Aeneid

When Turnus saw the Latins leave the field,

Turnus ut infractos adverso Marte Latinos

Their armies broken, and their courage quell'd,

defecisse videt, sua nunc promissa reposci,

Himself become the mark of public spite,

se signari oculis, ultro implacabilis ardet

His honor question'd for the promis'd fight;

attollitque animos. Poenorum qualis in arvis

The more he was with vulgar hate oppress'd,

saucius ille gravi venantum vulnere pectus

The more his fury boil'd within his breast:

tum demum movet arma leo gaudetque comantis

He rous'd his vigor for the last debate,

excutiens cervice toros fixumque latronis

And rais'd his haughty soul to meet his fate.

inpavidus frangit telum et fremit ore cruento:

As, when the swains the Libyan lion chase,

haud secus adcenso gliscit violentia Turno.

He makes a sour retreat, nor mends his pace;

Tum sic adfatur regem atque ita turbidus infit:

But, if the pointed jav'lin pierce his side,

Nulla mora in Turno; nihil est quod dicta retractent

The lordly beast returns with double pride:

ignavi Aeneadae, nec quae pepigere recusent.

He wrenches out the steel, he roars for pain;

Congredior, fer sacra, pater, et concipe foedus.

His sides he lashes, and erects his mane:

Aut hac Dardanium dextra sub Tartara mittam,

So Turnus fares; his eyeballs flash with fire,

desertorem Asiae (sedeant spectentque Latini),

Thro' his wide nostrils clouds of smoke expire.

et solus ferro crimen commune refellam,

Trembling with rage, around the court he ran,

aut habeat victos, cedat Lavinia coniunx.

At length approach'd the king, and thus began:

Olli sedato respondit corde Latinus:

"No more excuses or delays: I stand

O praestans animi iuvenis, quantum ipse feroci

In arms prepar'd to combat, hand to hand,

virtute exsuperas, tanto me impensius aequum est

This base deserter of his native land.

consulere atque omnis metuentem expendere casus.

The Trojan, by his word, is bound to take

Sunt tibi regna patris Dauni, sunt oppida capta

The same conditions which himself did make.

multa manu, nec non aurumque animusque Latino est;

Renew the truce; the solemn rites prepare,

sunt aliae innuptae Latio et Laurentibus arvis,

And to my single virtue trust the war.

nec genus indecores. Sine me haec haud mollia fatu

The Latians unconcern'd shall see the fight;

sublatis aperire dolis, simul hoc animo hauri.

This arm unaided shall assert your right:

Me natam nulli veterum sociare procorum

Then, if my prostrate body press the plain,

fas erat, idque omnes divique hominesque canebant.

To him the crown and beauteous bride remain."

Victus amore tui, cognato sanguine victus

To whom the king sedately thus replied:

coniugis et maestae lacrumis, vincla omnia rupi:

"Brave youth, the more your valor has been tried,

promissam eripui genero, arma impia sumpsi.

The more becomes it us, with due respect,

Ex illo qui me casus, quae, Turne, sequantur

To weigh the chance of war, which you neglect.

bella, vides, quantos primus patiare labores.

You want not wealth, or a successive throne,

Bis magna victi pugna vix urbe tuemur

Or cities which your arms have made your own:

spes Italas; recalent nostro Thybrina fluenta

My towns and treasures are at your command,

sanguine adhuc campique ingentes ossibus albent.

And stor'd with blooming beauties is my land;

Quo referor totiens? Quae mentem insania mutat?

Laurentum more than one Lavinia sees,

Si Turno exstincto socios sum adscire paratus,

Unmarried, fair, of noble families.

cur non incolumi potius certamina tollo?

Now let me speak, and you with patience hear,

Quid consanguinei Rutuli, quid cetera dicet

Things which perhaps may grate a lover's ear,

Italia, ad mortem si te—Fors dicta refutet!—

But sound advice, proceeding from a heart

prodiderim, natam et conubia nostra petentem?

Sincerely yours, and free from fraudful art.

Respice res bello varias; miserere parentis

The gods, by signs, have manifestly shown,

longaevi, quem nunc maestum patria Ardea longe

No prince Italian born should heir my throne:

dividit. Haudquaquam dictis violentia Turni

Oft have our augurs, in prediction skill'd,

flectitur: exsuperat magis aegrescitque medendo.

And oft our priests, foreign son reveal'd.

Ut primum fari potuit, sic institit ore:

Yet, won by worth that cannot be withstood,

Quam pro me curam geris, hanc precor, optime, pro me

Brib'd by my kindness to my kindred blood,

deponas letumque sinas pro laude pacisci:

Urg'd by my wife, who would not be denied,

et nos tela, pater, ferrumque haud debile dextra

I promis'd my Lavinia for your bride:

spargimus; et nostro sequitur de volnere sanguis.

Her from her plighted lord by force I took;

longe illi dea mater erit, quae nube fugacem

All ties of treaties, and of honor, broke:

feminea tegat et vanis sese occulat umbris.

On your account I wag'd an impious war-

At regina, nova pugnae conterrita sorte,

With what success, 't is needless to declare;

flebat et ardentem generum monitura tenebat:

I and my subjects feel, and you have had your share.

Turne, per has ego te lacrimas, per siquis Amatae

Twice vanquish'd while in bloody fields we strive,

tangit honos animum (spes tu nunc una, senectae

Scarce in our walls we keep our hopes alive:

tu requies miserae, decus imperiumque Latini

The rolling flood runs warm with human gore;

te penes, in te omnis domus inclinata recumbit).

The bones of Latians blanch the neighb'ring shore.

unum oro: desiste manum committere Teucris.

