Complete Works of Virgil

by Virgil

  tandem laetus ait: ‘di nostra incepta secundent

  At last he spake out joyfully: “God grace our deed begun,

  auguriumque suum! dabitur, Troiane, quod optas. 260

  And his own bidding! man of Troy, thine asking shall be done:

  munera nec sperno: non uobis rege Latino

  I take your gifts: nought shall ye lack from King Latinus’ hand,

  diuitis uber agri Troiaeue opulentia deerit.

  Riches of Troy, nor health and wealth of fat and fruitful land.

  ipse modo Aeneas, nostri si tanta cupido est,

  But let Æneas come himself if he so yearn for me,

  si iungi hospitio properat sociusque uocari,

  If he be eager for our house, and would our fellow be;

  adueniat, uultus neue exhorrescat amicos: 265

  Nor let him fear to look upon friends’ faces close anigh,

  pars mihi pacis erit dextram tetigisse tyranni.

  Part of the peace-troth shall be this, my hand in his to lie.

  uos contra regi mea nunc mandata referte:

  And now bear back unto your king this bidding that I send:

  est mihi nata, uiro gentis quam iungere nostrae

  I have a daughter; her indeed with countryman to blend

  non patrio ex adyto sortes, non plurima caelo

  The answers of my father’s house forbid, and many a sign

  monstra sinunt; generos externis adfore ab oris, 270

  Sent down from heaven: from over sea comes one to wed our line;

  hoc Latio restare canunt, qui sanguine nostrum

  They say this bideth Latin Land; a man to raise our blood

  nomen in astra ferant. hunc illum poscere fata

  Up to the very stars of heaven: that this is he fate would,

  et reor et, si quid ueri mens augurat, opto.’

  I think, yea hope, if any whit my heart herein avail.”

  haec effatus equos numero pater eligit omni

  He spake, and bade choose horses out from all his noble tale,

  (stabant ter centum nitidi in praesepibus altis); 275

  Whereof three hundred sleek and fair stood in the stables high:

  omnibus extemplo Teucris iubet ordine duci

  These biddeth he for Teucrian men be led forth presently,

  instratos ostro alipedes pictisque tapetis

  Wing-footed purple-bearing beasts, with pictures o’er them flung

  (aurea pectoribus demissa monilia pendent,

  Of woven stuff, and, on their breasts are golden collars hung:

  tecti auro fuluum mandunt sub dentibus aurum),

  Gold-housed are they, and champ in teeth the yellow-golden chain

  absenti Aeneae currum geminosque iugalis 280

  But to Æneas, absent thence, a car and yoke-beasts twain

  semine ab aetherio spirantis naribus ignem,

  He sends: the seed of heaven are they, and breathing very fire,

  illorum de gente patri quos daedala Circe

  The blood of those that Circe stole when she beguiled her sire,

  supposita de matre nothos furata creauit.

  That crafty mistress, winning them, bastards, from earthy mare.

  talibus Aeneadae donis dictisque Latini

  So back again Æneas’ folk high on their horses fare,

  sublimes in equis redeunt pacemque reportant. 285

  Bearing Latinus’ gifts and words, and all the tale of peace.

  Ecce autem Inachiis sese referebat ab Argis

  But lo, where great Jove’s bitter wife comes from the town of Greece,

  saeua Iouis coniunx aurasque inuecta tenebat,

  From Argos wrought of Inachus, and holds the airy way.

  et laetum Aenean classemque ex aethere longe

  Far off she sees Æneas’ joy, and where the ship-host lay

  Dardaniam Siculo prospexit ab usque Pachyno.

  Of Dardans: yea from Sicily and far Pachynus head

  moliri iam tecta uidet, iam fidere terrae, 290

  She seeth him on earth at last and raising roofèd stead,

  deseruisse rates: stetit acri fixa dolore.

  And all the ships void: fixed she stood, smit through with bitter wrath,

  tum quassans caput haec effundit pectore dicta:

  And shook her head: then from her breast the angry words came forth:

  ‘heu stirpem inuisam et fatis contraria nostris

  “Ah, hated race! Ah, Phrygian fates that shear my fates atwain!

  fata Phrygum! num Sigeis occumbere campis,

  Was there no dead man’s place for you on that Sigean plain?

  num capti potuere capi? num incensa cremauit 295

  Had ye no might to wend as slaves? gave Troy so poor a flame

  Troia uiros? medias acies mediosque per ignis

  To burn her men, that through the fire and through the swords ye came?

  inuenere uiam. at, credo, mea numina tandem

  I think at last my godhead’s might is wearied and gone by,

  fessa iacent, odiis aut exsaturata quieui.

