by Virgil
ceu septem surgens sedatis amnibus altus 30
Such is the host as Ganges deep, arising mid the hush
per tacitum Ganges aut pingui flumine Nilus
With sevenfold rivers’ solemn flow, or Nile-flood’s fruitful rush,
cum refluit campis et iam se condidit alueo.
When he hath ebbed from off the fields and hid him in his bed.
hic subitam nigro glomerari puluere nubem
But now the Teucrians see the cloud of black dust grow to head
prospiciunt Teucri ac tenebras insurgere campis.
From far away, and dusty-dark across the plain arise:
primus ab aduersa conclamat mole Caicus: 35
And first from off the mound in face aloud Caïcus cries:
‘quis globus, o ciues, caligine uoluitur atra?
“Ho! what is this that rolleth on, this misty, mirky ball?
ferte citi ferrum, date tela, ascendite muros,
Swords, townsmen, swords! Bring point and edge; haste up to climb the wall.
hostis adest, heia!’ ingenti clamore per omnis
Ho, for the foeman is at hand!” Then, with a mighty shout,
condunt se Teucri portas et moenia complent.
The Trojans swarm through all the gates and fill the walls about;
namque ita discedens praeceperat optimus armis 40
For so Æneas, war-lord wise, had bidden them abide
Aeneas: si qua interea fortuna fuisset,
At his departing; if meantime some new hap should betide,
neu struere auderent aciem neu credere campo;
They should not dare nor trust themselves to pitch the fight afield,
castra modo et tutos seruarent aggere muros.
But hold the camp and save the town beneath the ramparts’ shield.
ergo etsi conferre manum pudor iraque monstrat,
Therefore, though shame and anger bade go forth and join the play,
obiciunt portas tamen et praecepta facessunt, 45
They bolt and bar the gates no less and all his word obey;
armatique cauis exspectant turribus hostem.
And armed upon the hollow towers abide the coming foe.
Turnus, ut ante uolans tardum praecesserat agmen
But Turnus, flying forward fast, outwent the main host slow,
uiginti lectis equitum comitatus et urbi
And with a score of chosen knights is presently at hand
improuisus adest, maculis quem Thracius albis
Before the town: borne on he was on horse of Thracian land,
portat equus cristaque tegit galea aurea rubra, 50
White-flecked, and helmeted was he with ruddy-crested gold.
‘ecquis erit mecum, iuuenes, qui primus in hostem — ?
“Who will be first with me, O youths, play with the foe to hold?
en,’ ait et iaculum attorquens emittit in auras,
Lo, here!” he cried; and on the air a whirling shaft he sent,
principium pugnae, et campo sese arduus infert.
The first of fight, and borne aloft about the meadows went.
clamorem excipiunt socii fremituque sequuntur
His fellows take it up with shouts, and dreadful cry on rolls
horrisono; Teucrum mirantur inertia corda, 55
As fast they follow, wondering sore at sluggard Teucrian souls, —
non aequo dare se campo, non obuia ferre
That men should shun the battle pitched, nor dare the weapon-game,
arma uiros, sed castra fouere. huc turbidus atque huc
But hug their walls. So round the walls, high-horsed, with heart aflame,
lustrat equo muros aditumque per auia quaerit.
He rides about, and tries a way where never was a way:
ac ueluti pleno lupus insidiatus ouili
E’en as a wolf the sheep-fold full besetteth on a day,
cum fremit ad caulas uentos perpessus et imbris 60
And howleth round about the garth, by wind and rain-drift beat,
nocte super media; tuti sub matribus agni
About the middle of the night, while safe the lamb-folk bleat
balatum exercent, ille asper et improbus ira
Beneath their mothers: wicked-fierce against them safe and near
saeuit in absentis; collecta fatigat edendi
He rageth; hunger-madness long a-gathering him doth wear,
ex longo rabies et siccae sanguine fauces:
With yearning for that blood beloved to wet his parchèd jaws.
haud aliter Rutulo muros et castra tuenti 65
E’en so in that Rutulian duke to flame the anger draws,
ignescunt irae, duris dolor ossibus ardet.
