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Notes Display Latin text | translated by Theodore C. Williams Book V Chapter 4: Sacrifice of Aeneas | Next chapter Return to index Previous chapter |
So saying, he twined a wreath of his own mother's [Note 1] myrtle tree, to shade his sacred brow; the hero Helymus, and king Acestes for his tresses gray, like coronals took on; Ascanius and all the warrior youth like emblems wore. Then in th' attendant throng conspicuous, with thousands at his side, the hero moved from place of council to his father's tomb. There on the ground he poured libation due, two beakers of good wine, of sweet milk two, two of the victim's blood -- and scattered flowers of saddest purple stain, while thus he prayed: Hail, hallowed sire! And hail, ye ashes dear of him I vainly saved! O soul and shade of my blest father! Heaven to us denied to find together that predestined land of Italy, or our Ausonian stream of Tiber -- ah! but where? He scarce had said, when from the central shrine a gliding snake, coiled seven-fold in seven spirals wide, twined round the tomb and trailed innocuous o'er the very altars; his smooth back was flecked with green and azure, and his changeful scales gleamed golden, as the cloud-born rainbow flings its thousand colors from th' opposing sun. Aeneas breathless watched the serpent wind among the bowls and cups of polished rim, tasting the sacred feast; where, having fed, back to the tomb all harmless it withdrew. Then with new zeal his sacrifice he brings in honor of his sire; for he must deem that serpent the kind genius of the place, or of his very father's present shade some creature ministrant. Two lambs he slew, the wonted way, two swine, and, sable-hued, the yoke of bulls; from shallow bowl he poured libation of the grape, and called aloud on great Anchises' spirit, and his shade, from Acheron set free. Then all the throng, each from his separate store, heap up the shrines with victims slain; some range in order fair the brazen cauldrons; or along the grass, scattered at ease, hold o'er the embers bright the spitted flesh and roast it in the flames. Note 1: mother = Venus |
72-103 Sic fatus uelat materna tempora myrto. hoc Helymus facit, hoc aeui maturus Acestes, hoc puer Ascanius, sequitur quos cetera pubes. ille e concilio multis cum milibus ibat ad tumulum magna medius comitante caterua. hic duo rite mero libans carchesia Baccho fundit humi, duo lacte nouo, duo sanguine sacro, purpureosque iacit flores ac talia fatur: 'salue, sancte parens, iterum; saluete, recepti nequiquam cineres animaeque umbraeque paternae. non licuit finis Italos fataliaque arua nec tecum Ausonium, quicumque est, quaerere Thybrim.' dixerat haec, adytis cum lubricus anguis ab imis septem ingens gyros, septena uolumina traxit amplexus placide tumulum lapsusque per aras, caeruleae cui terga notae maculosus et auro squamam incendebat fulgor, ceu nubibus arcus mille iacit uarios aduerso sole colores. obstipuit uisu Aeneas. ille agmine longo tandem inter pateras et leuia pocula serpens libauitque dapes rursusque innoxius imo successit tumulo et depasta altaria liquit. hoc magis inceptos genitori instaurat honores, incertus geniumne loci famulumne parentis esse putet; caedit binas de more bidentis totque sues, totidem nigrantis terga iuuencos, uinaque fundebat pateris animamque uocabat Anchisae magni manisque Acheronte remissos. nec non et socii, quae cuique est copia, laeti dona ferunt, onerant aras mactantque iuuencos; ordine aena locant alii fusique per herbam subiciunt ueribus prunas et uiscera torrent. |