1. Vergil, Aeneis, 1.314-1.417, 2.270-2.297, 2.559-2.587, 2.771-2.795, 4.219-4.278, 4.465-4.473, 4.557-4.572, 5.104-5.603, 5.841-5.861, 6.384-6.397, 7.415-7.466, 8.32-8.34, 8.608-8.625, 9.644-9.658, 10.82, 10.242-10.243, 10.326-10.327, 10.330, 10.606-10.637, 10.639-10.688, 10.691-10.692, 10.707-10.718, 10.720-10.730, 10.743, 10.758-10.759, 10.767 (1st cent. BCE - 1st cent. BCE)
| 1.314. Hast thou not given us thy covet 1.315. that hence the Romans when the rolling years 1.316. have come full cycle, shall arise to power 1.317. from Troy 's regenerate seed, and rule supreme 1.318. the unresisted lords of land and sea? 1.319. O Sire, what swerves thy will? How oft have I 1.320. in Troy 's most lamentable wreck and woe 1.321. consoled my heart with this, and balanced oft 1.322. our destined good against our destined ill! 1.323. But the same stormful fortune still pursues 1.324. my band of heroes on their perilous way. 1.325. When shall these labors cease, O glorious King? 1.326. Antenor, though th' Achaeans pressed him sore 1.327. found his way forth, and entered unassailed 1.328. Illyria 's haven, and the guarded land 1.329. of the Liburni. Straight up stream he sailed 1.330. where like a swollen sea Timavus pours 1.331. a nine-fold flood from roaring mountain gorge 1.332. and whelms with voiceful wave the fields below. 1.333. He built Patavium there, and fixed abodes 1.334. for Troy 's far-exiled sons; he gave a name 1.335. to a new land and race; the Trojan arms 1.336. were hung on temple walls; and, to this day 1.337. lying in perfect peace, the hero sleeps. 1.338. But we of thine own seed, to whom thou dost 1.339. a station in the arch of heaven assign 1.340. behold our navy vilely wrecked, because 1.341. a single god is angry; we endure 1.342. this treachery and violence, whereby 1.343. wide seas divide us from th' Hesperian shore. 1.344. Is this what piety receives? Or thus 1.346. Smiling reply, the Sire of gods and men 1.347. with such a look as clears the skies of storm 1.348. chastely his daughter kissed, and thus spake on: 1.349. “Let Cytherea cast her fears away! 1.350. Irrevocably blest the fortunes be 1.351. of thee and thine. Nor shalt thou fail to see 1.352. that City, and the proud predestined wall 1.353. encompassing Lavinium . Thyself 1.354. hall starward to the heights of heaven bear 1.355. Aeneas the great-hearted. Nothing swerves 1.356. my will once uttered. Since such carking cares 1.357. consume thee, I this hour speak freely forth 1.358. and leaf by leaf the book of fate unfold. 1.359. Thy son in Italy shall wage vast war 1.360. and, quell its nations wild; his city-wall 1.361. and sacred laws shall be a mighty bond 1.362. about his gathered people. Summers three 1.363. hall Latium call him king; and three times pass 1.364. the winter o'er Rutulia's vanquished hills. 1.365. His heir, Ascanius, now Iulus called 1.366. (Ilus it was while Ilium 's kingdom stood) 1.367. full thirty months shall reign, then move the throne 1.368. from the Lavinian citadel, and build 1.370. Here three full centuries shall Hector's race 1.371. have kingly power; till a priestess queen 1.372. by Mars conceiving, her twin offspring bear; 1.373. then Romulus, wolf-nursed and proudly clad 1.374. in tawny wolf-skin mantle, shall receive 1.375. the sceptre of his race. He shall uprear 1.376. and on his Romans his own name bestow. 1.377. To these I give no bounded times or power 1.378. but empire without end. Yea, even my Queen 1.379. Juno, who now chastiseth land and sea 1.380. with her dread frown, will find a wiser way 1.381. and at my sovereign side protect and bless 1.382. the Romans, masters of the whole round world 1.383. who, clad in peaceful toga, judge mankind. 1.384. Such my decree! In lapse of seasons due 1.385. the heirs of Ilium 's kings shall bind in chains 1.386. Mycenae 's glory and Achilles' towers 1.387. and over prostrate Argos sit supreme. 1.388. of Trojan stock illustriously sprung 1.389. lo, Caesar comes! whose power the ocean bounds 1.390. whose fame, the skies. He shall receive the name 1.391. Iulus nobly bore, great Julius, he. 1.392. Him to the skies, in Orient trophies dress 1.393. thou shalt with smiles receive; and he, like us 1.394. hall hear at his own shrines the suppliant vow. 1.395. Then will the world grow mild; the battle-sound 1.396. will be forgot; for olden Honor then 1.397. with spotless Vesta, and the brothers twain 1.398. Remus and Romulus, at strife no more 1.399. will publish sacred laws. The dreadful gates 1.400. whence issueth war, shall with close-jointed steel 1.401. be barred impregnably; and prisoned there 1.402. the heaven-offending Fury, throned on swords 1.403. and fettered by a hundred brazen chains 1.405. These words he gave, and summoned Maia's son 1.406. the herald Mercury, who earthward flying 1.407. hould bid the Tyrian realms and new-built towers 1.408. welcome the Trojan waifs; lest Dido, blind 1.409. to Fate's decree, should thrust them from the land. 1.410. He takes his flight, with rhythmic stroke of wing 1.411. across th' abyss of air, and soon draws near 1.412. unto the Libyan mainland. He fulfils 1.413. his heavenly task; the Punic hearts of stone 1.414. grow soft beneath the effluence divine; 1.415. and, most of all, the Queen, with heart at ease 1.417. But good Aeneas, pondering all night long 2.272. our doubt dispelled. His stratagems and tears 2.273. wrought victory where neither Tydeus' son 2.274. nor mountain-bred Achilles could prevail 2.275. nor ten years' war, nor fleets a thousand strong. 2.276. But now a vaster spectacle of fear 2.277. burst over us, to vex our startled souls. 