  That I have drunk enough of hate, and now at rest may lie: — I,

  quin etiam patria excussos infesta per undas

  who had heart to follow up those outcasts from their land,

  ausa sequi et profugis toto me opponere ponto. 300

  And as they fled o’er all the sea still in their path would stand.

  absumptae in Teucros uires caelique marisque.

  Against these Teucrians sea and sky have spent their strength for nought:

  quid Syrtes aut Scylla mihi, quid uasta Charybdis

  Was Syrtes aught, or Scylla aught, or huge Charybdis aught?

  profuit? optato conduntur Thybridis alueo

  Lo now the longed-for Tiber’s breast that nation cherisheth

  securi pelagi atque mei. Mars perdere gentem

  Safe from the deep and safe from me: while Mars might do to death

  immanem Lapithum ualuit, concessit in iras 305

  Those huge-wrought folk of Lapithæ: the very Father-God

  ipse deum antiquam genitor Calydona Dianae,

  Gave up the ancient Calydon to Dian’s wrath and rod.

  quod scelus aut Lapithas tantum aut Calydona merentem?

  What was the guilt of Lapithæ? what crime wrought Calydon?

  ast ego, magna Iouis coniunx, nil linquere inausum

  But I, the mighty spouse of Jove, who nought have left undone

  quae potui infelix, quae memet in omnia uerti,

  My evil hap might compass, I who ran through all craft’s tale

  uincor ab Aenea. quod si mea numina non sunt 310

  Am vanquished of Æneas now. But if of no avail

  magna satis, dubitem haud equidem implorare quod usquam est:

  My godhead be, I will not spare to pray what is of might,

  flectere si nequeo superos, Acheronta mouebo.

  Since Heaven I move not, needs must I let loose the Nether Night.

  non dabitur regnis, esto, prohibere Latinis,

  Ah! say it is not fated me the Latin realm to ban,

  atque immota manet fatis Lauinia coniunx:

  Lavinia must be fated wife of this same Trojan man,

  at trahere atque moras tantis licet addere rebus, 315

  Yet may I draw out time at least, and those great things delay;

  at licet amborum populos exscindere regum.

  At least may I for either king an host of people slay:

  hac gener atque socer coeant mercede suorum:

  For father and for son-in-law shall plenteous price be paid,

  sanguine Troiano et Rutulo dotabere, uirgo,

  With Trojan and Rutulian blood shalt thou be dowered, O maid;

  et Bellona manet te pronuba. nec face tantum

  Bellona’s self shall bridal thee; not Cisseus’ seed alone

  Cisseis praegnas ignis enixa iugalis; 320

  Was big with brand; not she alone with
wedding-ring has shone:

  quin idem Veneri partus suus et Paris alter,

  Yea, and this too is Venus’ child; another Paris comes

  funestaeque iterum recidiua in Pergama taedae.’

  To kindle deadly torch again in new-born Trojan homes.”

  Haec ubi dicta dedit, terras horrenda petiuit;

  So spake she terrible, and sank into the earth below,

  luctificam Allecto dirarum ab sede dearum

  Yea to the nether night, and stirred Alecto, forge of woe,

  infernisque ciet tenebris, cui tristia bella 325

  From the dread Goddesses’ abode: sad wars she loveth well,

  iraeque insidiaeque et crimina noxia cordi.

  And murderous wrath, and lurking guile, and evil deeds and fell:

  odit et ipse pater Pluton, odere sorores

  E’en Pluto loathes her; yea, e’en they of that Tartarean place,

  Tartareae monstrum: tot sese uertit in ora,

  Her sisters, hate her: sure she hath as many a changing face,

  tam saeuae facies, tot pullulat atra colubris.

