by Virgil
And in their souls the love of Mars and maddening fire shall fling
undique ut auxilio ueniant; spargam arma per agros.’
Till all strike in, and all the lea crops of my sowing bear.”
tum contra Iuno: ‘terrorum et fraudis abunde est:
But Juno answered: “Full enough there is of fraud and fear;
stant belli causae, pugnatur comminus armis,
Fast stands the stumbling-block of war, and hand to hand they fight:
quae fors prima dedit sanguis nouus imbuit arma.
The sword that Fate first gave to them hath man’s death stained aright
talia coniugia et talis celebrent hymenaeos 555
Forsooth let King Latinus now and Venus’ noble son
egregium Veneris genus et rex ipse Latinus.
Join hand to hand, and hold high feast for such a wedding won.
te super aetherias errare licentius auras
But thee, the Father of the Gods, lord of Olympus high,
haud pater ille uelit, summi regnator Olympi.
Will nowise have a-wandering free beneath the worldly sky:
cede locis. ego, si qua super fortuna laborum est,
Give place; and whatso more of toil Fortune herein may make
ipsa regam.’ talis dederat Saturnia uoces; 560
Myself shall rule.” Such words as these Saturnian Juno spake,
illa autem attollit stridentis anguibus alas
And on the wing the Evil rose, with snaky sweeping whirr,
Cocytique petit sedem supera ardua linquens.
Seeking Cocytus’ house, and left the light world’s steep of air.
est locus Italiae medio sub montibus altis,
Midst Italy a place there is ‘neath mountains high set down,
nobilis et fama multis memoratus in oris,
Whose noble tale in many a land hath fame and great renown,
Amsancti ualles; densis hunc frondibus atrum 565
The valley of Amsanctus called, hemmed in by woody steep
urget utrimque latus nemoris, medioque fragosus
On either side, and through whose midst a rattling stream doth leap,
dat sonitum saxis et torto uertice torrens.
With clattering stones and eddying whirl: a strange den gapeth there,
hic specus horrendum et saeui spiracula Ditis
The very breathing-hole of Dis; an awful place of fear,
monstrantur, ruptoque ingens Acheronte uorago
A mighty gulf of baneful breath that Acheron hath made
pestiferas aperit fauces, quis condita Erinys, 570
When he brake forth: therein as now the baneful Fury laid
inuisum numen, terras caelumque leuabat.
Her hated godhead, lightening so the load of earth and heaven.
Nec minus interea extremam Saturnia bello
No less meanwhile did Saturn’s Queen still turn her hand to leaven
imponit regina manum. ruit omnis in urbem
That war begun. The shepherd folk rush from the battle-wrack
pastorum ex acie numerus, caesosque reportant
Into the city of the king, bearing their dead aback,
Almonem puerum foedatique ora Galaesi, 575
Almo the lad, Galæsus slain with changed befoulèd face.
implorantque deos obtestanturque Latinum.
They bid Latinus witness bear, and cry the Gods for grace.
Turnus adest medioque in crimine caedis et igni
Turnus is there, and loads the tale of bale-fire and the sword,
terrorem ingeminat: Teucros in regna uocari,
And swells the fear: “The land shall have a Teucrian host for lord:
stirpem admisceri Phrygiam, se limine pelli.
With Phrygians shall ye foul your race and drive me from your door.”
tum quorum attonitae Baccho nemora auia matres 580
Then they, whose mothers midst the wood God Bacchus overbore,
insultant thiasis (neque enim leue nomen Amatae)
To lead the dance — Amata’s name being held in nowise light —
undique collecti coeunt Martemque fatigant.
Together draw from every side, and weary for the fight.
ilicet infandum cuncti contra omina bellum,
Yea, all with froward heart and voice cry out for war and death,
contra fata deum peruerso numine poscunt.
