Complete Works of Virgil

by Virgil

  And hew them down upon the flame; then all the shore about

  ardentis spectant socios semustaque seruant 200

  They gaze upon their burning friends, and watch the bale-fires out.

  busta, neque auelli possunt, nox umida donec

  Nor may they tear themselves away until the dewy night

  inuertit caelum stellis ardentibus aptum.

  Hath turned the heavens about again with gleaming stars bedight.

  Nec minus et miseri diuersa in parte Latini

  Nor less the unhappy Latins build upon another stead

  innumeras struxere pyras, et corpora partim

  The bale-fires numberless of tale: but of their warriors dead,

  multa uirum terrae infodiunt, auectaque partim 205

  A many bodies there they dig into the earth adown,

  finitimos tollunt in agros urbique remittunt.

  And bear them into neighbouring lands, or back into the town:

  cetera confusaeque ingentem caedis aceruum

  The rest, a mighty heap of death piled up confusedly,

  nec numero nec honore cremant; tunc undique uasti

  Untold, unhonoured, there they burn: then that wide-lying lea

  certatim crebris conlucent ignibus agri.

  Glareth with fires that thick and fast keep rising high and high.

  tertia lux gelidam caelo dimouerat umbram: 210

  But when the third dawn drew away cold shadows from the sky,

  maerentes altum cinerem et confusa ruebant

  Weeping, great heaps of ashes there and blended bones they made,

  ossa focis tepidoque onerabant aggere terrae.

  And over them the weight of earth yet warm with fire they laid.

  iam uero in tectis, praediuitis urbe Latini,

  But in the houses, in the town of that rich Latin king

  praecipuus fragor et longi pars maxima luctus.

  More heavy was the wail, more sore the long-drawn sorrowing:

  hic matres miseraeque nurus, hic cara sororum 215

  Here mothers, wretched fosterers here, here sisters loved and lorn,

  pectora maerentum puerique parentibus orbi

  And sorrowing sore, and lads whose lives from fathers’ care were torn,

  dirum exsecrantur bellum Turnique hymenaeos;

  Were cursing of the cruel war, and Turnus and his bride,

  ipsum armis ipsumque iubent decernere ferro,

  “He, he, in arms, he with the sword should play it out,” they cried,

  qui regnum Italiae et primos sibi poscat honores.

  “Who claims the realm of Italy and foremost lordship there.”

  ingrauat haec saeuus Drances solumque uocari 220

  And bitter Drances weights the scale, and witnessing doth bear

  testatur, solum posci in certamina Turnum.

  That Turnus only is called forth, the battle-bidden man.

  multa simul contra uariis sententia dictis

  But divers words of many folk on Turnus’ side yet ran,

  pro Turno, et magnum reginae nomen obumbrat,

  And he was cloaked about withal by great Amata’s name,

  multa uirum meritis sustentat fama tropaeis.

  And plenteous signs of battle won upheld his fair-won fame.

  Hos inter motus, medio in flagrante tumultu, 225

  Now midst these stirs and flaming broils the messengers are here

  ecce super maesti magna Diomedis ab urbe

  From Diomedes’ mighty walls; and little is the cheer

  legati responsa ferunt: nihil omnibus actum

  Wherewith they bring the tidings back that every whit hath failed

  tantorum impensis operum, nil dona neque aurum

  Their toil and pains: that not a whit hath gold or gifts availed,

  nec magnas ualuisse preces, alia arma Latinis

  Or mighty prayers, that Latin folk some other stay in war

  quaerenda, aut pacem Troiano ab rege petendum. 230

  Must seek, or from the Trojan king a craven peace implore.

  deficit ingenti luctu rex ipse Latinus:

  Then e’en Latinus’ counsel failed amid such miseries:

  fatalem Aenean manifesto numine ferri

  The wrath of God, the tombs new-wrought that lay before their eyes,

  admonet ira deum tumulique ante ora recentes.

  Made manifest Æneas come by will of God and Fate.

  ergo concilium magnum primosque suorum

  Therefore a mighty parliament, the firstlings of estate,

  imperio accitos alta intra limina cogit. 235

  By his commandment summoned there, unto his house he brings.

  olli conuenere fluuntque ad regia plenis

  Wherefore they gather, streaming forth unto that house of kings

  tecta uiis. sedet in mediis et maximus aeuo

  By the thronged ways: there in the midst Latinus sitteth now,

  et primus sceptris haud laeta fronte Latinus.

