When Turnus from Laurentum's bastion proudpublished the war, and roused the dreadful noteof the harsh trumpet's song; when on swift steedsthe lash he laid and clashed his sounding arms;then woke each warrior soul; all Latium stirredwith tumult and alarm; and martial rageenkindled youth's hot blood. The chieftains proud,Messapus, Ufens, and that foe of Heaven,Mezentius, compel from far and widetheir loyal hosts, and strip the field and farmof husbandmen. To seek auxiliar armsthey send to glorious Diomed's domainthe herald Venulus, and bid him cry:“Troy is to Latium come; Aeneas' fleethas come to land. He brings his vanquished gods,and gives himself to be our destined King.Cities not few accept him, and his namethrough Latium waxes large. But what the foeby such attempt intends, what victoryis his presumptuous hope, if Fortune smile,Aetolia's lord will not less wisely fearthan royal Turnus or our Latin King.”
Ut belli signum Laurenti Turnus ab arceextulit et rauco strepuerunt cornua cantu,utque acris concussit equos utque impulit arma,extemplo turbati animi, simul omne tumultuconiurat trepido Latium saevitque iuventuseffera. Ductores primi Messapus et Ufenscontemptorque deum Mezentius undique coguntauxilia et latos vastant cultoribus agros.mittitur et magni Venulus Diomedis ad urbem,qui petat auxilium et Latio consistere Teucros,advectum Aenean classi victosque penatisinferre et fatis regem se dicere posciedoceat multasque viro se adiungere gentisDardanio et late Latio increbrescere nomen.Quid struat his coeptis, quem, si Fortuna sequatur,eventum pugnae cupiat, manifestius ipsiquam Turno regi aut regi apparere Latino.
Thus Latium's cause moved on. Meanwhile the heirof great Laomedon, who knew full wellthe whole wide land astir, was vexed and tossedin troubled seas of care. This way and thathis swift thoughts flew, and scanned with like dismayeach partial peril or the general storm.Thus the vexed waters at a fountain's brim,smitten by sunshine or the silver sphereof a reflected moon, send forth a beamof flickering light that leaps from wall to wall,or, skyward lifted in ethereal flight,glances along some rich-wrought, vaulted dome.Now night had fallen, and all weary things,all shapes of beast or bird, the wide world o'er,lay deep in slumber. So beneath the archof a cold sky Aeneas laid him downupon the river-bank, his heart sore triedby so much war and sorrow, and gave o'erhis body to its Iong-delayed repose.There, 'twixt the poplars by the gentle stream,the River-Father, genius of that place,old Tiberinus visibly uprose;a cloak of gray-green lawn he wore, his hairo'erhung with wreath of reeds. In soothing wordsthus, to console Aeneas' cares, he spoke:
Talia per Latium. Quae Laomedontius heroscuncta videns magno curarum fluctuat aestu,atque animum nunc huc celerem, nunc dividit illuc.In partisque rapit varias perque omnia versat:sicut aquae tremulum labris ubi lumen aenissole repercussum aut radiantis imagine lunaeomnia pervolitat late loca iamque sub auraserigitur summique ferit lacuaria tecti.Nox erat, et terras animalia fessa per omnisalituum pecudumque genus sopor altus habebat:cum pater in ripa gelidique sub aetheris axeAeneas, tristi turbatus pectora bello,procubuit seramque dedit per membra quietem.Huic deus ipse loci fluvio Tiberinus amoenopopuleas inter senior se attollere frondesvisus; eum tenuis glauco velabat amictucarbasus, et crinis umbrosa tegebat harundo,tum sic adfari et curas his demere dictis:
“Seed of the gods! who bringest to my shorethy Trojan city wrested from her foe,a stronghold everlasting, Latium's plainand fair Laurentum long have looked for thee.Here truly is thy home. Turn not away.Here the true guardians of thy hearth shall be.Fear not the gathering war. The wrath of Heavenhas stilled its swollen wave. A sign I tell:Lest thou shouldst deem this message of thy sleepa vain, deluding dream, thou soon shalt findin the oak-copses on my margent green,a huge sow, with her newly-littered broodof thirty young; along the ground she lies,snow-white, and round her udders her white young.There shall thy city stand, and there thy toilshall find untroubled rest. After the lapseof thrice ten rolling years, Ascaniusshall found a city there of noble name,White-City, Alba; 't is no dream I sing!But I instruct thee now by what wise wayth' impending wars may bring thee victory:receive the counsel, though the words be few:within this land are men of Arcady,of Pallas' line, who, following in the trainof King Evander and his men-at-arms,built them a city in the hills, and chose(honoring Pallas, their Pelasgian sire),the name of Pallanteum. They make warincessant with the Latins. Therefore callthis people to thy side and bind them closein federated power. My channel fairand shaded shore shall guide thee where they dwell,and thy strong oarsmen on my waters borneshall mount my falling stream. Rise, goddess-born,and ere the starlight fade give honor dueto Juno, and with supplicating vowavert her wrath and frown. But unto memake offering in thy victorious hour,in time to come. I am the copious floodwhich thou beholdest chafing at yon shoresand parting fruitful fields: cerulean streamof Tiber, favored greatly of high Heaven.here shall arise my house magnificent,a city of all cities chief and crown.”