Why put I not an end to this debate,

Qui te cumque manent isto certamine casus,

Still unresolv'd, and still a slave to fate?

et me, Turne, manent: simul haec invisa relinquam

If Turnus' death a lasting peace can give,

lumina nec generum Aenean captiva videbo.

Why should I not procure it whilst you live?

Accepit vocem lacrimis Lavinia matris

Should I to doubtful arms your youth betray,

flagrantis perfusa genas, quoi plurimus ignem

What would my kinsmen the Rutulians say?

subiecit rubor et calefacta per ora cucurrit.

And, should you fall in fight, (which Heav'n defend!)

Indum sanguineo veluti violaverit ostro

How curse the cause which hasten'd to his end

siquis ebur, aut mixta rubent ubi lilia multa

The daughter's lover and the father's friend?

alba rosa: talis virgo dabat ore colores.

Weigh in your mind the various chance of war;

Illum turbat amor, figitque in virgine voltus:

Pity your parent's age, and ease his care."

ardet in arma magis paucisque adfatur Amatam.

Such balmy words he pour'd, but all in vain:

Ne, quaeso, ne me lacrimis neve omine tanto

The proffer'd med'cine but provok'd the pain.

prosequere in duri certamina Martis euntem,

The wrathful youth, disdaining the relief,

O mater; neque enim Turno mora libera mortis.

With intermitting sobs thus vents his grief:

Nuntius haec Idmon Phrygio mea dicta tyranno

"The care, O best of fathers, which you take

haud placitura refer: cum primum crastina caelo

For my concerns, at my desire forsake.

puniceis invecta rotis Aurora rubebit,

Permit me not to languish out my days,

non Teucros agat in Rutulos, Teucrum arma quiescant

But make the best exchange of life for praise.

et Rutuli; nostro dirimamus sanguine bellum,

This arm, this lance, can well dispute the prize;

illo quaeratur coniunx Lavinia campo.

And the blood follows, where the weapon flies.

Haec ubi dicta dedit rapidusque in tecta recessit.

His goddess mother is not near, to shroud

poscit equos gaudetque tuens ante ora frementis,

The flying coward with an empty cloud."

Pilumno quos ipsa decus dedit Orithyia,

But now the queen, who fear'd for Turnus' life,

qui candore nives anteirent, cursibus auras.

And loath'd the hard conditions of the strife,

Circumstant properi aurigae manibusque lacessunt

Held him by force; and, dying in his death,

pectora plausa cavis et colla comantia pectunt.

In these sad accents gave her sorrow breath:

Ipse dehinc auro squalentem alboque orichalco

"O Turnus, I adjure thee by these tears,

circumdat loricam umeris; simul aptat habendo

And whate'er price Amata's honor bears

ensemque clipeumque et rubrae cornua cristae.

Within thy breast, since thou art all my hope,

ensem, quem Dauno ignipotens deus ipse parenti

My sickly mind's repose, my sinking age's prop;

fecerat et Stygia candentem tinxerat unda.

Since on the safety of thy life alone

Exin quae mediis ingenti adnixa columnae

Depends Latinus, and the Latian throne:

aedibus adstabat, validam vi corripit hastam,

Refuse me not this one, this only pray'r,

Actoris Aurunci spolium, quassatque trementem

To waive the combat, and pursue the war.

vociferans: Nunc, O numquam frustrata vocatus

Whatever chance attends this fatal strife,

Think it includes, in thine, Amata's life.

I cannot live a slave, or see my throne

Usurp'd by strangers or a Trojan son."

At this, a flood of tears Lavinia shed;

A crimson blush her beauteous face o'erspread,

Varying her cheeks by turns with white and red.

The driving colors, never at a stay,

Run here and there, and flush, and fade away.

Delightful change! Thus Indian iv'ry shows,

Which with the bord'ring paint of purple glows;

Or lilies damask'd by the neighb'ring rose.

The lover gaz'd, and, burning with desire,

The more he look'd, the more he fed the fire:

Revenge, and jealous rage, and secret spite,

Roll in his breast, and rouse him to the fight.

Then fixing on the queen his ardent eyes,

Firm to his first intent, he thus replies:

"O mother, do not by your tears prepare

Such boding omens, and prejudge the war.

Resolv'd on fight, I am no longer free

To shun my death, if Heav'n my death decree."

Then turning to the herald, thus pursues:

"Go, greet the Trojan with ungrateful news;

Denounce from me, that, when to-morrow's light

Shall gild the heav'ns, he need not urge the fight;

The Trojan and Rutulian troops no more

Shall dye, with mutual blood, the Latian shore:

Our single swords the quarrel shall decide,

And to the victor be the beauteous bride."

He said, and striding on, with speedy pace,

He sought his coursers of the Thracian race.

At his approach they toss their heads on high,

And, proudly neighing, promise victory.

The sires of these Orythia sent from far,

To grace Pilumnus, when he went to war.

The drifts of Thracian snows were scarce so white,

Nor northern winds in fleetness match'd their flight.

Officious grooms stand ready by his side;

And some with combs their flowing manes divide,

And others stroke their chests and gently soothe their pride

He sheath'd his limbs in arms; a temper'd mass

Of golden metal those, and mountain brass.

hasta meos, nunc tempus adest: te maximus Actor

Then to his head his glitt'ring helm he tied,

te Turni nunc dextra gerit. Da sternere corpus

And girt his faithful fauchion to his side.

loricamque manu valida lacerare revulsam

In his Aetnaean forge, the God of Fire

semiviri Phrygis et foedare in pulvere crinis

That fauchion labor'd for the hero's sire;

vibratos calido ferro murraque madentis.

