Complete Works of Virgil

by Virgil

  nobiscum, et iam nunc sociorum adsuescite mensis.’

  Be kind, and with your fellows’ boards make friends without delay.”

  Haec ubi dicta, dapes iubet et sublata reponi 175

  Therewith he bids bring forth once more the wine-cups and the meat,

  pocula gramineoque uiros locat ipse sedili,

  And he himself sets down the men upon a grassy seat;

  praecipuumque toro et uillosi pelle leonis

  But chiefly to the bed bedight with shaggy lion’s skin

  accipit Aenean solioque inuitat acerno.

  He draws Æneas, bidding him the throne of maple win.

  tum lecti iuuenes certatim araeque sacerdos

  Then vie the chosen youth-at-arms, the altar-priest brings aid;

  uiscera tosta ferunt taurorum, onerantque canistris 180

  They bear in roasted flesh of bulls, and high the baskets lade

  dona laboratae Cereris, Bacchumque ministrant.

  With gifts of Ceres fashioned well, and serve the Bacchus’ joy;

  uescitur Aeneas simul et Troiana iuuentus

  So therewithal Æneas eats and men-at-arms of Troy

  perpetui tergo bouis et lustralibus extis.

  Of undivided oxen chines and inwards of the feast.

  Postquam exempta fames et amor compressus edendi,

  But when the lust of meat was dulled and hunger’s gnawing ceased,

  rex Euandrus ait: ‘non haec sollemnia nobis, 185

  Saith King Evander: “This high-tide that we are holding thus,

  has ex more dapes, hanc tanti numinis aram

  This ordered feast, this altar raised to God all-glorious,

  uana superstitio ueterumque ignara deorum

  No idle task of witch-work is, that knoweth not the Gods

  imposuit: saeuis, hospes Troiane, periclis

  Of ancient days: O Trojan chief, we, saved from fearful odds,

  seruati facimus meritosque nouamus honores.

  Here worship, and give glory new to deeds done gloriously.

  iam primum saxis suspensam hanc aspice rupem, 190

  Note first the crag, whose world of stones o’ertoppleth there anigh;

  disiectae procul ut moles desertaque montis

  What stone-heaps have been cast afar, how waste and wild is grown

  stat domus et scopuli ingentem traxere ruinam.

  The mountain-house, what mighty wrack the rocks have dragged adown.

  hic spelunca fuit uasto summota recessu,

  Therein a cave was erst, that back a long way burrowing ran,

  semihominis Caci facies quam dira tenebat

  Held by the dreadful thing, the shape of Cacus, monster-man.

  solis inaccessam radiis; semperque recenti 195

  A place the sun might never see, for ever warm and wet

  caede tepebat humus, foribusque adfixa superbis

  With reek of murder newly wrought; o’er whose proud doorways set

  ora uirum tristi pendebant pallida tabo.

  The heads of men were hanging still wan mid the woeful gore.

  huic monstro Volcanus erat pater: illius atros

  Vulcan was father of this fiend; his black flame did he pour

  ore uomens ignis magna se mole ferebat.

  Forth from his mouth, as monster-great he wended on his ways.

  attulit et nobis aliquando optantibus aetas 200

  But to our aid, as whiles it will, brought round the lapse of days

  auxilium aduentumque dei. nam maximus ultor

  The help and coming of a God: for that most mighty one,

  tergemini nece Geryonae spoliisque superbus

  All glorious with the death and spoils of threefold Geryon,

  Alcides aderat taurosque hac uictor agebat

  Alcides, our avenger came, driving the victor’s meed,

  ingentis, uallemque boues amnemque tenebant.

  His mighty bulls, who down the dale and river-bank did feed.

  at furis Caci mens effera, ne quid inausum 205

  But Cacus, mad with furious heart, that nought undared might be

  aut intractatum scelerisue doliue fuisset,

  Of evil deeds, or nought untried of guile and treachery,

  quattuor a stabulis praestanti corpore tauros

  Drave from the fold four head of bulls of bodies excellent,

  auertit, totidem forma superante iuuencas.

