Aeneid — Book 6 — Gadsden Classics

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The Sibyl The Golden Bough The Descent The Fields of Mourning The Heroes and Tartarus The Blessed Groves The Pageant of Rome Marcellus and the Gates of Ivory

Virgil

Book 6

The Sibyl

Sic fatur lacrimans, classique immittit habenas,

After such words and tears, he flung free rein

et tandem Euboïcis Cumarum adlabitur oris.

To the swift fleet, which sped along the wave

Obvertunt pelago proras; tum dente tenaci

To old Euboean Cumae's sacred shore.

ancora fundabat naves, et litora curvae

They veer all prows to sea; the anchor fluke

5 praetexunt puppes. Iuvenum manus emicat ardens

Makes each ship sure, and shading the long strand

litus in Hesperium; quaerit pars semina flammae

The rounded sterns jut o'er. Impetuously

abstrusa in venis silicis, pars densa ferarum

The eager warriors leap forth to land

tecta rapit silvas, inventaque flumina monstrat.

Upon Hesperian soil. One strikes the flint

At pius Aeneas arces, quibus altus Apollo

To find the seed-spark hidden in its veins;

10 praesidet, horrendaeque procul secreta Sibyllae

One breaks the thick-branched trees, and steals away

antrum immane petit, magnum cui mentem animumque

The shelter where the woodland creatures bide;

Delius inspirat vates, aperitque futura.

One leads his mates where living waters flow.

Iam subeunt Triviae lucos atque aurea tecta.

Aeneas, servant of the gods, ascends

Daedalus, ut fama est, fugiens Minoïa regna,

The templed hill where lofty Phoebus reigns,

15 praepetibus pennis ausus se credere caelo,

And that far-off, inviolable shrine

insuetum per iter gelidas enavit ad Arctos,

Of dread Sibylla, in stupendous cave,

Chalcidicaque levis tandem super adstitit arce.

O'er whose deep soul the god of Delos breathes

Redditus his primum terris, tibi, Phoebe, sacravit

Prophetic gifts, unfolding things to come.

remigium alarum, posuitque immania templa.

Here are pale Trivia's golden house and grove.

20 In foribus letum Androgeo: tum pendere poenas

Here Daedalus, the ancient story tells,

Cecropidae iussi—miserum!—septena quotannis

Escaping Minos' power, and having made

corpora natorum; stat ductis sortibus urna.

Hazard of heaven on far-mounting wings,

Contra elata mari respondet Gnosia tellus:

Floated to northward, a cold, trackless way,

hic crudelis amor tauri, suppostaque furto

And lightly poised, at last, o'er Cumae's towers.

25 Pasiphaë, mixtumque genus prolesque biformis

Here first to earth come down, he gave to thee

Minotaurus inest, Veneris monumenta nefandae;

His gear of wings, Apollo! and ordained

hic labor ille domus et inextricabilis error;

Vast temples to thy name and altars fair.

magnum reginae sed enim miseratus amorem

On huge bronze doors Androgeos' death was done;

Daedalus ipse dolos tecti ambagesque resolvit,

And Cecrops' children paid their debt of woe,

30 caeca regens filo vestigia. Tu quoque magnam

Where, seven and seven,—0 pitiable sight!—

partem opere in tanto, sineret dolor, Icare, haberes.

The youths and maidens wait the annual doom,

Bis conatus erat casus effingere in auro;

Drawn out by lot from yonder marble urn.

bis patriae cecidere manus. Quin protinus omnia

Beyond, above a sea, lay carven Crete:—

perlegerent oculis, ni iam praemissus Achates

The bull was there; the passion, the strange guile;

35 adforet, atque una Phoebi Triviaeque sacerdos,

And Queen Pasiphae's brute-human son,

Deiphobe Glauci, fatur quae talia regi:

The Minotaur—of monstrous loves the sign.

Non hoc ista sibi tempus spectacula poscit;

Here was the toilsome, labyrinthine maze,

nunc grege de intacto septem mactare iuvencos

Where, pitying love-lorn Ariadne's tears,

praestiterit, totidem lectas de more bidentes.

The crafty Daedalus himself betrayed

40 Talibus adfata Aenean (nec sacra morantur

The secret of his work; and gave the clue

iussa viri), Teucros vocat alta in templa sacerdos.

To guide the path of Theseus through the gloom.

Excisum Euboicae latus ingens rupis in antrum,

0 Icarus, in such well-graven scene

quo lati ducunt aditus centum, ostia centum;

How proud thy place should be! but grief forbade:

unde ruunt totidem voces, responsa Sibyllae.

Twice in pure gold a father's fingers strove

45 Ventum erat ad limen, cum virgo. Poscere fata

To shape thy fall, and twice they strove in vain.

tempus ait; deus, ecce, deus! Cui talia fanti

Aeneas long the various work would scan;

ante fores subito non voltus, non color unus,

But now Achates comes, and by his side

non comptae mansere comae; sed pectus anhelum,

Deiphobe, the Sibyl, Glaucus' child.

et rabie fera corda tument; maiorque videri,

Thus to the prince she spoke :

50 nec mortale sonans, adflata est numine quando

“Is this thine hour

iam propiore dei. Cessas in vota precesque,

To stand and wonder? Rather go obtain

Tros ait Aenea? Cessas? Neque enim ante dehiscent

From young unbroken herd the bullocks seven,

attonitae magna ora domus. Et talia fata

And seven yearling ewes, our wonted way.”

conticuit. Gelidus Teucris per dura cucurrit

Thus to Aeneas; his attendants haste

55 ossa tremor, funditque preces rex pectore ab imo:

To work her will; the priestess, calling loud,

Phoebe, graves Troiae semper miserate labores,

Gathers the Trojans to her mountain-shrine.

Dardana qui Paridis direxti tela manusque

Deep in the face of that Euboean crag

corpus in Aeacidae, magnas obeuntia terras

A cavern vast is hollowed out amain,

tot maria intravi duce te, penitusque repostas

With hundred openings, a hundred mouths,

60 Massylum gentes praetentaque Syrtibus arva,

Whence voices flow, the Sibyl's answering songs.

iam tandem Italiae fugientis prendimus oras;

While at the door they paused, the virgin cried :

hac Troiana tenus fuerit Fortuna secuta.

“Ask now thy doom!—the god! the god is nigh!”

Vos quoque Pergameae iam fas est parcere genti,

So saying, from her face its color flew,

dique deaeque omnes quibus obstitit Ilium et ingens

Her twisted locks flowed free, the heaving breast

65 gloria Dardaniae. Tuque, O sanctissima vates,

Swelled with her heart's wild blood; her stature seemed

praescia venturi, da, non indebita posco

Vaster, her accent more than mortal man,

regna meis fatis, Latio considere Teucros

As all th' oncoming god around her breathed :

errantisque deos agitataque numina Troiae.

“On with thy vows and prayers, 0 Trojan, on!

Tum Phoebo et Triviae solido de marmore templum

For only unto prayer this haunted cave

70 instituam, festosque dies de nomine Phoebi.

May its vast lips unclose.” She spake no more.

Te quoque magna manent regnis penetralia nostris:

An icy shudder through the marrow ran

hic ego namque tuas sortes arcanaque fata,

Of the bold Trojans; while their sacred King

dicta meae genti, ponam, lectosque sacrabo,

Poured from his inmost soul this plaint and prayer :

alma, viros. Foliis tantum ne carmina manda,

“Phoebus, who ever for the woes of Troy

75 ne turbata volent rapidis ludibria ventis;

Hadst pitying eyes! who gavest deadly aim

ipsa canas oro. Finem dedit ore loquendi.

To Paris when his Dardan shaft he hurled

At, Phoebi nondum patiens, immanis in antro

On great Achilles! Thou hast guided me

bacchatur vates, magnum si pectore possit

Through many an unknown water, where the seas

excussisse deum; tanto magis ille fatigat

Break upon kingdoms vast, and to the tribes

80 os rabidum, fera corda domans, fingitque premendo.

Of the remote Massyli, whose wild land

Ostia iamque domus patuere ingentia centum

To Syrtes spreads. But now; because at last

sponte sua, vatisque ferunt responsa per auras:

I touch Hesperia's ever-fleeting bound,

O tandem magnis pelagi defuncte periclis!

May Troy's ill fate forsake me from this day!

Sed terrae graviora manent. In regna Lavini

0 gods and goddesses, beneath whose wrath

85 Dardanidae venient; mitte hanc de pectore curam;

Dardania's glory and great Ilium stood,

sed non et venisse volent. Bella, horrida bella,

Spare, for ye may, the remnant of my race!

et Thybrim multo spumantem sanguine cerno.

And thou, most holy prophetess, whose soul

Non Simois tibi, nec Xanthus, nec Dorica castra

Foreknows events to come, grant to my prayer

defuerint; alius Latio iam partus Achilles,

(Which asks no kingdom save what Fate decrees)

90 natus et ipse dea; nec Teucris addita Iuno

That I may stablish in the Latin land

usquam aberit; cum tu supplex in rebus egenis

My Trojans, my far-wandering household-gods,

quas gentes Italum aut quas non oraveris urbes!

And storm-tossed deities of fallen Troy.

Causa mali tanti coniunx iterum hospita Teucris

Then unto Phoebus and his sister pale

externique iterum thalami.

A temple all of marble shall be given,

95 Tu ne cede malis, sed contra audentior ito,

And festal days to Phoebus evermore.

qua tua te Fortuna sinet. Via prima salutis,

Thee also in my realms a spacious shrine

quod minime reris, Graia pandetur ab urbe.

Shall honor; thy dark books and holy songs

Talibus ex adyto dictis Cumaea Sibylla

I there will keep, to be my people's law;

horrendas canit ambages antroque remugit,

And thee, benignant Sibyl for all time

100 obscuris vera involvens: ea frena furenti

A company of chosen priests shall serve.

concutit, et stimulos sub pectore vertit Apollo.

O, not on leaves, light leaves, inscribe thy songs!

Ut primum cessit furor et rabida ora quierunt,

Lest, playthings of each breeze, they fly afar

incipit Aeneas heros: Non ulla laborum,

In swift confusion! Sing thyself, I pray.”

O virgo, nova mi facies inopinave surgit;

So ceased his voice;the virgin through the cave,

105 omnia praecepi atque animo mecum ante peregi.

Scarce bridled yet by Phoebus' hand divine,

Unum oro: quando hic inferni ianua regis

Ecstatic swept along, and vainly stove

dicitur, et tenebrosa palus Acheronte refuso,

To fing its potent master from her breast;

ire ad conspectum cari genitoris et ora

But he more strongly plied his rein and curb

contingat; doceas iter et sacra ostia pandas.

Upon her frenzied lips, and soon subdued

110 Illum ego per flammas et mille sequentia tela

Her spirit fierce, and swayed her at his will.

eripui his umeris, medioque ex hoste recepi;

Free and self-moved the cavern's hundred adoors

ille meum comitatus iter, maria omnia mecum

Swung open wide, and uttered to the air

atque omnes pelagique minas caelique ferebat,

The oracles the virgin-priestess sung :

invalidus, vires ultra sortemque senectae.

