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Notes Display Latin text | translated by Theodore C. Williams Book III Chapter 9: Aeneas is sent to Hesperia | Next chapter Return to index Previous chapter |
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T was night, and sleep possessed all breathing things; when, lo! the sacred effigies divine, the Phrygian gods which through the flames I [Note 1] bore from fallen Troy, seemed in a vision clear to stand before me where I slumbering lay, bathed in bright beams which from the moon at full streamed through the latticed wall: and thus they spoke to soothe my care away. word, which in far Delos the god meant for thee, is uttered here. Behold, he sends ourselves to this thy house, before thy prayer is made. We from Troy's ashes have companioned thee in every fight; and we the swollen seas, guided by thee, in thine own ships have crossed; our power divine shall set among the stars thy seed to be, and to thy city give dominion evermore. For mighty men go build its mighty walls! Seek not to shun the hard, long labors of an exile's way. Change this abode! Not thine this Cretan shore, nor here would Delian Phoebus have thee bide. There is a land the roving Greeks have named Hesperia. It is a storied realm made mighty by great wars and fruitful land. Oenotrians had it, and their sons, t is said, have called it Italy, a chieftain's name to a whole region given. That land alone our true abode can be; for Dardanus was cradled there, and old Iasius, their blood the oldest of our ancient line. Arise! go forth and cheer thy father gray with the glad tidings! Bid him doubt no more! Ausonia seek and Corythus; for Jove denies this Cretan realm to thine and thee.” I marvelled at the heavenly presences so vocal and so bright, for t was not sleep; but face to face I deemed I could discern each countenance august and holy brow, each mantled head; and from my body ran cold sweat of awe. From my low couch I sprang, lifting to heaven my suppliant hands and prayer, and o'er my hearth poured forth libations free. After th' auspicious offering, I told Anchises the whole tale in order due. He owned our stock two-branched, of our great sires the twofold line, and that his thought had strayed, in new confusion mingling ancient names; then spoke: "O son, in Ilium's doom severe afflicted ever! To my ears alone this dark vicissitude Cassandra sang. I mind me now that her wild tongue foretold such destiny. For oft she called aloud ‘Hesperia!’ oft kingdom!’ called. But who had faith that Teucer's sons should come to far Hesperia? What mortal ear gave heed to sad Cassandra's voice divine? Now Phoebus speaks. Obedient let us be, and, warned by him, our happier lot pursue!" He spoke: with heart of hope we all obeyed; again we changed abode; and, leaving there a feeble few, again with spreading sails we coursed in hollow ship the spacious sea. Note 1: I = Aeneas Events: Aeneas on Crete, The wanderings of Aeneas |
147-191 Nox erat et terris animalia somnus habebat: effigies sacrae diuum Phrygiique penates, quos mecum a Troia mediisque ex ignibus urbis extuleram, uisi ante oculos astare iacentis in somnis multo manifesti lumine, qua se plena per insertas fundebat luna fenestras; tum sic adfari et curas his demere dictis: 'quod tibi delato Ortygiam dicturus Apollo est, hic canit et tua nos en ultro ad limina mittit. nos te Dardania incensa tuaque arma secuti, nos tumidum sub te permensi classibus aequor, idem uenturos tollemus in astra nepotes imperiumque urbi dabimus. tu moenia magnis magna para longumque fugae ne linque laborem. mutandae sedes. non haec tibi litora suasit Delius aut Cretae iussit considere Apollo. est locus, Hesperiam Grai cognomine dicunt, terra antiqua, potens armis atque ubere glaebae; Oenotri coluere uiri; nunc fama minores Italiam dixisse ducis de nomine gentem. hae nobis propriae sedes, hinc Dardanus ortus Iasiusque pater, genus a quo principe nostrum. surge age et haec laetus longaeuo dicta parenti haud dubitanda refer: Corythum terrasque requirat Ausonias; Dictaea negat tibi Iuppiter arua.' talibus attonitus uisis et uoce deorum (nec sopor illud erat, sed coram agnoscere uultus uelatasque comas praesentiaque ora uidebar; tum gelidus toto manabat corpore sudor) corripio e stratis corpus tendoque supinas ad caelum cum uoce manus et munera libo intemerata focis. perfecto laetus honore Anchisen facio certum remque ordine pando. agnouit prolem ambiguam geminosque parentis, seque nouo ueterum deceptum errore locorum. tum memorat: 'nate, Iliacis exercite fatis, sola mihi talis casus Cassandra canebat. nunc repeto haec generi portendere debita nostro et saepe Hesperiam, saepe Itala regna uocare. sed quis ad Hesperiae uenturos litora Teucros crederet? aut quem tum uates Cassandra moueret? cedamus Phoebo et moniti meliora sequamur.' sic ait, et cuncti dicto paremus ouantes. hanc quoque deserimus sedem paucisque relictis uela damus uastumque caua trabe currimus aequor. |