Immortal keenness on the blade bestow'd,

His agitur furiis; totoque ardentis ab ore

And plung'd it hissing in the Stygian flood.

scintillae absistunt, oculis micat acribus ignis:

Propp'd on a pillar, which the ceiling bore,

mugitus veluti cum prima in proelia taurus

Was plac'd the lance Auruncan Actor wore;

terrificos ciet atque irasci in cornua temptat,

Which with such force he brandish'd in his hand,

arboris obnixus trunco, ventosque lacessit

The tough ash trembled like an osier wand:

ictibus aut sparsa ad pugnam proludit harena.

Then cried: "O pond'rous spoil of Actor slain,

Nec minus interea maternis saevos in armis

And never yet by Turnus toss'd in vain,

Aeneas acuit Martem et se suscitat ira,

Fail not this day thy wonted force; but go,

oblato gaudens componi foedere bellum,

Sent by this hand, to pierce the Trojan foe!

tum socios maestique metum solatur Iuli,

Give me to tear his corslet from his breast,

fata docens, regique iubet responsa Latino

And from that eunuch head to rend the crest;

certa referre viros et pacis dicere leges.

Dragg'd in the dust, his frizzled hair to soil,

Postera vix summos spargebat lumine montis

Hot from the vexing ir'n, and smear'd with fragrant oil!"

orta dies, cum primum alto se gurgite tollunt

Thus while he raves, from his wide nostrils flies

solis equi lucemque elatis naribus efflant:

A fiery steam, and sparkles from his eyes.

campum ad certamen magnae sub moenibus urbis

So fares the bull in his lov'd female's sight:

dimensi Rutulique viri Teucrique parabant

Proudly he bellows, and preludes the fight;

in medioque focos et dis communibus aras

He tries his goring horns against a tree,

gramineas. Alii fontemque ignemque ferebant,

And meditates his absent enemy;

velati limo et verbena tempora vincti.

He pushes at the winds; he digs the strand

Procedit legio Ausonidum, pilataque plenis

With his black hoofs, and spurns the yellow sand.

agmina se fundunt portis. Hinc Troïus omnis

Nor less the Trojan, in his Lemnian arms,

Tyrrhenusque ruit variis exercitus armis,

To future fight his manly courage warms:

haud secus instructi ferro, quam si aspera Martis

He whets his fury, and with joy prepares

pugna vocet; nec non mediis in milibus ipsi

To terminate at once the ling'ring wars;

ductores auro volitant ostroque decori,

To cheer his chiefs and tender son, relates

et genus Assaraci Mnestheus et fortis Asilas

What Heav'n had promis'd, and expounds the fates.

et Messapus equum domitor, Neptunia proles.

Then to the Latian king he sends, to cease

Utque dato signo spatia in sua quisque recessit,

The rage of arms, and ratify the peace.

defigunt tellure hastas et scuta reclinant.

The morn ensuing, from the mountain's height,

Tum studio effusae matres et volgus inermum

Had scarcely spread the skies with rosy light;

invalidique senes turris ac tecta domorum

Th' ethereal coursers, bounding from the sea,

obsedere, alii portis sublimibus adstant.

From out their flaming nostrils breath'd the day;

At Iuno e summo, qui nunc Albanus habetur,

When now the Trojan and Rutulian guard,

tum neque nomen erat nec honos aut gloria monti,

In friendly labor join'd, the list prepar'd.

prospiciens tumulo campum aspectabat et ambas

Beneath the walls they measure out the space;

Laurentum Troumque acies urbemque Latini.

Then sacred altars rear, on sods of grass,

Extemplo Turni sic est adfata sororem

Where, with religious their common gods they place.

diva deam, stagnis quae fluminibusque sonoris

In purest white the priests their heads attire;

praesidet (hunc illi rex aetheris altus honorem

And living waters bear, and holy fire;

Iuppiter erepta pro virginitate sacravit):

And, o'er their linen hoods and shaded hair,

Nympha, decus fluviorum, animo gratissima nostro,

Long twisted wreaths of sacred veryain wear,

scis ut te cunctis unam, quaecumque Latinae

In order issuing from the town appears

magnanimi Iovis ingratum ascendere cubile,

The Latin legion, arm'd with pointed spears;

praetulerim caelique lubens in parte locarim:

And from the fields, advancing on a line,

disce tuum, ne me incuses, Iuturna, dolorem.

The Trojan and the Tuscan forces join:

Qua visa est Fortuna pati Parcaeque sinebant

Their various arms afford a pleasing sight;

cedere res Latio, Turnum et tua moenia texi:

A peaceful train they seem, in peace prepar'd for fight.

nunc iuvenem imparibus video concurrere fatis,

Betwixt the ranks the proud commanders ride,

Parcarumque dies et vis inimica propinquat.

Glitt'ring with gold, and vests in purple dyed;

Non pugnam aspicere hanc oculis, non foedera possum.

Here Mnestheus, author of the Memmian line,

Tu pro germano siquid praesentius audes,

And there Messapus, born of seed divine.

perge: decet. Forsan miseros meliora sequentur.

The sign is giv'n; and, round the listed space,

Vix ea, cum lacrimas oculis Iuturna profudit

Each man in order fills his proper place.

terque quaterque manu pectus percussit honestum.

Reclining on their ample shields, they stand,

Non lacrumis hoc tempus, ait Saturnia Iuno:

And fix their pointed lances in the sand.

