Such was the prophesyof Helenus, when great Aeneas tookaway his guardian deities, and Irejoice to see my kindred walls rise highand realize how much the Trojans wonby that resounding victory of the Greeks!“But, that we may not range afar with steedsforgetful of the goal, the heavens and allbeneath them and the earth and everythingupon it change in form. We likewise change,who are a portion of the universe,and, since we are not only things of fleshbut winged souls as well, we may be doomedto enter into beasts as our abode;and even to be hidden in the breastsof cattle. Therefore, should we not allowthese bodies to be safe which may containthe souls of parents, brothers, or of thoseallied to us by kinship or of menat least, who should be saved from every harm?Let us not gorge down a Thyestean feast!“How greatly does a man disgrace himself,how impiously does he prepare himselffor shedding human blood, who with u knifecuts the calf's throat and offers a deaf earto its death-longings! who can kill the kidwhile it is sending forth heart rending crieslike those of a dear child; or who can feedupon the bird which he has given food.How little do such deeds as these fall shortof actual murder? Yes, where will they lead?“Let the ox plough, or let him owe his deathto weight of years; and let the sheep give usdefence against the cold of Boreas;and let the well-fed she-goats give to mantheir udders for the pressure of kind hands.“Away with cruel nets and springs and snaresand fraudulent contrivances: deceivenot birds with bird-limed twigs: do not deceivethe trusting deer with dreaded feather foils:do not conceal barbed hooks with treacherous bait:if any beast is harmful, take his life,but, even so, let killing be enough.Taste not his flesh, but look for harmless food!”
Haec Helenum cecinisse penatigero Aeneaemente memor refero, cognataque moenia laetorcrescere et utiliter Phrygibus vicisse Pelasgos.Ne tamen oblitis ad metam tendere longeexspatiemur equis, caelum et quodcumque sub illo est,inmutat formas tellusque et quidquid in illa est:nos quoque, pars mundi, quoniam non corpora solum,verum etiam volucres animae sumus inque ferinaspossumus ire domos pecudumque in corpora condi,corpora, quae possunt animas habuisse parentumaut fratrum aut aliquo iunctorum foedere nobisaut hominum certe, tuta esse et honesta sinamusneve Thyesteis cumulemus viscera mensis!Quam male consuescit, quam se parat ille cruoriimpius humano, vituli qui guttura cultrorumpit et inmotas praebet mugitibus aures,aut qui vagitus similes puerilibus haedumedentem iugulare potest, aut alite vesci,cui dedit ipse cibos! Quantum est, quod desit in istisad plenum facinus? Quo transitus inde paratur?Bos aret aut mortem senioribus imputet annis,horriferum contra borean ovis arma ministret,ubera dent saturae manibus pressanda capellae!Retia cum pedicis laqueosque artesque dolosastollite nec volucrem viscata fallite virga,nec formidatis cervos includite pennis,nec celate cibis uncos fallacibus hamos!Perdite, siqua nocent, verum haec quoque perdite tantum:ora vacent epulis alimentaque mitia carpant!”
They say that Numa with a mind well taughtby these and other precepts traveled backto his own land and, being urged again,assumed the guidance of the Latin state.Blest with a nymph as consort, blest also withthe Muses for his guides, he taught the ritesof sacrifice and trained in arts of peacea race accustomed long to savage war.When, ripe in years, he ended reign and life,the Latin matrons, the fathers of the state,and all the people wept for Numa's death.For the nymph, his widow, had withdrawn from Rome,concealed within the thick groves of the valeAricia, where with groans and wailing shedisturbed the holy rites of Cynthia,established by Orestes. Ah! how oftennymphs of the grove and lake entreated herto cease and offered her consoling words.How often the son of Theseus said to her“Control your sorrow; surely your sad lotis not the only one; consider nowthe like calamities by others borne,and you can bear your sorrow. To my griefmy own disaster was far worse than yours.At least it can afford you comfort now.“Is it not true, discourse has reached yours earsthat one Hippolytus met with his deaththrough the credulity of his loved sire,deceived by a stepmother's wicked art?It will amaze you much, and I may failto prove what I declare, but I am he!Long since the daughter of Pasiphaetempted me to defile my father's bedand, failing, feigned that I had wished to dowhat she herself had wished. Perverting truth—either through fear of some discoveryor else through spite at her deserved repulse—she charged me with attempting the foul crime.“Though I was guiltless of all wrong,my father banished me and, while I wasdeparting, laid on me a mortal curse.Towards Pittheus and Troezen I fled aghast,guiding the swift chariot near the shoreof the Corinthian Gulf, when all at oncethe sea rose up and seemed to arch itselfand lift high as a white topped mountain height,make bellowings, and open at the crest.Then through the parting waves a horned bullemerged with head and breast into the wind,spouting white foam from his nostrils and his mouth.“The hearts of my attendants quailed with fear,yet I unfrightened thought but of my exile.Then my fierce horses turned their necks to facethe waters, and with ears erect they quakedbefore the monster shape, they dashed in flightalong the rock strewn ground below the cliff.I struggled, but with unavailing hand,to use the reins now covered with white foam;and throwing myself back, pulled on the thongswith weight and strength. Such effort might have checkedthe madness of my steeds, had not a wheel,striking the hub on a projecting stump,been shattered and hurled in fragments from the axle.“I was thrown forward from my chariotand with the reins entwined about my legs.My palpitating entrails could be seendragged on, my sinews fastened on a stump.My torn legs followed, but a partremained behind me, caught by various snags.The breaking bones gave out a crackling noise,my tortured spirit soon had fled away,no part of the torn body could be known—all that was left was only one crushed wound—how can, how dare you, nymph, compare your illsto my disaster?“I saw the Lower Worlddeprived of light: and I have bathed my flesh,so tortured, in the waves of Phlegethon.Life could not have been given again to me,but through the remedies Apollo's sonapplied to me. After my life returned—by potent herbs and the Paeonian aid,despite the will of Pluto—Cynthia thenthrew heavy clouds around that I might notbe seen and cause men envy by new life:and that she might be sure my life was safeshe made me seem an old man; and she changedme so that I could not be recognized.“A long time she debated whether shewould give me Crete or Delos for my home.Delos and Crete abandoned, she then broughtme here, and at the same time ordered meto lay aside my former name—one whichwhen mentioned would remind me of my steeds.She said to me, ‘You were Hippolytus,but now instead you shall be Virbius.’And from that time I have inhabitedthis grove; and, as one of the lesser gods,I live concealed and numbered in her train.”The grief of others could not ease the woeof sad Egeria, and she laid herselfdown at a mountain's foot, dissolved in tears,till moved by pity for her faithful sorrow,Diana changed her body to a spring,her limbs into a clear continual stream.
