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 C ° PV THE SECOND BOOK 
 
 OF THE 
 
 ^NEID OF VIRGIL 
 
 A SPECIMEN OF A NEW TRANSLATION 
 IN BLANK VERSE 
 
 
 G: Kv RICKARDS, M.A. 
 
 [FOR PRIVATE CIRCULATION ONLY] 
 
 LONDON 
 
 PRINTED BY 
 
 SPOTTISWOODE & CO., NEW-STREET SQUARE, FARRINGDON STREET 
 
 AND PARLIAMENT STREET, WESTMINSTER 
 
205449 
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 -f^^ 
 
 h* 
 
 PREFACE 
 
 In undertaking a new translation of the JEneid into 
 English verse, I am desirous of submitting this speci- 
 men, in the first instance, to a limited number of 
 competent judges, whose opinion, if I am so favoured 
 as to obtain it, may guide me in the further prosecu- 
 tion of the work. I shall therefore feel very grateful 
 for criticisms and suggestions — the more frankly 
 expressed the more .acceptable — from any persons 
 into whose hands these pages may come. I shall 
 thus be enabled to judge whether my conception of 
 the work, and the style in which I have commenced 
 it, are such as approve themselves to those who are 
 best qualified to pronounce an opinion ; and I shall 
 learn, in case I should be encouraged to proceed with 
 my task, what sort of errors I am most liable to fall 
 into, and what deficiencies I should endeavour to 
 remedy in the future. 
 
 Every one who attempts to render a poem from 
 another language into his own must encounter at the 
 outset the difficulty of deciding between the obligation 
 of faithfulness to the original which the office of a 
 
VI PREFACE. 
 
 translator involves, and the indulgence of that free- 
 dom which appears necessary to impart ease and 
 naturalness to his own composition. Since, however, 
 an adherence to absolute literal ness — the strict observ- 
 ance of the verbum verbo reddere principle — must, if 
 not impracticable, be fatal to poetical effect, the 
 question becomes one of degree, and is variously- 
 solved by each translator according to his own idea of 
 what is fitting and attainable. Of the many trans- 
 lations of the classical poets which have appeared 
 within the present generation, I venture to think that 
 the accomplished authors have in more instances erred 
 in the adoption of a too rigid rule than the reverse. 
 It requires a very rare combination of gifts to main- 
 tain throughout a long work (and not in isolated 
 passages only) a standard of close literalness without 
 sinking into a style which to English readers, espe- 
 cially if unacquainted with the original, will appear 
 bald, stiff, and unidiomatic. Any metrical translation 
 which is signally deficient in ease, in harmony, or 
 spirit, however it may be applauded by scholars as a 
 feat of ingenuity, will surely incur the fate of being 
 rejected with distaste, and pronounced by the bulk of 
 even cultivated persons, unreadable. The production 
 of a work which incurs this sentence, whatever merit 
 on the score of skill and accuracy it may justly claim, 
 is a misapplication of labour. Even those translators 
 who have assumed for themselves the widest licence, 
 and have indulged most freely in the liberty of omis- 
 
PREFACE. vil 
 
 sion and interpolation, yet, if they have succeeded in 
 imparting the native graces of style to their own com- 
 position, have acquired more favour and taken more 
 lasting hold of the public mind than those who, at 
 the sacrifice of ease and vivacity, have adhered pain- 
 fully to the original. Confessedly unlike as is Pope's 
 Iliad to the Iliad of Homer, it is, and probably will 
 always be, preferred by English readers to the scru- 
 pulously faithful version of Cowper. 
 
 The above remarks may possibly be suspected of 
 a design to convey a prefatory excuse on my own 
 part for some conscious infidelity to the obligations of 
 a translator, a fault which in my case would be very 
 poorly compensated by any countervailing merits. I 
 have only to say, that if my version should be consi- 
 dered to show too much laxity in deviating from the 
 original, I shall bow with deference to that judgment, 
 and shall endeavour, as far as in me lies, to correct the 
 error both by a revision of the specimen now printed, 
 and (if I should proceed further) in the remainder of 
 the work. But, with the sense which I entertain of 
 the exquisite gracefulness and stateliness of Virgil, 
 c the most elegant of poets/ it was impossible for me 
 not to aim at least — to whatever extent I might fail in 
 the execution — to transfuse into an English version 
 some faint semblance of the manner and spirit of the 
 original. The highest excellence of a translation I 
 should conceive to be that, while reflecting all that is 
 really material and significant in the thought and 
 
viii PREFACE. 
 
 expression, it should, as far as possible, c read like an 
 original,' and, above all, should represent the manner 
 of the author, in the same way as a skilful portrait- 
 painter is able to convey the very living expression 
 and character of a countenance which the literal ac- 
 curacy of photography will wholly fail to reproduce. 
 Having thus stated my ideal, it only remains for me 
 to regret the inevitable defectiveness of the execution. 
 One word only in addition as to the metre. I 
 have adopted blank verse as that which, in my judg- 
 ment, conforms itself better than any other to the flow 
 of the original, gives ampler scope for the variety, and 
 is the worthiest vehicle for the dignity, of Virgil's 
 style. I am confirmed in this preference by an 
 opinion intimated, though he did not himself act 
 upon it, by that very accomplished Virgilian scholar, 
 Professor Conington, to whose excellent edition of 
 the original and his valuable commentary I have 
 been greatly indebted. 
 