As he beholdeth walls and camp: sore burnt his hardy heart
qua temptet ratione aditus, et quae uia clausos
For shifts to come at them; to shake those Teucrians shut apart
excutiat Teucros uallo atque effundat in aequum?
From out their walls and spread their host about the meadows wide.
classem, quae lateri castrorum adiuncta latebat,
So on the ships he falls, that lay the campment’s fence beside,
aggeribus saeptam circum et fluuialibus undis, 70
Hedged all about with garth and mound and by the river’s flood,
inuadit sociosque incendia poscit ouantis
And to the burning crieth on his folk of joyous mood,
atque manum pinu flagranti feruidus implet.
And eager fills his own right hand with branch of blazing fir:
tum uero incumbunt (urget praesentia Turni),
Then verily they fall to work whom Turnus’ gaze doth stir,
atque omnis facibus pubes accingitur atris.
And all the host of them in haste hand to the black torch lays.
diripuere focos: piceum fert fumida lumen 75
They strip the hearths; the smoky brand sends forth pitch-laden blaze,
taeda et commixtam Volcanus ad astra fauillam.
And starward soot-bemingled flame drave Vulcan as he burned.
Quis deus, o Musae, tam saeua incendia Teucris
Say, Muse, what God from Teucrian folk such sore destruction turned?
auertit? tantos ratibus quis depulit ignis?
Who drave away from Trojan keels so mighty great a flame?
dicite: prisca fides facto, sed fama perennis.
Old is the troth in such a tale, but never dies its fame.
tempore quo primum Phrygia formabat in Ida 80
What time Æneas first began on Phrygian Ida’s steep
Aeneas classem et pelagi petere alta parabat,
To frame his ships, and dight him there to ride upon the deep,
ipsa deum fertur genetrix Berecyntia magnum
The Berecynthian Mother-Queen spake, as the tale doth fare,
uocibus his adfata Iouem: ‘da, nate, petenti,
Unto the Godhead of great Jove: “Son, grant unto my prayer
quod tua cara parens domito te poscit Olympo.
That which thy lovèd mother asks from heaven all tamed to peace:
pinea silua mihi multos dilecta per annos, 85
A wood of pines I have, beloved through many years’ increase.
lucus in arce fuit summa, quo sacra ferebant,
There is a thicket on my height wherein men worship me,
nigranti picea trabibusque obscurus acernis.
Dim with the blackening of the firs and trunks of maple-tree:
has ego Dardanio iuueni, cum classis egeret,
These to the Dardan youth in need of ship-host grudged I nought,
laeta dedi; nunc sollicitam timor anxius angit.
But in my anxious soul as now is born a troubling thought.
solue metus atque hoc precibus sine posse parentem, 90
Do off my dread, and let, I pray, a mother’s prayers avail,
ne cursu quassatae ullo neu turbine uenti
<
br /> That these amid no shattering sea or whirling wind may fail;
uincantur: prosit nostris in montibus ortas.’
Let it avail them that my heights first brought them unto birth.”
filius huic contra, torquet qui sidera mundi:
Answered her son, that swayeth still the stars that rule the earth:
‘o genetrix, quo fata uocas? aut quid petis istis?
“O mother, whither call’st thou Fate? what wouldst thou have them be?
mortaline manu factae immortale carinae 95
Shall keels of mortal fashioning gain immortality?
fas habeant? certusque incerta pericula lustret
And shall Æneas well assured stray every peril through?
Aeneas? cui tanta deo permissa potestas?
Shall this be right? hath any God the power such things to do?
immo, ubi defunctae finem portusque tenebunt
No less when they have done their work, and safe in Italy
Ausonios olim, quaecumque euaserit undis
Lie in the haven, which soe’er have overpassed the sea,
Dardaniumque ducem Laurentia uexerit arua, 100
And borne the Duke of Dardan men to that Laurentine home,
mortalem eripiam formam magnique iubebo
From such will I take mortal shape, and bid them to become
aequoris esse deas, qualis Nereia Doto
Queens of the sea-plain, such as are Doto the Nereus child,
et Galatea secant spumantem pectore pontum.’