Talibus atque aliis instructum pectora dictisin patriam remeasse ferunt ultroque petitumaccepisse Numam populi Latiaris habenas.Coniuge qui felix nympha ducibusque Camenissacrificos docuit ritus gentemque ferociadsuetam bello pacis traduxit ad artes.Qui postquam senior regnumque aevumque peregit,exstinctum Latiaeque nurus populusque patresquedeflevere Numam; nam coniunx urbe relictavallis Aricinae densis latet abdita silvissacraque Oresteae gemitu questuque Dianaeimpedit: a! quotiens nymphae nemorisque lacusque,ne faceret, monuere et consolantia verbadixerunt. Quotiens flenti Theseius heros“siste modum!” dixit, “ne que enim fortuna querendasola tua est; similes aliorum respice casus:mitius ista feres, utinamque exempla dolentemnon mea te possent relevare! Sed et mea possunt.Fando aliquem Hippolytum vestras puto, contigit aurescredulitate patris, sceleratae fraude novercaeoccubuisse neci: mirabere, vixque probabo,sed tamen ille ego sum. Me Pasiphaeia quondamtemptatum frustra patrium temerare cubile,quod voluit, voluisse, infelix crimine verso(indiciine metu magis offensane repulsae?)damnavit, meritumque nihil pater eicit urbehostilique caput prece detestatur euntis.Pittheam profugo curru Troezena petebam,iamque Corinthiaci carpebam litora ponti,cum mare surrexit, cumulusque inmanis aquarumin montis speciem curvari et crescere visuset dare mugitus summoque cacumine findi.Corniger hinc taurus ruptis expellitur undis,pectoribusque tenus molles erectus in aurasnaribus et patulo partem maris evomit ore.Corda pavent comitum. Mihi mens interrita mansitexsiliis contenta suis: cum colla ferocesad freta convertunt adrectisque auribus horrentquadrupedes monstrique metu turbantur et altispraecipitant currum scopulis; ego ducere vanafrena manu spumis albentibus oblita luctoret retro lentas tendo resupinus habenas.Nec vires tamen has rabies superasset equorum.ni rota, perpetuum qua circumvertitur axem,stipitis occursu fracta ac disiecta fuisset.Excutior curru, lorisque tenentibus artusviscera viva trahi nervosque in stipe teneri,membra rapi partim, partim reprensa relinqui,ossa gravem dare fracta sonum fessamque videresexhalari animam nullasque in corpore partes,noscere quas posses; unumque erat omnia vulnus.Num potes aut audes cladi componere nostrae,nympha, tuam? Vidi quoque luce carentia regnaet lacerum fovi Phlegethontide corpus in unda,nec nisi Apollineae valido medicamine prolisreddita vita foret; quam postquam fortibus herbisatque ope Paeonia Dite indignante recepi,tum mihi, ne praesens augerem muneris huiusinvidiam, densas obiecit Cynthia nubes,utque forem tutus possemque impune videri,addidit aetatem nec cognoscenda reliquitora mihi Cretenque diu dubitavit habendamtraderet an Delon: Delo Creteque relictishic posuit nomenque simul, quod possit equorumadmonuisse, iubet deponere, “qui” que “fuistiHippolytus” dixit, “nunc idem Virbius esto!”Hoc nemus inde colo, de disque minoribus unusnumine sub dominae lateo atque accenseor illi.”Non tamen Egeriae luctus aliena levaredamna valent, montisque iacens radicibus imisliquitur in lacrimas, donec pietate dolentismota soror Phoebi gelidum de corpore fontemfecit et aeternas artus tenuavit in undas.