  And e’en so many lovely kine, whose fashion all outwent;

  atque hos, ne qua forent pedibus uestigia rectis,

  Which same, that of their rightful road the footprints clean might lack,

  cauda in speluncam tractos uersisque uiarum 210

  Tail-foremost dragged he to his den, turning their way-marks back;

  indiciis raptor saxo occultabat opaco;

  And so he hid them all away amid that stonydark,

  quaerenti nulla ad speluncam signa ferebant.

  Nor toward the cave might he that sought find any four-foot mark.

  interea, cum iam stabulis saturata moueret

  “Meanwhile, his beasts all satiate, from fold Amphitryon’s son

  Amphitryoniades armenta abitumque pararet,

  Now gets them ready for the road, and busks him to be gone;

  discessu mugire boues atque omne querelis 215

  When lo, the herd falls bellowing, and with its sorrow fills

  impleri nemus et colles clamore relinqui.

  The woodland as it goes away, and lowing leaves the hills.

  reddidit una boum uocem uastoque sub antro

  Therewith a cow gave back the sound, and in the cavern hid

  mugiit et Caci spem custodita fefellit.

  Lowed out, and in despite his heed all Cacus’ hope undid.

  hic uero Alcidae furiis exarserat atro

  Then verily Alcides’ ire and gall of heart outbroke

  felle dolor: rapit arma manu nodisque grauatum 220

  In fury, and his arms he caught and weight of knotty oak,

  robur, et aerii cursu petit ardua montis.

  And running, sought the hill aloft that thrusteth toward the skies.

  tum primum nostri Cacum uidere timentem

  Then first our folk saw Cacus scared and trouble in his eyes,

  turbatumque oculis; fugit ilicet ocior Euro

  And in a twinkling did he flee, no eastern wind as fleet,

  speluncamque petit, pedibus timor addidit alas.

  Seeking his den, and very fear gave wings unto his feet;

  ut sese inclusit ruptisque immane catenis 225

  But scarcely was he shut therein, and, breaking down the chains,

  deiecit saxum, ferro quod et arte paterna

  Had dropped the monstrous rock that erst his crafty father’s pains

  pendebat, fultosque emuniit obice postis,

  Hung there with iron; scarce had he blocked the doorway with the same,

  ecce furens animis aderat Tirynthius omnemque

  When lo, the man of Tiryns there, who with his heart aflame

  accessum lustrans huc ora ferebat et illuc,

  Eyed all the entries, here and there turning about his face,

  dentibus infrendens. ter totum feruidus ira 230

  Gnashing his teeth: afire with wrath, thrice all that hilly place

  lustrat Auentini montem, ter saxea temptat

  Of Aventine he eyeth o’er, thrice tries without avail

  limina nequiquam, ter fessus ualle resedit.

  The rocky door, thrice sits him down awearied in the dale.

  stabat acuta silex praecisis undique saxis

  “There was a peakèd rock of flint with ragged edges dight,

  speluncae dorso insurgens, altissima uisu,

  Which at the cave’s back rose aloft exceeding high to sight,

  dirarum nidis domus opportuna uolucrum. 235

  A dwelling meet for evil fowl amidst their nests to bide;

  hanc, ut prona iugo laeuum incumbebat ad a
mnem,

  This, that hung o’er the brow above the river’s leftward side,

  dexter in aduersum nitens concussit et imis

  Hard from the right he beareth on, and shakes, and from its roots

  auulsam soluit radicibus, inde repente

  Wrencheth it loose, and suddenly adown the bent side shoots.

  impulit; impulsu quo maximus intonat aether,

  Then ringeth all the mighty heaven with thunder of its wrack,

  dissultant ripae refluitque exterritus amnis. 240

  The banks are rent, the frighted stream its waters casteth back;

  at specus et Caci detecta apparuit ingens

  But Cacus’ den and kingly house showed all uncovered there,

  regia, et umbrosae penitus patuere cauernae,

  The inmost of the shadowy cave was laid undoored and bare:

  non secus ac si qua penitus ui terra dehiscens

  As if the inner parts of earth ‘neath mighty stroke should gape,

  infernas reseret sedes et regna recludat

  Unlocking all the house of hell, showing that country’s shape,

  pallida, dis inuisa, superque immane barathrum 245

  The wan land all forlorn of God: there shows the unmeasured pit,

  cernatur, trepident immisso lumine Manes.

