Aeneid

Meantime the Trojan cuts his wat'ry way,

Interea medium Aeneas iam classe tenebat

Fix'd on his voyage, thro' the curling sea;

certus iter, fluctusque atros Aquilone secabat,

Then, casting back his eyes, with dire amaze,

moenia respiciens, quae iam infelicis Elissae

Sees on the Punic shore the mounting blaze.

conlucent flammis. Quae tantum accenderit ignem,

The cause unknown; yet his presaging mind

causa latet; duri magno sed amore dolores

The fate of Dido from the fire divin'd;

polluto, notumque, furens quid femina possit,

He knew the stormy souls of womankind,

triste per augurium Teucrorum pectora ducunt.

What secret springs their eager passions move,

Ut pelagus tenuere rates, nec iam amplius ulla

How capable of death for injur'd love.

occurrit tellus, maria undique et undique caelum,

Dire auguries from hence the Trojans draw;

olli caeruleus supra caput adstitit imber,

Till neither fires nor shining shores they saw.

noctem hiememque ferens, et inhorruit unda tenebris.

Now seas and skies their prospect only bound;

Ipse gubernator puppi Palinurus ab alta:

An empty space above, a floating field around.

Heu! quianam tanti cinxerunt aethera nimbi?

But soon the heav'ns with shadows were o'erspread;

Quidve, pater Neptune, paras? Sic deinde locutus

A swelling cloud hung hov'ring o'er their head:

colligere arma iubet validisque incumbere remis,

Livid it look'd, the threat'ning of a storm:

obliquatque sinus in ventum, ac talia fatur:

Then night and horror ocean's face deform.

Magnanime Aenea, non, si mihi Iuppiter auctor

The pilot, Palinurus, cried aloud:

spondeat, hoc sperem Italiam contingere caelo.

"What gusts of weather from that gath'ring cloud

Mutati transversa fremunt et vespere ab atro

My thoughts presage! Ere yet the tempest roars,

consurgunt venti, atque in nubem cogitur aër.

Stand to your tackle, mates, and stretch your oars;

Nec nos obniti contra, nec tendere tantum

Contract your swelling sails, and luff to wind."

sufficimus. Superat quoniam Fortuna, sequamur,

The frighted crew perform the task assign'd.

quoque vocat, vertamus iter. Nec litora longe

Then, to his fearless chief: "Not Heav'n," said he,

fida reor fraterna Erycis portusque Sicanos,

"Tho' Jove himself should promise Italy,

si modo rite memor servata remetior astra.

Can stem the torrent of this raging sea.

Tum pius Aeneas: Equidem sic poscere ventos

Mark how the shifting winds from west arise,

iamdudum et frustra cerno te tendere contra:

And what collected night involves the skies!

Flecte viam velis. An sit mihi gratior ulla,

Nor can our shaken vessels live at sea,

quove magis fessas optem demittere naves,

Much less against the tempest force their way.

quam quae Dardanium tellus mihi servat Acesten,

'T is fate diverts our course, and fate we must obey.

et patris Anchisae gremio complectitur ossa?

Not far from hence, if I observ'd aright

Haec ubi dicta, petunt portus, et vela secundi

The southing of the stars, and polar light,

intendunt Zephyri; fertur cita gurgite classis,

Sicilia lies, whose hospitable shores

et tandem laeti notae advertuntur harenae.

In safety we may reach with struggling oars."

At procul ex celso miratus vertice montis

Aeneas then replied: "Too sure I find

adventum sociasque rates occurrit Acestes,

We strive in vain against the seas and wind:

horridus in iaculis et pelle Libystidis ursae,

Now shift your sails; what place can please me more

Troïa Criniso conceptum flumine mater

Than what you promise, the Sicilian shore,

quem genuit: veterum non immemor ille parentum

Whose hallow'd earth Anchises' bones contains,

gratatur reduces, et gaza laetus agresti

And where a prince of Trojan lineage reigns?"

excipit, ac fessos opibus solatur amicis.

The course resolv'd, before the western wind

Postera cum primo stellas Oriente fugarat

They scud amain, and make the port assign'd.

clara dies, socios in coetum litore ab omni

Meantime Acestes, from a lofty stand,

advocat Aeneas, tumulique ex aggere fatur:

Beheld the fleet descending on the land;

Dardanidae magni, genus alto a sanguine divom,

And, not unmindful of his ancient race,

annuus exactis completur mensibus orbis,

Down from the cliff he ran with eager pace,

ex quo reliquias divinique ossa parentis

And held the hero in a strict embrace.

Condidimus terra maestasque sacravimus aras.

Of a rough Libyan bear the spoils he wore,

Iamque dies, nisi fallor, adest, quem semper acerbum,

And either hand a pointed jav'lin bore.

semper honoratum—sic di voluistis—habebo.

His mother was a dame of Dardan blood;

Hunc ego Gaetulis agerem si Syrtibus exsul,

His sire Crinisus, a Sicilian flood.

Argolicove mari deprensus et urbe Mycenae;

He welcomes his returning friends ashore

annua vota tamen sollemnisque ordine pompas

With plenteous country cates and homely store.

exsequerer, strueremque suis altaria donis.

Now, when the following morn had chas'd away

Nunc ultro ad cineres ipsius et ossa parentis,

The flying stars, and light restor'd the day,

haud equidem sine mente, reor, sine numine divom,

Aeneas call'd the Trojan troops around,

adsumus et portus delati intramus amicos.

And thus bespoke them from a rising ground:

Ergo agite, et laetum cuncti celebremus honorem;

"Offspring of heav'n, divine Dardanian race!

poscamus ventos; atque haec me sacra quotannis

The sun, revolving thro' th' ethereal space,

urbe velit posita templis sibi ferre dicatis.