This wonderful event surprised the nymphs,and filled Hippolytus with wonder, justas great as when the Etrurian ploughman sawa fate-revealing clod move of its ownaccord among the fields, while not a handwas touching it, till finally it tooka human form, without the qualityof clodded earth, and opened its new mouthand spoke, revealing future destinies.The natives called him Tages. He was the firstwho taught Etrurians to foretell events.They were astonished even as Romulus,when he observed the spear, which once had grownhigh on the Palatine, put out new leavesand stand with roots—not with the iron pointwhich he had driven in. Not as a spearit then stood there, but as a rooted treewith limber twigs for many to admirewhile resting under that surprising shade.Or, as when Cippus first observed his hornsin the clear stream (he truly saw them there).Believing he had seen a falsity,he often touched his forehead with his handand, so returning, touched the thing he saw.Assured at last that he could trust his eyes,he stood entranced, as if he had returnedvictorious from the conquest of his foes:and, raising eyes and hands toward heaven, he cried,“You gods above! Whatever is foretoldby this great prodigy, if it means good,then let it be auspicious to my landand to the inhabitants of Quirinus,—if ill, let that misfortune fall on me.”He made an offering at new altars, builtof grassy thick green turf, with fragrant fires,presenting wine in bowls. And he took noteof panting entrails from new-slaughtered sheep,to learn the meaning of the event for him.When an Etruscan seer examined them,he found the evidence of great events,as yet obscure, and, when he raised keen eyesup from the entrails to the horns of Cippus,“O king, all hail!” he cried, “For in future timethis country and the Latin towers will livein homage to you, Cippus, and your horns.But you must promptly put aside delay;hasten to enter the wide open gates—the fates command you. Once received withinthe city, you shall be its chosen kingand safely shall enjoy a lasting reign.”Cippus retreated, and he turned his graveeyes from the city's walls and said, “O far,O far away, the righteous gods should drivesuch omens from me! Better it would bethat I should pass my life in exile thanbe seen a king throned in the capitol.”Such words he spoke and forthwith he convokedthe people and the grave and honored Senate.But first he veiled his horns with laurel, whichbetokens peace. Then, standing on a moundraised by the valiant troops, he made a prayerafter the ancient mode, and then he said,“There is one here who will be king, if youdo not expel him from your city—Iwill show him to you surely by a sign;although I will not tell his name. He wearshorns on his head. The augur propheciesthat, if he enters this your city, hewill give you laws as if you were his slaves.“He might have forced his way within your gates,for they stand open, but I have hindered him,although nobody is to him so closeas I myself. Good Romans, then, forbidyour city to this man; or, if you findthat he deserves still worse, then bind him fastwith heavy fetters; or else end your fearsby knowledge of the destined tyrant's death.”As murmurs which arise among the grovesof pine trees thick above us, when the fierceeast wind is whistling in them, or as soundproduced by breaking waves, when it is heardafar off, such the noise made by the crowd.But in that angry stirring of the throngone cry could be distinguished, “Which is he?”And they examined foreheads, and they soughtpredicted horns. Cippus then spoke again:“The man whom you demand,” he said, “is here!”And, fearless of the people, he threw backthe chaplet from his forehead, so that allcould see his temples plainly, wonderfulfor their two horns. All then turned down their eyesand uttered groans and (was it possible?)they looked unwillingly upon that headfamed for its merit. They could not permithim to remain there long, deprivedof honors, and they placed upon his headthe festive chaplet. And the Senate gaveyou, Cippus, since you nevermore must comewithin the walls, a proof of their esteem—so much land as your oxen and their plowcould circle round from dawn to setting sun.Moreover they engraved the shapely hornson the bronze pillars of the city gate,which for long ages kept his name revered.
Et nymphas tetigit nova res, et Amazone natushaud aliter stupuit, quam cum Tyrrhenus aratorfatalem glaebam mediis adspexit in arvissponte sua primum nulloque agitante moveri,sumere mox hominis terraeque amittere formamoraque venturis aperire recentia fatis(indigenae dixere Tagen, qui primus Etruscamedocuit gentem casus aperire futuros);utve Palatinis haerentem collibus olimcum subito vidit frondescere Romulus hastam,quae radice nova, non ferro stabat adactoet iam non telum, sed lenti viminis arbornon exspectatas dabat admirantibus umbras;aut sua fluminea cum vidit Cipus in undacornua (vidit enim) falsamque in imagine credensesse fidem, digitis ad frontem saepe relatis,quae vidit, tetigit, nec iam sua lumina damnansrestitit, ut victor domito veniebat ab hoste,ad caelumque manus et eodem lumina tollens“quiquid” ait, “superi, monstro portenditur isto,seu laetum est, patriae laetum populoque Quirini,sive minax, mihi sit!” viridique e caespite factasplacat odoratis herbosas ignibus arasvinaque dat pateris mactatarumque bidentum,quid sibi significent, trepidantia consulit exta.Quae simul adspexit Tyrrhenae gentis haruspex,magna quidem rerum molimina vidit in illis,non manifesta tamen. Cum vero sustulit acrea pecudis fibris ad Cipi cornua lumen,“rex” ait, “o salve! Tibi enim, tibi, Cipe, tuisquehic locus et Latiae parebunt cornibus arces.Tu modo rumpe moras portasque intrare patentesadpropera! sic fata iubent; namque urbe receptusrex eris et sceptro tutus potiere perenni.”Rettulit ille pedem torvamque a moenibus urbisavertens faciem “procul a! procul omina” dixit“talia di pellant! Multoque ego iustius aevumexsul agam, quam me videant Capitolia regem!”Dixit et extemplo populumque gravemque senatumconvocat, ante tamen pacali cornua laurovelat; et aggeribus factis a milite fortiinsistit priscosque deos e more precatus“est” ait “hic unus, quem vos nisi pellitis urbe,rex erit. Is qui sit, signo, non nomine dicam:cornua fronte gerit. Quem vobis indicat augur,si Romam intrarit, famularia iura daturum.Ille quidem potuit portas inrumpere apertas,sed nos obstitimus, quamvis coniunctior illonemo mihi est. Vos urbe virum prohibete, Quirites,vel, si dignus erit, gravibus vincite catenis,aut finite metum fatalis morte tyranni!”Qualia succinctis, ubi trux insibilat eurus,murmura pinetis fiunt, aut qualia fluctusaequorei faciunt, siquis procul audiat illos,tale sonat populus; sed per confusa frementisverba tamen vulgi vox eminet una “quis ille est?”,et spectant frontes praedictaque cornua quaerunt.Rursus ad hos Cipus “quem poscitis” inquit, “habetis”et dempta capiti, populo prohibente, coronaexhibuit gemino praesignia tempora cornu.Demisere oculos omnes gemitumque dedereatque illud meritis clarum (quis credere possit?)inviti videre caput; nec honore carereulterius passi, festam imposuere coronam.At proceres, quoniam muros intrare vetaris,ruris honorati tantum tibi, Cipe, dedere,quantum depresso subiectis bubus aratrocomplecti posses ad finem lucis ab ortu,cornuaque aeratis miram referentia formampostibus insculpunt, longum mansura per aevum.