 G. K. R. 
 
 ii Cleveland Gardens, Hyde Park: 
 July, 1869. 
 
^NEID 
 Book II 
 
JENEID, BOOK II. 
 
 Hushed was each voice, attentive every ear, 
 
 When from his stately couch the Dardan chief 
 
 Began : ' Thy mandate, gracious queen, revives 
 
 The memory of a grief too great for words ; 
 
 How Ilium fell, by Grecian arts o'erthrown, 
 
 And closed in blood her lamentable reign : — 
 
 A tragic scene, in which I played some part, 
 
 And witnessed all its woes. Such tale, methinks, 
 
 Nor Myrmidon, nor rude Thessalia's sons, 
 
 Nor soldier of th' obdurate Ithacan, io 
 
 Could hear unmoved. Already wanes the night, 
 
 And setting; stars admonish to repose ; 
 
 But since, by pity stirred, such strong desire 
 
 Moves thee to learn the woeful end of Troy 
 
 (Though shuddering at the thought of horrors past 
 
 My soul recoils), this brief recital hear. 
 
 c Worn with their long campaign, and foiled by Fate, 
 Th' Achaean chiefs, by Pallas taught their skill, 
 Construct a giant Horse, with ribs of pine 
 Compact ; like mountain towering to the skies : 20 
 
 " A votive offering for their safe return." 
 So Rumour spoke, and men believed the tale : 
 But secretly within the hollowed sides 
 A chosen band is couched, equipped for fight, 
 A legion pent in that capacious womb. 
 
 c In sight of Trojan shores lies Tenedos, 
 An isle of prosperous fame in Priam's days, 
 
AENEIDOS, LIBER II. 
 
 Conticuere ornnes, intentique ora tenebant. 
 Inde toro pater Aeneas sic orsus ab alto : 
 
 Infandum, Regina, iubes renovare dolorem, 
 Troianas ut opes et lamentabile regnum 
 Eruerint Danai ; quaeque ipse miserrima vidi, 
 Et quorum pars magna fui. Quis talia fando 
 Myrmidonum Dolopumve aut duri miles Ulixi 
 Temperet a lacrimis ? et iam nox humida caelo 
 Praecipitat, suadentque cadentia sidera somnos. 
 Sed si tantus amor casus cognoscere nostros 10 
 
 Et breviter Troiae supremum audire laborem, 
 Ouamquam animus meminisse horret, luctuque refugit, 
 Incipiam. 
 
 Fracti bello fatisque repulsi 
 Ductores Danaum, tot iam labentibus annis, 
 Instar montis equum divina Palladis arte 
 Aedificant, sectaque intexunt abiete costas ; 
 Votum pro reditu simulant ; ea fama vagatur. 
 Hue delecta virum sortiti corpora furtim 
 Includunt caeco lateri, penitusque cavernas 
 Ingentes uterumque armato milite conplent. 20 
 
 Est in conspectu Tenedos, notissima fama 
 Insula, dives opum, Priami dum regna manebant, 
 
4 JENEID, BOOK II 
 
 A lonely creek and treacherous roadstead now. 
 In that secluded bay, by night withdrawn, 
 The Grecian fleet lay screened ; we fondly thought 30 
 
 Their homeward sails for far Mycense bound. 
 Quit of her foes, the long-beleaguered town 
 Flings wide her gates ; the people, wild with joy, 
 Explore th' abandoned camp, and range the shore 
 Freed from invaders now : " There lay the ships, 
 Here pitched the fiery Myrmidon his tent, 
 There met the lines in action." Others viewed 
 In mute amaze Minerva's baneful gift, 
 The towering Horse ; and first Thymoetes urged 
 (Seduced by treason or by Fate inspired) 40 
 
 To hale the effigy within the gates, 
 And plant it in the citadel : but some 
 Whom Capys, wise of counsel, swayed, exhort 
 To burn th' insidious fabric where it stood, 
 Or hurl it in the sea, or with keen swords 
 To probe the secret and unmask the foe ; — 
 Alternate counsel sways th' inconstant crowd. 
 c A sudden concourse from the citv speeds, 
 Laocoon at its head ; with hurried step 
 And voice of stern reproof, " Misguided men ! 50 
 
 He cries, " what frenzy blinds you, to suppose 
 The foe decamped ; their gifts without a snare ? 
 For guileless counsels is Ulysses known ? 
 Mark now my words — or foes are there concealed, 
 Or 'tis some engine framed to breach our walls, 
 O'ertop the citadel and storm the town : 
 Whate'er it means, 'tis treachery : men of Troy, 
 Trust not the Horse ; beware of gifts when Greeks 
 Turn givers." As he spoke, his well-poised spear 
 Full at the teeming monster's flank he hurled. 60 
 
 The shaft pierced deep and quivered in the side ; 
 Loud through the echoing caverns rung the sound : 
 
AENIDOS, LIB. II. 5 
 
 Nunc tantum sinus et statio male fida carinis ; 
 
 Hue se provecti deserto in litore condunt. 
 
