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Notes Display Latin text | translated by Theodore C. Williams Book VIII Chapter 16: Venus asks a shield for Aeneas | Next chapter Return to index Previous chapter |
But Venus, sore disturbed, vexed not unwisely her maternal breast, fearing Laurentum's menace and wild stir of obstinate revolt, and made her plea to Vulcan in their nuptial bower of gold, outbreathing in the music of her words celestial love: “When warring Argive kings brought ruin on Troy's sacred citadel and ramparts soon to sink in hostile flames, I asked not thee to help that hopeless woe, nor craved thy craft and power. For, dearest lord, I would not tax in vain shine arduous toil, though much to Priam's children I was bound, and oft to see Aeneas burdened sore I could but weep. But now by will of Jove he has found foothold in Rutulian lands. Therefore I come at last with lowly suit before a godhead I adore, and pray for gift of arms, -- a mother for her son. Thou wert not unrelenting to the tears of Nereus' daughter [Note 1] or Tithonus' bride [Note 2]. Behold what tribes conspire, what cities strong behind barred gates now make the falchion keen to ruin and blot out both me and mine!" So spake the goddess, as her arms of snow around her hesitating spouse she threw in tender, close embrace. He suddenly knew the familiar fire, and o'er his frame its wonted ardor unresisted ran, swift as the glittering shaft of thunder cleaves the darkened air and on from cloud to cloud the rift of lightning runs. She, joyful wife; felt what her beauty and her guile could do; as, thralled by love unquenchable, her spouse thus answered fair: "Why wilt thou labor so with far-fetched pleas? my goddess, hast thou lost thy faith in me? Had such a prayer been shine, I could have armed the Teucrians. Neither Jove nor Destiny had grudged ten added years of life to Troy and Priam. If to-day thou hast a war in hand, and if thy heart determine so, I willingly engage to lend thee all my cunning; whatsoever molten alloy or welded iron can, whate'er my roaring forge and flames achieve, I offer thee. No more in anxious prayer distrust thy beauty's power.” So saying, he gave embrace of mutual desire, and found deep, peaceful sleep, on her fond heart reclined. Note 1: daughter = Thetis Events: The Gods interfere in the Aeneid, Venus asks Vulcan weapons for Aeneas |
370-406 At Venus haud animo nequiquam exterrita mater Laurentumque minis et duro mota tumultu Volcanum adloquitur, thalamoque haec coniugis aureo incipit et dictis diuinum aspirat amorem: 'dum bello Argolici uastabant Pergama reges debita casurasque inimicis ignibus arces, non ullum auxilium miseris, non arma rogaui artis opisque tuae, nec te, carissime coniunx, incassumue tuos uolui exercere labores, quamuis et Priami deberem plurima natis, et durum Aeneae fleuissem saepe laborem. nunc Iouis imperiis Rutulorum constitit oris: ergo eadem supplex uenio et sanctum mihi numen arma rogo, genetrix nato. te filia Nerei, te potuit lacrimis Tithonia flectere coniunx. aspice qui coeant populi, quae moenia clausis ferrum acuant portis in me excidiumque meorum.' dixerat et niueis hinc atque hinc diua lacertis cunctantem amplexu molli fouet. ille repente accepit solitam flammam, notusque medullas intrauit calor et labefacta per ossa cucurrit, non secus atque olim tonitru cum rupta corusco ignea rima micans percurrit lumine nimbos; sensit laeta dolis et formae conscia coniunx. tum pater aeterno fatur deuinctus amore: 'quid causas petis ex alto? fiducia cessit quo tibi, diua, mei? similis si cura fuisset, tum quoque fas nobis Teucros armare fuisset; nec pater omnipotens Troiam nec fata uetabant stare decemque alios Priamum superesse per annos. et nunc, si bellare paras atque haec tibi mens est, quidquid in arte mea possum promittere curae, quod fieri ferro liquidoue potest electro, quantum ignes animaeque ualent, absiste precando uiribus indubitare tuis.' ea uerba locutus optatos dedit amplexus placidumque petiuit coniugis infusus gremio per membra soporem. |