by Virgil
it mare per medium (miseris, heu, praescia longe
Wendeth across the middle sea: out! how the dread is sent
horrescunt corda agricolis: dabit ille ruinas
Deep to the field-folks’ boding hearts: — here comes the orchards’ bane,
arboribus stragemque satis, ruet omnia late),
Here comes the acres’ utter wrack, the ruin of all the plain!
ante uolant sonitumque ferunt ad litora uenti: 455
The gale that goes before its face brings tidings to the shore:
talis in aduersos ductor Rhoeteius hostis
So ‘gainst the foe the Trojan Duke led on his hosts of war;
agmen agit, densi cuneis se quisque coactis
And gathering in the wedge-array all knit them close around.
adglomerant. ferit ense grauem Thymbraeus Osirim,
Now hath Thymbræus’ battle-blade the huge Osiris found,
Arcetium Mnestheus, Epulonem obtruncat Achates
And Mnestheus slays Archetius, Achates Epulo,
Vfentemque Gyas; cadit ipse Tolumnius augur, 460
And Gyas Ufens: yea, the seer Tolumnius lieth low,
primus in aduersos telum qui torserat hostis.
He who was first against the foe to hurl the war-shaft out.
tollitur in caelum clamor, uersique uicissim
The cry goes up unto the heaven; the war-tide turns about,
puluerulenta fuga Rutuli dant terga per agros.
Dust-cloud of flight the Rutuli raise up across the field:
ipse neque auersos dignatur sternere morti
But he, the King, thinks scorn of it to smite the backs that yield;
nec pede congressos aequo nec tela ferentis 465
Nay, those that meet him foot to foot, the wielders of the spear,
insequitur: solum densa in caligine Turnum
He followeth not: Turnus alone his eyes track everywhere
uestigat lustrans, solum in certamina poscit.
Amid the dust-cloud, him alone he crieth unto fight.
Hoc concussa metu mentem Iuturna uirago
Hereby Jaturna’s manly mind is shaken with affright;
aurigam Turni media inter lora Metiscum
Metiscus, Turnus’ charioteer, she plucketh from the rein,
excutit et longe lapsum temone reliquit; 470
And leaveth him fallen down afar from yoking pole and wain:
ipsa subit manibusque undantis flectit habenas
But she mounts up, and with her hand the waving bridle guides,
cuncta gerens, uocemque et corpus et arma Metisci.
The while Metiscus’ voice, and limbs, and war-gear with her bides:
nigra uelut magnas domini cum diuitis aedes
As when amid a lordling’s house there flits a swallow black,
peruolat et pennis alta atria lustrat hirundo
On skimming wings she seeks to still her noisy nestlings’ lack,
pabula parua legens nidisque loquacibus escas, 475
And wandering through the lofty halls but little feast doth get,
et nunc porticibus uacuis, nunc umida circum
Then soundeth through the empty porch, and round the fish-pools wet,
stagna sonat: similis medios Iuturna per hostis
So is Jaturna borne on wheels amidmost of the foe,
fertur equis rapidoque uolans obit omnia curru,
And flying on in hurrying chase by everything doth go,
iamque hic germanum iamque hic ostentat ouantem
Now here, now there, her brother shows all flushed with victory,
nec conferre manum patitur, uolat auia longe. 480
But still refrains him from the press; far o’er the waste they fly.
haud minus Aeneas tortos legit obuius orbis,
No less Æneas picks his way amid the winding road,
uestigatque uirum et disiecta per agmina magna
Tracking the man, and through the rout cries ever high and loud;
uoce uocat. quotiens oculos coniecit in hostem
But e’en as oftentimes as he his foeman caught with eye,
alipedumque fugam cursu temptauit equorum,
And ‘gainst the flight of wingèd steeds his running feet would try,
auersos totiens currus Iuturna retorsit. 485
So oft the speedy wain of war Jaturna turned aside.
heu, quid agat? uario nequiquam fluctuat aestu,
Ah, what to do? In vain he went, borne on a shifting tide,
diuersaeque uocant animum in contraria curae.