“Thy long sea-perils thou hast safely passed;

115 Quin, ut te supplex peterem et tua limina adirem,

But heavier woes await thee on the land.

idem orans mandata dabat. Gnatique patrisque,

Truly thy Trojans to Lavinian shore

alma, precor, miserere;—potes namque omnia, nec te

Shall come—vex not thyself thereon—but, oh!

nequiquam lucis Hecate praefecit Avernis;—

Shall rue their coming thither! war, red war!

si potuit Manes arcessere coniugis Orpheus,

And Tiber stained with bloody foam I see.

120 Threïcia fretus cithara fidibusque canoris,

Simois, Xanthus, and the Dorian horde

si fratrem Pollux alterna morte redemit,

Thou shalt behold; a new Achilles now

itque reditque viam totiens. Quid Thesea, magnum

In Latium breathes,—he, too, of goddess born;

quid memorem Alciden? Et mi genus ab Iove summo.

And Juno, burden of the sons of Troy,

Talibus orabat dictis, arasque tenebat,

Will vex them ever; while thyself shalt sue

125 cum sic orsa loqui vates: Sate sanguine divom,

In dire distress to many a town and tribe

Tros Anchisiade, facilis descensus Averno;

Through Italy; the cause of so much ill

noctes atque dies patet atri ianua Ditis;

Again shall be a hostess-queen, again

sed revocare gradum superasque evadere ad auras,

A marriage-chamber for an alien bride.

hoc opus, hic labor est. Pauci, quos aequus amavit

Oh! yield not to thy woe, but front it ever,

130 Iuppiter, aut ardens evexit ad aethera virtus,

And follow boldly whither Fortune calls.

dis geniti potuere. Tenent media omnia silvae,

Thy way of safety, as thou least couldst dream,

Cocytusque sinu labens circumvenit atro.

Lies through a city of the Greeks, thy foes.”

Quod si tantus amor menti, si tanta cupido est,

Thus from her shrine Cumaea's prophetess

bis Stygios innare lacus, bis nigra videre

Chanted the dark decrees; the dreadful sound

135 Tartara, et insano iuvat indulgere labori,

Reverberated through the bellowing cave,

accipe, quae peragenda prius. Latet arbore opaca

Commingling truth with ecstasies obscure.

aureus et foliis et lento vimine ramus,

Apollo, as she raged, flung loosened rein,

Iunoni infernae dictus sacer; hunc tegit omnis

And thrust beneath her heart a quickening spur.

lucus, et obscuris claudunt convallibus umbrae.

When first her madness ceased, and her wild lips

140 Sed non ante datur telluris operta subire,

Were still at last, the hero thus began :

auricomos quam quis decerpserit arbore fetus.

“No tribulations new, 0 Sibyl blest,

Hoc sibi pulchra suum ferri Proserpina munus

Can now confront me; every future pain

instituit. Primo avulso non deficit alter

I have foretasted; my prophetic soul

aureus, et simili frondescit virga metallo.

Endured each stroke of fate before it fell.

145 Ergo alte vestiga oculis, et rite repertum

One boon I ask. If of th' infernal King

carpe manu; namque ipse volens facilisque sequetur,

This be the portal where the murky wave

si te fata vocant; aliter non viribus ullis

Of swollen Acheron o'erflows its bound,

vincere, nec duro poteris convellere ferro.

Here let me enter and behold the face

Praeterea iacet exanimum tibi corpus amici—

Of my loved sire. Thy hand may point the way;

150 heu nescis—totamque incestat funere classem,

Thy word will open wide yon holy doors.

dum consulta petis nostroque in limine pendes.

My father through the flames and falling spears,

Sedibus hunc refer ante suis et conde sepulchro.

Straight through the centre of our foes, I bore

Duc nigras pecudes; ea prima piacula sunto:

Upon these shoulders. My long flight he shared

sic demum lucos Stygis et regna invia vivis

From sea to sea, and suffered at my side

155 aspicies. Dixit, pressoque obmutuit ore.

The anger of rude waters and dark skies,—

The Golden Bough

Aeneas maesto defixus lumina voltu

Though weak—0 task too great for old and gray!

ingreditur, linquens antrum, caecosque volutat

Thus as a suppliant at thy door to stand,

eventus animo secum. Cui fidus Achates

Was his behest and prayer. On son and sire,

it comes, et paribus curis vestigia figit.

0 gracious one, have pity,—for thy rule

160 Multa inter sese vario sermone serebant,

Is over all; no vain authority

quem socium exanimem vates, quod corpus humandum

Hadst thou from Trivia o'er th' Avernian groves.

diceret. Atque illi Misenum in litore sicco,

If Orpheus could call back his loved one's shade,

ut venere, vident indigna morte peremptum,

Emboldened by the lyre's melodious string :

Misenum Aeoliden, quo non praestantior alter

If Pollux by the interchange of death

165 aere ciere viros, Martemque accendere cantu.

Redeemed his twin, and oft repassed the way :

Hectoris hic magni fuerat comes, Hectora circum

If Theseus—but why name him? why recall

et lituo pugnas insignis obibat et hasta:

Alcides' task? I, too, am sprung from Jove.”

postquam illum vita victor spoliavit Achilles,

Thus, to the altar clinging, did he pray :

Dardanio Aeneae sese fortissimus heros

The Sibyl thus replied : “Offspring of Heaven,

170 addiderat socium, non inferiora secutus.

Anchises' son, the downward path to death

Sed tum, forte cava dum personat aequora concha,

Is easy; all the livelong night and day

demens, et cantu vocat in certamina divos,

Dark Pluto's door stands open for a guest.

aemulus exceptum Triton, si credere dignum est,

But 0! remounting to the world of light,

inter saxa virum spumosa inmerserat unda.

This is a task indeed, a strife supreme.

175 Ergo omnes magno circum clamore fremebant,

Few, very few, whom righteous Jove did bless,

praecipue pius Aeneas. Tum iussa Sibyllae,

Or quenchless virtue carried to the stars,

haud mora, festinant flentes, aramque sepulchri

Children of gods, have such a victory won.

congerere arboribus caeloque educere certant.

Grim forests stop the way, and, gliding slow,

Itur in antiquam silvam, stabula alta ferarum;

Cocytus circles through the sightless gloom.

180 procumbunt piceae, sonat icta securibus ilex,

But if it be thy dream and fond desire

fraxineaeque trabes cuneis et fissile robur

Twice o'er the Stygian gulf to travel, twice

scinditur, advolvunt ingentis montibus ornos.

On glooms of Tartarus to set thine eyes,

Nec non Aeneas opera inter talia primus

If such mad quest be now thy pleasure—hear

hortatur socios, paribusque accingitur armis.

What must be first fulfilled . A certain tree

185 Atque haec ipse suo tristi cum corde volutat,

Hides in obscurest shade a golden bough,

aspectans silvam inmensam, et sic voce precatur:

Of pliant stems and many a leaf of gold,

Si nunc se nobis ille aureus arbore ramus

Sacred to Proserpine, infernal Queen.

ostendat nemore in tanto, quando omnia vere

Far in the grove it hides; in sunless vale

heu nimium de te vates, Misene, locuta est.

Deep shadows keep it in captivity.

190 Vix ea fatus erat, geminae cum forte columbae

No pilgrim to that underworld can pass

ipsa sub ora viri caelo venere volantes,

But he who plucks this burgeoned, leafy gold;

et viridi sedere solo. Tum maximus heros

For this hath beauteous Proserpine ordained

maternas agnoscit aves, laetusque precatur:

Her chosen gift to be. Whene'er it is culled,

Este duces, O, si qua via est, cursumque per auras

A branch out-leafing in like golden gleam,

195 dirigite in lucos, ubi pinguem dives opacat

A second wonder-stem, fails not to spring.

ramus humum. Tuque, O, dubiis ne defice rebus,

Therefore go seek it with uplifted eyes!

diva parens. Sic effatus vestigia pressit,

And when by will of Heaven thou findest it,

observans quae signa ferant, quo tendere pergant.

Reach forth and pluck; for at a touch it yields,

Pascentes illae tantum prodire volando,

A free and willing gift, if Fate ordain;

200 quantum acie possent oculi servare sequentum.

But otherwise no mortal strength avails,

Inde ubi venere ad fauces grave olentis Averni,

Nor strong, sharp steel, to rend it from the tree.

tollunt se celeres, liquidumque per aëra lapsae

Another task awaits; thy friend's cold clay

sedibus optatis geminae super arbore sidunt,

Lies unentombed. Alas! thou art not ware

discolor unde auri per ramos aura refulsit.

(While in my house thou lingerest, seeking light)

205 Quale solet silvis brumali frigore viscum

That all thy ships are by his death defiled.

fronde virere nova, quod non sua seminat arbos,

Unto his resting-place and sepulchre,

et croceo fetu teretis circumdare truncos,

Go, carry him! And sable victims bring,

talis erat species auri frondentis opaca

In expiation, to his mournful shade.

ilice, sic leni crepitabat brattea vento.

So at the last on yonder Stygian groves,

210 Corripit Aeneas extemplo avidusque refringit

And realms to things that breathe impassable,

cunctantem, et vatis portat sub tecta Sibyllae.

Thine eye shall gaze.” So closed her lips inspired.

Nec minus interea Misenum in litore Teucri

Aeneas then drew forth, with downcast eyes,

flebant, et cineri ingrato suprema ferebant.

From that dark cavern, pondering in his heart

Principio pinguem taedis et robore secto

The riddle of his fate. His faithful friend

215 ingentem struxere pyram, cui frondibus atris

Achates at his side, with paces slow,

intexunt latera, et ferales ante cupressos

Companioned all his care, while their sad souls

constituunt, decorantque super fulgentibus armis.

Made mutual and oft-renewed surmise

Pars calidos latices et aëna undantia flammis

What comrade dead, what cold and tombless clay,

expediunt, corpusque lavant frigentis et unguunt.

The Sibyl's word would show.

220 Fit gemitus. Tum membra toro defleta reponunt,

But as they mused,

purpureasque super vestes, velamina nota,

Behold Misenus on the dry sea-sands,

coniciunt. Pars ingenti subiere feretro,

By hasty hand of death struck guiltless down!

triste ministerium, et subiectam more parentum

A son of Aeolus, none better knew

aversi tenuere facem. Congesta cremantur

To waken heroes by the clarion's call,

225 turea dona, dapes, fuso crateres olivo.

With war-enkindling sound. Great Hector's friend

Postquam conlapsi cineres et flamma quievit

In happier days, he oft at Hector's side

reliquias vino et bibulam lavere favillam,

Strode to the fight with glittering lance and horn.

ossaque lecta cado texit Corynaeus aëno.

But when Achilles stripped his fallen foe,

Idem ter socios pura circumtulit unda,

This dauntless hero to Aeneas gave

230 spargens rore levi et ramo felicis olivae,

Allegiance true, in not less noble cause.

lustravitque viros, dixitque novissima verba.

But, on a day, he chanced beside the sea

At pius Aeneas ingenti mole sepulcrum

To blow his shell-shaped horn, and wildly dared

imponit, suaque arma viro, remumque tubamque,

Challenge the gods themselves to rival song;

monte sub aërio, qui nunc Misenus ab illo

Till jealous Triton, if the tale be true,

235 dicitur, aeternumque tenet per saecula nomen.

Grasped the rash mortal, and out-flung him far

The Descent

His actis, propere exsequitur praecepta Sibyllae.

'mid surf-beat rocks and waves of whirling foam.

