by Virgil
turba sonans praedam pedibus circumuolat uncis,
The shrieking rout with hookèd feet about the prey doth fly,
polluit ore dapes. sociis tunc arma capessant
Fouling the feast with mouth: therewith I bid my company
edico, et dira bellum cum gente gerendum. 235
To arms, that with an evil folk the war may come to pass.
haud secus ac iussi faciunt tectosque per herbam
They do no less than my commands, and lay along the grass
disponunt ensis et scuta latentia condunt.
Their hidden swords, and therewithal their bucklers cover o’er.
ergo ubi delapsae sonitum per curua dedere
Wherefore, when swooping down again, they fill the curvèd shore
litora, dat signum specula Misenus ab alta
With noise, Misenus blows the call from off a watch-stead high
aere cauo. inuadunt socii et noua proelia temptant, 240
With hollow brass; our folk fall on and wondrous battle try,
obscenas pelagi ferro foedare uolucris.
Striving that sea-fowl’s filthy folk with point and edge to spill.
sed neque uim plumis ullam nec uulnera tergo
But nought will bite upon their backs, and from their feathers still
accipiunt, celerique fuga sub sidera lapsae
Glanceth the sword, and swift they flee up ‘neath the stars of air,
semesam praedam et uestigia foeda relinquunt.
Half-eaten meat and token foul leaving behind them there.
una in praecelsa consedit rupe Celaeno, 245
But on a rock exceeding high yet did Celæeno rest,
infelix uates, rumpitque hanc pectore uocem;
Unhappy seer! there breaks withal a voice from out her breast:
‘bellum etiam pro caede boum stratisque iuuencis,
‘What, war to pay for slaughtered neat, war for our heifers slain?
Laomedontiadae, bellumne inferre paratis
O children of Laomedon, the war then will ye gain?
et patrio Harpyias insontis pellere regno?
The sackless Harpies will ye drive from their own land away?
accipite ergo animis atque haec mea figite dicta, 250
Then let this sink into your souls, heed well the words I say;
quae Phoebo pater omnipotens, mihi Phoebus Apollo
The Father unto Phoebus told a tale that Phoebus told
praedixit, uobis Furiarum ego maxima pando.
To me, and I the first-born fiend that same to you unfold:
Italiam cursu petitis uentisque uocatis:
Ye sail for Italy, and ye, the winds appeased by prayer,
ibitis Italiam portusque intrare licebit.
Shall come to Italy, and gain the grace of haven there:
sed non ante datam cingetis moenibus urbem 255
Yet shall ye gird no wall about the city granted you,
quam uos dira fames nostraeque iniuria caedis
Till famine, and this murder’s wrong that ye were fain to do,
ambesas subigat malis absumere mensas.’
Drive you your tables gnawed with teeth to eat up utterly.’
dixit, et in siluam pennis ablata refugit.
She spake, and through the woody deeps borne off on wings did fly.
at sociis subita gelidus formidine sanguis
But sudden fear fell on our folk, and chilled their frozen blood;
deriguit: cecidere animi, nec iam amplius armis, 260
Their hearts fell down; with weapon-stroke no more they deem it good
sed uotis precibusque iubent exposcere pacem,
To seek for peace: but rather now sore prayers and vows they will,
siue deae seu sint dirae obscenaeque uolucres.
Whether these things be goddesses or filthy fowls of ill.
et pater Anchises passis de litore palmis
Father Anchises on the strand stretched both his hands abroad,
numina magna uocat meritosque indicit honores:
And, bidding all their worship due, the Mighty Ones adored:
‘di, prohibete minas; di, talem auertite casum 265
‘Gods, bring their threats to nought! O Gods, turn ye the curse, we pray!
et placidi seruate pios.’ tum litore funem
Be kind, and keep the pious folk!’ Then bade he pluck away
deripere excussosque iubet laxare rudentis.
The hawser from the shore and slack the warping cable’s strain:
tendunt uela Noti: fugimus spumantibus undis
The south wind fills the sails, we fare o’er foaming waves again,
qua cursum uentusque gubernatorque uocabat.
