Complete Works of Virgil

by Virgil

  And on the ground that Ceres gave the woodland apples pile.

  consumptis hic forte aliis, ut uertere morsus

  And so it happed, that all being spent, they turn them in a while

  exiguam in Cererem penuria adegit edendi,

  To Ceres’ little field, and eat, egged on by very want,

  et uiolare manu malisque audacibus orbem

  And dare to waste with hands and teeth the circle thin and scant

  fatalis crusti patulis nec parcere quadris: 115

  Where fate lay hid, nor spare upon the trenchers wide to fall.

  ‘heus, etiam mensas consumimus?’ inquit Iulus,

  “Ah!” cries Iulus, “so today we eat up board and all.”

  nec plura, adludens. ea uox audita laborum

  ’Twas all his jest-word; but its sound their labour slew at last,

  prima tulit finem, primamque loquentis ab ore

  And swift his father caught it up, as from his mouth it passed,

  eripuit pater ac stupefactus numine pressit.

  And stayed him, by the might of God bewildered utterly.

  continuo ‘salue fatis mihi debita tellus 120

  Then forthwith: “Hail,” he cried, “O land that Fate hath owed to me!

  uosque’ ait ‘o fidi Troiae saluete penates:

  And ye, O House-gods of our Troy, hail ye, O true and kind!

  hic domus, haec patria est. genitor mihi talia namque

  This is your house, this is your land: my father, as I mind,

  (nunc repeto) Anchises fatorum arcana reliquit:

  Such secrets of the deeds of Fate left me in days of yore:

  “cum te, nate, fames ignota ad litora uectum

  ‘O son, when hunger driveth thee stranded on outland shore

  accisis coget dapibus consumere mensas, 125

  To eat the very boards beneath thy victual scant at need,

  tum sperare domos defessus, ibique memento

  There hope for house, O weary one, and in that place have heed

  prima locare manu molirique aggere tecta.”

  To set hand first unto the roof, and heap the garth around.’

  haec erat illa fames, haec nos suprema manebat

  So this will be that hunger-tide: this waited us to bound

  exitiis positura modum.

  Our wasting evils at the last.

  quare agite et primo laeti cum lumine solis 130

  So come, and let us joyfully upon the first of dawn

  quae loca, quiue habeant homines, ubi moenia gentis,

  Seek out the land, what place it is, what men-folk there abide,

  uestigemus et a portu diuersa petamus.

  And where their city; diversely leaving the haven-side.

  nunc pateras libate Ioui precibusque uocate

  But now pour out the bowls to Jove, send prayer upon the way

  Anchisen genitorem, et uina reponite mensis.’

  To sire Anchises, and the wine again on table lay.”

  Sic deinde effatus frondenti tempora ramo 135

  He spake, and with the leafy bough his temples garlanded,

  implicat et geniumque loci primamque deorum

  And to the Spirit of the Soil forthwith the prayer he said,

  Tellurem Nymphasque et adhuc ignota precatur

  To Earth, the eldest-born of Gods, to Nymphs, to Streams unknown

  flumina, tum Noctem Noctisque orientia signa

  As yet: he called upon the Night, and night-tide’s signs new shown;

  Idaeumque Iouem Phrygiamque ex ordine matrem

  Idæan Jove, the Phrygian Queen, the Mother, due and well

  inuocat, et duplicis caeloque Ereboque parentis. 140

  He called on; and his parents twain in Heaven and in Hell.

  hic pater omnipotens ter caelo clarus ab alto

  But thrice the Almighty Father then from cloudless heaven on high

  intonuit, radiisque ardentem lucis et auro

  Gave thunder, showing therewithal the glory of his sky

  ipse manu quatiens ostendit ab aethere nubem.

  All burning with the golden gleam, and shaken by his hand.

  diditur hic subito Troiana per agmina rumor

  Then sudden rumour ran abroad amid the Trojan band,

  aduenisse diem quo debita moenia condant. 145

  That now the day was come about their fateful walls to raise;

  certatim instaurant epulas atque omine magno

  So eagerly they dight the feast, gladdened by omen’s grace,

  crateras laeti statuunt et uina coronant.

  And bring the beakers forth thereto and garland well the wine.

