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Notes Do not display Latin text | translated by Theodore C. Williams Book VI Chapter 20: Deiphobus | Next chapter Return to index Previous chapter |
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Here Priam's son, with body rent and torn, Deïphobus is seen, -- his mangled face, His face and bloody hands, his wounded head Of ears and nostrils infamously shorn. Scarce could Aeneas know the shuddering shade That strove to hide its face and shameful scar; But, speaking first, he said, in their own tongue: Deiphobus, strong warrior, nobly born Of Teucer's royal stem, what ruthless foe Could wish to wreak on thee this dire revenge? Who ventured, unopposed, so vast a wrong? The rumor reached me how, that deadly night, Wearied with slaying Greeks, thyself didst fall Prone on a mingled heap of friends and foes. Then my own hands did for thy honor build An empty tomb upon the Trojan shore, And thrice with echoing voice I called thy shade. Thy name and arms are there. But, O my friend, Thee could I nowhere find, but launched away, Nor o'er thy bones their native earth could fling. To him the son of Priam thus replied: Nay, friend, no hallowed rite was left undone, But every debt to death and pity due The shades of thy Deiphobus received. My fate it was, and Helen's murderous wrong, Wrought me this woe; of her these tokens tell. For how that last night in false hope we passed, Thou knowest, -- ah, too well we both recall! When up the steep of Troy the fateful horse Came climbing, pregnant with fierce men-at-arms, t was she, accurst, who led the Phrygian dames In choric dance and false bacchantic song, And, waving from the midst a lofty brand, Signalled the Greeks from Ilium's central tower In that same hour on my sad couch I lay, Exhausted by long care and sunk in sleep, That sweet, deep sleep, so close to tranquil death. But my illustrious bride from all the house Had stolen all arms; from neath my pillowed head She stealthily bore off my trusty sword; Then loud on Menelaus did she call, And with her own false hand unbarred the door; Such gift to her fond lord she fain would send To blot the memory of his ancient wrong! Why tell the tale, how on my couch they broke, While their accomplice, vile Aeolides, Counselled to many a crime. O heavenly Powers! Reward these Greeks their deeds of wickedness, If with clean lips upon your wrath I call! But, friend, what fortunes have thy life befallen? Tell point by point. Did waves of wandering seas Drive thee this way, or some divine command? What chastisement of fortune thrusts thee on Toward this forlorn abode of night and cloud? Events: Aeneas visits the Underworld, Helen and Deiphobus, The fall of Troy |
494-534 Atque hic Priamiden laniatum corpore toto Deiphobum uidet et lacerum crudeliter ora, ora manusque ambas, populataque tempora raptis auribus et truncas inhonesto uulnere naris. uix adeo agnouit pauitantem ac dira tegentem supplicia, et notis compellat uocibus ultro: 'Deiphobe armipotens, genus alto a sanguine Teucri, quis tam crudelis optauit sumere poenas? cui tantum de te licuit? mihi fama suprema nocte tulit fessum uasta te caede Pelasgum procubuisse super confusae stragis aceruum. tunc egomet tumulum Rhoeteo in litore inanem constitui et magna manis ter uoce uocaui. nomen et arma locum seruant; te, amice, nequiui conspicere et patria decedens ponere terra.' ad quae Priamides: 'nihil o tibi, amice, relictum; omnia Deiphobo soluisti et funeris umbris. sed me fata mea et scelus exitiale Lacaenae his mersere malis; illa haec monimenta reliquit. namque ut supremam falsa inter gaudia noctem egerimus, nosti: et nimium meminisse necesse est. cum fatalis equus saltu super ardua uenit Pergama et armatum peditem grauis attulit aluo, illa chorum simulans euhantis orgia circum ducebat Phrygias; flammam media ipsa tenebat ingentem et summa Danaos ex arce uocabat. tum me confectum curis somnoque grauatum infelix habuit thalamus, pressitque iacentem dulcis et alta quies placidaeque simillima morti. egregia interea coniunx arma omnia tectis emouet, et fidum capiti subduxerat ensem: intra tecta uocat Menelaum et limina pandit, scilicet id magnum sperans fore munus amanti, et famam exstingui ueterum sic posse malorum. quid moror? inrumpunt thalamo, comes additus una hortator scelerum Aeolides. di, talia Grais instaurate, pio si poenas ore reposco. sed te qui uiuum casus, age fare uicissim, attulerint. pelagine uenis erroribus actus an monitu diuum? an quae te fortuna fatigat, ut tristis sine sole domos, loca turbida, adires?' |