 Nos abiisse rati et vento petiisse Mycenas. 
 
 Ergo omnis longo solvit se Teucria luctu. 
 
 Panduntur portae ; iuvat ire et Dorica castra 
 
 Desertosque videre locos litusque relictum. 
 
 Hie Dolopum manus, hie saevus tendebat Achilles ; 
 
 Classibus hie locus ; hie acie certare solebant. 30 
 
 Pars stupet innuptae donum exitiale Minervae 
 
 Et molem mirantur equi ; primusque Thymoetes 
 
 Duci intra muros hortatur et arce locari, 
 
 Sive dolo, seu iam Troiae sic fata ferebant. 
 
 At Capys, et quorum melior sententia menti, 
 
 Aut pelago Danaum insidias suspectaque dona 
 
 Praecipitare iubent, subiectisque urere flammis, 
 
 Aut terebrare cavas uteri et tentare latebras. 
 
 Scinditur incertum studia in contraria volgus. 
 
 Primus ibi ante omnes, magna comitante caterva, 40 
 
 Laocoon ardens summa decurrit ab arce, 
 Et procul : O miseri, quae tanta insania, cives ? 
 Creditis avectos hostes ? aut ulla putatis 
 Dona carere dolis Danaum ? sic notus Ulixes ? 
 Aut hoc inclusi ligno occultantur Achivi, 
 Aut haec in nostros fabricata est machina muros 
 Inspectura domosventuraque desuper urbi, 
 Aut aliquis latet error ; equo ne credite, Teucri. 
 Ouidquid id est, timeo Danaos et dona ferentes. 
 Sic fatus validis ingentem viribus hastam 50 
 
 In latus inque feri curvam conpagibus alvum 
 Contorsit. Stetit ilia tremens, uteroque recusso 
 Insonuere cavae gemitumque dedere cavernae. 
 
6 JENEID, BOOK If. 
 
 And, but for Fate perverse and warning spurned, 
 Our swords had laid the thin-veiled ambush bare ; 
 Firm to this hour had stood great Priam's throne, 
 Unscathed thy lofty towers, Imperial Troy ! 
 
 4 Now Phrygian herdsmen to the royal tent 
 A prisoner bring, his arms behind him bound ; 
 Caught by his own device — with deep-laid scheme 
 To yield our forts unguarded to the foe, 70 
 
 The stranger came : for either fate prepared, 
 His crafty purpose to achieve or die. 
 From far and near the Trojan youth flock round 
 To scan the captive's mien, and mock his woe : 
 Hear now the tale he brought, and from this type 
 Of shameless treachery judge of Grecian faith. 
 There as he stood unarmed within our lines, 
 And gazed around him on the hosts of Troy, 
 " Alas ! " he cried, " what spot on land or sea, 
 What refuge on th' inhospitable earth 80 
 
 Is left for me, the outcast of my kind — 
 Whom Greeks in hate thrust from them, at whose life 
 The Dardan sword is aimed, athirst for blood ? " 
 Touched by his piteous wail, we change our mood ; 
 Wrath to compassion yields : we bid him tell 
 His name, his race, the claim he pleads for life. 
 Thus, reassured at length, the captive spoke, 
 " Whate'er betide, great King, no word untrue 
 Shall pass my lips ; nor seek I to disown 
 My Grecian birth : though Sinon be by Fate 90 
 
 Most wretched made, no power shall make him false. 
 It may be the renown hath reached thine ears 
 Of Palamedes, no inglorious name, 
 From Belus sprung, whom our Pelasgian chiefs, 
 Indignant that his voice opposed the war, 
 By process foul and evidence suborned, 
 To death condemned, now mourn, alas ! too Luc. 
 
AENIDOS, LIB. II. 7 
 
 Et, si fata deum, si mens non laeva fuisset, 
 Inpulerat ferro Argolicas foedare latebras, 
 Troiaque nunc staret, Priamique arx alta, maheres. 
 
 Ecce, manus iuvenem interea post terga revinctum 
 Pastores magno ad regem clamore trahebant 
 Dardanidae, qui se ignotum venientibus ultro, 
 Hoc ipsum ut strueret Troiamque aperiret Achivis, 60 
 
 Obtulerat, fidens animi, atque in utrumque paratus, 
 Seu versare dolos, seu certae occumbere morti. 
 Undique visendi studio Troiana iuventus 
 Circumfusa ruit, certantque inludere capto. 
 Accipe nunc Danaum insidias, et crimine ab uno 
 Disce omnes. 
 
