Then Sire Aeneas willed to make a stayto so much rage, nor let Entellus' soulflame beyond bound, but bade the battle pause,and, rescuing weary Dares, thus he spokein soothing words: “Ill-starred! What mad attemptis in thy mind? Will not thy heart confessthy strength surpassed, and auspices averse?Submit, for Heaven decrees!” With such wise wordshe sundered the fell strife. But trusty friendsbore Dares off: his spent limbs helpless trailed,his head he could not lift, and from his lipscame blood and broken teeth. So to the shipthey bore him, taking, at Aeneas' word,the helmet and the sword—but left behindEntellus' prize of victory, the bull.He, then, elate and glorying, spoke forth:“See, goddess-born, and all ye Teucrians, see,what strength was mine in youth, and from what deathye have clelivered Dares.” Saying so,he turned him full front to the bull, who stoodfor reward of the fight, and, drawing backhis right hand, poising the dread gauntlet high,swung sheer between the horns and crushed the skull;a trembling, lifeless creature, to the groundthe bull dropped forward dead. Above the fallenEntellus cried aloud, “This victim dueI give thee, Eryx, more acceptablethan Dares' death to thy benignant shade.For this last victory and joyful day,my gauntlets and my art I leave with thee.”
Tum pater Aeneas procedere longius iraset saevire animis Entellum haud passus acerbis;sed finem imposuit pugnae, fessumque Daretaeripuit mulcens dictis, ac talia fatur:“Infelix, quae tanta animum dementia cepit?”“Non vires alias conversaque numina sentis?”“Cede deo.” Dixitque et proelia voce diremit.Ast illum fidi aequales, genua aegra trahentem,iactantemque utroque caput, crassumque cruoremore eiectantem mixtosque in sanguine dentes,ducunt ad naves; galeamque ensemque vocatiaccipiunt; palmam Entello taurumque relinquunt.Hic victor, superans animis tauroque superbus:“Nate dea, vosque haec” inquit “cognoscite, Teucri,”“et mihi quae fuerint iuvenali in corpore vires,”“et qua servetis revocatum a morte Dareta.”Dixit, et adversi contra stetit ora iuvenci,qui donum adstabat pugnae, durosque reductalibravit dextra media inter cornua caestus,arduus, effractoque inlisit in ossa cerebro.sternitur exanimisque tremens procumbit humi bos.Ille super tales effundit pectore voces:“Hanc tibi, Eryx, meliorem animam pro morte Daretis”“persolvo; hic victor caestus artemque repono.”
Forthwith Aeneas summons all who willto contest of swift arrows, and displaysreward and prize. With mighty hand he rearsa mast within th' arena, from the shipof good Sergestus taken; and theretoa fluttering dove by winding cord is boundfor target of their shafts. Soon to the matchthe rival bowmen came and cast the lotsinto a brazen helmet. First came forthHippocoon's number, son of Hyrtacus,by cheers applauded; Mnestheus was the next,late victor in the ship-race, Mnestheus crownedwith olive-garland; next Eurytion,brother of thee, O bowman most renowned,Pandarus, breaker of the truce, who hurledhis shaft upon the Achaeans, at the wordthe goddess gave. Acestes' Iot and namecame from the helmet last, whose royal handthe deeds of youth dared even yet to try.Each then with strong arm bends his pliant bow,each from the quiver plucks a chosen shaft.First, with loud arrow whizzing from the string,the young Hippocoon with skyward aimcuts through the yielding air; and lo! his barbpierces the very wood, and makes the masttremble; while with a fluttering, frighted wingthe bird tugs hard,—and plaudits fill the sky.Boldly rose Mnestheus, and with bow full-drawnaimed both his eye and shaft aloft; but hefailing, unhappy man, to bring his barbup to the dove herself, just cut the cordand broke the hempen bond, whereby her feetwere captive to the tree: she, taking flight,clove through the shadowing clouds her path of air.But swiftly—for upon his waiting bowhe held a shaft in rest—Eurytioninvoked his brother's shade, and, marking wellthe dove, whose happy pinions fluttered freein vacant sky, pierced her, hard by a cloud;lifeless she fell, and left in light of heavenher spark of life, as, floating down, she borethe arrow back to earth.
Protinus Aeneas celeri certare sagittainvitat qui forte velint, et praemia ponit,ingentique manu malum de nave Serestierigit, et volucrem traiecto in fune columbam,quo tendant ferrum, malo suspendit ab alto.Convenere viri, deiectamque aerea sortemaccepit galea; et primus clamore secundoHyrtacidae ante omnes exit locus Hippocoöntis;quem modo navali Mnestheus certamine victorconsequitur, viridi Mnestheus evinctus oliva.Tertius Eurytion, tuus, o clarissime, frater,Pandare, qui quondam, iussus confundere foedus,in medios telum torsisti primus Achivos.Extremus galeaque ima subsedit Acestes,ausus et ipse manu iuvenum temptare laborem.Tum validis flexos incurvant viribus arcuspro se quisque viri, et depromunt tela pharetris.Primaque per caelum, nervo stridente, sagittaHyrtacidae iuvenis volucres diverberat auras;et venit, adversique infigitur arbore mali.Intremuit malus, timuitque exterrita pennisales, et ingenti sonuerunt omnia plausu.Post acer Mnestheus adducto constitit arcu,alta petens, pariterque oculos telumque tetendit.Ast ipsam miserandus avem contingere ferronon valuit: nodos et vincula linea rupit,quis innexa pedem malo pendebat ab alto:illa notos atque alta volans in nubila fugit.Tum rapidus, iamdudum arcu contenta paratotela tenens, fratrem Eurytion in Pota vocavit,iam vacuo laetam caelo speculatus, et alisplaudentem nigra figit sub nube columbam.Decidit exanimis, vitamque reliquit in astrisaetheriis, fixamque refert delapsa sagittam.