That signs of heaven forbid so sore, that high God gainsayeth,
certatim regis circumstant tecta Latini; 585
And King Latinus’ house therewith beset they eagerly;
ille uelut pelago rupes immota resistit,
But he unmoved against them stands as crag amid the sea;
ut pelagi rupes magno ueniente fragore,
As crag amid the sea, that stands unmoved and huge to meet
quae sese multis circum latrantibus undis
The coming crash, while plenteously the waves bark round its feet:
mole tenet; scopuli nequiquam et spumea circum
Vain is the roaring on the rocks and rattling shingly crash,
saxa fremunt laterique inlisa refunditur alga. 590
The wrack from off its smitten sides falls down amid the wash.
uerum ubi nulla datur caecum exsuperare potestas
But when no might is given him their blindness to o’ercome,
consilium, et saeuae nutu Iunonis eunt res,
And by the road fell Juno would the matter must win home,
multa deos aurasque pater testatus inanis
Sore called the father on the Gods and emptiness of air:
‘frangimur heu fatis’ inquit ‘ferimurque procella!
“Ah, broken by the Fates,” he cried, “amid the storm we bear!
ipsi has sacrilego pendetis sanguine poenas, 595
Ye with your godless blood yourselves shall pay the penalty,
o miseri. te, Turne, nefas, te triste manebit
Unhappy men! But Turnus, thou, thine ill deed bideth thee
supplicium, uotisque deos uenerabere seris.
With woe enough, and overlate the Gods shalt thou adore.
nam mihi parta quies, omnisque in limine portus
For me, my rest is gained, my foot the threshold passeth o’er;
funere felici spolior.’ nec plura locutus
Yet is my happy ending spilled.” Nor further would he say;
saepsit se tectis rerumque reliquit habenas. 600
But, hedged within his house, he cast the reins of rule away.
Mos erat Hesperio in Latio, quem protinus urbes
In Latium of the Westland world a fashion was whilome,
Albanae coluere sacrum, nunc maxima rerum
Thence hallowed of the Alban folk, held holy thence by Rome,
Roma colit, cum prima mouent in proelia Martem,
Earth’s mightiest thing: and this they used what time soe’er they woke
siue Getis inferre manu lacrimabile bellum
Mars unto battle; whether they against the Getic folk,
Hyrcanisue Arabisue parant, seu tendere ad Indos 605
Ind, Araby, Hyrcanian men, fashioned the woeful wrack,
Auroramque sequi Parthosque reposcere signa:
Or mid the dawn from Parthian men the banners bade aback.
sunt geminae Belli portae (sic nomine dicunt)
For twofold are the Gates of War — still bear they such a name —
religione sacrae et saeui formidine Martis;
Hallowed by awe of Mars the dread, and worship of his fame,
centum aerei claudunt uectes aeternaque ferri
Shut by an hundred brazen bolts, and iron whose avail
robora, nec custos absistit limine Ianus. 610
Shall never die: nor ever thence doth door-ward Janus fail.
has, ubi certa sedet patribus sententia pugnae,
Now when amid the Fathers’ hearts fast is the war-rede grown,
ipse Q
uirinali trabea cinctuque Gabino
The Consul, girt in Gabine wise, and with Quirinus gown
insignis reserat stridentia limina consul,
Made glorious, doth himself unbar the creaking door-leaves great,
ipse uocat pugnas; sequitur tum cetera pubes,
And he himself cries on the war; whom all men follow straight,
aereaque adsensu conspirant cornua rauco. 615
The while their brazen yea-saying the griding trumpets blare.
hoc et tum Aeneadis indicere bella Latinus
In e’en such wise Latinus now was bidden to declare
more iubebatur tristisque recludere portas.
The battle ‘gainst Æneas’ folk, and ope the gates of woe.
abstinuit tactu pater auersusque refugit
But from their touch the Father shrank, and fleeing lest he do
foeda ministeria, et caecis se condidit umbris.
The evil deed, in eyeless dark he hideth him away.
tum regina deum caelo delapsa morantis 620
Then slipped the Queen of Gods from heaven, and ended their delay;
impulit ipsa manu portas, et cardine uerso
For back upon their hinges turned the Seed of Saturn bore
Belli ferratos rumpit Saturnia postis.