2.279. priest unto Neptune, was in act to slay 2.281. Lo! o'er the tranquil deep from Tenedos 2.289. their monstrous backs wound forward fold on fold. 2.290. Soon they made land; the furious bright eyes 2.291. glowed with ensanguined fire; their quivering tongues 2.292. lapped hungrily the hissing, gruesome jaws. 2.293. All terror-pale we fled. Unswerving then 2.294. the monsters to Laocoon made way. 2.295. First round the tender limbs of his two sons 2.296. each dragon coiled, and on the shrinking flesh 2.559. upon his orient steeds—while forests roar 2.567. o'erwhelms us utterly. Coroebus first 2.568. at mailed Minerva's altar prostrate lay 2.569. pierced by Peneleus, blade; then Rhipeus fell; 2.570. we deemed him of all Trojans the most just 2.571. most scrupulously righteous; but the gods 2.572. gave judgment otherwise. There Dymas died 2.573. and Hypanis, by their compatriots slain; 2.574. nor thee, O Panthus, in that mortal hour 2.575. could thy clean hands or Phoebus, priesthood save. 2.576. O ashes of my country! funeral pyre 2.577. of all my kin! bear witness that my breast 2.578. hrank not from any sword the Grecian drew 2.579. and that my deeds the night my country died 2.580. deserved a warrior's death, had Fate ordained. 2.581. But soon our ranks were broken; at my side 2.582. tayed Iphitus and Pelias; one with age 2.583. was Iong since wearied, and the other bore 2.584. the burden of Ulysses' crippling wound. 2.585. Straightway the roar and tumult summoned us 2.586. to Priam's palace, where a battle raged 2.587. as if save this no conflict else were known 2.771. being of Greece and Troy, full well she knew 2.774. my dying country, and with horrid deed 2.781. my native Troy ? and cloth our Dardan strand 4.219. and mass their dust-blown squadrons in wild flight 4.220. far from the mountain's bound. Ascanius 4.221. flushed with the sport, spurs on a mettled steed 4.222. from vale to vale, and many a flying herd 4.223. his chase outspeeds; but in his heart he prays 4.224. among these tame things suddenly to see 4.225. a tusky boar, or, leaping from the hills 4.227. Meanwhile low thunders in the distant sky 4.228. mutter confusedly; soon bursts in full 4.229. the storm-cloud and the hail. The Tyrian troop 4.230. is scattered wide; the chivalry of Troy 4.231. with the young heir of Dardan's kingly line 4.232. of Venus sprung, seek shelter where they may 4.233. with sudden terror; down the deep ravines 4.234. the swollen torrents roar. In that same hour 4.235. Queen Dido and her hero out of Troy 4.236. to the same cavern fly. Old Mother-Earth 4.237. and wedlock-keeping Juno gave the sign; 4.238. the flash of lightnings on the conscious air 4.239. were torches to the bridal; from the hills 4.240. the wailing wood-nymphs sobbed a wedding song. 4.241. Such was that day of death, the source and spring 4.242. of many a woe. For Dido took no heed 4.243. of honor and good-name; nor did she mean 4.244. her loves to hide; but called the lawlessness 4.246. Swift through the Libyan cities Rumor sped. 4.247. Rumor! What evil can surpass her speed? 4.248. In movement she grows mighty, and achieves 4.249. trength and dominion as she swifter flies. 4.250. mall first, because afraid, she soon exalts 4.251. her stature skyward, stalking through the lands 4.252. and mantling in the clouds her baleful brow. 4.253. The womb of Earth, in anger at high Heaven 4.254. bore her, they say, last of the Titan spawn 4.255. ister to Coeus and Enceladus. 4.256. Feet swift to run and pinions like the wind 4.257. the dreadful monster wears; her carcase huge 4.258. is feathered, and at root of every plume 4.259. a peering eye abides; and, strange to tell 4.260. an equal number of vociferous tongues 4.261. foul, whispering lips, and ears, that catch at all. 4.262. At night she spreads midway 'twixt earth and heaven 4.263. her pinions in the darkness, hissing loud 4.264. nor e'er to happy slumber gives her eyes: 4.265. but with the morn she takes her watchful throne 4.266. high on the housetops or on lofty towers 4.267. to terrify the nations. She can cling 4.268. to vile invention and maligt wrong 4.269. or mingle with her word some tidings true. 4.270. She now with changeful story filled men's ears 4.271. exultant, whether false or true she sung: 4.272. how, Trojan-born Aeneas having come 4.273. Dido, the lovely widow, Iooked his way 4.274. deigning to wed; how all the winter long 4.275. they passed in revel and voluptuous ease 4.276. to dalliance given o'er; naught heeding now 4.277. of crown or kingdom—shameless! lust-enslaved! 4.278. Such tidings broadcast on the lips of men 4.466. She said. But he, obeying Jove's decree 4.467. gazed steadfastly away; and in his heart 4.468. with strong repression crushed his cruel pain; 4.469. then thus the silence broke: “O Queen, not one 4.470. of my unnumbered debts so strongly urged 4.471. would I gainsay. Elissa's memory 4.472. will be my treasure Iong as memory holds 4.473. or breath of life is mine. Hear my brief plea! 4.557. rose from his bosom, yet no whit did fail 4.558. to do the will of Heaven, but of his fleet 4.559. resumed command. The Trojans on the shore 4.560. ply well their task and push into the sea 4.561. the lofty ships. Now floats the shining keel 4.562. and oars they bring all leafy from the grove 4.563. with oak half-hewn, so hurried was the flight. 4.564. Behold them how they haste—from every gate 4.565. forth-streaming!—just as when a heap of corn 4.566. is thronged with ants, who, knowing winter nigh 4.567. refill their granaries; the long black line 4.568. runs o'er the levels, and conveys the spoil 4.569. in narrow pathway through the grass; a part 4.570. with straining and assiduous shoulder push 4.571. the kernels huge; a part array the file 4.572. and whip the laggards on; their busy track 5.104. and all the warrior youth like emblems wore. 5.105. Then in th' attendant throng conspicuous 5.106. with thousands at his side, the hero moved 5.107. from place of council to his father's tomb. 5.108. There on the ground he poured libation due 5.109. two beakers of good wine, of sweet milk two 5.110. two of the victim's blood—and scattered flowers 5.111. of saddest purple stain, while thus he prayed: 5.112. “Hail, hallowed sire! And hail, ye ashes dear 5.113. of him I vainly saved! O soul and shade 5.114. of my blest father! Heaven to us denied 5.115. to find together that predestined land 5.116. of Italy, or our Ausonian stream 5.117. of Tiber—ah! but where?” He scarce had said 5.118. when from the central shrine a gliding snake 5.119. coiled seven-fold in seven spirals wide 5.120. twined round the tomb and trailed innocuous o'er 5.121. the very altars; his smooth back was flecked 5.122. with green and azure, and his changeful scales 5.123. gleamed golden, as the cloud-born rainbow flings 5.124. its thousand colors from th' opposing sun. 5.125. Aeneas breathless watched the serpent wind 5.126. among the bowls and cups of polished rim 5.127. tasting the sacred feast; where, having fed 5.128. back to the tomb all harmless it withdrew. 