“O sate gente deum, Troianam ex hostibus urbem”“qui revehis nobis aeternaque Pergama servas,”“exspectate solo Laurenti arvisque Latinis,”“hic tibi certa domus, certi, ne absiste, penates;”“neu belli terrere minis: tumor omnis et irae”“concessere deum.”[“Iamque tibi, ne vana putes haec fingere somnum,”][“litoreis ingens inventa sub ilicibus sus,”][“triginta capitum fetus enixa, iacebit,”][“alba, solo recubans, albi circum ubera nati.”][“Hic locus urbis erit, requies ea certa laborum”][“ex quo ter denis urbem redeuntibus annis”][“Ascanius clari condet cognominis Albam.”][“Haud incerta cano.”] “Nunc qua ratione quod instat”“expedias victor, paucis (adverte) docebo.”“Arcades his oris, genus a Pallante profectum,”“qui regem Euandrum comites, qui signa secuti,”“delegere locum et posuere in montibus urbem”“Pallantis proavi de nomine Pallanteum.”“Hi bellum adsidue ducunt cum gente Latina;”“hos castris adhibe socios et foedera iunge.”“Ipse ego te ripis et recto flumine ducam,”“adversum remis superes subvectus ut amnem.”“Surge age, nate dea, primisque cadentibus astris”“Iunoni fer rite preces iramque minasque”“supplicibus supera votis. Mihi victor honorem”“persolves. Ego sum pleno quem flumine cernis”“stringentem ripas et pinguia culta secantem,”“caeruleus Thybris, caelo gratissimus amnis.”“Hic mihi magna domus, celsis caput urbibus, exit.”
So spake the river-god, and sank from viewdown to his deepest cave; then night and sleeptogether from Aeneas fled away.He rose, and to the orient beams of mornhis forehead gave; in both his hollowed palmshe held the sacred waters of the stream,and called aloud: “O ye Laurentian nymphs,whence flowing rills be born, and chiefly thou,O Father Tiber, worshipped stream divine,accept Aeneas, and from peril save!If in some hallowed lake or haunted springthy power, pitying my woes, abides,or wheresoe'er the blessed place be foundwhence first thy beauty flows, there evermoremy hands shall bring thee gift and sacrifice.O chief and sovereign of Hesperian streams,O river-god that hold'st the plenteous horn,protect us, and confirm thy words divine!”He spoke; then chose twin biremes from the fleet,gave them good gear and armed their loyal crews.
Dixit, deinde lacu fluvius se condidit alto,ima petens; nox Aenean somnusque reliquit.Surgit et aetherii spectans orientia solislumina rite cavis undam de flumine palmissustinet ac talis effundit ad aethera voces:“Nymphae, Laurentes nymphae, genus amnibus unde est,”“tuque, o Thybri tuo genitor cum flumine sancto,”“accipite Aenean et tandem arcete periclis.”“Quo te cumque lacus miserantem incommoda nostra”“fonte tenet, quocumque solo pulcherrimus exis,”“semper honore meo, semper celebrabere donis”“corniger hesperidum fluvius regnator aquarum.”“Adsis o tantum et propius tua numina firmes.”sic memorat geminasque legit de classe biremisremigioque aptat, socios simul instruit armis.
But, lo! a sudden wonder met his eyes:white gleaming through the grove, with all her broodwhite like herself, on the green bank the Sowstretched prone. The good Aeneas slew her there,Great Juno, for a sacrifice to thee,himself the priest, and with the sucklings allbeside shine altar stood. So that whole nightthe god of Tiber calmed his swollen wave,ebbing or lingering in silent flow,till like some gentle lake or sleeping poolhis even waters lay, and strove no moreagainst the oarsmen's toil. Upon their waythey speed with joyful sound; the well-oiled woodslips through the watery floor; the wondering waves,and all the virgin forests wondering,behold the warriors in far-shining armstheir painted galleys up the current drive.O'er the long reaches of the winding floodtheir sturdy oars outweary the slow courseof night and day. Fair groves of changeful greenarch o'er their passage, and they seem to cleavegreen forests in the tranquil wave below.Now had the flaming sun attained his wayto the mid-sphere of heaven, when they discernedwalls and a citadel in distant view,with houses few and far between; 't was there,where sovran Rome to-day has rivalled Heaven,Evander's realm its slender strength displayed:swiftly they turned their prows and neared the town.