The shining circle of the year has fill'd,

Bina boum vobis Troia generatus Acestes

Since first this isle my father's ashes held:

dat numero capita in naves; adhibete Penates

And now the rising day renews the year;

et patrios epulis et quos colit hospes Acestes.

A day for ever sad, for ever dear.

Praeterea, si nona diem mortalibus almum

This would I celebrate with annual games,

Aurora extulerit radiisque retexerit orbem,

With gifts on altars pil'd, and holy flames,

prima citae Teucris ponam certamina classis;

Tho' banish'd to Gaetulia's barren sands,

quique pedum cursu valet, et qui viribus audax

Caught on the Grecian seas, or hostile lands:

aut iaculo incedit melior levibusque sagittis,

But since this happy storm our fleet has driv'n

seu crudo fidit pugnam committere caestu,

(Not, as I deem, without the will of Heav'n)

cuncti adsint, meritaeque exspectent praemia palmae.

Upon these friendly shores and flow'ry plains,

Ore favete omnes, et cingite tempora ramis.

Which hide Anchises and his blest remains,

Sic fatus, velat materna tempora myrto;

Let us with joy perform his honors due,

hoc Elymus facit, hoc aevi maturus Acestes,

And pray for prosp'rous winds, our voyage to renew;

hoc puer Ascanius, sequitur quos cetera pubes.

Pray, that in towns and temples of our own,

Ille e concilio multis cum milibus ibat

The name of great Anchises may be known,

ad tumulum, magna medius comitante caterva.

And yearly games may spread the gods' renown.

Hic duo rite mero libans carchesia Baccho

Our sports Acestes, of the Trojan race,

fundit humi, duo lacte novo, duo sanguine sacro,

With royal gifts ordain'd, is pleas'd to grace:

purpureosque iacit flores, ac talia fatur:

Two steers on ev'ry ship the king bestows;

Salve, sancte parens: iterum salvete, recepti

His gods and ours shall share your equal vows.

nequiquam cineres, animaeque umbraeque paternae.

Besides, if, nine days hence, the rosy morn

Non licuit fines Italos fataliaque arva,

Shall with unclouded light the skies adorn,

nec tecum Ausonium (quicumque est) quaerere Thybrim.

That day with solemn sports I mean to grace:

Dixerat haec, adytis cum lubricus anguis ab imis

Light galleys on the seas shall run a wat'ry race;

septem ingens gyros, septena volumina traxit,

Some shall in swiftness for the goal contend,

amplexus placide tumulum lapsusque per aras,

And others try the twanging bow to bend;

caeruleae cui terga notae, maculosus et auro

The strong, with iron gauntlets arm'd, shall stand

Oppos'd in combat on the yellow sand.

Let all be present at the games prepar'd,

And joyful victors wait the just reward.

But now assist the rites, with garlands crown'd."

He said, and first his brows with myrtle bound.

Then Helymus, by his example led,

And old Acestes, each adorn'd his head;

Thus young Ascanius, with a sprightly grace,

His temples tied, and all the Trojan race.

Aeneas then advanc'd amidst the train,

By thousands follow'd thro' the flow'ry plain,

To great Anchises' tomb; which when he found,

He pour'd to Bacchus, on the hallow'd ground,

Two bowls of sparkling wine, of milk two more,

And two (from offer'd bulls) of purple gore,

With roses then the sepulcher he strow'd

And thus his father's ghost bespoke aloud:

"Hail, O ye holy manes! hail again,

Paternal ashes, now review'd in vain!

The gods permitted not, that you, with me,

Should reach the promis'd shores of Italy,

Or Tiber's flood, what flood soe'er it be."

Scarce had he finish'd, when, with speckled pride,

A serpent from the tomb began to glide;

His hugy bulk on sev'n high volumes roll'd;

Blue was his breadth of back, but streak'd with scaly gold:

squamam incendebat fulgor, ceu nubibus arcus

Thus riding on his curls, he seem'd to pass

mille iacit varios adverso sole colores.

A rolling fire along, and singe the grass.

Obstipuit visu Aeneas. Ille agmine longo

More various colors thro' his body run,

tandem inter pateras et levia pocula serpens

Than Iris when her bow imbibes the sun.

libavitque dapes, rursusque innoxius imo

Betwixt the rising altars, and around,

successit tumulo, et depasta altaria liquit.

The sacred monster shot along the ground;

Hoc magis inceptos genitori instaurat honores,

With harmless play amidst the bowls he pass'd,

incertus, geniumne loci famulumne parentis

And with his lolling tongue assay'd the taste:

esse putet: caedit binas de more bidentes,

Thus fed with holy food, the wondrous guest

totque sues, totidem nigrantis terga iuvencos;

Within the hollow tomb retir'd to rest.

vinaque fundebat pateris, animamque vocabat

The pious prince, surpris'd at what he view'd,

Anchisae magni Manisque Acheronte remissos.

The fun'ral honors with more zeal renew'd,

Nec non et socii, quae cuique est copia, laeti

Doubtful if this place's genius were,

dona ferunt, onerant aras, mactantque iuvencos;

Or guardian of his father's sepulcher.

ordine aena locant alii, fusique per herbam

Five sheep, according to the rites, he slew;

subiciunt veribus prunas et viscera torrent.

As many swine, and steers of sable hue;

Exspectata dies aderat, nonamque serena

New gen'rous wine he from the goblets pour'd.

Auroram Phaethontis equi iam luce vehebant,

And call'd his father's ghost, from hell restor'd.

famaque finitimos et clari nomen Acestae

The glad attendants in long order come,

excierat; laeto complerant litora coetu,

Off'ring their gifts at great Anchises' tomb:

visuri Aeneadas, pars et certare parati.

Some add more oxen: some divide the spoil;

Munera principio ante oculos circoque locantur

Some place the chargers on the grassy soil;

in medio, sacri tripodes viridesque coronae,

Some blow the fires, and off entrails broil.

et palmae pretium victoribus, armaque et ostro

Now came the day desir'd. The skies were bright

perfusae vestes, argenti aurique talenta;

With rosy luster of the rising light:

et tuba commissos medio canit aggere ludos.