Spelunca alta fuit vastoque immanis hiatu,

Now from all sides, with tumult and loud cry,

scrupea, tuta lacu nigro nemorumque tenebris,

The Trojans came,—Aeneas leading all

quam super haud ullae poterant impune volantes

In faithful grief; they hasten to fulfil

240 tendere iter pennis—talis sese halitus atris

The Sibyl's mandate, and with many a tear

faucibus effundens supera ad convexa ferebat:

Build, altar-wise, a pyre, of tree on tree

unde locum Grai dixerunt nomine Aornon.

Heaped high as heaven : then they penetrate

quattuor hic primum nigrantis terga iuvencos

The tall, old forest, where wild creatures bide,

constituit, frontique invergit vina sacerdos;

And fell pitch-pines, or with resounding blows

245 et summas carpens media inter cornua saetas

Of axe and wedge, cleave oak and ash-tree through,

ignibus imponit sacris, libamina prima,

Or logs of rowan down the mountains roll.

voce vocans Hecaten, Caeloque Ereboque potentem.

Aeneas oversees and shares the toil,

Supponunt alii cultros, tepidumque cruorem

Cheers on his mates, and swings a woodman's steel.

suscipiunt pateris. Ipse atri velleris agnam

But, sad at heart with many a doubt and care,

250 Aeneas matri Eumenidum magnaeque sorori

O'erlooks the forest wide; then prays aloud :

ense ferit, sterilemque tibi. Proserpina, vaccam.

“0, that the Golden Bough from this vast grove

Tum Stygio regi nocturnas inchoat aras,

Might o'er me shine! For, 0 Aeolides,

et solida imponit taurorum viscera flammis,

The oracle foretold thy fate, too well!”

pingue superque oleum infundens ardentibus extis.

Scarce had he spoken, when a pair of doves

255 Ecce autem, primi sub lumina solis et ortus,

Before his very eyes flew down from heaven

sub pedibus mugire solum, et iuga coepta moveri

To the green turf below; the prince of Troy

silvarum, visaeque canes ululare per umbram,

Knew them his mother's birds, and joyful cried,

adventante dea. Procul O procul este, profani,

“0, guide me on, whatever path there be!

conclamat vates, totoque absistite luco;

In airy travel through the woodland fly,

260 tuque invade viam, vaginaque eripe ferrum:

To where yon rare branch shades the blessed ground.

nunc animis opus, Aenea, nunc pectore firmo.

Fail thou not me, in this my doubtful hour,

Tantum effata, furens antro se immisit aperto;

0 heavenly mother!” So saying, his steps lie stayed,

ille ducem haud timidis vadentem passibus aequat.

Close watching whither they should signal give;

Di, quibus imperium est animarum, umbraeque silentes,

The lightly-feeding doves flit on and on,

265 et Chaos, et Phlegethon, loca nocte tacentia late,

Ever in easy ken of following eyes,

sit mihi fas audita loqui; sit numine vestro

Till over foul Avernus' sulphurous throat

pandere res alta terra et caligine mersas!

Swiftly they lift them through the liquid air,

Ibant obscuri sola sub nocte per umbram,

In silent flight, and find a wished-for rest

perque domos Ditis vacuas et inania regna:

On a twy-natured tree, where through green boughs

270 quale per incertam lunam sub luce maligna

Flames forth the glowing gold's contrasted hue.

est iter in silvis, ubi caelum condidit umbra

As in the wintry woodland bare and chill,

Iuppiter, et rebus nox abstulit atra colorem.

Fresh-budded shines the clinging mistletoe,

Vestibulum ante ipsum, primisque in faucibus Orci

Whose seed is never from the parent tree

Luctus et ultrices posuere cubilia Curae;

O'er whose round limbs its tawny tendrils twine,—

275 pallentesque habitant Morbi, tristisque Senectus,

So shone th' out-leafing gold within the shade

et Metus, et malesuada Fames, ac turpis Egestas,

Of dark holm-oak, and so its tinsel-bract

terribiles visu formae: Letumque, Labosque;

Rustled in each light breeze. Aeneas grasped

tum consanguineus Leti Sopor, et mala mentis

The lingering bough, broke it in eager haste,

Gaudia, mortiferumque adverso in limine Bellum,

And bore it straightway to the Sibyl's shrine.

280 ferreique Eumenidum thalami, et Discordia demens,

Meanwhile the Trojans on the doleful shore

vipereum crinem vittis innexa cruentis.

Bewailed Misenus, and brought tribute there

In medio ramos annosaque brachia pandit

Of grief's last gift to his unheeding clay.

ulmus opaca, ingens, quam sedem Somnia volgo

First, of the full-sapped pine and well-hewn oak

vana tenere ferunt, foliisque sub omnibus haerent.

A lofty pyre they build; then sombre boughs

285 Multaque praeterea variarum monstra ferarum:

Around it wreathe, and in fair order range

Centauri in foribus stabulant, Scyllaeque biformes,

Funereal cypress; glittering arms are piled

et centumgeminus Briareus, ac belua Lernae

High over all; on blazing coals they lift

horrendum stridens, flammisque armata Chimaera,

Cauldrons of brass brimmed o'er with waters pure;

Gorgones Harpyiaeque et forma tricorporis umbrae.

And that cold, lifeless clay lave and anoint

290 Corripit hic subita trepidus formidine ferrum

With many a moan and cry; on their last couch

Aeneas, strictamque aciem venientibus offert,

The poor, dead limbs they lay, and mantle o'er

et, ni docta comes tenues sine corpore vitas

With purple vesture and familiar pall.

admoneat volitare cava sub imagine formae,

Then in sad ministry the chosen few,

inruat, et frustra ferro diverberet umbras.

With eyes averted, as our sires did use,

295 Hinc via, Tartarei quae fert Acherontis ad undas.

Hold the enkindling torch beneath the pyre :

Turbidus hic caeno vastaque voragine gurges

They gather up and burn the gifts of myrrh,

aestuat, atque omnem Cocyto eructat harenam.

The sacred bread and bowls of flowing oil;

Portitor has horrendus aquas et flumina servat

And when in flame the dying embers fall,

terribili squalore Charon, cui plurima mento

On thirsty ash they pour the streams of wine.

300 canities inculta iacet; stant lumina flamma,

Good Corynaeus, in an urn of brass

sordidus ex umeris nodo dependet amictus.

The gathered relics hides; and three times round,

Ipse ratem conto subigit, velisque ministrat,

With blessed olive branch and sprinkling dew,

et ferruginea subvectat corpora cymba,

Purges the people with ablution cold,

iam senior, sed cruda deo viridisque senectus.

In lustral rite; oft chanting, “Hail! Farewell!”

305 Huc omnis turba ad ripas effusa ruebat,

Faithful Aeneas for his comrade built

matres atque viri, defunctaque corpora vita

A mighty tomb, and dedicated there

magnanimum heroum, pueri innuptaeque puellae,

Trophy of arms, with trumpet and with oar,

impositique rogis iuvenes ante ora parentum:

Beneath a windy hill, which now is called

quam multa in silvis autumni frigore primo

“Misenus,”—for all time the name to bear.

310 lapsa cadunt folia, aut ad terram gurgite ab alto

After these toils, they hasten to fulfil

quam multae glomerantur aves, ubi frigidus annus

What else the Sibyl said. Straightway they find

trans pontum fugat, et terris immittit apricis.

A cave profound, of entrance gaping wide,

Stabant orantes primi transmittere cursum,

O'erhung with rock, in gloom of sheltering grove,

tendebantque manus ripae ulterioris amore.

Near the dark waters of a lake, whereby

315 Navita sed tristis nunc hos nunc accipit illos,

No bird might ever pass with scathless wing,

ast alios longe submotos arcet harena.

So dire an exhalation is breathed out

Aeneas, miratus enim motusque tumultu,

From that dark deep of death to upper air :—

Dic ait O virgo, quid volt concursus ad amnem?

Hence, in the Grecian tongue, Aornos called.

Quidve petunt animae, vel quo discrimine ripas

Here first four youthful bulls of swarthy hide

320 hae linquunt, illae remis vada livida verrunt?

Were led for sacrifice; on each broad brow

Olli sic breviter fata est longaeva sacerdos:

The priestess sprinkled wine; 'twixt the two horns

Anchisa generate, deum certissima proles,

Outplucked the lifted hair, and cast it forth

Cocyti stagna alta vides Stygiamque paludem,

Upon the holy flames, beginning so

di cuius iurare timent et fallere numen.

Her offerings; then loudly sued the power

325 Haec omnis, quam cernis, inops inhumataque turba est;

of Hecate, a Queen in heaven and hell.

portitor ille Charon; hi, quos vehit unda, sepulti.

Some struck with knives, and caught in shallow bowls

Nec ripas datur horrendas et rauca fluenta

The smoking blood. Aeneas' lifted hand

transportare prius quam sedibus ossa quierunt.

Smote with a sword a sable-fleeced ewe

Centum errant annos volitantque haec litora circum;

To Night, the mother of th' Eumenides,

330 tum demum admissi stagna exoptata revisunt.

And Earth, her sister dread; next unto thee,

Constitit Anchisa satus et vestigia pressit,

O Proserpine, a curst and barren cow;

multa putans, sortemque animo miseratus iniquam.

Then unto Pluto, Stygian King, he built

Cernit ibi maestos et mortis honore carentes

An altar dark, and piled upon the flames

Leucaspim et Lyciae ductorem classis Oronten,

The ponderous entrails of the bulls, and poured

335 quos, simul ab Troia ventosa per aequora vectos,

Free o'er the burning flesh the goodly oil.

obruit Auster, aqua involvens navemque virosque.

Then lo! at dawn's dim, earliest beam began

The Fields of Mourning

Ecce gubernator sese Palinurus agebat,

Beneath their feet a groaning of the ground :

qui Libyco nuper cursu, dum sidera servat,

The wooded hill-tops shook, and, as it seemed,

exciderat puppi mediis effusus in undis.

She-hounds of hell howled viewless through the shade ,

340 Hunc ubi vix multa maestum cognovit in umbra,

To hail their Queen. “Away, 0 souls profane!

sic prior adloquitur: Quis te, Palinure, deorum

Stand far away!” the priestess shrieked, “nor dare

eripuit nobis, medioque sub aequore mersit?

Unto this grove come near! Aeneas, on!

Dic age. Namque mihi, fallax haud ante repertus,

Begin thy journey! Draw thy sheathed blade!

hoc uno responso animum delusit Apollo,

Now, all thy courage! now, th' unshaken soul!”

345 qui fore te ponto incolumem, finesque canebat

She spoke, and burst into the yawning cave

venturum Ausonios. En haec promissa fides est?

With frenzied step; he follows where she leads,

Ille autem: Neque te Phoebi cortina fefellit,

And strides with feet unfaltering at her side.

dux Anchisiade, nec me deus aequore mersit.

Ye gods! who rule the spirits of the dead!

Namque gubernaclum multa vi forte revolsum,

Ye voiceless shades and silent lands of night!

350 cui datus haerebam custos cursusque regebam,

0 Phlegethon! 0 Chaos! let my song,

praecipitans traxi mecum. Maria aspera iuro

If it be lawful, in fit words declare

non ullum pro me tantum cepisse timorem,

What I have heard; and by your help divine

quam tua ne, spoliata armis, excussa magistro,

Unfold what hidden things enshrouded lie

deficeret tantis navis surgentibus undis.

