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Notes Display Latin text | translated by Theodore C. Williams Book IX Chapter 17: The mother of Euryalus | Next chapter Return to index Previous chapter |
On restless pinions to the trembling town had voiceful Rumor hied, and to the ears of that lone mother of Euryalus relentless flown. Through all her feeble frame the chilling sorrow sped. From both her hands dropped web and shuttle; she flew shrieking forth, ill-fated mother! and with tresses torn, to the wide ramparts and the battle-line ran frantic, heeding naught of men-at-arms, nor peril nor the rain of falling spears; and thus with loud and lamentable cry filled all the air: Is it in yonder guise, Euryalus, thou comest? Art thou he, last comfort of my life? O cruel one! Couldst thou desert me? When they thrust thee forth to death and danger, did they dare refuse a wretched mother's last embrace? But now -- O woe is me! -- upon this alien shore thou liest for a feast to Latin dogs and carrion birds. Nor did thy mother lead the mourners to thy grave, nor shut those eyes, nor wash the dreadful wounds, nor cover thee with the fair shroud, which many a night and day I swiftly wove, and at my web and loom forgot my years and sorrows. Whither now to seek and follow thee? What spot of earth holds the torn body and the mangled limbs? Is all the gift thou bringest home, dear child, this? O, was this the prize for which I came o'er land and sea? O, stab me very deep, if ye have any pity; hurl on me your every spear, Rutulians; make of me your swords' first work. Or, Father of the gods! Show mercy, thou! and with thy lightning touch this head accurst, and let it fall by thee down to the dark. For else what power is mine my tortured life to end? Her agony smote on their listening souls; a wail of woe along the concourse ran. Stern men-at-arms felt valor for a moment sleep, and all their rage of battle fail. But while she stirred the passion of her grief, Ilioneus and young Iulus, weeping filial tears, bade Actor and Idaeus, lifting her in both their reverent arms, to bear her home. Event: Sortie of Nisus and Euryalis |
473-502 Interea pauidam uolitans pennata per urbem nuntia Fama ruit matrisque adlabitur auris Euryali. at subitus miserae calor ossa reliquit, excussi manibus radii reuolutaque pensa. euolat infelix et femineo ululatu scissa comam muros amens atque agmina cursu prima petit, non illa uirum, non illa pericli telorumque memor, caelum dehinc questibus implet: 'hunc ego te, Euryale, aspicio? tune ille senectae sera meae requies, potuisti linquere solam, crudelis? nec te sub tanta pericula missum adfari extremum miserae data copia matri? heu, terra ignota canibus data praeda Latinis alitibusque iaces! nec te tua funere mater produxi pressiue oculos aut uulnera laui, ueste tegens tibi quam noctes festina diesque urgebam, et tela curas solabar anilis. quo sequar? aut quae nunc artus auulsaque membra et funus lacerum tellus habet? hoc mihi de te, nate, refers? hoc sum terraque marique secuta? figite me, si qua est pietas, in me omnia tela conicite, o Rutuli, me primam absumite ferro; aut tu, magne pater diuum, miserere, tuoque inuisum hoc detrude caput sub Tartara telo, quando aliter nequeo crudelem abrumpere uitam.' hoc fletu concussi animi, maestusque per omnis it gemitus, torpent infractae ad proelia uires. illam incendentem luctus Idaeus et Actor Ilionei monitu et multum lacrimantis Iuli corripiunt interque manus sub tecta reponunt. |