by Virgil
And thrice fell back upon the bed, and sought with wandering eyes
quaesiuit caelo lucem ingemuitque reperta.
The light of heaven aloft, and moaned when it was found at last.
Tum Iuno omnipotens longum miserata dolorem
Then on her long-drawn agony did Juno pity cast,
difficilisque obitus Irim demisit Olympo
Her hard departing; Iris then she sent from heaven on high,
quae luctantem animam nexosque resolueret artus. 695
And bade her from the knitted limbs the struggling soul untie.
nam quia nec fato merita nec morte peribat,
For since by fate she perished not, nor waited death-doom given,
sed misera ante diem subitoque accensa furore,
But hapless died before her day by sudden fury driven,
nondum illi flauum Proserpina uertice crinem
Not yet the tress of yellow hair had Proserpine off-shred,
abstulerat Stygioque caput damnauerat Orco.
Nor unto Stygian Orcus yet had doomed her wandering head.
ergo Iris croceis per caelum roscida pennis 700
So Iris ran adown the sky on wings of saffron dew,
mille trahens uarios aduerso sole colores
And colours shifting thousandfold against the sun she drew,
deuolat et supra caput astitit. ‘hunc ego Diti
And overhead she hung: “So bid, from off thee this I bear,
sacrum iussa fero teque isto corpore soluo’:
Hallowed to Dis, and charge thee now from out thy body fare.”
sic ait et dextra crinem secat, omnis et una
She spake and sheared the tress away; then failed the life-heat spent
dilapsus calor atque in uentos uita recessit.
And forth away upon the wind the spirit of her went.
‘The Death of Dido’ by Andrea Sacchi , 1661
LIBER V
BOOK V.
Interea medium Aeneas iam classe tenebat
Meanwhile Æneas with his ships the mid-sea way did hold
certus iter fluctusque atros Aquilone secabat
Steadfast, and cut the dusky waves before the north wind rolled,
moenia respiciens, quae iam infelicis Elissae
Still looking back upon the walls now litten by the flame
conlucent flammis. quae tantum accenderit ignem
Of hapless Dido: though indeed whence so great burning came
causa latet; duri magno sed amore dolores 5
They knew not; but the thought of grief that comes of love defiled
polluto, notumque furens quid femina possit,
How great it is, what deed may come of woman waxen wild,
triste per augurium Teucrorum pectora ducunt.
Through woeful boding of the sooth the Teucrians’ bosoms bore.
ut pelagus tenuere rates nec iam amplius ulla
But when the ships the main sea held, nor had they any more
occurrit tellus, maria undique et undique caelum,
The land in sight, but sea around and sky around was spread,
olli caeruleus supra caput astitit imber 10
A coal-blue cloud drew up to them, that hanging overhead
noctem hiememque ferens et inhorruit unda tenebris.
Bore night and storm: feared ‘neath the dark the waters trembling lie.
ipse gubernator puppi Palinurus ab alta:
Then called the helmsman Palinure from lofty deck on high:
‘heu quianam tanti cinxerunt aethera nimbi?
“Ah, wherefore doth such cloud of storm gird all the heavens about?
quidue, pater Neptune, paras?’ sic deinde locutus
What will ye, Father Neptune, now?” Therewith he crieth out
colligere arma iubet ualidisque incumbere remis, 15
To gather all the tackling in, and hard on oars to lay,
obliquatque sinus in uentum ac talia fatur:
And slopeth sail across the wind; and so such word doth say:
‘magnanime Aenea, non, si mihi Iuppiter auctor
“Great-souled Æneas, e’en if Jove my borrow now should be,
spondeat, hoc sperem Italiam contingere caelo.
