Complete Works of Virgil

by Virgil

  For thick all round about the lists was drawn the Teucrian crown:

  atque hinc uasta palus, hinc ardua moenia cingunt. 745

  By wide marsh here, by high walls there, his fleeing was begirt.

  Nec minus Aeneas, quamquam tardata sagitta

  Nor less Æneas, howsoe’er, hampered by arrow-hurt,

  interdum genua impediunt cursumque recusant,

  His knees might hinder him at whiles and fail him as he ran,

  insequitur trepidique pedem pede feruidus urget:

  Yet foot for foot all eagerly followed the hurrying man;

  inclusum ueluti si quando flumine nactus

  As when a hound hath caught a hart hemmed by the river’s ring,

  ceruum aut puniceae saeptum formidine pennae 750

  Or hedged about by empty fear of crimson-feathered string,

  uenator cursu canis et latratibus instat;

  And swift of foot and baying loud goes following up the flight;

  ille autem insidiis et ripa territus alta

  But he, all fearful of the snare and of the flood-bank’s height,

  mille fugit refugitque uias, at uiuidus Vmber

  Doubles and turns a thousand ways, while open-mouthed and staunch

  haeret hians, iam iamque tenet similisque tenenti

  The Umbrian keen sticks hard at heel, and now, now hath his haunch,

  increpuit malis morsuque elusus inani est; 755

  Snapping his jaws as though he gripped, and, mocked, but biteth air.

  tum uero exoritur clamor ripaeque lacusque

  Then verily the cry arose; the bank, the spreading mere,

  responsant circa et caelum tonat omne tumultu.

  Rang back about, and tumult huge ran shattering through the sky.

  ille simul fugiens Rutulos simul increpat omnis

  But Turnus as he fled cried out on all his Rutuli,

  nomine quemque uocans notumque efflagitat ensem.

  And, calling each man by his name, craved his familiar blade.

  Aeneas mortem contra praesensque minatur 760

  Meanwhile Æneas threateneth death if any come to aid,

  exitium, si quisquam adeat, terretque trementis

  And swift destruction: and their souls with fearful threats doth fill

  excisurum urbem minitans et saucius instat.

  Of city ruined root and branch; and, halting, followeth still.

  quinque orbis explent cursu totidemque retexunt

  Five rings of flight their running fills, and back the like they wend:

  huc illuc; neque enim leuia aut ludicra petuntur

  Nought light nor gamesome is the prize for which their feet contend,

  praemia, sed Turni de uita et sanguine certant. 765

  For there they strive in running-game for Turnus’ life and blood.

  Forte sacer Fauno foliis oleaster amaris

  By hap hard by an olive wild of bitter leaves there stood,

  hic steterat, nautis olim uenerabile lignum,

  Hallowed to Faunus, while agone a most well-worshipped tree,

  seruati ex undis ubi figere dona solebant

  Whereon to that Laurentian God the sailors saved from sea

  Laurenti diuo et uotas suspendere uestis;

  Would set their gifts, and hang therefrom their garments vowed at need.

  sed stirpem Teucri nullo discrimine sacrum 770

  But now the Teucrian men of late had lopped with little heed

  sustulerant, puro ut possent concurrere campo.

  That holy stem, that they might make the lists of battle clear:

  hic hasta Aeneae stabat, huc impetus illam

  And there Æneas’ war-spear stood; his might had driven it there,

  detulerat fixam et lenta radice tenebat.

  And held it now, set hard and fast in stubborn root and stout:

  incubuit uoluitque manu conuellere ferrum

  The Dardan son bent o’er it now to pluck the weapon out,

  Dardanides, teloque sequi quem prendere cursu 775

  That he might follow him with shot whom running might not take.

  non poterat. tum uero amens formidine Turnus

  But Turnus, wildered with his fear, cried out aloud and spake:

  ‘Faune, precor, miserere’ inquit ‘tuque optima ferrum

  “O Faunus, pity me, I pray! and thou, O kindest Earth,

  Terra tene, colui uestros si semper honores,

  Hold thou the steel for me, who still have worshipped well thy worth,

  quos contra Aeneadae bello fecere profanos.’