Ecce autem subitum atque oculis mirabile monstrum;candida per silvam cum fetu concolor alboprocubuit viridique in litore conspicitur sus.Quam pius Aeneas tibi enim, tibi, maxuma Iuno,mactat sacra ferens et cum grege sistit ad aram.Thybris ea fluvium, quam longa est, nocte tumentemleniit, et tacita refluens ita substitit unda,mitis ut in morem stagni placidaeque paludissterneret aequor aquis, remo ut luctamen abesset.Ergo iter inceptum celerant rumore secundo;labitur uncta vadis abies; mirantur et undae,miratur nemus insuetum fulgentia longescuta virum fluvio pictasque innare carinas.Olli remigio noctemque diemque fatigantet longos superant flexus variisque tegunturarboribus viridisque secant placido aequore silvas.Sol medium caeli conscenderat igneus orbem,cum muros arcemque procul ac rara domorumtecta vident, quae nunc Romana potentia caeloaequavit, tum res inopes Euandrus habebat:ocius advertunt proras urbique propinquant.
It chanced th' Arcadian King had come that dayto honor Hercules, Amphitryon's son,and to the powers divine pay worship duein groves outside the wall. Beside him stoodPallas his son, his noblest men-at-arms,and frugal senators, who at the shrinesburnt incense, while warm blood of victims flowed.But when they saw the tall ships in the shadeof that dark forest plying noiseless oars,the sudden sight alarmed, and all the throngsprang to its feet and left the feast divine.But dauntless Pallas bade them give not o'erthe sacred festival, and spear in handflew forward to a bit of rising ground,and cried from far: “Hail, warriors! what causedrives you to lands unknown, and whither bound?Your kin, your country? Bring ye peace or war?”Father Aeneas then held forth a boughof peaceful olive from the lofty ship,thus answering: “Men Trojan-born are we,foes of the Latins, who have driven us forthwith insolent assault. We fain would seeEvander. Pray, deliver this, and saythat chosen princes of Dardaniasue for his help in arms.” So wonder fellon Pallas, awestruck at such mighty name.O, come, whoe'er thou art,” he said, “and speakin presence of my father. Enter here,guest of our hearth and altar.” He put forthhis right hand in true welcome, and they stoodwith lingering clasp; then hand in hand advancedup the steep woodland, leaving Tiber's wave.
Forte die sollemnem illo rex Arcas honoremAmphitryoniadae magno divisque ferebatante urbem in luco. Pallas huic filius una,una omnes iuvenum primi pauperque senatustura dabant, tepidusque cruor fumabat ad aras.Ut celsas videre rates atque inter opacumadlabi nemus et tacitis incumbere remis,terrentur visu subito cunctique relictisconsurgunt mensis. Audax quos rumpere Pallassacra vetat raptoque volat telo obvius ipseet procul e tumulo: “Iuvenes, quae causa subegit”“ignotas temptare vias, quo tenditis?” inquit.“Qui genus? Unde domo? Pacemne huc fertis an arma?”Tum pater Aeneas puppi sic fatur ab altapaciferaeque manu ramum praetendit olivae:“Troiugenas ac tela vides inimica Latinis,”“quos illi bello profugos egere superbo.”“Euandrum petimus. Ferte haec et dicite lectos”“Dardaniae venisse duces socia arma rogantis.”Obstipuit tanto percussus nomine Pallas:“Egredere o quicumque es” ait “coramque parentem”“adloquere ac nostris succede penatibus hospes.”excepitque manu dextramque amplexus inhaesit.Progressi subeunt luco fluviumque relinquunt.
Aeneas to Evander speaking fair,these words essayed: “O best of Grecian-born!whom Fortune's power now bids me seek and sue,lifting this olive-branch with fillets bound,I have not feared thee, though I know thou arta Greek, and an Arcadian king, alliedto the two sons of Atreus. For behold,my conscious worth, great oracles from Heaven,the kinship of our sires, thy own renownspread through the world—all knit my cause with thine,all make me glad my fates have so decreed.The sire and builder of the Trojan townwas Dardanus; but he, Electra's child,came over sea to Teucria; the sireof fair Electra was great Atlas, hewhose shoulder carries the vast orb of heaven.But thy progenitor was Mercury,and him conceiving, Maia, that white maid,on hoar Cyllene's frosty summit bore.But Maia's sire, if aught of truth be told,was Atlas also, Atlas who sustainsthe weight of starry skies. Thus both our tribesare one divided stem. Secure in this,no envoys have I sent, nor tried thy mindwith artful first approaches, but myself,risking my person and my life, have comea suppliant here. For both on me and theethe house of Daunus hurls insulting war.If us they quell, they doubt not to obtainlordship of all Hesperia, and subduealike the northern and the southern sea.Accept good faith, and give! Behold, our heartsquail not in battle; souls of fire are we,and warriors proved in many an action brave.”