The bord'ring people, rous'd by sounding fame

Prima pares ineunt gravibus certamina remis

Of Trojan feasts and great Acestes' name,

quattuor ex omni delectae classe carinae.

The crowded shore with acclamations fill,

Velocem Mnestheus agit acri remige Pristim,

Part to behold, and part to prove their skill.

mox Italus Mnestheus, genus a quo nomine Memmi;

And first the gifts in public view they place,

ingentemque Gyas ingenti mole Chimaeram,

Green laurel wreaths, and palm, the victors' grace:

urbis opus, triplici pubes quam Dardana versu

Within the circle, arms and tripods lie,

impellunt, terno consurgunt ordine remi;

Ingots of gold and silver, heap'd on high,

Sergestusque, domus tenet a quo Sergia nomen,

And vests embroider'd, of the Tyrian dye.

Centauro invehitur magna, Scyllaque Cloanthus

The trumpet's clangor then the feast proclaims,

caerulea, genus unde tibi, Romane Cluenti.

And all prepare for their appointed games.

Est procul in pelago saxum spumantia contra

Four galleys first, which equal rowers bear,

litora, quod tumidis submersum tunditur olim

Advancing, in the wat'ry lists appear.

fluctibus, hiberni condunt ubi sidera cori;

The speedy Dolphin, that outstrips the wind,

tranquillo silet, immotaque attollitur unda

Bore Mnestheus, author of the Memmian kind:

campus, et apricis statio gratissima mergis.

Gyas the vast Chimaera's bulk commands,

Hic viridem Aeneas frondenti ex ilice metam

Which rising, like a tow'ring city stands;

constituit signum nautis pater, unde reverti

Three Trojans tug at ev'ry lab'ring oar;

scirent, et longos ubi circumflectere cursus.

Three banks in three degrees the sailors bore;

Tum loca sorte legunt, ipsique in puppibus auro

Beneath their sturdy strokes the billows roar.

ductores longe effulgent ostroque decori;

Sergesthus, who began the Sergian race,

cetera populea velatur fronde iuventus,

In the great Centaur took the leading place;

nudatosque umeros oleo perfilsa nitescit.

Cloanthus on the sea-green Scylla stood,

Considunt transtris, intentaque brachia remis;

From whom Cluentius draws his Trojan blood.

intenti exspectant signum, exsultantiaque haurit

Far in the sea, against the foaming shore,

corda pavor pulsans, laudumque arrecta cupido.

There stands a rock: the raging billows roar

Inde, ubi clara dedit sonitum tuba, finibus omnes,

Above his head in storms; but, when 't is clear,

haud mora, prosiluere suis; ferit aethera clamor

Uncurl their ridgy backs, and at his foot appear.

nauticus, adductis spumant freta versa lacertis.

In peace below the gentle waters run;

Infindunt pariter sulcos, totumque dehiscit

The cormorants above lie basking in the sun.

convulsum remis rostrisque tridentibus aequor.

On this the hero fix'd an oak in sight,

Non tam praecipites biiugo certamine campum

The mark to guide the mariners aright.

corripuere, ruuntque effusi carcere currus,

To bear with this, the seamen stretch their oars;

nec sic immissis aurigae undantia lora

Then round the rock they steer, and seek the former shores.

concussere iugis pronique in verbera pendent.

The lots decide their place. Above the rest,

Tum plausu fremituque virum studiisque faventum

Each leader shining in his Tyrian vest;

consonat omne nemus, vocemque inclusa volutant

The common crew with wreaths of poplar boughs

litora, pulsati colles clamore resultant.

Their temples crown, and shade their sweaty brows:

Effugit ante alios primisque elabitur undis

Besmear'd with oil, their naked shoulders shine.

turbam inter fremitumque Gyas; quem deinde Cloanthus

All take their seats, and wait the sounding sign:

consequitur, melior remis, sed pondere pinus

They gripe their oars; and ev'ry panting breast

tarda tenet. Post hos aequo discrimine Pristis

Is rais'd by turns with hope, by turns with fear depress'd.

Centaurusque locum tendunt superare priorem;

The clangor of the trumpet gives the sign;

et nunc Pristis habet, nunc victam praeterit ingens

At once they start, advancing in a line:

Centaurus, nunc una ambae iunctisque feruntur

With shouts the sailors rend the starry skies;

frontibus, et longa sulcant vada salsa carina.

Lash'd with their oars, the smoky billows rise;

Iamque propinquabant scopulo metamque tenebant,

Sparkles the briny main, and the vex'd ocean fries.

cum princeps medioque Gyas in gurgite victor

Exact in time, with equal strokes they row:

rectorem navis compellat voce Menoeten:

At once the brushing oars and brazen prow

Quo tantum mihi dexter abis? Huc dirige gressum;

Dash up the sandy waves, and ope the depths below.

litus ama, et laevas stringat sine palmula cautes;

Not fiery coursers, in a chariot race,

altum alii teneant. Dixit; sed caeca Menoetes

Invade the field with half so swift a pace;

saxa timens proram pelagi detorquet ad undas.

Not the fierce driver with more fury lends

Quo diversus abis? iterum Pete saxa, Menoete!

The sounding lash, and, ere the stroke descends,

cum clamore Gyas revocabat; et ecce Cloanthum

Low to the wheels his pliant body bends.

respicit instantem tergo, et propiora tenentem.

The partial crowd their hopes and fears divide,

Ille inter navemque Gyae scopulosque sonantes

And aid with eager shouts the favor'd side.

radit iter laevum interior, subitoque priorem

Cries, murmurs, clamors, with a mixing sound,

praeterit, et metis tenet aequora tuta relictis.

From woods to woods, from hills to hills rebound.