  Postera cum prima lustrabat lampade terras

  But when the morrow’s lamp of dawn across the earth ‘gan shine,

  orta dies, urbem et finis et litora gentis

  The shore, the fields, the towns of folk they search, wide scattering:

  diuersi explorant: haec fontis stagna Numici, 150

  And here they come across the pools of that Numician spring:

  hunc Thybrim fluuium, hic fortis habitare Latinos.

  This is the Tiber-flood; hereby the hardy Latins dwell.

  tum satus Anchisa delectos ordine ab omni

  But therewithal Anchises’ seed from out them chose him well

  centum oratores augusta ad moenia regis

  An hundred sweet-mouthed men to go unto the walls renowned,

  ire iubet, ramis uelatos Palladis omnis,

  Where dwelt the king, and every one with Pallas’ olive crowned,

  donaque ferre uiro pacemque exposcere Teucris. 155

  To carry gifts unto the lord and peace for Teucrians pray.

  haud mora, festinant iussi rapidisque feruntur

  So, bidden, nought they tarry now, but swift-foot wear the way.

  passibus. ipse humili designat moenia fossa

  But he himself marks out the walls with shallow ditch around,

  moliturque locum, primasque in litore sedes

  And falls to work upon the shore his first abode to found,

  castrorum in morem pinnis atque aggere cingit.

  In manner of a camp, begirt with bank and battlement.

  iamque iter emensi turris ac tecta Latinorum 160

  Meanwhile his men beheld at last, when all the way was spent,

  ardua cernebant iuuenes muroque subibant.

  The Latin towers and roofs aloft, and drew the walls anigh:

  ante urbem pueri et primaeuo flore iuuentus

  There were the lads and flower of youth afield the city by

  exercentur equis domitantque in puluere currus,

  Backing the steed, or mid the dust a-steering of the car,

  aut acris tendunt arcus aut lenta lacertis

  Or bending of the bitter bow, hurling tough darts afar

  spicula contorquent, cursuque ictuque lacessunt: 165

  By strength of arm; for foot or fist crying the challenging.

  cum praeuectus equo longaeui regis ad auris

  Then fares a well-horsed messenger, who to the ancient king

  nuntius ingentis ignota in ueste reportat

  Bears tidings of tall new-comers in outland raiment clad:

  aduenisse uiros. ille intra tecta uocari

  So straight Latinus biddeth them within his house be had,

  imperat et solio medius consedit auito.

  And he upon his father’s throne sat down amidmost there.

  Tectum augustum, ingens, centum sublime columnis 170

  High on an hundred pillars stood that mighty house and fair,

  urbe fuit summa, Laurentis regia Pici,

  High in the burg, the dwelling-place Laurentian Picus won,

  horrendum siluis et religione parentum.

  Awful with woods, and worshipping of sires of time agone:

  hic sceptra accipere et primos attollere fascis

  Here was it wont for kings to take the sceptre in their hand,

  regib
us omen erat; hoc illis curia templum,

  Here first to raise the axe of doom: ’twas court-house of the land,

  hae sacris sedes epulis; hic ariete caeso 175

  This temple, and the banquet-hall; here when the host was slain

  perpetuis soliti patres considere mensis.

  The fathers at the endlong boards would sit the feast to gain.

  quin etiam ueterum effigies ex ordine auorum

  There too were dight in cedar old the sires of ancient line

  antiqua e cedro, Italusque paterque Sabinus

  For there was fashioned Italus, and he who set the vine,

  uitisator curuam seruans sub imagine falcem,

  Sabinus, holding yet in hand the image of the hook;

  Saturnusque senex Ianique bifrontis imago 180

  And Saturn old, and imaging of Janus’ double look,

  uestibulo astabant, aliique ab origine reges,

  Stood in the porch; and many a king was there from ancient tide,

  Martiaque ob patriam pugnando uulnera passi.

  Who in their country’s battle erst the wounds of Mars would bide:

  multaque praeterea sacris in postibus arma,

  And therewithal were many arms hung on the holy door.

  captiui pendent currus curuaeque secures

  There hung the axes crookèd-horned, and taken wains of war,

  et cristae capitum et portarum ingentia claustra 185

  And crested helms, and bolts and locks that city-gates had borne;

  spiculaque clipeique ereptaque rostra carinis.