5.129. Then with new zeal his sacrifice he brings 5.130. in honor of his sire; for he must deem 5.131. that serpent the kind genius of the place 5.132. or of his very father's present shade 5.133. ome creature ministrant. Two lambs he slew 5.134. the wonted way, two swine, and, sable-hued 5.135. the yoke of bulls; from shallow bowl he poured 5.136. libation of the grape, and called aloud 5.137. on great Anchises' spirit, and his shade 5.138. from Acheron set free. Then all the throng 5.139. each from his separate store, heap up the shrines 5.140. with victims slain; some range in order fair 5.141. the brazen cauldrons; or along the grass 5.142. cattered at ease, hold o'er the embers bright 5.144. Arrived the wished-for day; through cloudless sky 5.145. the coursers of the Sun's bright-beaming car 5.146. bore upward the ninth morn. The neighboring folk 5.147. thronged eager to the shore; some hoped to see 5.148. Aeneas and his warriors, others fain 5.149. would their own prowess prove in bout and game. 5.150. Conspicuous lie the rewards, ranged in sight 5.151. in the mid-circus; wreaths of laurel green 5.152. the honored tripod, coronals of palm 5.153. for conquerors' brows, accoutrements of war 5.154. rare robes of purple stain, and generous weight 5.155. of silver and of gold. The trumpet's call 5.157. First, side by side, with sturdy, rival oars 5.158. four noble galleys, pride of all the fleet 5.159. come forward to contend. The straining crew 5.160. of Mnestheus bring his speedy Pristis on, — 5.161. Mnestheus in Italy erelong the sire 5.162. of Memmius' noble line. Brave Gyas guides 5.163. his vast Chimaera, a colossal craft 5.164. a floating city, by a triple row 5.165. of Dardan sailors manned, whose banks of oars 5.166. in triple order rise. Sergestus, he 5.167. of whom the Sergian house shall after spring 5.168. rides in his mighty Centaur. Next in line 5.169. on sky-blue Scylla proud Cloanthus rides — 5.171. Fronting the surf-beat shore, far out at sea 5.172. rises a rock, which under swollen waves 5.173. lies buffeted unseen, when wintry storms 5.174. mantle the stars; but when the deep is calm 5.175. lifts silently above the sleeping wave 5.176. its level field,—a place where haunt and play 5.177. flocks of the sea-birds, Iovers of the sun. 5.178. Here was the goal; and here Aeneas set 5.179. a green-leaved flex-tree, to be a mark 5.180. for every captain's eye, from whence to veer 5.181. the courses of their ships in sweeping curves 5.182. and speed them home. Now places in the line 5.183. are given by lot. Upon the lofty sterns 5.184. the captains ride, in beautiful array 5.185. of Tyriao purple and far-flaming gold; 5.186. the crews are poplar-crowned, the shoulders bare 5.187. rubbed well with glittering oil; their straining arms 5.188. make long reach to the oar, as on the thwarts 5.189. they sit attentive, listening for the call 5.190. of the loud trumpet; while with pride and fear 5.191. their hot hearts throb, impassioned for renown. 5.192. Soon pealed the signal clear; from all the line 5.193. instant the galleys bounded, and the air 5.194. rang to the rowers, shouting, while their arms 5.195. pulled every inch and flung the waves in foam; 5.196. deep cut the rival strokes; the surface fair 5.197. yawned wide beneath their blades and cleaving keels. 5.198. Not swifter scour the chariots o'er the plain 5.199. ped headlong from the line behind their teams 5.200. of mated coursers, while each driver shakes 5.201. loose, rippling reins above his plunging pairs 5.202. and o'er the lash leans far. With loud applause 5.203. vociferous and many an urgent cheer 5.204. the woodlands rang, and all the concave shores 5.205. back from the mountains took the Trojan cry 5.206. in answering song. Forth-flying from his peers 5.207. while all the crowd acclaims, sped Gyas' keel 5.208. along the outmost wave. Cloanthus next 5.209. pushed hard upon, with stronger stroke of oars 5.210. but heavier ship. At equal pace behind 5.211. the Pristis and the Centaur fiercely strive 5.212. for the third place. Now Pristis seems to lead 5.213. now mightier Centaur past her flies, then both 5.214. ride on together, prow with prow, and cleave 5.215. long lines of foaming furrow with swift keels. 5.216. Soon near the rock they drew, and either ship 5.217. was making goal,—when Gyas, in the lead 5.218. and winner of the half-course, Ioudly hailed 5.219. menoetes, the ship's pilot: “Why so far 5.220. to starboard, we? Keep her head round this way! 5.221. Hug shore! Let every oar-blade almost graze 5.222. that reef to larboard! Let the others take 5.223. the deep-sea course outside!” But while he spoke 5.224. Menoetes, dreading unknown rocks below 5.225. veered off to open sea. “Why steer so wide? 5.226. Round to the rock, Menoetes!” Gyas roared, — 5.227. again in vain, for looking back he saw 5.228. cloanthus hard astern, and ever nearer 5.229. who, in a trice, betwixt the booming reef 5.230. and Gyas' galley, lightly forward thrust 5.231. the beak of Scylla to the inside course 5.232. and, quickly taking lead, flew past the goal 5.233. to the smooth seas beyond. Then wrathful grief 5.234. flamed in the warrior's heart, nor was his cheek 