Complete Works of Virgil

by Virgil

Saturnian Juno’s will it is that more he utter not.

  principio Italiam, quam tu iam rere propinquam

  First, from that Italy, which thou unwitting deem’st anigh,

  uicinosque, ignare, paras inuadere portus,

  Thinking to make in little space the haven close hereby,

  longa procul longis uia diuidit inuia terris.

  Long is the wayless way that shears, and long the length of land;

  ante et Trinacria lentandus remus in unda

  And first in the Trinacrian wave must bend the rower’s wand.

  et salis Ausonii lustrandum nauibus aequor 385

  On plain of that Ausonian salt your ships must stray awhile,

  infernique lacus Aeaeaeque insula Circae,

  And thou must see the nether meres, Ææan Circe’s isle,

  quam tuta possis urbem componere terra.

  Ere thou on earth assured and safe thy city may’st set down.

  signa tibi dicam, tu condita mente teneto:

  I show thee tokens; in thy soul store thou the tokens shown.

  cum tibi sollicito secreti ad fluminis undam

  When thou with careful heart shalt stray the secret stream anigh,

  litoreis ingens inuenta sub ilicibus sus 390

  And ‘neath the holm-oaks of the shore shalt see a great sow lie,

  triginta capitum fetus enixa iacebit,

  That e’en now farrowed thirty head of young, long on the ground

  alba solo recubans, albi circum ubera nati,

  She lieth white, with piglings white their mother’s dugs around, —

  is locus urbis erit, requies ea certa laborum.

  That earth shall be thy city’s place, there rest from toil is stored.

  nec tu mensarum morsus horresce futuros:

  Nor shudder at the coming curse, the gnawing of the board,

  fata uiam inuenient aderitque uocatus Apollo. 395

  The Fates shall find a way thereto; Apollo called shall come.

  has autem terras Italique hanc litoris oram,

  But flee these lands of Italy, this shore so near our home,

  proxima quae nostri perfunditur aequoris aestu,

  That washing of the strand thereof our very sea-tide seeks;

  effuge; cuncta malis habitantur moenia Grais.

  For in all cities thereabout abide the evil Greeks.

  hic et Narycii posuerunt moenia Locri,

  There now have come the Locrian folk Narycian walls to build;

  et Sallentinos obsedit milite campos 400

  And Lyctian Idomeneus Sallentine meads hath filled

  Lyctius Idomeneus; hic illa ducis Meliboei

  With war-folk; Philoctetes there holdeth Petelia small,

  parua Philoctetae subnixa Petelia muro.

  Now by that Meliboean duke fenced round with mighty wall.

  quin ubi transmissae steterint trans aequora classes

  Moreover, when your ships have crossed the sea, and there do stay,

  et positis aris iam uota in litore solues,

  And on the altars raised thereto your vows ashore ye pay,

  purpureo uelare comas adopertus amictu, 405

  Be veiled of head, and wrap thyself in cloth of purple dye,

  ne qua inter sanctos ignis in honore deorum

  Lest ‘twixt you and the holy fires ye light to God on high

  hostilis facies occurrat et omina turbet.

  Some face of foeman should thrust in the holy signs to spill.

  hunc socii morem sacrorum, hunc ipse teneto;

  Now let thy folk, yea and thyself, this worship thus fulfil,

  hac casti maneant in religione nepotes.

  And let thy righteous sons of sons such fashion ever mind.

  ast ubi digressum Siculae te admouerit orae 410

  But when, gone forth, to Sicily thou comest on the wind,

  uentus, et angusti rarescent claustra Pelori,

  And when Pelorus’ narrow sea is widening all away,

  laeua tibi tellus et longo laeua petantur

  Your course for leftward lying land and leftward waters lay,

  aequora circuitu; dextrum fuge litus et undas.

  How long soe’er ye reach about: flee right-hand shore and wave.

  haec loca ui quondam et uasta conuulsa ruina

  In time agone some mighty thing this place to wrack down drave,

  (tantum aeui longinqua ualet mutare uetustas) 415

  So much for changing of the world doth lapse of time avail.

  dissiluisse ferunt, cum protinus utraque tellus

  It split atwain, when heretofore the two lands, saith the tale,

  una foret: uenit medio ui pontus et undis

  Had been but one, the sea rushed in and clave with mighty flood

  Hesperium Siculo latus abscidit, aruaque et urbes

  Hesperia’s side from Italy, and field and city stood

  litore diductas angusto interluit aestu.