 Namque ut conspectu in medio turbatus, inermis, 
 Constitit atque oculis Phrygia agmina circumspexit : 
 Heu, quae nunc tellus, inquit, quae me aequora possunt 
 Accipere ? aut quid iam misero mihi denique restat, 70 
 
 Cui neque apud Danaos usquam locus, et super ipsi 
 Dardanidae infensi poenas cum sanguine poscunt ? 
 Quo gemitu conversi animi, compressus et omnis 
 Impetus. Hortamur fari ; quo sanguine cretus, 
 Ouidve ferat, memoret, quae sit fiducia capto. 
 [Ille haec, deposita tandem formidine, fatur :] 
 
 Cuncta equidem tibi, Rex, merit quodcumque, fatebor 
 Vera, inquit ; neque me Argoiica de gente negabo ; 
 Hoc primum ; nee, si miserum Fortuna Sinonem 
 Finxit, vanum etiam mendacemque inproba finget. 80 
 
 Fando aliquod si forte tuas pervenit ad aures 
 Belidae nomen Palamedis et incluta fama 
 Gloria, quern falsa sub proditione Pelasgi 
 Insontem infando indicio, quia bella vetabat, 
 Demisere neci, nunc cassum lumine lugent : 
 
8 ^NEID, BOOK II. 
 
 To him was I, a stripling, by my sire, 
 
 Kinsman and comrade in this war consigned, 
 
 While yet his power stood firm and influence high ioo 
 
 At council-board ; nor was my name unknown 
 
 In honour's field. When to the envious hate 
 
 Of that intriguing Ithacan my friend 
 
 A victim fell (a story by report 
 
 Too truly known), indignant at the wrong, 
 
 I nursed my grief in solitude and shunned 
 
 Their treacherous counsels ; but my heedless tongue 
 
 Rash words, that earned me bitter hatred, spoke, 
 
 And threats of vengeance for my murdered chief, 
 
 Should Fate restore me to my Argive home. 1 1 o 
 
 Hence all my troubles flowed ; Ulysses now, 
 
 By foul aspersions working on my fears, 
 
 Sowed broadcast evil hints, formed dark cabals ; — 
 
 Nor sated yet his malice, till at last, 
 
 With Calchas leagued But why pursue this theme 
 
 Revolting? If ye count all Greeks as one, 
 Alike abhorred, what need to hear me more ? 
 Swift vengeance take — 'twill please Ulysses much, 
 And yield the sons of Atreus priceless joy." 
 
 c His feigned reluctance spurred us but the more 120 
 
 To probe th' unsounded depths of Grecian guile. 
 Much urged, his tale of falsehood he resumed : — 
 " Long wished our chiefs, disheartened with the siege, 
 To quit these hated shores and homeward steer ; 
 And could my prayers have sped them, they had gone : 
 But oft ere sails were set, tempestuous gales 
 Rose in their teeth and chilled their souls with fear. 
 Yet wilder raged the storm, convulsing heaven, 
 When stood within their camp yon mystic Horse. 
 Sent to consult the God, Eurypylus 130 
 
 Brings from Apollo's fane this dread response : 
 5 Blood of a Virgin slain appeased the winds 
 
AENIDOS, LIB. II 9 
 
 Illi me comitem et consanguinitate propinquum 
 
 Pauper in arma pater primis hue misit ab annis. 
 
 Dum stabat regno incolumis regumque vigebat 
 
 Consiliis, et nos aliquod nomenque decusque 
 
 Gessimus. Invidia postquam pellacis Ulixi — 90 
 
 Haud ignota loquor — superis concessit ab oris 
 
 Adflictus vitam in tenebris luctuque trahebam, 
 
 Et casum insontis mecum indignabar amici. 
 
 Nee tacui demens, et me, fors si qua tulisset, 
 
 Si patrios umquam remeassem victor ad Argos, 
 
 Promisi ultorem, et verbis odia aspera movi. 
 
 Hinc mihi prima mali labes, hinc semper Ulixes 
 
 Criminibus terrere novis, hinc spargere voces 
 
 In volgum ambiguas, et quaerere conscius arma. 
 
 Nee requievit enim, donee Calchante ministro — 100 
 
 Sed quid ego haec autem nequiquam ingrata revolvo ? 
 
 Quidve moror, si omnes uno ordine habetis Achivos, 
 
 Idque audire sat est ? Iamdudum sumite poenas ; 
 
 Hoc Ithacus velit, et magno mercentur Atridae. 
 
 Turn vero ardemus scitari et quaerere caussas, 
 Ignari scelerum tantorum artisque Pelasgae. 
 Prosequitur pavitans, et ficto pectore fatur : 
 
 Saepe fugam Danai Troia cupiere relicta 
 Moliri et longo fessi discedere bello j 
 
 Fecissentque utinam ! saepe illos aspera ponti no 
 
 Interclusit hiemps, et terruit Auster euntes. 
 Praecipue, cum iam hie trabibus contextus acernis 
 Staret equus, toto sonuerunt aethere nimbi. 
 Suspensi Eurypylum scitatum oracula Phoebi 
 Mittimus, isque adytis haec tristia dicta reportat : 
 c Sanguine placastis ventos et virgine caesa, 
 
10 jENEID, BOOK II 
 
 When to these shores ye came ; with blood once more 
 
 Win your return — a Grecian soul must die.' 
 
