Home | Introduction | Persons | Geogr. | Sources | Events | Mijn blog(Nederlands) |
Religion | Subjects | Images | Queries | Links | Contact | Do not fly Iberia |
Notes Display Latin text | translated by Theodore C. Williams Book III Chapter 6: Answer of Apollo | Next chapter Return to index Previous chapter |
Scarce had I spoke when sudden trembling through the laurels ran and smote the holy portals; far and wide the mighty ridges of the mountain shook, and from the opening shrine the tripod moaned. Prostrate to earth we fall, as on our ears this utterance breaks: “O breed of iron men, ye sons of Dardanus! the self-same land where bloomed at first your far-descended stem shall to its bounteous bosom draw ye home. Seek out your ancient Mother! There at last Aeneas' race shall reign on every shore, and his sons' sons, and all their house to be.” So Phoebus spoke; and mighty joy uprose from all my thronging people, who would know where Phoebus' city lay, and whitherward the god ordained the wandering tribe's return. Then spake my father [Note 1], pondering olden days and sacred memories of heroes gone: “Hear, chiefs and princes, what your hopes shall be! The Isle of Crete, abode of lofty Jove, rests in the middle sea. Thence Ida soars; there is the cradle of our race. It boasts a hundred cities, seats of fruitful power. Thence our chief sire, if duly I recall the olden tale, King Teucer sprung, who first touched on the Trojan shore, and chose his seat of kingly power. There was no Ilium then nor towered Pergama; in lowly vales their dwelling; hence the ancient worship given to the Protectress [Note 2] of Mount Cybele, mother of Gods, what time in Ida's grove the brazen Corybantic cymbals clang, or sacred silence guards her mystery, and lions yoked her royal chariot draw. Up, then, and follow the behests divine! Pour offering to the winds, and point your keels unto that realm of Minos. It is near. if Jove but bless, the third day's dawn should see our ships at Cretan land." So, having said, he slew the victims for each altar's praise. A bull to Neptune, and a bull to thee, o beauteous Apollo! A black lamb unto the clouds and storms; but fleece of snow to the mild zephyrs was our offering. |
90-120 uix ea fatus eram: tremere omnia uisa repente, liminaque laurusque dei, totusque moueri mons circum et mugire adytis cortina reclusis. summissi petimus terram et uox fertur ad auris: 'Dardanidae duri, quae uos a stirpe parentum prima tulit tellus, eadem uos ubere laeto accipiet reduces. antiquam exquirite matrem. hic domus Aeneae cunctis dominabitur oris et nati natorum et qui nascentur ab illis.' haec Phoebus; mixtoque ingens exorta tumultu laetitia, et cuncti quae sint ea moenia quaerunt, quo Phoebus uocet errantis iubeatque reuerti. tum genitor ueterum uoluens monimenta uirorum 'audite, o proceres,' ait 'et spes discite uestras. Creta Iouis magni medio iacet insula ponto, mons Idaeus ubi et gentis cunabula nostrae. centum urbes habitant magnas, uberrima regna, maximus unde pater, si rite audita recordor, Teucrus Rhoeteas primum est aduectus in oras, optauitque locum regno. nondum Ilium et arces Pergameae steterant; habitabant uallibus imis. hinc mater cultrix Cybeli Corybantiaque aera Idaeumque nemus, hinc fida silentia sacris, et iuncti currum dominae subiere leones. ergo agite et diuum ducunt qua iussa sequamur: placemus uentos et Cnosia regna petamus. nec longo distant cursu: modo Iuppiter adsit, tertia lux classem Cretaeis sistet in oris.' sic fatus meritos aris mactauit honores, taurum Neptuno, taurum tibi, pulcher Apollo, nigram Hiemi pecudem, Zephyris felicibus albam. |