While diverse cares to clashing ways the soul within him drave.
huic Messapus, uti laeua duo forte gerebat
But lo, Messapus, speedy-light, who chanced in hand to have
lenta, leuis cursu, praefixa hastilia ferro,
Two light and limber shafts of tree, each with its iron head,
horum unum certo contorquens derigit ictu. 490
Now whirling one, a shot well aimed unto the hero sped:
substitit Aeneas et se collegit in arma
Ænesis stayed, and gathered him behind his shielding-gear,
poplite subsidens; apicem tamen incita summum
And sank upon his knee; no less the eager-driven spear
hasta tulit summasque excussit uertice cristas.
Smote on his helm, and shore away the topmost of his crest
tum uero adsurgunt irae, insidiisque subactus,
Then verily his wrath arose; by all that guile oppressed,
diuersos ubi sensit equos currumque referri, 495
When he beheld the steeds and car far from his battle borne,
multa Iouem et laesi testatus foederis aras
He bade Jove witness, and the hearths of troth-plight wronged and torn:
iam tandem inuadit medios et Marte secundo
He breaks at last amidst of them with Mars to help him on,
terribilis saeuam nullo discrimine caedem
And fearful speedeth work of death wherein he spareth none,
suscitat, irarumque omnis effundit habenas.
And casteth every rein aside that held his anger in.
Quis mihi nunc tot acerba deus, quis carmine caedes 500
What God shall tell me all the woe, what God the song shall win
diuersas obitumque ducum, quos aequore toto
Of shifting death and Dukes undone, and all those many dead,
inque uicem nunc Turnus agit, nunc Troius heros,
By Turnus and by him of Troy about the fight-field spread?
expediat? tanton placuit concurrere motu,
O Jupiter, was this thy will, that nations doomed to live
Iuppiter, aeterna gentis in pace futuras?
In peace hereafter, on that day in such a broil should strive?
Aeneas Rutulum Sucronem (ea prima ruentis 505
Rutulian Sucro was the first that Trojan onset stayed;
pugna loco statuit Teucros) haud multa morantem
Æneas met him, and forsooth no long delay he made,
excipit in latus et, qua fata celerrima, crudum
But smote his side, and through his ribs and fencing of the breast
transadigit costas et cratis pectoris ensem.
Drave on his bitter naked sword where way was easiest.
Turnus equo deiectum Amycum fratremque Dioren,
Turnus afoot met Amycus, cast down from off his horse,
congressus pedes, hunc uenientem cuspide longa, 510
His brother, swift Diores, too: the first amidst his course
hunc mucrone ferit, curruque abscisa duorum
The long spear smote, the sword the last; the heads of both the twain
suspendit capita et rorantia sanguine portat.
He hangeth up and beareth on shedding a bloody rain.
ille Talon Tanaimque neci fortemque Cethegum,
Talon and Tanais therewith, Cethegus stout to do,
tris uno congressu, et maestu
m mittit Oniten,
All three at once the Trojan sped, and sad Onytes slew,
nomen Echionium matrisque genus Peridiae; 515
Whom to the name of Echion Peridia’s womb did yield.
hic fratres Lycia missos et Apollinis agris
Then Turnus slew the brethren sent from Phoebus’ Lycian field:
et iuuenem exosum nequiquam bella Menoeten,
Menates, too, of Arcady, who loathed the war in vain;
Arcada, piscosae cui circum flumina Lernae
By fruitful fishy Lerna’s flood was once his life and gain,
ars fuerat pauperque domus nec nota potentum
And unrich house, and nought he knew of mighty men’s abode,
munera, conductaque pater tellure serebat. 520
And hired for a price of men the earth his father sowed.
ac uelut immissi diuersis partibus ignes
As when two fires, that on a while are sped from diverse ways,
arentem in siluam et uirgulta sonantia lauro,
Run through the dry and tinder wood, and crackling twigs of bays;
aut ubi decursu rapido de montibus altis
As when from off the mountain-tops two hurrying rivers speed,
dant sonitum spumosi amnes et in aequora currunt
And foaming, roaring, as they rush, drive down to ocean’s mead,
quisque suum populatus iter: non segnius ambo 525
And each one wastes his proper road; no slothfuller than these,
Aeneas Turnusque ruunt per proelia; nunc, nunc
Æneas, Turnus, fare afield; swell up the anger-seas
fluctuat ira intus, rumpuntur nescia uinci
In both their hearts; torn are their breasts that know not how to yield,
pectora, nunc totis in uulnera uiribus itur.