 All hearts were chilled with fear and dire suspense : 
 
 What victim claimed the God ? what forfeit life 
 
 Was doomed ? Ulysses 'mid the panic storm 
 
 Leads Calchas forth, and bids the seer declare 
 
 What means the oracle ; 'twas then my friends 
 
 Forewarned me of the arch-deceiver's wiles, 140 
 
 Or felt the dread their lips forbore to speak. 
 
 Ten days the prophet, shrinking to pronounce 
 
 The doom of death, refrained ; at last o'erruled 
 
 By that fierce chief, the word concerted spoke, 
 
 And me th' atoning sacrifice proclaimed. 
 
 All welcomed this award : each gladly hailed 
 
 The fate himself abhorred, reserved for me ! 
 
 The dreadful day drew near ;,the fillet bands 
 
 Were twined, the votive gifts prepared. I broke 
 
 My bonds — why blush to tell r — and fled for life. 1 50 
 
 Couched in a sedgy swamp all night I lay, 
 
 Till favouring breeze should fill their home-bound sails : * 
 
 And now my long-lost home, my sire thrice-loved, 
 
 No more these eyes shall see, nor children dear, 
 
 Whose unoffending heads must pay the debt 
 
 Of hate unquenched, and expiate Sinon's crime. 
 
 But thou, O king — if there be Powers on high 
 
 That hear mv words and witness to their truth — 
 
 irfaith yet finds a home with mortal men, 
 
 Save one by sorrows tried and crushed with wrong." 160 
 
 c His recreant life was spared : good Priam's soul 
 Melted with pity as he bade them loose 
 The captive's bonds, and gracious words he spake : 
 " Henceforth, though born a Greek, forget the name, 
 Make Troy thy home ; but speak, I charge thee, true, 
 What means yon giant Horse ? by whom designed ? 
 Planned for what end, of piety or war ? " 
 
A EN ID OS, LIB. II. II 
 
 Cum primum Iliacas, Danai, venistis ad oras ; 
 
 Sanguine quaerendi reditus, animaque litandum 
 
 Argolica.' Volgi quae vox ut venit ad aures, 
 
 Obstupuere animi, gelidusque per ima cucurrit 120 
 
 Ossa tremor, cui fata parent, quern poscat Apollo. 
 
 Hie Ithacus vatem magno Calchanta tumultu 
 
 Protrahit in medios ; quae sint ea numina divom, 
 
 Flagitat. Et mihi iam multi crudele canebant 
 
 Artificis scelus, et taciti ventura videbant. 
 
 Bis quinos silet ille dies, tectusque recusat 
 
 Prodere voce sua quemquam aut opponere morti. 
 
 Vix tandem, magnis Ithaci clamoribus actus, 
 
 Conposito rumpit vocem, et me destinat arae. 
 
 Adsensere omnes, et, quae sibi quisque timebat, 130 
 
 Unius in miseri exitium conversa tulere. 
 
 Iamque dies infanda aderat ; mihi sacra parari, 
 
 Et salsae fruges, et circum tempora vittae ; 
 
 Eripui, fateor, leto me, et vincula rupi, 
 
 Limosoque lacu per noctem obscurus in ulva 
 
 Delitui, dum vela darent, si forte dedissent. 
 
 Nee mihi iam patriam antiquam spes ulla videndi, 
 
 Nee dulces natos exoptatumque parentem ; 
 
 Ouos illi fors ad poenas ob nostra reposcent 
 
 Effugia, et culpam hanc miserorum morte piabunt. 140 
 
 Quod te per superos et conscia numina veri, 
 
 Per, si qua est quae restat adhuc mortalibus usquam 
 
 Intemerata fides, oro, miserere laborum 
 
 Tantorum, miserere animi non digna ferentis. 
 
 His lacrimis vitam damus, et miserescimus ultro. 
 Ipse viro primus manicas atque arta levari 
 Vincla iubet Priamus, dictisque ita fatur amicis : 
 Quisquis es, amissos hinc iam obliviscere Graios ; 
 Noster eris, mihique haec edissere vera roganti : 
 Quo molem hanc inmanis equi statuere ? quis auctor ? 150 
 Quidve petunt ? quae religio ? aut quae machina belli ? 
 
12 sENEID, BOOK II. 
 
 c Extending heavenward his unfettered arms, 
 The caitiff, steeped in native craft, replied : 
 " Witness, ye everlasting fires of Heaven ! 170 
 
 And Vesta, thou, inviolable name ! 
 Ye altars that but now your victim craved, 
 Ye sacrificial bands that wreathed my brow ! 
 No ties of race or country bind me more : 
 No law forbids their counsels to divulge, 
 And hate for hate return. Be ye but true 
 To me, as I to Troy — my life preserved 
 With loyal service shall o'erpay the boon. 
 