Adcelera et fratrem, siquis modus, eripe morti,

Now, studious of the sight, a num'rous throng

aut tu bella cie conceptumque excute foedus:

Of either sex promiscuous, old and young,

auctor ego audendi. Sic exhortata reliquit

Swarm the town: by those who rest behind,

incertam et tristi turbatam volnere mentis.

The gates and walls and houses' tops are lin'd.

Interea reges, ingenti mole Latinus

Meantime the Queen of Heav'n beheld the sight,

quadriiugo vehitur curru, cui tempora circum

With eyes unpleas'd, from Mount Albano's height

aurati bis sex radii fulgentia cingunt,

(Since call'd Albano by succeeding fame,

Solis avi specimen; bigis it Turnus in albis,

But then an empty hill, without a name).

bina manu lato crispans hastilia ferro;

She thence survey'd the field, the Trojan pow'rs,

hinc pater Aeneas, Romanae stirpis origo,

The Latian squadrons, and Laurentine tow'rs.

sidereo flagrans clipeo et caelestibus armis,

Then thus the goddess of the skies bespoke,

et iuxta Ascanius, magnae spes altera Romae,

With sighs and tears, the goddess of the lake,

procedunt castris, puraque in veste sacerdos

King Turnus' sister, once a lovely maid,

saetigeri fetum suis intonsamque bidentem

Ere to the lust of lawless Jove betray'd:

adtulit admovitque pecus flagrantibus aris.

Compress'd by force, but, by the grateful god,

Illi ad surgentem conversi lumina solem

Now made the Nais of the neighb'ring flood.

dant fruges manibus salsas et tempora ferro

"O nymph, the pride of living lakes," said she,

summa notant pecudum paterisque altaria libant.

"O most renown'd, and most belov'd by me,

Tum pius Aeneas stricto sic ense precatur:

Long hast thou known, nor need I to record,

Esto nunc Sol testis et haec mihi Terra vocanti,

The wanton sallies of my wand'ring lord.

quam propter tantos potui perferre labores,

Of ev'ry Latian fair whom Jove misled

et pater omnipotens et tu Saturnia coniunx,

To mount by stealth my violated bed,

iam melior, iam, diva, precor, tuque inclute Mavors,

To thee alone I grudg'd not his embrace,

cuncta tuo qui bella, pater, sub numine torques;

But gave a part of heav'n, and an unenvied place.

fontisque fluviosque voco, quaeque aetheris alti

Now learn from me thy near approaching grief,

religio et quae caeruleo sunt numina ponto:

Nor think my wishes want to thy relief.

cesserit Ausonio si fors victoria Turno,

While fortune favor'd, nor Heav'n's King denied

convenit Evandri victos discedere ad urbem,

To lend my succor to the Latian side,

cedet Iulus agris, nec post arma ulla rebelles

I sav'd thy brother, and the sinking state:

Aeneadae referent ferrove haec regna lacessent,

But now he struggles with unequal fate,

sin nostrum adnuerit nobis Victoria Martem

And goes, with gods averse, o'ermatch'd in might,

(ut potius reor et potius di numine firment),

To meet inevitable death in fight;

non ego nec Teucris Italos parere iubebo

Nor must I break the truce, nor can sustain the sight.

nec mihi regna peto: paribus se legibus ambae

Thou, if thou dar'st thy present aid supply;

It well becomes a sister's care to try."

At this the lovely nymph, with grief oppress'd,

Thrice tore her hair, and beat her comely breast.

To whom Saturnia thus: "Thy tears are late:

Haste, snatch him, if he can be snatch'd from fate:

New tumults kindle; violate the truce:

Who knows what changeful fortune may produce?

'T is not a crime t' attempt what I decree;

Or, if it were, discharge the crime on me."

She said, and, sailing on the winged wind,

Left the sad nymph suspended in her mind.

And now pomp the peaceful kings appear:

Four steeds the chariot of Latinus bear;

Twelve golden beams around his temples play,

To mark his lineage from the God of Day.

Two snowy coursers Turnus' chariot yoke,

And in his hand two massy spears he shook:

Then issued from the camp, in arms divine,

Aeneas, author of the Roman line;

And by his side Ascanius took his place,

The second hope of Rome's immortal race.

Adorn'd in white, a rev'rend priest appears,

And off'rings to the flaming altars bears;

A porket, and a lamb that never suffer'd shears.

Then to the rising sun he turns his eyes,

And strews the beasts, design'd for sacrifice,

With salt and meal: with like officious care

He marks their foreheads, and he clips their hair.

Betwixt their horns the purple wine he sheds;

With the same gen'rous juice the flame he feeds.

Aeneas then unsheath'd his shining sword,

And thus with pious pray'rs the gods ador'd:

"All-seeing sun, and thou, Ausonian soil,

For which I have sustain'd so long a toil,

Thou, King of Heav'n, and thou, the Queen of Air,

Propitious now, and reconcil'd by pray'r;

Thou, God of War, whose unresisted sway

The labors and events of arms obey;

Ye living fountains, and ye running floods,

All pow'rs of ocean, all ethereal gods,

Hear, and bear record: if I fall in field,

Or, recreant in the fight, to Turnus yield,

My Trojans shall encrease Evander's town;

invictae gentes aeterna in foedera mittant.

Ascanius shall renounce th' Ausonian crown:

Sacra deosque dabo; socer arma Latinus habeto,

All claims, all questions of debate, shall cease;

imperium sollemne socer; mihi moenia Teucri

Nor he, nor they, with force infringe the peace.

constituent, urbique dabit Lavinia nomen.