  Which ever those Ænean folk with battle would profane!”

  dixit, opemque dei non cassa in uota uocauit. 780

  He spake, and called the God to aid with vows not made in vain;

  namque diu luctans lentoque in stirpe moratus

  For o’er the tough tree tarrying long, struggling with utter might,

  uiribus haud ullis ualuit discludere morsus

  No whit Æneas could undo the gripping woody bite.

  roboris Aeneas. dum nititur acer et instat,

  But while he struggleth hot and hard, and hangeth o’er the spear,

  rursus in aurigae faciem mutata Metisci

  Again the Daunian Goddess, clad in shape of charioteer

  procurrit fratrique ensem dea Daunia reddit. 785

  Metiscus, Turnus’ trusty sword unto his hand doth speed.

  quod Venus audaci nymphae indignata licere

  But Venus, wrathful that the Nymph might dare so bold a deed,

  accessit telumque alta ab radice reuellit.

  Came nigh, and from the deep-set root the shaft of battle drew.

  olli sublimes armis animisque refecti,

  So they, high-hearted, stored with hope and battle-gear anew,

  hic gladio fidens, hic acer et arduus hasta,

  One trusting in his sword, and one fierce with his spear on high,

  adsistunt contra certamina Martis anheli. 790

  Stand face to face, the glorious game of panting Mars to try.

  Iunonem interea rex omnipotentis Olympi

  Meanwhile the King of Heaven the great thus unto Juno saith,

  adloquitur fulua pugnas de nube tuentem:

  As from a ruddy cloud she looked upon the game of death:

  ‘quae iam finis erit, coniunx? quid denique restat?

  “What then shall end it, O my wife? what deed is left thine hand?

  indigetem Aenean scis ipsa et scire fateris

  That Heaven shall gain Æneas yet, a Godhead of the land,

  deberi caelo fatisque ad sidera tolli. 795

  That Fate shall bear him to the stars thou know’st and hast allowed:

  quid struis? aut qua spe gelidis in nubibus haeres?

  What dost thou then, or hoping what hang’st thou in chilly cloud?

  mortalin decuit uiolari uulnere diuum?

  What! was it right that mortal wound a God’s own flesh should wrong?

  aut ensem (quid enim sine te Iuturna ualeret?)

  Right to give Turnus — but for thee how was Juturna strong? —

  ereptum reddi Turno et uim crescere uictis?

  The sword he lost? or vanquished men, to give their might increase?

  desine iam tandem precibusque inflectere nostris, 800

  I prithee yield unto my prayers, and from thy troubling cease.

  ne te tantus edit tacitam dolor et mihi curae

  Let not thine hushed grief eat thine heart, or bitter words of care

  saepe tuo dulci tristes ex ore recursent.

  So often from thy sweetest mouth the soul within me wear.

  uentum ad supremum est. terris agitare uel undis

  The goal is reached: thou hast availed o’er earth and sea to drive

  Troianos potuisti, infandum accendere bellum,

  The Trojan men; to strike the spark of wicked war alive;

  deformare domum et luctu miscere hymenaeos: 805

  To foul t
heir house, and woe and grief mid wedding-feast to bear,

  ulterius temptare ueto.’ sic Iuppiter orsus;

  And now I bid thee hold thine hand.” Thuswise said Jupiter,

  sic dea summisso contra Saturnia uultu:

  And with a downcast countenance spake that Satumian Queen:

  ‘ista quidem quia nota mihi tua, magne, uoluntas,

  “Well have I known, great Jupiter, all that thy will hath been,

  Iuppiter, et Turnum et terras inuita reliqui;

  And Turnus and the worldly land loth have I left alone,

  nec tu me aeria solam nunc sede uideres 810

  Else nowise should’st thou see me bear, sole on this airy throne,

  digna indigna pati, sed flammis cincta sub ipsa

  Things meet and unmeet: flame-begirt the war-ranks would I gain,

  starem acie traheremque inimica in proelia Teucros.

  And drag the host of Trojans on to battle and their bane.

  Iuturnam misero (fateor) succurrere fratri

  Juturna! — yes, I pitied her, and bade her help to bear

  suasi et pro uita maiora audere probaui,

  Unto her brother; good, methought, for life great things to dare;

  non ut tela tamen, non ut contenderet arcum; 815

  But nought I bade her to the shaft or bending of the bow,

  adiuro Stygii caput implacabile fontis,

  This swear I by the ruthless well, the Stygian overflow,

  una superstitio superis quae reddita diuis.

