| Idibus est Annae festum geniale Perennae | Not far from your banks, Tiber, far flowing river. |
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| non procul a ripis, advena Thybri, tuis. | The people come and drink there, scattered on the grass |
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| plebs venit ac virides passim disiecta per herbas | And every man reclines there with his girl. |
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| potat, et accumbit cum pare quisque sua. | Some tolerate the open sky, a few pitch tents |
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| sub Iove pars durat, pauci tentoria ponunt | And some make leafy huts out of branches |
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| sunt quibus e ramis frondea facta casa est | While others set reeds up, to form rigid pillars |
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| pars, ubi pro rigidis calamos statuere columnis | And hang their outspread robes from the reeds. |
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| desuper extentas imposuere togas. | But they’re warmed by sun and wine, and pray |
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| sole tamen vinoque calent annosque precantur | For as many years as cups, as many as they drink. |
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| quot sumant cyathos, ad numerumque bibunt. | There you’ll find a man who quaffs Nestor’s years |
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| invenies illic, qui Nestoris ebibat annos | A woman who’d age as the Sibyl, in her cups. |
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| quae sit per calices facta Sibylla suos. | There they sing whatever they’ve learnt in the theatres |
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| illic et cantant, quicquid didicere theatris | Beating time to the words with ready hands |
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| et iactant faciles ad sua verba manus | And setting the bowl down, dance coarsely |
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| et ducunt posito duras cratere choreas | The trim girl leaping about with streaming hair. |
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| cultaque diffusis saltat amica comis | Homecoming they stagger, a sight for vulgar eyes |
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| cum redeunt, titubant et sunt spectacula volgi | And the crowd meeting them call them ‘blessed’. |
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| et fortunatos obvia turba vocat. | I fell in with the procession lately (it seems to me worth |
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| occurrit nuper (visa est mihi digna relatu) | Saying): a tipsy old woman dragging a tipsy old man. |
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| pompa: senem potum pota trahebat anus. | But since errors abound as to who this goddess is |
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| quae tamen haec dea sit, quoniam rumoribus errat | I’m determined not to cloak her story. |
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| fabula proposito nulla tegenda meo. | Wretched Dido burned with love for Aeneas |
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| arserat Aeneae Dido miserabilis igne | She burned on the pyre built for her funeral: |
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| arserat exstructis in sua fata rogis; | Her ashes were gathered, and this brief couplet |
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| compositusque cinis, tumulique in marmore carmen | Which she left, in dying, adorned her tomb: |
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| hoc breve, quod moriens ipsa reliquit, erat: | AENEAS THE REASON, HIS THE BLADE EMPLOYED. |
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| “praebuit Aeneas et causam mortis et ensem. | DIDO BY HER OWN HAND WAS DESTROYED. |
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| ipsa sua Dido concidit usa manu.” | The Numidians immediately invaded the defencele |
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| protinus invadunt Numidae sine vindice regnum | Realm, and Iarbas the Moor captured and held the palace. |
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| et potitur capta Maurus Iarba domo | Remembering her scorn, he said: ‘See, I, whom she |
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| seque memor spretum, Thalamis tamen inquit ‘Elissae | So many times rejected, now enjoy Elissa’s marriage bed.’ |
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| en ego, quem totiens reppulit illa, fruor.’ | The Tyrians scattered, as each chanced to stray, as bee |
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| diffugiunt Tyrii, quo quemque agit error, ut olim | Often wander confusedly, having lost their Queen. |
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| amisso dubiae rege vagantur apes. | Anna, was driven from her home, weeping on leaving |
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| tertia nudandas acceperat area messes | Her sister’s city, after first paying honour to that sister. |
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| inque cavos ierant tertia musta lacus: | The loose ashes drank perfume mixed with tears |
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| pellitur Anna domo lacrimansque sororia linquit | And received an offering of her shorn hair: |
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| moenia: germanae iusta dat ante suae. | Three times she said: ‘Farewell!’ three times lifted |
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| mixta bibunt molles lacrimis unguenta favillae | And pressed the ashes to her lips, seeing her sister there. |
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| vertice libatas accipiuntque comas; | Finding a ship, and companions for her flight, she glided |