E’en as the helmsman and the winds have will that we should fare.
iam medio apparet fluctu nemorosa Zacynthos 270
And now amidmost of the flood Zacynthus’ woods appear,
Dulichiumque Sameque et Neritos ardua saxis.
Dulichium, Samos, Neritos, with sides of stony steep:
effugimus scopulos Ithacae, Laertia regna,
Wide course from cliffs of Ithaca, Laertes’ land, we keep,
et terram altricem saeui exsecramur Vlixi.
Cursing the soil that bore and nursed Ulysses’ cruelty.
mox et Leucatae nimbosa cacumina montis
Now open up Leucata’s peaks, that fare so cloudy high
et formidatus nautis aperitur Apollo. 275
Over Apollo, mighty dread to all seafarers grown;
hunc petimus fessi et paruae succedimus urbi;
But weary thither do we steer and make the little town,
ancora de prora iacitur, stant litore puppes.
We cast the anchors from the bows and swing the sterns a-strand.
Ergo insperata tandem tellure potiti
And therewithal since we at last have gained the longed-for land,
lustramurque Ioui uotisque incendimus aras,
We purge us before Jupiter and by the altars pray,
Actiaque Iliacis celebramus litora ludis. 280
Then on the shores of Actium’s head the Ilian plays we play.
exercent patrias oleo labente palaestras
Anointed with the sleeking oil there strive our fellows stripped
nudati socii: iuuat euasisse tot urbes
In wrestling game of fatherland: it joys us to have slipped
Argolicas mediosque fugam tenuisse per hostis.
By such a host of Argive towns amidmost of the foe.
interea magnum sol circumuoluitur annum
Meanwhile, the sun still pressing on, the year about doth go,
et glacialis hiems Aquilonibus asperat undas. 285
And frosty winter with his north the sea’s face rough doth wear;
aere cauo clipeum, magni gestamen Abantis,
A buckler of the hollow brass of mighty Abas’ gear
postibus aduersis figo et rem carmine signo:
I set amid the temple-doors with singing scroll thereon,
aeneas haec de danais victoribvs arma;
ÆNEAS HANGETH ARMOUR HERE FROM CONQUERING DANAANS WON.
linquere tum portus iubeo et considere transtris.
And then I bid to leave the shore and man the thwarts again.
certatim socii feriunt mare et aequora uerrunt: 290
Hard strive the folk in smiting sea, and oar-blades brush the main.
protinus aerias Phaeacum abscondimus arces
The airy high Phæacian towers sink down behind our wake,
litoraque Epiri legimus portuque subimus
And coasting the Epirote shores Chaonia’s bay we make,
Chaonio et celsam Buthroti accedimus urbem.
And so Buthrotus’ city-walls high set we enter in.
Hic incredibilis rerum fama occupat auris,
There tidings hard for us to trow unto our ears do win,
Priamiden Helenum Graias regnare per urbis 295
&nbs
p; How Helenus, e’en Priam’s son, hath gotten wife and crown
coniugio Aeacidae Pyrrhi sceptrisque potitum,
Of Pyrrhus come of Æacus, and ruleth Greekish town,
et patrio Andromachen iterum cessisse marito.
And that Andromache hath wed one of her folk once more.
obstipui, miroque incensum pectus amore
All mazed am I; for wondrous love my heart was kindling sore
compellare uirum et casus cognoscere tantos.
To give some word unto the man, of such great things to learn:
progredior portu classis et litora linquens, 300
So from the haven forth I fare, from ships and shore I turn.
sollemnis cum forte dapes et tristia dona
But as it happed Andromache was keeping yearly day,
ante urbem in luco falsi Simoentis ad undam
Pouring sad gifts unto the dead, amidst a grove that lay
libabat cineri Andromache manisque uocabat
Outside the town, by wave that feigned the Simoïs that had been,
Hectoreum ad tumulum, uiridi quem caespite inanem
Blessing the dead by Hector’s mound empty and grassy green,
et geminas, causam lacrimis, sacrauerat aras. 305
Which she with altars twain thereby had hallowed for her tears.