Relate, O Muses, guardian deitiesof poets (for you know, and the remoteantiquity conceals it not from you),the reason why an island, which the deep streamof Tiber closed about, has introducedCoronis' child among the deitiesguarding the city of famed Romulus.A dire contagion had infested longthe Latin air, and men's pale bodies weredeformed by a consumption that dried upthe blood. When, frightened by so many deaths,they found all mortal efforts could availthem nothing, and physicians' skill had noeffect, they sought the aid of heaven. They sentenvoys to Delphi center of the world,and they entreated Phoebus to give aidin their distress, and by response renewtheir wasting lives and end a city's woe.While ground, and laurels and the quivers whichthe god hung there all shook, the tripod gavethis answer from the deep recesses hidwithin the shrine, and stirred with trembling theirastonished hearts—“What you are seeking here,O Romans, you should seek for nearer you.Then seek it nearer, for you do not needApollo to relieve your wasting plague,you need Apollo's son. Go then to himwith a good omen and invite his aid.”After the prudent Senate had receivedPhoebus Apollo's words, they took much painsto learn what town the son of Phoebus mightinhabit. They despatched ambassadorsunder full sail to the coast of Epidaurus.When the curved ships had touched the shore, these menin haste went to the Grecian elders thereand prayed that Rome might have the deitywhose presence would drive out the mortal illfrom their Ausonian nation; for they knewresponse unerring had directed them.The councillors dismayed, could not agreeon their reply: some thought that aid ought notto be refused, but many more held back,declaring it was wise to keep the godfor their own safety and not give awaya guardian deity. And, while they talked,discussing it, the twilight had expelledthe waning day, and darkness on the earthspread a thick mantle over the wide world.Then in your sleep, the healing deityappeared, O Roman leader, by your couch,as in his temple he is used to stand,holding in his left hand a rustic staff.Stroking his long beard with his right, he seemedto utter from his kindly breast these words:“Forget your fears; for I will come to you,and leave my altar. But now look well atthe serpent with its binding folds entwinedaround this staff, and accurately markit with your eyes that you may recognize it.I will transform myself into this shapebut of a greater size, I will appearenlarged and of a magnitude to whicha heavenly being ought to be transformed.”The god departed, when he said those words;and sleep went, when the god and words were gone;and genial light came, when the sleep had left.The morning then dispersed fire-given stars.The envoys met together in much doubtwithin the temple of the long sought god.They prayed the god to indicate for them,by clear celestial tokens, in what spothe wished to dwell.Scarce had they ceased the prayerfor guidance, when the god all glitteringwith gold and as a serpent, crest erect,sent forth a hissing as to notifya quick approach— and in his coming shookhis statue and the altars and the doors,the marble pavement and the gilded roof.Then up to his breast the serpent stood erectwithin the temple. He gazed on all with eyesthat sparkled fire. The waiting multitudewas frightened; but the priest, his chaste hair boundwith a white fillet, knew the deity.“Behold the god!” he cried, “It is the god.Think holy thoughts and walk in reverent silence,all who are present. Oh, most Beautiful,let us behold you to our benefit,and give aid to this people that performsyour sacred rites.”