  First-born of years, first lord of rule, with little joyful brow.

  atque hic legatos Aetola ex urbe remissos

  Hereon the men come back again from that Ætolian wall

  quae referant fari iubet, et responsa reposcit 240

  He biddeth tell their errand’s speed, what answers did befall,

  ordine cuncta suo. tum facta silentia linguis,

  Each in their order: thereupon for speech was silence made,

  et Venulus dicto parens ita farier infit:

  And Venulus, obeying him, suchwise began and said:

  ‘Vidimus, o ciues, Diomedem Argiuaque castra,

  “Friends, we have looked on Diomede and on the Argive home,

  atque iter emensi casus superauimus omnis,

  And all the road and every hap thereby have overcome:

  contigimusque manum qua concidit Ilia tellus. 245

  Yea, soothly, we have touched the hand that wracked the Ilian earth:

  ille urbem Argyripam patriae cognomine gentis

  Argyripa he buildeth there, named from his land of birth,

  uictor Gargani condebat Iapygis agris.

  In Iapygian Garganus, where he hath conquered place.

  postquam introgressi et coram data copia fandi,

  Where, entered in, and leave being given to speak before his face,

  munera praeferimus, nomen patriamque docemus,

  We gave our gifts, and told our names, and whence of lands we were,

  qui bellum intulerint, quae causa attraxerit Arpos. 250

  Who waged us war, and for what cause to Arpi we must fare.

  auditis ille haec placido sic reddidit ore:

  He hearkened and from quiet mouth gave answer thus again:

  “o fortunatae gentes, Saturnia regna,

  “‘O happy folk of Saturn’s land, time-old Ausonian men,

  antiqui Ausonii, quae uos fortuna quietos

  What evil hap hath turmoiled you amid your peaceful life,

  sollicitat suadetque ignota lacessere bella?

  Beguiling you to stir abroad the doubtfulness of strife?

  quicumque Iliacos ferro uiolauimus agros 255

  All we who on the Ilian fields with sword-edge compassed guilt,

  (mitto ea quae muris bellando exhausta sub altis,

  — Let be the war-ills we abode before the wall high built;

  quos Simois premat ille uiros) infanda per orbem

  Let be the men whom Simoïs hides — we o’er the wide world driven,

  supplicia et scelerum poenas expendimus omnes,

  Have wrought out pain and punishment for ill deed unforgiven,

  uel Priamo miseranda manus; scit triste Mineruae

  Till Priam’s self might pity us. Witness the star of bane

  sidus et Euboicae cautes ultorque Caphereus. 260

  Minerva sent; Euboea’s cliffs, Caphereus’ vengeful gain!

  militia ex illa diuersum ad litus abacti

  ‘Scaped from that war
, and driven away to countries sundered wide,

  Atrides Protei Menelaus adusque columnas

  By Proteus’ Pillars exiled now, must Menelaüs bide;

  exsulat, Aetnaeos uidit Cyclopas Vlixes.

  And those Ætnæan Cyclop-folk Ulysses look upon:

  regna Neoptolemi referam uersosque penatis

  Of Pyrrhus’s land why tell, or of Idomeneus, that won

  Idomenei? Libycone habitantis litore Locros? 265

  To ruined house; of Locrian men cast on the Libyan shore?

  ipse Mycenaeus magnorum ductor Achiuum

  Mycenæ’s lord, the duke and king of all the Argive war,

  coniugis infandae prima inter limina dextra

  There, on the threshold of his house, his wicked wife doth slay.

  oppetiit, deuictam Asiam subsedit adulter.

  — Asia o’ercome — and in its stead Adultery thwart the way! —

  inuidisse deos, patriis ut redditus aris

  Ah, the Gods’ hate, that so begrudged my yearning eyes to meet

  coniugium optatum et pulchram Calydona uiderem? 270

  My father’s hearth, my longed-for wife, and Calydon the sweet!

  nunc etiam horribili uisu portenta sequuntur

  Yea, and e’en now there followeth me dread sight of woeful things:

  et socii amissi petierunt aethera pennis

  My lost companions wend the air with feathery beat of wings,

  fluminibusque uagantur aues (heu, dira meorum

  Or wander, fowl on river-floods: O woe’s me for their woe!

  supplicia!) et scopulos lacrimosis uocibus implent.

