by Virgil
Untroubled ‘neath the plighted word of Father Neptune’s mouth.
iamque adeo scopulos Sirenum aduecta subibat,
So to the Sirens’ rocks they draw, a dangerous pass forsooth
difficilis quondam multorumque ossibus albos 865
In yore agone, now white with bones of many a perished man.
(tum rauca adsiduo longe sale saxa sonabant),
Thence ever roared the salt sea now as on the rocks it ran;
cum pater amisso fluitantem errare magistro
And there the Father felt the ship fare wild and fitfully,
sensit, et ipse ratem nocturnis rexit in undis
Her helmsman lost; so he himself steered o’er the night-tide sea,
multa gemens casuque animum concussus amici:
Sore weeping; for his fellow’s end his inmost heart did touch:
‘o nimium caelo et pelago confise sereno, 870
“O Palinure, that trowed the sky and soft seas overmuch,
nudus in ignota, Palinure, iacebis harena.’
Now naked on an unknown shore thy resting-place shall be!”
LIBER VI
BOOK VI.
Sic fatur lacrimans, classique immittit habenas
So spake he weeping, and his host let loose from every band,
et tandem Euboicis Cumarum adlabitur oris.
Until at last they draw anigh Cumæ’s Euboean strand.
obuertunt pelago proras; tum dente tenaci
They turn the bows from off the main; the toothèd anchors’ grip
ancora fundabat nauis et litora curuae
Makes fast the keels; the shore is hid by many a curvèd ship.
praetexunt puppes. iuuenum manus emicat ardens 5
Hot-heart the youthful company leaps on the Westland’s shore;
litus in Hesperium; quaerit pars semina flammae
Part falleth on to seek them out the seed of fiery store
abstrusa in uenis silicis, pars densa ferarum
That flint-veins hide; part runneth through the dwellings of the deer,
tecta rapit siluas inuentaque flumina monstrat.
The thicket steads, and each to each the hidden streams they bare.
at pius Aeneas arces quibus altus Apollo
But good Æneas seeks the house where King Apollo bides,
praesidet horrendaeque procul secreta Sibyllae, 10
The mighty den, the secret place set far apart, that hides
antrum immane, petit, magnam cui mentem animumque
The awful Sibyl, whose great soul and heart he seeketh home,
Delius inspirat uates aperitque futura.
The Seer of Delos, showing her the hidden things to come:
iam subeunt Triuiae lucos atque aurea tecta.
And so the groves of Trivia and golden house they gain.
Daedalus, ut fama est, fugiens Minoia regna
Now Dædalus, as tells the tale, fleeing from Minos’ reign,
praepetibus pennis ausus se credere caelo 15
Durst trust himself to heaven on wings swift hastening, and swim forth
insuetum per iter gelidas enauit ad Arctos,
Along the road ne’er tried before unto the chilly north;
Chalcidicaque leuis tandem super astitit arce.
So light at last o’er Chalcis’ towers he hung amid the air,
redditus his primum terris tibi, Phoebe, sacrauit
Then, come adown to earth once more, to thee he hallowed here,
remigium alarum posuitque immania templa.
O Phoebus, all his wingèd oars, and built thee mighty fane:
in foribus letum Androgeo; tum pendere poenas 20
Androgeus’ death was on the doors; then paying of the pain
Cecropidae iussi (miserum!) septena quotannis
By those Cecropians; bid, alas, each year to give in turn
corpora natorum; stat ductis sortibus urna.
Seven bodies of their sons; — lo there, the lots drawn from the urn.
contra elata mari respondet Cnosia tellus:
But facing this the Gnosian land draws up amid the sea:
hic crudelis amor tauri suppostaque furto
There is the cruel bull-lust wrought, and there Pasiphaë
Pasiphae mixtumque genus prolesque biformis 25
Embraced by guile: the blended babe is there, the twiformed thing,
Minotaurus inest, Veneris monimenta nefandae,
The Minotaur, that evil sign of Venus’ cherishing;
hic labor ille domus et inextricabilis error;
And there the tangled house and toil that ne’er should be undone:
magnum reginae sed enim miseratus amorem
But ruth of Dædalus himself a queen’s love-sorrow won,
Daedalus ipse dolos tecti ambagesque resoluit,
And he himself undid the snare and winding wilderment.
caeca regens filo uestigia. tu quoque magnam 30
Guiding the blind feet with the thread. Thou, Icarus, wert blent
partem opere in tanto, sineret dolor, Icare, haberes.