But, if my juster arms prevail in fight,

Sic prior Aeneas; sequitur sic deinde Latinus

(As sure they shall, if I divine aright,)

suspiciens caelum tenditque ad sidera dextram:

My Trojans shall not o'er th' Italians reign:

Haec eadem, Aenea, terram mare sidera iuro

Both equal, both unconquer'd shall remain,

Latonaeque genus duplex Ianumque bifrontem

Join'd in their laws, their lands, and their abodes;

vimque deum infernam et duri sacraria Ditis;

I ask but altars for my weary gods.

audiat haec genitor, qui foedera fulmine sancit.

The care of those religious rites be mine;

Tango aras, medios ignis et numina testor:

The crown to King Latinus I resign:

nulla dies pacem hanc Italis nec foedera rumpet,

His be the sov'reign sway. Nor will I share

quo res cumque cadent; nec me vis ulla volentem

His pow'r in peace, or his command in war.

avertet, non, si tellurem effundat in undas

For me, my friends another town shall frame,

diluvio miscens caelumque in Tartara solvat;

And bless the rising tow'rs with fair Lavinia's name."

ut sceptrum hoc (dextra sceptrum nam forte gerebat)

Thus he. Then, with erected eyes and hands,

numquam fronde levi fundet virgulta nec umbras,

The Latian king before his altar stands.

cum semel in silvis imo de stirpe recisum

"By the same heav'n," said he, "and earth, and main,

matre caret posuitque comas et bracchia ferro,

And all the pow'rs that all the three contain;

olim arbos, nunc artificis manus aere decoro

By hell below, and by that upper god

inclusit patribusque dedit gesture gestare Latinis.

Whose thunder signs the peace, who seals it with his nod;

Talibus inter se firmabant foedera dictis

So let Latona's double offspring hear,

conspectu in medio procerum. Tum rite sacratas

And double-fronted Janus, what I swear:

in flammam iugulant pecudes et viscera vivis

I touch the sacred altars, touch the flames,

eripiunt cumulantque oneratis lancibus aras.

And all those pow'rs attest, and all their names;

At vero Rutulis inpar ea pugna videri

Whatever chance befall on either side,

iamdudum et vario misceri pectora motu;

No term of time this union shall divide:

tum magis, ut propius cernunt non viribus aequis.

No force, no fortune, shall my vows unbind,

Adiuvat incessu tacito progressus et aram

Or shake the steadfast tenor of my mind;

suppliciter venerans demisso lumine Turnus

Not tho' the circling seas should break their bound,

tabentesque genae et iuvenali in corpore pallor.

O'erflow the shores, or sap the solid ground;

Quem simul ac Iuturna soror crebrescere vidit

Not tho' the lamps of heav'n their spheres forsake,

sermonem et volgi variare labantia corda,

Hurl'd down, and hissing in the nether lake:

in medias acies, formam adsimulata Camerti,

Ev'n as this royal scepter" (for he bore

cui genus a proavis ingens clarumque paternae

A scepter in his hand) "shall never more

nomen erat virtutis, et ipse acerrimus armis,

Shoot out in branches, or renew the birth:

in medias dat sese acies haud nescia rerum

An orphan now, cut from the mother earth

rumoresque serit varios ac talia fatur:

By the keen ax, dishonor'd of its hair,

Non pudet, O Rutuli, pro cunctis talibus unam

And cas'd in brass, for Latian kings to bear."

obiectare animam? Numerone an viribus aequi

When thus in public view the peace was tied

non sumus? En omnes et Troes et Arcades hi sunt

With solemn vows, and sworn on either side,

fatalesque manus, infensa Etruria Turno:

All dues perform'd which holy rites require;

vix hostem, alterni si congrediamur, habemus.

The victim beasts are slain before the fire,

Ille quidem ad superos, quorum se devovet aris,

The trembling entrails from their bodies torn,

succedet fama vivusque per ora feretur:

And to the fatten'd flames in chargers borne.

nos patria amissa dominis parere superbis

Already the Rutulians deem their man

cogemur, qui nunc lenti consedimus arvis.

O'ermatch'd in arms, before the fight began.

Talibus incensa est iuvenum sententia dictis

First rising fears are whisper'd thro' the crowd;

iam magis atque magis, serpitque per agmina murmur;

Then, gath'ring sound, they murmur more aloud.

ipsi Laurentes mutati ipsique Latini.

Now, side to side, they measure with their eyes

Qui sibi iam requiem pugnae rebusque salutem

The champions' bulk, their sinews, and their size:

sperabant, nunc arma volunt foedusque precantur

The nearer they approach, the more is known

infectum et Turni sortem miserantur iniquam.

Th' apparent disadvantage of their own.

His aliud maius Iuturna adiungit et alto

Turnus himself appears in public sight

dat signum caelo, quo non praesentius ullum

Conscious of fate, desponding of the fight.

turbavit mentes Italas monstroque fefellit.

Slowly he moves, and at his altar stands

Namque volans rubra fulvus Iovis ales in aethra

With eyes dejected, and with trembling hands;

litoreas agitabat aves turbamque sonantem

And, while he mutters undistinguish'd pray'rs,

agminis aligeri, subito cum lapsus ad undas

A livid deadness in his cheeks appears.

cycnum excellentem pedibus rapit improbus uncis.

With anxious pleasure when Juturna view'd

Adrexere animos Itali, cunctaeque volucres

Th' increasing fright of the mad multitude,

convertunt clamore fugam, mirabile visu,

When their short sighs and thick'ning sobs she heard,

aetheraque obscurant pennis hostemque per auras

And found their ready minds for change prepar'd;

facta nube premunt, donec vi victus et ipso

Dissembling her immortal form, she took

pondere defecit, praedamque ex unguibus ales

Camertus' mien, his habit, and his look;

proiecit fluvio penitusque in nubila fugit.