And Galatea, whose bosoms cleave the foaming waters wild.”
dixerat idque ratum Stygii per flumina fratris,
He spake and swore it by the flood his Stygian Brother rules,
per pice torrentis atraque uoragine ripas 105
And by its banks that reek with pitch o’er its black whirling pools,
adnuit, et totum nutu tremefecit Olympum.
And with the bowing of his head did all Olympus shake.
Ergo aderat promissa dies et tempora Parcae
And now the promised day was come, nor will the Parcæ break
debita complerant, cum Turni iniuria Matrem
The time fulfilled; when Turnus’ threat now bade the Mother heed
admonuit ratibus sacris depellere taedas.
That she from those her holy ships should turn the fire at need.
hic primum noua lux oculis offulsit et ingens 110
Strange light before the eyes of men shone forth; a mighty cloud
uisus ab Aurora caelum transcurrere nimbus
Ran from the dawning down the sky, and there was clashing loud
Idaeique chori; tum uox horrenda per auras
Of Ida’s hosts, and from the heavens there fell a voice of fear,
excidit et Troum Rutulorumque agmina complet:
That through Rutulia’s host and Troy’s fulfillèd every ear:
‘ne trepidate meas, Teucri, defendere nauis
“Make no great haste, O Teucrian men, these ships of mine to save!
neue armate manus; maria ante exurere Turno 115
Nor arm thereto! for Turnus here shall burn the salt sea wave
quam sacras dabitur pinus. uos ite solutae,
Sooner than these, my holy pines. But ye — depart, go free!
ite deae pelagi; genetrix iubet.’ et sua quaeque
The Mother biddeth it: depart, Queens, Goddesses, of sea!”
continuo puppes abrumpunt uincula ripis
Straightway the ships brake each the chain that tied them to the bank,
delphinumque modo demersis aequora rostris
And, as the dolphins dive adown, with plunging beaks they sank
ima petunt. hinc uirgineae (mirabile monstrum) 120
Down to the deeps, from whence, O strange! they come aback once more;
reddunt se totidem facies pontoque feruntur. 122
As many brazen beaks as erst stood fast beside the shore,
Obstipuere animis Rutuli, conterritus ipse
So many shapes of maidens now seaward they wend their ways.
turbatis Messapus equis, cunctatur et amnis
Appalled were those Rutulian hearts; yea, feared with all amaze,
rauca sonans reuocatque pedem Tiberinus ab alto. 125
Messapus sat mid frighted steeds: the rough-voiced stream grew black;
at non audaci Turno fiducia cessit;
Yea, Tiberinus from the deep his footsteps drew aback.
ultro animos tollit dictis atque increpat ultro:
But Turnus of the hardy heart, his courage nothing died;
‘Troianos haec monstra petunt, his Iuppiter ipse
Unmoved he stirs their souls with speech, unmoved he falls to chide:
auxilium solitum eripuit: non tela neque ignis
“These portents seek the Teucrians home; the very Jupiter
exspectant Rutulos. ergo maria inuia Teucris, 130
Snatches their wonted aid from them, that might not bide to bear
nec spes ulla fugae: rerum pars altera adempta est,
Rutulian fire and sword: henceforth the sea-plain lacketh road
terra autem in nostris manibus, tot milia gentes
For Teucrian men: their flight is dead, and half the world’s abode
arma ferunt Italae. nil me fatalia terrent,
Is reft from them: and earth, forsooth, upon our hands it waits,
si qua Phryges prae se iactant, responsa deorum;
With thousands of Italian swords. For me, I fear no Fates:
sat fatis Venerique datum, tetigere quod arua 135
For if the Phrygians boast them still of answering words of God,
fertilis Ausoniae Troes. sunt et mea contra
Enough for Venus and the Fates that Teucrian men have trod
fata mihi, ferro sceleratam exscindere gentem
The fair Ausonia’s fruitful field: and answering fates have I:
coniuge praerepta; nec solos tangit Atridas
A wicked folk with edge of sword to root up utterly,
iste dolor, solisque licet capere arma Mycenis.