Full oft with such a work be sure, if grief forbade it not;
bis conatus erat casus effingere in auro,
But twice he tried to shape in gold the picture of thy lot,
bis patriae cecidere manus. quin protinus omnia
And twice the father’s hands fell down. Long had their eyes read o’er
perlegerent oculis, ni iam praemissus Achates
Such matters, but Achates, now, sent on a while before,
adforet atque una Phoebi Triuiaeque sacerdos, 35
Was come with that Deïphobe, the Glaucus’ child, the maid
Deiphobe Glauci, fatur quae talia regi:
Of Phoebus and of Trivia, and such a word she said:
‘non hoc ista sibi tempus spectacula poscit;
“The hour will have no tarrying o’er fair shows for idle eyes;
nunc grege de intacto septem mactare iuuencos
‘Twere better from an unyoked herd seven steers to sacrifice,
praestiterit, totidem lectas ex more bidentis.’
And e’en so many hosts of ewes in manner due culled out.”
talibus adfata Aenean (nec sacra morantur 40
She spake; her holy bidding then the warriors go about,
iussa uiri) Teucros uocat alta in templa sacerdos.
Nor tarry: into temple high she calls the Teucrian men,
Excisum Euboicae latus ingens rupis in antrum,
Where the huge side of Cumæ’s rock is carven in a den,
quo lati ducunt aditus centum, ostia centum,
Where are an hundred doors to come, an hundred mouths to go,
unde ruunt totidem uoces, responsa Sibyllae.
Whence e’en so many awful sounds, the Sibyl’s answers flow.
uentum erat ad limen, cum uirgo ‘poscere fata 45
But at the threshold cried the maid: “Now is the hour awake
tempus’ ait; ‘deus ecce deus!’ cui talia fanti
For asking — Ah, the God, the God!” And as the word she spake
ante fores subito non uultus, non color unus,
Within the door, all suddenly her visage and her hue
non comptae mansere comae; sed pectus anhelum,
Were changed, and all her sleekèd hair, and gasping breath she drew,
et rabie fera corda tument, maiorque uideri
And with the rage her wild heart swelled, and greater was she grown,
nec mortale sonans, adflata est numine quando 50
Nor mortal-voiced; for breath of God upon her heart was blown
iam propiore dei. ‘cessas in uota precesque,
As He drew nigher: “Art thou dumb of vows and prayers, forsooth,
Tros’ ait ‘Aenea? cessas? neque enim ante dehiscent
Trojan Æneas, art thou dumb? unprayed, the mighty mouth
attonitae magna ora domus.’ et talia fata
Of awe-mazed hou
se shall open not.” Even such a word she said,
conticuit. gelidus Teucris per dura cucurrit
Then hushed: through hardened Teucrian bones swift ran the chilly dread,
ossa tremor, funditque preces rex pectore ab imo: 55
And straight the king from inmost heart the flood of prayers doth pour:
‘Phoebe, grauis Troiae semper miserate labores,
“Phoebus, who all the woe of Troy hast pitied evermore,
Dardana qui Paridis derexti tela manusque
Who Dardan shaft and Paris’ hands in time agone didst speed
corpus in Aeacidae, magnas obeuntia terras
Against Achilles’ body there, who me withal didst lead
tot maria intraui duce te penitusque repostas
Over the seas that go about so many a mighty land,
Massylum gentis praetentaque Syrtibus arua: 60
Through those Massylian folks remote, and length of Syrtes’ sand,
iam tandem Italiae fugientis prendimus oras.