5.235. unwet with tears; and, reckless utterly 5.236. of his own honor and his comrades, lives 5.237. he hurled poor, slack Menoetes from the poop 5.238. headlong upon the waters, while himself 5.239. pilot and master both, the helm assuming 5.240. urged on his crew, and landward took his way. 5.241. But now, with heavy limbs that hardly won 5.242. his rescue from the deep, engulfing wave 5.243. up the rude rock graybeard Menoetes climbed 5.244. with garment dripping wet, and there dropped down 5.245. upon the cliff's dry top. With laughter loud 5.246. the Trojan crews had watched him plunging, swimming 5.247. and now to see his drink of bitter brine 5.249. But Mnestheus and Sergestus, coming last 5.250. have joyful hope enkindled in each heart 5.251. to pass the laggard Gyas. In the lead 5.252. Sergestus' ship shoots forth; and to the rock 5.253. runs boldly nigh; but not his whole long keel 5.254. may pass his rival; the projecting beak 5.255. is followed fast by Pristis' emulous prow. 5.256. Then, striding straight amidships through his crew 5.257. thus Mnestheus urged them on: “O Hector's friends! 5.258. Whom in the dying hours of Troy I chose 5.259. for followers! Now stand ye to your best! 5.260. Put forth the thews of valor that ye showed 5.261. in the Gaetulian Syrtes, or that sea 5.262. Ionian, or where the waves race by 5.263. the Malean promontory! Mnestheus now 5.264. hopes not to be the first, nor do I strive 5.265. for victory. O Father Neptune, give 5.266. that garland where thou wilt! But O, the shame 5.267. if we are last! Endure it not, my men! 5.268. The infamy refuse!” So, bending low 5.269. they enter the home-stretch. Beneath their stroke 5.270. the brass-decked galley throbs, and under her 5.271. the sea-floor drops away. On, on they fly! 5.272. Parched are the panting lips, and sweat in streams 5.273. pours down their giant sides; but lucky chance 5.274. brought the proud heroes what their honor craved. 5.275. For while Sergestus furiously drove 5.276. his ship's beak toward the rock, and kept inside 5.277. the scanty passage, by his evil star 5.278. he grounded on the jutting reef; the cliffs 5.279. rang with the blow, and his entangled oars 5.280. grated along the jagged granite, while 5.281. the prow hung wrecked and helpless. With loud cry 5.282. upsprang the sailors, while the ship stood still 5.283. and pushed off with long poles and pointed iron 5.284. or snatched the smashed oars from the whirling tide. 5.285. Mnestheus exults; and, roused to keener strife 5.286. by happy fortune, with a quicker stroke 5.287. of each bright rank of oars, and with the breeze 5.288. his prayer implored, skims o'er the obedient wave 5.289. and sweeps the level main. Not otherwise 5.290. a startled dove, emerging o'er the fields 5.291. from secret cavern in the crannied hill 5.292. where her safe house and pretty nestlings lie 5.293. oars from her nest, with whirring wings—but soon 5.294. through the still sky she takes her path of air 5.295. on pinions motionless. So Pristis sped 5.296. with Mnestheus, cleaving her last stretch of sea 5.297. by her own impulse wafted. She outstripped 5.298. Sergestus first; for he upon the reef 5.299. fought with the breakers, desperately shouting 5.300. for help, for help in vain, with broken oars 5.301. contriving to move on. Then Mnestheus ran 5.302. past Gyas, in Chimaera's ponderous hulk 5.303. of pilot now bereft; at last remains 5.304. Cloanthus his sole peer, whom he pursues 5.305. with a supreme endeavor. From the shore 5.306. burst echoing cheers that spur him to the chase 5.307. and wild applause makes all the welkin ring. 5.308. The leaders now with eager souls would scorn 5.309. to Iose their glory, and faint-hearted fail 5.310. to grasp a prize half-won, but fain would buy 5.311. honor with life itself; the followers too 5.312. are flushed with proud success, and feel them strong 5.313. because their strength is proven. Both ships now 5.314. with indistinguishable prows had sped 5.315. to share one prize,—but with uplifted hands 5.316. pread o'er the sea, Cloanthus, suppliant 5.317. called on the gods to bless his votive prayer: 5.318. “Ye gods who rule the waves, whose waters be 5.319. my pathway now; for you on yonder strand 5.320. a white bull at the altar shall be slain 5.321. in grateful tribute for a granted vow; 5.322. and o'er the salt waves I will scatter far 5.323. the entrails, and outpour the flowing wine.” 5.324. He spoke; and from the caverns under sea 5.325. Phorcus and virgin Panopea heard 5.326. and all the sea-nymphs' choir; while with strong hand 5.327. the kindly God of Havens rose and thrust 5.328. the gliding ship along, that swifter flew 5.329. than south wind, or an arrow from the string 5.331. Aeneas then, assembling all to hear 5.332. by a far-sounding herald's voice proclaimed 5.333. Cloanthus victor, and arrayed his brows 5.334. with the green laurel-garland; to the crews 5.335. three bulls, at choice, were given, and plenteous wine 5.336. and talent-weight of silver; to the chiefs 5.337. illustrious gifts beside; the victor had 5.338. a gold-embroidered mantle with wide band 5.339. of undulant Meliboean purple rare 5.340. where, pictured in the woof, young Ganymede 5.341. through Ida's forest chased the light-foot deer 5.342. with javelin; all flushed and panting he. 5.343. But lo! Jove's thunder-bearing eagle fell 5.344. and his strong talons snatched from Ida far 5.345. the royal boy, whose aged servitors 5.346. reached helpless hands to heaven; his faithful hound 5.347. bayed fiercely at the air. To him whose worth 5.348. the second place had won, Aeneas gave 5.349. a smooth-linked golden corselet, triple-chained 5.350. of which his own victorious hand despoiled 5.351. Demoleos, by the swift, embattled stream 5.352. of Simois, under Troy,—and bade it be 5.353. a glory and defence on valor's field; 5.354. carce might the straining shoulders of two slaves 5.355. Phegeus and Sagaris, the load endure 5.356. yet oft Demoleos in this armor dressed 5.357. charged down full speed on routed hosts of Troy . 