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Notes Display Latin text | translated by Theodore C. Williams Book I Chapter 26: Aeneas visits Carthage | Next chapter Return to index Previous chapter |
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Meanwhile the wanderers swiftly journey on along the clear-marked road, and soon they climb the brow of a high hill, which close in view o'er-towers the city's crown. The vast exploit, where lately rose but Afric cabins rude, Aeneas wondered at: the smooth, wide ways; the bastioned gates; the uproar of the throng. The Tyrians toil unwearied; some up-raise a wall or citadel, from far below lifting the ponderous stone; or with due care choose where to build, and close the space around with sacred furrow; in their gathering-place the people for just governors, just laws, and for their reverend senate shout acclaim. Some clear the harbor mouth; some deeply lay the base of a great theatre, and carve out proud columns from the mountain, to adorn their rising stage with lofty ornament. so busy bees above a field of flowers in early summer amid sunbeams toil, leading abroad their nation's youthful brood; or with the flowing honey storing close the pliant cells, until they quite run o'er with nectared sweet; while from the entering swarm they take their little loads; or lined for war, rout the dull drones, and chase them from the hive; brisk is the task, and all the honeyed air breathes odors of wild thyme. How blest of Heaven. These men that see their promised ramparts rise! Aeneas sighed; and swift his glances moved from tower to tower; then on his way he fared, veiled in the wonder-cloud, whence all unseen of human eyes, -- O strange the tale and true! -- he threaded the thronged streets, unmarked, unknown. |
418-440 Corripuere viam interea, qua semita monstrat. Iamque ascendebant collem, qui plurimus urbi imminet, adversasque adspectat desuper arces. Miratur molem Aeneas, magalia quondam, miratur portas strepitumque et strata viarum. Instant ardentes Tyrii pars ducere muros, molirique arcem et manibus subvolvere saxa, pars optare locum tecto et concludere sulco. [Iura magistratusque legunt sanctumque senatum;] hic portus alii effodiunt; hic alta theatris fundamenta locant alii, immanisque columnas rupibus excidunt, scaenis decora alta futuris. Qualis apes aestate nova per florea rura exercet sub sole labor, cum gentis adultos educunt fetus, aut cum liquentia mella stipant et dulci distendunt nectare cellas, aut onera accipiunt venientum, aut agmine facto ignavom fucos pecus a praesepibus arcent: fervet opus, redolentque thymo fragrantia mella. 'O fortunati, quorum iam moenia surgunt!' Aeneas ait, et fastigia suspicit urbis. Infert se saeptus nebula, mirabile dictu, per medios, miscetque viris, neque cernitur ulli. |