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| terque vale! dixit, cineres ter ad ora relatos | Away, looking back at the city, her sister’s sweet work. |
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| pressit, et est illis visa subesse soror. | There’s a fertile island, Melite, near barren Cosyra |
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| nancta ratem comitesque fugae pede labitur aequo | Lashed by the waves of the Libyan sea. Trusting in |
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| moenia respiciens, dulce sororis opus. | The king’s former hospitality, she headed there |
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| fertilis est Melite sterili vicina Cosyrae | Battus was king there, and was a wealthy host. |
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| insula, quam Libyci verberat unda freti | When he had learned the fates of the two sisters |
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| hanc petit hospitio regis confisa vetusto: | He said: ‘This land, however small, is yours.’ |
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| hospes opum dives rex ibi Battus erat. | He would have been hospitable to the end |
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| qui postquam didicit casus utriusque sororis | Except that he feared Pygmalion’s great power. |
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| haec inquit tellus quantulacumque tua est. | The corn had been taken to be threshed a third time |
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| et tamen hospitii servasset ad ultima munus | And a third time the new wine poured into empty vats. |
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| sed timuit magnas Pygmalionis opes. | The sun had twice circled the zodiac, and a third year |
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| signa recensuerat bis sol sua, tertius ibat | Was passing, when Anna had to find a fresh place of exile. |
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| annus, et exilio terra paranda nova est. | Her brother came seeking war. The king hated weapons |
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| frater adest belloque petit. rex arma perosus | And said: ‘We are peaceable, flee for your own safety!’ |
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| nos sumus inbelles, tu fuge sospes! ait. | She fled at his command, gave her ship to the wind and waves: |
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| iussa fugit ventoque ratem committit et undis: | Her brother was crueller than any ocean. |
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| asperior quovis aequore frater erat. | There’s a little field by the fish-filled stream |
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| est prope piscosos lapidosi Crathidis amnes | Of stony Crathis: the local people call it Camere. |
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| parvus ager: Cameren incola turba vocat | There she sailed, and when she was no further away |
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| illuc cursus erat, nec longius afuit inde | Than the distance reached by nine slingshots |
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| quam quantum novies mittere funda potest: | The sails first fell and then flapped in the light breeze. |
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| vela cadunt primo et dubia librantur ab aura. | ‘Attack the water with oars!’ cried the captain. |
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| findite remigio navita dixit aquas! | And while they made ready to reef the sails |
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| dumque parant torto subducere carbasa lino | The swift South Wind struck the curved stern |
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| percutitur rapido puppis adunca noto | And despite the captain’s efforts swept them |
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| inque patens aequor frustra pugnante magistro | Into the open sea: the land was lost to sight. |
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| fertur, et ex oculis visa refugit humus | The waves attacked them, and the ocean heaved |
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| adsiliunt fluctus, imoque a gurgite pontus | From the depths, and the hull gulped the foaming waters. |
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| vertitur, et canas alveus haurit aquas | Skill is defeated by the wind, the steersman no longer |
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| vincitur ars vento, nec iam moderator habenis | Guides the helm, but he too turns to prayer for aid. |
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| utitur; a votis is quoque poscit opem. | The Phoenician exile is thrown high on swollen waves |
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| iactatur tumidas exul Phoenissa per undas | And hides her weeping eyes in her robe: |
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| humidaque opposita lumina veste tegit: | Then for a first time she called her sister Dido happy |
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| tunc primum Dido felix est dicta sorori | And whoever, anywhere, might be treading dry land. |
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| et quaecumque aliquam corpore pressit humum | A great gust drove the ship to the Laurentine shore |
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| figitur ad Laurens ingenti flamine litus | And, foundering, it perished, when all had landed. |
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| puppis et expositis omnibus hausta perit. | Meanwhile pious Aeneas had gained Latinus’ realm |