5.358. The third gift was two cauldrons of wrought brass 5.359. and bowls of beaten silver, cunningly 5.360. embossed with sculpture fair. Bearing such gifts 5.361. th' exultant victors onward moved, each brow 5.362. bound with a purple fillet. But behold! 5.363. Sergestus, from the grim rock just dragged off 5.364. by cunning toil, one halting rank of oars 5.365. left of his many lost, comes crawling in 5.366. with vanquished ship, a mockery to all. 5.367. As when a serpent, on the highway caught 5.368. ome brazen wheel has crushed, or traveller 5.369. with heavy-smiting blow left half alive 5.370. and mangled by a stone; in vain he moves 5.371. in writhing flight; a part is lifted high 5.372. with hissing throat and angry, glittering eyes; 5.373. but by the wounded part a captive still 5.374. he knots him fold on fold: with such a track 5.375. the maimed ship labored slow; but by her sails 5.376. he still made way, and with full canvas on 5.377. arrived at land. Aeneas then bestowed 5.378. a boon upon Sergestus, as was meet 5.379. for reward of the ship in safety brought 5.380. with all its men; a fair slave was the prize 5.381. the Cretan Pholoe, well taught to weave 5.383. Then good Aeneas, the ship-contest o'er 5.384. turned to a wide green valley, circled round 5.385. with clasp of wood-clad hills, wherein was made 5.386. an amphitheatre; entering with a throng 5.387. of followers, the hero took his seat 5.388. in mid-arena on a lofty mound. 5.389. For the fleet foot-race, now, his summons flies, — 5.390. he offers gifts, and shows the rewards due. 5.391. The mingling youth of Troy and Sicily 5.392. hastened from far. Among the foremost came 5.393. the comrades Nisus and Euryalus 5.394. Euryalus for beauty's bloom renowned 5.395. Nisus for loyal love; close-following these 5.396. Diores strode, a prince of Priam's line; 5.397. then Salius and Patron, who were bred 5.398. in Acaria and Arcady; 5.399. then two Sicilian warriors, Helymus 5.400. and Panopes, both sylvan bred and born 5.401. comrades of King Acestes; after these 5.402. the multitude whom Fame forgets to tell. 5.403. Aeneas, so surrounded, thus spake forth: 5.404. “Hear what I purpose, and with joy receive! 5.405. of all your company, not one departs 5.406. with empty hand. The Cretan javelins 5.407. bright-tipped with burnished steel, and battle-axe 5.408. adorned with graven silver, these shall be 5.409. the meed of all. The three first at the goal 5.410. hall bind their foreheads with fair olive green 5.411. and win the rewards due. The first shall lead 5.412. victorious, yon rich-bridled steed away; 5.413. this Amazonian quiver, the next prize 5.414. well-stocked with Thracian arrows; round it goes 5.415. a baldrick broad and golden,—in its clasp 5.416. a lustrous gem. The third man goes away 5.418. They heard, and took their places. The loud horn 5.419. gave signal, and impetuous from the line 5.420. wift as a bursting storm they sped away 5.421. eyes fixed upon the goal. Far in advance 5.422. Nisus shot forward, swifter than the winds 5.423. or winged thunderbolt; the next in course 5.424. next, but out-rivalled far, was Salius 5.425. and after him a space, Euryalus 5.426. came third; him Helymus was hard upon; 5.427. and, look! Diores follows, heel on heel 5.428. close at his shoulder—if the race be long 5.429. he sure must win, or claim a doubtful prize. 5.430. Now at the last stretch, spent and panting, all 5.431. pressed to the goal, when in a slime of blood 5.432. Nisus, hard fate! slipped down, where late the death 5.433. of victims slain had drenched the turf below. 5.434. Here the young victor, with his triumph flushed 5.435. lost foothold on the yielding ground, and plunged 5.436. face forward in the pool of filth and gore; 5.437. but not of dear Euryalus was he 5.438. forgetful then, nor heedless of his friend; 5.439. but rising from the mire he hurled himself 5.440. in Salius' way; so he in equal plight 5.441. rolled in the filthy slough. Euryalus 5.442. leaped forth, the winner of the race by gift 5.443. of his true friend, and flying to the goal 5.444. tood first, by many a favoring shout acclaimed. 5.445. Next Helymus ran in; and, for the third, last prize 5.446. Diores. But the multitude now heard 5.447. the hollowed hill-side ringing with wild wrath 5.448. from Salius, clamoring where the chieftains sate 5.449. for restitution of his stolen prize 5.450. lost by a cheat. But general favor smiles 5.451. upon Euryalus, whose beauteous tears 5.452. commend him much, and nobler seems the worth 5.453. of valor clothed in youthful shape so fair. 5.454. Diores, too, assists the victor's claim 5.455. with loud appeal—he too has won a prize 5.456. and vainly holds his last place, if the first 5.457. to Salius fall. Aeneas then replied: 5.458. “Your gifts, my gallant youths, remain secure. 5.459. None can re-judge the prize. But to console 5.460. the misadventure of a blameless friend 5.461. is in my power.” Therewith to Salius 5.462. an Afric lion's monstrous pelt he gave 5.463. with ponderous mane, the claws o'erlaid with gold. 5.464. But Nisus cried: “If such a gift be found 5.465. for less than victory, and men who fall 5.466. are worthy so much sorrow, pray, what prize 5.467. hall Nisus have? For surely I had won 5.468. the proudest of the garlands, if one stroke 5.469. of inauspicious fortune had not fallen 5.470. on Salius and me.” So saying, he showed 5.471. his smeared face and his sorry limbs befouled 5.472. with mire and slime. Then laughed the gracious sire 5.473. and bade a shield be brought, the cunning work 5.474. of Didymaon, which the Greeks tore down 5.475. from Neptune's temple; with this noble gift 5.477. The foot-race over and the gifts disbursed 5.478. “Come forth!” he cries, “if any in his heart 5.479. have strength and valor, let him now pull on 5.480. the gauntlets and uplift his thong-bound arms 5.481. in challenge.” For the reward of this fight 5.482. a two-fold gift he showed: the victor's meed 5.483. a bullock decked and gilded; but a sword 5.484. and glittering helmet to console the fallen. 