In that dark underworld of sightless gloom.

355 Tris Notus hibernas immensa per aequora noctes

They walked exploring the unpeopled night,

vexit me violentus aqua; vix lumine quarto

Through Pluto's vacuous realms, and regions void,

prospexi Italiam summa sublimis ab unda.

As when one's path in dreary woodlands winds

Paulatim adnabam terrae; iam tuta tenebam,

Beneath a misty moon's deceiving ray,

ni gens crudelis madida cum veste gravatum

When Jove has mantled all his heaven in shade,

360 prensantemque uncis manibus capita aspera montis

And night seals up the beauty of the world.

ferro invasisset, praedamque ignara putasset.

In the first courts and entrances of Hell

Nunc me fluctus habet, versantque in litore venti.

Sorrows and vengeful Cares on couches lie :

Quod te per caeli iucundum lumen et auras,

There sad Old Age abides, Diseases pale,

per genitorem oro, per spes surgentis Iuli,

And Fear, and Hunger, temptress to all crime;

365 eripe me his, invicte, malis: aut tu mihi terram

Want, base and vile, and, two dread shapes to see,

inice, namque potes, portusque require Velinos;

Bondage and Death : then Sleep, Death's next of kin;

aut tu, si qua via est, si quam tibi diva creatrix

And dreams of guilty joy. Death-dealing War

ostendit—neque enim, credo, sine numine divom

Is ever at the doors, and hard thereby

flumina tanta paras Stygiamque innare paludem—

The Furies' beds of steel, where wild-eyed Strife

370 da dextram misero, et tecum me tolle per undas,

Her snaky hair with blood-stained fillet binds.

sedibus ut saltem placidis in morte quiescam.

There in the middle court a shadowy elm

Talia fatus erat, coepit cum talia vates:

Its ancient branches spreads, and in its leaves

Unde haec, o Palinure, tibi tam dira cupido?

Deluding visions ever haunt and cling.

Tu Stygias inhumatus aquas amnemque severum

Then come strange prodigies of bestial kind :

375 Eumenidum aspicies, ripamve iniussus adibis?

Centaurs are stabled there, and double shapes

Desine fata deum flecti sperare precando.

Like Scylla, or the dragon Lerna bred,

Sed cape dicta memor, duri solatia casus.

With hideous scream; Briareus clutching far

Nam tua finitimi, longe lateque per urbes

His hundred hands, Chimaera girt with flame,

prodigiis acti caelestibus, ossa piabunt,

A crowd of Gorgons, Harpies of foul wing,

380 et statuent tumulum, et tumulo sollemnia mittent,

And giant Geryon's triple-monstered shade.

aeternumque locus Palinuri nomen habebit.

Aeneas, shuddering with sudden fear,

His dictis curae emotae, pulsusque parumper

Drew sword and fronted them with naked steel;

corde dolor tristi: gaudet cognomine terrae.

And, save his sage conductress bade him know

Ergo iter inceptum peragunt fluvioque propinquant.

These were but shapes and shadows sweeping by,

385 Navita quos iam inde ut Stygia prospexit ab unda

His stroke had cloven in vain the vacant air.

per tacitum nemus ire pedemque advertere ripae,

Hence the way leads to that Tartarean stream

sic prior adgreditur dictis, atque increpat ultro:

Of Acheron, whose torrent fierce and foul

Quisquis es, armatus qui nostra ad flumina tendis,

Disgorges in Cocytus all its sands.

fare age, quid venias, iam istinc, et comprime gressum.

A ferryman of gruesome guise keeps ward

390 Umbrarum hic locus est, somni noctisque soporae;

Upon these waters,—Charon, foully garbed,

corpora viva nefas Stygia vectare carina.

With unkempt, thick gray beard upon his chin,

Nec vero Alciden me sum laetatus euntem

And staring eyes of flame; a mantle coarse,

accepisse lacu, nec Thesea Pirithoumque,

All stained and knotted, from his shoulder falls,

dis quamquam geniti atque invicti viribus essent.

As with a pole he guides his craft, tends sail,

395 Tartareum ille manu custodem in vincla petivit,

And in the black boat ferries o'er his dead;—

ipsius a solio regis, traxitque trementem;

Old, but a god's old age looks fresh and strong.

hi dominam Ditis thalamo deducere adorti.

To those dim shores the multitude streams on—

Quae contra breviter fata est Amphrysia vates:

Husbands and wives, and pale, unbreathing forms

Nullae hic insidiae tales; absiste moveri;

Of high-souled heroes, boys and virgins fair,

400 nec vim tela ferunt; licet ingens ianitor antro

And strong youth at whose graves fond parents mourned.

aeternum latrans exsanguis terreat umbras,

As numberless the throng as leaves that fall

casta licet patrui servet Proserpina limen.

When autumn's early frost is on the grove;

Troius Aeneas, pietate insignis et armis,

Or like vast flocks of birds by winter's chill

ad genitorem imas Erebi descendit ad umbras.

Sent flying o'er wide seas to lands of flowers.

405 Si te nulla movet tantae pietatis imago,

All stood beseeching to begin their voyage

at ramum hunc (aperit ramum, qui veste latebat)

Across that river, and reached out pale hands,

adgnoscas. Tumida ex ira tum corda residunt.

In passionate yearning for its distant shore.

Nec plura his. Ille admirans venerabile donum

But the grim boatman takes now these, now those,

fatalis virgae, longo post tempore visum,

Or thrusts unpitying from the stream away.

410 caeruleam advertit puppim, ripaeque propinquat.

Aeneas, moved to wonder and deep awe,

Inde alias animas, quae per iuga longa sedebant,

Beheld the tumult; “Virgin seer!” he cried, .

deturbat, laxatque foros; simul accipit alveo

“Why move the thronging ghosts toward yonder stream?

ingentem Aenean. Gemuit sub pondere cymba

What seek they there? Or what election holds

sutilis, et multam accepit rimosa paludem.

That these unwilling linger, while their peers

415 Tandem trans fluvium incolumis vatemque virumque

Sweep forward yonder o'er the leaden waves?”

informi limo glaucaque exponit in ulva.

To him, in few, the aged Sibyl spoke :

Cerberus haec ingens latratu regna trifauci

“Son of Anchises, offspring of the gods,

personat, adverso recubans immanis in antro.

Yon are Cocytus and the Stygian stream,

Cui vates, horrere videns iam colla colubris,

By whose dread power the gods themselves do fear

420 melle soporatam et medicatis frugibus offam

To take an oath in vain. Here far and wide

obicit. Ille fame rabida tria guttura pandens

Thou seest the hapless throng that hath no grave.

corripit obiectam, atque immania terga resolvit

That boatman Charon bears across the deep

fusus humi, totoque ingens extenditur antro.

Such as be sepulchred with holy care.

Occupat Aeneas aditum custode sepulto,

But over that loud flood and dreadful shore

425 evaditque celer ripam inremeabilis undae.

No trav'ler may be borne, until in peace

Continuo auditae voces, vagitus et ingens,

His gathered ashes rest. A hundred years

infantumque animae flentes in limine primo,

Round this dark borderland some haunt and roam,

quos dulcis vitae exsortes et ab ubere raptos

Then win late passage o'er the longed-for wave.”

abstulit atra dies et funere mersit acerbo;

Aeneas lingered for a little space,

430 hos iuxta falso damnati crimine mortis.

Revolving in his soul with pitying prayer

Nec vero hae sine sorte datae, sine iudice, sedes:

Fate's partial way. But presently he sees

quaesitor Minos urnam movet; ille silentum

Leucaspis and the Lycian navy's lord,

conciliumque vocat vitasque et crimina discit.

Orontes; both of melancholy brow,

Proxuma deinde tenent maesti loca, qui sibi letum

Both hapless and unhonored after death,

435 insontes peperere manu, lucemque perosi

Whom, while from Troy they crossed the wind-swept seas,

proiecere animas. Quam vellent aethere in alto

A whirling tempest wrecked with ship and crew.

nunc et pauperiem et duros perferre labores!

There, too, the helmsman Palinurus strayed :

Fas obstat, tristisque palus inamabilis undae

Who, as he whilom watched the Libyan stars,

alligat, et noviens Styx interfusa coërcet.

Had fallen, plunging from his lofty seat

440 Nec procul hinc partem fusi monstrantur in omnem

Into the billowy deep. Aeneas now

lugentes campi: sic illos nomine dicunt.

Discerned his sad face through the blinding gloom,

Hic, quos durus amor crudeli tabe peredit,

And hailed him thus : “0 Palinurus, tell

secreti celant calles et myrtea circum

What god was he who ravished thee away

silva tegit; curae non ipsa in morte relinquunt.

From me and mine, beneath the o'crwhelming wave?

445 His Phaedram Procrimque locis, maestamque Eriphylen

Speak on! for he who ne'er had spoke untrue,

crudelis nati monstrantem volnera, cernit,

Apollo's self, did mock my listening mind,

Evadnenque et Pasiphaën; his Laodamia

And chanted me a faithful oracle

it comes, et iuvenis quondam, nunc femina, Caeneus,

That thou shouldst ride the seas unharmed, and touch

rursus et in veterem fato revoluta figuram.

Ausonian shores. Is this the pledge divine?”

450 Inter quas Phoenissa recens a volnere Dido

Then he, “0 chieftain of Anchises' race,

errabat silva in magna; quam Troius heros

Apollo's tripod told thee not untrue.

ut primum iuxta stetit adgnovitque per umbras

No god did thrust me down beneath the wave,

obscuram, qualem primo qui surgere mense

For that strong rudder unto which I clung,

aut videt, aut vidisse putat per nubila lunam,

My charge and duty, and my ship's sole guide,

455 demisit lacrimas, dulcique adfatus amore est:

Wrenched from its place, dropped with me as I fell.

Infelix Dido, verus mihi nuntius ergo

Not for myself—by the rude seas I swear—

venerat exstinctam, ferroque extrema secutam?

Did I have terror, but lest thy good ship,

Funeris heu tibi causa fui? Per sidera iuro,

Stripped of her gear, and her poor pilot lost,

per superos, et si qua fides tellure sub ima est,

Should fail and founder in that rising flood.

460 invitus, regina, tuo de litore cessi.

Three wintry nights across the boundless main

Sed me iussa deum, quae nunc has ire per umbras,

The south wind buffeted and bore me on;

per loca senta situ cogunt noctemque profundam,

At the fourth daybreak, lifted from the surge,

imperiis egere suis; nec credere quivi

I looked at last on Italy, and swam

hunc tantum tibi me discessu ferre dolorem.

With weary stroke on stroke unto the land.

465 Siste gradum, teque aspectu ne subtrahe nostro.

Safe was I then. Alas! but as I climbed

Quem fugis? Extremum fato, quod te adloquor, hoc est.

With garments wet and heavy, my clenched hand

Talibus Aeneas ardentem et torva tuentem

Grasping the steep rock, came a cruel horde

lenibat dictis animum, lacrimasque ciebat.

Upon me with drawn blades, accounting me—

Illa solo fixos oculos aversa tenebat,

So blind they were!—a wrecker's prize and spoil.

470 nec magis incepto voltum sermone movetur,

Now are the waves my tomb; and wandering winds

quam si dura silex aut stet Marpesia cautes.

