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Notes Do not display Latin text | translated by Theodore C. Williams Book II Chapter 28: Aeneas tries to convince his father | Next chapter Return to index Previous chapter |
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Such fixed resolve he [Note 1] uttered o'er and o'er, and would not yield, though with my tears did join my spouse Creusa, fair Ascanius, and our whole house, imploring the gray sire not with himself to ruin all, nor add yet heavier burdens to our crushing doom. He still cried, “No!” and clung to where he sat and to the same dread purpose. I [Note 2] once more back to the fight would speed. For death alone I made my wretched prayer. What space was left for wisdom now? What chance or hope was given? “Didst thou, dear father, dream that I could fly sundered from thee? Did such an infamy fall from a father's lips? If Heaven's decree will of this mighty nation not let live a single soul, if thine own purpose be to cast thyself and thy posterity into thy country's grave, behold, the door is open to thy death! Lo, Pyrrhus comes red-handed from King Priam! He has slain a son before a father's eyes, and spilt a father's blood upon his own hearthstone. Was it for this, O heavenly mother mine, that thou hast brought me safe through sword and fire? that I might see these altars desecrate by their worst foes? that I might look upon my sire, my wife, and sweet Ascanius dead at my feet in one another's blood? To arms, my men, to arms! The hour of death now beckons to the vanquished. Let me go whither the Greeks are gathered; let me stand where oft revives the flagging stroke of war: Not all of us die unavenged this day!" |
650-670 Talia perstabat memorans fixusque manebat. nos contra effusi lacrimis coniunxque Creusa Ascaniusque omnisque domus, ne uertere secum cuncta pater fatoque urgenti incumbere uellet. abnegat inceptoque et sedibus haeret in isdem. rursus in arma feror mortemque miserrimus opto. nam quod consilium aut quae iam fortuna dabatur? 'mene efferre pedem, genitor, te posse relicto sperasti tantumque nefas patrio excidit ore? si nihil ex tanta superis placet urbe relinqui, et sedet hoc animo perituraeque addere Troiae teque tuosque iuuat, patet isti ianua leto, iamque aderit multo Priami de sanguine Pyrrhus, natum ante ora patris, patrem qui obtruncat ad aras. hoc erat, alma parens, quod me per tela, per ignis eripis, ut mediis hostem in penetralibus utque Ascanium patremque meum iuxtaque Creusam alterum in alterius mactatos sanguine cernam? arma, uiri, ferte arma; uocat lux ultima uictos. reddite me Danais; sinite instaurata reuisam proelia. numquam omnes hodie moriemur inulti.' |