5.485. Straightway, in all his pride of giant strength 5.486. Dares Ioomed up, and wondering murmurs ran 5.487. along the gazing crowd; for he alone 5.488. was wont to match with Paris, he it was 5.489. met Butes, the huge-bodied champion 5.490. boasting the name and race of Amycus 5.491. Bythinian-born; him felled he at a blow 5.492. and stretched him dying on the tawny sand. 5.493. Such Dares was, who now held high his head 5.494. fierce for the fray, bared both his shoulders broad 5.495. lunged out with left and right, and beat the air. 5.496. Who shall his rival be? of all the throng 5.497. not one puts on the gauntlets, or would face 5.498. the hero's challenge. Therefore, striding forth 5.499. believing none now dare but yield the palm 5.500. he stood before Aeneas, and straightway 5.501. eized with his left hand the bull's golden horn 5.502. and cried, “O goddess-born, if no man dares 5.503. to risk him in this fight, how Iong delay? 5.504. how Iong beseems it I should stand and wait? 5.505. Bid me bear off my prize.” The Trojans all 5.506. murmured assent, and bade the due award 5.507. of promised gift. But with a brow severe 5.508. Acestes to Entellus at his side 5.509. addressed upbraiding words, where they reclined 5.510. on grassy bank and couch of pleasant green: 5.511. “O my Entellus, in the olden days 5.512. bravest among the mighty, but in vain! 5.513. Endurest thou to see yon reward won 5.514. without a blow? Where, prithee, is that god 5.515. who taught thee? Are thy tales of Eryx vain? 5.516. Does all Sicilia praise thee? Is thy roof 5.517. with trophies hung?” The other in reply: 5.518. “My jealous honor and good name yield not 5.519. to fear. But age, so cold and slow to move 5.520. makes my blood laggard, and my ebbing powers 5.521. in all my body are but slack and chill. 5.522. O, if I had what yonder ruffian boasts— 5.523. my own proud youth once more! I would not ask 5.524. the fair bull for a prize, nor to the lists 5.525. in search of gifts come forth.” So saying, he threw 5.526. into the mid-arena a vast pair 5.527. of ponderous gauntlets, which in former days 5.528. fierce Eryx for his fights was wont to bind 5.529. on hand and arm, with the stiff raw-hide thong. 5.530. All marvelled; for a weight of seven bulls' hides 5.531. was pieced with lead and iron. Dares stared 5.532. astonished, and step after step recoiled; 5.533. high-souled Anchises' son, this way and that 5.534. turned o'er the enormous coil of knots and thongs; 5.535. then with a deep-drawn breath the veteran spoke: 5.536. “O, that thy wondering eyes had seen the arms 5.537. of Hercules, and what his gauntlets were! 5.538. Would thou hadst seen the conflict terrible 5.539. upon this self-same shore! These arms were borne 5.540. by Eryx . Look; thy brother's!—spattered yet 5.541. with blood, with dashed-out brains! In these he stood 5.542. when he matched Hercules. I wore them oft 5.543. when in my pride and prime, ere envious age 5.544. hed frost upon my brows. But if these arms 5.545. be of our Trojan Dares disapproved 5.546. if good Aeneas rules it so, and King 5.547. Acestes wills it, let us offer fight 5.548. on even terms. Let Eryx ' bull's-hide go. 5.549. Tremble no more! But strip those gauntlets off — 5.550. fetched here from Troy .” So saying, he dropped down 5.551. the double-folded mantle from his shoulders 5.552. tripped bare the huge joints, the huge arms and thews 5.553. and towered gigantic in the midmost ring. 5.554. Anchises' son then gave two equal pairs 5.555. of gauntlets, and accoutred with like arms 5.556. both champions. Each lifted him full height 5.557. on tiptoe; each with mien unterrified 5.558. held both fists high in air, and drew his head 5.559. far back from blows assailing. Then they joined 5.560. in struggle hand to hand, and made the fray 5.561. each moment fiercer. One was light of foot 5.562. and on his youth relied; the other strong 5.563. in bulk of every limb, but tottering 5.564. on sluggish knees, while all his body shook 5.565. with labor of his breath. Without avail 5.566. they rained their blows, and on each hollow side 5.567. each sounding chest, the swift, reverberate strokes 5.568. fell without pause; around their ears and brows 5.569. came blow on blow, and with relentless shocks 5.570. the smitten jaws cracked loud. Entellus stands 5.571. unshaken, and, the self-same posture keeping 5.572. only by body-movement or quick eye 5.573. parries attack. Dares (like one in siege 5.574. against a mountain-citadel, who now will drive 5.575. with ram and engine at the craggy wall 5.576. now wait in full-armed watch beneath its towers) 5.577. tries manifold approach, most craftily 5.578. invests each point of vantage, and renews 5.579. his unsuccessful, ever various war. 5.580. Then, rising to the stroke, Entellus poised 5.581. aloft his ponderous right; but, quick of eye 5.582. the other the descending wrath foresaw 5.583. and nimbly slipped away; Entellus so 5.584. wasted his stroke on air, and, self-o'erthrown 5.585. dropped prone to earth his monstrous length along 5.586. as when on Erymanth or Ida falls 5.587. a hollowed pine from giant roots uptorn. 5.588. Alike the Teucrian and Trinacrian throng 5.589. hout wildly; while Acestes, pitying, hastes 5.590. to lift his gray companion. But, unchecked 5.591. undaunted by his fall, the champion brave 5.592. rushed fiercer to the fight, his strength now roused 5.593. by rage, while shame and courage confident 5.594. kindle his soul; impetuous he drives 5.595. Dares full speed all round the ring, with blows 5.596. redoubled right and left. No stop or stay 5.597. gives he, but like a storm of rattling hail 5.598. upon a house-top, so from each huge hand 5.600. Then Sire Aeneas willed to make a stay 5.601. to so much rage, nor let Entellus' soul 5.602. flame beyond bound, but bade the battle pause 5.603. and, rescuing weary Dares, thus he spoke 5.841. from Beroe sick, and left her grieving sore 5.842. that she, she only, had no gift to bring 5.843. of mournful honor to Anchises' shade.” 