For stolen wife: this grief hath grieved others than Atreus’ sons,
“sed periisse semel satis est”: peccare fuisset 140
And other folk may run to arms than those Mycenian ones.
ante satis, penitus modo non genus omne perosos
— Enough one downfall is, say ye? — Enough had been one sin.
femineum. quibus haec medii fiducia ualli
Yea, I had deemed all womankind your hatred well might win.
fossarumque morae, leti discrimina parua,
— Lo, these are they to whom a wall betwixt the sword and sword,
dant animos; at non uiderunt moenia Troiae
The little tarrying of a ditch, — such toys the death to ward! —
Neptuni fabricata manu considere in ignis? 145
Give hearts of men! What, saw they not the war-walls of Troy-town,
sed uos, o lecti, ferro qui scindere uallum
The fashioning of Neptune’s hand, amid the flame sink down?
apparat et mecum inuadit trepidantia castra?
But ye, my chosen, who is dight with me to break the wall,
non armis mihi Volcani, non mille carinis
That we upon their quaking camp with point and edge may fall?
est opus in Teucros. addant se protinus omnes
No need I have of Vulcan’s arms or thousand ships at sea
Etrusci socios. tenebras et inertia furta 150
Against these Teucrians; yea, though they should win them presently,
Palladii caesis late custodibus arcis
The Tuscan friendship: deeds of dusk and deedless stolen gain
ne timeant, nec equi caeca condemur in aluo:
Of that Palladium, and the guards of topmost castle slain,
luce palam certum est igni circumdare muros.
Let them not fear: we shall not lurk in horse
’s dusky womb:
haud sibi cum Danais rem faxo et pube Pelasga
In open day to gird your walls with wildfire is the doom.
esse ferant, decimum quos distulit Hector in annum. 155
Let them not deem they have to put the Danaans to the proof,
nunc adeo, melior quoniam pars acta diei,
Pelasgian lads that Hector’s hand for ten years held aloof.
quod superest, laeti bene gestis corpora rebus
— But come, since all the best of day is well-nigh worn to end,
procurate, uiri, et pugnam sperate parari.’
Joy in our good beginning, friends, and well your bodies tend,
interea uigilum excubiis obsidere portas
And bide in hope and readiness the coming of the fight.”
cura datur Messapo et moenia cingere flammis. 160
Therewith Messapus hath the charge with outguards of the night
bis septem Rutuli muros qui milite seruent
To keep the gates, and all the town with watch-fires round to ring:
delecti, ast illos centeni quemque sequuntur
Twice seven are chosen out to hold the town inleaguering
purpurei cristis iuuenes auroque corusci.
Of Rutuli: an hundred youths, they follow each of these;
discurrunt uariantque uices, fusique per herbam
A purple-crested folk that gleam with golden braveries:
indulgent uino et uertunt crateras aenos. 165
They pace the round, they shift the turn, or scattered o’er the grass
conlucent ignes, noctem custodia ducit
Please heart and soul with wine, and turn the empty bowl of brass:
insomnem ludo.
The watch-fires shine around in ring; through sport and sleeplessness
Haec super e uallo prospectant Troes et armis
Their warding weareth night away. The Trojans from their walls of war look down on all these things;
alta tenent, nec non trepidi formidine portas
They hold the heights in arms, and search the great gate’s fastenings
explorant pontisque et propugnacula iungunt, 170
With hurrying fear; or, spear in hand, gangway to battlement
tela gerunt. instat Mnestheus acerque Serestus,
They yoke. There Mnestheus urged the work; there hot Serestus went;
quos pater Aeneas, si quando aduersa uocarent,
They whom Æneas, if perchance the time should call thereto,
rectores iuuenum et rerum dedit esse magistros.
Had made first captains of the host, lords of all things to do.
omnis per muros legio sortita periclum
So all the host along the walls the peril shareth out,
excubat exercetque uices, quod cuique tuendum est. 175