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Notes Display Latin text | translated by Theodore C. Williams Book VII Chapter 13: The omens are considered | Next chapter Return to index Previous chapter |
So ceased to speak Ilioneus. But King Latinus gazed unanswering on the ground, all motionless save for his musing eyes. The broidered pall of purple, and the sceptre Priam bore, moved little on his kingly heart, which now pondered of giving to the bridal bed his daughter [Note 1] dear. He argues in his mind the oracle of Faunus: -- might this be that destined bridegroom from an alien land, to share his throne, to get a progeny of glorious valor, which by mighty deeds should win the world for kingdom? So at last with joyful brow he spoke: “Now let the gods our purpose and their own fair promise bless! Thou hast, O Trojan, thy desire. Thy gifts I have not scorned; nor while Latinus reigns shall ye lack riches in my plenteous land, not less than Trojan store. But where is he, Aeneas' self? If he our royal love so much desire, and have such urgent mind to be our guest and friend, let him draw near, nor turn him from well-wishing looks away! My offering and pledge of peace shall be to clasp your monarch's hand. Bear back, I pray, this answer to your King: my dwelling holds a daughter, whom with husband of her blood great signs in heaven and from my father's tomb forbid to wed. A son from alien shores they prophesy for Latium's heir, whose seed shall lift our glory to the stars divine. I am persuaded this is none but he, that man of destiny; and if my heart be no false prophet, I desire it so.” Thus having said, the sire took chosen steeds from his full herd, whereof, well-groomed and fair, three hundred stood within his ample pale. Of these to every Teucrian guest he gave a courser swift and strong, in purple clad and broidered housings gay; on every breast hung chains of gold; in golden robes arrayed, they champed the red gold curb their teeth between. For offering to Aeneas, he bade send a chariot, with chargers twain of seed ethereal, their nostrils breathing fire: the famous kind which guileful Circe bred, cheating her sire, and mixed the sun-god's team with brood-mares earthly born. The sons of Troy, such gifts and greetings from Latinus bearing, rode back in pomp his words of peace to bring. Note 1: daughter = Lavinia Event: Aeneas comes to Latium |
249-285 Talibus Ilionei dictis defixa Latinus obtutu tenet ora soloque immobilis haeret, intentos uoluens oculos. nec purpura regem picta mouet nec sceptra mouent Priameia tantum quantum in conubio natae thalamoque moratur, et ueteris Fauni uoluit sub pectore sortem: hunc illum fatis externa ab sede profectum portendi generum paribusque in regna uocari auspiciis, huic progeniem uirtute futuram egregiam et totum quae uiribus occupet orbem. tandem laetus ait: 'di nostra incepta secundent auguriumque suum! dabitur, Troiane, quod optas. munera nec sperno: non uobis rege Latino diuitis uber agri Troiaeue opulentia deerit. ipse modo Aeneas, nostri si tanta cupido est, si iungi hospitio properat sociusque uocari, adueniat, uultus neue exhorrescat amicos: pars mihi pacis erit dextram tetigisse tyranni. uos contra regi mea nunc mandata referte: est mihi nata, uiro gentis quam iungere nostrae non patrio ex adyto sortes, non plurima caelo monstra sinunt; generos externis adfore ab oris, hoc Latio restare canunt, qui sanguine nostrum nomen in astra ferant. hunc illum poscere fata et reor et, si quid ueri mens augurat, opto.' haec effatus equos numero pater eligit omni (stabant ter centum nitidi in praesepibus altis); omnibus extemplo Teucris iubet ordine duci instratos ostro alipedes pictisque tapetis (aurea pectoribus demissa monilia pendent, tecti auro fuluum mandunt sub dentibus aurum), absenti Aeneae currum geminosque iugalis semine ab aetherio spirantis naribus ignem, illorum de gente patri quos daedala Circe supposita de matre nothos furata creauit. talibus Aeneadae donis dictisque Latini sublimes in equis redeunt pacemque reportant. |