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Notes Display Latin text | translated by Theodore C. Williams Book XII Chapter 3: Amata's ideas | Next chapter Return to index Previous chapter |
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But now the Queen, whose whole heart shrank in fear from these new terms of duel, wept aloud, and like one dying clasped her fiery son: O Turnus, by these tears if in thy heart thou honorest Amata still -- O thou who art of our distressful, dark old age the only hope and peace, the kingly name and glory of Latinus rests in thee; thou art the mighty prop whereon is stayed our falling house. One favor I implore: give o'er this fight with Trojans. In such strife thy destined doom is destined to be mine by the same fatal stroke. For in that hour this hated life shall cease, nor will I look with slave's eyes on Aeneas as my son. Lavinia heard her mother's voice, and tears o'erflowed her scarlet cheek, where blushes spread like flame along her warm, young face and brow: as when the Indian ivory must wear ensanguined crimson stain, or lilies pale mingled with roses seem to blush, such hues her virgin features bore; and love's desire disturbed his breast, as, gazing on the maid, his martial passion fiercer flamed; whereon in brief speech he addressed the Queen: No tears! No evil omen, mother, I implore! Make me no sad farewells, as I depart to the grim war-god's [Note 1] game! Can Turnus' hand delay death's necessary coming? Go, Idmon, my herald, to the Phrygian King, and tell him this -- a word not framed to please: soon as Aurora from her crimson car flushes to-morrow's sky, let him no more against the Rutule lead the Teucrian line; let Teucrian swords and Rutule take repose, while with our own spilt blood we twain will make an end of war; on yonder mortal field let each man woo Lavinia for his bride. Note 1: war-god = Mars |
54-80 At regina noua pugnae conterrita sorte flebat et ardentem generum moritura tenebat: 'Turne, per has ego te lacrimas, per si quis Amatae tangit honos animum: spes tu nunc una, senectae tu requies miserae, decus imperiumque Latini te penes, in te omnis domus inclinata recumbit. unum oro: desiste manum committere Teucris. qui te cumque manent isto certamine casus et me, Turne, manent; simul haec inuisa relinquam lumina nec generum Aenean captiua uidebo.' accepit uocem lacrimis Lauinia matris flagrantis perfusa genas, cui plurimus ignem subiecit rubor et calefacta per ora cucurrit. Indum sanguineo ueluti uiolauerit ostro si quis ebur, aut mixta rubent ubi lilia multa alba rosa, talis uirgo dabat ore colores. illum turbat amor figitque in uirgine uultus; ardet in arma magis paucisque adfatur Amatam: 'ne, quaeso, ne me lacrimis neue omine tanto prosequere in duri certamina Martis euntem, o mater; neque enim Turno mora libera mortis. nuntius haec, Idmon, Phrygio mea dicta tyranno haud placitura refer. cum primum crastina caelo puniceis inuecta rotis Aurora rubebit, non Teucros agat in Rutulos, Teucrum arma quiescant et Rutuli; nostro dirimamus sanguine bellum, illo quaeratur coniunx Lauinia campo.' |