Tum regem Aeneas dictis adfatur amicis:“Optume Graiugenum, cui me Fortuna precari”“et vitta comptos voluit praetendere ramos,”“non equidem extimui, Danaum quod ductor et Arcas”“quodque a stirpe fores geminis coniunctus Atridis;”“sed mea me virtus et sancta oracula divom”“cognatique patres, tua terris didita fama,”“coniunxere tibi et fatis egere volentem.”“Dardanus, Iliacae primus pater urbis et auctor,”“Electra, ut Grai perhibent, Atlantide cretus,”“advehitur Teucros; Electram maxumus Atlas”“edidit, aetherios umero qui sustinet orbes”“vobis Mercurius pater est, quem candida Maia”“Cyllenae gelido conceptum vertice fudit;”“at Maiam, auditis si quicquam credimus, Atlas,”“idem Atlas generat, caeli qui sidera tollit.”“Sic genus amborum scindit se sanguine ab uno.”“His fretus non legatos neque prima per artem”“temptamenta tui pepigi: me, me ipse meumque”“obieci caput et supplex ad limina veni.”“Gens eadem, quae te, crudeli Daunia bello”“insequitur; nos si pellant, nihil afore credunt,”“quin omnem Hesperiam penitus sua sub iuga mittant”“et mare quod supra teneant quodque adluit infra.”“Accipe daque fidem: sunt nobis fortia bello”“pectora, sunt animi et rebus spectata iuventus.”
Aeneas ceased. The other long had scannedthe hero's face, his eyes, and wondering viewedhis form and mien divine; in answer nowhe briefly spoke: “With hospitable heart,O bravest warrior of all Trojan-born,I know and welcome thee. I well recallthy sire Anchises, how he looked and spake.For I remember Priam, when he cameto greet his sister, Queen Hesione,in Salamis, and thence pursued his wayto our cool uplands of Arcadia.The bloom of tender boyhood then was mine,and with a wide-eyed wonder I did viewthose Teucrian lords, Laomedon's great heir,and, towering highest in their goodly throng,Anchises, whom my warm young heart desiredto speak with and to clasp his hand in mine.So I approached, and joyful led him hometo Pheneus' olden wall. He gave me giftsthe day he bade adieu; a quiver rarefilled with good Lycian arrows, a rich cloakinwove with thread of gold, and bridle reinsall golden, now to youthful Pallas given.Therefore thy plea is granted, and my handhere clasps in loyal amity with thine.To-morrow at the sunrise thou shalt havemy tribute for the war, and go thy waymy glad ally. But now this festival,whose solemn rite 't were impious to delay,I pray thee celebrate, and bring with theewell-omened looks and words. Allies we are!Use this our sacred feast as if your own.”
Dixerat Aeneas. Ille os oculosque loquentisiamdudum et totum lustrabat lumine corpus.Tum sic pauca refert: “Ut te, fortissime Teucrum,”“accipio agnoscoque libens! Ut verba parentis”“et vocem Anchisae magni voltumque recordor!”“Nam memini Hesionae visentem regna sororis”“Laomedontiaden Priamum, Salamina petentem,”“protinus Arcadiae gelidos invisere finis.”“Tum mihi prima genas vestibat flore iuventas,”“mirabarque duces Teucros, mirabar et ipsum”“Laomedontiaden, sed cunctis altior ibat”“Anchises: mihi mens iuvenali ardebat amore”“compellare virum et dextrae coniungere dextram.”“Accessi et cupidus Phenei sub moenia duxi.”“Ille mihi insignem pharetram Lyciasque sagittas”“discedens chlamydemque auro dedit intertextam”“frenaque bina meus quae nunc habet aurea Pallas.”“Ergo et quam petitis iuncta est mihi foedere dextra,”“et lux cum primum terris se crastina reddet,”“auxilio laetos dimittam opibusque iuvabo.”“Interea sacra haec, quando huc venistis amici,”“annua, quae differre nefas, celebrate faventes”“nobiscum et iam nunc sociorum adsuescite mensis.”
So saying, he bade his followers renewth' abandoned feast and wine; and placed each gueston turf-built couch of green, most honoringAeneas by a throne of maple fairdecked with a lion's pelt and flowing mane.Then high-born pages, with the altar's priest,bring on the roasted beeves and load the boardwith baskets of fine bread; and wine they bring —of Ceres and of Bacchus gift and toil.While good Aeneas and his Trojans sharethe long whole ox and meats of sacrifice.
Haec ubi dicta, dapes iubet et sublata reponipocula gramineoque viros locat ipse sedilipraecipuumque toro et villosi pelle leonisaccipit Aenean solioque invitat acerno.Tum lecti iuvenes certatim araeque sacerdosviscera tosta ferunt taurorum onerantque canistrisdona laboratae Cereris Bacchumque ministrant.Vescitur Aeneas simul et Troiana iuventusperpetui tergo bovis et lustralibus extis.