  As many a cruel body’s form, as her black snakes put forth.

  quam Iuno his acuit uerbis ac talia fatur: 330

  To whom in such wise Juno spake and whetted on her wrath:

  ‘hunc mihi da proprium, uirgo sata Nocte, laborem,

  “Win me a work after thine heart, O Virgin of the night,

  hanc operam, ne noster honos infractaue cedat

  Lest all my fame, unstained of old, my glory won aright,

  fama loco, neu conubiis ambire Latinum

  Give place: lest there Æneas’ sons Latinus overcome

  Aeneadae possint Italosue obsidere finis.

  By wedlock, and in Italy set up their house and home:

  tu potes unanimos armare in proelia fratres 335

  Thou, who the brothers of one heart canst raise up each ‘gainst each,

  atque odiis uersare domos, tu uerbera tectis

  And overturn men’s homes with hate, and through the house-walls’ breach

  funereasque inferre faces, tibi nomina mille,

  Bear in the stroke and deadly brand — a thousand names hast thou, —

  mille nocendi artes. fecundum concute pectus,

  A thousand arts of ill: Stir up thy fruitful bosom now;

  dissice compositam pacem, sere crimina belli;

  Be render of the plighted peace; of war-seed be the sower;

  arma uelit poscatque simul rapiatque iuuentus.’ 340

  That men may yearn for arms, and ask, and snatch in one same hour.”

  Exim Gorgoneis Allecto infecta uenenis

  Thereon Alecto, steeped at heart with Gorgon venoming.

  principio Latium et Laurentis tecta tyranni

  Sought Latium first and high-built house of that Laurentian king,

  celsa petit, tacitumque obsedit limen Amatae,

  And by the silent threshold stood whereby Amata lay,

  quam super aduentu Teucrum Turnique hymenaeis

  In whose hot heart a woman’s woe and woman’s wrath did play,

  femineae ardentem curaeque iraeque coquebant. 345

  About those Teucrian new-comers and Turnus’ bridal bed:

  huic dea caeruleis unum de crinibus anguem

  On her she cast an adder blue, a tress from off her head,

  conicit, inque sinum praecordia ad intima subdit,

  And sent it to her breast to creep her very heart-strings through,

  quo furibunda domum monstro permisceat omnem.

  That she, bewildered by the bane, may all the house undo.

  ille inter uestis et leuia pectora lapsus

  So he betwixt her bosom smooth and dainty raiment slid,

  uoluitur attactu nullo, fallitque furentem 350

  And crawled as if he touched her not, and maddened her yet hid,

  uipeream inspirans animam; fit tortile collo

  And breathed the adder’s soul in her: the dreadful wormy thing

  aurum ingens coluber, fit longae taenia uittae

  Seemed the wrought gold about her neck, or the long silken string

  innectitque comas et membris lubricus errat.

  That knit her hair, and slippery soft it glided o’er her limbs.

  ac dum prima lues udo sublapsa ueneno

  And now while first the plague begins, and soft the venom swims,

  pertemptat sensus atque ossibus implicat ignem 355

  Touching her sense, and round her bones the fiery web is pressed,

  necdum animus toto percepit pectore flammam,

  Nor yet her soul had caught the flame through all her poisoned breast,

  mollius et solito matrum de more locuta est,

  Still soft, and e’en as mothers will, she spake the word and said

  multa super natae lacrimans Phrygiisque hymenaeis:

  Her woes about her daughter’s case, and Phrygian bridal bed.

  ‘exsulibusne datur ducenda Lauinia Teucris,

  “To Teucrian outcasts shall our maid, Lavinia, wedded be?

  o genitor, nec te miseret nataeque tuique? 360

  O Father, hast thou nought of ruth of her, forsooth, and thee?

  nec matris miseret, quam primo Aquilone relinquet

  Nor of the mother, whom that man forsworn shall leave behind,

  perfidus alta petens abducta uirgine praedo?

  Bearing the maiden o’er the sea with the first northern wind?

  at non sic Phrygius penetrat Lacedaemona pastor,

  Nay, not e’en so the Phrygian herd pierced Lacedæmon’s fold,

  Ledaeamque Helenam Troianas uexit ad urbes?

  And bore Ledæan Helen off unto the Trojan hold.

  quid tua sancta fides? quid cura antiqua tuorum 365

  Nay, where is gone thine hallowed faith, thy kinsomeness of yore?

  et consanguineo totiens data dextera Turno?