Toss me along the coast. 0, I implore,

tandem corripuit sese, atque inimica refugit

By heaven's sweet light, by yonder upper air,

in nemus umbriferum, coniunx ubi pristinus illi

By thy lost father, by Iulus dear,

respondet curis aequatque Sychaeus amorem.

Thy rising hope and joy, that from these woes,

475 Nec minus Aeneas, casu concussus iniquo,

Unconquered chieftain, thou wilt set me free!

prosequitur lacrimis longe, et miseratur euntem.

Give me a grave where Velia's haven lies,

The Heroes and Tartarus

Inde datum molitur iter. Iamque arva tenebant

For thou hast power! Or if some path there be,

ultima, quae bello clari secreta frequentant.

If thy celestial mother guide thee here

Hic illi occurrit Tydeus, hic inclutus armis

(For not, I ween, without the grace of gods

480 Parthenopaeus et Adrasti pallentis imago;

Wilt cross yon rivers vast, you Stygian pool)

hic multum fleti ad superos belloque caduci

Reach me a hand! and bear with thee along!

Dardanidae, quos ille omnes longo ordine cernens

Until (least gift!) death bring me peace and calm.”

ingemuit, Glaucumque Medontaque Thersilochumque,

Such words he spoke: the priestess thus replied:

tris Antenoridas, Cererique sacrum Polyphoeten,

“Why, Palinurus, these unblest desires?

485 Idaeumque, etiam currus, etiam arma tenentem.

Wouldst thou, unsepulchred, behold the wave

circumstant animae dextra laevaque frequentes;

Of Styx, stern river of th' Eumenides?

nec vidisse semel satis est; iuvat usque morari,

Wouldst thou, unbidden, tread its fearful strand?

et conferre gradum, et veniendi discere causas.

Hope not by prayer to change the laws of Heaven!

At Danaum proceres Agamemnoniaeque phalanges

But heed my words, and in thy memory

490 ut videre virum fulgentiaque arma per umbras,

Cherish and keep, to cheer this evil time.

ingenti trepidare metu; pars vertere terga,

Lo, far and wide, led on by signs from Heaven,

ceu quondam petiere rates; pars tollere vocem

Thy countrymen from many a templed town

exiguam, inceptus clamor frustratur hiantes.

Shall consecrate thy dust, and build thy tomb,

Atque hic Priamiden laniatum corpore toto

A tomb with annual feasts and votive flowers,

495 Deiphobum videt et lacerum crudeliter ora,

To Palinurus a perpetual fame!”

ora manusque ambas, populataque tempora raptis

Thus was his anguish stayed, from his sad heart

auribus, et truncas inhonesto volnere nares.

Grief ebbed awhile, and even to this day,

Vix adeo adgnovit pavitantem et dira tegentem

Our land is glad such noble name to wear.

supplicia, et notis compellat vocibus ultro:

The twain continue now their destined way

500 Deiphobe armipotens, genus alto a sanguine Teucri

Unto the river's edge. The Ferryman,

quis tam crudeles optavit sumere poenas?

Who watched them through still groves approach his shore,

Cui tantum de te licuit? Mihi fama suprema

Hailed them, at distance, from the Stygian wave,

nocte tulit fessum vasta te caede Pelasgum

And with reproachful summons thus began:

procubuisse super confusae stragis acervum.

“Whoe'er thou art that in this warrior guise

505 Tunc egomet tumulum Rhoeteo litore inanem

Unto my river comest,—quickly tell

constitui, et magna Manes ter voce vocavi.

Thine errand! Stay thee where thou standest now!

Nomen et arma locum servant; te, amice, nequivi

This is ghosts' land, for sleep and slumbrous dark.

conspicere, et patria decedens ponere terra.

That flesh and blood my Stygian ship should bear

Ad quae Priamides: Nihil O tibi amice relictum;

Were lawless wrong. Unwillingly I took

510 omnia Deiphobo solvisti et funeris umbris.

Alcides, Theseus, and Pirithous,

Sed me fata mea et scelus exitiale Lacaenae

Though sons of gods, too mighty to be quelled.

his mersere malis; illa haec monumenta reliquit.

One bound in chains yon warder of Hell's door,

Namque ut supremam falsa inter gaudia noctem

And dragged him trembling from our monarch's throne:

egerimus, nosti; et nimium meminisse necesse est.

The others, impious, would steal away

515 Cum fatalis equus saltu super ardua venit

Out of her bride-bed Pluto's ravished Queen.”

Pergama, et armatum peditem gravis attulit alvo,

Briefly th' Amphrysian priestess made reply:

illa, chorum simulans, evantes orgia circum

“Not ours, such guile: Fear not! This warrior's arms

ducebat Phrygias; flammam media ipsa tenebat

Are innocent. Let Cerberus from his cave

ingentem, et summa Danaos ex arce vocabat.

Bay ceaselessly, the bloodless shades to scare;

520 Tum me, confectum curis somnoque gravatum,

Let Proserpine immaculately keep

infelix habuit thalamus, pressitque iacentem

The house and honor of her kinsman King.

dulcis et alta quies placidaeque simillima morti.

Trojan Aeneas, famed for faithful prayer

Egregia interea coniunx arma omnia tectis

And victory in arms, descends to seek

amovet, et fidum capiti subduxerat ensem;

His father in this gloomy deep of death.

525 intra tecta vocat Menelaum, et limina pandit,

If loyal goodness move not such as thee,

scilicet id magnum sperans fore munus amanti,

This branch at least” (she drew it from her breast)

et famam exstingui veterum sic posse malorum.

“Thou knowest well.”

Quid moror? Inrumpunt thalamo; comes additur una

Then cooled his wrathful heart;

hortator scelerum Aeolides. Di, talia Grais

With silent lips he looked and wondering eyes

530 instaurate, pio si poenas ore reposco!

Upon that fateful, venerable wand,

Sed te qui vivum casus, age, fare vicissim,

Seen only once an age. Shoreward he turned,

attulerint. Pelagine venis erroribus actus,

And pushed their way his boat of leaden hue.

an monitu divom? An quae te Fortuna fatigat,

The rows of crouching ghosts along the thwarts

ut tristes sine sole domos, loca turbida, adires?

He scattered, cleared a passage, and gave room

535 Hac vice sermonum roseïs Aurora quadrigis

To great Aeneas. The light shallop groaned

iam medium aetherio cursu traiecerat axem;

Beneath his weight, and, straining at each seam,

et fors omne datum traherent per talia tempus;

Took in the foul flood with unstinted flow.

sed comes admonuit, breviterque adfata Sibylla est:

At last the hero and his priestess-guide

Nox ruit, Aenea; nos flendo ducimus horas.

Came safe across the river, and were moored

540 Hic locus est, partes ubi se via findit in ambas:

'mid sea-green sedges in the formless mire.

dextera quae Ditis magni sub moenia tendit,

Here Cerberus, with triple-throated roar,

hac iter Elysium nobis; at laeva malorum

Made all the region ring, as there he lay

exercet poenas, et ad impia Tartara mittit.

At vast length in his cave. The Sibyl then,

Deiphobus contra: Ne saevi, magna sacerdos;

Seeing the serpents writhe around his neck,

545 discedam, explebo numerum, reddarque tenebris.

Threw down a loaf with honeyed herbs imbued

I decus, i, nostrum; melioribus utere fatis!

And drowsy essences: he, ravenous,

Tantum effatus, et in verbo vestigia torsit.

Gaped wide his three fierce mouths and snatched the bait,

Respicit Aeneas subito, et sub rupe sinistra

Crouched with his large backs loose upon the ground,

moenia lata videt, triplici circumdata muro,

And filled his cavern floor from end to end.

550 quae rapidus flammis ambit torrentibus amnis,

Aeneas through hell's portal moved, while sleep

Tartareus Phlegethon, torquetque sonantia saxa.

Its warder buried; then he fled that shore

Porta adversa ingens, solidoque adamante columnae,

Of Stygian stream, whence travellers ne'er return.

vis ut nulla virum, non ipsi exscindere bello

Now hears he sobs, and piteous, lisping cries

caelicolae valeant; stat ferrea turris ad auras,

Of souls of babes upon the threshold plaining;

555 Tisiphoneque sedens, palla succincta cruenta,

Whom, ere they took their portion of sweet life,

vestibulum exsomnis servat noctesque diesque.

Dark Fate from nursing bosoms tore, and plunged

Hinc exaudiri gemitus, et saeva sonare

In bitterness of death. Nor far from these,

verbera; tum stridor ferri, tractaeque catenae.

The throng of dead by unjust judgment slain.

Constitit Aeneas, strepitumque exterritus hausit.

Not without judge or law these realms abide:

560 Quae scelerum facies, O virgo, effare; quibusve

Wise Minos there the urn of justice moves,

urguentur poenis? Quis tantus plangor ad auras?

And holds assembly of the silent shades,

Tum vates sic orsa loqui: Dux inclute Teucrum,

Hearing the stories of their lives and deeds.

nulli fas casto sceleratum insistere limen;

Close on this place those doleful ghosts abide,

sed me cum lucis Hecate praefecit Avernis,

Who, not for crime, but loathing life and light

565 ipsa deum poenas docuit, perque omnia duxit.

With their own hands took death, and cast away

Gnosius haec Rhadamanthus habet, durissima regna,

The vital essence. Willingly, alas!

castigatque auditque dolos, subigitque fateri,

They now would suffer need, or burdens bear,

quae quis apud superos, furto laetatus inani,

If only life were given! But Fate forbids.

distulit in seram commissa piacula mortem.

Around them winds the sad, unlovely wave

570 Continuo sontes ultrix accincta flagello

Of Styx: nine times it coils and interflows.

Tisiphone quatit insultans, torvosque sinistra

Not far from hence, on every side outspread,

intentans angues vocat agmina saeva sororum.

The Fields of Sorrow lie,—such name they bear;

Tum demum horrisono stridentes cardine sacrae

Here all whom ruthless love did waste away

panduntur portae. Cernis custodia qualis

Wander in paths unseen, or in the gloom

575 vestibulo sedeat, facies quae limina servet?

Of dark myrtle grove: not even in death

Quinquaginta atris immanis hiatibus Hydra

Have they forgot their griefs of long ago.

saevior intus habet sedem. Tum Tartarus ipse

Here impious Phaedra and poor Procris bide;

bis patet in praeceps tantum tenditque sub umbras,

Lorn Eriphyle bares the vengeful wounds

quantus ad aetherium caeli suspectus Olympum.

Her own son's dagger made; Evadne here,

580 Hic genus antiquum Terrae, Titania pubes,

And foul Pasiphae Pasiphaë are seen; hard by,

fulmine deiecti fundo volvuntur in imo.

Laodamia, nobly fond and fair;

Hic et Aloidas geminos immania vidi

And Caeneus, not a boy, but maiden now,

corpora, qui manibus magnum rescindere caelum

By Fate remoulded to her native seeming.

adgressi, superisque Iovem detrudere regnis.

Here Tyrian Dido, too, her wound unhealed,

585 Vidi et crudeles dantem Salmonea poenas,

Roamed through a mighty wood. The Trojan's eyes

dum flammas Iovis et sonitus imitatur Olympi.