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| iam pius Aeneas regno nataque Latini | And his daughter too, and had merged both peoples. |
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| auctus erat, populos miscueratque duos. | While he was walking barefoot along the shore |
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| litore dotali solo comitatus Achate | That had been his dower, accompanied only by Achates |
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| secretum nudo dum pede carpit iter | He saw Anna wandering, not believing it was her: |
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| aspicit errantem nec credere sustinet Annam | ‘Why should she be here in the fields of Latium?’ |
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| esse: quid in Latios illa veniret agros? | Aeneas said to himself: ‘It’s Anna!’ shouted Achates: |
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| dum secum Aeneas, Anna est! exclamat Achates: | At the sound of her name she raised her face. |
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| ad nomen voltus sustulit illa suos. | Alas, what should she do? Flee? Wish for the ground |
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| heu! fugiat? quid agat? quos terrae quaerat hiatus? | To swallow her? Her wretched sister’s fate was before her eyes. |
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| ante oculos miserae fata sororis erant. | The Cytherean hero felt her fear, and spoke to her |
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| sensit et adloquitur trepidam Cythereius heros | (He still wept, moved by your memory, Elissa): |
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| (fiet tamen admonitu motus, Elissa, tui): | ‘Anna, I swear, by this land that you once knew |
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| ‘Anna, per hanc iuro, quam quondam audire solebas | A happier fate had granted me, and by the god |
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| tellurem fato prosperiore dari | My companions, who have lately found a home here |
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| perque deos comites, hac nuper sede locatos | That all of them often rebuked me for my delay. |
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| saepe meas illos increpuisse moras | Yet I did not fear her dying, that fear was absent. |
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| nec timui de morte tamen, metus abfuit iste. | Ah me! Her courage was beyond belief. |
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| ei mihi! credibili fortior illa fuit. | Don’t re-tell it: I saw shameful wounds on her body |
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| ne refer: aspexi non illo corpore digna | When I dared to visit the houses of Tartarus. |
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| volnera Tartareas ausus adire domos | But you shall enjoy the comforts of my kingdom |
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| at tu, seu ratio te nostris appulit oris | Whether your will or a god brings you to our shores. |
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| sive deus, regni commoda carpe mei. | I owe you much, and owe Elissa not a little: |
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| multa tibi memores, nil non debemus Elissae: | You are welcome for your own and your sister’s sake.’ |
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| nomine grata tuo, grata sororis, eris.’ | She accepted his words (no other hope was left) |
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| talia dicenti (neque enim spes altera restat) | And told him of her own wanderings. |
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| credidit, errores exposuitque suos. | When she entered the palace, dressed in Tyrian style |
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| utque domum intravit Tyrios induta paratus | Aeneas spoke (the rest of the throng were silent): |
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| incipit Aeneas (cetera turba silet): | ‘Lavinia, my wife, I have a pious reason for entrusting |
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| ‘hanc tibi cur tradam, pia causa, Lavinia coniunx | This lady to you: shipwrecked, I lived at her expense. |
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| est mihi: consumpsi naufragus huius opes. | She’s of Tyrian birth: her kingdom’s on the Libyan shore: |
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| orta Tyro est, regnum Libyca possedit in ora; | I beg you to love her, as your dear sister.’ |
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| quam precor ut carae more sororis ames.’ | Lavinia promised all, but hid a fancied wrong |
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| omnia promittit falsumque Lavinia volnus | Within her silent heart, and concealed her fears: |
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| mente premit tacita dissimulatque fremens; | And though she saw many gifts given away openly |
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| donaque cum videat praeter sua lumina ferri | She suspected many more were sent secretly. |
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| multa palam, mitti clam quoque multa putat | She hadn’t yet decided what to do: she hated |
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| non habet exactum, quid agat; furialiter odit | With fury, prepared a plan, and wished to die avenged. |
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| et parat insidias et cupit ulta mori. | It was night: it seemed her sister Dido stood |
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| nox erat: ante torum visa est adstare sororis | Before her bed, her straggling hair stained with her blood |
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| squalenti Dido sanguinulenta coma | Crying: ‘Flee, don’t hesitate, flee this gloomy house!’ |