  Drawn back on either shore, along a sundering sea-race strait.

  dextrum Scylla latus, laeuum implacata Charybdis 420

  There Scylla on the right hand lurks, the left insatiate

  obsidet, atque imo barathri ter gurgite uastos

  Charybdis holds, who in her maw all whirling deep adown

  sorbet in abruptum fluctus rursusque sub auras

  Sucketh the great flood tumbling in thrice daily, which out-thrown

  erigit alternos, et sidera uerberat unda.

  Thrice daily doth she spout on high, smiting the stars with brine.

  at Scyllam caecis cohibet spelunca latebris

  But Scylla doth the hidden hole of mirky cave confine;

  ora exsertantem et nauis in saxa trahentem. 425

  With face thrust forth she draweth ships on to that stony bed;

  prima hominis facies et pulchro pectore uirgo

  Manlike above, with maiden breast and lovely fashioned

  pube tenus, postrema immani corpore pistrix

  Down to the midst, she hath below huge body of a whale,

  delphinum caudas utero commissa luporum.

  And unto maw of wolfish heads is knit a dolphin’s tail.

  praestat Trinacrii metas lustrare Pachyni

  ’Tis better far to win about Pachynus, outer ness

  cessantem, longos et circumflectere cursus, 430

  Of Sicily, and reach long round, despite the weariness,

  quam semel informem uasto uidisse sub antro

  Than have that ugly sight of her within her awful den,

  Scyllam et caeruleis canibus resonantia saxa.

  And hear her coal-blue baying dogs and rocks that ring again.

  praeterea, si qua est Heleno prudentia uati,

  Now furthermore if Helenus in anything have skill,

  si qua fides, animum si ueris implet Apollo,

  Or aught of trust, or if his soul with sooth Apollo fill,

  unum illud tibi, nate dea, proque omnibus unum 435

  Of one thing, Goddess-born, will I forewarn thee over all,

  praedicam et repetens iterumque iterumque monebo,

  And spoken o’er and o’er again my word on thee shall fall:

  Iunonis magnae primum prece numen adora,

  The mighty Juno’s godhead first let many a prayer seek home;

  Iunoni cane uota libens dominamque potentem

  To Juno sing your vows in joy, with suppliant gifts o’ercome

  supplicibus supera donis: sic denique uictor

  That Lady of all Might; and so, Trinacria overpast,

  Trinacria finis Italos mittere relicta. 440

  Shalt thou be sped to Italy victorious at the last.

  huc ubi delatus Cumaeam accesseris urbem

  When there thou com’st and Cumæ’s town amidst thy way hast found,

  diuinosque lacus et Auerna sonantia siluis,

  The Holy Meres, Avernus’ woods fruitful of many a sound,

  insanam uatem aspicies, quae rupe sub ima

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p; There the wild seer-maid shalt thou see, who in a rock-hewn cave

  fata canit foliisque notas et nomina mandat.

  Singeth of fate, and letteth leaves her names and tokens have:

  quaecumque in foliis descripsit carmina uirgo 445

  But whatso song upon those leaves the maiden seer hath writ

  digerit in numerum atque antro seclusa relinquit:

  She ordereth duly, and in den of live stone leaveth it:

  illa manent immota locis neque ab ordine cedunt.

  There lie the written leaves unmoved, nor shift their ordered rows.

  uerum eadem, uerso tenuis cum cardine uentus

  But when the hinge works round, and thence a light air on them blows,

  impulit et teneras turbauit ianua frondes,

  Then, when the door doth disarray among the frail leaves bear,

  numquam deinde cauo uolitantia prendere saxo 450

  To catch them fluttering in the cave she never hath a care,

  nec reuocare situs aut iungere carmina curat:

  Nor will she set them back again nor make the song-words meet;

  inconsulti abeunt sedemque odere Sibyllae.