Tum vero exarsit iuveni dolor ossibus ingens,

Amidst the loud applauses of the shore,

nec lacrimis caruere genae, segnemque Menoeten,

Gyas outstripp'd the rest, and sprung before:

oblitus decorisque sui sociumque salutis,

Cloanthus, better mann'd, pursued him fast,

But his o'er-masted galley check'd his haste.

The Centaur and the Dolphin brush the brine

With equal oars, advancing in a line;

And now the mighty Centaur seems to lead,

And now the speedy Dolphin gets ahead;

Now board to board the rival vessels row,

The billows lave the skies, and ocean groans below.

They reach'd the mark. Proud Gyas and his train

In triumph rode, the victors of the main;

But, steering round, he charg'd his pilot stand

More close to shore, and skim along the sand-

"Let others bear to sea!" Menoetes heard;

But secret shelves too cautiously he fear'd,

And, fearing, sought the deep; and still aloof he steer'd.

With louder cries the captain call'd again:

"Bear to the rocky shore, and shun the main."

He spoke, and, speaking, at his stern he saw

The bold Cloanthus near the shelvings draw.

Betwixt the mark and him the Scylla stood,

And in a closer compass plow'd the flood.

He pass'd the mark; and, wheeling, got before:

Gyas blasphem'd the gods, devoutly swore,

Cried out for anger, and his hair he tore.

Mindless of others' lives (so high was grown

His rising rage) and careless of his own,

The trembling dotard to the deck he drew;

Then hoisted up, and overboard he threw:

in mare praecipitem puppi deturbat ab alta;

This done, he seiz'd the helm; his fellows cheer'd,

ipse gubernaclo rector subit, ipse magister,

Turn'd short upon the shelfs, and madly steer'd.

hortaturque viros, clavumque ad litora torquet.

Hardly his head the plunging pilot rears,

At gravis, ut fundo vix tandem redditus imo est,

Clogg'd with his clothes, and cumber'd with his years:

iam senior madidaque fluens in veste Menoetes

Now dropping wet, he climbs the cliff with pain.

summa petit scopuli siccaque in rupe resedit.

The crowd, that saw him fall and float again,

Ilium et labentem Teucri et risere natantem,

Shout from the distant shore; and loudly laugh'd,

et salsos rident revomentem pectore fluctus.

To see his heaving breast disgorge the briny draught.

Hic laeta extremis spes est accensa duobus,

The following Centaur, and the Dolphin's crew,

Sergesto Mnestheique, Gyan superare morantem.

Their vanish'd hopes of victory renew;

Sergestus capit ante locum scopuloque propinquat,

While Gyas lags, they kindle in the race,

nec tota tamen ille prior praeeunte carina;

To reach the mark. Sergesthus takes the place;

parte prior, partem rostro premit aemula Pristis.

Mnestheus pursues; and while around they wind,

At media socios incedens nave per ipsos

Comes up, not half his galley's length behind;

hortatur Mnestheus: Nunc, nunc insurgite remis,

Then, on the deck, amidst his mates appear'd,

Hectorei socii, Troiae quos sorte suprema

And thus their drooping courage he cheer'd:

delegi comites; nunc illas promite vires,

"My friends, and Hector's followers heretofore,

nunc animos, quibus in Gaetulis Syrtibus usi,

Exert your vigor; tug the lab'ring oar;

Ionioque mari Maleaeque sequacibus undis.

Stretch to your strokes, my still unconquer'd crew,

Non iam prima peto Mnestheus, neque vincere certo;

Whom from the flaming walls of Troy I drew.

quamquam O!—sed superent, quibus hoc, Neptune, dedisti;

In this, our common int'rest, let me find

extremos pudeat rediisse; hoc vincite, cives,

That strength of hand, that courage of the mind,

et prohibete nefas. Olli certamine summo

As when you stemm'd the strong Malean flood,

procumbunt; vastis tremit ictibus aerea puppis,

And o'er the Syrtes' broken billows row'd.

subtrahiturque solum; tum creber anhelitus artus

I seek not now the foremost palm to gain;

aridaque ora quatit, sudor fluit undique rivis.

Tho' yet- but, ah! that haughty wish is vain!

Attulit ipse viris optatum casus honorem.

Let those enjoy it whom the gods ordain.

Namque furens animi dum proram ad saxa suburguet

But to be last, the lags of all the race!-

interior, spatioque subit Sergestus iniquo,

Redeem yourselves and me from that disgrace."

infelix saxis in procurrentibus haesit.

Now, one and all, they tug amain; they row

Concussae cautes, et acuto in murice remi

At the full stretch, and shake the brazen prow.

obnixi crepuere, inlisaque prora pependit.

The sea beneath 'em sinks; their lab'ring sides

Consurgunt nautae et magno clamore morantur,

Are swell'd, and sweat runs gutt'ring down in tides.

ferratasque trudes et acuta cuspide contos

Chance aids their daring with unhop'd success;

expediunt, fractosque legunt in gurgite remos.

Sergesthus, eager with his beak to press

At laetus Mnestheus successuque acrior ipso

Betwixt the rival galley and the rock,

agmine remorum celeri ventisque vocatis

Shuts up th' unwieldly Centaur in the lock.

prona petit maria et pelago decurrit aperto.

The vessel struck; and, with the dreadful shock,

Qualis spelunca subito commota columba,

Her oars she shiver'd, and her head she broke.

cui domus et dulces latebroso in pumice nidi,

The trembling rowers from their banks arise,

fertur in ana volans, plausumque exterrita pennis

And, anxious for themselves, renounce the prize.

dat tecto ingentem, mox aere lapsa quieto

With iron poles they heave her off the shores,

radit iter liquidum, celeres neque commovet alas:

And gather from the sea their floating oars.

sic Mnestheus, sic ipsa fuga secat ultima Pristis

The crew of Mnestheus, with elated minds,

aequora, sic illam fert impetus ipse volantem.

