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Notes Display Latin text | translated by Theodore C. Williams Book X Chapter 10: Arrival of Aeneas | Next chapter Return to index Previous chapter |
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Day now had left the sky. The moon benign had driven her night-wandering chariot to the mid-arch of heaven. Aeneas sate, for thought and care allowed him no repose, holding the helm and tending his own sails. but, as he sped, behold, the beauteous train, lately his own, of nymphs, anon transformed by kind Cybele to sea-ruling powers. In even ranks they swam the cloven wave, -- nymphs now, but once as brazen galleys moored along the sandy shore. With joy they knew their king from far, and with attending train around him drew. Cymodocea then, best skilled in mortal speech, sped close behind, with her right hand upon the stern, uprose breast-high, and with her left hand deeply plied the silent stream, as to the wondering King she called: So late on watch, O son of Heaven, Aeneas? Slack thy sail, but still watch on! We were the pine trees on the holy top of Ida's mountain. Sea-nymphs now are we, and thine own fleet. When, as we fled, the flames rained o'er us from the false Rutulian's hand t was all unwillingly we cast away thy serviceable chains: and now once more we follow thee across the sea. These forms our pitying mother bade us take, with power to haunt immortally the moving sea. Lo, thy Ascanius lies close besieged in moated walls, assailed by threatening arms and Latium's front of war. Arcadia, her horsemen with the bold Etruscan joined, stands at the place appointed. Turnus means, with troop opposing, their advance to bar and hold them from the camp. Arouse thee, then, and with the rising beams of dawn call forth thy captains and their followers. Take that shield victorious, which for thee the Lord of Fire [Note 1] forged for a gift and rimmed about with gold. To-morrow's light -- deem not my words be vain! -- shall shine on huge heaps of Rutulia's dead. So saying, she pushed with her right hand the stern with skilful thrust, and vanished. The ship sped swift as a spear, or as an arrow flies no whit behind the wind: and all the fleet quickened its course. Anchises' princely son, dumb and bewildered stood, but took good heart at such an omen fair. Then in few words with eyes upturned to heaven he made his prayer: Mother of gods, O Ida's Queen benign, who lovest Dindymus and towns with towers, and lion-yokes obedient to thy rein, be thou my guide in battle, and fulfil thine augury divine. In Phrygia's cause be present evermore with favoring power! He spoke no more. For now the wheels of day had sped full circle into perfect light, the dark expelling. Then, for his first care, he bade his captains heed the signal given, equip their souls for war, and wait in arms the coming fray. Note 1: Lord of Fire = Vulcan Events: Aeneas returns to the Trojan camp, The Gods interfere in the Aeneid |
215-259 Iamque dies caelo concesserat almaque curru noctiuago Phoebe medium pulsabat Olympum: Aeneas (neque enim membris dat cura quietem) ipse sedens clauumque regit uelisque ministrat. atque illi medio in spatio chorus, ecce, suarum occurrit comitum: nymphae, quas alma Cybebe numen habere maris nymphasque e nauibus esse iusserat, innabant pariter fluctusque secabant, quot prius aeratae steterant ad litora prorae. agnoscunt longe regem lustrantque choreis; quarum quae fandi doctissima Cymodocea pone sequens dextra puppim tenet ipsaque dorso eminet ac laeua tacitis subremigat undis. tum sic ignarum adloquitur: 'uigilasne, deum gens, Aenea? uigila et uelis immitte rudentis. nos sumus, Idaeae sacro de uertice pinus, nunc pelagi nymphae, classis tua. perfidus ut nos praecipitis ferro Rutulus flammaque premebat, rupimus inuitae tua uincula teque per aequor quaerimus. hanc genetrix faciem miserata refecit et dedit esse deas aeuumque agitare sub undis. at puer Ascanius muro fossisque tenetur tela inter media atque horrentis Marte Latinos. iam loca iussa tenent forti permixtus Etrusco Arcas eques; medias illis opponere turmas, ne castris iungant, certa est sententia Turno. surge age et Aurora socios ueniente uocari primus in arma iube, et clipeum cape quem dedit ipse inuictum ignipotens atque oras ambiit auro. crastina lux, mea si non inrita dicta putaris, ingentis Rutulae spectabit caedis aceruos.' dixerat et dextra discedens impulit altam haud ignara modi puppim: fugit illa per undas ocior et iaculo et uentos aequante sagitta. inde aliae celerant cursus. stupet inscius ipse Tros Anchisiades, animos tamen omine tollit. tum breuiter supera aspectans conuexa precatur: 'alma parens Idaea deum, cui Dindyma cordi turrigeraeque urbes biiugique ad frena leones, tu mihi nunc pugnae princeps, tu rite propinques augurium Phrygibusque adsis pede, diua, secundo.' tantum effatus, et interea reuoluta ruebat matura iam luce dies noctemque fugarat; principio sociis edicit signa sequantur atque animos aptent armis pugnaeque parent se. |