In speeding of the wounding-craft their utter might they wield.
Murranum hic, atauos et auorum antiqua sonantem
Murranus, as his sires of sires and ancient name he sings,
nomina per regesque actum genus omne Latinos, 530
And boasts his blood come far adown the line of Latin kings,
praecipitem scopulo atque ingentis turbine saxi
Æneas, with a mighty rock and whirlwind of a stone,
excutit effunditque solo; hunc lora et iuga subter
O’erthrows, and stretches on the earth; the wain-wheels roll him on,
prouoluere rotae, crebro super ungula pulsu
Amid the bridle and the yoke, whom there upon the sward
incita nec domini memorum proculcat equorum.
The hurrying hoofs of horses pound, remembering not their lord.
ille ruenti Hyllo animisque immane frementi 535
Then Hyllus’ onset, and his heart with fury all aglow,
occurrit telumque aurata ad tempora torquet:
Doth Turnus meet; who hurls a shaft against his golden brow,
olli per galeam fixo stetit hasta cerebro.
And through the helm the war-spear flies, and in the brain is stayed.
dextera nec tua te, Graium fortissime Cretheu,
Thee, Cretheus, bravest of the Greeks, thine hands did nothing aid
eripuit Turno, nec di texere Cupencum
To snatch from Turnus. Nought his Gods did their Cupencus cloak
Aenea ueniente sui: dedit obuia ferro 540
Against Æneas’ rush of war; breast-on he met the stroke,
pectora, nec misero clipei mora profuit aerei.
And nought availed that hapless one the tarrying golden shield.
te quoque Laurentes uiderunt, Aeole, campi
Thee also, warring Æolus, did that Laurentine field
oppetere et late terram consternere tergo.
See fallen, and cumbering the earth with body laid alow;
occidis, Argiuae quem non potuere phalanges
Thou diest, whom the Argive hosts might never overthrow,
sternere nec Priami regnorum euersor Achilles; 545
Nor that Achilles’ hand that wrought the Priam’s realm its wrack.
hic tibi mortis erant metae, domus alta sub Ida,
Here was thy meted mortal doom; high house ‘neath Ida’s back,
Lyrnesi domus alta, solo Laurente sepulcrum.
High house within Lyrnessus’ garth, grave in Laurentine lea.
totae adeo conuersae acies omnesque Latini,
Now all the hosts to fight are turned, and blent in battle’s sea,
omnes Dardanidae, Mnestheus acerque Serestus
All Latin folk, all Dardan sons, Mnestheus, Serestus keen,
et Messapus equum domitor et fortis Asilas 550
Messapus tamer of the horse, Asylas fame-beseen,
Tuscorumque phalanx Euandrique Arcades alae,
The Tuscan host, Evander’s men, the Arcadian wings of fight,
pro se quisque uiri summa nituntur opum ui;
Each for himself the warriors play, and strive with utter might;
nec mora nec requies, uasto certamine tendunt.
No tarrying, no rest, they strain in contest measureless.
Hic mentem Aeneae genetrix pulcherrima misit
But now a thought his mother sent Æneas’ mind to bless.
iret ut ad muros urbique aduerteret agmen 555
That he should wend unto the walls, and townward turn his host,
ocius et subita turbaret clade Latinos.
And blend amid destruction swift the Latin people lost.
ille ut uestigans diuersa per agmina Turnum
For he, now marking Turnus’ ways through many a company,
huc atque huc acies circumtulit, aspicit urbem
Hither and thither turns his eyes, and sees the city lie
immunem tanti belli atque impune quietam.
At peace amid the mighty stir, unharmed amid the fight,
continuo pugnae accendit maioris imago: 560
And image of a greater war set all his soul alight.