Pandite nunc, Musae, praesentia numina vatum(scitis enim, nec vos fallit spatiosa vetustas,)unde Coroniden circumflua Thybridis altiinsula Romuleae sacris adiecerit urbis.Dira lues quondam Latias vitiaverat auras,pallidaque exsangui squalebant corpora morbo.Funeribus fessi postquam mortalia cernunttemptamenta nihil, nihil artes posse medentum,auxilium caeleste petunt mediamque tenentesorbis humum Delphos adeunt, oracula Phoebi,utque salutifera miseris succurrere rebussorte velit tantaeque urbis mala finiat, orant:et locus et laurus et, quas habet ipse, pharetrasintremuere simul, cortinaque reddidit imohanc adyto vocem pavefactaque pectora movit:“Quod petis hinc, propiore loco, Romane, petisses,et pete nunc propiore loco! nec Apolline vobis,qui minuat luctus, opus est, sed Apolline nato.Ite bonis avibus prolemque accersite nostram!”Iussa dei prudens postquam accepere senatus,quam colat, explorant, iuvenis Phoebeius urbem,quique petant ventis Epidauria litora mittunt.Quae simul incurva missi tetigere carina,concilium Graiosque patres adiere, darentque,oravere, deum, qui praesens funera gentisfiniat Ausoniae: certas ita dicere sortes.Dissidet et variat sententia, parsque negandumnon putat auxilium, multi retinere suamquenon emittere opem nec numina tradere suadent:dum dubitant, seram pepulere crepuscula lucem,umbraque telluris tenebras induxerat orbi,cum deus in somnis opifer consistere visusante tuum, Romane, torum, sed qualis in aedeesse solet, baculumque tenens agreste sinistracaesariem longae dextra deducere barbaeet placido tales emittere pectore voces:“Pone metus! Veniam simulacraque nostra relinquam.Hunc modo serpentem, baculum qui nexibus ambit,perspice et usque nota visu, ut cognoscere possis!Vertar in hunc, sed maior ero tantusque videbor,in quantum verti caelestia corpora debent.”Extemplo cum voce deus, cum voce deoquesomnus abit, somnique fugam lux alma secuta est.Postera sidereos aurora fugaverat ignes:incerti, quid agant, proceres ad templa petitiperveniunt operosa dei, quaque ipse morarisede velit, signis caelestibus indicet, orant.Vix bene desierant, cum cristis aureus altisin serpente deus praenuntia sibila misitadventuque suo signumque arasque foresquemarmoreumque solum fastigiaque aurea movitpectoribusque tenus media sublimis in aedeconstitit atque oculos circumtulit igne micantes.Territa turba pavet. Cognovit numina castosevinctus vitta crines albente sacerdos:“En deus est deus est! Animis linguisque favete,quisquis ades!” dixit. “Sis, o pulcherrime, visusutiliter populosque iuves tua sacra colentes!”
All present then adoredthe deity as bidden by the priest.The multitude repeated his good words,and the descendants of Aeneas gavegood omen, with their feelings and their speech.Nodding well pleased and moving his great crest,the god at once assured them of his favorand hissed repeatedly with darting tongue.And then he glided down the polished steps;turned back his head; and, ready to depart,gazed on the altars he had known for so long—a last salute to the temple of his love.While all the people strewed his way with flowers,the great snake wound in sinuous course alongand, passing through the middle of their town,came to the harbor and its curving wall.He stopped there, and it seemed that he dismissedhis train and dutiful attendant crowd,and with a placid countenance he placedhis mighty body in the Ausonian ship,which plainly showed the great weight of the god.The glad descendants of Aeneas allrejoiced, and they sacrificed a bull besidethe harbor, wreathed the ship with flowers, and loosedthe twisted hawsers from the shore. As a soft breezeimpelled the ship, within her curving sternthe god reclined, his coils uprising high,and gazed down on the blue Ionian waves.So wafted by the favoring winds, they camein six days to the shores of Italy.There he was borne past the Lacinian Cape,ennobled by the goddess Juno's shrine,and Scylacean coasts. He left behindIapygia; then he shunned Amphrysian rocksupon the left and on the other sideescaped Cocinthian crags. He passed, near by,Romechium and Caulon and Naricia;crossed the Sicilian sea; went through the strait;sailed by Pelorus and the island homeof Aeolus and by the copper minesof Temesa. He turned then toward Leucosiaand toward mild Paestum, famous for the rose.He coasted by Capreae and aroundMinerva's promontory and the hillsennobled with Surrentine vines, from thereto Herculaneum and Stabiaeand then Parthenope built for soft ease.He sailed near the Cumaean Sibyl's temple.He passed the Warm Springs and Linternum, wherethe mastick trees grow, and the river calledVolturnus, where thick sand whirls in the stream,over to Sinuessa's snow-white doves;and then to Antium and its rocky coast.When with all sails full spread the ship came inthe harbor there (for now the seas grew rough),the god uncoiled his folds, and, gliding outwith sinuous curves and all his mighty length,entered the temple of his parent, whereit skirts that yellow shore. But, when the seawas calm again, the Epidaurian goddeparting from his father's shrine, where hea while had shared the sacred residencereared to a kindred deity, furrowedthe sandy shore with weight of crackling scales,again he climbed into the lofty sternand near the rudder laid his head at rest.There he remained until the vessel passedby Castrum and Lavinium's sacred homesto where the Tiber flows into the seathere all the people of Rome came rushing out—mothers and fathers and even those who tendyour sacred fire, O Trojan goddess Vesta—and joyous shouted welcome to the god.Wherever the swift ship steered through the tide,they built up many altars in a line,so that perfuming frankincense with smokecrackled along the banks on either hand,and victims made the keen knives hot with blood.The serpent-deity has entered Rome,the world's new capital and, lifting uphis head above the summit of the mast,looked far and near for a congenial home.The river there, dividing, flows abouta place known as the Island, on both sidesan equal stream glides past dry middle ground.And here the serpent child of Phoebus leftthe Roman ship, took his own heavenly form,and brought the mourning city health once more