Urge their success, and call the willing winds;

Et primum in scopulo luctantem deserit alto

Then ply their oars, and cut their liquid way

Sergestum, brevibusque vadis frustraque vocantem

In larger compass on the roomy sea.

auxilia, et fractis discentem currere remis

As, when the dove her rocky hold forsakes,

Inde Gyan ipsamque ingenti mole Chimaeram

Rous'd in a fright, her sounding wings she shakes;

consequitur; cedit, quoniam spoliata magistro est.

The cavern rings with clatt'ring; out she flies,

Solus iamque ipso superest in fine Cloanthus:

And leaves her callow care, and cleaves the skies:

quem petit, et summis adnixus viribus urguet.

At first she flutters; but at length she springs

Tum vero ingeminat clamor, cunctique sequentem

To smoother flight, and shoots upon her wings:

instigant studiis, resonatque fragoribus aether.

So Mnestheus in the Dolphin cuts the sea;

Hi proprium decus et partum indignantur honorem

And, flying with a force, that force assists his way.

ni teneant, vitamque volunt pro laude pacisci;

Sergesthus in the Centaur soon he pass'd,

hos successus alit: possunt, quia posse videntur.

Wedg'd in the rocky shoals, and sticking fast.

Et fors aequatis cepissent praemia rostris,

In vain the victor he with cries implores,

ni palmas ponto tendens utrasque Cloanthus

And practices to row with shatter'd oars.

fudissetque preces, divosque in vota vocasset:

Then Mnestheus bears with Gyas, and outflies:

Di, quibus imperium est pelagi, quorum aequora curro,

The ship, without a pilot, yields the prize.

vobis laetus ego hoc candentem in litore taurum

Unvanquish'd Scylla now alone remains;

constituam ante aras, voti reus, extaque salsos

Her he pursues, and all his vigor strains.

porriciam in fluctus et vina liquentia fundam.

Shouts from the fav'ring multitude arise;

Dixit, eumque imis sub fluctibus audiit omnis

Applauding Echo to the shouts replies;

Nereidum Phorcique chorus Panopeaque virgo,

Shouts, wishes, and applause run rattling thro' the skies.

et pater ipse manu magna Portunus euntem

These clamors with disdain the Scylla heard,

impulit; illa Noto citius volucrique sagitta

Much grudg'd the praise, but more the robb'd reward:

ad terram fugit, et portu se condidit alto.

Resolv'd to hold their own, they mend their pace,

Tum satus Anchisa, cunctis ex more vocatis,

All obstinate to die, or gain the race.

victorem magna praeconis voce Cloanthum

Rais'd with success, the Dolphin swiftly ran;

declarat viridique advelat tempora lauro,

For they can conquer, who believe they can.

muneraque in naves ternos optare iuvencos,

Both urge their oars, and fortune both supplies,

vinaque et argenti magnum dat ferre talentum.

And both perhaps had shar'd an equal prize;

Ipsis praecipuos ductoribus addit honores:

When to the seas Cloanthus holds his hands,

victori chlamydem auratam, quam plurima circum

And succor from the wat'ry pow'rs demands:

purpura maeandro duplici Meliboea cucurrit,

"Gods of the liquid realms, on which I row!

intextusque puer frondosa regius Ida

If, giv'n by you, the laurel bind my brow,

veloces iaculo cervos cursuque fatigat,

Assist to make me guilty of my vow!

acer, anhelanti similis, quem praepes ab Ida

A snow-white bull shall on your shore be slain;

sublimem pedibus rapuit Iovis armiger uncis;

His offer'd entrails cast into the main,

longaevi palmas nequiquam ad sidera tendunt

And ruddy wine, from golden goblets thrown,

custodes, saevitque canum latratus in auras.

Your grateful gift and my return shall own."

At qui deinde locum tenuit virtute secundum,

The choir of nymphs, and Phorcus, from below,

levibus huic hamis consertam auroque trilicem

With virgin Panopea, heard his vow;

loricam, quam Demoleo detraxerat ipse

And old Portunus, with his breadth of hand,

victor apud rapidum Simoënta sub Ilio alto,

Push'd on, and sped the galley to the land.

Swift as a shaft, or winged wind, she flies,

And, darting to the port, obtains the prize.

The herald summons all, and then proclaims

Cloanthus conqu'ror of the naval games.

The prince with laurel crowns the victor's head,

And three fat steers are to his vessel led,

The ship's reward; with gen'rous wine beside,

And sums of silver, which the crew divide.

The leaders are distinguish'd from the rest;

The victor honor'd with a nobler vest,

Where gold and purple strive in equal rows,

And needlework its happy cost bestows.

There Ganymede is wrought with living art,

Chasing thro' Ida's groves the trembling hart:

Breathless he seems, yet eager to pursue;

When from aloft descends, in open view,

The bird of Jove, and, sousing on his prey,

With crooked talons bears the boy away.

In vain, with lifted hands and gazing eyes,

His guards behold him soaring thro' the skies,

And dogs pursue his flight with imitated cries.

Mnestheus the second victor was declar'd;

And, summon'd there, the second prize he shard.

A coat of mail, brave Demoleus bore,

More brave Aeneas from his shoulders tore,

In single combat on the Trojan shore:

donat habere viro, decus et tutamen in armis.

This was ordain'd for Mnestheus to possess;

Vix illam famuli Phegeus Sagarisque ferebant

In war for his defense, for ornament in peace.

multiplicem, conixi umeris; indutus at olim

Rich was the gift, and glorious to behold,

Demoleos cursu palantes Troas agebat.

But yet so pond'rous with its plates of gold,

Tertia dona facit geminos ex aere lebetas,

That scarce two servants could the weight sustain;

cymbiaque argento perfecta atque aspera signis.