When hunger and its eager edge were gone,Evander spoke: “This votive holiday,yon tables spread and altar so divine,are not some superstition dark and vain,that knows not the old gods, O Trojan King!But as men saved from danger and great fearthis thankful sacrifice we pay. Behold,yon huge rock, beetling from the mountain wall,hung from the cliff above. How lone and barethe hollowed mountain looks! How crag on cragtumbled and tossed in huge confusion lie!A cavern once it was, which ran deep downinto the darkness. There th' half-human shapeof Cacus made its hideous den, concealedfrom sunlight and the day. The ground was wetat all times with fresh gore; the portal grimwas hung about with heads of slaughtered men,bloody and pale—a fearsome sight to see.Vulcan begat this monster, which spewed forthdark-fuming flames from his infernal throat,and vast his stature seemed. But time and tidebrought to our prayers the advent of a godto help us at our need. For Hercules,divine avenger, came from laying lowthree-bodied Geryon, whose spoils he woreexultant, and with hands victorious drovethe herd of monster bulls, which pastured freealong our river-valley. Cacus gazedin a brute frenzy, and left not untriedaught of bold crime or stratagem, but stolefour fine bulls as they fed, and heifers four,all matchless; but, lest hoof-tracks point his way,he dragged them cave-wards by the tails, confusingthe natural trail, and hid the stolen herdin his dark den; and not a mark or signcould guide the herdsmen to that cavern-door.But after, when Amphitryon's famous son,preparing to depart, would from the meadsgoad forth the full-fed herd, his lingering bullsroared loud, and by their lamentable cryfilled grove and hills with clamor of farewell:one heifer from the mountain-cave lowed backin answer, so from her close-guarded stallfoiling the monster's will.
Postquam exempta fames et amor compressus edendi,rex Euandrus ait: “Non haec sollemnia nobis,”“has ex more dapes, hanc tanti numinis aram”“vana superstitio veterumque ignara deorum”“inposuit: saevis, hospes Troiane, periclis”“servati facimus meritosque novamus honores.”“Iam primum saxis suspensam hanc aspice rupem,”“disiectae procul ut moles desertaque montis”“stat domus et scopuli ingentem traxere ruinam.”“Hic spelunca fuit, vasto summota recessu,”“semihominis Caci facies quam dira tenebat”“solis inaccessam radiis; semperque recenti”“caede tepebat humus, foribusque adfixa superbis”“ora virum tristi pendebant pallida tabo.”“Huic monstro Volcanus erat pater: illius atros”“ore vomens ignis magna se mole ferebat.”“Attulit et nobis aliquando optantibus aetas”“auxilium adventumque dei. Nam maximus ultor,”“tergemini nece Geryonae spoliisque superbus”“Alcides aderat taurosque hac victor agebat”“ingentis, vallemque boves amnemque tenebant.”“At furiis Caci mens effera, nequid inausum”“aut intractatum scelerisve dolive fuisset,”“quattuor a stabulis praestanti corpore tauros”“avertit, totidem forma superante iuvencas;”“atque hos, nequa forent pedibus vestigia rectis,”“cauda in speluncam tractos versisque viarum”“indiciis raptos saxo occultabat opaco:”“quaerenti nulla ad speluncam signa ferebant.”“Interea, cum iam stabulis saturata moveret”“Amphytrioniades armenta abitumque pararet,”“discessu mugire boves atque omne querelis”“impleri nemus et colles clamore relinqui.”“reddidit una boum vocem vastoque sub antro”“mugiit et Caci spem custodita fefellit.”
Then hadst thou seenthe wrath of Hercules in frenzy blazefrom his exasperate heart. His arms he seized,his club of knotted oak, and climbed full-speedthe wind-swept hill. Now first our people sawCacus in fear, with panic in his eyes.Swift to the black cave like a gale he flew,his feet by terror winged. Scarce had he passedthe cavern door, and broken the big chains,and dropped the huge rock which was pendent thereby Vulcan's well-wrought steel; scarce blocked and barredthe guarded gate: when there Tirynthius stood,with heart aflame, surveying each approach,rolling this way and that his wrathful eyes,gnashing his teeth. Three times his ire surveyedthe slope of Aventine; three times he stormedthe rock-built gate in vain; and thrice withdrewto rest him in the vale. But high abovea pointed peak arose, sheer face of rockon every side, which towered into viewfrom the long ridge above the vaulted cave,fit haunt for birds of evil-boding wing.This peak, which leftward toward the river leaned,he smote upon its right—his utmost blow —breaking its bases Ioose; then suddenlythrust at it: as he thrust, the thunder-soundfilled all the arching sky, the river's banksasunder leaped, and Tiber in alarmreversed his flowing wave. So Cacus' lairlay shelterless, and naked to the daythe gloomy caverns of his vast abodestood open, deeply yawning, just as ifthe riven earth should crack, and open wideth' infernal world and fearful kingdoms pale,which gods abhor; and to the realms on highthe measureless abyss should be laid bare,and pale ghosts shrink before the entering sun.Now upon Cacus, startled by the glare,caged in the rocks and howling horribly,Alcides hurled his weapons, raining downall sorts of deadly missiles—trunks of trees,and monstrous boulders from the mountain torn.But when the giant from his mortal straitno refuge knew, he blew from his foul jawsa storm of smoke—incredible to tell —and with thick darkness blinding every eye,concealed his cave, uprolling from belowone pitch-black night of mingled gloom and fire.This would Alcides not endure, but leapedheadlong across the flames, where densest hungthe rolling smoke, and through the cavern surgeda drifting and impenetrable cloud.With Cacus, who breathed unavailing flame,he grappled in the dark, locked limb with limb,and strangled him, till o'er the bloodless throatthe starting eyeballs stared.