  The only holy thing there is that weighs on Godhead’s oath.

  et nunc cedo equidem pugnasque exosa relinquo.

  And now indeed I yield the place, and leave the fight I loathe.

  illud te, nulla fati quod lege tenetur,

  But one thing yet I ask of thee, held in no fateful yoke;

  pro Latio obtestor, pro maiestate tuorum: 820

  For Latium’s sake I pray therefore, and glory of thy folk:

  cum iam conubiis pacem felicibus (esto)

  When they at last — so be it now! — pledge peace mid bridal kind,

  component, cum iam leges et foedera iungent,

  When they at last join law to law, and loving treaty bind,

  ne uetus indigenas nomen mutare Latinos

  Let them not change their ancient name, those earth-born Latin men,

  neu Troas fieri iubeas Teucrosque uocari

  Nor turn them into Trojan folk, or call them Teucrians then:

  aut uocem mutare uiros aut uertere uestem. 825

  Let not that manfolk shift their tongue, or cast their garb aside;

  sit Latium, sint Albani per saecula reges,

  Let Latium and the Alban kings through many an age abide,

  sit Romana potens Itala uirtute propago:

  And cherish thou the Roman stem with worth of Italy:

  occidit, occideritque sinas cum nomine Troia.’

  Troy-town is dead: Troy and its name for ever let them die!”

  olli subridens hominum rerumque repertor:

  The Fashioner of men and things spake, smiling in her face:

  ‘es germana Iouis Saturnique altera proles, 830

  “Yea, Jove’s own sister; second branch forsooth, of Saturn’s race!

  irarum tantos uoluis sub pectore fluctus.

  Such are the mighty floods of wrath thou rollestin thy breast.

  uerum age et inceptum frustra summitte furorem:

  But this thine anger born for nought, I prithee let it rest:

  do quod uis, et me uictusque uolensque remitto.

  I give thine asking; conquered now I yield me, and am glad:

  sermonem Ausonii patrium moresque tenebunt,

  The Ausonian men shall keep the tongue and ways their fathers had,

  utque est nomen erit; commixti corpore tantum 835

  And as their name is shall it be: only in body blent

  subsident Teucri. morem ritusque sacrorum

  Amidst them shall the Teucrians sink; from me shall rites be sent,

  adiciam faciamque omnis uno ore Latinos.

  And holy things, and they shall be all Latins of one tongue.

  hinc genus Ausonio mixtum quod sanguine surget,

  Hence shalt thou see a blended race from blood Ausonian sprung,

  supra homines, supra ire deos pietate uidebis,

  Whose godliness shall outgo men, outgo the Gods above;

  nec gens ulla tuos aeque celebrabit honores.’ 840

  Nor any folk of all the world so well thy worth shall love.”

  adnuit his Iuno et mentem laetata retorsit;

  So gladdened Juno’s heart was turned, and yea-saying she bowed,

  interea excedit caelo nubemque relinquit.

  And so departed from the sky and left her watching-cloud.

  His actis aliud genitor secum ipse uolutat

  Another thing the Father now within him turneth o’er,

  Iuturnamque parat fratris dimittere ab armis.

  What wise Juturna he shall part from her lost brother’s war:

  dicuntur geminae pestes cognomine Dirae, 845

  Two horrors are there that are called the Dreadful Ones by name,

  quas et Tartaream Nox intempesta Megaeram

  Whom with Megæra of the Pit at one birth and the same

  uno eodemque tulit partu, paribusque reuinxit

  Untimely Night brought forth of yore, and round about them twined

  serpentum spiris uentosasque addidit alas.

  Like coils of serpents, giving them great wings to hold the wind:

  hae Iouis ad solium saeuique in limine regis

  About Jove’s throne, and close anigh the Stern King’s threshold-stead,

  apparent acuuntque metum mortalibus aegris, 850

  Do these attend, in sick-heart men to whet the mortal dread,

  si quando letum horrificum morbosque deum rex

  Whenso the King-God fashions forth fell death and dire disease,

  molitur, meritas aut bello territat urbes.