Yet, loaded thus, Demoleus o'er the plain

Iamque adeo donati omnes opibusque superbi

Pursued and lightly seiz'd the Trojan train.

puniceis ibant evincti tempora taenis,

The third, succeeding to the last reward,

cum saevo e scopulo multa vix arte revolsus,

Two goodly bowls of massy silver shar'd,

amissis remis atque ordine debilis uno,

With figures prominent, and richly wrought,

inrisam sine honore ratem Sergestus agebat.

And two brass caldrons from Dodona brought.

Qualis saepe viae deprensus in aggere serpens,

Thus all, rewarded by the hero's hands,

aerea quem obliquum rota transiit, aut gravis ictu

Their conqu'ring temples bound with purple bands;

seminecem liquit saxo lacerumque viator;

And now Sergesthus, clearing from the rock,

nequiquam longos fugiens dat corpore tortus,

Brought back his galley shatter'd with the shock.

parte ferox, ardensque oculis, et sibila colla

Forlorn she look'd, without an aiding oar,

arduus attollens, pars volnere clauda retentat

And, houted by the vulgar, made to shore.

nexantem nodis seque in sua membra plicantem:

As when a snake, surpris'd upon the road,

tali remigio navis se tarda movebat;

Is crush'd athwart her body by the load

vela facit tamen, et velis subit ostia plenis.

Of heavy wheels; or with a mortal wound

Sergestum Aeneas promisso munere donat,

Her belly bruis'd, and trodden to the ground:

servatam ob navem laetus sociosque reductos.

In vain, with loosen'd curls, she crawls along;

Olli serva datur, operum haud ignara Minervae,

Yet, fierce above, she brandishes her tongue;

Cressa genus, Pholoë, geminique sub ubere nati.

Glares with her eyes, and bristles with her scales;

Hoc pius Aeneas misso certamine tendit

But, groveling in the dust, her parts unsound she trails:

gramineum in campum, quem collibus undique curvis

So slowly to the port the Centaur tends,

cingebant silvae, mediaque in valle theatri

But, what she wants in oars, with sails amends.

circus erat; quo se multis cum milibus heros

Yet, for his galley sav'd, the grateful prince

consessu medium tulit exstructoque resedit.

Is pleas'd th' unhappy chief to recompense.

Hic, qui forte velint rapido contendere cursu,

Pholoe, the Cretan slave, rewards his care,

invitat pretiis animos, et praemia ponit.

Beauteous herself, with lovely twins as fair.

Undique conveniunt Teucri mixtique Sicani,

From thence his way the Trojan hero bent

Nisus et Euryalus primi,

Into the neighb'ring plain, with mountains pent,

Euryalus forma insignis viridique iuventa,

Whose sides were shaded with surrounding wood.

Nisus amore pio pueri; quos deinde secutus

Full in the midst of this fair valley stood

regius egregia Priami de stirpe Diores;

A native theater, which, rising slow

hunc Salius simul et Patron, quorum alter Acarnan,

By just degrees, o'erlook'd the ground below.

alter ab Arcadio Tegeaeae sanguine gentis;

High on a sylvan throne the leader sate;

tum duo Trinacrii iuvenes, Helymus Panopesque,

A num'rous train attend in solemn state.

adsueti silvis, comites senioris Acestae;

Here those that in the rapid course delight,

multi praeterea, quos fama obscura recondit.

Desire of honor and the prize invite.

Aeneas quibus in mediis sic deinde locutus:

The rival runners without order stand;

Accipite haec animis, laetasque advertite mentes:

The Trojans mix'd with the Sicilian band.

nemo ex hoc numero mihi non donatus abibit.

First Nisus, with Euryalus, appears;

Gnosia bina dabo levato lucida ferro

Euryalus a boy of blooming years,

spicula caelatamque argento ferre bipennem;

With sprightly grace and equal beauty crown'd;

omnibus hic erit unus honos. Tres praemia primi

Nisus, for friendship to the youth renown'd.

accipient flavaque caput nectentur oliva.

Diores next, of Priam's royal race,

Primus equum phaleris insignem victor habeto;

Then Salius joined with Patron, took their place;

alter Amazoniam pharetram plenamque sagittis

(But Patron in Arcadia had his birth,

Threïciis, lato quam circum amplectitur auro

And Salius his from Arcananian earth;)

balteus et tereti subnectit fibula gemma;

Then two Sicilian youths- the names of these,

tertius Argolica hac galea contentus abito.

Swift Helymus, and lovely Panopes:

Haec ubi dicta, locum capiunt, signoque repente

Both jolly huntsmen, both in forest bred,

corripiunt spatia audito, limenque relinquunt,

And owning old Acestes for their head;

effusi nimbo similes, simul ultima signant.

With sev'ral others of ignobler name,

Primus abit longeque ante omnia corpora Nisus

Whom time has not deliver'd o'er to fame.

emicat, et ventis et fulminis ocior alis;

To these the hero thus his thoughts explain'd,

proximus huic, longo sed proxumus intervallo,

In words which gen'ral approbation gain'd:

insequitur Salius; spatio post deinde relicto

"One common largess is for all design'd,

tertius Euryalus:

(The vanquish'd and the victor shall be join'd,)

Euryalumque Helymus sequitur; quo deinde sub ipso

Two darts of polish'd steel and Gnosian wood,

ecce volat calcemque terit iam calce Diores,

A silver-studded ax, alike bestow'd.

incumbens umero, spatia et si plura supersint,

The foremost three have olive wreaths decreed:

transeat elapsus prior, ambiguumque relinquat.

The first of these obtains a stately steed,

Iamque fere spatio extremo fessique sub ipsam

Adorn'd with trappings; and the next in fame,

finem adventabant, levi cum sanguine Nisus

The quiver of an Amazonian dame,

labitur infelix, caesis ut forte iuvencis

With feather'd Thracian arrows well supplied:

fusus humum viridisque super madefecerat herbas.