  The voices of their weeping wail about the sea-cliffs go.

  haec adeo ex illo mihi iam speranda fuerunt 275

  But all these things might I have seen full surely for me stored

  tempore cum ferro caelestia corpora demens

  Since then, when on the flesh of God I fell with maddened sword,

  appetii et Veneris uiolaui uulnere dextram.

  And on the very Venus’ hand a wicked wound I won.

  ne uero, ne me ad talis impellite pugnas.

  Nay, nay, to no such battles more I pray you drive me on!

  nec mihi cum Teucris ullum post eruta bellum

  No war for me with Teucrian men since Pergamus lies low;

  Pergama nec ueterum memini laetorue malorum. 280

  Nor do I think or joy at all in ills of long ago.

  munera quae patriis ad me portatis ab oris

  The gifts, that from your fatherland unto my throne ye bear,

  uertite ad Aenean. stetimus tela aspera contra

  Turn toward Æneas. We have stood, time was, spear meeting spear,

  contulimusque manus: experto credite quantus

  Hand against hand: trust me, who tried, how starkly to the shield

  in clipeum adsurgat, quo turbine torqueat hastam.

  He riseth up, how blows the wind when he his spear doth wield.

  si duo praeterea talis Idaea tulisset 285

  If two such other men had sprung from that Idæan home,

  terra uiros, ultro Inachias uenisset ad urbes

  Then Dardanus with none to drive to Inachus had come,

  Dardanus, et uersis lugeret Graecia fatis.

  And seen our walls, and Greece had mourned reversal of her day.

  quidquid apud durae cessatum est moenia Troiae,

  About the walls of stubborn Troy, whatso we found of stay,

  Hectoris Aeneaeque manu uictoria Graium

  By Hector’s and Æneas’ hands the Greekish victory

  haesit et in decimum uestigia rettulit annum. 290

  Was tarried, and its feet held back through ten years wearing by.

  ambo animis, ambo insignes praestantibus armis,

  Both these in heart and weapon-skill were full of fame’s increase,

  hic pietate prior. coeant in foedera dextrae,

  But this one godlier: let your hands meet in the plighted peace

  qua datur; ast armis concurrant arma cauete.”

  E’en as ye may: but look to it if sword to sword ye bring.’

  et responsa simul quae sint, rex optime, regis

  “Thus have ye heard, most gracious one, the answer of the King,

  audisti et quae sit magno sententia bello.’ 295

  And therewithal what thought he had about this heavy war.”

  Vix ea legati, uariusque per ora cucurrit

  Scarce had he said, when diverse voice of murmuring ran all o’er

  Ausonidum turbata fremor, ceu saxa morantur

  Those troubled mouths of Italy: as when the rocks refrain

  cum rapidos amnis, fit clauso gurgite murmur

  The rapid streams, and sounds arise within the eddies’ chain,

  uicinaeque fremunt ripae crepitantibus undis.

  And with the chatter of the waves the neighbouring banks are filled.

  ut primum placati animi et trepida ora quierunt, 300

  But when their minds were soothed and all the wildering voices stilled,

  praefatus diuos solio rex infit ab alto:

  The King spake first unto the Gods, then thus began to say:

  ‘Ante equidem summa de re statuisse, Latini,

  “Latins, that ye had counselled you hereon before today

  et uellem et fuerat melius, non tempore tali

  Was both my will, and had been good: no time is this to fall

  cogere concilium, cum muros adsidet hostis.

  To counsel now, when as we speak the foe besets the wall.

  bellum importunum, ciues, cum gente deorum 305

  With folk of God ill war we wage, lords of the Latin town,

  inuictisque uiris gerimus, quos nulla fatigant

  With all-unconquerable folk; no battles wear them down;

  proelia nec uicti possunt absistere ferro.