Acestes nowremained, last rival, though the victor's palmto him was Iost; yet did the aged sire,to show his prowess and resounding bow,hurl forth one shaft in air; then suddenlyall eyes beheld such wonder as portendsevents to be (but when fulfilment came,too late the fearful seers its warning sung):for, soaring through the stream of cloud, his shafttook fire, tracing its bright path in flame,then vanished on the wind,—as oft a starwill fall unfastened from the firmament,while far behind its blazing tresses flow.Awe-struck both Trojan and Trinacrian stood,calling upon the gods. Nor came the signin vain to great Aeneas. But his armsfolded the blest Acestes to his heart,and, Ioading him with noble gifts, he cried:“Receive them, sire! The great Olympian Kingsome peerless honor to thy name decreesby such an omen given. I offer theethis bowl with figures graven, which my sire,good gray Anchises, for proud gift receivedof Thracian Cisseus, for their friendship's pledgeand memory evermore.” Thereon he crownedhis brows with garland of the laurel green,and named Acestes victor over all.Nor could Eurytion, noble youth, think illof honor which his own surpassed, though he,he only, pierced the bird in upper air.Next gift was his whose arrow cut the cord;last, his whose light shaft clove the lofty pine.
Amissa solus palma superabat Acestes;qui tamen aerias telum contendit in auras,ostentans artemque pater arcumque sonantem.Hic oculis subito obicitur magnoque futurumaugurio monstrum; docuit post exitus ingens,seraque terrifici cecinerunt omina vates.Namque volans liquidis in nubibus arsit harundo,signavitque viam flammis, tenuisque recessitconsumpta in ventos, caelo ceu saepe refixatranscurrunt crinemque volantia sidera ducunt.Attonitis haesere animis, superosque precatiTrinacrii Teucrique viri; nec maximus omenabnuit Aeneas; sed laetum amplexus Acestenmuneribus cumulat magnis, ac talia fatur:“Sume, pater; nam te voluit rex magnus Olympi”“talibus auspiciis exsortem ducere honores.”“Ipsius Anchisae longaevi hoc munus habebis,”“cratera impressum signis, quem Thracius olim”“Anchisae genitori in magno munere Cisseus”“ferre sui dederat monumentum et pignus amoris.”Sic fatus cingit viridanti tempora lauro,et primum ante omnes victorem appellat Acesten.Nec bonus Eurytion praelato invidit honori,quamvis solus avem caelo deiecit ab alto.Proximus ingreditur donis, qui vincula rupit;extremus, volucri qui fixit arundine malum.
Father Aeneas now, not making endof game and contest, summoned to his sideEpytides, the mentor and true friendof young Iulus, and this bidding gaveto his obedient ear: “Arise and gowhere my Ascanius has lined his troopof youthful cavalry, and trained the steedsto tread in ranks of war. Bid him lead forththe squadron in our sire Anchises' name,and wear a hero's arms!” So saying, he badethe course be cleared, and from the whole wide fieldth' insurging, curious multitude withdrew.In rode the boys, to meet their parents' eyes,in even lines, a glittering cavalry;while all Trinacria and the host from Troymade loud applause. On each bright browa well-trimmed wreath the flowing tresses bound;two javelins of corner tipped with steeleach bore for arms; some from the shoulder slunga polished quiver; to each bosom fella pliant necklace of fine, twisted gold.Three bands of horsemen ride, three captains proudprance here and there, assiduous in command,each of his twelve, who shine in parted lineswhich lesser captains lead. One cohort proudfollows a little Priam's royal name —one day, Polites, thy illustrious racethrough him prolonged, shall greater glory bringto Italy. A dappled Thracian steedwith snow-white spots and fore-feet white as snowbears him along, its white face lifted high.Next Atys rode, young Atys, sire to beof th' Atian house in Rome, a boy most dearunto the boy Iulus; last in line,and fairest of the throng, Iulus came,astride a steed from Sidon, the fond giftof beauteous Dido and her pledge of love.Close followed him the youthful chivalryof King Acestes on Trinacrian steeds.
At pater Aeneas, nondum certamine misso,custodem ad sese comitemque impubis IuliEpytiden vocat, et fidam sic fatur ad aurem:“Vade age, et Ascanio, si iam puerile paratum”“agmen habet secum, cursusque instruxit equorum,”“ducat avo turmas, et sese ostendat in armis,”“dic” ait. Ipse omnem longo decedere circoinfusum populum, et campos iubet esse patentes.Incedunt pueri, pariterque ante ora parentumfrenatis lucent in equis, quos omnis euntesTrinacriae mirata fremit Troiaeque iuventus.omnibus in morem tonsa coma pressa corona;cornea bina ferunt praefixa hastilia ferro;pars levis umero pharetras; it pectore summoflexilis obtorti per collum circulus auri.Tres equitum numero turmae, ternique vaganturductores: pueri bis seni quemque secutiagmine partito fulgent paribusque magistris.Una acies iuvenum, ducit quam parvus ovantemnomen avi referens Priamus,—tua clara, Polite,progenies, auctura Italos,—quem Thracius albisportat equus bicolor maculis, vestigia primialba pedis frontemque ostentans arduus albam.Alter Atys, genus unde Atii duxere Latini,parvus Atys, pueroque puer dilectus Iulo.Extremus, formaque ante omnis pulcher, IulusSidonio est invectus equo, quem candida Didoesse sui dederat monumentum et pignus amoris.Cetera Trinacrii pubes senioris Acestaefertur equis.