ut me conspexit uenientem et Troia circum
But when she saw me drawing nigh with armour that Troy bears
arma amens uidit, magnis exterrita monstris
About me, senseless, throughly feared with marvels grown so great,
deriguit uisu in medio, calor ossa reliquit,
She stiffens midst her gaze; her bones are reft of life-blood’s heat,
labitur, et longo uix tandem tempore fatur:
She totters, scarce, a long while o’er, this word comes forth from her:
‘uerane te facies, uerus mihi nuntius adfers, 310
‘Is the show true, O Goddess-born? com’st thou a messenger
nate dea? uiuisne? aut, si lux alma recessit,
Alive indeed? or if from thee the holy light is fled,
Hector ubi est?’ dixit, lacrimasque effudit et omnem
Where then is Hector?’ Flowed the tears e’en as the word she said,
impleuit clamore locum. uix pauca furenti
And with her wailing rang the place: sore moved I scarce may speak
subicio et raris turbatus uocibus hisco:
This word to her, grown wild with grief, in broken voice and weak:
‘uiuo equidem uitamque extrema per omnia duco; 315
‘I live indeed, I drag my life through outer ways of ill;
ne dubita, nam uera uides.
Doubt not, thou seest the very sooth.
heu! quis te casus deiectam coniuge tanto
Alas! what hap hath caught thee up from such a man downcast?
excipit, aut quae digna satis fortuna reuisit,
Hath any fortune worthy thee come back again at last?
Hectoris Andromache? Pyrrhin conubia seruas?’
Doth Hector’s own Andromache yet serve in Pyrrhus’ bed?’
deiecit uultum et demissa uoce locuta est: 320
She cast her countenance adown, and in a low voice said:
‘o felix una ante alias Priameia uirgo,
‘O thou alone of Trojan maids that won a little joy,
hostilem ad tumulum Troiae sub moenibus altis
Bidden to die on foeman’s tomb before the walls of Troy!
iussa mori, quae sortitus non pertulit ullos
Who died, and never had to bear the sifting lot’s award,
nec uictoris heri tetigit captiua cubile!
Whose slavish body never touched the bed of victor lord!
nos patria incensa diuersa per aequora uectae 325
We from our burning fatherland carried o’er many a sea,
stirpis Achilleae fastus iuuenemque superbum
Of Achillæan offspring’s pride the yoke-fellow must be,
seruitio enixae tulimus; qui deinde secutus
Must bear the childbed of a slave: thereafter he, being led
Ledaeam Hermionen Lacedaemoniosque hymenaeos
To Leda’s child Hermione and that Laconian bed,
me famulo famulamque Heleno transmisit habendam.
To Helenus his very thrall me very thrall gave o’er:
ast illum ereptae magno flammatus amore 330
But there Orestes, set on fire by all the love he bore
coniugis et scelerum furiis agitatus Orestes
His ravished wife, and mad with hate, comes on him unaware
excipit incautum patriasque obtruncat ad aras.
Before his fathers’ altar-stead and slays him then and there.
morte Neoptolemi regnorum reddita cessit
By death of Neoptolemus his kingdom’s leavings came
pars Heleno, qui Chaonios cognomine campos
To Helenus, who called the fields Chaonian fields by name,
Chaoniamque omnem Troiano a Chaone dixit, 335
And all the land Chaonia, from Chaon of Troy-town;
Pergamaque Iliacamque iugis hanc addidit arcem.
And Pergamus and Ilian burg on ridgy steep set down.
sed tibi qui cursum uenti, quae fata dedere?
What winds, what fates gave thee the road to cross the ocean o’er?
aut quisnam ignarum nostris deus appulit oris?
Or what of Gods hath borne thee on unwitting to our shore?
quid puer Ascanius? superatne et uescitur aura?
What of the boy Ascanius? lives he and breathes he yet?
quem tibi iam Troia — 340
Whom unto thee when Troy yet was ——
ecqua tamen puero est amissae cura parentis?
The boy then, of his mother lost, hath he a thought of her?
ecquid in antiquam uirtutem animosque uirilis
Do him Æneas, Hector gone, father and uncle, stir,
et pater Aeneas et auunculus excitat Hector?’