5.844. She spoke. The women with ill-boding eyes 5.845. looked on the ships. Their doubting hearts were torn 5.846. 'twixt tearful passion for the beauteous isle 5.847. their feet then trod, and that prophetic call 5.848. of Fate to lands unknown. Then on wide wings 5.849. oared Iris into heaven, and through the clouds 5.850. clove a vast arch of light. With wonder dazed 5.851. the women in a shrieking frenzy rose 5.852. took embers from the hearth-stones, stole the fires 5.853. upon the altars—faggots, branches, brands — 5.854. and rained them on the ships. The god of fire 5.855. through thwarts and oars and bows of painted fir 5.856. ran in unbridled flame. Swift to the tomb 5.857. of Sire Anchises, to the circus-seats 5.858. the messenger Eumelus flew, to bring 5.859. news of the ships on fire; soon every eye 5.860. the clouds of smoke and hovering flame could see. 5.861. Ascanius, who had led with smiling brow 6.384. These were but shapes and shadows sweeping by 6.386. Hence the way leads to that Tartarean stream 6.387. of Acheron, whose torrent fierce and foul 6.388. Disgorges in Cocytus all its sands. 6.389. A ferryman of gruesome guise keeps ward 6.390. Upon these waters,—Charon, foully garbed 6.391. With unkempt, thick gray beard upon his chin 6.392. And staring eyes of flame; a mantle coarse 6.393. All stained and knotted, from his shoulder falls 6.394. As with a pole he guides his craft, tends sail 6.395. And in the black boat ferries o'er his dead;— 6.396. Old, but a god's old age looks fresh and strong. 6.397. To those dim shores the multitude streams on— 7.415. the womb of Hecuba with burning brand 7.416. and brought forth nuptial fires; but Venus, too 7.417. uch offspring bore, a second Paris, who 7.419. So saying, with aspect terrible she sped 7.420. earthward her way; and called from gloom of hell 7.421. Alecto, woeful power, from cloudy throne 7.422. among the Furies, where her heart is fed 7.423. with horrid wars, wrath, vengeance, treason foul 7.424. and fatal feuds. Her father Pluto loathes 7.425. the creature he engendered, and with hate 7.426. her hell-born sister-fiends the monster view. 7.427. A host of shapes she wears, and many a front 7.428. of frowning black brows viper-garlanded. 7.429. Juno to her this goading speech addressed: 7.430. “O daughter of dark Night, arouse for me 7.431. thy wonted powers and our task begin! 7.432. Lest now my glory fail, my royal name 7.433. be vanquished, while Aeneas and his crew 7.434. cheat with a wedlock bond the Latin King 7.435. and seize Italia 's fields. Thou canst thrust on 7.436. two Ioving brothers to draw sword and slay 7.437. and ruin homes with hatred, calling in 7.438. the scourge of Furies and avenging fires. 7.439. A thousand names thou bearest, and thy ways 7.440. of ruin multiply a thousand-fold. 7.441. Arouse thy fertile breast! Go, rend in twain 7.442. this plighted peace! Breed calumnies and sow 7.443. causes of battle, till yon warrior hosts 7.445. Straightway Alecto, through whose body flows 7.446. the Gorgon poison, took her viewless way 7.447. to Latium and the lofty walls and towers 7.448. of the Laurentian King. Crouching she sate 7.449. in silence on the threshold of the bower 7.450. where Queen Amata in her fevered soul 7.451. pondered, with all a woman's wrath and fear 7.452. upon the Trojans and the marriage-suit 7.453. of Turnus. From her Stygian hair the fiend 7.454. a single serpent flung, which stole its way 7.455. to the Queen's very heart, that, frenzy-driven 7.456. he might on her whole house confusion pour. 7.457. Betwixt her smooth breast and her robe it wound 7.458. unfelt, unseen, and in her wrathful mind 7.459. instilled its viper soul. Like golden chain 7.460. around her neck it twined, or stretched along 7.461. the fillets on her brow, or with her hair 7.462. enwrithing coiled; then on from limb to limb 7.463. lipped tortuous. Yet though the venom strong 7.464. thrilled with its first infection every vein 7.465. and touched her bones with fire, she knew it not 7.466. nor yielded all her soul, but made her plea 8.32. of flickering light that leaps from wall to wall 8.33. or, skyward lifted in ethereal flight 8.34. glances along some rich-wrought, vaulted dome. 8.608. ummoned Evander. From his couch arose 8.609. the royal sire, and o'er his aged frame 8.610. a tunic threw, tying beneath his feet 8.611. the Tuscan sandals: an Arcadian sword 8.612. girt at his left, was over one shoulder slung 8.613. his cloak of panther trailing from behind. 8.614. A pair of watch-dogs from the lofty door 8.615. ran close, their lord attending, as he sought 8.616. his guest Aeneas; for his princely soul 8.617. remembered faithfully his former word 8.618. and promised gift. Aeneas with like mind 8.619. was stirring early. King Evander's son 8.620. Pallas was at his side; Achates too 8.621. accompanied his friend. All these conjoin 8.622. in hand-clasp and good-morrow, taking seats 8.623. in midcourt of the house, and give the hour 8.625. “Great leader of the Teucrians, while thy life 9.644. Th' undaunted Trojans stood in battle-line 9.645. along the wall to leftward (for the right 9.646. the river-front defended) keeping guard 9.647. on the broad moat; upon the ramparts high 9.648. ad-eyed they stood, and shuddered as they saw 9.649. the hero-faces thrust aloft; too well 9.651. On restless pinions to the trembling town 9.652. had voiceful Rumor hied, and to the ears 9.653. of that lone mother of Euryalus 9.654. relentless flown. Through all her feeble frame 9.655. the chilling sorrow sped. From both her hands 9.656. dropped web and shuttle; she flew shrieking forth 9.657. ill-fated mother! and with tresses torn 9.658. to the wide ramparts and the battle-line 10.82. and keep that spot of earth where once was Troy ! 