The Trojans, with exultant, Ioud acclaim,receive the shy-faced boys, and joyfullytrace in the features of the sons their sires.After, with smiling eyes, the horsemen proudhave greeted each his kin in all the throng,Epytides th' appointed signal calls,and cracks his lash; in even lines they move,then, Ioosely sundering in triple band,wheel at a word and thrust their lances forthin hostile ranks; or on the ample fieldretreat or charge, in figure intricateof circling troop with troop, and swift paradeof simulated war; now from the fieldthey flee with backs defenceless to the foe;then rally, lance in rest—or, mingling all,make common front, one legion strong and fair.As once in Crete, the lofty mountain-isle,that-fabled labyrinthine gallerywound on through lightless walls, with thousand pathswhich baffled every clue, and led astrayin unreturning mazes dark and blind:so did the sons of Troy their courses weavein mimic flights and battles fought for play,like dolphins tumbling in the liquid waves,along the Afric or Carpathian seas.This game and mode of march Ascanius,when Alba Longa's bastions proudly rose,taught to the Latin people of the prime;and as the princely Trojan and his trainwere wont to do, so Alba to her sonsthe custom gave; so glorious Rome at lastthe heritage accepted and revered;and still we know them for the “Trojan Band,”and call the lads a “Troy.” Such was the endof game and contest at Anchises' grave.
Excipiunt plausu pavidos, gaudentque tuentesDardanidae, veterumque adgnoscunt ora parentum.Postquam omnem laeti consessum oculosque suorumlustravere in equis, signum clamore paratisEpytides longe dedit insonuitque flagello.Olli discurrere pares, atque agmina ternidiductis solvere choris, rursusque vocaticonvertere vias infestaque tela tulere.Inde alios ineunt cursus aliosque recursusadversi spatiis, alternosque orbibus orbesimpediunt, pugnaeque cient simulacra sub armis;et nunc terga fuga nudant, nunc spicula vertuntinfensi, facta pariter nunc pace feruntur.Ut quondam Creta fertur Labyrinthus in altaparietibus textum caecis iter, ancipitemquemille viis habuisse dolum, qua signa sequendifalleret indeprensus et inremeabilis error;haud alio Teucrum nati vestigia cursuimpediunt texuntque fugas et proelia ludo,delphinum similes, qui per maria umida nandoCarpathium Libycumque secant, [luduntque per undas.]Hunc morem cursus atque haec certamina primusAscanius, Longam muris cum cingeret Albam,rettulit, et priscos docuit celebrare Latinos,quo puer ipse modo, secum quo Troïa pubes;Albani docuere suos; hinc maxima porroaccepit Roma, et patrium servavit honorem;Troiaque nunc pueri, Troianum dicitur agmen.Hac celebrata tenus sancto certamina patri.
Then fortune veered and different aspect wore.For 'ere the sacred funeral games are done,Saturnian Juno from high heaven sent downthe light-winged Iris to the ships of Troy,giving her flight good wind—still full of schemesand hungering to avenge her ancient wrong.Unseen of mortal eye, the virgin tookher pathway on the thousand-colored bow,and o'er its gliding passage earthward flew.She scanned the vast assemblage; then her gazeturned shoreward, where along the idle baythe Trojan galleys quite unpeopled rode.But far removed, upon a lonely shore,a throng of Trojan dames bewailed aloudtheir lost Anchises, and with tears surveyedthe mighty deep. “O weary waste of seas!What vast, untravelled floods beyond us roll!”So cried they with one voice, and prayed the godsfor an abiding city; every heartloathed utterly the long, laborious sea.Then in their midst alighted, not unskilledin working woe, the goddess; though she worenor garb nor form divine, but made herselfone Beroe, Doryclus' aged wife,who in her happier days had lineage fairand sons of noble name; in such disguiseshe called the Trojan dames:
Hic primum fortuna fidem mutata novavit.Dum variis tumulo referunt sollemnia ludis,Irim de caelo misit Saturnia IunoIliacam ad classem, ventosque adspirat eunti,multa movens, necdum antiquum saturata dolorem.Illa, viam celerans per mille coloribus arcum,nulli visa cito decurrit tramite virgo.Conspicit ingentem concursum, et litora lustrat,desertosque videt portus classemque relictam.At procul in sola secretae Troades actaamissum Anchisen flebant, cunctaeque profundumpontum adspectabant flentes. “Heu tot vada fessis”“et tantum superesse maris!” vox omnibus una.Urbem orant; taedet pelagi perferre laborem.Ergo inter medias sese haud ignara nocendiconicit, et faciemque deae vestemque reponit;fit Beroë, Tmarii coniunx longaeva Dorycli,cui genus et quondam nomen natique fuissent;ac sic Dardanidum mediam se matribus infert:
“O ye ill-starred,that were not seized and slain by Grecian foesunder your native walls! O tribe accursed,what death is Fate preparing? Since Troy fellthe seventh summer flies, while still we roveo'er cruel rocks and seas, from star to star,from alien land to land, as evermorewe chase, storm-tossed, that fleeting Italyacross the waters wide. Behold this landof Eryx, of Acestes, friend and kin;what hinders them to raise a rampart hereand build a town? O city of our sires!O venerated gods from haughty foesrescued in vain! Will nevermore a wallrise in the name of Troy? Shall I not seea Xanthus or a Simois, the streamsto Hector dear? Come now! I lead the way.Let us go touch their baneful ships with fire!I saw Cassandra in a dream. Her shade,prophetic ever, gave me firebrands,and cried, ‘Find Ilium so! The home for theeis where thou art.’ Behold, the hour is ripefor our great act! No longer now delayto heed the heavenly omen. Yonder standfour altars unto Neptune. 'T is the god,the god himself, gives courage for the deed,and swift-enkindling fire.” So having said,she seized a dreadful brand; then, lifting high,waved it all flaming, and with furious armhurled it from far. The Ilian matrons gazed,bewildered and appalled. But one, of allthe eldest, Pyrgo, venerated nurseof Priam's numerous sons, exclaimed, “Nay, nay!This is no Beroe, my noble dames.Doryclus knew her not. Behold and seeher heavenly beauty and her radiant eyes!What voice of music and majestic mien,what movement like a god! Myself am comefrom Beroe sick, and left her grieving sorethat she, she only, had no gift to bringof mournful honor to Anchises' shade.”She spoke. The women with ill-boding eyeslooked on the ships. Their doubting hearts were torn'twixt tearful passion for the beauteous isletheir feet then trod, and that prophetic callof Fate to lands unknown. Then on wide wingssoared Iris into heaven, and through the cloudsclove a vast arch of light. With wonder dazed,the women in a shrieking frenzy rose,took embers from the hearth-stones, stole the firesupon the altars—faggots, branches, brands —and rained them on the ships. The god of fire,through thwarts and oars and bows of painted fir,ran in unbridled flame.
“O miserae, quas non manus” inquit “Achaïca bello”“traxerit ad letum patriae sub moenibus! O gens”“infelix, cui te exitio Fortuna reservat?”“Septuma post Troiae exscidium iam vertitur aestas,”“cum freta, cum terras omnes, tot inhospita saxa”“sideraque emensae ferimur, dum per mare magnum”“Italiam sequimur fugientem, et volvimur undis.”“Hic Erycis fines fraterni, atque hospes Acestes:”“quis prohibet muros iacere et dare civibus urbem?”“O patria et rapti nequiquam ex hoste Penates,”“nullane iam Troiae dicentur moenia? Nusquam”“Hectoreos amnes, Xanthum et Simoenta, videbo?”“Quin agite et mecum infaustas exurite puppes.”“Nam mihi Cassandrae per somnum vatis imago”“ardentes dare visa faces: ‘Hic quaerite Troiam;’”“‘hic domus est’ inquit ‘vobis.’ Iam tempus agi res,”“nec tantis mora prodigiis. En quattuor arae”“Neptuno; deus ipse faces animumque ministrat.”Haec memorans, prima infensum vi corripit ignem,sublataque procul dextra conixa coruscat,et iacit: arrectae mentes stupefactaque cordaIliadum. Hic una e multis, quae maxima natu,Pyrgo, tot Priami natorum regia nutrix:“Non Beroë vobis, non haec Rhoeteïa, matres,”“est Dorycli coniunx; divini signa decoris”“ardentesque notate oculos; qui spiritus illi,”“qui voltus, vocisque sonus, vel gressus eunti.”“Ipsa egomet dudum Beroen digressa reliqui”“aegram, indignantem, tali quod sola careret”“munere, nec meritos Anchisae inferet honores.”Haec effata.At matres primo ancipites oculisque malignisambiguae spectare rates miserum inter amorempraesentis terrae fatisque vocantia regna,cum dea se paribus per caelum sustulit alis,ingentemque fuga secuit sub nubibus arcum.Tum vero attonitae monstris actaeque furoreconclamant, rapiuntque focis penetralibus ignem;pars spoliant aras, frondem ac virgulta facesqueconiciunt. Furit immissis Volcanus habenistranstra per et remos et pictas abiete puppes.
Swift to the tombof Sire Anchises, to the circus-seats,the messenger Eumelus flew, to bringnews of the ships on fire; soon every eyethe clouds of smoke and hovering flame could see.Ascanius, who had led with smiling browhis troops of horse, accoutred as he was,rode hot-haste to the turmoil of the camp,nor could his guards restrain. “What madness now?What is it ye would do?” he cried. “Alas!Ill-fated women! Not our enemies,nor the dread bulwarks of the Greek ye burn,but all ye have to hope for. Look at me,your own Ascanius!” His helmet theninto their midst he flung, which he had wornfor pageantry of war. Aeneas, too,with Trojan bands sped thither. But far off,the women, panic-scattered on the shore,fled many ways, and deep in caverned cragsor shadowed forests hid them, for they Ioathedtheir deed and life itself; their thoughts were changed;they knew their kin and husbands, and their heartsfrom Juno were set free.