Mnesthea Sergestumque uocat fortemque Serestum
Mnestheus, Sergestus then he calls, Serestus battle-strong,
ductores, tumulumque capit quo cetera Teucrum
The Dukes of war; he mounts a knoll; thither the Teucrians throng
concurrit legio, nec scuta aut spicula densi
In serried ranks, yet lay not by the battle-spear and shield:
deponunt. celso medius stans aggere fatur:
So there from off the mound he speaks amidmost of the field:
‘ne qua meis esto dictis mora, Iuppiter hac stat, 565
“Let none hang back from these my words, for Jove is standing by;
neu quis ob inceptum subitum mihi segnior ito.
Let none be dull herein because it cometh suddenly:
urbem hodie, causam belli, regna ipsa Latini,
Today the town, the cause of war, the king Latinus’ home,
ni frenum accipere et uicti parere fatentur,
Unless they cry them craven men, and ‘neath the yoke they come,
eruam et aequa solo fumantia culmina ponam.
Will I o’erthrow; the smoking towers upon the ground will lay.
scilicet exspectem libeat dum proelia Turno 570
What! must I wait till Turnus grows fain of the battle-play?
nostra pati rursusque uelit concurrere uictus?
And shall he, conquered, take his ease to fight me o’er and o’er?
hoc caput, o ciues, haec belli summa nefandi.
O fellows, this is head and well of all the wicked war.
ferte faces propere foedusque reposcite flammis.’
Haste with the torches, set we forth the troth with fire to find!”
dixerat, atque animis pariter certantibus omnes
He spake; but all they set to work, and striving with one mind
dant cuneum densaque ad muros mole feruntur; 575
Knit close their ranks, and on the town a world of battle bear:
scalae improuiso subitusque appar
uit ignis.
Unlooked-for ladders are at hand, and sudden fires appear;
discurrunt alii ad portas primosque trucidant,
While some they run unto the gates, and there the out-guards slay,
ferrum alii torquent et obumbrant aethera telis.
Or hurl the spears, and with their cloud dim down the light of day.
ipse inter primos dextram sub moenia tendit
Æneas, in the front of men, lifts hand unto the walls,
Aeneas, magnaque incusat uoce Latinum 580
And in a great and mighty voice guilt on Latinus calls,
testaturque deos iterum se ad proelia cogi,
And bids the Gods to witness him twice to the battle driven,
bis iam Italos hostis, haec altera foedera rumpi.
Italians twice become his foes, and twice the treaty riven.
exoritur trepidos inter discordia ciuis:
But mid the turmoiled city-folk arose the bickering then,
urbem alii reserare iubent et pandere portas
Some bade unbar and open gates unto the Dardan men;
Dardanidis ipsumque trahunt in moenia regem; 585
Yea, some unto the walls would drag their very king and lord;
arma ferunt alii et pergunt defendere muros,
But some bear arms and go their ways the walls of war to ward:
inclusas ut cum latebroso in pumice pastor
E’en as the shepherd finds the bees shut in, a fencèd folk,
uestigauit apes fumoque impleuit amaro;
In chinky pumice rock, and fills their house with bitter smoke;
illae intus trepidae rerum per cerea castra
But they, all busy-fearful grown within their waxen wall,
discurrunt magnisque acuunt stridoribus iras; 590
Run here and there and whet their wrath with mighty humming call:
uoluitur ater odor tectis, tum murmure caeco
The black stink rolleth through their house, and with a murmuring blind
intus saxa sonant, uacuas it fumus ad auras.
The stony hollows moan: the reek the empty air doth find.
Accidit haec fessis etiam fortuna Latinis,
Here on the weary Latins fell another stroke of fate,
quae totam luctu concussit funditus urbem.
That moved the city deep adown with sorrow sore and great;
regina ut tectis uenientem prospicit hostem, 595
For when the Queen from house aloft beheld the foe draw nigh,
incessi muros, ignis ad tecta uolare,
The walls beset, the flaming brands unto the house-roofs fly,
nusquam acies contra Rutulas, nulla agmina Turni,
And nowhere the Rutulian ranks or Turnus’ warring host,
infelix pugnae iuuenem in certamine credit