  Yea, beaten never have they heart to cast the sword away.

  spem si quam ascitis Aetolum habuistis in armis,

  Lay down the hope ye had to gain Ætolian war-array;

  ponite. spes sibi quisque; sed haec quam angusta uidetis.

  Let each man be his proper hope. Lo ye, the straits are sore.

  cetera qua rerum iaceant perculsa ruina, 310

  How all things lie about us now by ruin all toppled o’er,

  ante oculos interque manus sunt omnia uestras.

  Witness of this the eyes of you, the hands of you have won.

  nec quemquam incuso: potuit quae plurima uirtus

  No man I blame, what valour could hath verily been done:

  esse, fuit; toto certatum est corpore regni.

  With all the manhood of our land the battle hath been fought:

  nunc adeo quae sit dubiae sententia menti,

  But now what better way herein my doubtful mind hath thought

  expediam et paucis (animos adhibete) docebo. 315

  Will I set forth, and shortly tell the rede that is in me:

  est antiquus ager Tusco mihi proximus amni,

  Hearken! beside the Tuscan stream I own an ancient lea,

  longus in occasum, finis super usque Sicanos;

  Which, toward the sunset stretching far, yea o’er Sicanian bounds,

  Aurunci Rutulique serunt, et uomere duros

  Aruncans and Rutulians sow, working the rough hill grounds

  exercent collis atque horum asperrima pascunt.

  With draught of plough, but feeding down the roughest with their sheep.

  haec omnis regio et celsi plaga pinea montis 320

  Let all this land, and piny place upon the mountain-steep,

  cedat amicitiae Teucrorum, et foederis aequas

  Be yielded for the Teucrian peace: the laws let us declare

  dicamus leges sociosque in regna uocemus:

  For plighted troth, and bid the men as friends our realm to share.

  considant, si tantus amor, et moenia condant.

  There let them settle and build walls,
if thitherward they yearn;

  sin alios finis aliamque capessere gentem

  But if unto another land their minds are set to turn,

  est animus possuntque solo decedere nostro, 325

  And other folk, and all they ask is from our shore to flee,

  bis denas Italo texamus robore nauis;

  Then let us build them twice ten ships from oak of Italy,

  seu pluris complere ualent, iacet omnis ad undam

  Or more if they have men thereto: good store of ship-stuff lies

  materies: ipsi numerumque modumque carinis

  Hard by the waves; and they shall show their number and their guise;

  praecipiant, nos aera, manus, naualia demus.

  But toil of men, and brass and gear we for their needs will find.

  praeterea, qui dicta ferant et foedera firment 330

  And now to carry these our words, and fast the troth-plight bind,

  centum oratores prima de gente Latinos

  Send we an hundred speech-masters, the best of Latin land,

  ire placet pacisque manu praetendere ramos,

  To seek them thither, stretching forth the peace-bough in the hand,

  munera portantis aurique eborisque talenta

  And bearing gifts; a talent’s weight of gold and ivory,

  et sellam regni trabeamque insignia nostri.

  The throne therewith and welted gown, signs of my lordship high.

  consulite in medium et rebus succurrite fessis.’ 335

  Take open counsel; stay the State so faint and weary grown.”

  Tum Drances idem infensus, quem gloria Turni

  Then Drances, ever full of hate, whom Turnus’ great renown

  obliqua inuidia stimulisque agitabat amaris,

  With bitter stings of envy thwart goaded for evermore;

  largus opum et lingua melior, sed frigida bello

  Lavish of wealth and fair of speech, but cold-hand in the war;

  dextera, consiliis habitus non futtilis auctor,

  Held for no unwise man of redes, a make-bate keen enow;

  seditione potens (genus huic materna superbum 340

  The lordship of whose life, forsooth, from well-born dam did flow,

  nobilitas dabat, incertum de patre ferebat),

  His father being of no account — upriseth now this man,

  surgit et his onerat dictis atque aggerat iras:

  And piles a grievous weight of words with all the wrath he can.

  ‘rem nulli obscuram nostrae nec uocis egentem

  “A matter dark to none, and which no voice of mine doth need,

  consulis, o bone rex: cuncti se scire fatentur

  Thou counsellest on, sweet King: for all confess in very deed

  quid fortuna ferat populi, sed dicere mussant. 345