A chief of ancient blood; in arms well known

Tum vero augurium Rutuli clamore salutant

Was his great sire, and he his greater son.

expediuntque manus; primusque Tolumnius augur

His shape assum'd, amid the ranks she ran,

Hoc erat, hoc, votis, inquit, quod saepe petivi.

And humoring their first motions, thus began:

Adcipio adgnoscoque deos; me, me duce ferrum

"For shame, Rutulians, can you bear the sight

corripite, O miseri, quos improbus advena bello

Of one expos'd for all, in single fight?

territat invalidas ut aves et litora vestra

Can we, before the face of heav'n, confess

vi populat: petet ille fugam penitusque profundo

Our courage colder, or our numbers less?

vela dabit. Vos unanimi densete catervas

View all the Trojan host, th' Arcadian band,

et regem vobis pugna defendite raptum.

And Tuscan army; count 'em as they stand:

Dixit et adversos telum contorsit in hostis

Undaunted to the battle if we go,

procurrens: sonitum dat stridula cornus et auras

Scarce ev'ry second man will share a foe.

certa secat. Simul hoc, simul ingens clamor et omnes

Turnus, 't is true, in this unequal strife,

turbati cunei calefactaque corda tumultu.

Shall lose, with honor, his devoted life,

Hasta volans, ut forte novem pulcherrima fratrum

Or change it rather for immortal fame,

corpora constiterant contra, quos fida crearat

Succeeding to the gods, from whence he came:

una tot Arcadio coniunx Tyrrhena Gylippo,

But you, a servile and inglorious band,

horum unum ad medium, teritur qua sutilis alvo

For foreign lords shall sow your native land,

balteus et laterum iuncturas fibula mordet

Those fruitful fields your fighting fathers gain'd,

egregium forma iuvenem et fulgentibus armis

Which have so long their lazy sons sustain'd."

transadigit costas fulvaque effundit harena.

With words like these, she carried her design:

At fratres, animosa phalanx accensaque luctu,

A rising murmur runs along the line.

pars, gladios stringunt manibus, pars missile ferrum

Then ev'n the city troops, and Latians, tir'd

corripiunt caecique ruunt. Quos agmina contra

With tedious war, seem with new souls inspir'd:

procurrunt Laurentum, hinc densi rursus inundant

Their champion's fate with pity they lament,

Troes Agyllinique et pictis Arcades armis:

And of the league, so lately sworn, repent.

sic omnis amor unus habet decernere ferro.

Nor fails the goddess to foment the rage

Diripuere aras, it toto turbida caelo

With lying wonders, and a false presage;

tempestas telorum ac ferreus ingruit imber,

But adds a sign, which, present to their eyes,

craterasque focosque ferunt. Fugit ipse Latinus

Inspires new courage, and a glad surprise.

For, sudden, in the fiery tracts above,

Appears in pomp th' imperial bird of Jove:

A plump of fowl he spies, that swim the lakes,

And o'er their heads his sounding pinions shakes;

Then, stooping on the fairest of the train,

In his strong talons truss'd a silver swan.

Th' Italians wonder at th' unusual sight;

But, while he lags, and labors in his flight,

Behold, the dastard fowl return anew,

And with united force the foe pursue:

Clam'rous around the royal hawk they fly,

And, thick'ning in a cloud, o'ershade the sky.

They cuff, they scratch, they cross his airy course;

Nor can th' incumber'd bird sustain their force;

But vex'd, not vanquish'd, drops the pond'rous prey,

And, lighten'd of his burthen, wings his way.

Th' Ausonian bands with shouts salute the sight,

Eager of action, and demand the fight.

Then King Tolumnius, vers'd in augurs' arts,

Cries out, and thus his boasted skill imparts:

"At length 't is granted, what I long desir'd!

This, this is what my frequent vows requir'd.

Ye gods, I take your omen, and obey.

Advance, my friends, and charge! I lead the way.

These are the foreign foes, whose impious band,

Like that rapacious bird, infest our land:

But soon, like him, they shall be forc'd to sea

By strength united, and forego the prey.

Your timely succor to your country bring,

Haste to the rescue, and redeem your king."

He said; and, pressing onward thro' the crew,

Pois'd in his lifted arm, his lance he threw.

The winged weapon, whistling in the wind,

Came driving on, nor miss'd the mark design'd.

At once the cornel rattled in the skies;

At once tumultuous shouts and clamors rise.

Nine brothers in a goodly band there stood,

Born of Arcadian mix'd with Tuscan blood,

Gylippus' sons: the fatal jav'lin flew,

Aim'd at the midmost of the friendly crew.

A passage thro' the jointed arms it found,

Just where the belt was to the body bound,

And struck the gentle youth extended on the ground.

pulsatos referens infecto foedere divos.

Then, fir'd with pious rage, the gen'rous train

Infrenant alii currus aut corpora saltu

Run madly forward to revenge the slain.

subiciunt in equos et strictis ensibus adsunt.

And some with eager haste their jav'lins throw;

Messapus regem regisque insigne gerentem,

And some with sword in hand assault the foe.

Tyrrhenum Aulesten, avidus confundere foedus,

The wish'd insult the Latine troops embrace,

adverso proterret equo: ruit ille recedens

And meet their ardor in the middle space.

et miser oppositis a tergo involvitur aris

The Trojans, Tuscans, and Arcadian line,

in caput inque umeros. At fervidus advolat hasta

With equal courage obviate their design.

Messapus teloque orantem multa trabali

Peace leaves the violated fields, and hate

desuper altus equo graviter ferit atque ita fatur:

Both armies urges to their mutual fate.