  And ghosts aquake with light of day shot through the depths of it.

  ergo insperata deprensum luce repente

  “But Cacus, caught unwares by day whereof he had no doubt,

  inclusumque cauo saxo atque insueta rudentem

  Imprisoned in the hollow rock, in strange voice bellowing out,

  desuper Alcides telis premit, omniaque arma

  Alcides fell on from above, calling all arms to aid,

  aduocat et ramis uastisque molaribus instat. 250

  And plenteous cast of boughs and stones upon the monster laid;

  ille autem, neque enim fuga iam super ulla pericli,

  While he, since now no flight availed to ‘scape that peril’s hold,

  faucibus ingentem fumum (mirabile dictu)

  Pours from his mouth a mighty smoke, O wondrous to be told!

  euomit inuoluitque domum caligine caeca

  Enwrapping all the house about with blinding misty shroud,

  prospectum eripiens oculis, glomeratque sub antro

  Snatching the sight from eyes of men, and rolling on the cloud,

  fumiferam noctem commixtis igne tenebris. 255

  A reeking night with heart of fire and utter blackness blent.

  non tulit Alcides animis, seque ipse per ignem

  Alcides’ spirit bore it nought; his body swift he sent

  praecipiti iecit saltu, qua plurimus undam

  With headlong leap amid the fire where thickest rolled the wave

  fumus agit nebulaque ingens specus aestuat atra.

  Of smoke, and with its pitchy mist was flooding all the cave;

  hic Cacum in tenebris incendia uana uomentem

  Cacus he catcheth in the dark spueing out fire in vain,

  corripit in nodum complexus, et angit inhaerens 260

  And knitteth him in knot about, and, strangling him, doth strain

  elisos oculos et siccum sanguine guttur.

  The starting eyes from out of him, and throat that blood doth lack:

  panditur extemplo foribus domus atra reuulsis

  Then the mirk house is opened wide; the doors are torn aback;

  abstractaeque boues abiurataeque rapinae

  The stolen kine, that prey his oath foreswore to heaven are shown,

  caelo ostenduntur, pedibusque informe cadauer

  And by the feet is dragged today the body hideous grown;

  protrahitur. nequeunt expleri corda tuendo 265

  Nor may men satiate their hearts by gazing on the thing;

  terribilis oculos, uultum uillosaque saetis

  His fearful eyes, the face of him, the man-beast’s fashioning

  pectora semiferi atque exstinctos faucibus ignis.

  Of bristled breast; those jaws of his, whence faded is the flame.

  ex illo celebratus honos laetique minores

  “Hence is this honour celebrate, and they that after came

  seruauere diem, primusque Potitius auctor

  Still kept the day all joyfully; Potitius wrought it first,

  et domus Herculei custos Pinaria sacri 270

  This feast of mighty Hercules; the house Pinarian nursed,

  hanc aram luco statuit, quae maxima semper

  The altar of the grove he reared, which Mightiest yet we call,

  dicetur nobis et erit quae maxima semper.

  And ever more, in very sooth, shall mightiest be of all.

  quare agite, o iuuenes, tantarum in munere laudum

  So come, O youths, these glorious deeds I bid you glorify:

  cingite fronde comas et pocula porgite dextris,

  Wreathe round your hair, put forth your hands and raise the cup on high!

  communemque uocate deum et date uina uolentes.’ 275

  Call on the God whom all we love, and give the wine full fain!”

  dixerat, Herculea bicolor cum populus umbra

  He spake: the leaf of Hercules, the poplar coloured twain,

  uelauitque comas foliisque innexa pependit,

  Shaded his hair; the leaves entwined hung down aback his head;

  et sacer impleuit dextram scyphus. ocius omnes

  The holy beaker filled his hand: then merry all men sped,

  in mensam laeti libant diuosque precantur.

  And on the table poured their gift, and called the Gods to hear.

  Deuexo interea propior fit Vesper Olympo. 280

  Meanwhile unto the slopes of heaven the Western Star drew near,

  iamque sacerdotes primusque Potitius ibant

  And then the priests, and chief thereof, Potitius, thither came,

  pellibus in morem cincti, flammasque ferebant.

  All clad in skins, as due it was, and bearing forth the flame.

  instaurant epulas et mensae grata secundae

  New feast they dight, and gifts beloved of second service bring,

  dona ferunt cumulantque oneratis lancibus aras.

