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Notes Display Latin text | translated by Theodore C. Williams Book VII Chapter 7: Omens for Aeneas | Next chapter Return to index Previous chapter |
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Aeneas and his chiefs, with fair Iulus, under spreading boughs of one great tree made resting-place, and set the banquet on. Thin loaves of altar-bread along the sward to bear their meats were laid (such was the will of Jove), and wilding fruits rose heaping high, with Ceres' gift below. Soon, all things else devoured, their hunger turned to taste the scanty bread, which they attacked with tooth and nail audacious, and consumed both round and square of that predestined leaven. “Look, how we eat our tables even!” cried Iulus, in a jest. Such was the word which bade their burdens fall. From his boy's lip the father caught this utterance of Fate, silent with wonder at the ways of Heaven; then swift he spoke: “Hail! O my destined shore, protecting deities of Ilium, hail! Here is our home, our country here! This day I publish the mysterious prophecy by Sire Anchises given: ‘My son,’ said he, ‘When hunger in strange lands shall bid devour the tables of thy banquet gone, then hope for home, though weary, and take thought to build a dwelling and a battlement.’ Behold! This was our fated hunger! This last proof will end our evil days. Up, then! For now by morning's joyful beam we will explore what men, what cities, in this region be, and, leaving ship, our several errands ply. Your gift to Jove outpour! Make thankful prayer unto Anchises' shade! To this our feast bring back the flowing wine!” Event: Aeneas comes to Latium |
107-134 Aeneas primique duces et pulcher Iulus corpora sub ramis deponunt arboris altae, instituuntque dapes et adorea liba per herbam subiciunt epulis (sic Iuppiter ipse monebat) et Cereale solum pomis agrestibus augent. consumptis hic forte aliis, ut uertere morsus exiguam in Cererem penuria adegit edendi, et uiolare manu malisque audacibus orbem fatalis crusti patulis nec parcere quadris: 'heus, etiam mensas consumimus?' inquit Iulus, nec plura, adludens. ea uox audita laborum prima tulit finem, primamque loquentis ab ore eripuit pater ac stupefactus numine pressit. continuo 'salue fatis mihi debita tellus uosque' ait 'o fidi Troiae saluete penates: hic domus, haec patria est. genitor mihi talia namque (nunc repeto) Anchises fatorum arcana reliquit: "cum te, nate, fames ignota ad litora uectum accisis coget dapibus consumere mensas, tum sperare domos defessus, ibique memento prima locare manu molirique aggere tecta." haec erat illa fames, haec nos suprema manebat exitiis positura modum. quare agite et primo laeti cum lumine solis quae loca, quiue habeant homines, ubi moenia gentis, uestigemus et a portu diuersa petamus. nunc pateras libate Ioui precibusque uocate Anchisen genitorem, et uina reponite mensis.' |