  Thine hand that oft to Turnus’ hand, thy kinsman, promise bore?

  si gener externa petitur de gente Latinis,

  Lo, if we needs must seek a son strange to the Latin folk,

  idque sedet, Faunique premunt te iussa parentis,

  And Father Faunus’ words on thee are e’en so strait a yoke,

  omnem equidem sceptris terram quae libera nostris

  I deem, indeed, that every land free from our kingdom’s sway

  dissidet externam reor et sic dicere diuos. 370

  Is stranger land, and even so I deem the Gods would say:

  et Turno, si prima domus repetatur origo,

  And Turnus comes, if we shall seek beginning of his race.

  Inachus Acrisiusque patres mediaeque Mycenae.’

  From Inachus, Acrisius old, and mid Mycenæ’s place.”

  His ubi nequiquam dictis experta Latinum

  But when she thus had said in vain, and saw Latinus still

  contra stare uidet, penitusque in uiscera lapsum

  Withstand her: when all inwardly the maddening serpent’s ill

  serpentis furiale malum totamque pererrat, 375

  Hath smitten through her heart of hearts and passed through all her frame,

  tum uero infelix ingentibus excita monstris

  Then verily the hapless one, with dreadful things aflame,

  immensam sine more furit lymphata per urbem.

  Raves through the city’s length and breadth in God-wrought agonies:

  ceu quondam torto uolitans sub uerbere turbo,

  As ‘neath the stroke of twisted lash at whiles the whip-top flies,

  quem pueri magno in gyro uacua atria circum

  Which lads all eager for the game drive, ever circling wide

  intenti ludo exercent — ille actus habena 380

  Round some void hall; it, goaded on beneath the strip of hide,

  curuatis fertur spatiis; stupet inscia supra

  From circle unto circle goes; the silly childish throng

  impubesque manus mirata uolubile buxum;


  Still hanging o’er, and wondering how the box-tree spins along,

  dant animos plagae: non cursu segnior illo

  The while their lashes make it live: no quieter she ran

  per medias urbes agitur populosque ferocis.

  Through the mid city, borne amid fierce hearts of many a man.

  quin etiam in siluas simulato numine Bacchi 385

  Then in the wilderness she feigns the heart that Bacchus fills,

  maius adorta nefas maioremque orsa furorem

  And stirs a greater madness up, beginning greater ills,

  euolat et natam frondosis montibus abdit,

  And mid the leafy mountain-side her daughter hides away,

  quo thalamum eripiat Teucris taedasque moretur,

  To snatch her from the Teucrian bed, the bridal torch to stay;

  euhoe Bacche fremens, solum te uirgine dignum

  Foaming: “Hail, Bacchus! thou alone art worthy lord to wed

  uociferans: etenim mollis tibi sumere thyrsos, 390

  This virgin thing: for thee she takes the spear’s soft-fruited head,

  te lustrare choro, sacrum tibi pascere crinem.

  For thee she twinkleth dancing feet, and feeds her holy hair.”

  fama uolat, furiisque accensas pectore matres

  The rumour flies, and one same rage all mother-folk doth bear,

  idem omnis simul ardor agit noua quaerere tecta.

  Heart-kindled by the Fury’s ill, to roofs of all unrest:

  deseruere domos, uentis dant colla comasque;

  They flee the house and let the wind play free o’er hair and breast:

  ast aliae tremulis ululatibus aethera complent 395

  While others fill the very heavens with shrilly quivering wail,

  pampineasque gerunt incinctae pellibus hastas.

  And skin-clad toss about the spear the wreathing vine-leaves veil:

  ipsa inter medias flagrantem feruida pinum

  But she ablaze amidst of them upholds the fir-lit flame,

  sustinet ac natae Turnique canit hymenaeos

  And sings her daughter’s bridal song, and sings of Turnus’ name,

  sanguineam torquens aciem, toruumque repente

  Rolling her blood-shot eyes about; then eager suddenly

  clamat: ‘io matres, audite, ubi quaeque, Latinae: 400

  She shouts: “Ho, mothers! Latin wives, wherever ye may be,

  si qua piis animis manet infelicis Amatae

  Hearken! if in your righteous souls abideth any love

  gratia, si iuris materni cura remordet,

  Of lorn Amata; if your souls a mother’s right may move,

  soluite crinalis uittas, capite orgia mecum.’

  Cast off the fillets from your locks, with me the madness bear.”