  So folk unanswered go their ways and loathe the Sibyl’s seat.

  hic tibi ne qua morae fuerint dispendia tanti,

  But thou, count not the cost of time that there thou hast to spend;

  quamuis increpitent socii et ui cursus in altum

  Although thy fellows blame thee sore, and length of way to wend

  uela uocet, possisque sinus implere secundos, 455

  Call on thy sails, and thou may’st fill their folds with happy gale,

  quin adeas uatem precibusque oracula poscas

  Draw nigh the seer, and strive with prayers to have her holy tale;

  ipsa canat uocemque uolens atque ora resoluat.

  Beseech her sing, and that her words from willing tongue go free:

  illa tibi Italiae populos uenturaque bella

  So reverenced shall she tell thee tale of folk of Italy

  et quo quemque modo fugiasque ferasque laborem

  And wars to come; and how to ‘scape, and how to bear each ill,

  expediet, cursusque dabit uenerata secundos. 460

  And with a happy end at last thy wandering shall fulfil.

  haec sunt quae nostra liceat te uoce moneri.

  Now is this all my tongue is moved to tell thee lawfully:

  uade age et ingentem factis fer ad aethera Troiam.’

  Go, let thy deeds Troy’s mightiness exalt above the sky!’

  Quae postquam uates sic ore effatus amico est,

  So when the seer from loving mouth such words as this had said,

  dona dehinc auro grauia ac secto elephanto

  Then gifts of heavy gold and gifts of carven tooth he bade

  imperat ad nauis ferri, stipatque carinis 465

  Be borne a-shipboard; and our keels he therewithal doth stow

  ingens argentum Dodonaeosque lebetas,

  With Dodonæan kettle-ware and silver great enow,

  loricam consertam hamis auroque trilicem,

  A coat of hookèd woven mail and triple golden chain,

  et conum insignis galeae cristasque comantis,

  A helm with noble towering crest crowned with a flowing mane,

  arma Neoptolemi. sunt et sua dona parenti.

  The arms of Pyrrhus: gifts most meet my father hath withal;

  addit equos, additque duces, 470

  And steeds he gives and guides he gives,

  remigium supplet, socios simul instruit armis.

  Fills up the tale of oars, and arms our fellows to their need.

  Interea classem uelis aptare iubebat

  Anchises still was bidding us meanwhile to have a heed

  Anchises, fieret uento mora ne qua ferenti.

  Of setting sail, nor with the wind all fair to make delay;

  quem Phoebi interpres multo compellat honore:

  To whom with words of worship now doth Phoebus’ servant say:

  ‘coniugio, Anchisa, Veneris dignate superbo, 475

  ‘Anchises, thou whom Venus’ bed hath made so glorious,

  cura deum, bis Pergameis erepte ruinis,

  Care of the Gods, twice caught away from ruin of Pergamus,

  ecce tibi Ausoniae tellus: hanc arripe uelis.

  Lo, there the Ausonian land for thee, set sail upon the chase:

  et tamen hanc pelago praeterlabare necesse est:

  Yet needs must thou upon the sea glide by its neighbouring face.

  Ausoniae pars illa procul quam pandit Apollo.

  Far off is that Ausonia yet that Phoebus open lays.

  uade,’ ait ‘o felix nati pietate. quid ultra 480

  Fare forth, made glad with pious son! why tread I longer ways

  prouehor et fando surgentis demoror Austros?’

  Of speech, and stay the rising South with words that I would tell?’

  nec minus Andromache digressu maesta supremo

  And therewithal Andromache, sad with the last farewell,

  fert picturatas auri subtemine uestis

  Brings for Ascanius raiment wrought with picturing wool of gold,

  et Phrygiam Ascanio chlamydem (nec cedit honore)

  And Phrygian coat; nor will she have our honour wax acold,

  textilibusque onerat donis, ac talia fatur: 485

  But loads him with the woven gifts, and such word sayeth she:

  ‘accipe et haec, manuum tibi quae monimenta mearum

  ‘Take these, fair boy; keep them to be my hands’ last memory,

  sint, puer, et longum Andromachae testentur amorem,

  The tokens of enduring love thy younger days did win

  coniugis Hectoreae. cape dona extrema tuorum,

  From Hector’s wife Andromache, the last gifts of thy kin.

  o mihi sola mei super Astyanactis imago.

  O thou, of my Astyanax the only image now!

  sic oculos, sic ille manus, sic ora ferebat; 490

  Such eyes he had, such hands he had, such countenance as thou,

  et nunc aequali tecum pubesceret aeuo.’