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| et fuge, ne dubita, maestum fuge dicere tectum! | At the words a gust slammed the creaking door. |
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| sub verbum querulas impulit aura fores | Anna leapt up, then jumped from a low window |
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| exilit et velox humili super arva fenestra | To the ground: fear itself had made her daring. |
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| se iacit: audacem fecerat ipse timor. | With terror driving her, clothed in her loose vest |
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| quaque metu rapitur, tunica velata recincta | She runs like a frightened doe that hears the wolves. |
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| currit, ut auditis territa damma lupis | It’s thought that horned Numicius swept her away |
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| corniger hanc tumidis rapuisse Numicius undis | In his swollen flood, and hid her among his pools. |
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| creditur et stagnis occuluisse suis. | Meanwhile, shouting, they searched for the Sidonian lady |
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| Sidonis interea magno clamore per agros | Through the fields: traces and tracks were visible: |
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| quaeritur: apparent signa notaeque pedum: | Reaching the banks, they found her footprints there. |
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| ventum erat ad ripas: inerant vestigia ripis. | The knowing river stemmed his silent waters. |
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| sustinuit tacitas conscius amnis aquas. | She herself appeared, saying: ‘I’m a nymph of the calm |
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| ipsa loqui visa est ‘placidi sum nympha Numici: | Numicius: hid in perennial waters, Anna Perenna’s my name.’ |
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| amne perenne latens Anna Perenna vocor.’ | Quickly they set out a feast in the fields they’d roamed |
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| protinus erratis laeti vescuntur in agris | And celebrated their deeds and the day, with copious wine. |
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| et celebrant largo seque diemque mero. | Some think she’s the Moon, because she measures out |
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| sunt quibus haec Luna est, quia mensibus impleat annum; | The year (annus): others, Themis, or the Inachian heifer. |
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| pars Themin, Inachiam pars putat esse bovem. | Anna, you’ll find some to say you’re a nymph, daughter |
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| invenies, qui te nymphen Atlantida dicant | Of Azan, and gave Jupiter his first nourishment. |
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| teque Iovi primos, Anna, dedisse cibos. | I’ll relate another tale that’s come to my ears |
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| haec quoque, quam referam, nostras pervenit ad aures | And it’s not so far away from the truth. |
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| fama nec a veri dissidet illa fide. | The Plebs of old, not yet protected by Tribunes |
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| plebs vetus et nullis etiam nunc tuta tribunis | Fled, and gathered on the Sacred Mount: |
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| fugit et in Sacri vertice montis erat; | The food supplies they’d brought with them failed |
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| iam quoque, quem secum tulerant, defecerat illos | Also the stores of bread fit for human consumption. |
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| victus et humanis usibus apta Ceres | There was a certain Anna from suburban Bovillae |
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| orta suburbanis quaedam fuit Anna Bovillis | A poor woman, old, but very industrious. |
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| pauper, sed multae sedulitatis anus. | With her grey hair bound up in a light cap |
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| illa levi mitra canos incincta capillos | She used to make coarse cakes with a trembling hand |
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| Angebat tremula rustica liba manu | And distribute them, still warm, among the people |
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| atque ita per populum fumantia mane solebat | Each morning: this supply of hers pleased them all. |
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| dividere: haec populo copia grata fuit. | When peace was made at home, they set up a statue |
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| pace domi facta signum posuere Perennae | To Perenna, because she’d helped supply their needs. |
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| quod sibi defectis illa ferebat opem. | Now it’s left for me to tell why the girls sing coarse songs: |
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| nunc mihi cur cantent superest obscena puellae | Since they gather together to sing certain infamous things. |
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| dicere; nam coeunt certaque probra canunt | Anna had lately been made a goddess: Gradivus came to her |
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| nuper erat dea facta: venit Gradivus ad Annam | And taking her aside, spoke these words: |
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| et cum seducta talia verba facit: | You honour my month: I’ve joined my season to yours: |
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