 ' " From first to last our Argive chiefs reposed 
 Their hopes of victory on Minerva's aid : 180 
 
 But since with hands profane the impious pair, 
 The son of Tydeus with Ulysses leagued, 
 The dread Palladium ravished from her fane, 
 Its guardians foully slew, the hallowed bands 
 And emblems of the virgin Goddess soiled 
 With gory hands, thenceforth the might of Greece 
 Declined, their spirit fell ; the Maid Divine 
 Smiled on their cause no more. Her wrath displayed 
 No dubious portents : placed within the camp, 
 The effigy with fiery eyeballs glared ; 190 
 
 Sweat trickled from the limbs, thrice from the ground 
 The indignant Goddess sprang and clashed her arms. 
 Then Calchas, versed in auguries, declares 
 That never should the towers of Troy be razed 
 By Grecian arms till, ocean crossed once more, 
 Our baffled host at Argive shrines should seek 
 New omens, and with fivouring Gods return. 
 Then doubt not now their fleet to Hellas sailed, 
 With prows reversed, and strength renewed, ere long 
 To startle Troy. Meanwhile this votive Horse, 200 
 
 To Pallas dedicate, their hands have raised 
 In expiation of her rifled fane ; 
 
A ENID OS, LIB. II. 1 3 
 
 Dixerat. Ille, dolis instructus et arte Pelasga, 
 
 Sustulit exutas vinclis ad sidera palmas: 
 
 Vos, aeterni ignes, et non violabile Vestas 
 
 Testor numen, ait, vos arae ensesque nefandi, 
 
 Quos fugi, vittaeque deum, quas hostia gessi : 
 
 Fas mi hi Graiorum sacrata resolvere iura, 
 
 Fas odisse viros, atque omnia ferre sub auras, 
 
 Si qua tegunt ; teneor patriae nee legibus ullis. 
 
 Tu modo promissis maneas, servataque serves 160 
 
 Troia fidem, si vera feram, si magna rependam. 
 
 Omnis spes Danaum et coepti fiducia belli 
 Palladis auxiliis semper stetit. Impius ex quo 
 Tydides sed enim scelerumque inventor Ulixes, 
 Fatale adgressi sacrato avellere templo 
 Palladium, caesis summae custodibus arcis, 
 Corripuere sacram effigiem, manibusque cruentis 
 Virgineas ausi divae contingere vittas, 
 Ex illo fluere ac retro sublapsa referri 
 
 Spes Danaum, fractae vires, aversa deae mens. 170 
 
 Nee dubiis ea signa dedit Tritonia monstris. 
 Vix positum castris simulacrum : arsere coruscae 
 Luminibus flammae arrectis, salsusque per artus 
 Sudor iit, terque ipsa solo — mirabile dictu — 
 Emicuit, parmamque ferens hastamque trementem. 
 Extemplo tentanda fuga canit aequora Calchas, 
 Nee posse Argolicis exscindi Pergama telis, 
 Omina ni repetant Argis, numenque reducant, 
 Quod pelago et curvis secum avexere carinis. 
 Et nunc, quod patrias vento petiere Mycenas, 180 
 
 Arma deosque parant comites, pelagoque remenso 
 Inprovisi aderunt. Ita digerit omina Calchas. 
 Hanc pro Palladio moniti, pro numine laeso 
 Effigiem statuere, nefas quae triste piaret. 
 
14 MNEID, BOOK II 
 
 Thus vast in stature and in bulk designed, 
 
 Lest, dragged within your gates, it shield the town ; 
 
 For thus the Seer declared : If impious hands 
 
 Profane the hallowed gift, disastrous doom 
 
 (Which Heaven forefend !) on Priam's realm shall fall : 
 
 But, once within your walls the image placed, 
 
 The curse on us recoils, and Asia leagued 
 
 'Gainst Pelop's walls shall turn the tide of war." 2io 
 
 c Such arts prevailed ; the perjured traitor's wiles 
 A victory gained which arms had never won, 
 Not Diomed, nor Phthia's mighty chief, 
 Ten years of siege or fleet of thousand sails ! 
 
 1 But now a prodigy of import dread, 
 With harrowing sight appals th' unthinking crowd ; 
 Laocoon, Neptune's Priest, by lot assigned, 
 Was offering to his God a lusty steer, 
 When o'er the ocean surface borne were seen 
 Two serpents, huge in bulk, of hideous form : 220 
 
 Breasting the waves, from Tenedos they came 
 Trailing along the deep their sinuous length, 
 While high their fiery-crested fronts they reared. 
 Now through the curdling surf they plunge ashore, 
 Flashing the terrors of their blood-red eyes, 
 And dripping venom from their quivering tongues. 
 All fled dismayed. They for the altar make, 
 Where stands Laocoon : first, with supple folds, 
 Clasping the writhing forms of his twin sons, 
 They grind the tender limbs ; then round the sire, 230 
 
 Struggling to free his darlings from their grasp, 
 Their knotted bands they wind, about his waist 
 Twice wrapped and doubly circling round his neck, 
 While o'er his head their hissing throats they heave. 
 