Hoc habet, haec melior magnis data victima divis.

With impious haste their altars are o'erturn'd,

Concurrunt Itali spoliantque calentia membra.

The sacrifice half-broil'd, and half-unburn'd.

Obvius ambustum torrem Corynaeus ab ara

Thick storms of steel from either army fly,

corripit et venienti Ebuso plagamque ferenti

And clouds of clashing darts obscure the sky;

occupat os flammis: olli ingens barba reluxit

Brands from the fire are missive weapons made,

nidoremque ambusta dedit. Super ipse secutus

With chargers, bowls, and all the priestly trade.

caesariem laeva turbati corripit hostis

Latinus, frighted, hastens from the fray,

inpressoque genu nitens terrae adplicat ipsum:

And bears his unregarded gods away.

sic rigido latus ense ferit. Podalirius Alsum

These on their horses vault; those yoke the car;

pastorem primaque acie per tela ruentem,

The rest, with swords on high, run headlong to the war.

ense sequens nudo superimminet: ille securi

Messapus, eager to confound the peace,

adversi frontem mediam mentumque reducta

Spurr'd his hot courser thro' the fighting prease,

disicit et sparso late rigat arma cruore.

At King Aulestes, by his purple known

Olli dura quies oculos et ferreus urget

A Tuscan prince, and by his regal crown;

somnus, in aeternam conduntur lumina noctem.

And, with a shock encount'ring, bore him down.

At pius Aeneas dextram tendebat inermem

Backward he fell; and, as his fate design'd,

nudato capite atque suos clamore vocabat:

The ruins of an altar were behind:

Quo ruitis? Quaeve ista repens discordia surgit?

There, pitching on his shoulders and his head,

O cohibete iras! Ictum iam foedus et omnes

Amid the scatt'ring fires he lay supinely spread.

compositae leges; mihi ius concurrere soli;

The beamy spear, descending from above,

me sinite atque auferte metus; ego foedera faxo

His cuirass pierc'd, and thro' his body drove.

firma manu; Turnum debent haec iam mihi sacra.

Then, with a scornful smile, the victor cries:

Has inter voces, media inter talia verba

"The gods have found a fitter sacrifice."

ecce viro stridens alis adlapsa sagitta est

Greedy of spoils, th' Italians strip the dead

incertum qua pulsa manu, quo turbine adacta,

Of his rich armor, and uncrown his head.

quis tantam Rutulis laudem, casusne deusne,

Priest Corynaeus, arm'd his better hand,

adtulerit: pressa est insignis gloria facti.

From his own altar, with a blazing brand;

nec sese Aeneae iactavit vulnere quisquam.

And, as Ebusus with a thund'ring pace

Turnus ut Aenean cedentem ex agmine vidit

Advanc'd to battle, dash'd it on his face:

turbatosque duces, subita spe fervidus ardet:

His bristly beard shines out with sudden fires;

poscit equos atque arma simul saltuque superbus

The crackling crop a noisome scent expires.

emicat in currum et manibus molitur habenas.

Following the blow, he seiz'd his curling crown

Multa virum volitans dat fortia corpora Leto,

With his left hand; his other cast him down.

semineces volvit multos aut agmina curru

The prostrate body with his knees he press'd,

proterit aut raptas fugientibus ingerit hastas.

And plung'd his holy poniard in his breast.

Qualis apud gelidi cum flumina concitus Hebri

While Podalirius, with his sword, pursued

sanguineus Mavors clipeo increpat atque furentis

The shepherd Alsus thro' the flying crowd,

bella movens immittit equos; illi aequore aperto

Swiftly he turns, and aims a deadly blow

ante Notos Zephyrumque volant; gemit ultima pulsu

Full on the front of his unwary foe.

Thraca pedum; circumque atrae Formidinis ora

The broad ax enters with a crashing sound,

Iraeque Insidiaeque, dei comitatus, aguntur:

And cleaves the chin with one continued wound;

talis equos alacer media inter proelia Turnus

Warm blood, and mingled brains, besmear his arms around

fumantis sudore quatit, miserabile caesis

An iron sleep his stupid eyes oppress'd,

hostibus insultans; spargit rapida ungula rores

And seal'd their heavy lids in endless rest.

sanguineos, mixtaque cruor calcatur harena.

But good Aeneas rush'd amid the bands;

Iamque neci Sthenelumque dedit Thamyrumque Pholumque,

Bare was his head, and naked were his hands,

hunc congressus et hunc, illum eminus; eminus ambo

In sign of truce: then thus he cries aloud:

Imbrasidas, Glaucum atque Laden, quos Imbrasus ipse

"What sudden rage, what new desire of blood,

nutrierat Lycia paribusque ornaverat armis,

Inflames your alter'd minds? O Trojans, cease

vel conferre manum vel equo praevertere ventos.

From impious arms, nor violate the peace!

Parte alia media Eumedes in proelia fertur,

By human sanctions, and by laws divine,

antiqui proles bello praeclara Dolonis,

The terms are all agreed; the war is mine.

nomine avum referens, animo manibusque parentem,

Dismiss your fears, and let the fight ensue;

qui quondam, castra ut Danaum speculator adiret,

This hand alone shall right the gods and you:

ausus Pelidae pretium sibi poscere currus;

Our injur'd altars, and their broken vow,

illum Tydides alio pro talibus ausis

To this avenging sword the faithless Turnus owe."

adfecit pretio, nec equis adspirat Achillis.