  And spears and shields, and thrusting-beaks from ships of battle torn.

  ipse Quirinali lituo paruaque sedebat

  There with Quirinus’ crooked staff, girt in the shortened gown,

  succinctus trabea laeuaque ancile gerebat

  With target in his left hand held, was Picus set adown, —

  Picus, equum domitor, quem capta cupidine coniunx

  The horse-tamer, whom Circe fair, caught with desire erewhile,

  aurea percussum uirga uersumque uenenis 190

  Smote with that golden rod of hers, and, sprinkling venom’s guile,

  fecit auem Circe sparsitque coloribus alas.

  Made him a fowl, and colours fair blent on his shifting wings.

  Tali intus templo diuum patriaque Latinus

  In such a temple of the Gods, in such a house of kings,

  sede sedens Teucros ad sese in tecta uocauit,

  Latinus sat when he had called those Teucrian fellows in,

  atque haec ingressis placido prior edidit ore:

  And from his quiet mouth and grave such converse did begin:

  ‘dicite, Dardanidae (neque enim nescimus et urbem 195

  “What seek ye, sons of Dardanus? for not unknown to me

  et genus, auditique aduertitis aequore cursum),

  Is that your city or your blood; and how ye crossed the sea,

  quid petitis? quae causa rates aut cuius egentis

  That have I heard. But these your ships, what counsel or what lack

  litus ad Ausonium tot per uada caerula uexit?

  Hath borne them to Ausonian strand o’er all the blue sea’s back?

  siue errore uiae seu tempestatibus acti,

  If ye have strayed from out your course, or, driven by stormy tide

  qualia multa mari nautae patiuntur in alto, 200

  (For such things oft upon the sea must seafarers abide),

  fluminis intrastis ripas portuque sedetis,

  Have entered these our river-banks in haven safe to lie,

  ne fugite hospitium, neue ignorate Latinos

  Flee not our welcome, nor unknown the Latin folk pass by;

  Saturni gentem haud uinclo nec legibus aequam,

  The seed of Saturn, bound to right by neither law nor chain,

  sponte sua ueterisque dei se more tenentem.

  But freely following in the ways whereof the God was fain.

  atque equidem memini (fama est obscurior annis) 205

  Yea now indeed I mind a tale, though now with years outworn,

  Auruncos ita ferre senes, his ortus ut agris

  How elders of Aurunce said that mid these fields was born

  Dardanus Idaeas Phrygiae penetrarit ad urbes

  That Dardanus, who reached at last the Phrygian Ida’s walls,

  Threiciamque Samum, quae nunc Samothracia fertur.

  And Thracian Samos, that the world now Samothracia calls:

  hinc illum Corythi Tyrrhena ab sede profectum

  From Tuscan stead of Corythus he went upon his ways;

  aurea nunc solio stellantis regia caeli 210

  Whose throne is set in golden heaven, the star-besprinkled place,

  accipit et numerum diuorum altaribus auget.’

  Who adds one other to the tale of altared deities.”

  Dixerat, et dicta Ilioneus sic uoce secutus:

  He ended, but Ilioneus followed in words like these:

  ‘rex, genus egregium Fauni, nec fluctibus actos

  “O king, O glorious Faunus’ child, no storm upon the main

  atra subegit hiems uestris succedere terris,

  Drave us amid the drift of waves your country coast to gain;

  nec sidus regione uiae litusue fefellit: 215

  And neither star nor strand made blind the region of our road;

  consilio hanc omnes animisque uolentibus urbem

  But we by counsel and free will have sought out thine abode,

  adferimur pulsi regnis, quae maxima quondam

  Outcast from such a realm as once was deemed the mightiest

  extremo ueniens sol aspiciebat Olympo.

  The Sun beheld, as o’er the heaven she ran from east to west.

  ab Ioue principium generis, Ioue Dardana pubes

  Jove is the well-spring of our race; the Dardan children joy

  gaudet auo, rex ipse Iouis de gente suprema: 220

  In Jove for father; yea, our king, Æneas out of Troy,

  Troius Aeneas tua nos ad limina misit.