Till now I hold that Italy that ever drew aback;
hac Troiana tenus fuerit fortuna secuta;
And now perchance a Trojan fate we, even we may lack.
uos quoque Pergameae iam fas est parcere genti,
Ye now, O Gods and Goddesses, to whom a stumbling-stone
dique deaeque omnes, quibus obstitit Ilium et ingens
Was Ilium in the days of old, and Dardan folk’s renown,
gloria Dardaniae. tuque, o sanctissima uates, 65
May spare the folk of Pergamus. But thou, O holiest,
praescia uenturi, da (non indebita posco
O Maid that knowest things to come, grant thou the Latin rest
regna meis fatis) Latio considere Teucros
To Teucrian men, and Gods of Troy, the straying way-worn powers!
errantisque deos agitataque numina Troiae.
For surely now no realm I ask but such as Fate makes ours.
tum Phoebo et Triuiae solido de marmore templum
To Phoebus and to Trivia then a temple will I raise,
instituam festosque dies de nomine Phoebi. 70
A marble world; in Phoebus’ name will hallow festal days:
te quoque magna manent regnis penetralia nostris:
Thee also in our realm to be full mighty shrines await,
hic ego namque tuas sortis arcanaque fata
There will I set thine holy lots and hidden words of fate
dicta meae genti ponam, lectosque sacrabo,
Said to my folk, and hallow there well-chosen men for thee,
alma, uiros. foliis tantum ne carmina manda,
O Holy One: But give thou not thy songs to leaf of tree,
ne turbata uolent rapidis ludibria uentis; 75
Lest made a sport to hurrying gales confusedly they wend;
ipsa canas oro.’ finem dedit ore loquendi.
But sing them thou thyself, I pray!” Therewith his words had end.
At Phoebi nondum patiens immanis in antro
Meanwhile the Seer-maid, not yet tamed to Phoebus, raves about
bacchatur uates, magnum si pectore possit
The cave, still striving from her breast to cast the godhead out;
excussisse deum; tanto magis ille fatigat
But yet the more the mighty God her mouth bewildered wears,
os rabidum, fera corda domans, fingitque premendo. 80
Taming her wild heart, fashioning her soul with weight of fears.
ostia iamque domus patuere ingentia centum
At last the hundred mighty doors fly open, touched of none,
sponte sua uatisque ferunt responsa per auras:
And on the air the answer floats of that foreseeing one:
‘o tandem magnis pelagi defuncte periclis
“O Thou, who dangers of the sea hast throughly worn away,
(sed terrae grauiora manent), in regna Lauini
Abides thee heavier toil of earth: the Dardans on a day
Dardanidae uenient (mitte hanc de pectore curam), 85
Shall come to that Lavinian land, — leave fear thereof afar:
sed non et uenisse uolent. bella, horrida bella,
Yet of their coming shall they rue. Lo, war, war, dreadful war!
et Thybrim multo spumantem sanguine cerno.
And Tiber bearing plenteous blood upon his foaming back.
non Simois tibi nec Xanthus nec Dorica castra
Nor Simoïs there, nor Xanthus’ stream, nor Dorian camp shall lack:
defuerint; alius Latio iam partus Achilles,
Yea, once again in Latin land Achilles is brought forth,
natus et ipse dea; nec Teucris addita Iuno 90
God-born no less: nor evermore shall mighty Juno’s wrath
usquam aberit, cum tu supplex in rebus egenis
Fail Teucrian men. Ah, how shalt thou, fallen on evil days,
quas gentis Italum aut quas non oraueris urbes!
To all Italian lands and folks thine hands beseeching raise!
causa mali tanti coniunx iterum hospita Teucris
Lo, once again a stranger bride brings woeful days on Troy,
externique iterum thalami.
Once more the wedding of a foe.
tu ne cede malis, sed contra audentior ito, 95
But thou, yield not to any ill, but set thy face, and wend
qua tua te Fortuna sinet. uia prima salutis
The bolder where thy fortune leads; the dawn of perils’ end,
(quod minime reris) Graia pandetur ab urbe.’
Whence least thou mightest look for it, from Greekish folk shall come.”
Talibus ex adyto dictis Cumaea Sibylla
Suchwise the Seer of Cumæ sang from out her inner home
horrendas canit ambages antroque remugit,
The dreadful double words, wherewith the cavern moans again,
obscuris uera inuoluens: ea frena furenti 100
As sooth amid the mirk she winds: Apollo shakes the rein
concutit et stimulos sub pectore uertit Apollo.