  And on the altar pile again the plates of offering.

  tum Salii ad cantus incensa altaria circum 285

  The Salii then to singing-tide heart-kindled go around

  populeis adsunt euincti tempora ramis,

  The altars; every brow of them with poplar leafage bound:

  hic iuuenum chorus, ille senum, qui carmine laudes

  And here the youths, the elders there, set up the song of praise,

  Herculeas et facta ferunt: ut prima nouercae

  And sing the deeds of Hercules: How, on his first of days,

  monstra manu geminosque premens eliserit anguis,

  The monsters twain his stepdame sent, the snakes, he crushed in hand;

  ut bello egregias idem disiecerit urbes, 290

  And how in war he overthrew great cities of the land,

  Troiamque Oechaliamque, ut duros mille labores

  Troy and Oechalia: how he won through thousand toils o’ergreat,

  rege sub Eurystheo fatis Iunonis iniquae

  That King Eurystheus laid on him by bitter Juno’s fate.

  pertulerit. ‘tu nubigenas, inuicte, bimembris

  “O thou Unconquered, thou whose hand beat down the cloud-born two,

  Hylaeumque Pholumque manu, tu Cresia mactas

  Pholeus, Hylæus, twin-wrought things, and Cretan monsters slew:

  prodigia et uastum Nemeae sub rupe leonem. 295

  O thou who slew’st the lion huge ‘neath that Nemean steep,

  te Stygii tremuere lacus, te ianitor Orci

  The Stygian mere hath quaked at thee, the ward of Orcus deep

  ossa super recubans antro semesa cruento;

  Quaked in his den above his bed of half-gnawed bones and blood.

  nec te ullae fa
cies, non terruit ipse Typhoeus

  At nothing fashioned wert thou feared; not when Typhoeus stood

  arduus arma tenens; non te rationis egentem

  Aloft in arms: nor from thine heart fell any rede away

  Lernaeus turba capitum circumstetit anguis. 300

  When round thee headed-manifold the Worm of Lerna lay.

  salue, uera Iouis proles, decus addite diuis,

  O very child of Jupiter, O Heaven’s new glory, hail!

  et nos et tua dexter adi pede sacra secundo.’

  Fail not thy feast with friendly foot, nor us, thy lovers, fail!”

  talia carminibus celebrant; super omnia Caci

  With such-like song they sing the praise, and add to all the worth

  speluncam adiciunt spirantemque ignibus ipsum.

  The cave of Cacus, and the beast that breathed the wildfire forth.

  consonat omne nemus strepitu collesque resultant. 305

  The woods sing with them as they sing; the hills are light with song.

  Exim se cuncti diuinis rebus ad urbem

  So, all the holy things fulfilled, they wend their ways along

  perfectis referunt. ibat rex obsitus aeuo,

  Unto the city: the old king afoot was with them there,

  et comitem Aenean iuxta natumque tenebat

  And bade Æneas and his son close to his side to fare,

  ingrediens uarioque uiam sermone leuabat.

  And as he went made light the way with talk of many a thing.

  miratur facilisque oculos fert omnia circum 310

  Æneas wonders, and his eyes go lightly wandering

  Aeneas, capiturque locis et singula laetus

  O’er all; but here and there they stay, as, joyful of his ways,

  exquiritque auditque uirum monimenta priorum.

  He asks and hears of tokens left by men of earlier days.

  tum rex Euandrus Romanae conditor arcis:

  Then spake the King Evander, he who built up Rome of old:

  ‘haec nemora indigenae Fauni Nymphaeque tenebant

  “These woods the earth-born Fauns and Nymphs in time agone did hold,

  gensque uirum truncis et duro robore nata, 315

  And men from out the tree-trunk born and very heart of oak;

  quis neque mos neque cultus erat, nec iungere tauros

  No fashion of the tilth they knew, nor how the bulls to yoke,

  aut componere opes norant aut parcere parto,

  Nor how to win them store of wealth, or spare what they had got;

  sed rami atque asper uictu uenatus alebat.

  The tree-boughs only cherished them and rugged chase and hot.

  primus ab aetherio uenit Saturnus Olympo

  Then from Olympus of the heavens first Saturn came adown,