A golden belt shall gird his manly side,

Hic iuvenis iam victor ovans vestigia presso

Which with a sparkling diamond shall be tied.

haud tenuit titubata solo, sed pronus in ipso

The third this Grecian helmet shall content."

concidit immundoque fimo sacroque cruore.

He said. To their appointed base they went;

Non tamen Euryali, non ille oblitus amorum;

With beating hearts th' expected sign receive,

nam sese opposuit Salio per lubrica surgens;

And, starting all at once, the barrier leave.

ille autem spissa iacuit revolutus harena.

Spread out, as on the winged winds, they flew,

Emicat Euryalus, et munere victor amici

And seiz'd the distant goal with greedy view.

prima tenet, plausuque volat fremituque secundo.

Shot from the crowd, swift Nisus all o'erpass'd;

Post Helymus subit, et nunc tertia palma Diores.

Nor storms, nor thunder, equal half his haste.

Hic totum caveae consessum ingentis et ora

The next, but tho' the next, yet far disjoin'd,

prima patrum magnis Salius clamoribus implet,

Came Salius, and Euryalus behind;

ereptumque dolo reddi sibi poscit honorem.

Then Helymus, whom young Diores plied,

Tutatur favor Euryalum, lacrimaeque decorae,

Step after step, and almost side by side,

gratior et pulchro veniens in corpore virtus.

His shoulders pressing; and, in longer space,

Adiuvat et magna proclamat voce Diores,

Had won, or left at least a dubious race.

qui subiit palmae, frustraque ad praemia venit

Now, spent, the goal they almost reach at last,

ultima, si primi Salio reddentur honores.

When eager Nisus, hapless in his haste,

Tum pater Aeneas Vestra inquit munera vobis

Slipp'd first, and, slipping, fell upon the plain,

Soak'd with the blood of oxen newly slain.

The careless victor had not mark'd his way;

But, treading where the treach'rous puddle lay,

His heels flew up; and on the grassy floor

He fell, besmear'd with filth and holy gore.

Not mindless then, Euryalus, of thee,

Nor of the sacred bonds of amity,

He strove th' immediate rival's hope to cross,

And caught the foot of Salius as he rose.

So Salius lay extended on the plain;

Euryalus springs out, the prize to gain,

And leaves the crowd: applauding peals attend

The victor to the goal, who vanquish'd by his friend.

Next Helymus; and then Diores came,

By two misfortunes made the third in fame.

But Salius enters, and, exclaiming loud

For justice, deafens and disturbs the crowd;

Urges his cause may in the court be heard;

And pleads the prize is wrongfully conferr'd.

But favor for Euryalus appears;

His blooming beauty, with his tender tears,

Had brib'd the judges for the promis'd prize.

Besides, Diores fills the court with cries,

Who vainly reaches at the last reward,

If the first palm on Salius be conferr'd.

Then thus the prince: "Let no disputes arise:

Where fortune plac'd it, I award the prize.

certa manent, pueri, et palmam movet ordine nemo;

But fortune's errors give me leave to mend,

me liceat casus misereri insontis amici.

At least to pity my deserving friend."

Sic fatus, tergum Gaetuli immane leonis

He said, and, from among the spoils, he draws

dat Salio, villis onerosum atque unguibus aureis.

(Pond'rous with shaggy mane and golden paws)

Hic Nisus, Si tanta inquit sunt praemia victis,

A lion's hide: to Salius this he gives.

et te lapsorum miseret, quae munera Niso

Nisus with envy sees the gift, and grieves.

digna dabis, primam merui qui laude coronam,

"If such rewards to vanquish'd men are due."

ni me, quae Salium, fortuna inimica tulisset?

He said, "and falling is to rise by you,

Et simul his dictis faciem ostentabat et udo

What prize may Nisus from your bounty claim,

turpia membra fimo. Risit pater optimus olli

Who merited the first rewards and fame?

et clipeum efferri iussit, Didymaonis artem,

In falling, both an equal fortune tried;

Neptuni sacro Danais de poste refixum.

Would fortune for my fall so well provide!"

Hoc iuvenem egregium praestanti munere donat;

With this he pointed to his face, and show'd

Post, ubi confecti cursus, et dona peregit:

His hand and all his habit smear'd with blood.

Nunc, si cui virtus animusque in pectore praesens,

Th' indulgent father of the people smil'd,

adsit, et evinctis attollat brachia palmis.

And caus'd to be produc'd an ample shield,

Sic ait, et geminum pugnae proponit honorem,

Of wondrous art, by Didymaon wrought,

victori velatum auro vittisque iuvencum,

Long since from Neptune's bars in triumph brought.

ensem atque insignem galeam solacia victo.

This giv'n to Nisus, he divides the rest,

Nec mora: continuo vastis cum viribus effert

And equal justice in his gifts express'd.

ora Dares, magnoque virum se murmure tollit;

The race thus ended, and rewards bestow'd,

solus qui Paridem solitus contendere contra,

Once more the princes bespeaks th' attentive crowd:

idemque ad tumulum, quo maximus occubat Hector,

"If there he here whose dauntless courage dare

victorem Buten immani corpore, qui se

In gauntlet-fight, with limbs and body bare,

Bebrycia veniens Amyci de gente ferebat,

His opposite sustain in open view,

perculit, et fulva moribundum extendit harena.

Stand forth the champion, and the games renew.

Talis prima Dares caput altum in proelia tollit,

Two prizes I propose, and thus divide:

ostenditque umeros latos, alternaque iactat

A bull with gilded horns, and fillets tied,

brachia protendens, et verberat ictibus auras.

Shall be the portion of the conqu'ring chief;

Quaeritur huic alius; nec quisquam ex agmine tanto

A sword and helm shall cheer the loser's grief."

audet adire virum manibusque inducere caestus.