Beheld her near him through the murky gloom,

Quattuor hic invectus equis et lampada quassans

As when, in her young month and crescent pale,

per Graium populos mediaeque per Elidis urbem

One sees th' o'er-clouded moon, or thinks he sees.

ibat ovans, divomque sibi poscebat honorem,—

Down dropped his tears, and thus he fondly spoke:

590 demens, qui nimbos et non imitabile fulmen

“0 suffering Dido! Were those tidings true

aere et cornipedum pulsu simularet equorum.

That thou didst fling thee on the fatal steel?

At pater omnipotens densa inter nubila telum

Thy death, ah me! I dealt it. But I swear

contorsit, non ille faces nec fumea taedis

By stars above us, by the powers in Heaven,

lumina, praecipitemque immani turbine adegit.

Or whatsoever oath ye dead believe,

595 Nec non et Tityon, Terrae omniparentis alumnum,

That not by choice I fled thy shores, 0 Queen!

cernere erat, per tota novem cui iugera corpus

Divine decrees compelled me, even as now

porrigitur, rostroque immanis voltur obunco

Among these ghosts I pass, and thread my way

immortale iecur tondens fecundaque poenis

Along this gulf of night and loathsome land.

viscera, rimaturque epulis, habitatque sub alto

How could I deem my cruel taking leave

600 pectore, nec fibris requies datur ulla renatis.

Would bring thee at the last to all this woe?

Quid memorem Lapithas, Ixiona Pirithoumque?

0, stay! Why shun me? Wherefore haste away?

quos super atra silex iam iam lapsura cadentique

Our last farewell! Our doom! I speak it now!”

imminet adsimilis; lucent genialibus altis

Thus, though she glared with fierce, relentless gaze,

aurea fulcra toris, epulaeque ante ora paratae

Aaeneas, with fond words and tearful plea,

605 regifico luxu; Furiarum maxima iuxta

Would soothe her angry soul. But on the ground

accubat, et manibus prohibet contingere mensas,

She fixed averted eyes. For all he spoke

exsurgitque facem attollens, atque intonat ore.

Moved her no more than if her frowning brow

Hic, quibus invisi fratres, dum vita manebat,

Were changeless flint or carved in Parian stone.

pulsatusve parens, et fraus innexa clienti,

Then, after pause, away in wrath she fled,

610 aut qui divitiis soli incubuere repertis,

And refuge took within the cool, dark grove,

nec partem posuere suis (quae maxima turba est),

Where her first spouse, Sichaeus, with her tears

quique ob adulterium caesi, quique arma secuti

Mingled his own in mutual love and true.

impia nec veriti dominorum fallere dextras,

Aeneas, none the less, her guiltless woe

inclusi poenam exspectant. Ne quaere doceri

With anguish knew, watched with dimmed eyes her way,

615 quam poenam, aut quae forma viros fortunave mersit.

And pitied from afar the fallen Queen.

Saxum ingens volvunt alii, radiisque rotarum

But now his destined way he must be gone;

districti pendent; sedet, aeternumque sedebit,

Now the last regions round the travellers lie,

infelix Theseus; Phlegyasque miserrimus omnis

Where famous warriors in the darkness dwell:

admonet, et magna testatur voce per umbras:

Here Tydeus comes in view, with far-renowned

620 Discite iustitiam moniti, et non temnere divos.

Parthenopaeus and Adrastus pale;

Vendidit hic auro patriam, dominumque potentem

Here mourned in upper air with many a moan,

imposuit; fixit leges pretio atque refixit;

In battle fallen, the Dardanidae,

hic thalamum invasit natae vetitosque hymenaeos;

Whose long defile Aeneas groans to see:

ausi omnes immane nefas, ausoque potiti.

Glaucus and Medon and Thersilochus,

625 Non, mihi si linguae centum sint oraque centum,

Antenor's children three, and Ceres' priest,

ferrea vox, omnis scelerum comprendere formas,

That Polypoetes, and Idaeus still.

omnia poenarum percurrere nomina possim.

Keeping the kingly chariot and spear.

The Blessed Groves

Haec ubi dicta dedit Phoebi longaeva sacerdos:

Around him left and right the crowding shades

Sed iam age, carpe viam et susceptum perfice munus;

Not only once would see, but clutch and cling

630 adceleremus ait; Cyclopum educta caminis

Obstructive, asking on what quest he goes.

moenia conspicio atque adverso fornice portas,

Soon as the princes of Argolic blood,

haec ubi nos praecepta iubent deponere dona.

With line on line of Agamemnon's men,

Dixerat, et pariter, gressi per opaca viarum,

Beheld the hero and his glittering arms

corripiunt spatium medium, foribusque propinquant.

Flash through the dark, they trembled with amaze,

635 Occupat Aeneas aditum, corpusque recenti

Or turned in flight, as if once more they fled

spargit aqua, ramumque adverso in limine figit.

To shelter of the ships; some raised aloft

His demum exactis, perfecto munere divae,

A feeble shout, or vainly opened wide

devenere locos laetos et amoena virecta

Their gaping lips in mockery of sound.

fortunatorum nemorum sedesque beatas.

Here Priam's son, with body rent and torn,

640 Largior hic campos aether et lumine vestit

Deiphobus Deïphobus is seen,—his mangled face,

purpureo, solemque suum, sua sidera norunt.

His face and bloody hands, his wounded head

Pars in gramineis exercent membra palaestris,

Of ears and nostrils infamously shorn.

contendunt ludo et fulva luctantur harena;

Scarce could Aeneas know the shuddering shade

pars pedibus plaudunt choreas et carmina dicunt.

That strove to hide its face and shameful scar;

645 Nec non Threïcius longa cum veste sacerdos

But, speaking first, he said, in their own tongue:

obloquitur numeris septem discrimina vocum,

“Deiphobus, strong warrior, nobly born

iamque eadem digitis, iam pectine pulsat eburno.

Of Teucer's royal stem, what ruthless foe

Hic genus antiquum Teucri, pulcherrima proles,

Could wish to wreak on thee this dire revenge?

magnanimi heroes, nati melioribus annis,

Who ventured, unopposed, so vast a wrong?

650 Ilusque Assaracusque et Troiae Dardanus auctor.

The rumor reached me how, that deadly night,

Arma procul currusque virum miratur inanes.

Wearied with slaying Greeks, thyself didst fall

Stant terra defixae hastae, passimque soluti

Prone on a mingled heap of friends and foes.

per campum pascuntur equi. Quae gratia currum

Then my own hands did for thy honor build

armorumque fuit vivis, quae cura nitentis

An empty tomb upon the Trojan shore,

655 pascere equos, eadem sequitur tellure repostos.

And thrice with echoing voice I called thy shade.

Conspicit, ecce, alios dextra laevaque per herbam

Thy name and arms are there. But, 0 my friend,

vescentis, laetumque choro paeana canentis

Thee could I nowhere find, but launched away,

inter odoratum lauri nemus, unde superne

Nor o'er thy bones their native earth could fling.”

plurimus Eridani per silvam volvitur amnis.

To him the son of Priam thus replied:

660 Hic manus ob patriam pugnando volnera passi,

“Nay, friend, no hallowed rite was left undone,

quique sacerdotes casti, dum vita manebat,

But every debt to death and pity due

quique pii vates et Phoebo digna locuti,

The shades of thy Deiphobus received.

inventas aut qui vitam excoluere per artes,

My fate it was, and Helen's murderous wrong,

quique sui memores alios fecere merendo,

Wrought me this woe; of her these tokens tell.

665 omnibus his nivea cinguntur tempora vitta.

For how that last night in false hope we passed,

Quos circumfusos sic est adfata Sybilla,

Thou knowest,—ah, too well we both recall!

Musaeum ante omnes, medium nam plurima turba

When up the steep of Troy the fateful horse

hunc habet, atque umeris exstantem suspicit altis:

Came climbing, pregnant with fierce men-at-arms,

Dicite, felices animae, tuque, optime vates,

't was she, accurst, who led the Phrygian dames

670 quae regio Anchisen, quis habet locus? Illius ergo

In choric dance and false bacchantic song,

venimus, et magnos Erebi transnavimus amnes.

And, waving from the midst a lofty brand,

Atque huic responsum paucis ita reddidit heros:

Signalled the Greeks from Ilium's central tower

Nulli certa domus; lucis habitamus opacis,

In that same hour on my sad couch I lay,

riparumque toros et prata recentia rivis

Exhausted by long care and sunk in sleep,

675 incolimus. Sed vos, si fert ita corde voluntas,

That sweet, deep sleep, so close to tranquil death.

hoc superate iugum; et facili iam tramite sistam.

But my illustrious bride from all the house

Dixit, et ante tulit gressum, camposque nitentis

Had stolen all arms; from 'neath my pillowed head

desuper ostentat; dehinc summa cacumina linquunt.

She stealthily bore off my trusty sword;

The Pageant of Rome

At pater Anchises penitus convalle virenti

Then loud on Menelaus did she call,

680 inclusas animas superumque ad lumen ituras

And with her own false hand unbarred the door;

lustrabat studio recolens, omnemque suorum

Such gift to her fond lord she fain would send

forte recensebat numerum carosque nepotes,

To blot the memory of his ancient wrong!

fataque fortunasque virum moresque manusque.

Why tell the tale, how on my couch they broke,

Isque ubi tendentem adversum per gramina videt

While their accomplice, vile Aeolides,

685 Aenean, alacris palmas utrasque tetendit,

Counselled to many a crime. 0 heavenly Powers!

effusaeque genis lacrimae, et vox excidit ore:

Reward these Greeks their deeds of wickedness,

Venisti tandem, tuaque exspectata parenti

If with clean lips upon your wrath I call!

vicit iter durum pietas? Datur ora tueri,

But, friend, what fortunes have thy life befallen?

nate, tua, et notas audire et reddere voces?

Tell point by point. Did waves of wandering seas

690 Sic equidem ducebam animo rebarque futurum,

Drive thee this way, or some divine command?

tempora dinumerans, nec me mea cura fefellit.

What chastisement of fortune thrusts thee on

Quas ego te terras et quanta per aequora vectum

Toward this forlorn abode of night and cloud?”

accipio! quantis iactatum, nate, periclis!

While thus they talked, the crimsoned car of Morn

Quam metui, ne quid Libyae tibi regna nocerent!

Had wheeled beyond the midmost point of heaven,

695 Ille autem: Tua me, genitor, tua tristis imago,

On her ethereal road. The princely pair

saepius occurrens, haec limina tendere adegit:

Had wasted thus the whole brief gift of hours;

stant sale Tyrrheno classes. Da iungere dextram,

But Sibyl spoke the warning: “Night speeds by,

da, genitor, teque amplexu ne subtrahe nostro.

And we, Aeneas, lose it in lamenting.

Sic memorans, largo fletu simul ora rigabat.

Here comes the place where cleaves our way in twain.

700 Ter conatus ibi collo dare brachia circum,

Thy road, the right, toward Pluto's dwelling goes,

ter frustra comprensa manus effugit imago,

And leads us to Elysium. But the left

par levibus ventis volucrique simillima somno.

Speeds sinful souls to doom, and is their path

Interea videt Aeneas in valle reducta

To Tartarus th' accurst.” Deiphobus Deïphobus

seclusum nemus et virgulta sonantia silvis,

Cried out: “0 priestess, be not wroth with us!