Over the maddened one, and stirs the strings about her breast;
ut primum cessit furor et rabida ora quierunt,
But when her fury lulled awhile and maddened mouth had rest,
incipit Aeneas heros: ‘non ulla laborum,
Hero Æneas thus began: “No face of any care,
o uirgo, noua mi facies inopinaue surgit;
O maiden, can arise on me in any wise unware:
omnia praecepi atque animo mecum ante peregi. 105
Yea, all have I forecast; my mind hath worn through everything.
unum oro: quando hic inferni ianua regis
One prayer I pray, since this they call the gateway of the King
dicitur et tenebrosa palus Acheronte refuso,
Of Nether-earth, and Acheron’s o’erflow this mirky mere:
ire ad conspectum cari genitoris et ora
O let me meet the eyes and mouth of my dead father dear;
contingat; doceas iter et sacra ostia pandas.
O open me the holy gate, and teach me where to go!
illum ego per flammas et mille sequentia tela 110
I bore him on these shoulders once from midmost of the foe,
eripui his umeris medioque ex hoste recepi;
From flame and weapons thousandfold against our goings bent;
ille meum comitatus iter maria omnia mecum
My yoke-fellow upon the road o’er every sea he went,
atque omnis pelagique minas caelique ferebat,
‘Gainst every threat of sea and sky a hardy heart he held,
inualidus, uiris ultra sortemque senectae.
Though worn and feeble past decay and feebleness of eld.
quin, ut te supplex peterem et tua limina adirem, 115
Yea, he it was who bade me wend, a suppliant, to thy door,
idem orans mandata dabat. gnatique patrisque,
And seek thee out: O holy
one, cast thou thy pity o’er
alma, precor, miserere (potes namque omnia, nec te
Father and son! All things thou canst, nor yet hath Hecaté
nequiquam lucis Hecate praefecit Auernis),
Set thee to rule Avernus’ woods an empty Queen to be.
si potuit manis accersere coniugis Orpheus
Yea, Orpheus wrought with Thracian harp and strings of tuneful might
Threicia fretus cithara fidibusque canoris, 120
To draw away his perished love from midmost of the night.
si fratrem Pollux alterna morte redemit
Yea, Pollux, dying turn for turn, his brother borrowed well,
itque reditque uiam totiens. quid Thesea, magnum
And went and came the road full oft — Of Theseus shall I tell?
quid memorem Alciden? et mi genus ab Ioue summo.’
Or great Alcides? Ah, I too from highest Jove am sprung.”
Talibus orabat dictis arasque tenebat,
Such were the words he prayed withal and round the altars clung:
cum sic orsa loqui uates: ‘sate sanguine diuum, 125
Then she fell speaking: “Man of Troy, from blood of Godhead grown,
Tros Anchisiade, facilis descensus Auerno:
Anchises’ child, Avernus’ road is easy faring down;
noctes atque dies patet atri ianua Ditis;
All day and night is open wide the door of Dis the black;
sed reuocare gradum superasque euadere ad auras,
But thence to gain the upper air, and win the footsteps back,
hoc opus, hic labor est. pauci, quos aequus amauit
This is the deed, this is the toil: Some few have had the might,
Iuppiter aut ardens euexit ad aethera uirtus, 130
Beloved by Jove the just, upborne to heaven by valour’s light,
dis geniti potuere. tenent media omnia siluae,
The Sons of God. ‘Twixt it and us great thicket fills the place
Cocytusque sinu labens circumuenit atro.
That slow Cocytus’ mirky folds all round about embrace;
quod si tantus amor menti, si tanta cupido est
But if such love be in thine heart, such yearning in thee lie,
bis Stygios innare lacus, bis nigra uidere
To swim twice o’er the Stygian mere and twice to see with eye
Tartara, et insano iuuat indulgere labori, 135
Black Tartarus, and thou must needs this idle labour win,
accipe quae peragenda prius. latet arbore opaca
Hearken what first there is to do: the dusky tree within
aureus et foliis et lento uimine ramus,
Lurks the gold bough with golden leaves and limber twigs of gold,