10.242. to him had Populonia consigned 10.243. (His mother-city, she) six hundred youth 10.326. Lo, thy Ascanius lies close besieged 10.327. in moated walls, assailed by threatening arms 10.330. tands at the place appointed. Turnus means 10.606. canned him from far, hurling defiant words 10.607. in answer to the King's. “My honor now 10.608. hall have the royal trophy of this war 10.609. or glorious death. For either fortune fair 10.610. my sire is ready. Threaten me no more!” 10.611. So saying, to the midmost space he strode 10.612. and in Arcadian hearts the blood stood still. 10.613. Swift from his chariot Turnus leaped, and ran 10.614. to closer fight. As when some lion sees 10.615. from his far mountain-lair a raging bull 10.616. that sniffs the battle from the grassy field 10.617. and down the steep he flies—such picture showed 10.618. grim Turnus as he came. But when he seemed 10.619. within a spear's cast, Pallas opened fight 10.620. expecting Fortune's favor to the brave 10.621. in such unequal match; and thus he prayed: 10.622. “O, by my hospitable father's roof 10.623. where thou didst enter as a stranger-guest 10.624. hear me, Alcides, and give aid divine 10.625. to this great deed. Let Turnus see these hands 10.626. trip from his half-dead breast the bloody spoil! 10.627. and let his eyes in death endure to see 10.628. his conqueror!” Alcides heard the youth: 10.629. but prisoned in his heart a deep-drawn sigh 10.630. and shed vain tears; for Jove, the King and Sire, . 10.631. poke with benigt accents to his son: 10.632. “To each his day is given. Beyond recall 10.633. man's little time runs by: but to prolong 10.634. life's glory by great deeds is virtue's power. 10.635. Beneath the lofty walls of fallen Troy 10.636. fell many a son of Heaven. Yea, there was slain 10.637. Sarpedon, my own offspring. Turnus too 10.639. of his appointed span.” So speaking, Jove 10.640. turned from Rutulia's war his eyes away. 10.641. But Pallas hurled his lance with might and main 10.642. and from its hollow scabbard flashed his sword. 10.643. The flying shaft touched where the plated steel 10.644. over the shoulders rose, and worked its way 10.645. through the shield's rim—then falling, glanced aside 10.646. from Turnus' giant body. Turnus then 10.647. poised, without haste, his iron-pointed spear 10.648. and, launching it on Pallas, cried, “Look now 10.649. will not this shaft a good bit deeper drive?” 10.650. He said: and through the mid-boss of the shield 10.651. teel scales and brass with bull's-hide folded round 10.652. the quivering spear-point crashed resistlessly 10.653. and through the corselet's broken barrier 10.654. pierced Pallas' heart. The youth plucked out in vain 10.655. the hot shaft from the wound; his life and blood 10.656. together ebbed away, as sinking prone 10.657. on his rent side he fell; above him rang 10.658. his armor; and from lips with blood defiled 10.659. he breathed his last upon his foeman's ground. 10.660. Over him Turnus stood: “Arcadians all,” 10.661. He cried, “take tidings of this feat of arms 10.662. to King Evander. With a warrior's wage 10.663. his Pallas I restore, and freely grant 10.664. what glory in a hero's tomb may lie 10.665. or comfort in a grave. They dearly pay 10.666. who bid Aeneas welcome at their board.” 10.667. So saying, with his left foot he held down 10.668. the lifeless form, and raised the heavy weight 10.669. of graven belt, which pictured forth that crime 10.670. of youthful company by treason slain 10.671. all on their wedding night, in bridal bowers 10.672. to horrid murder given,—which Clonus, son 10.673. of Eurytus, had wrought in lavish gold; 10.674. this Turnus in his triumph bore away 10.675. exulting in the spoil. O heart of man 10.676. not knowing doom, nor of events to be! 10.677. Nor, being lifted up, to keep thy bounds 10.678. in prosperous days! To Turnus comes the hour 10.679. when he would fain a prince's ransom give 10.680. had Pallas passed unscathed, and will bewail 10.681. cuch spoil of victory. With weeping now 10.682. and lamentations Ioud his comrades lay 10.683. young Pallas on his shield, and thronging close 10.684. carry him homeward with a mournful song: 10.685. alas! the sorrow and the glorious gain 10.686. thy sire shall have in thee. For one brief day 10.687. bore thee to battle and now bears away; 10.691. tells him his followers' peril, and implores 10.692. prompt help for routed Troy . His ready sword 10.707. clean over him; then at Aeneas' knees 10.708. he crouched and clung with supplicating cry: 10.709. “O, by thy father's spirit, by thy hope 10.710. in young Iulus, I implore thee, spare 10.711. for son and father's sake this life of mine. 10.712. A lofty house have I, where safely hid 10.713. are stores of graven silver and good weight 10.714. of wrought and unwrought gold. The fate of war 10.715. hangs not on me; nor can one little life 10.716. thy victory decide.” In answer spoke 10.717. Aeneas: “Hoard the silver and the gold 10.718. for thy own sons. Such bartering in war 10.720. Thus bids Anchises' shade, Iulus—thus!” 10.721. He spoke: and, grasping with his mighty left 10.722. the helmet of the vainly suppliant foe 10.723. bent back the throat and drove hilt-deep his sword. 10.724. A little space removed, Haemonides 10.725. priest of Phoebus and pale Trivia, stood 10.726. whose ribboned brows a sacred fillet bound: 10.727. in shining vesture he, and glittering arms. 10.728. Him too the Trojan met, repelled, and towered 10.729. above the fallen form, o'ermantling it 10.730. in mortal shade; Serestus bore away 10.743. (Him Dryope, the nymph, to Faunus bore) 10.758. though all in Turnus' van; and Numa bold 10.759. and Camers tawny-tressed, the son and heir 10.767. against Jove's thunder;—so Aeneas raged |
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