Quisquis adest, visum venerantur numen, et omnesverba sacerdotis referunt geminata piumqueAeneadae praestant et mente et voce favorem.Adnuit his motisque deus rata pignora cristiset repetita dedit vibrata sibila lingua.Tum gradibus nitidis delabitur oraque retroflectit et antiquas abiturus respicit arasadsuetasque domos habitataque templa salutat.Inde per iniectis adopertam floribus ingensserpit humum flectitque sinus mediamque per urbemtendit ad incurvo munitos aggere portus.Restitit hic agmenque suum turbaeque sequentisofficium placido visus dimittere vultucorpus in Ausonia posuit rate: numinis illasensit onus, pressa estque dei gravitate carina;Aeneadae gaudent caesoque in litore taurotorta coronatae solvunt retinacula navis.Impulerat levis aura ratem: deus eminet alte,impositaque premens puppim cervice recurvamcaeruleas despectat aquas modicisque per aequorIonium zephyris sextae Pallantidos ortuItaliam tenuit praeterque Lacinia templonobilitata deae Scylaceaque litora fertur;linquit Iapygiam laevisque Amphrisia remissaxa fugit, dextra praerupta Celennia parte,Romethiumque legit Caulonaque Naryciamque,evincitque fretum Siculique angusta PeloriHippotadaeque domos regis Temesesque metalla,Leucosiamque petit tepidique rosaria Paesti.Inde legit Capreas promunturiumque Minervaeet Surrentino generosos palmite collesHerculeamque urbem Stabiasque et in otia natamParthenopen et ab hac Cumaeae templa Sibyllae.Hinc calidi fontes lentisciferumque teneturLiternum multamque trahens sub gurgite harenamVolturnus niveisque frequens Sinuessa columbisMinturnaeque graves et quam tumulavit alumnusAntiphataeque domus Trachasque obsessa paludeet tellus Circaea et spissi litoris Antium.Huc ubi veliferam nautae advertere carinam(asper enim iam pontus erat), deus explicat orbesperque sinus crebros et magna volumina labenstempla parentis init flavum tangentia litus.Aequore placato patrias Epidaurius araslinquit et hospitio iuncti sibi numinis ususlitoream tractu squamae crepitantis harenamsulcat et innixus moderamine navis in altapuppe caput posuit, donec Castrumque sacrasqueLavini sedes Tiberinaque ad ostia venit.Huc omnis populi passim matrumque patrumqueobvia turba ruit, quaeque ignes, Troica, servant,Vesta, tuos, laetoque deum clamore salutant.Quaque per adversas navis cita ducitur undas,tura super ripas aris ex ordine factisparte ab utraque sonant et odorant aera fumis,ictaque coniectos incalfacit hostia cultros.Iamque caput rerum, Romanam intraverat urbem:erigitur serpens summoque acclinia malocolla movet sedesque sibi circumspicit aptas.Scinditur in geminas partes circumfluus amnis(Insula nomen habet), laterumque a parte duorumporrigit aequales media tellure lacertos.Huc se de Latia pinu Phoebeius anguiscontulit et finem, specie caeleste resumpta,luctibus imposuit venitque salutifer urbi.
Apollo's son came to us from abroad,but Caesar is a god in his own land.The first in war and peace, he rose by wars,which closed in triumphs, and by civic deedsto glory quickly won, and even morehis offspring's love exalted him as a new,a heavenly, sign and brightly flaming star.Of all the achievements of great Julius Caesarnot one is more ennobling to his famethan being father of his glorious son.Was it more glorious for him to subduethe Britons guarded by their sheltering seaor lead his fleet victorious up the streamseven mouthed of the papyrus hearing Nile;to bring beneath the Roman people s rulerebel Numidia, Libyan Juba, andstrong Pontus, proud of Mithridates' fame;to have some triumphs and deserve far more;than to be father of so great a man,with whom as ruler of the human race,O gods, you bless us past all reckoning?And, lest that son should come from mortal seed,Julius Caesar must change and be a god.When the golden mother of Aeneas wasaware of this and saw a grievous endplotted against her high priest, saw the armedconspiracy preparing for his death,with pallid face she met each god and said:“Look with what might this plot prepares itselfagainst my cause; with how much guile it doomsthe head which is the last that I have leftfrom old-time Iulus, prince and heir of Troy.Shall I alone be harassed through all timeby fear well grounded? First the son of Tydeusmust wound me with his Calydonian spear;and then I tremble at the tottering wallsof ill defended Troy; I watch my sondriven in long wanderings, tossed upon the sea,descending to the realm of silent shades,and waging war with Turnus—or, if I should speakthe truth, with Juno! Why do I recalldisasters of my race from long ago?The present dread forbids my looking backat ills now past. See how the wicked swordsare whetted for the crime! Forbid it now,I pray you, and prevent the deed,let not the priest's warm blood quench vestal fires!”Such words as these, full of her anxious thoughts,Venus proclaimed through all the heavens, in vain.The gods were moved, and, since they could not breakthe ancient sisters' iron decree, they gaveinstead clear portents of approaching woe.It is declared, resounding arms heard fromthe black clouds and unearthly trumpet blastsand clarions heard through all the highest heavens,forewarned men of the crime. The sad sun's facegave to the frightened world a livid light;and in the night-time torches seemed to burnamid the stars, and often drops of bloodfell in rain-showers. Then Lucifer shone bluewith all his visage