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Quote of the day: One Musonius Rufus, a man of equestrian
Notes
Display Latin text
The Aeneid by Virgil
translated by Theodore C. Williams
Book V Chapter 10: Cloanthus bribes the gods
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At last remains
Cloanthus his sole peer, whom he pursues
with a supreme endeavor. From the shore
burst echoing cheers that spur him to the chase,
and wild applause makes all the welkin ring.
The leaders now with eager souls would scorn
to lose their glory, and faint-hearted fail
to grasp a prize half-won, but fain would buy
honor with life itself; the followers too
are flushed with proud success, and feel them strong
because their strength is proven. Both ships now
with indistinguishable prows had sped
to share one prize, -- but with uplifted hands
spread o'er the sea,Cloanthus, suppliant,
called on the gods to bless his votive prayer:
Ye gods who rule the waves, whose waters be
my pathway now; for you on yonder strand
a white bull at the altar shall be slain
in grateful tribute for a granted vow;
and o'er the salt waves I will scatter far
the entrails, and outpour the flowing wine.
He spoke; and from the caverns under sea
Phorcus and virgin Panopea heard,
and all the sea-nymphs' choir; while with strong hand
the kindly God of Havens rose and thrust
the gliding ship along, that swifter flew
than south wind, or an arrow from the string,
and soon made land in haven safe and sure.

Events: Aeneas on Sicily, Celebration of Anchises' death

225-243
solus iamque ipso superest in fine Cloanthus,
quem petit et summis adnixus uiribus urget.
Tum uero ingeminat clamor cunctique sequentem
instigant studiis, resonatque fragoribus aether.
hi proprium decus et partum indignantur honorem
ni teneant, uitamque uolunt pro laude pacisci;
hos successus alit: possunt, quia posse uidentur.
et fors aequatis cepissent praemia rostris,
ni palmas ponto tendens utrasque Cloanthus
fudissetque preces diuosque in uota uocasset:
'di, quibus imperium est pelagi, quorum aequora curro,
uobis laetus ego hoc candentem in litore taurum
constituam ante aras uoti reus, extaque salsos
proiciam in fluctus et uina liquentia fundam.'
dixit, eumque imis sub fluctibus audiit omnis
Nereidum Phorcique chorus Panopeaque uirgo,
et pater ipse manu magna Portunus euntem
impulit: illa Noto citius uolucrique sagitta
ad terram fugit et portu se condidit alto