“Hic vero Alcidae furiis exarserat atro”“felle dolor: rapit arma manu nodisque gravatum”“robur et aerii cursu petit ardua montis.”“Tum primum nostri Cacum videre timentem”“turbatumque oculis: fugit ilicet ocior Euro”“speluncamque petit, pedibus timor addidit alas.”“Ut sese inclusit ruptisque immane catenis”“deiecit saxum, ferro quod et arte paterna”“pendebat, fultosque emuniit obice postis,”“ecce furens animis aderat Tirynthius omnemque”“accessum lustrans huc ora ferebat et illuc,”“dentibus infrendens. Ter totum fervidus ira”“lustrat Aventini montem, ter saxea temptat”“limina nequiquam, ter fessus valle resedit.”“Stabat acuta silex, praecisis undique saxis”“speluncae dorso insurgens, altissima visu,”“dirarum nidis domus opportuna volucrum.”“Hanc, ut prona iugo laevum incumbebat in amnem,”“dexter in adversum nitens concussit et imis”“avolsam solvit radicibus; inde repente”“inpulit, inpulsu quo maximus intonat aether”“dissultant ripae refluitque exterritus amnis.”“At specus et Caci detecta apparuit ingens”“regia, et umbrosae penitus patuere cavernae:”“non secus ac siqua penitus vi terra dehiscens”“infernas reseret sedes et regna recludat”“pallida, dis invisa, superque immane barathrum”“cernatur, trepident inmisso lumine manes.”“Ergo insperata deprensum luce repente”“inclusumque cavo saxo atque insueta rudentem”“desuper Alcides telis premit omniaque arma”“advocat et ramis vastisque molaribus instat.”“Ille autem, neque enim fuga iam super ulla pericli,”“faucibus ingentem fumum (mirabile dictu)”“evomit involvitque domum caligine caeca,”“prospectum eripiens oculis, glomeratque sub antro”“fumiferam noctem commixtis igne tenebris.”“Non tulit Alcides animis seque ipse per ignem”“praecipiti iecit saltu, qua plurimus undam”“fumus agit nebulaque ingens specus aestuat atra.”“Hic Cacum in tenebris incendia vana vomentem”“corripit in nodum complexus et angit inhaerens”“elisos oculos et siccum sanguine guttur.”
Then Herculesburst wide the doorway of the sooty den,and unto Heaven and all the people showedthe stolen cattle and the robber's crimes,and dragged forth by the feet the shapeless corpseof the foul monster slain. The people gazedinsatiate on the grewsome eyes, the breastof bristling shag, the face both beast and man,and that fire-blasted throat whence breathed no morethe extinguished flame. 'T is since that famous daywe celebrate this feast, and glad of hearteach generation keeps the holy time.Potitius began the worship due,and our Pinarian house is vowed to guardthe rites of Hercules. An altar fairwithin this wood they raised; 't is called ‘the Great,’and Ara Maxima its name shall be.Come now, my warriors, and bind your browswith garlands worthy of the gift of Heaven.Lift high the cup in every thankful hand,and praise our people's god with plenteous wine.”He spoke; and of the poplar's changeful sheen,sacred to Hercules, wove him a wreathto shade his silvered brow. The sacred cuphe raised in his right hand, while all the restcalled on the gods and pure libation poured.
“Panditur extemplo foribus domus atra revolsis,”“abstractaeque boves abiurataeque rapinae”“caelo ostenduntur, pedibusque informe cadaver”“protrahitur. Nequeunt expleri corda tuendo”“terribilis oculos, voltum villosaque saetis”“pectora semiferi atque extinctos faucibus ignis.”“Ex illo celebratus honos, laetique minores”“servavere diem, primusque Potitius auctor”“et domus Herculei custos Pinaria sacri.”“Hanc aram luco statuit, quae maxuma semper”“dicetur nobis et erit quae maxuma semper.”“Quare agite, o iuvenes, tantarum in munere laudum”“cingite fronde comas et pocula porgite dextris”“communemque vocate deum et date vina volentes.”Dixerat, Herculea bicolor cum populus umbravelavitque comas foliisque innexa pependitet sacer implevit dextram scyphus. Ocius omnesin mensam laeti libant divosque precantur.