  Or smites the guilty cities doomed with battle miseries.

  harum unam celerem demisit ab aethere summo

  Now one of these sent Jupiter swift from the heavenly place,

  Iuppiter inque omen Iuturnae occurrere iussit:

  And bade her for a sign of doom to cross Juturna’s face.

  illa uolat celerique ad terram turbine fertur. 855

  So borne upon a whirl of wind to earth the swift one flies,

  non secus ac neruo per nubem impulsa sagitta,

  E’en as an arrow from the string is driven amid the skies,

  armatam saeui Parthus quam felle ueneni,

  Which headed with the venom fell a Parthian man hath shot, —

  Parthus siue Cydon, telum immedicabile, torsit,

  Parthian, Cydonian, it may be, — the hurt that healeth not;

  stridens et celeris incognita transilit umbras:

  Its hidden whirring sweepeth through the drifting misty flow:

  talis se sata Nocte tulit terrasque petiuit. 860

  So fared the Daughter of the Night, and sought the earth below.

  postquam acies uidet Iliacas atque agmina Turni,

  But when she saw the Ilian hosts and Turnus’ battle-rank,

  alitis in paruae subitam collecta figuram,

  Then sudden into puny shape her body huge she shrank,

  quae quondam in bustis aut culminibus desertis

  A fowl that sits on sepulchres, and desert roofs alone

  nocte sedens serum canit importuna per umbras —

  In the dead night, and through the mirk singeth her ceaseless moan;

  hanc uersa in faciem Turni se pestis ob ora 865

  In such a shape this bane of men met Turnus’ face in field,

  fertque refertque sonans clipeumque euerberat alis.

  And, screeching, hovered to and fro, and flapped upon his shield:

  illi membra nouus soluit formidine torpor,

&nb
sp; Strange heaviness his body seized, consuming him with dread,

  arrectaeque horrore comae et uox faucibus haesit.

  His hair stood up, and in his jaws his voice lay hushed and dead.

  At procul ut Dirae stridorem agnouit et alas,

  But when afar Juturna knew the Dread One’s whirring wings,

  infelix crinis scindit Iuturna solutos 870

  The hapless sister tears her hair and loose its tresses flings,

  unguibus ora soror foedans et pectora pugnis:

  Fouling her face with tearing nails, her breast with beat of hand.

  ‘quid nunc te tua, Turne, potest germana iuuare?

  “How may my help, O Turnus, now beside my brother stand?

  aut quid iam durae superat mihi? qua tibi lucem

  How may I harden me ‘gainst this? by what craft shall I stay

  arte morer? talin possum me opponere monstro?

  Thy light of life? how cast myself in such a monster’s way?

  iam iam linquo acies. ne me terrete timentem, 875

  Now, now I leave the battle-field; fright not the filled with fear,

  obscenae uolucres: alarum uerbera nosco

  O birds of ill! full well I know your flapping wings in air,

  letalemque sonum, nec fallunt iussa superba

  And baneful sound. Thy mastering will I know it holdeth good,

  magnanimi Iouis. haec pro uirginitate reponit?

  O Jove the great! — was this the gift thou gav’st for maidenhood?

  quo uitam dedit aeternam? cur mortis adempta est

  Why give me everlasting life, and death-doom take away?

  condicio? possem tantos finire dolores 880

  O, but for that my sorrows sore now surely might I slay,

  nunc certe, et misero fratri comes ire per umbras!

  And wend beside my brother now amid the nether Night.

  immortalis ego? aut quicquam mihi dulce meorum

  Am I undying? ah, can aught of all my good delight

  te sine, frater, erit? o quae satis ima dehiscat

  Without thee, O my brother lost! O Earth, gape wide and well,

  terra mihi, Manisque deam demittat ad imos?’

  And let a Goddess sink adown into the deeps of hell!”

  tantum effata caput glauco contexit amictu 885

  So much she said, and wrapped her round with mantle dusky-grey,

  multa gemens et se fluuio dea condidit alto.

  And, groaning sore, she hid herself within the watery way.

  Aeneas instat contra telumque coruscat

  But forth Æneas goes, and high his spear he brandisheth,

  ingens arboreum, et saeuo sic pectore fatur:

  A mighty tree, and from his heart grown fell a word he saith: