Complete Works of Virgil

by Virgil

  quo feror? unde abii? quae me fuga quemue reducit? 670

  Whence? whither? why this flight? what man shall I come back again?

  Laurentisne iterum muros aut castra uidebo?

  Ah, shall I see Laurentum’s walls, or see my camp once more?

  quid manus illa uirum, qui me meaque arma secuti?

  What shall betide the fellowship that followed me to war,

  quosque (nefas) omnis infanda in morte reliqui

  Whom I have left? O misery to die the death alone!

  et nunc palantis uideo, gemitumque cadentum

  I see them scattered even now, I hear the dying groan.

  accipio? quid ago? aut quae iam satis ima dehiscat 675

  What do I? what abyss of earth is deep enough to hide

  terra mihi? uos o potius miserescite, uenti;

  The wretched man? But ye, O winds, be merciful this tide,

  in rupes, in saxa (uolens uos Turnus adoro)

  On rocks, on stones — I, Turnus, thus adore you with good will —

  ferte ratem saeuisque uadis immittite syrtis,

  Drive ye the ship, or cast it up on Syrtes’ shoals of ill,

  quo nec me Rutuli nec conscia fama sequatur.’

  Where Rutuli and tell-tale Fame shall never find me out!”

  haec memorans animo nunc huc, nunc fluctuat illuc, 680

  Hither and thither as he spake his spirit swam in doubt,

  an sese mucrone ob tantum dedecus amens

  Shall he now fall upon the point, whom shame hath witless made,

  induat et crudum per costas exigat ensem,

  Amid most of his very ribs driving the bitter blade;

  fluctibus an iaciat mediis et litora nando

  Or casting him amid the waves swim for the hollow strand,

  curua petat Teucrumque iterum se reddat in arma.

  And give his body back again to sworded Teucrian band?

  ter conatus utramque uiam, ter maxima Iuno 685

  Thrice either deed he fell to do, and thrice for very ruth

  continuit iuuenemque animi miserata repressit.

  The mightiest Juno stayed his hand and held aback his youth.

  labitur alta secans fluctuque aestuque secundo

  So ‘neath a fair and following wind he glideth o’er the sea,

  et patris antiquam Dauni defertur ad urbem.

  And to his father’s ancient walls is ferried presently.

  At Iouis interea monitis Mezentius ardens

  Meanwhile, by Jupiter’s command, Mezentius props the fight,

  succedit pugnae Teucrosque inuadit ouantis. 690

  And all ablaze he falleth on the gladdened Teucrian might:

  concurrunt Tyrrhenae acies atque omnibus uni,

  The Tuscan host rush up, and all upon one man alone

  uni odiisque uiro telisque frequentibus instant.

  Press on with hatred in their hearts and cloud of weapons thrown.

  ille (uelut rupes uastum quae prodit in aequor,

  Yet is he as a rock thrust out amid the mighty deep

  obuia uentorum furiis expostaque ponto,

  To meet the raging of the winds, bare to the water’s sweep.

  uim cunctam atque minas perfert caelique marisque 695

  All threats of sea and sky it bears, all might that they may wield,

  ipsa immota manens) prolem Dolichaonis Hebrum

  Itself unmoved. Dolichaon’s son he felleth unto field,

  sternit humi, cum quo Latagum Palmumque fugacem,

  One Hebrus; Latagus with him, and Palmus as he fled.

  sed Latagum saxo atque ingenti fragmine montis

  But Latagus with stone he smites, a mighty mountain-shred,

  occupat os faciemque aduersam, poplite Palmum

  Amid the face and front of him, and Palmus, slow to dare,

  succiso uolui segnem sinit, armaque Lauso 700

  Sends rolling ham-strung: but their arms he biddeth Lausus bear

  donat habere umeris et uertice figere cristas.

  Upon his back, and with their crests upon his helm to wend.

  nec non Euanthen Phrygium Paridisque Mimanta

  Phrygian Evanthes then he slays, and Mimas, whiles the friend

  aequalem comitemque, una quem nocte Theano

  Like-aged of Paris; unto day and Amycus his sire

  in lucem genitore Amyco dedit et face praegnas

  Theano gave him on the night that she who went with fire,

  Cisseis regina Parim; Paris urbe paterna 705

  E’en Cisseus’ daughter, Paris bore: now Paris lies asleep

  occubat, ignarum Laurens habet ora Mimanta.

  In ancient Troy; Laurentian land unknown doth Mimas keep.

  ac uelut ille canum morsu de montibus altis

  Tis as a boar by bite of hounds from the high mountains driven,

  actus aper, multos Vesulus quem pinifer annos

  Who on pine-nursing Vesulus a many years hath thriven,

  defendit multosque palus Laurentia silua

  Or safe in that Laurentian marsh long years hath had his home,

  pascit harundinea, postquam inter retia uentum est, 710

  And fed adown the reedy wood; now mid the toil-nets come

  substitit infremuitque ferox et inhorruit armos,

  He stands at bay, and foameth fierce, and bristleth up all o’er,

  nec cuiquam irasci propiusue accedere uirtus,

  And none hath heart to draw anigh and rouse the wrath of war,

  sed iaculis tutisque procul clamoribus instant;

  But with safe shouts and shafts aloof they press about the place;

  ille autem impauidus partis cunctatur in omnis 717

  While he, unhastening, unafeard, doth everywhither face,

  dentibus infrendens et tergo decutit hastas:

  Gnashing his teeth and shaking off the spears from out his back.

  haud aliter, iustae quibus est Mezentius irae, 714

  So they, who ‘gainst Mezentius there just wrath do nowise lack,

  non ulli est animus stricto concurrere ferro,

  Lack heart to meet him hand to hand with naked brandished blade,

  missilibus longe et uasto clamore lacessunt.

  But clamour huge and weapon-shot from far upon him laid.

  Venerat antiquis Corythi de finibus Acron, 719

  From that old land of Corythus erewhile had Acron come,

  Graius homo, infectos linquens profugus hymenaeos.

  A Grecian man; half-wed he passed the threshold of his home:

  hunc ubi miscentem longe media agmina uidit,

  Whom when Mezentius saw afar turmoiling the mid fight,

  purpureum pennis et pactae coniugis ostro,

  Purple with plumes and glorious web his love for him had dight;

  impastus stabula alta leo ceu saepe peragrans

  E’en as a lion hunger-pinched about the high-fenced fold,

  (suadet enim uesana fames), si forte fugacem

  When ravening famine driveth him, if he by chance behold

  conspexit capream aut surgentem in cornua ceruum, 725

  Some she-goat, or a hart that thrusts his antlers up in air,

  gaudet hians immane comasque arrexit et haeret

  Merry he waxeth, gaping fierce his mane doth he uprear,

  uisceribus super incumbens; lauit improba taeter

  And hugs the flesh he lies upon; a loathsome sea of blood

  ora cruor —

  Washes the horror of his mouth.

  sic ruit in densos alacer Mezentius hostis.

  So merry runs Mezentius forth amid the press of foes,

  sternitur infelix Acron et calcibus atram 730

  And hapless Acron falls, and pounds the black earth mid his throes

  tundit humum exspirans infractaque tela cruentat.

  With beat of heel; staining the shaft that splintered in the wound.

  atque idem fugientem haud est dignatus Oroden

  Scorn
had he then Orodes swift to fell unto the ground

  sternere nec iacta caecum dare cuspide uulnus;

  Amidst his flight, or give blind bane with unknown cast afar;

  obuius aduersoque occurrit seque uiro uir

  He ran to meet him man to man, prevailing in the war

  contulit, haud furto melior sed fortibus armis. 735

  By nought of guile or ambushing, but by the dint of blade.

  tum super abiectum posito pede nixus et hasta:

  Foot on the fallen then he set, and strength to spear-shaft laid:

  ‘pars belli haud temnenda, uiri, iacet altus Orodes.’

  “Fellows, here tall Orodes lies, no thrall in battle throng.”

  conclamant socii laetum paeana secuti;

  Then merrily his following folk shout forth their victory-song:

  ille autem exspirans: ‘non me, quicumque es, inulto,

  Yet saith the dying: “Whosoe’er thou art, thou winnest me

  uictor, nec longum laetabere; te quoque fata 740

  Not unavenged: thy joy grows old: the like fate looks for thee,

  prospectant paria atque eadem mox arua tenebis.’

  And thou the self-same lea shalt hold within a little while!”

  ad quem subridens mixta Mezentius ira:

  To whom Mezentius spake, his wrath crossed by a gathering smile:

  ‘nunc morere. ast de me diuum pater atque hominum rex

  “Die thou! the Father of the Gods, the earth-abider’s lord,

  uiderit.’ hoc dicens eduxit corpore telum.

  Will look to me.” He drew the spear from out him at the word,

  olli dura quies oculos et ferreus urget 745

  And iron slumber fell on him, hard rest weighed down his eyes,

  somnus, in aeternam clauduntur lumina noctem.

  And shut were they for evermore by night that never dies.

  Caedicus Alcathoum obtruncat, Sacrator Hydaspen

  Now Cædicus slays Alcathous; Sacrator ends outright

  partheniumque Rapo et praedurum uiribus Orsen,

  Hydaspes; then Parthenius stark and Orses fall in fight

  Messapus Cloniumque Lycaoniumque Erichaeten,

  By Rapo; and Messapus fells strong Clonius, and the son,

  illum infrenis equi lapsu tellure iacentem, 750

  Of Lycaon; one laid alow, by his own steeds cast down,

  hunc peditem. pedes et Lycius processerat Agis,

  One foot to foot. Lo Agis now, the Lycian, standeth forth,

  quem tamen haud expers Valerus uirtutis auitae

  Whom Valerus, that nothing lacked his grandsire’s might and worth,

  deicit; at Thronium Salius Saliumque Nealces

  O’erthroweth: Salius Thronius slays; Nealces, Salius;

  insidiis, iaculo et longe fallente sagitta.

  For skilled he was in dart and shaft, far-flying, perilous.

  Iam grauis aequabat luctus et mutua Mauors 755

  Now grief and death in Mavors’ scales even for each they lie;

  funera; caedebant pariter pariterque ruebant

  Victors and vanquished, here they slay, and here they fall and die,

  uictores uictique, neque his fuga nota neque illis.

  But neither these nor those forsooth had fleeing in their thought.

  di Iouis in tectis iram miserantur inanem

  But in Jove’s house the Gods had ruth of rage that nothing wrought,

  amborum et tantos mortalibus esse labores;

  And such a world of troubles sore for men of dying days;

  hinc Venus, hinc contra spectat Saturnia Iuno. 760

  On this side Venus, and on that Saturnian Juno gaze;

  pallida Tisiphone media inter milia saeuit.

  And wan Tisiphonè runs wild amid the thousands there.

  At uero ingentem quatiens Mezentius hastam

  But lo, Mezentius fierce and fell, shaking a mighty spear,

  turbidus ingreditur campo. quam magnus Orion,

  Stalks o’er the plain. — Lo now, how great doth great Orion sweep

  cum pedes incedit medii per maxima Nerei

  Afoot across the Nereus’ field, the mid sea’s mightiest deep,

  stagna uiam scindens, umero supereminet undas, 765

  Cleaving his way, raised shoulder-high above the billowy wash;

  aut summis referens annosam montibus ornum

  Or when from off the mountain-top he bears an ancient ash

  ingrediturque solo et caput inter nubila condit,

  His feet are on the soil of earth, the cloud-rack hides his head:

  talis se uastis infert Mezentius armis.

  — E’en so in mighty battle-gear afield Mezentius sped.

  huic contra Aeneas speculatus in agmine longo

  But now Æneas, noting him adown the battle-row,

  obuius ire parat. manet imperterritus ille 770

  Wendeth to meet him; undismayed he bideth for his foe,

  hostem magnanimum opperiens, et mole sua stat;

  Facing the great-souled man, and stands unmoved, a mighty mass:

  atque oculis spatium emensus quantum satis hastae:

  Then measuring the space between if spear thereby may pass:

  ‘dextra mihi deus et telum, quod missile libro,

  “Right hand,” he cries, “my very God, and fleeing spear I shake,

  nunc adsint! uoueo praedonis corpore raptis

  To aid! Thee, Lausus, clad in arms that I today shall take

  indutum spoliis ipsum te, Lause, tropaeum 775

  From body of the sea-thief here I vow for gift of war

  Aeneae.’ dixit, stridentemque eminus hastam

  Over Æneas slain.” He spake, and hurled the shaft afar

  iecit. at illa uolans clipeo est excussa proculque

  Loud whistling: from the shield it glanced, and flying far and wide

  egregium Antoren latus inter et ilia figit,

  Smit glory-great Antores down through bowels and through side:

  Herculis Antoren comitem, qui missus ab Argis

  Antores friend of Hercules, who, erst from Argos come,

  haeserat Euandro atque Itala consederat urbe. 780

  Clung to Evander, and abode in that Italian home:

  sternitur infelix alieno uulnere, caelumque

  There laid to earth by straying wound he looketh on the sky,

  aspicit et dulcis moriens reminiscitur Argos.