705 Lethaeumque, domos placidas qui praenatat, amnem.

Back to the ranks with yonder ghosts I go.

Hunc circum innumerae gentes populique volabant;

0 glory of my race, pass on! Thy lot

ac—velut in pratis ubi apes aestate serena

Be happier than mine!” He spoke, and fled.

floribus insidunt variis, et candida circum

Aeneas straightway by the leftward cliff

lilia funduntur—strepit omnis murmure campus.

Beheld a spreading rampart, high begirt

710 Horrescit visu subito, causasque requirit

With triple wall, and circling round it ran

inscius Aeneas, quae sint ea flumina porro,

A raging river of swift floods of flame,

quive viri tanto complerint agmine ripas.

Infernal Phlegethon, which whirls along

Tum pater Anchises: Animae, quibus altera fato

Loud-thundering rocks. A mighty gate is there

corpora debentur, Lethaei ad fluminis undam

Columned in adamant; no human power,

715 securos latices et longa oblivia potant.

Nor even the gods, against this gate prevail.

Has equidem memorare tibi atque ostendere coram,

Tall tower of steel it has; and seated there

iampridem hanc prolem cupio enumerare meorum,

Tisiphone, in blood-flecked pall arrayed,

quo magis Italia mecum laetere reperta.

Sleepless forever, guards the entering way.

O pater, anne aliquas ad caelum hinc ire putandum est

Hence groans are heard, fierce cracks of lash and scourge,

720 sublimis animas, iterumque ad tarda reverti

Loud-clanking iron links and trailing chains.

corpora? Quae lucis miseris tam dira cupido?

Aeneas motionless with horror stood

Dicam equidem, nec te suspensum, nate, tenebo

o'erwhelmed at such uproar. “0 virgin, say

suscipit Anchises, atque ordine singula pandit.

What shapes of guilt are these? What penal woe

Principio caelum ac terras camposque liquentis

Harries them thus? What wailing smites the air?”

725 lucentemque globum Lunae Titaniaque astra

To whom the Sibyl, “Far-famed prince of Troy,

spiritus intus alit, totamque infusa per artus

The feet of innocence may never pass

mens agitat molem et magno se corpore miscet.

Into this house of sin. But Hecate,

Inde hominum pecudumque genus, vitaeque volantum,

When o'er th' Avernian groves she gave me power,

et quae marmoreo fert monstra sub aequore pontus.

Taught me what penalties the gods decree,

730 Igneus est ollis vigor et caelestis origo

And showed me all. There Cretan Rhadamanth

seminibus, quantum non noxia corpora tardant,

His kingdom keeps, and from unpitying throne

terrenique hebetant artus moribundaque membra.

Chastises and lays bare the secret sins

Hinc metuunt cupiuntque, dolent gaudentque, neque auras

Of mortals who, exulting in vain guile,

dispiciunt clausae tenebris et carcere caeco.

Elude till death, their expiation due.

735 Quin et supremo cum lumine vita reliquit,

There, armed forever with her vengeful scourge,

non tamen omne malum miseris nec funditus omnes

Tisiphone, with menace and affront,

corporeae excedunt pestes, penitusque necesse est

The guilty swarm pursues; in her left hand

multa diu concreta modis inolescere miris.

She lifts her angered serpents, while she calls

Ergo exercentur poenis, veterumque malorum

A troop of sister-furies fierce as she.

740 supplicia expendunt: aliae panduntur inanes

Then, grating loud on hinge of sickening sound,

suspensae ad ventos; aliis sub gurgite vasto

Hell's portals open wide. 0, dost thou see

infectum eluitur scelus, aut exuritur igni;

What sentinel upon that threshold sits,

quisque suos patimur Manes; exinde per amplum

What shapes of fear keep guard upon that gloom?

mittimur Elysium, et pauci laeta arva tenemus;

Far, far within the dragon Hydra broods

745 donec longa dies, perfecto temporis orbe,

With half a hundred mouths, gaping and black;

concretam exemit labem, purumque relinquit

And Tartarus slopes downward to the dark

aetherium sensum atque auraï simplicis ignem.

Twice the whole space that in the realms of light

Has omnes, ubi mille rotam volvere per annos,

Th' Olympian heaven above our earth aspires. —

Lethaeum ad fluvium deus evocat agmine magno,

Here Earth's first offspring, the Titanic brood,

750 scilicet immemores supera ut convexa revisant,

Roll lightning-blasted in the gulf profound;

rursus et incipiant in corpora velle reverti.

The twin Aloidae Aloïdae, colossal shades,

Dixerat Anchises, natumque unaque Sibyllam

Came on my view; their hands made stroke at Heaven

conventus trahit in medios turbamque sonantem,

And strove to thrust Jove from his seat on high.

et tumulum capit, unde omnes longo ordine possit

I saw Salmoneus his dread stripes endure,

755 adversos legere, et venientum discere vultus.

Who dared to counterfeit Olympian thunder

Nunc age, Dardaniam prolem quae deinde sequatur

And Jove's own fire. In chariot of four steeds,

gloria, qui maneant Itala de gente nepotes,

Brandishing torches, he triumphant rode

inlustris animas nostrumque in nomen ituras,

Through throngs of Greeks, o'er Elis' sacred way,

expediam dictis, et te tua fata docebo.

Demanding worship as a god. 0 fool!

760 Ille, vides, pura iuvenis qui nititur hasta,

To mock the storm's inimitable flash—

proxuma sorte tenet lucis loca, primus ad auras

With crash of hoofs and roll of brazen wheel!

aetherias Italo commixtus sanguine surget,

But mightiest Jove from rampart of thick cloud

silvius, Albanum nomen, tua postuma proles,

Hurled his own shaft, no flickering, mortal flame,

quem tibi longaevo serum Lavinia coniunx

And in vast whirl of tempest laid him low.

765 educet silvis regem regumque parentem,

Next unto these, on Tityos I looked,

unde genus Longa nostrum dominabitur Alba.

Child of old Earth, whose womb all creatures bears:

Proxumus ille Procas, Troianae gloria gentis,

Stretched o'er nine roods he lies; a vulture huge

et Capys, et Numitor, et qui te nomine reddet

Tears with hooked beak at his immortal side,

Silvius Aeneas, pariter pietate vel armis

Or deep in entrails ever rife with pain

770 egregius, si umquam regnandam acceperit Albam.

Gropes for a feast, making his haunt and home

Qui iuvenes! Quantas ostentant, aspice, vires,

In the great Titan bosom; nor will give

atque umbrata gerunt civili tempora quercu!

To ever new-born flesh surcease of woe.

Hi tibi Nomentum et Gabios urbemque Fidenam,

Why name Ixion and Pirithous,

hi Collatinas imponent montibus arces,

The Lapithae, above whose impious brows

775 Pometios Castrumque Inui Bolamque Coramque.

A crag of flint hangs quaking to its fall,

Haec tum nomina erunt, nunc sunt sine nomine terrae.

As if just toppling down, while couches proud,

Quin et avo comitem sese Mavortius addet

Propped upon golden pillars, bid them feast

Romulus, Assaraci quem sanguinis Ilia mater

In royal glory: but beside them lies

educet. Viden, ut geminae stant vertice cristae,

The eldest of the Furies, whose dread hands

780 et pater ipse suo superum iam signat honore?

Thrust from the feast away, and wave aloft

En, huius, nate, auspiciis illa incluta Roma

A flashing firebrand, with shrieks of woe.

imperium terris, animos aequabit Olympo,

Here in a prison-house awaiting doom

septemque una sibi muro circumdabit arces,

Are men who hated, long as life endured,

felix prole virum: qualis Berecyntia mater

Their brothers, or maltreated their gray sires,

785 invehitur curru Phrygias turrita per urbes,

Or tricked a humble friend; the men who grasped

laeta deum partu, centum complexa nepotes,

At hoarded riches, with their kith and kin

omnes caelicolas, omnes supera alta tenentes.

Not sharing ever—an unnumbered throng;

Huc geminas nunc flecte acies, hanc aspice gentem

Here slain adulterers be; and men who dared

Romanosque tuos. Hic Caesar et omnis Iuli

To fight in unjust cause, and break all faith

790 progenies magnum caeli ventura sub axem.

With their own lawful lords. Seek not to know

Hic vir, hic est, tibi quem promitti saepius audis,

What forms of woe they feel, what fateful shape

Augustus Caesar, Divi genus, aurea condet

Of retribution hath o'erwhelmed them there.

saecula qui rursus Latio regnata per arva

Some roll huge boulders up; some hang on wheels,

Saturno quondam, super et Garamantas et Indos

Lashed to the whirling spokes; in his sad seat

795 proferet imperium: iacet extra sidera tellus,

Theseus is sitting, nevermore to rise;

extra anni solisque vias, ubi caelifer Atlas

Unhappy Phlegyas uplifts his voice

axem umero torquet stellis ardentibus aptum.

In warning through the darkness, calling loud,

Huius in adventum iam nunc et Caspia regna

‘0, ere too late, learn justice and fear God!’

responsis horrent divom et Maeotia tellus,

Yon traitor sold his country, and for gold

800 et septemgemini turbant trepida ostia Nili.

Enchained her to a tyrant, trafficking

Nec vero Alcides tantum telluris obivit,

In laws, for bribes enacted or made void;

fixerit aeripedem cervam licet, aut Erymanthi

Another did incestuously take

pacarit nemora, et Lernam tremefecerit arcu;

His daughter for a wife in lawless bonds.

nec, qui pampineis victor iuga flectit habenis,

All ventured some unclean, prodigious crime;

805 Liber, agens celso Nysae de vertice tigres.

And what they dared, achieved. I could not tell,

Et dubitamus adhuc virtute extendere vires,

Not with a hundred mouths, a hundred tongues,

aut metus Ausonia prohibet consistere terra?

Or iron voice, their divers shapes of sin,

Quis procul ille autem ramis insignis olivae

Nor call by name the myriad pangs they bear.”

sacra ferens? Nosco crines incanaque menta

So spake Apollo's aged prophetess.

810 regis Romani, primus qui legibus urbem

“Now up and on!” she cried. “Thy task fulfil!

fundabit, Curibus parvis et paupere terra

We must make speed. Behold yon arching doors

missus in imperium magnum. Cui deinde subibit,

Yon walls in furnace of the Cyclops forged!

otia qui rumpet patriae residesque movebit

'T is there we are commanded to lay down

Tullus in arma viros et iam desueta triumphis

Th' appointed offering.” So, side by side,

815 agmina. Quem iuxta sequitur iactantior Ancus,

Swift through the intervening dark they strode,

nunc quoque iam nimium gaudens popularibus auris.

And, drawing near the portal-arch, made pause.

Vis et Tarquinios reges, animamque superbam

Aeneas, taking station at the door,

ultoris Bruti, fascesque videre receptos?

Pure, lustral waters o'er his body threw,

Consulis imperium hic primus saevasque secures

And hung for garland there the Golden Bough.

820 accipiet, natosque pater nova bella moventes

Now, every rite fulfilled, and tribute due

ad poenam pulchra pro libertate vocabit.

Paid to the sovereign power of Proserpine,

Infelix, utcumque ferent ea facta minores,

At last within a land delectable

vincet amor patriae laudumque immensa cupido.

Their journey lay, through pleasurable bowers

Quin Decios Drusosque procul saevumque securi

Of groves where all is joy,—a blest abode!