Nuntius Anchisae ad tumulum cuneosque theatriincensas perfert naves Eumelus, et ipsirespiciunt atram in nimbo volitare favillam.Primus et Ascanius, cursus ut laetus equestresducebat, sic acer equo turbata petivitcastra, nec exanimes possunt retinere magistri.“Quis furor iste novus? Quo nunc, quo tenditis” inquit,“heu, miserae cives? Non hostem inimicaque castra”“Argivum, vestras spes uritis. En, ego vester”“Ascanius!” Galeam ante pedes proiecit inanem,qua ludo indutus belli simulacra ciebat;accelerat simul Aeneas, simul agmina Teucrum.Ast illae diversa metu per litora passimdiffugiunt, silvasque et sicubi concava furtimsaxa petunt; piget incepti lucisque, suosquemutatae adgnoscunt, excussaque pectore Iuno est.
But none the lessthe burning and indomitable flamesraged without stay; beneath the ships' smeared sidesthe hempen fuel puffed a lingering smoke,as, through the whole bulk creeping, the slow firedevoured its way; and little it availedthat strong men fought the fire with stream on stream.Then good Aeneas from his shoulder renthis garment, and with lifted hands imploredthe help of Heaven. “O Jove omnipotent!If thou not yet thy wrath implacableon every Trojan pourest, if thou stillhast pity, as of old, for what men bear,O, grant my fleet deliverance from this flame!From uttermost destruction, Father, saveour desperate Trojan cause! Or even now —last cruelty! thy fatal thunders throw.If this be my just meed, let thy dread armconfound us all.” But scarce the prayer is said,when with a bursting deluge a dark stormfalls, marvellous to see; while hills and plainswith thunder shake, and to each rim of heavenspreads swollen cloud-rack, black with copious rainand multitudinous gales. The full flood pourson every ship, and all the smouldering beamsare drenched, until the smoke and flames expireand (though four ships be lost) the burning fleetrides rescued from its doom.
Sed non idcirco flammae atque incendia viresindomitas posuere; udo sub robore vivitstuppa vomens tardum fumum, lentusque carinasest vapor, et toto descendit corpore pestis,nec vires heroum infusaque flumina prosunt.Tum pius Aeneas umeris abscindere vestem,auxilioque vocare deos, et tendere palmas:“Iuppiter omnipotens, si nondum exosus ad unum”“Troianos, si quid pietas antiqua labores”“respicit humanos, da flammam evadere classi”“nunc, Pater, et tenues Teucrum res eripe leto.”“Vel tu, quod superest infesto fulmine morti,”“si mereor, demitte, tuaque hic obrue dextra.”Vix haec ediderat, cum effusis imbribus atratempestas sine more furit, tonitruque tremescuntardua terrarum et campi; ruit aethere tototurbidus imber aqua densisque nigerrimus austris;implenturque super puppes; semiusta madescuntrobora; restinctus donec vapor omnis, et omnes,quattuor amissis, servatae a peste carinae.
But smitten soreby this mischance, Aeneas doubtfullyweighs in his heart its mighty load of cares,and ponders if indeed he may abidein Sicily, not heeding prophet-songs,or seek Italian shores. Thereon uproseNautes, an aged sire, to whom aloneTritonian Pallas of her wisdom gaveand made his skill renowned; he had the powerto show celestial anger's warning signs,or tell Fate's fixed decree. The gifted manthus to Aeneas comfortably spoke:“O goddess-born, we follow here or there,as Fate compels or stays. But come what may,he triumphs over Fortune, who can bearwhate'er she brings. Behold, Acestes drawsfrom Dardanus his origin divine!Make him thy willing friend, to share with theethy purpose and thy counsel. Leave with himthe crews of the lost ships, and all whose heartsrepine at thy high task and great emprise:the spent old men, the women ocean-weary,whate'er is feeble found, or faint of heartin danger's hour,—set that apart, and givesuch weary ones within this friendly islea city called Acesta,—if he will.”
At pater Aeneas, casu concussus acerbo,nunc huc ingentes, nunc illuc pectore curasmutabat versans, Siculisne resideret arvis,oblitus fatorum, Italasne capesseret oras.Tum senior Nautes, unum Tritonia Pallasquem docuit multaque insignem reddidit arte,haec responsa dabat, vel quae portenderet iramagna deum, vel quae fatorum posceret ordo;isque his Aenean solatus vocibus infit:“Nate dea, quo fata trahunt retrahuntque, sequamur;”“quidquid erit, superanda omnis fortuna ferendo est.”“Est tibi Dardanius divinae stirpis Acestes:”“hunc cape consiliis socium et coniunge volentem;”“huic trade, amissis superant qui navibus, et quos”“pertaesum magni incepti rerumque tuarum est;”“longaevosque senes ac fessas aequore matres,”“et quidquid tecum invalidum metuensque pericli est,”“delige, et his habeant terris sine moenia fessi:”“urbem appellabunt permisso nomine Acestam.”