‘Neath such a sky I might not hope to make our Italy:
mutati transuersa fremunt et uespere ab atro
The changed winds roar athwart our course, and from the west grown black
consurgunt uenti, atque in nubem cogitur aer. 20
They rise; while o’er the face of heaven gathers the cloudy rack.
nec nos obniti contra nec tendere tantum
Nor have we might to draw a-head, nor e’en to hold our own.
sufficimus. superat quoniam Fortuna, sequamur,
Wherefore since Fortune hath prevailed, by way that she hath shown,
quoque uocat uertamus iter. nec litora longe
Whither she calleth, let us turn: methinks the way but short
fida reor fraterna Erycis portusque Sicanos,
To brother-land of Eryx leal and safe Sicanian port,
si modo rite memor seruata remetior astra.’ 25
If I may read the stars aright that erst I bare in mind.”
tum pius Aeneas: ‘equidem sic poscere uentos
Quoth good Æneas: “Now for long that suchwise would the wind
iamdudum et frustra cerno te tendere contra.
I saw, and how thou heldest head against it all in vain:
flecte uiam uelis. an sit mihi gratior ulla,
Shift sail and go about; what land may sweeter be to gain,
quoue magis fessas optem dimittere nauis,
Or whither would I liefer turn my keels from beat of sea,
quam quae Dardanium tellus mihi seruat Acesten 30
Than that which yet the Dardan lord Acestes holds for me,
et patris Anchisae gremio complectitur ossa?’
That holds my very father’s bones, Anchises, in its breast?”
haec ubi dicta, petunt portus et uela secundi
They seek the haven therewithal, and fair and happy west
intendunt Zephyri; fertur cita gurgite classis,
Swelleth the sails: o’er whirl of waves full speedily they wend,
et tandem laeti notae aduertuntur harenae.
And glad to that familiar sand they turn them in the end:
At procul ex celso miratus uertice montis 35
But there Acestes meeteth them, who from a mountain high
aduentum sociasque rates occurrit Acestes,
All wondering had seen afar the friendly ships draw nigh.
horridus in iaculis et pelle Libystidis ursae,
With darts he bristled, and was clad in fell of Libyan bear.
Troia Criniso conceptum flumine mater
Him erst unto Crimisus’ flood a Trojan mother fair
quem genuit. ueterum non immemor ille parentum
Brought forth: and now, forgetting nought his mother’s folk of old,
gratatur reduces et gaza laetus agresti 40
He welcomes them come back again with wealth of field and fold,
excipit, ac fessos opibus solatur amicis.
And solaces the weary men with plenteous friendly cheer.
Postera cum primo stellas Oriente fugarat
But when the stars in first of dawn fled from the morrow clear,
clara dies, socios in coetum litore ab omni
Æneas called upon the shore assembly of his folk,
aduocat Aeneas tumulique ex aggere fatur:
And standing high aloft on mound such words to tell he spoke:
‘Dardanidae magni, genus alto a sanguine diuum, 45
“O mighty Dardan men, O folk from blood of Godhead born,
annuus exactis completur mensibus orbis,
The yearly round is all fulfilled, with lapse of months outworn,
ex quo reliquias diuinique ossa parentis
Since when my godlike father’s husk and bon
es of him we laid
condidimus terra maestasque sacrauimus aras;
Amid the mould, and heavy sad the hallowed altars made:
iamque dies, nisi fallor, adest, quem semper acerbum,
And now meseems the day is here, for evermore to me
semper honoratum (sic di uoluistis) habebo. 50
A bitter day, a worshipped day. — So God would have it be!
hunc ego Gaetulis agerem si Syrtibus exsul,
Yea should it find me outcast man on great Getulia’s sand,
Argolicoue mari deprensus et urbe Mycenae,
Or take me in the Argive sea, or mid Mycenæ’s land,
annua uota tamen sollemnisque ordine pompas
Yet yearly vows, and pomps that come in due recurring while,
exsequerer strueremque suis altaria donis.
Still should I pay, and gifts most meet upon the altar pile.
nunc ultro ad cineres ipsius et ossa parentis 55
Now to my father’s bones, indeed, and ashes are we brought
haud equidem sine mente, reor, sine numine diuum
By chance; yet not, meseems, without the Godhead’s will and thought
adsumus et portus delati intramus amicos.