stained by darksome rust.The chariot of the moon was sprinkled withred blood. The Stygian owl gave to the worldill omens. In a thousand places, tearswere shed by the ivory statues. Dirges, too,are said to have been heard, and threatening wordsby unknown speakers in the sacred groves.No victim gave an omen of good life:the fibers showed great tumults imminent,the liver's cut-off edge was found amongthe entrails. In the Forum, it is said,and round men's homes and temples of the godsdogs howled all through the night, and silent shadeswandered abroad, and earthquakes shook the city.But portents of the gods could not avertthe plots of men and stay approaching fate.Into a temple naked swords were brought—into the Senate House. No other placein all our city was considered fitfor perpetrating such a dreadful crime!With both hands Cytherea beat her breast,and in a cloud she strove to hide the lastof great Aeneas' line, as in times pastshe had hid Paris from fierce MenelausAeneas from the blade of Diomed.But Jove, her father, cautioned her and said,“Do you my daughter, without aid, alone,attempt to change the fixed decrees of Fate?Unaided you may enter the abodeof the three sisters and can witness therea register of deeds the future brings.These, wrought of brass and solid iron withvast labor, are unchangeable through alleternity; and have no weakening fearsof thunder-shocks from heaven, nor from the rageof lightnings they are perfectly securefrom all destruction. You will surely findthe destinies of your descendants there,engraved in everlasting adamant.'Tis certain. I myself, have read them there:and I, with care have marked them in my mind.I will repeat them so that you may haveunerring knowledge of those future days.“Venus, the man on whose behalf you areso anxious, already has completed hisalloted time. The years are ended whichhe owed to life on earth. You with his son,who now as heir to his estate must bearthe burden of that government, will causehim, as a deity, to reach the heavens,and to be worshipped in the temples here.“The valiant son will plan revenge on thosewho killed his father and will have our aidin all his battles. The defeated wallsof scarred Mutina, which he will besiege,shall sue for peace. Pharsalia's plain will dreadhis power and Macedonian Philippibe drenched with blood a second time, the nameof one acclaimed as ‘Great’ shall be subduedin the Sicilian waves. Then Egypt's queen,wife of the Roman general, Antony,shall fall, while vainly trusting in his word,while vainly threatening that our Capitolmust be submissive to Canopus' power.“Why should I mention all the barbarous landsand nations east and west by ocean's rim?Whatever habitable earth containsshall bow to him, the sea shall serve his will!“With peace established over all the lands,he then will turn his mind to civil ruleand as a prudent legislator willenact wise laws. And he will regulatethe manners of his people by his ownexample. Looking forward to the daysof future time and of posterity,he will command the offspring born of hisdevoted wife, to assume the imperial nameand the burden of his cares. Nor till his ageshall equal Nestor's years will he ascendto heavenly dwellings and his kindred stars.Meanwhile transform the soul, which shall be reftfrom this doomed body, to a starry light,that always god-like Julius may look downin future from his heavenly residenceupon our Forum and our Capitol.”Jupiter hardly had pronounced these words,when kindly Venus, although seen by none,stood in the middle of the Senate-house,and caught from the dying limbs and trunkof her own Caesar his departing soul.She did not give it time so that it coulddissolve in air, but bore it quickly up,toward all the stars of heaven; and on the way,she saw it gleam and blaze and set it free.Above the moon it mounted into heaven,leaving behind a long and fiery trail,and as a star it glittered in the sky.There, wondering at the younger Caesar's deeds,Julius confessed they were superiorto all of his, and he rejoiced becausehis son was greater even than himself.Although the son forbade men to regardhis own deeds as the: mightier! Fame, that movesfree and untrammelled by the laws of men,preferred him even against his own desireand in that one point disobeyed his will.And so great Atreus yields to greater fameof Agamemnon, Aegeus yields to Theseus,and Peleus to Achilles, or, to namea parallel befitting these two gods,so Saturn yields to Jove. Now Jupiterrules in high heavens and is the suzerainover the waters and the world of shades,and now Augustus rules in all the lands—so each is both a father and a god.Gods who once guarded our Aeneas, whenboth swords and fire gave way, and native godsof Italy, and Father Quirinus—patron of Rome, and you Gradivus too—the sire of Quirinus the invincible,and Vesta hallowed among Caesar's gods,and Phoebus ever worshipped at his hearth,and Jupiter who rules the citadelhigh on Tarpeia's cliff, and other gods—all gods to whom a poet rightfullyand with all piety may make appeal;far be that day—postponed beyond our time,when great Augustus shall foresake the earthwhich he now governs, and mount up to heaven,from that far height to hear his people's prayers!And now, I have completed a great work,which not Jove's anger, and not fire nor steel,nor fast-consuming time can sweep away.Whenever it will, let the day come, which hasdominion only over this mortal frame,and end for me the uncertain course of life.Yet in my better part I shall be borneimmortal, far above the stars on high,and mine shall be a name indelible.Wherever Roman power extends her swayover the conquered lands, I shall be readby lips of men. If Poets' prophecieshave any truth, through all the coming yearsof future ages, I shall live in fame.