Much moved Aeneas was by this wise wordof his gray friend, though still his anxious soulwas vexed by doubt and care. But when dark nighthad brought her chariot to the middle sky,the sacred shade of Sire Anchises seemed,from heaven descending, thus to speak aloud:“My son, than life more dear, when life was mine!O son, upon whose heart the Trojan doomhas weighed so Iong! Beside thy couch I stand,at pleasure of great Jove, whose hand dispelledthe mad fire from thy ships; and now he looksfrom heaven with pitying brow. I bid thee heedthe noble counsels aged Nautes gave.Only with warriors of dauntless breastto Italy repair; of hardy breed,of wild, rough life, thy Latin foes will be.But first the shores of Pluto and the Shadesthy feet must tread, and through the deep abyssof dark Avernus come to me, thy sire:for I inhabit not the guilty gloomof Tartarus, but bright Elysian day,where all the just their sweet assemblies hold.Hither the virgin Sibyl, if thou givefull offerings of the blood of sable kine,shall lead thee down; and visions I will showof cities proud and nations sprung from thee.Farewell, for dewy Night has wheeled her wayfar past her middle course; the panting steedsof orient Morn breathe pitiless upon me.”He spoke, and passed, like fleeting clouds of smoke,to empty air. “O, whither haste away?”Aeneas cried. “Whom dost thou fly? What godfrom my fond yearning and embrace removes?”Then on the altar of the gods of Troyhe woke the smouldering embers, at the shrineof venerable Vesta, worshippingwith hallowed bread and incense burning free.
Talibus incensus dictis senioris amici,tum vero in curas animo diducitur omnes.Et nox atra polum bigis subvecta tenebat:visa dehinc caelo facies delapsa parentisAnchisae subito tales effundere voces:“Nate, mihi vita quondam, dum vita manebat,”“care magis, nate, Iliacis exercite fatis,”“imperio Iovis huc venio, qui classibus ignem”“depulit, et caelo tandem miseratus ab alto est.”“Consiliis pare, quae nunc pulcherrima Nautes”“dat senior; lectos iuvenes, fortissima corda,”“defer in Italiam; gens dura atque aspera cultu”“debellanda tibi Latio est. Ditis tamen ante”“infernas accede domos, et Averna per alta”“congressus pete, nate, meos. Non me impia namque”“Tartara habent, tristes umbrae, sed amoena piorum”“concilia Elysiumque colo. Huc casta Sibylla”“nigrarum multo pecudum te sanguine ducet:”“tum genus omne tuum, et quae dentur moenia, disces.”“Iamque vale: torquet medios Nox humida cursus,”“et me saevus equis Oriens adflavit anhelis.”Dixerat, et tenuis fugit, ceu fumus, in auras.Aeneas, “Quo deinde ruis, quo proripis?” inquit,“Quem fugis, aut quis te nostris complexibus arcet?”Haec memorans cinerem et sopitos suscitat ignes,Pergameumque Larem et canae penetralia Vestaefarre pio et plena supplex veneratur acerra.
Straightway he calls assembly of his friends, —Acestes first in honor,—and makes knownJove's will, the counsel of his cherished sire,and his own fresh resolve. With prompt assentthey hear his word, nor does Acestes failthe task to share. They people the new townwith women; and leave every wight behindwho wills it—souls not thirsting for high praise.Themselves re-bench their ships, rebuild, and fitwith rope and oar the flame-swept galleys all;a band not large, but warriors bold and true.Aeneas, guiding with his hand a plough,marks out the city's ground, gives separate landsby lot, and bids within this space appeara second Troy. Trojan Acestes takesthe kingly power, and with benignant joyappoints a forum, and decrees just lawsbefore a gathered senate. Then they raiseon that star-circled Erycinian hill,the temple to Idalian Venus dear;and at Anchises' sepulchre ordaina priesthood and wide groves of hallowed shade.
Extemplo socios primumque arcessit Acesten,et Iovis imperium et cari praecepta parentisedocet, et quae nunc animo sententia constet.Haud mora consiliis, nec iussa recusat Acestes.Transcribunt urbi matres, populumque volentemdeponunt, animos nil magnae laudis egentes.Ipsi transtra novant, flammisque ambesa reponuntrobora navigiis, aptant remosque rudentesque,exigui numero, sed bello vivida virtus.Interea Aeneas urbem designat aratrosortiturque domos; hoc Ilium et haec loca Troiamesse iubet. Gaudet regno Troianus Acestes,indicitque forum et patribus dat iura vocatis.Tum vicina astris, Erycino in vertice sedesfundatur Veneri Idaliae, tumuloque sacerdosac lucus late sacer additur Anchiseo.
Now the nine days of funeral pomp are done,and every altar has had honors duefrom all the folk. Now tranquil-breathing windshave levelled the great deep, while brisk and free,a favoring Auster bids them launch away.But sound of many a wailing voice is heardalong the winding shore; for ere they go,in fond embraces for a night and daythey linger still. The women—aye, and men! —who hated yesterday the ocean's faceand loathed its name, now clamor to set sailand bear all want and woe to exiles known.But good Aeneas with benignant wordstheir sorrow soothes, and, not without a tear,consigns them to Acestes' kindred care.Then bids he sacrifice to Eryx' shadethree bulls, and to the wind-gods and the storma lamb, then loose the ships in order due.He, with a garland of shorn olive, stoodholding aloft the sacrificial bowlfrom his own vessel's prow, and scattered farthe sacred entrails o'er the bitter wave,with gift of flowing wine. Swift at the sterna fair wind rose and thrust them; while the crewswith rival strokes swept o'er the spreading sea.