Are we come here, to lie in peace within a friendly bay.
ergo agite et laetum cuncti celebremus honorem:
So come, and let all worship here the glory of the day;
poscamus uentos, atque haec me sacra quotannis
Pray we the winds, that year by year this worship may be done
urbe uelit posita templis sibi ferre dicatis. 60
In temples dedicate to him within my city won.
bina boum uobis Troia generatus Acestes
Troy-born Acestes giveth you two head of hornèd beasts
dat numero capita in nauis; adhibete penatis
For every ship; so see ye bid the House-gods to your feasts,
et patrios epulis et quos colit hospes Acestes.
Both them of Troy and them our host Acestes loveth here.
praeterea, si nona diem mortalibus almum
Moreover, if the ninth dawn hence Aurora shall uprear
Aurora extulerit radiisque retexerit orbem, 65
For health of men, and with her rays earth’s coverlit shall lift,
prima citae Teucris ponam certamina classis;
For Teucrians will I fast set forth the race for galleys swift:
quique pedum cursu ualet, et qui uiribus audax
Then whosoe’er is fleet of foot, or bold of might and main,
aut iaculo incedit melior leuibusque sagittis,
Or with the dart or eager shaft a better prize may gain,
seu crudo fidit pugnam committere caestu,
Or whoso hath the heart to play in fight-glove of raw hide,
cuncti adsint meritaeque exspectent praemia palmae. 70
Let all be there, and victory’s palm and guerdon due abide.
ore fauete omnes et cingite tempora ramis.’
Clean be all mouths! and gird with leaves the temple of the head.”
Sic fatus uelat materna tempora myrto.
His mother’s bush he did on brow e’en as the word he said;
hoc Helymus facit, hoc aeui maturus Acestes,
The like did Helymus, the like Acestes ripe of eld,
hoc puer Ascanius, sequitur quos cetera pubes.
The like the boy Ascanius, yea, and all that manner held.
ille e concilio multis cum milibus ibat 75
Then from that council to the tomb that duke of men did pass;
ad tumulum magna medius comitante caterua.
Mid many thousands, he the heart of all that concourse was.
hic duo rite mero libans carchesia Baccho
There, worshipping, on earth he pours in such wise as was good
fundit humi, duo lacte nouo, duo sanguine sacro,
Two cups of mere wine, two of milk, and two of holy blood,
purpureosque iacit flores ac talia fatur:
And scatters purple flowers around; and then such words he said:
‘salue, sancte parens, iterum; saluete, recepti 80
“Hail, holy father! hail once more! hail, ashes visited
nequiquam cineres animaeque umbraeque paternae.
Once more for nought! hail, father-shade and spirit sweet in vain!
non licuit finis Italos fataliaque arua
Forbid with me that Italy to seek, that fated plain,
nec tecum Ausonium, quicumque est, quaerere Thybrim.’
With me Ausonian Tiber-flood, whereso it be, to seek.”
dixerat haec, adytis cum lubricus anguis ab imis
He spake: but from the lowest mound a mighty serpent sleek
septem ingens gyros, septena uolumina traxit 85
Drew seven great circles o’er the earth, and glided sevenfold,
amplexus placide tumulum lapsusque per aras,
Passing in peace the tomb around, and o’er the altars rolled:
caeruleae cui terga notae maculosus et auro
Blue stripèd was the back of him, and all his scales did glow
squamam incendebat fulgor, ceu nubibus arcus
With glitter of fine flecks of gold; e’en as the cloud-hung bow
mille iacit uarios aduerso sole colores.
A thousand shifting colours fair back from the sun he cast.
obstipuit uisu Aeneas. ille agmine longo 90
Æneas wondered at the sight; but on the serpent passed,
tandem inter pateras et leuia pocula serpens
And ‘twixt the bowls and smoothèd cups his long array he wound,
libauitque dapes rursusque innoxius imo
Tasting the hallowed things; and so he gat him underground
successit tumulo et depasta altaria liquit.
