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Notes Display Latin text | translated by Theodore C. Williams Book IX Chapter 6: Night falls | Next chapter Return to index Previous chapter |
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The hearts of the Rutulian host stood still in panic, and Messapus terrified his trembling horses reined; the sacred stream of Father Tiber, harshly murmuring, held back his flood and checked his seaward way. But Turnus' courage failed not; he alone his followers roused, and with reproachful words alone spoke forth: These signs and prodigies threaten the Trojan only. Jove himself has stripped them of their wonted strength: no more can they abide our deadly sword and fire. The Trojan path to sea is shut. What hope of flight is left them now? The half their cause is fallen. The possession of this land is ours already; thousands of sharp swords Italia's nations bring. Small fear have I of Phrygia's boasted omens. What to me their oracles from heaven? The will of Fate and Venus have achieved their uttermost in casting on Ausonia's fruitful shore yon sons of Troy. I too have destinies: and mine, good match for theirs, with this true blade will spill the blood of all the baneful brood, in vengeance for my stolen wife. Such wrongs move not on Atreus' sons alone, nor rouse only Mycenae to a righteous war. Say you, Troy falls but once? One crime, say I, should have contented them; and now their souls should little less than loathe all womankind. These are the sort of soldiers that be brave behind entrenchment, where the moated walls may stem the foe and make a little room betwixt themselves and death. Did they not see how Troy's vast bulwark built by Neptune's hand crumbled in flame? Forward, my chosen brave! Who follows me to cleave his deadly way through yonder battlement, and leap like storm upon its craven guard? I have no need of arms from Vulcan's smithy; nor of ships a thousand strong against our Teucrian foes, though all Etruria's league enlarge their power. Let them not fear dark nights, nor coward theft of Pallas' shrine, nor murdered sentinels on their acropolis. We shall not hide in blinding belly of a horse. But I in public eye and open day intend to compass their weak wall with siege and fire. I'll prove them we be no Pelasgic band, no Danaan warriors, such as Hector's arm ten years withstood. But look! this day hath spent its better part. In what remains, rejoice in noble deeds well done; let weary flesh have rest and food. My warriors, husband well your strength against to-morrow's hopeful war. Meanwhile to block their gates with wakeful guard is made Messapus' work, and to gird round their camp with watch-fires. Then a chosen band, twice seven Rutulian chieftains, man the walls with soldiery; each leads a hundred men crested with crimson, armed with glittering gold. Some post to separate sentries, and prepare alternate vigil; others, couched on grass, laugh round the wine and lift the brazen bowls. The camp-fires cheerly burn; the jovial guard spend the long, sleepless night in sport and game. |
123-167 Obstipuere animis Rutuli, conterritus ipse turbatis Messapus equis, cunctatur et amnis rauca sonans reuocatque pedem Tiberinus ab alto. at non audaci Turno fiducia cessit; ultro animos tollit dictis atque increpat ultro: 'Troianos haec monstra petunt, his Iuppiter ipse auxilium solitum eripuit: non tela neque ignis exspectant Rutulos. ergo maria inuia Teucris, nec spes ulla fugae: rerum pars altera adempta est, terra autem in nostris manibus, tot milia gentes arma ferunt Italae. nil me fatalia terrent, si qua Phryges prae se iactant, responsa deorum; sat fatis Venerique datum, tetigere quod arua fertilis Ausoniae Troes. sunt et mea contra fata mihi, ferro sceleratam exscindere gentem coniuge praerepta; nec solos tangit Atridas iste dolor, solisque licet capere arma Mycenis. "sed periisse semel satis est": peccare fuisset ante satis, penitus modo non genus omne perosos femineum. quibus haec medii fiducia ualli fossarumque morae, leti discrimina parua, dant animos; at non uiderunt moenia Troiae Neptuni fabricata manu considere in ignis? sed uos, o lecti, ferro qui scindere uallum apparat et mecum inuadit trepidantia castra? non armis mihi Volcani, non mille carinis est opus in Teucros. addant se protinus omnes Etrusci socios. tenebras et inertia furta Palladii caesis late custodibus arcis ne timeant, nec equi caeca condemur in aluo: luce palam certum est igni circumdare muros. haud sibi cum Danais rem faxo et pube Pelasga esse ferant, decimum quos distulit Hector in annum. nunc adeo, melior quoniam pars acta diei, quod superest, laeti bene gestis corpora rebus procurate, uiri, et pugnam sperate parari.' interea uigilum excubiis obsidere portas cura datur Messapo et moenia cingere flammis. bis septem Rutuli muros qui milite seruent delecti, ast illos centeni quemque sequuntur purpurei cristis iuuenes auroque corusci. discurrunt uariantque uices, fusique per herbam indulgent uino et uertunt crateras aenos. conlucent ignes, noctem custodia ducit insomnem ludo. |