Iamque dies epulata novem gens omnis, et arisfactus honos: placidi straverunt aequora venti,creber et adspirans rursus vocat Auster in altum.Exoritur procurva ingens per litora fletus;complexi inter se noctemque diemque morantur.Ipsae iam matres, ipsi, quibus aspera quondamvisa maris facies et non tolerabile nomen,ire volunt, omnemque fugae perferre laborem.Quos bonus Aeneas dictis solatur amicis,et consanguineo lacrimans commendat Acestae.Tris Eryci vitulos et Tempestatibus agnamcaedere deinde iubet, solvique ex ordine funem.Ipse, caput tonsae foliis evinctus olivae,stans procul in prora pateram tenet, extaque salsosproiicit in fluctus ac vina liquentia fundit.Prosequitur surgens a puppi ventus euntes.Certatim socii feriunt mare et aequora verrunt.
Venus, the while, disturbed with grief and care,to Neptune thus her sorrowing heart outpoured:“Stern Juno's wrath and breast implacablecompel me, Neptune, to abase my pridein lowly supplication. Lapse of days,nor prayers, nor virtues her hard heart subdue,nor Jove's command; nor will she rest or yieldat Fate's decree. Her execrable grudgeis still unfed, although she did consumethe Trojan city, Phrygia's midmost throne,and though she has accomplished stroke on strokeof retribution. But she now pursuesthe remnant—aye! the ashes and bare bonesof perished Ilium; though the cause and springof wrath so great none but herself can tell.Wert thou not witness on the Libyan wavewhat storm she stirred, immingling sea and sky,and with Aeolian whirlwinds made her war, —in vain and insolent invasion, sire,of thine own realm and power? Behold, but now,goading to evil deeds the Trojan dames,she basely burned his ships; he in strange landsmust leave the crews of his Iost fleet behind.O, I entreat thee, let the remnant sailin safety o'er thy sea, and end their wayin Tiber's holy stream;—if this my prayerbe lawful, and that city's rampart proudbe still what Fate intends.”
At Venus interea Neptunum exercita curisadloquitur, talesque effundit pectore questus:“Iunonis gravis ira nec exsaturabile pectus”“cogunt me, Neptune, preces descendere in omnes;”“quam nec longa dies, pietas nec mitigat ulla,”“nec Iovis imperio fatisque infracta quiescit.”“Non media de gente Phrygum exedisse nefandis”“urbem odiis satis est, nec poenam traxe per omnem:”“reliquias Troiae, cineres atque ossa peremptae”“insequitur: causas tanti sciat illa furoris.”“Ipse mihi nuper Libycis tu testis in undis”“quam molem subito excierit: maria omnia caelo”“miscuit, Aeoliis nequiquam freta procellis,”“in regnis hoc ausa tuis.”“Per scelus ecce etiam Troianis matribus actis”“exussit foede puppes, et classe subegit”“amissa socios ignotae linquere terrae.”“Quod superest, oro, liceat dare tuta per undas”“vela tibi, liceat Laurentem attingere Thybrim:”“si concessa peto, si dant ea moenia Parcae.”
Then Saturn's son,the ruler of the seas profound, replied:“Queen of Cythera, it is meet for theeto trust my waves from which thyself art sprung.Have I not proved a friend, and oft restrainedthe anger and wild wrath of seas and skies?On land, let Simois and Xanthus tellif I have loved Aeneas! On that dayAchilles drove the shuddering hosts of Troyin panic to the walls, and hurled to deathinnumerable foes, until the streamswere choked with dead, and Xanthus scarce could findhis wonted path to sea; that self-same day,aeneas, spent, and with no help of Heaven,met Peleus' dreadful son:—who else but Iin cloudy mantle bore him safe afar?Though 't was my will to cast down utterlythe walls of perjured Troy, which my own handshad built beside the sea. And even to-daymy favor changes not. Dispel thy fear!Safe, even as thou prayest, he shall rideto Cumae's haven, where Avernus lies.One only sinks beneath th' engulfing seas, —one life in lieu of many.” Having soothedand cheered her heart divine, the worshipped sireflung o'er his mated steeds a yoke of gold,bridled the wild, white mouths, and with strong handshook out long, Ioosened reins. His azure carskimmed light and free along the crested waves;before his path the rolling billows allwere calm and still, and each o'er-swollen floodsank 'neath his sounding wheel; while from the skiesthe storm-clouds fled away. Behind him traileda various company; vast bulk of whales,the hoary band of Glaucus, Ino's son,Palaemon and the nimble Tritons all,the troop of Phorcus; and to leftward rangedThalia, Thetis, and fair Alelite,with virgin Panopea, and the nymphsNesaea, Spio and Cymodoce.