To valour of the ancient days, and great hearts’ glorious gain?’
talia fundebat lacrimans longosque ciebat
Such tale she poured forth, weeping sore, and long she wept in vain
incassum fletus, cum sese a moenibus heros 345
Great floods of tears: when lo, from out the city draweth nigh
Priamides multis Helenus comitantibus adfert,
Lord Helenus the Priam-born midst mighty company,
agnoscitque suos laetusque ad limina ducit,
And knows his kin, and joyfully leads onward to his door,
et multum lacrimas uerba inter singula fundit.
Though many a tear ‘twixt broken words the while doth he outpour.
procedo et paruam Troiam simulataque magnis
So on; a little Troy I see feigned from great Troy of fame,
Pergama et arentem Xanthi cognomine riuum 350
A Pergamus, a sandy brook that hath the Xanthus name,
agnosco, Scaeaeque amplector limina portae;
On threshold of a Scæan gate I stoop to lay a kiss.
nec non et Teucri socia simul urbe fruuntur.
Soon, too, all Teucrian folk are wrapped in friendly city’s bliss,
illos porticibus rex accipiebat in amplis:
And them the King fair welcomes in amid his cloisters broad,
aulai medio libabant pocula Bacchi
And they amidmost of the hall the bowls of Bacchus poured,
impositis auro dapibus, paterasque tenebant. 355
The meat was set upon the gold, and cups they held in hand.
Iamque dies alterque dies processit, et aurae
So passed a day and other day, until the gales command
uela uocant tumidoque inflatur carbasus Austro:
The sails aloft, and canvas swells with wind from out the South:
his uatem adgredior dictis ac talia quaeso:
Therewith I speak unto the seer,
such matters in my mouth:
‘Troiugena, interpres diuum, qui numina Phoebi,
‘O Troy-born, O Gods’ messenger, who knowest Phoebus’ will,
qui tripodas Clarii et laurus, qui sidera sentis 360
The tripods and the Clarian’s bay, and what the stars fulfil,
et uolucrum linguas et praepetis omina pennae,
And tongues of fowl, and omens brought by swift foreflying wing,
fare age (namque omnis cursum mihi prospera dixit
Come, tell the tale! for of my way a happy heartening thing
religio, et cuncti suaserunt numine diui
All shrines have said, and all the Gods have bid me follow on
Italiam petere et terras temptare repostas;
To Italy, till outland shores, far off, remote were won:
sola nouum dictuque nefas Harpyia Celaeno 365
Alone Celæno, Harpy-fowl, new dread of fate set forth,
prodigium canit et tristis denuntiat iras
Unmeet to tell, and bade us fear the grimmest day of wrath,
obscenamque famem), quae prima pericula uito?
And ugly hunger. How may I by early perils fare?
quidue sequens tantos possim superare labores?’
Or doing what may I have might such toil to overbear?’
hic Helenus caesis primum de more iuuencis
So Helenus, when he hath had the heifers duly slain,
exorat pacem diuum uittasque resoluit 370
Prays peace of Gods, from hallowed head he doffs the bands again,
sacrati capitis, meque ad tua limina, Phoebe,
And then with hand he leadeth me, O Phoebus, to thy door,
ipse manu multo suspensum numine ducit,
My fluttering soul with all thy might of godhead shadowed o’er.
atque haec deinde canit diuino ex ore sacerdos:
There forth at last from God-loved mouth the seer this word did send:
‘Nate dea (nam te maioribus ire per altum
‘O Goddess-born, full certainly across the sea ye wend
auspiciis manifesta fides; sic fata deum rex 375
By mightiest bidding, such the lot the King of Gods hath found
sortitur uoluitque uices, is uertitur ordo),
All fateful; so he rolls the world, so turns its order round.
pauca tibi e multis, quo tutior hospita lustres
Few things from many will I tell that thou the outland sea
aequora et Ausonio possis considere portu,
May’st sail the safer, and at last make land in Italy;
expediam dictis; prohibent nam cetera Parcae
The other things the Parcæ still ban Helenus to wot,
scire Helenum farique uetat Saturnia Iuno. 380