Soon from the travelling heavens the western starglowed nearer, and Potitius led forththe priest-procession, girt in ancient guisewith skins of beasts and carrying burning brands.new feasts are spread, and altars heaped anewwith gifts and laden chargers. Then with songthe Salian choir surrounds the blazing shrine,their foreheads wreathed with poplar. Here the youth,the elders yonder, in proud anthem singthe glory and the deeds of Hercules:how first he strangled with strong infant handtwo serpents, Juno's plague; what cities proud,Troy and Oechalia, his famous warin pieces broke; what labors numberlessas King Eurystheus' bondman he endured,by cruel Juno's will. “Thou, unsubdued,didst strike the twy-formed, cloud-bred centaurs down,Pholus and tall Hylaeus. Thou hast slainthe Cretan horror, and the lion hugebeneath the Nemean crag. At sight of theethe Stygian region quailed, and Cerberus,crouching o'er half-picked bones in gory cave.Nothing could bid thee fear. Typhoeus toweredin his colossal Titan-panoplyo'er thee in vain; nor did thy cunning failwhen Lema's wonder-serpent round thee drewits multudinous head. Hail, Jove's true son!New glory to the gods above, come down,and these thine altars and thy people bless!”Such hymns they chanted, telling oft the taleof Cacus' cave and blasting breath of fire:while hills and sacred grove the note prolong.
Devexo interea propior fit Vesper Olympo,iamque sacerdotes primusque Potitius ibant,pellibus in morem cincti, flammasque ferebant.Instaurant epulas et mensae grata secundaedona ferunt cumulantque oneratis lancibus aras.tum Salii ad cantus incensa altaria circumpopuleis adsunt evincti tempora ramis,hic iuvenum chorus, ille senum; qui carmine laudesHerculeas et facta ferunt: ut prima novercaemonstra manu geminosque premens eliserit angues,ut bello egregias idem disiecerit urbes,Troiamque Oechaliamque, ut duros mille laboresrege sub Eurystheo fatis Iunonis iniquaepertulerit. “Tu nubigenas, invicte, bimembris”“Hylaeeumque Pholumque, manu, tu Cresia mactas”“prodigia et vastum Nemeae sub rupe leonem.”“Te Stygii tremuere lacus, te ianitor Orci”“ossa super recubans antro semesa cruento;”“nec te ullae facies, non terruit ipse Typhoeus,”“arduus arma tenens; non te rationis egentem”“Lernaeus turba capitum circumstetit anguis.”“Salve, vera Iovis proles, decus addite divis,”“et nos et tua dexter adi pede sacra secundo.”Talia carminibus celebrant; super omnia Cacispeluncam adiciunt spirantemque ignibus ipsum.Consonat omne nemus strepitu collesque resultant.
Such worship o'er, all take the homeward wayback to the town. The hospitable King,though bowed with weight of years, kept at his sideAeneas and his son, and as they fared,with various discourse beguiled the way.Aeneas scanned with quick-admiring eyesthe region wide, and lingered with delightnow here, now there, inquiring eagerlyof each proud monument of heroes gone.Then King Evander, he who builded firstOn Palatine, spoke thus: “These groves erewhiletheir native nymphs and fauns enjoyed, with menfrom trees engendered and stout heart of oak.Nor laws nor arts they knew; nor how to tameburls to the yoke, nor fill great barns with storeand hoard the gathered grain; but rudely faredon wild fruits and such food as hunters find.Then Saturn from Olympian realms came down,in flight from Jove's dread arms, his sceptre lost,and he an exiled King. That savage racehe gathered from the mountain slopes; and gavewise laws and statutes; so that latent landwas Latium, ‘hid land’, where he hid so long.The golden centuries by legends toldwere under that good King, whose equal swayuntroubled peace to all his peoples gave.But after slow decline arrived an agedegenerate and of a darker hue,prone to insensate war and greed of gain.Then came Sicanian and Ausonian tribes,and oft the land of Saturn lost its name.New chieftains rose, and Thybris, giant Kingand violent, from whom th' Italians namedthe flooding Tiber, which was called no morethe Albula, its true and ancient style.Myself, in exile from my fatherlandsailing uncharted seas, was guided hereby all-disposing Chance and iron lawsof Destiny. With prophecy severeCarmentis, my nymph-mother, thrust me on,warned by Apollo's word.”