Thus while he spoke, unmindful of defense,

Hunc procul ut campo Turnus prospexit aperto,

A winged arrow struck the pious prince.

ante levi iaculo longum per inane secutus

But, whether from some human hand it came,

sistit equos biiugis et curru desilit atque

Or hostile god, is left unknown by fame:

semianimi lapsoque supervenit et pede collo

No human hand or hostile god was found,

impresso dextrae mucronem extorquet et alto

To boast the triumph of so base a wound.

fulgentem tinguit iugulo atque haec insuper addit:

When Turnus saw the Trojan quit the plain,

En agros et quam bello, Troiane, petisti,

His chiefs dismay'd, his troops a fainting train,

Hesperiam metire iacens: haec praemia qui me

Th' unhop'd event his heighten'd soul inspires:

ferro ausi temptare ferunt, sic moenia condunt.

At once his arms and coursers he requires;

Huic comitem Asbyten coniecta cuspide mittit.

Then, with a leap, his lofty chariot gains,

Chloreaque Sybarimque Daretaque Thersilochumque

And with a ready hand assumes the reins.

et sternacis equi lapsum cervice Thymoeten.

He drives impetuous, and, where'er he goes,

Ac velut Edoni Boreae cum spiritus alto

He leaves behind a lane of slaughter'd foes.

insonat Aegaeo sequiturque ad litora fluctus,

These his lance reaches; over those he rolls

qua venti incubuere, fugam dant nubila caelo:

His rapid car, and crushes out their souls:

sic Turno, quacumque viam secat, agmina cedunt

In vain the vanquish'd fly; the victor sends

conversaeque ruunt acies; fert impetus ipsum,

The dead men's weapons at their living friends.

et cristam adverso curru quatit aura volantem.

Thus, on the banks of Hebrus' freezing flood,

Non tulit instantem Phegeus animisque frementem:

The God of Battles, in his angry mood,

obiecit sese ad currum et spumantia frenis

Clashing his sword against his brazen shield,

ora citatorum dextra detorsit equorum.

Let loose the reins, and scours along the field:

Dum trahitur pendetque iugis, hunc lata retectum

Before the wind his fiery coursers fly;

lancea consequitur rumpitque infixa bilicem

Groans the sad earth, resounds the rattling sky.

loricam et summum degustat volnere corpus.

Wrath, Terror, Treason, Tumult, and Despair

Ille tamen clipeo obiecto conversus in hostem

(Dire faces, and deform'd) surround the car;

ibat et auxilium ducto mucrone petebat:

Friends of the god, and followers of the war.

cum rota praecipitem et procursu concitus axis

With fury not unlike, nor less disdain,

impulit effunditque solo, Turnusque secutus

Exulting Turnus flies along the plain:

His smoking horses, at their utmost speed,

He lashes on, and urges o'er the dead.

Their fetlocks run with blood; and, when they bound,

The gore and gath'ring dust are dash'd around.

Thamyris and Pholus, masters of the war,

He kill'd at hand, but Sthenelus afar:

From far the sons of Imbracus he slew,

Glaucus and Lades, of the Lycian crew;

Both taught to fight on foot, in battle join'd,

Or mount the courser that outstrips the wind.

Meantime Eumedes, vaunting in the field,

New fir'd the Trojans, and their foes repell'd.

This son of Dolon bore his grandsire's name,

But emulated more his father's fame;

His guileful father, sent a nightly spy,

The Grecian camp and order to descry:

Hard enterprise! and well he might require

Achilles' car and horses, for his hire:

But, met upon the scout, th' Aetolian prince

In death bestow'd a juster recompense.

Fierce Turnus view'd the Trojan from afar,

And launch'd his jav'lin from his lofty car;

Then lightly leaping down, pursued the blow,

And, pressing with his foot his prostrate foe,

Wrench'd from his feeble hold the shining sword,

And plung'd it in the bosom of its lord.

"Possess," said he, "the fruit of all thy pains,

And measure, at thy length, our Latian plains.

Thus are my foes rewarded by my hand;

Thus may they build their town, and thus enjoy the land!"

Then Dares, Butes, Sybaris he slew,

Whom o'er his neck his flound'ring courser threw.

As when loud Boreas, with his blust'ring train,

Stoops from above, incumbent on the main;

Where'er he flies, he drives the rack before,

And rolls the billows on th' Aegaean shore:

So, where resistless Turnus takes his course,

The scatter'd squadrons bend before his force;

His crest of horses' hair is blown behind

By adverse air, and rustles in the wind.

This haughty Phegeus saw with high disdain,

And, as the chariot roll'd along the plain,

imam inter galeam summi thoracis et oras

Light from the ground he leapt, and seiz'd the rein.

abstulit ense caput truncumque reliquit harenae.

Thus hung in air, he still retain'd his hold,

Atque ea dum campis victor dat funera Turnus,

The coursers frighted, and their course controll'd.

interea Aenean Mnestheus et fidus Achates

The lance of Turnus reach'd him as he hung,

Ascaniusque comes castris statuere cruentum,

And pierc'd his plated arms, but pass'd along,

alternos longa nitentem cuspide gressus.

And only raz'd the skin. He turn'd, and held

Saevit et infracta luctatur arundine telum

Against his threat'ning foe his ample shield;

eripere auxilioque viam, quae proxima, poscit

Then call'd for aid: but, while he cried in vain,

ense secent lato vulnus telique latebram

The chariot bore him backward on the plain.

rescindant penitus seseque in bella remittant.

He lies revers'd; the victor king descends,

Iamque aderat Phoebo ante alios dilectus Iapyx

And strikes so justly where his helmet ends,

Iasides, acri quondam cui captus amore

He lops the head. The Latian fields are drunk