  With lovely Argos in his heart, though death be come anigh.

  tum pius Aeneas hastam iacit; illa per orbem

  Then good Æneas cast his spear, and through the hollow round

  aere cauum triplici, per linea terga tribusque

  Of triple brass, through linen skin, through craftsmanship inwound,

  transiit intextum tauris opus, imaque sedit 785

  With threefold bull-hides, pierced the shaft, and in the groin did lie,

  inguine, sed uiris haud pertulit. ocius ensem

  Nor further could its might avail. Then swiftly from his thigh

  Aeneas uiso Tyrrheni sanguine laetus

  Æneas caught his glaive, and glad the Tyrrhene blood to see,

  eripit a femine et trepidanti feruidus instat.

  Set on upon his wildered foe hot-heart and eagerly.

  ingemuit cari grauiter genitoris amore,

  But Lausus, by his father’s love sore moved, did all behold,

  ut uidit, Lausus, lacrimaeque per ora uolutae — 790

  And groaned aloud, while o’er his cheeks a heavy tear-flood rolled

  hic mortis durae casum tuaque optima facta,

  — Ah, I will tell of thine ill-fate and deeds that thou hast done;

  si qua fidem tanto est operi latura uetustas,

  If any troth in stories told may reach from yore agone,

  non equidem nec te, iuuenis memorande, silebo —

  My speech, O unforgotten youth, in nowise shalt thou lack —

  ille pedem referens et inutilis i
nque ligatus

  The father with a halting foot hampered and spent drew back,

  cedebat clipeoque inimicum hastile trahebat. 795

  Still dragging on the foeman’s spear that hung amid his shield;

  proripuit iuuenis seseque immiscuit armis,

  But mingling him in battle-rush the son took up the field,

  iamque adsurgentis dextra plagamque ferentis

  And as Æneas’ right hand rose well laden with the blow

  Aeneae subiit mucronem ipsumque morando

  He ran beneath, bore off the sword, and stayed the eager foe,

  sustinuit; socii magno clamore sequuntur,

  And with a mighty shout behind his fellows follow on,

  dum genitor nati parma protectus abiret, 800

  While shielded by his son’s defence the father gat him gone,

  telaque coniciunt perturbantque eminus hostem

  And shafts they cast and vex the foe with weapon shot afar.

  missilibus. furit Aeneas tectusque tenet se.

  Mad wroth Æneas grows, but bides well covered from the war;

  ac uelut effusa si quando grandine nimbi

  And as at whiles the clouds come down with furious pelt of hail,

  praecipitant, omnis campis diffugit arator

  And every driver of the plough the beaten lea doth fail,

  omnis et agricola, et tuta latet arce uiator 805

  And every one that works afield, while safe the traveller lurks

  aut amnis ripis aut alti fornice saxi,

  In castle of the river-bank or rock-wrought cloister-works,

  dum pluit in terris, ut possint sole reducto

  The while the rain is on the earth, that they may wear the day

  exercere diem: sic obrutus undique telis

  When once again the sun comes back; — so on Æneas lay

  Aeneas nubem belli, dum detonet omnis,

  The shaft-storm, so the hail of fight loud thundering he abode,

  sustinet et Lausum increpitat Lausoque minatur: 810

  And Lausus with the wrath of words, Lausus with threats did load.

  ‘quo moriture ruis maioraque uiribus audes?

  “Ah, whither rushest thou to die, and darest things o’ergreat?

  fallit te incautum pietas tua.’ nec minus ille

  Thy love betrays thine heedless heart.” No less, the fool of fate,

  exsultat demens, saeuae iamque altius irae

  He rusheth on, till high and fierce the tide of wrath doth win

  Dardanio surgunt ductori, extremaque Lauso

  O’er heart of that Dardanian duke, and now the Parcæ spin

  Parcae fila legunt. ualidum namque exigit ensem 815

  Lausus’ last thread: for his stark sword Æneas drives outright