hope of house to be,

  barbarico postes auro spoliisque superbi

  The doorways proud with outland gold and war-got bravery

  procubuere; tenent Danai qua deficit ignis. 505

  Sunk into ash; where fire hath failed the Danaans are enow.

  Forsitan et Priami fuerint quae fata requiras.

  Belike what fate on Priam fell thou askest me to show:

  urbis uti captae casum conuulsaque uidit

  For when he saw the city lost, and his own house-door stormed,

  limina tectorum et medium in penetralibus hostem,

  And how in bowels of his house the host of foemen swarmed,

  arma diu senior desueta trementibus aeuo

  The ancient man in vain does on the arms long useless laid

  circumdat nequiquam umeris et inutile ferrum 510

  About his quaking back of eld, and girds himself with blade

  cingitur, ac densos fertur moriturus in hostis.

  Of no avail, and fareth forth amid the press to die.

  aedi
bus in mediis nudoque sub aetheris axe

  A very midmost of the courts beneath the naked sky

  ingens ara fuit iuxtaque ueterrima laurus

  A mighty altar stood: anear a bay exceeding old,

  incumbens arae atque umbra complexa penatis.

  The altar and the Gods thereof did all in shadow hold;

  hic Hecuba et natae nequiquam altaria circum, 515

  And round about that altar-stead sat Hecuba the queen,

  praecipites atra ceu tempestate columbae,

  And many daughters: e’en as doves all huddled up are seen

  condensae et diuum amplexae simulacra sedebant.

  ‘Neath the black storm they cling about the dear God’s images.

  ipsum autem sumptis Priamum iuuenalibus armis

  But when in arms of early days King Priam now she sees,

  ut uidit, ‘quae mens tam dira, miserrime coniunx,

  She crieth: ‘O unhappy spouse! what evil heart hast thou,

  impulit his cingi telis? aut quo ruis?’ inquit. 520

  With weapons thus to gird thyself, or whither wilt thou now?

  ‘non tali auxilio nec defensoribus istis

  Today availeth no such help, and no such warder’s stay

  tempus eget; non, si ipse meus nunc adforet Hector.

  May better aught; not even were my Hector here today.

  huc tandem concede; haec ara tuebitur omnis,

  But come thou hither unto me; this altar all shall save,

  aut moriere simul.’ sic ore effata recepit

  Or we shall die together here!’ Her arms about she gave

  ad sese et sacra longaeuum in sede locauit. 525

  And took him, and the elder set adown in holy stead.

  Ecce autem elapsus Pyrrhi de caede Polites,

  But lo! now one of Priam’s sons, Polites, having fled

  unus natorum Priami, per tela, per hostis

  From Pyrrhus’ murder through the swords and through the foeman’s throng,

  porticibus longis fugit et uacua atria lustrat

  Runs wounded through the empty hall from out the cloister long,

  saucius. illum ardens infesto uulnere Pyrrhus

  And burning Pyrrhus, hard at heel, the deadly hurt doth bear,

  insequitur, iam iamque manu tenet et premit hasta. 530

  And grip of hand is on him now, and now the point of spear.

  ut tandem ante oculos euasit et ora parentum,

  But as he rushed before their eyes, his parents’ face beneath

  concidit ac multo uitam cum sanguine fudit.

  He fell, and with most plenteous blood shed forth his latest breath;

  hic Priamus, quamquam in media iam morte tenetur,

  Then Priam, howsoever nigh the very death might grip,

  non tamen abstinuit nec uoci iraeque pepercit:

  Refrained him nothing at the sight, but voice and wrath let slip:

  ‘at tibi pro scelere,’ exclamat, ‘pro talibus ausis 535

  ‘Ah, for such wickedness,’ he cried, ‘for daring such a deed,

  di, si qua est caelo pietas quae talia curet,

  If aught abide in heaven as yet such things as this to heed,

  persoluant grates dignas et praemia reddant

  May the Gods give thee worthy thanks, and pay thee well-earned prize,

  debita, qui nati coram me cernere letum

  That thou hast set the death of sons before my father’s eyes,

  fecisti et patrios foedasti funere uultus.

  That thou thy murder’s fouling thus in father’s face hast flung.

  at non ille, satum quo te mentiris, Achilles 540

  Not he, Achilles, whence indeed thou liar hast never sprung,

  talis in hoste fuit Priamo; sed iura fidemque

  Was such a foe to Priam erst; for shamfast meed he gave

  supplicis erubuit corpusque exsangue sepulcro

  To law and troth of suppliant men, and rendered to the grave

  reddidit Hectoreum meque in mea regna remisit.’

  The bloodless Hector dead, and me sent to mine own again.’

  sic fatus senior telumque imbelle sine ictu

  So spake the elder, and cast forth a toothless spear and vain,

  coniecit, rauco quod protinus aere repulsum, 545

  That forthwith from the griding brass was put aback all spent,

  et summo clipei nequiquam umbone pependit.

  And from the shield-boss’ outer skin hung down, for nothing sent.

  cui Pyrrhus: ‘referes ergo haec et nuntius ibis

  Then Pyrrhus cried: ‘Yea tell him this, go take the tidings down

  Pelidae genitori. illi mea tristia facta

  To Peleus’ son my father then, of Pyrrhus worser grown

  degeneremque Neoptolemum narrare memento.