Hic tamen accessit delubris advena nostris:Caesar in urbe sua deus est; quem Marte togaquepraecipuum non bella magis finita triumphisresque domi gestae properataque gloria rerumin sidus vertere novum stellamque comantem,quam sua progenies; neque enim de Caesaris actisullum maius opus, quam quod pater exstitit huius:scilicet aequoreos plus est domuisse Britannosperque papyriferi septemflua flumina Nilivictrices egisse rates Numidasque rebellesCinyphiumque Iubam Mithridateisque tumentemnominibus Pontum populo adiecisse Quiriniet multos meruisse, aliquos egisse triumphos,quam tantum genuisse virum? Quo praeside rerumhumano generi, superi, favistis abunde!Ne foret hic igitur mortali semine cretus,ille deus faciendus erat. Quod ut aurea viditAeneae genetrix, vidit quoque triste pararipontifici letum et coniurata arma moveri,palluit et cunctis, ut cuique erat obvia, divis“adspice” dicebat, “quanta mihi mole parenturinsidiae quantaque caput cum fraude petatur,quod de Dardanio solum mihi restat Iulo.Solane semper ero iustis exercita curis,quam modo Tydidae Calydonia vulneret hasta,nunc male defensae confundant moenia Troiae,quae videam natum longis erroribus actumiactarique freto sedesque intrare silentumbellaque cum Turno gerere, aut, si vera fatemur,cum Iunone magis? Quid nunc antiqua recordordamna mei generis? Timor hic meminisse priorumnon sinit: en acui sceleratos cernitis enses?Quos prohibete, precor, facinusque repellite, nevecaede sacerdotis flammas exstinguite Vestae!”Talia nequiquam toto Venus anxia caeloverba iacit superosque movet, qui rumpere quamquamferrea non possunt veterum decreta sororum,signa tamen luctus dant haud incerta futuri.Arma ferunt inter nigras crepitantia nubesterribilesque tubas auditaque cornua caelopraemonuisse nefas; solis quoque tristis imagolurida sollicitis praebebat lumina terris.Saepe faces visae mediis ardere sub astris,saepe inter nimbos guttae cecidere cruentae.Caerulus et vultum ferrugine Lucifer atrasparsus erat, sparsi Lunares sanguine currus.Tristia mille locis Stygius dedit omina bubo,mille locis lacrimavit ebur, cantusque ferunturauditi sanctis et verba minantia lucis.Victima nulla litat magnosque instare tumultusfibra monet, caesumque caput reperitur in extis.Inque foro circumque domos et templa deorumnocturnos ululasse canes umbrasque silentumerravisse ferunt motamque tremoribus urbem.Non tamen insidias venturaque vincere fatapraemonitus potuere deum, strictique ferunturin templum gladii; neque enim locus ullus in urbead facinus diramque placet nisi curia, caedem.Tum vero Cytherea manu percussit utraquepectus et Aeneaden molitur condere nube,qua prius infesto Paris est ereptus Atridaeet Diomedeos Aeneas fugerat enses.Talibus hanc genitor: “Sola insuperabile fatum,nata, movere paras? Intres licet ipsa sororumtecta trium: cernes illic molimine vastoex aere et solido rerum tabularia ferro,quae neque concussum caeli neque fulminis iramnec metuunt ullas tuta atque aeterna ruinas.Invenies illic incisa adamante perennifata tui generis: legi ipse animoque notaviet referam, ne sis etiamnum ignara futuri.Hic sua complevit, pro quo, Cytherea, laboras,tempora, perfectis, quos terrae debuit, annis.Ut deus accedat caelo templisque colatur,tu facies natusque suus, qui nominis heresimpositum feret unus onus caesique parentisnos in bella suos fortissimus ultor habebit.Illius auspiciis obsessae moenia pacemvicta petent Mutinae, Pharsalia sentiet illum.Emathiique iterum madefient caede Philippi,et magnum Siculis nomen superabitur undis,Romanique ducis coniunx Aegyptia taedaenon bene fisa cadet, frustraque erit illa minata,servitura suo Capitolia nostra Canopo.Quid tibi barbariem, gentesque ab utroque iacentesoceano numerem? Quodcumque habitabile tellussustinet, huius erit: pontus quoque serviet illi!Pace data terris animum ad civilia vertetiura suum legesque feret iustissimus auctorexemploque suo mores reget inque futuritemporis aetatem venturorumque nepotumprospiciens prolem sancta de coniuge natamferre simul nomenque suum curasque iubebit,nec nisi cum senior Pylios aequaverit annos,aetherias sedes cognataque sidera tanget.Hanc animam interea caeso de corpore raptamfac iubar, ut semper Capitolia nostra forumquedivus ab excelsa prospectet Iulius aede.”Vix ea fatus erat, media cum sede senatusconstitit alma Venus, nulli cernenda, suiqueCaesaris eripuit membris neque in aera solvipassa recentem animam caelestibus intulit astris.Dumque tulit, lumen capere atque ignescere sensitemisitque sinu: luna volat altius illa,flammiferumque trahens spatioso limite crinemstella micat natique videns bene facta fateturesse suis maiora et vinci gaudet ab illo.Hic sua praeferri quamquam vetat acta paternis,libera fama tamen nullisque obnoxia iussisinvitum praefert unaque in parte repugnat:sic magni cedit titulis Agamemnonis Atreus,Aegea sic Theseus, sic Pelea vicit Achilles;denique, ut exemplis ipsos aequantibus utar,sic et Saturnus minor est Iove: Iuppiter arcestemperat aetherias et mundi regna triformis,terra sub Augusto est; pater est et rector uterque.Di, precor, Aeneae comites, quibus ensis et igniscesserunt, dique Indigetes genitorque Quirineurbis et invicti genitor Gradive Quirini,Vestaque Caesareos inter sacrata penates,et cum Caesarea tu, Phoebe domestice, Vesta,quique tenes altus Tarpeias Iuppiter arces,quosque alios vati fas appellare piumque est:tarda sit illa dies et nostro serior aevo,qua caput Augustum, quem temperat, orbe relictoaccedat caelo faveatque precantibus absens!Iamque opus exegi, quod nec Iovis ira nec ignisnec poterit ferrum nec edax abolere vetustas.Cum volet, illa dies, quae nil nisi corporis huiusius habet, incerti spatium mihi finiat aevi:parte tamen meliore mei super alta perennisastra ferar, nomenque erit indelebile nostrum,quaque patet domitis Romana potentia terris,ore legar populi, perque omnia saecula fama,siquid habent veri vatum praesagia, vivam.