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Notes Display Latin text | translated by Theodore C. Williams Book IX Chapter 10: The plan is joyfully accepted | Next chapter Return to index Previous chapter |
Then uprose aged Aletes, crowned with wisdom's years: Gods of our fathers, who forevermore watch over Troy, ye surely had no mind to blot out Teucria's name, when ye bestowed such courage on young hearts, and bade them be so steadfast and so leal. Joyful he clasped their hands in his, and on their shoulders leaned, his aged cheek and visage wet with tears. What reward worthy of such actions fair, dear heroes, could be given? Your brightest prize will come from Heaven and your own hearts. The rest Aeneas will right soon bestow; nor will Ascanius, now in youth's unblemished prime, ever forget your praise. Forthwith replied Aeneas' son, By all our household gods, by great Assaracus, and every shrine of venerable Vesta, I confide my hopes, my fortunes, and all future weal to your heroic hearts. O, bring me back my father! Set him in these eyes once more! That day will tears be dry; and I will give two silver wine-cups graven and o'erlaid with clear-cut figures, which my father chose out of despoiled Arisbe; also two full talents of pure gold, and tripods twain, and ancient wine-bowl, Tyrian Dido's token. But if indeed our destiny shall be to vanquish Italy in prosperous war, to seize the sceptre and divide the spoil, -- saw you that steed of Turnus and the arms in which he rode, all golden? That same steed, that glittering shield and haughty crimson crest I will reserve thee, e'er the lots are cast, and, Nisus, they are thine. Hereto my sire will add twelve captive maids of beauty rare, and slaves in armor; last, thou hast the fields which now Latinus holds. But as for thee, to whom my youth but binds me closer still, thee, kingly boy, my whole heart makes my own, and through all changeful fortune we shall be inseparable peers: nor will I seek renown and glory, or in peace or war, forgetting thee: but trust thee from this day in deed and word. To him in answer spoke Euryalus, O, may no future show this heart unworthy thy heroic call! And may our fortune ever prosperous prove, not adverse. But I now implore of thee a single boon worth all beside. I have a mother, from the venerated line of Priam sprung, whom not the Trojan shore nor king Acestes' city could detain, alas! from following me. I leave her now without farewell; nor is her love aware of my supposed peril. For I swear by darkness of this night and thy right hand, that all my courage fails me if I see a mother's tears. O, therefore, I implore, be thou her sorrow's comfort and sustain her solitary day. Such grace from thee equip me for my war, and I shall face with braver heart whatever fortune brings. With sudden sorrow thrilled, the veteran lords of Teucria showed their tears. But most of all such likeness of his own heart's filial love on fair Iulus moved, and thus he spoke: Promise thyself what fits thy generous deeds. Thy mother shall be mine, Creusa's name alone not hers; nor is the womb unblest that bore a child like thee. Whate'er success may follow, I make oath immutable by my own head, on which my father swore, that all I promise thee of gift or praise if home thou comest triumphing, shall be the glory of thy mother and thy kin. Weeping he spoke, and from his shoulder drew the golden sword, well-wrought and wonderful, which once in Crete Lycaon's cunning made and sheathed in ivory. On Nisus then Mnestheus bestowed a shaggy mantle torn from a slain lion; good Aletes gave exchange of crested helms. In such array they hastened forth; and all the princely throng, young men and old, ran with them to the gates, praying all gods to bless. Iulus then, a fair youth, but of grave, heroic soul beyond his years, gave them in solemn charge full many a message for his sire, but these the hazard of wild winds soon scattered far, and flung them fruitless on the darkening storm. Event: Sortie of Nisus and Euryalis |
246-313 hic annis grauis atque animi maturus Aletes: 'di patrii, quorum semper sub numine Troia est, non tamen omnino Teucros delere paratis, cum talis animos iuuenum et tam certa tulistis pectora.' sic memorans umeros dextrasque tenebat amborum et uultum lacrimis atque ora rigabat. 'quae uobis, quae digna, uiri, pro laudibus istis praemia posse rear solui? pulcherrima primum di moresque dabunt uestri: tum cetera reddet actutum pius Aeneas atque integer aeui Ascanius meriti tanti non immemor umquam.' 'immo ego uos, cui sola salus genitore reducto,' excipit Ascanius 'per magnos, Nise, penatis Assaracique larem et canae penetralia Vestae obtestor, quaecumque mihi fortuna fidesque est, in uestris pono gremiis. reuocate parentem, reddite conspectum; nihil illo triste recepto. bina dabo argento perfecta atque aspera signis pocula, deuicta genitor quae cepit Arisba, et tripodas geminos, auri duo magna talenta, cratera antiquum quem dat Sidonia Dido. si uero capere Italiam sceptrisque potiri contigerit uictori et praedae dicere sortem, uidisti, quo Turnus equo, quibus ibat in armis aureus; ipsum illum, clipeum cristasque rubentis excipiam sorti, iam nunc tua praemia, Nise. praeterea bis sex genitor lectissima matrum corpora captiuosque dabit suaque omnibus arma, insuper his campi quod rex habet ipse Latinus. te uero, mea quem spatiis propioribus aetas insequitur, uenerande puer, iam pectore toto accipio et comitem casus complector in omnis. nulla meis sine te quaeretur gloria rebus: seu pacem seu bella geram, tibi maxima rerum uerborumque fides.' contra quem talia fatur Euryalus: 'me nulla dies tam fortibus ausis dissimilem arguerit; tantum fortuna secunda haud aduersa cadat. sed te super omnia dona unum oro: genetrix Priami de gente uetusta est mihi, quam miseram tenuit non Ilia tellus mecum excedentem, non moenia regis Acestae. hanc ego nunc ignaram huius quodcumque pericli inque salutatam linquo (nox et tua testis dextera), quod nequeam lacrimas perferre parentis. at tu, oro, solare inopem et succurre relictae. hanc sine me spem ferre tui, audentior ibo in casus omnis.' percussa mente dedere Dardanidae lacrimas, ante omnis pulcher Iulus, atque animum patriae strinxit pietatis imago. tum sic effatur: 'sponde digna tuis ingentibus omnia coeptis. namque erit ista mihi genetrix nomenque Creusae solum defuerit, nec partum gratia talem parua manet. casus factum quicumque sequentur, per caput hoc iuro, per quod pater ante solebat: quae tibi polliceor reduci rebusque secundis, haec eadem matrique tuae generique manebunt.' sic ait inlacrimans; umero simul exuit ensem auratum, mira quem fecerat arte Lycaon Cnosius atque habilem uagina aptarat eburna. dat Niso Mnestheus pellem horrentisque leonis exuuias, galeam fidus permutat Aletes. protinus armati incedunt; quos omnis euntis primorum manus ad portas, iuuenumque senumque, prosequitur uotis. nec non et pulcher Iulus, ante annos animumque gerens curamque uirilem, multa patri mandata dabat portanda; sed aurae omnia discerpunt et nubibus inrita donant. |