Beneath the tomb again, and left the altars pastured o’er.
hoc magis inceptos genitori instaurat honores,
Heartened hereby, his father’s soul Æneas worshipped more,
incertus geniumne loci famulumne parentis 95
And, doubtful, deemeth it to be Anchises’ guardian ghost
esse putet; caedit binas de more bidentis
Or godhead of the place: so there he slayeth double host,
totque sues, totidem nigrantis terga iuuencos,
As custom would; two black-backed steers, and e’en as many swine,
uinaque fundebat pateris animamque uocabat
And calleth on his father’s soul with pouring of the wine,
Anchisae magni manisque Acheronte remissos.
On great Anchises’ glorious ghost from Acheron set free.
nec non et socii, quae cuique est copia, laeti 100
From out their plenty therewithal his fellows joyfully
dona ferunt, onerant aras mactantque iuuencos;
Give gifts, and load the altar-stead, and smite the steers adown.
ordine aena locant alii fusique per herbam
While others serve the seething brass, and o’er the herbage strown
subiciunt ueribus prunas et uiscera torrent.
Set coaly morsels ‘neath the spit, and roast the inner meat.
Exspectata dies aderat nonamque serena
And now the looked-for day was come with simple light and sweet,
Auroram Phaethontis equi iam luce uehebant, 105
And Phaeton’s horses shining bright the ninth dawn in did bear.
famaque finitimos et clari nomen Acestae
Fame and the name Acestes had the neighbouring people stir
excierat; laeto complerant litora coetu
To fill the shore with joyful throng, Æneas’ folk to see:
uisuri Aeneadas, pars et certare parati.
But some were dight amid the games their strife-fellows to be.
munera principio ante oculos circoque locantur
There first before the eyes of men the gifts to come they lay
in medio, sacri tripodes uiridesqu
e coronae 110
Amid the course; as hallowed bowls, and garlands of green bay,
et palmae pretium uictoribus, armaque et ostro
And palms, the prize of victory, weapons, and raiment rolled
perfusae uestes, argenti aurique talenta;
In purple, and a talent’s weight of silver and of gold;
et tuba commissos medio canit aggere ludos.
Then blast of horn from midst the mound the great games halloweth in:
Prima pares ineunt grauibus certamina remis
Four ships from all the fleet picked out will first the race begin
quattuor ex omni delectae classe carinae. 115
With heavy oars; well matched are they for speed and rowers’ tale:
uelocem Mnestheus agit acri remige Pristim,
Hereof did Mnestheus’ eager oars drive on the speedy Whale,
mox Italus Mnestheus, genus a quo nomine Memmi,
Mnestheus to be of Italy, whence cometh Memmius’ name.
ingentemque Gyas ingenti mole Chimaeram,
The huge Chimæra’s mountain mass was Gyas set to tame;
urbis opus, triplici pubes quam Dardana uersu
There on that city of a ship threesome its rowing plies
impellunt, terno consurgunt ordine remi; 120
The Dardan youth; the banks of oars in threefold order rise.
Sergestusque, domus tenet a quo Sergia nomen,
Sergestus next, the name whereof the Sergian house yet bears,
Centauro inuehitur magna, Scyllaque Cloanthus
Is ferried by the Centaur great: last in blue Scylla steers
caerulea, genus unde tibi, Romane Cluenti.
Cloanthus, whence the name of thee, Cluentius, man of Rome.
Est procul in pelago saxum spumantia contra
Far mid the sea a rock there is, facing the shore-line’s foam,
litora, quod tumidis summersum tunditur olim 125
Which, beat by overtoppling waves, is drowned and hidden oft,
fluctibus, hiberni condunt ubi sidera Cauri;
What time the stormy North-west hides the stars in heaven aloft:
tranquillo silet immotaque attollitur unda
But otherwhiles it lies in peace when nought the sea doth move,
campus et apricis statio gratissima mergis.
And riseth up a meadow fair that sunning sea-gulls love.
hic uiridem Aeneas frondenti ex ilice metam
There a green goal Æneas raised, dight of a leafy oak,
constituit signum nautis pater, unde reuerti 130
To be a sign of turning back to that sea-faring folk,
scirent et longos ubi circumflectere cursus.