Then haughty Dares in the lists appears;

Ergo alacris, cunctosque putans excedere palma,

Stalking he strides, his head erected bears:

Aeneae stetit ante pedes, nec plura moratus

His nervous arms the weighty gauntlet wield,

tum laeva taurum cornu tenet, atque ita fatur:

And loud applauses echo thro' the field.

Nate dea, si nemo audet se credere pugnae,

Dares alone in combat us'd to stand

quae finis standi? Quo me decet usque teneri?

The match of mighty Paris, hand to hand;

Ducere dona iube. Cuncti simul ore fremebant

The same, at Hector's fun'rals, undertook

Dardanidae, reddique viro promissa iubebant.

Gigantic Butes, of th' Amycian stock,

Hic gravis Entellum dictis castigat Acestes,

And, by the stroke of his resistless hand,

proximus ut viridante toro consederat herbae:

Stretch'd the vast bulk upon the yellow sand.

Entelle, heroum quondam fortissime frustra,

Such Dares was; and such he strode along,

tantane tam patiens nullo certamine tolli

And drew the wonder of the gazing throng.

dona sines? Ubi nunc nobis deus ille magister

His brawny back and ample breast he shows,

nequiquam memoratus Eryx? Ubi fama per omnem

His lifted arms around his head he throws,

Trinacriam, et spolia illa tuis pendentia tectis?

And deals in whistling air his empty blows.

Ille sub haec: Non laudis amor, nec gloria cessit

His match is sought; but, thro' the trembling band,

pulsa metu; sed enim gelidus tardante senecta

Not one dares answer to the proud demand.

sanguis hebet, frigentque effetae in corpore vires.

Presuming of his force, with sparkling eyes

Si mihi, quae quondam fuerat, quaque improbus iste

Already he devours the promis'd prize.

exsultat fidens, si nunc foret illa iuventas,

He claims the bull with awless insolence,

haud equidem pretio inductus pulchroque iuvenco

And having seiz'd his horns, accosts the prince:

venissem, nec dona moror. Sic deinde locutus

"If none my matchless valor dares oppose,

in medium geminos immani pondere caestus

How long shall Dares wait his dastard foes?

proiecit, quibus acer Eryx in proelia suetus

Permit me, chief, permit without delay,

ferre manum, duroque intendere brachia tergo.

To lead this uncontended gift away."

Obstipuere animi: tantorum ingentia septem

The crowd assents, and with redoubled cries

terga boum plumbo insuto ferroque rigebant.

For the proud challenger demands the prize.

Ante omnes stupet ipse Dares, longeque recusat;

Acestes, fir'd with just disdain, to see

magnanimusque Anchisiades et pondus et ipsa

The palm usurp'd without a victory,

huc illuc vinclorum immensa volumina versat.

Reproach'd Entellus thus, who sate beside,

Tum senior talis referebat pectore voces:

And heard and saw, unmov'd, the Trojan's pride:

Quid, si quis caestus ipsius et Herculis arma

"Once, but in vain, a champion of renown,

vidisset, tristemque hoc ipso in litore pugnam?

So tamely can you bear the ravish'd crown,

Haec germanus Eryx quondam tuus arma gerebat;—

A prize in triumph borne before your sight,

sanguine cernis adhuc sparsoque infecta cerebro;—

And shun, for fear, the danger of the fight?

his magnum Alciden contra stetit; his ego suetus,

Where is our Eryx now, the boasted name,

dum melior vires sanguis dabat, aemula necdum

The god who taught your thund'ring arm the game?

temporibus geminis canebat sparsa senectus.

Where now your baffled honor? Where the spoil

Sed si nostra Dares haec Troius arma recusat,

That fill'd your house, and fame that fill'd our isle?"

idque pio sedet Aeneae, probat auctor Acestes,

Entellus, thus: "My soul is still the same,

aequemus pugnas. Erycis tibi terga remitto;

Unmov'd with fear, and mov'd with martial fame;

solve metus; et tu Troianos exue caestus.

But my chill blood is curdled in my veins,

Haec fatus, duplicem ex umeris reiecit amictum

And scarce the shadow of a man remains.

et magnos membrorum artus, magna ossa lacertosque

O could I turn to that fair prime again,

exuit, atque ingens media consistit harena.

That prime of which this boaster is so vain,

Tum satus Anchisa caestus pater extulit aequos,

The brave, who this decrepid age defies,

et paribus palmas amborum innexuit armis.

Should feel my force, without the promis'd prize."

Constitit in digitos extemplo arrectus uterque,

He said; and, rising at the word, he threw

brachiaque ad superas interritus extulit auras.

Two pond'rous gauntlets down in open view;

Abduxere retro longe capita ardua ab ictu,

Gauntlets which Eryx wont in fight to wield,

immiscentque manus manibus, pugnamque lacessunt.

And sheathe his hands with in the listed field.

Ille pedum melior motu, fretusque iuventa;

With fear and wonder seiz'd, the crowd beholds

hic membris et mole valens, sed tarda trementi

The gloves of death, with sev'n distinguish'd folds

genua labant, vastos quatit aeger anhelitus artus.

Of tough bull hides; the space within is spread

Multa viri nequiquam inter se volnera iactant,

With iron, or with loads of heavy lead:

multa cavo lateri ingeminant, et pectore vastos

Dares himself was daunted at the sight,

dant sonitus, erratque auris et tempora circum

Renounc'd his challenge, and refus'd to fight.

Astonish'd at their weight, the hero stands,

And pois'd the pond'rous engines in his hands.

"What had your wonder," said Entellus, "been,

Had you the gauntlets of Alcides seen,

Or view'd the stern debate on this unhappy green!

These which I bear your brother Eryx bore,

Still mark'd with batter'd brains and mingled gore.

With these he long sustain'd th' Herculean arm;

And these I wielded while my blood was warm,

This languish'd frame while better spirits fed,