AENIDOS, LIB. If. I 5 
 
 Hanc tamen inmensam Calchas attollere moleni 
 
 Roboribus textis caeloque educere iussit, 
 
 Ne recipi portis, aut duci in moenia posset, 
 
 Neu populum antiqua sub religione tueri. 
 
 Nam si vestra manus violasset dona Minervae, 
 
 Turn magnum exitium — quod di prius omen in ipsum 190 
 
 Convertant ! — Priami inperio Phrygibusque futurum ; 
 
 Sin manibus vestris vestram ascendisset in urbem, 
 
 Ultro Asiam magno Pelopea ad moenia bello 
 
 Venturam, et nostros ea fata manere nepotes. 
 Talibus insidiis periurique arte Sinonis 
 
 Credita res, captique dolis lacrimisque coactis, 
 
 Ouos neque Tydides, nee Larissaeus Achilles, 
 
 Non anni domuere decern, non mille carinae. 
 Hie aliud maius miseris multoque tremendum 
 
 Obiicitur magis, atque inprovida pectora turbat. 200 
 
 Laocoon, ductus Neptuno sorte sacerdos, 
 
 Sollemnes taurum ingentem mactabat ad aras. 
 
 Ecce autem gemini a Tenedo tranquilla per alta — 
 
 Horresco referens — inmensis orbibus angues 
 
 Incumbunt pelago, pariterque ad litora tendunt ; 
 
 Pectora quorum inter fluctus arrecta iubaeque 
 
 Sanguineae superant undas ; pars cetera pontum 
 
 Pone legit sinuatque inmensa volumine terga ; 
 
 Fit sonitus spumante sab. Iamque arva tenebant, 
 
 Ardentesque oculos suffecti sanguine et igni, 210 
 
 Sibila lambebant Unguis vibrantibus ora. 
 
 Diffugimus visu exsangues. Illi agmine certo 
 
 Laocoonta petunt ; et primum parva duorum 
 
 Corpora natorum serpens amplexus uterque 
 
 Inplicat et miseros morsu depascitur artus ; 
 
 Post ipsum, auxilio subeuntem ac tela ferentem, 
 
 Corripiunt, spirisque ligant ingentibus ; et iam 
 
 Bis medium amplexi, bis collo squamea circum 
 
 Terga dati, superant capite et cervicibus altis. 
 
1 6 ^ENEID, BOOK II 
 
 Vainly he strives with blood-besprinkled hands • 
 
 To rend the scaly links that gird him round, 
 
 Piercing the air with shrieks like maddened ox 
 
 Grazed by the stroke of glancing axe ill-aimed 
 
 At altar side. Their deadly errand done, 
 
 Swift to the Temple's roof the monsters glide 240 
 
 Where Pallas sits ; there round the image coiled, 
 
 Beneath her ample aegis make their lair. 
 
 ' All hearts are thrilled with terror ; all declare 
 Laocoon by presumptuous crime had earned 
 His awful doom, since his ill-omened lance 
 Had pierced the mystic Horse, to Pallas vowed. 
 To draw within the town that image dread, 
 And Heaven's just wrath appease, was now the cry. 
 All lend a willing hand ; they breach the walls, 
 And clear a passage wide ; beneath the feet 250 
 
 Huge rollers drive, and round the monster's neck 
 The well-strained cable twine : pregnant with death, 
 Th' unwieldy fabric totters through the breach ; 
 Maidens and youths exulting paeans chant, 
 And pluck the cords for joy ! Along the streets 
 It glides, and beetles o'er the roofs of Troy. 
 O Ilium, O my country ! dear to Heaven 
 Of old Jr now doomed ! Thrice, ere it cleared the wall, 
 Falt'ring the monster stood : thrice from within 
 Smote on insensate ears the clang of arms. 260 
 
 We, lost to thought, rush headlong on our fate, 
 And in our fortress lodge the ambushed foe ; 
 Then poured Cassandra her prophetic strains, 
 Lost on unheeding ears ; so Heaven ordained. 
 Blind to the last, the Trojans deck their fanes 
 With festal garlands, on the eve of doom. 
 
 ' Night falls : her shadow droops o'er earth and sea, 
 Shrouding the Grecian wiles ; the sons of Troy, 
 
AENEIDOS, LIB. II. I J 
 
 Ille simul manibus tendit divellere nodos, 220 
 
 Perfusus sanie vittas atroque veneno, 
 
 Clamores simul horrendos ad sidera tollit : 
 
 Quales mugitus, fugit cum saucius aram 
 
 Taurus et incertam excussit cervice securim. 
 