Exim se cuncti divinis rebus ad urbemperfectis referunt. Ibat rex obsitus aevoet comitem Aenean iuxta natumque tenebatingrediens varioque viam sermone levabat.miratur facilisque oculos fert omnia circumAeneas capiturque locis et singula laetusexquiritque auditque virum monimenta priorum.Tum rex Euandrus, Romanae conditor arcis:“Haec nemora indigenae fauni nymphaeque tenebant”“gensque virum truncis et duro robore nata,”“quis neque mos neque cultus erat, nec iungere tauros”“aut componere opes norant aut parcere parto,”“sed rami atque asper victu venatus alebat.”“Primus ab aetherio venit Saturnus Olympo,”“arma Iovis fugiens et regnis exsul ademptis.”“Is genus indocile ac dispersum montibus altis”“composuit legesque dedit Latiumque vocari”“maluit, his quoniam latuisset tutis in oris.”“Aurea quae perhibent illo sub rege fuere”“saecula. Sic placida populos in pace regebat,”“deterior donec paulatim ac decolor aetas”“et belli rabies et amor successit habendi.”“Tum manus Ausonia et gentes venere Sicanae,”“saepius et nomen posuit Saturnia tellus;”“tum reges asperque immani corpore Thybris,”“a quo post Itali fluvium cognomine Thybrim”“diximus, amisit verum vetus Albula nomen;”“me pulsum patria pelagique extrema sequentem”“Fortuna omnipotens et ineluctabile fatum”“his posuere locis matrisque egere tremenda”“Carmentis nymphae monita et deus auctor Apollo.”
He scarce had said,when near their path he showed an altar fairand the Carmental gate, where Romans seememorial of Carmentis, nymph divine,the prophetess of fate, who first foretoldwhat honors on Aeneas' sons should falland lordly Pallanteum, where they dwell.Next the vast grove was seen, where Romulusordained inviolable sanctuary;then the Lupercal under its cold crag,Wolf-hill, where old Arcadians reveredtheir wolf-god, the Lycaean Pan. Here toothe grove of Argiletum, sacred name,where good Evander told the crime and deathof Argus, his false guest. From this they climbedthe steep Tarpeian hill, the Capitol,all gold to-day, but then a tangled wildof thorny woodland. Even then the placewoke in the rustics a religious awe,and bade them fear and tremble at the viewof that dread rock and grove. “This leafy wood,which crowns the hill-top, is the favored seatof some great god,” said he, “but of his namewe know not surely. The Arcadians sayjove's dread right hand here visibly appearsto shake his aegis in the darkening storm,the clouds compelling. Yonder rise in viewtwo strongholds with dismantled walls, which noware but a memory of great heroes gone:one father Janus built, and Saturn one;their names, Saturnia and Janiculum.”'Mid such good parley to the house they cameof King Evander, unadorned and plain,whence herds of browsing cattle could be seenranging the Forum, and loud-bellowingin proud Carinae. As they entered there,“Behold,” said he, “the threshold that receivedAlcides in his triumph! This abodehe made his own. Dare, O illustrious guest,to scorn the pomp of power. Shape thy soulto be a god's fit follower. Enter here,and free from pride our frugal welcome share.”So saying, 'neath his roof-tree scant and lowhe led the great Aeneas, offering hima couch of leaves with Libyan bear-skin spread.Now night drew near, enfolding the wide worldin shadowy wings.
“Vix ea dicta: dehinc progressus monstrat et aram”“et Carmentalem Romani nomine portam”“quam memorant, nymphae priscum Carmentis honorem,”“vatis fatidicae, cecinit quae prima futuros”“Aeneadas magnos et nobile Pallanteum.”“Hinc lucum ingentem quem Romulus acer Asylum”“rettulit et gelida monstrat sub rupe Lupercal,”“Parrhasio dictum Panos de more Lycaei.”“Nec non et sacri monstrat nemus Argileti”“testaturque locum et letum docet hospitis Argi.”“Hinc ad Tarpeiam sedem et Capitolia ducit,”“aurea nunc, olim silvestribus horrida dumis.”“Iam tum religio pavidos terrebat agrestis”“dira loci, iam tum silvam saxumque tremebant.”“Hoc nemus, hunc,” inquit, “frondoso vertice collem”“(quis deus incertum est) habitat deus: Arcades ipsum”“credunt se vidisse Iovem, cum saepe nigrantem”“aegida concuteret dextra nimbosque cieret.”“Haec duo praeterea disiectis oppida muris,”“reliquias veterumque vides monimenta virorum.”“Hanc Ianus pater, hanc Saturnus condidit arcem:”“Ianiculum huic, illi fuerat Saturnia nomen.”Talibus inter se dictis ad tecta subibantpauperis Euandri passimque armenta videbantRomanoque foro et lautis mugire Carinis.Ut ventum ad sedes: “Haec,” inquit, “limina victor”“Alcides subiit, haec illum regia cepit.”“Aude, hospes, contemnere opes et te quoque dignum”“finge deo rebusque veni non asper egenis.”dixit et angusti subter fastigia tectiingentem Aenean duxit stratisque locaviteffultum foliis et pelle Libystidis ursae.Nox ruit et fuscis tellurem amplectitur alis.