  And now with thee were growing up in equal tale of years.’

  hos ego digrediens lacrimis adfabar obortis:

  Then I, departing, spake to them amid my rising tears:

  ‘uiuite felices, quibus est fortuna peracta

  ‘Live happy! Ye with fortune’s game have nothing more to play,

  iam sua: nos alia ex aliis in fata uocamur.

  While we from side to side thereof are hurried swift away.

  uobis parta quies: nullum maris aequor arandum, 495

  Your rest hath blossomed and brought forth; no sea-field shall ye till,

  arua neque Ausoniae semper cedentia retro

  Seeking the fields of Italy that fade before you still.

  quaerenda. effigiem Xanthi Troiamque uidetis

  Ye see another Xanthus here, ye see another Troy,

  quam uestrae fecere manus, melioribus, opto,

  Made by your hands for better days mehopes, and longer joy:

  auspiciis, et quae fuerit minus obuia Grais.

  And soothly less it lies across the pathway of the Greek,

  si quando Thybrim uicinaque Thybridis arua 500

  If ever I that Tiber flood and Tiber fields I seek

  intraro gentique meae data moenia cernam,

  Shall enter, and behold the walls our folk shall win of fate.

  cognatas urbes olim populosque propinquos,

  Twin cities some day shall we have, and folks confederate,

  Epiro Hesperiam (quibus idem Dardanus auctor

  Epirus and Hesperia; from Dardanus each came,

  atque idem casus), unam faciemus utramque

  One fate had each: them shall we make one city and the same,

  Troiam animis: maneat nostros ea cura nepotes.’ 505

  One Troy in heart: lo, let our sons of sons’ sons see to it!’
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br />   Prouehimur pelago uicina Ceraunia iuxta,

  Past nigh Ceraunian mountain-sides thence o’er the sea we flit,

  unde iter Italiam cursusque breuissimus undis.

  Whence the sea-way to Italy the shortest may be made.

  sol ruit interea et montes umbrantur opaci;

  But in the meanwhile sets the sun, the dusk hills lie in shade,

  sternimur optatae gremio telluris ad undam

  And, choosing oar-wards, down we lie on bosom of the land

  sortiti remos passimque in litore sicco 510

  So wished for: by the water-side and on the dry sea-strand

  corpora curamus, fessos sopor inrigat artus.

  We tend our bodies here and there; sleep floodeth every limb.

  necdum orbem medium Nox Horis acta subibat:

  But ere the hour-bedriven night in midmost orb did swim,

  haud segnis strato surgit Palinurus et omnis

  Nought slothful Palinurus rose, and wisdom strives to win

  explorat uentos atque auribus aera captat;

  Of all the winds: with eager ear the breeze he drinketh in;

  sidera cuncta notat tacito labentia caelo, 515

  He noteth how through silent heaven the stars soft gliding fare,

  Arcturum pluuiasque Hyadas geminosque Triones,

  Arcturus, the wet Hyades, and either Northern Bear,

  armatumque auro circumspicit Oriona.

  And through and through he searcheth out Orion girt with gold.

  postquam cuncta uidet caelo constare sereno,

  So when he sees how everything a peaceful sky foretold,

  dat clarum e puppi signum; nos castra mouemus

  He bloweth clear from off the poop, and we our campment shift,

  temptamusque uiam et uelorum pandimus alas. 520

  And try the road and spread abroad our sail-wings to the lift.

  Iamque rubescebat stellis Aurora fugatis

  And now, the stars all put to flight, Aurora’s blushes grow,

  cum procul obscuros collis humilemque uidemus

  When we behold dim fells afar and long lands lying low,

  Italiam. Italiam primus conclamat Achates,

  — E’en Italy. Achates first cries out on Italy;

  Italiam laeto socii clamore salutant.

  To Italy our joyous folk glad salutation cry.

  tum pater Anchises magnum cratera corona 525

  Anchises then a mighty bowl crowned with a garland fair,

  induit impleuitque mero, diuosque uocauit

  And filled it with unwatered wine and called the Gods to hear,

  stans celsa in puppi:

  High standing on the lofty deck:

  ‘di maris et terrae tempestatumque potentes,

  ‘O Gods that rule the earth and sea, and all the tides of storm,