The tarrying leaves, and burst apart the iron Gates of War,
ardet inexcita Ausonia atque immobilis ante;
And all Ausonia yet unstirred brake suddenly ablaze:
pars pedes ire parat campis, pars arduus altis
And some will go afoot to field, and some will wend their ways
puluerulentus equis furit; omnes arma requirunt. 625
Aloft on horses dusty-fierce: all seek their battle-gear.
pars leuis clipeos et spicula lucida tergent
Some polish bright the buckler’s face and rub the pike-point clear
aruina pingui subiguntque in cote securis;
With fat of sheep; and many an axe upon the wheel is worn.
signaque ferre iuuat sonitusque audire tubarum.
They joy to rear the banners up and hearken to the horn.
quinque adeo magnae positis incudibus urbes
And now five mighty cities forge the point and edge anew
tela nouant, Atina potens Tiburque superbum, 630
On new-raised anvils; Tibur proud, Atina staunch to do,
Ardea Crustumerique et turrigerae Antemnae.
Ardea and Crustumerium’s folk, Antemnæ castle-crowned.
tegmina tuta cauant capitum flectuntque salignas
They hollow helming for the head; they bend the withe around
umbonum cratis; alii thoracas aenos
For buckler-boss: or other some beat breast-plates of the brass,
aut leuis ocreas lento ducunt argento;
Or from the toughened silver bring the shining greaves to pass.
uomeris huc et falcis honos, huc omnis aratri 635
Now fails all prize of share and hook, all yearning for the plough;
cessit amor; recoquunt patrios fornacibus ensis.
The swords their fathers bore afield anew they smithy now.
classica iamque sonant, it bello tessera signum;
Now is the gathering-trumpet blown; the battle-token speeds;
hic galeam tectis trepidus rapit, ille trementis
And this man catches helm from wall; this thrusteth foaming steeds
ad iuga cogit equos, clipeumque auroque trilicem
To collar; this his shield does on, and mail-coat threesome laid
loricam induitur fidoque accingitur ense. 640
Of golden link, and girdeth him with ancient trusty blade.
Pandite nunc Helicona, deae, cantusque mouete,
O Muses, open Helicon, and let your song awake
qui bello exciti reges, quae quemque secutae
To tell what kings awoke to war, what armies for whose sake
complerint campos acies, quibus Itala iam tum
Filled up the meads; what men of war sweet mother Italy
floruerit terra alma uiris, quibus arserit armis;
Bore unto flower and fruit as then; what flame of fight ran high:
et meministis enim, diuae, et memorare potestis; 645
For ye remember, Holy Ones, and ye may tell the tale;
ad nos uix tenuis famae perlabitur aura.
But we — a slender breath of fame scarce by our ears may sail.
Primus init bellum Tyrrhenis asper ab oris
Mezentius first, the foe of Gods, fierce from the Tuscan shore
contemptor diuum Mezentius agminaque armat.
Unto the battle wends his way, and armeth host of war:
filius huic iuxta Lausus, quo pulchrior alter
Lausus, his son, anigh him wends; — no lovelier man than he,
non fuit excepto Laurentis corpore Turni; 650
Save Turnus, the Laurentine-born, the crown of all to see. —
Lausus, equum domitor debellatorque ferarum,
Lausus, the tamer of the horse, the wood-deer’s following bane,
ducit Agyllina nequiquam ex urbe secutos
Who led from Agyllina’s wall a thousand men in vain.
mille uiros, dignus patriis qui laetior esset
Worthy was he to have more mirth than ‘neath Mezentius’ sway;
imperiis et cui pater haud Mezentius esset.
Worthy that other sire than he had given him unto day.
Post hos insignem palma per gramina currum 655
The goodly Aventinus next, glorious with palm of prize,
uictoresque ostentat equos satus Hercule pulchro
Along the grass his chariot shows and steeds of victories,
pulcher Auentinus, clipeoque insigne paternum
Sprung from the goodly Hercules, marked by his father’s shield,
centum anguis cinctamque gerit serpentibus Hydram;
Where Hydra girded hundred-fold with adders fills the field:
collis Auentini silua quem Rhea sacerdos
Him Rhea the priestess on a day gave to the sun-lit earth,
furtiuum partu sub luminis edidit oras, 660
On wooded bent of Aventine, in secret stolen birth;
mixta deo mulier, postquam Laurentia uictor
The woman mingled with a God, what time that, Geryon slain,
Geryone exstincto Tirynthius attigit arua,
The conquering man of Tiryns touched the fair Laurentian plain,
Tyrrhenoque boues in flumine lauit Hiberas.