  Who sends us to thy door, himself is of the Highest’s seed.

  quanta per Idaeos saeuis effusa Mycenis

  How great a tempest was let loose o’er our Idæan mead,

  tempestas ierit campos, quibus actus uterque

  From dire Mycenæ Sent; what fate drave either clashing world,

  Europae atque Asiae fatis concurrerit orbis,

  Europe and Asia, till the war each against each they hurled,

  audiit et si quem tellus extrema refuso 225

  His ears have heard, who dwells afar upon the land alone

  summouet Oceano et si quem extenta plagarum

  That ocean beats; and his no less the bondman of the zone,

  quattuor in medio dirimit plaga solis iniqui.

  That midmost lieth of the four, by cruel sun-blaze worn.

  diluuio ex illo tot uasta per aequora uecti

  Lo, from that flood we come to thee, o’er waste of waters borne,

  dis sedem exiguam patriis litusque rogamus

  Praying a strip of harmless shore our House-Gods’ home to be,

  innocuum et cunctis undamque auramque patentem. 230

  And grace of water and of air to all men lying free.

  non erimus regno indecores, nec uestra feretur

  We shall not foul our land’s renown; and thou, thy glory fair

  fama leuis tantique abolescet gratia facti,

  We know, and plenteous fruit of thanks this deed of thine shall bear:

  nec Troiam Ausonios gremio excepisse pigebit.

  Nor ever may embrace of Troy Ausonia’s soul despite.

  fata per Aeneae iuro dextramque potentem,

  Now by Æneas’ fates I swear, and by his hand of might,

  siue fide seu quis bello est expertus et armis: 235

  Whether in troth it hath been tried, or mid the hosts of war,

  multi nos populi, multae (ne temne, quod ultro

/>   That many folks — yea, scorn us not that willingly we bore

  praeferimus manibus uittas ac uerba precantia)

  These fillets in our hands today with words beseeching peace —

  et petiere sibi et uoluere adiungere gentes;

  That many lands have longed for us, and yearned for our increase.

  sed nos fata deum uestras exquirere terras

  But fate of Gods and Gods’ command would ever drive us home

  imperiis egere suis. hinc Dardanus ortus, 240

  To this your land: this is the place whence Dardanus was come,

  huc repetit iussisque ingentibus urget Apollo

  And hither now he comes again: full sore Apollo drave

  Tyrrhenum ad Thybrim et fontis uada sacra Numici.

  To Tuscan Tiber, and the place of dread Numicius’ wave.

  dat tibi praeterea fortunae parua prioris

  Moreover, here some little gifts of early days of joy

  munera, reliquias Troia ex ardente receptas.

  Giveth our king, a handful gleaned from burning-tide of Troy:

  hoc pater Anchises auro libabat ad aras, 245

  Anchises at the altar erst would pour from out this gold;

  hoc Priami gestamen erat cum iura uocatis

  This was the gear that Priam used when in the guise of old

  more daret populis, sceptrumque sacerque tiaras

  He gave his gathered folk the law; sceptre, and holy crown,

  Iliadumque labor uestes.’

  And weed the work of Ilian wives.”

  Talibus Ilionei dictis defixa Latinus

  Now while Ilioneus so spake Latinus held his face,

  obtutu tenet ora soloque immobilis haeret, 250

  Musing and steadfast, on the ground setting his downcast gaze,

  intentos uoluens oculos. nec purpura regem

  Rolling his eyes all thought-fulfilled; nor did the broidered gear

  picta mouet nec sceptra mouent Priameia tantum

  Of purple move the King so much, nor Priam’s sceptre fair,

  quantum in conubio natae thalamoque moratur,

  As on his daughter’s bridal bed the thoughts in him had rest,

  et ueteris Fauni uoluit sub pectore sortem:

  For ancient Faunus’ fateful word he turned within his breast.

  hunc illum fatis externa ab sede profectum 255

  Here was the son, the fate-foretold, the outland wanderer,

  portendi generum paribusque in regna uocari

  Called on by equal doom of God the equal throne to share;

  auspiciis, huic progeniem uirtute futuram

  He from whose loins those glorious sons of valour should come forth

  egregiam et totum quae uiribus occupet orbem.

  To take the whole world for their own by utter might of worth.