Tum Saturnius haec domitor maris edidit alti:“Fas omne est, Cytherea, meis te fidere regnis,”“unde genus ducis: merui quoque; saepe furores”“compressi, et rabiem tantam caelique marisque.”“Nec minor in terris, Xanthum Simoëntaque testor,”“Aeneae mihi cura tui. Cum Troia Achilles”“exanimata sequens impingeret agmina muris,”“milia multa daret leto, gemerentque repleti”“amnes, nec reperire viam atque evolvere posset”“in mare se Xanthus, Pelidae tunc ego forti”“congressum Aenean nec dis nec viribus aequis”“nube cava rapui, cuperem cum vertere ab imo”“structa meis manibus periurae moenia Troiae.”“Nunc quoque mens eadem perstat mihi: pelle timores.”“Tutus, quos optas, portus accedet Averni.”“Unus erit tantum, amissum quem gurgite quaeres;”“unum pro multis dabitur caput.”His ubi laeta deae permulsit pectora dictis,iungit equos auro genitor, spumantiaque additfrena feris, manibusque omnes effundit habenas.Caeruleo per summa levis volat aequora curru;subsidunt undae, tumidumque sub axe tonantisternitur aequor aquis; fugiunt vasto aethere nimbi.Tum variae comitum facies, immania cete,et senior Glauci chorus, Inousque Palaemon,Tritonesque citi, Phorcique exercitus omnis;laeva tenent Thetis, et Melite, Panopeaque virgo,Nisaee, Spioque, Thaliaque, Cymodoceque.
Now in Aeneas' ever-burdened breastthe voice of hope revived. He bade make hasteto raise the masts, spread canvas on the spars;all hands hauled at the sheets, and left or rightshook out the loosened sails, or twirled in placethe horn-tipped yards. Before a favoring windthe fleet sped on. The line in close arraywas led by Palinurus, in whose courseall ships were bid to follow. Soon the carof dewy Night drew near the turning-pointof her celestial round. The oarsmen allyielded their limbs to rest, and prone had fallenon the hard thwarts, in deep, unpillowed slumber.Then from the high stars on light-moving wings,the God of Sleep found passage through the darkand clove the gloom,—to bring upon thy head,O Palinurus, an ill-boding sleep,though blameless thou. Upon thy ship the godin guise of Phorbas stood, thus whispering:“Look, Palinurus, how the flowing tideslift on thy fleet unsteered, and changeless windsbehind thee breathe! 'T is now a happy hourtake thy rest. Lay down the weary head.Steal tired eyes from toiling. I will dothine office for thee, just a little space.”But Palinurus, lifting scarce his eyes,thus answered him: “Have I not known the faceof yonder placid seas and tranquil waves?Put faith in such a monster? Could I trust —I, oft by ocean's treacherous calm betrayed —my lord Aeneas to false winds and skies?”
Hic patris Aeneae suspensam blanda vicissimgaudia pertemptant mentem: iubet ocius omnesattolli malos, intendi brachia velis.Una omnes fecere pedem pariterque sinistros,nunc dextros solvere sinus; una ardua torquentcornua detorquentque; ferunt sua flamina classem.Princeps ante omnes densum Palinurus agebatagmen; ad hunc alii cursum contendere iussi.Iamque fere mediam caeli Nox humida metamcontigerat; placida laxabant membra quietesub remis fusi per dura sedilia nautae:cum levis aetheriis delapsus Somnus ab astrisaëra dimovit tenebrosum et dispulit umbras,te, Palinure, petens, tibi somnia tristia portansinsonti; puppique deus consedit in alta,Phorbanti similis, funditque has ore loquelas:“Iaside Palinure, ferunt ipsa aequora classem;”“aequatae spirant aurae; datur hora quieti.”“Pone caput, fessosque oculos furare labori:”“ipse ego paulisper pro te tua munera inibo.”Cui vix attollens Palinurus lumina fatur:“Mene salis placidi voltum fluctusque quietos”“ignorare iubes? Mene huic confidere monstro?”“Aenean credam quid enim fallacibus auris”“et caelo, totiens deceptus fraude sereni?”
So saying, he grasped his rudder tight, and clungmore firmly, fixing on the stars his eyes.Then waved the god above his brows a branchwet with the dews of Lethe and imbuedwith power of Stygian dark, until his eyeswavered and slowly sank. The slumberous snarehad scarce unbound his limbs, when, leaning o'er,the god upon the waters flung him forth,hands clutching still the helm and ship-rail torn,and calling on his comrades, but in vain.Then soared th' immortal into viewless air;and in swift course across the level seathe fleet sped safe, protected from all fearby Neptune's vow. Yet were they drawing nighthe sirens' island-steep, where oft are seenwhite, bleaching bones, and to the distant earthe rocks roar harshly in perpetual foam.Then of his drifting fleet and pilot goneAeneas was aware, and, taking helm,steered through the midnight waves, with many a sigh;and, by his comrade's pitiable deathsore-smitten, cried, “O, thou didst trust too farfair skies and seas, and liest without a grave,my Palinurus, in a land unknown!”
Talia dicta dabat, clavumque affixus et haerensnusquam amittebat, oculosque sub astra tenebat.Ecce deus ramum Lethaeo rore madentem,vique soporatum Stygia, super utraque quassattempora, cunctantique natantia lumina solvit.Vix primos inopina quies laxaverat artus,et super incumbens cum puppis parte revolsa,cumque gubernaclo, liquidas proiecit in undaspraecipitem ac socios nequiquam saepe vocantem;ipse volans tenues se sustulit ales ad auras.Currit iter tutum non secius aequore classis,promissisque patris Neptuni interrita fertur.Iamque adeo scopulos Sirenum advecta subibat,difficiles quondam multorumque ossibus albos,tum rauca adsiduo longe sale saxa sonabant:cum pater amisso fluitantem errare magistrosensit, et ipse ratem nocturnis rexit in undis,multa gemens, casuque animum concussus amici“O nimium caelo et pelago confise sereno,”“nudus in ignota, Palinure, iacebis harena!”