  And all these evil deeds of mine! take heed to tell the tale!

  nunc morere.’ hoc dicens altaria ad ipsa trementem 550

  Now die!’ And to the altar-stone him quivering did he hale,

  traxit et in multo lapsantem sanguine nati,

  And sliding in his own son’s blood so plenteous: in his hair

  implicuitque comam laeua, dextraque coruscum

  Pyrrhus his left hand wound, his right the gleaming sword made bare,

  extulit ac lateri capulo tenus abdidit ensem.

  That even to the hilts thereof within his flank he hid.

  haec finis Priami fatorum, hic exitus illum

  Such was the end of Priam’s day, such faring forth fate bid,

  sorte tulit Troiam incensam et prolapsa uidentem 555

  Troy all aflame upon the road, all Pergamus adown.

  Pergama, tot quondam populis terrisque superbum

  He, of so many peoples once the mighty lord and crown,

  regnatorem Asiae. iacet ingens litore truncus,

  So many lands of Asia once, a trunk beside the sea

  auulsumque umeris caput et sine nomine corpus.

  Huge with its headless shoulders laid, a nameless corpse is he.

  At me tum primum saeuus circumstetit horror.

  Then first within the compassing of bitter fear I was;

  obstipui; subiit cari genitoris imago, 560

  The image of my father dear by me all mazed did pass,

  ut regem aequaeuum crudeli uulnere uidi

  When I beheld the like-aged king gasping his life away

  uitam exhalantem, subiit deserta Creusa

  Through cruel wound: upon mine eyes forlorn Creusa lay,

  et direpta domus et parui casus Iuli.

  The wasted house, my little one, Iulus’, evil end.

  respicio et quae sit me circum copia lustro.

  I look aback to see what folk about me yet do wend,

  deseruere omnes defessi, et corpora saltu 565

  But all, foredone, had fallen away, their weary bodies spent,

  ad terram misere aut ignibus aegra dedere.

  Some all amid the fire had cast, some unto earth had sent.

  [Iamque adeo super unus eram, cum limina Vestae

  Alone was I of all men now, when lo, in Vesta’s house

  seruantem et tacitam secreta in sede latentem

  Abiding, and in inmost nook silent and lurking close,

  Tyndarida aspicio; dant claram incendia lucem

  Helen the seed of Tyndarus! the clear fires give her light

  erranti passimque oculos per cuncta ferenti. 570

  As there she strayeth, turning eyes on every shifting sight;

  illa sibi infestos euersa ob Pergama Teucros

  She, fearful of the Teucrian wrath for Pergamus undone,

  et Danaum poenam et deserti coniugis iras

  And fearful of the Danaan wrath and husband left alone,

  praemetuens, Troiae et patriae communis Erinys,

  The wasting fury both of Troy and land where she was born,

  abdiderat sese atque aris inuisa sedebat.

  She hid her by the altar
-stead, a thing of Gods forlorn.

  exarsere ignes animo; subit ira cadentem 575

  Forth blazed the wildfire in my soul, wrath stirred me up to slake

  ulcisci patriam et sceleratas sumere poenas.

  My vengeance for my dying home, and ill’s atonement take.

  ‘scilicet haec Spartam incolumis patriasque Mycenas

  What! should she come to Sparta safe, and her Mycenæ then,

  aspiciet, partoque ibit regina triumpho?

  And in the hard-won triumphing go forth a Queen of men,

  coniugiumque domumque patris natosque uidebit

  And see her husband and her home, her parents and her sons,

  Iliadum turba et Phrygiis comitata ministris? 580

  Served by the throng of Ilian wives and Phrygian vanquished ones?

  occiderit ferro Priamus? Troia arserit igni?

  Shall Priam so be slain with sword; shall Troy so blaze aloft;

  Dardanium totiens sudarit sanguine litus?

  Shall the sea-beach the Dardan blood have sweat so oft and oft

  non ita. namque etsi nullum memorabile nomen

  For this? Nay, nay: and though forsooth no deed to blaze abroad

  feminea in poena est, habet haec uictoria laudem;

  The slaying of a woman be, nor gaineth fame’s reward,

  exstinxisse nefas tamen et sumpsisse merentis 585

  Yet still to quench an evil thing and pay the well-earned meed

  laudabor poenas, animumque explesse iuuabit

  Is worthy praise, and joy it were unto the full to feed

  ultricis ~famam et cineres satiasse meorum.’

  My heart’s fell flame, and satisfy these ashes well beloved.

  talia iactabam et furiata mente ferebar,]

  Such things my soul gave forth; such things in furious heart I moved.

  cum mihi se, non ante oculis tam clara, uidendam

  When lo, my holy mother now, ne’er seen by eyes of mine

  obtulit et pura per noctem in luce refulsit 590

  So clear before, athwart the dark in simple light did shine;

  alma parens, confessa deam qualisque uideri

  All God she was; of countenance and measure was she nought,

  caelicolis et quanta solet, dextraque prehensum

  But her the heaven-abiders see; so my right hand she caught,

  continuit roseoque haec insuper addidit ore:

  And held me, and from rosy mouth moreover added word:

  ‘nate, quis indomitas tantus dolor excitat iras?

  ‘O son, what anger measureless thy mighty grief hath stirred?

  quid furis? aut quonam nostri tibi cura recessit? 595

  Why ragest thou? or whither then is gone thy heed of me?

  non prius aspicies ubi fessum aetate parentem