And washed amidst the Tuscan stream the bulls Iberia bred.
pila manu saeuosque gerunt in bella dolones,
These bear in war the bitter glaive and darts with pilèd head:
et tereti pugnant mucrone ueruque Sabello. 665
With slender sword and Sabine staff the battle they abide;
ipse pedes, tegimen torquens immane leonis,
But he afoot and swinging round a monstrous lion’s hide,
terribili impexum saeta cum dentibus albis
Whose bristly brow and terrible with sharp white teeth a-row
indutus capiti, sic regia tecta subibat,
Hooded his head, beneath the roof where dwelt the king did go
horridus Herculeoque umeros innexus amictu.
All shaggy rough, his shoulders clad with Herculean cloak.
Tum gemini fratres Tiburtia moenia linquunt, 670
Then next twin brethren wend away from Tibur’s town and folk,
fratris Tiburti dictam cognomine gentem,
Whose brother-born, Tiburtus, erst had named that citied place;
Catillusque acerque Coras, Argiua iuuentus,
Catillus, eager Coras they, men of the Argive race;
et primam ante aciem densa inter tela feruntur:
In forefront of the battle-wood, mid thick of sleet they fare,
ceu duo nubigenae cum uertice montis ab alto
Like as two centaurs cloud-begot, that down th
e mountains bear,
descendunt Centauri Homolen Othrymque niualem 675
Leaving the high-piled Homole, and Othrys of the snow
linquentes cursu rapido; dat euntibus ingens
With hurrying hoofs: the mighty wood yields to them as they go;
silua locum et magno cedunt uirgulta fragore.
The tangle of the thicket-place before them gives aback.
Nec Praenestinae fundator defuit urbis,
Nor did Præneste’s raiser-up from field of battle lack,
Volcano genitum pecora inter agrestia regem
That Cæculus, whom king of men mid cattle of the mead,
inuentumque focis omnis quem credidit aetas, 680
All ages of the world have trowed was Vulcan’s very seed
Caeculus. hunc legio late comitatur agrestis:
Found on the hearth: from wide away gathered his rustic band:
quique altum Praeneste uiri quique arua Gabinae
Those housed upon Præneste’s steep; they of the Juno land
Iunonis gelidumque Anienem et roscida riuis
Of Gabii: abiders near cool Anio, they that dwell
Hernica saxa colunt, quos diues Anagnia pascis,
On Hernic rocks, the stream-bedewed: they whom thou feedest well,
quos Amasene pater. non illis omnibus arma 685
Anagnia rich; the foster-sons of Amasenus’ coast.
nec clipei currusue sonant; pars maxima glandes
Not all had arms, or clash of shield, or war-wain; but the most
liuentis plumbi spargit, pars spicula gestat
Cast the grey plummets forth, and some, the dart in hand they bear,
bina manu, fuluosque lupi de pelle galeros
And on the head the fallow fell of woodland wolf they wear
tegmen habent capiti; uestigia nuda sinistri
For helming: now with all of them the left foot goes aground,
instituere pedis, crudus tegit altera pero. 690
Naked and bare; but with the hide untanned the left is bound.
At Messapus, equum domitor, Neptunia proles,
Messapus lo, the horse-tamer, a child by Neptune won,
quem neque fas igni cuiquam nec sternere ferro,
Ne’er by the fire to be spilled, nor by the steel undone;
iam pridem resides populos desuetaque bello
His folk this long while sunk in peace, a battle-foolish band,
agmina in arma uocat subito ferrumque retractat.
He calleth suddenly to fight, and taketh sword in hand;
hi Fescenninas acies Aequosque Faliscos, 695
Æqui Falisci are of these, Fescennium’s folk of fight,
hi Soractis habent arces Flauiniaque arua
These lie upon Flavinium’s lea, and hold Soracte’s hight,