825 aspice Torquatum et referentem signa Camillum.

An ampler sky its roseate light bestows

Illae autem, paribus quas fulgere cernis in armis,

On that bright land, which sees the cloudless beam

concordes animae nunc et dum nocte premuntur,

Of suns and planets to our earth unknown.

heu quantum inter se bellum, si lumina vitae

On smooth green lawns, contending limb with limb,

attigerint, quantas acies stragemque ciebunt!

Immortal athletes play, and wrestle long

830 Aggeribus socer Alpinis atque arce Monoeci

'gainst mate or rival on the tawny sand;

descendens, gener adversis instructus Eois.

With sounding footsteps and ecstatic song,

Ne, pueri, ne tanta animis adsuescite bella,

Some thread the dance divine: among them moves

neu patriae validas in viscera vertite vires;

The bard of Thrace, in flowing vesture clad,

tuque prior, tu parce, genus qui ducis Olympo,

Discoursing seven-noted melody,

835 proice tela manu, sanguis meus!—

Who sweeps the numbered strings with changeful hand,

Ille triumphata Capitolia ad alta Corintho

Or smites with ivory point his golden lyre.

victor aget currum, caesis insignis Achivis.

Here Trojans be of eldest, noblest race,

Eruet ille Argos Agamemnoniasque Mycenas,

Great-hearted heroes, born in happier times,

ipsumque Aeaciden, genus armipotentis Achilli,

Ilus, Assaracus, and Dardanus,

840 ultus avos Troiae, templa et temerata Minervae.

Illustrious builders of the Trojan town.

Quis te, magne Cato, tacitum, aut te, Cosse, relinquat?

Their arms and shadowy chariots he views,

Quis Gracchi genus, aut geminos, duo fulmina belli,

And lances fixed in earth, while through the fields

Scipiadas, cladem Libyae, parvoque potentem

Their steeds without a bridle graze at will.

Fabricium vel te sulco Serrane, serentem?

For if in life their darling passion ran

845 quo fessum rapitis, Fabii? Tu Maxumus ille es,

To chariots, arms, or glossy-coated steeds,

unus qui nobis cunctando restituis rem.

The self-same joy, though in their graves, they feel.

Excudent alii spirantia mollius aera,

Lo! on the left and right at feast reclined

credo equidem, vivos ducent de marmore voltus,

Are other blessed souls, whose chorus sings

orabunt causas melius, caelique meatus

Victorious paeans on the fragrant air

850 describent radio, et surgentia sidera dicent:

Of laurel groves; and hence to earth outpours

tu regere imperio populos, Romane, memento;

Eridanus, through forests rolling free.

hae tibi erunt artes; pacisque imponere morem,

Here dwell the brave who for their native land

parcere subiectis, et debellare superbos.

Fell wounded on the field; here holy priests

Marcellus and the Gates of Ivory

Sic pater Anchises, atque haec mirantibus addit:

Who kept them undefiled their mortal day;

855 Aspice, ut insignis spoliis Marcellus opimis

And poets, of whom the true-inspired song

ingreditur, victorque viros supereminet omnes!

Deserved Apollo's name; and all who found

Hic rem Romanam, magno turbante tumultu,

New arts, to make man's life more blest or fair;

sistet, eques sternet Poenos Gallumque rebellem,

Yea! here dwell all those dead whose deeds bequeath

tertiaque arma patri suspendet capta Quirino.

Deserved and grateful memory to their kind.

860 Atque hic Aeneas; una namque ire videbat

And each bright brow a snow-white fillet wears.

egregium forma iuvenem et fulgentibus armis,

Unto this host the Sibyl turned, and hailed

sed frons laeta parum, et deiecto lumina voltu:

Musaeus, midmost of a numerous throng,

Quis, pater, ille, virum qui sic comitatur euntem?

Who towered o'er his peers a shoulder higher:

Filius, anne aliquis magna de stirpe nepotum?

“0 spirits blest! 0 venerable bard!

865 Quis strepitus circa comitum! Quantum instar in ipso!

Declare what dwelling or what region holds

Sed nox atra caput tristi circumvolat umbra.

Anchises, for whose sake we twain essayed

Tum pater Anchises, lacrimis ingressus obortis:

Yon passage over the wide streams of hell.”

O gnate, ingentem luctum ne quaere tuorum;

And briefly thus the hero made reply:

ostendent terris hunc tantum fata, neque ultra

“No fixed abode is ours. In shadowy groves

870 esse sinent. Nimium vobis Romana propago

We make our home, or meadows fresh and fair,

visa potens, Superi, propria haec si dona fuissent.

With streams whose flowery banks our couches be.

Quantos ille virum magnam Mavortis ad urbem

But you, if thitherward your wishes turn,

campus aget gemitus, vel quae, Tiberine, videbis

Climb yonder hill, where I your path may show.”

funera, cum tumulum praeterlabere recentem!

So saying, he strode forth and led them on,

875 Nec puer Iliaca quisquam de gente Latinos

Till from that vantage they had prospect fair

in tantum spe tollet avos, nec Romula quondam

Of a wide, shining land; thence wending down,

ullo se tantum tellus iactabit alumno.

They left the height they trod;for far below

Heu pietas, heu prisca fides, invictaque bello

Father Anchises in a pleasant vale

dextera! Non illi se quisquam impune tulisset

Stood pondering, while his eyes and thought surveyed

880 obvius armato, seu cum pedes iret in hostem,

A host of prisoned spirits, who there abode

seu spumantis equi foderet calcaribus armos.

Awaiting entrance to terrestrial air.

Heu, miserande puer, si qua fata aspera rumpas,

And musing he reviewed the legions bright

tu Marcellus eris. Manibus date lilia plenis,

Of his own progeny and offspring proud—

purpureos spargam flores, animamque nepotis

Their fates and fortunes, virtues and great deeds.

885 his saltem adcumulem donis, et fungar inani

Soon he discerned Aeneas drawing nigh

munere—Sic tota passim regione vagantur

o'er the green slope, and, lifting both his hands

aëris in campis latis, atque omnia lustrant.

In eager welcome, spread them swiftly forth.

Quae postquam Anchises natum per singula duxit,

Tears from his eyelids rained, and thus he spoke:

incenditque animum famae venientis amore,

“Art here at last? Hath thy well-proven love

890 exin bella viro memorat quae deinde gerenda,

Of me thy sire achieved yon arduous way?

Laurentisque docet populos urbemque Latini,

Will Heaven, beloved son, once more allow

et quo quemque modo fugiatque feratque laborem.

That eye to eye we look? and shall I hear

Sunt geminae Somni portae, quarum altera fertur

Thy kindred accent mingling with my own?

cornea, qua veris facilis datur exitus umbris;

I cherished long this hope. My prophet-soul

895 altera candenti perfecta nitens elephanto,

Numbered the lapse of days, nor did my thought

sed falsa ad caelum mittunt insomnia Manes.

Deceive. 0, o'er what lands and seas wast driven

His ubi tum natum Anchises unaque Sibyllam

To this embrace! What perils manifold

prosequitur dictis, portaque emittit eburna,

Assailed thee, 0 my son, on every side!

ille viam secat ad naves sociosque revisit:

How long I trembled, lest that Libyan throne

900 tum se ad Caietae recto fert litore portum.

Should work thee woe!”

Ancora de prora iacitur, stant litore puppes.

Aeneas thus replied:

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Manuscript Sources

Digitised manuscripts and papyri containing this text.

Vergilius Vaticanus (Vat. lat. 3225)
c. 400 CE

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One of only three illustrated ancient manuscripts to survive from the classical world. Painted in Rome around 400 CE, its miniatures show scenes from the Aeneid and Georgics in a style that bridges Roman wall-painting and the medieval tradition. Only 76 leaves survive from an original estimated at over 400.

Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, Vatican City · Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana (DigiVatLib) · Free access for study

Vergilius Romanus (Vat. lat. 3867)
5th century CE

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A complete text of the Aeneid from the 5th century, with 19 full-page miniatures in gold-leaf frames. The illustrations are cruder than the Vaticanus but fascinating — they show how late-antique artists imagined Virgil's scenes. One of the most important surviving witnesses to the complete poem.

Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, Vatican City · Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana (DigiVatLib) · Free access for study

Vergilius Palatinus (Pal. lat. 1631)
c. 500 CE

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A late-antique manuscript containing all three of Virgil's major works: Eclogues, Georgics, and Aeneid. Written around 500 CE, it came from Lorsch Monastery in Germany and is now split between the Vatican and Heidelberg. An important witness because it preserves some readings lost in other traditions.

Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, Vatican City (from Lorsch Monastery) · Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana (DigiVatLib) · Free access for study

P. Berlin 21138 — Bilingual Aeneid
450-499 CE

View

A papyrus codex from Egypt with the Latin text of the Aeneid and a Greek translation written between the lines. Evidence of how the poem was studied in the Greek-speaking eastern Empire during the 5th century. Laid out in four columns with 362 surviving lines from Books 1 and 2.

Agyptisches Museum und Papyrussammlung, Berlin · Berlin Papyrus Database (BerlPap) · CC BY 3.0

P. Berlin 21299 — Aeneid Book 10
4th century CE

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A 4th-century papyrus fragment preserving part of Aeneid Book 10, including the death of Mezentius. Found in Egypt, it shows Latin literature circulating far from Rome. The handwriting suggests a professional scribe rather than a student exercise.

Agyptisches Museum und Papyrussammlung, Berlin · Berlin Papyrus Database (BerlPap) · CC BY 3.0

O. Claud. I 190 — Mons Claudianus Ostracon
100-120 CE

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The oldest surviving witness to Virgil's text. Scratched onto a pottery shard at a Roman quarry in the Eastern Desert of Egypt, around 100–120 CE — within a generation of when our earliest Aeneid manuscripts were being copied. A soldier or worker wrote out the opening lines of the Aeneid, probably from memory.

Qift Archaeological Storeroom, Egypt · Nakala (IIIF) · CC BY 3.0

P. Ryl. Gr. 478 — Manchester Bilingual Aeneid
4th century CE

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A school exercise book from 4th-century Egypt. A student copied out passages from the Aeneid in Latin with a Greek crib alongside — homework that survived nearly two millennia. Now in the John Rylands Library, Manchester.

University of Manchester Library, John Rylands Collection · University of Manchester (John Rylands Collection) · CC BY 3.0

Greenough 1881

Greenough, Ginn and Company, 1881 · 1881

The Editor

James Bradstreet Greenough (1833–1901) was Professor of Latin at Harvard University and one of the most influential American Latinists of the 19th century. He is best remembered for Allen and Greenough's New Latin Grammar (1888), which became the standard Latin grammar textbook in American schools and universities for over a century. His edition of Virgil, produced with collaborators for the American classroom, combined a reliable text with extensive commentary aimed at students.

About This Edition

Greenough's Virgil, published by Ginn and Company (1881), is a school/university text rather than a critical edition in the Teubner or OCT sense. It does not present an independent critical apparatus but follows the best available text of its time, with editorial choices aimed at clarity for students. For a pure critical text of Virgil, the OCT editions by Mynors (Aeneid, 1969; revised 1972) and Clausen (Eclogues, 1994) should be preferred. Greenough's text remains historically interesting as one of the first major American contributions to Virgilian scholarship.