 At gemini lapsu delubra ad summa dracones 
 
 Effugiurit saevaeque petunt Tritonidis arcem, 
 
 Sub pedibusque deae clipeique sub orbe teguntur. 
 
 Turn vero tremefacta novus per pectora cunctis 
 
 Insinuat pavor, et scelus expendisse merentem 
 
 Laocoonta ferunt, sacrum qui cuspide robur 230 
 
 Laeserit et tergo sceleratam intorserit hastam. 
 
 Ducendum ad sedes simulacrum orandaque divae 
 
 Numina conclamant. 
 
 Dividimus muros et moenia pandimus urbis. 
 
 Accingunt omnes operi, pedibusque rotarum 
 
 Subiiciunt lapsus, et stuppea vincula collo 
 
 Intendunt. Scandit fatalis machina muros, 
 
 Feta armis. Pueri circum innuptaeque puellae 
 
 Sacra canunt, funemque manu contingere gaudent. 
 
 Ilia subit, mediaeque minans inlabitur urbi. 240 
 
 O patria, o divom domus Ilium, et incluta bello 
 
 Moenia Dardanidum ! quater ipso in limine portae 
 
 Substitit, atque utero sonitum quater arma dedere ; 
 
 Instamus tamen inmemores caecique furore, 
 
 Et monstrum infelix sacrata sistimus arce. 
 
 Tunc etiam fatis aperit Cassandra futuris 
 
 Ora, dei iussu non umquam credita Teucris. 
 
 Nos delubra deum miseri, quibus ultimus esset 
 
 Ille dies, festa velamus fronde per urbem. 
 
 Vertitur interea caelum et ruit oceano Nox, 250 
 
 Involvens umbra magna terramque poiumque 
 Myrmidonumque dolos ; fusi per moenia Teucri 
 
 c 
 
1 8 J£A r EID, BOOK II. 
 
 Through all the town dispersed, are sunk in sleep. 
 And now the hour had come ; the moon shone fair, 270 
 When, as the royal bark showed signal flame, 
 Freighted with all their host the Argive fleet 
 Stood out from Tenedos, for Dardan shores 
 On fatal voyage bound. Within the walls 
 False Sinon, favoured by malignant Gods, 
 The bolt withdraws, and from their lair sets free 
 The prisoned band of warriors. Forth they come, 
 Thessander, Sthenelus, Achilles' son 
 Fierce Pyrrhus, Acamas, and Thoas next, 
 Machaon, and Ulysses, dreadful name ! 280 
 
 With Menelaus and Epeiis keen 
 Whose brain devised the plot. By cords let down, 
 The chiefs surprise th' unwary town, in wine 
 And slumber steeped ; the sentries at their posts 
 They slay ; their comrades through the unclosed gates 
 Admit, and marshal their confederate bands. 
 c 'Twas in the early watches of the night, 
 When heaven-sent slumber lightens human care, 
 Methought great Hector's self beside my couch 
 Appeared — his aspect full of grief, his eyes 290 
 
 Suffused with tears — so looked he as of late 
 Dragged at the victor's chariot wheels, all stained 
 With dust, and dark with gore — his livid feet 
 Pierced with the cruel thongs. Ah me ! how changed 
 From that proud Hector who returned from fight 
 Clad in Achilles' spoils, or from the ships 
 Ablaze with brands his conquering arm had hurled. 
 Lo ! now his beard unkempt, his clotted hair, 
 And on his breast the scars of many a wound 
 In mortal combat round the walls endured. 300 
 
 Weeping I gazed, and words of anguish rose 
 Unbidden to my lips : " O light of Troy ! 
 Hope of our race ! whence art thou ? why so long 
 
A E NEW 'OS, LIB. II 19 
 
 Conticuere ; sopor fessos conplectitur artus. 
 
 Et iam Argiva phalanx instructis navibus ibat 
 
 A Tenedo, tacitae per arnica silentia lunae 
 
 Litora nota petens, flammas cum regia puppis 
 
 Extulerat, fatisque deum defensus iniquis 
 
 Inclusos utero Danaos et pinea furtim 
 
 Laxat claustra Sinon. Ulos patefactus ad auras 
 
 Reddit equus, laetique cavo se robore promunt 260 
 
 Thessandrus Sthenelusque duces et dims Ulixes, 
 
 Demissum lapsi per funem, Acamasque, Thoasque, 
 
 Pelidesque Neoptolemus, primusque Machaon, 
 
 Et Menelaus, et ipse doli fabricator Epeus. 
 
 Invadunt urbem somno vinoque sepultam ; 
 
 Caeduntur vigiles, portisque patentibus omnes 
 
 Accipiunt socios atque agmina conscia iungunt. 
 
 Tempus erat, quo prima quies mortalibus aegris 
 Incipit et dono divom gratissima serpit. 
 In somnis, ecce, ante oculos maestissimus Hector 270 
 
 Visus adesse mihi, largosque effundere fletus, 
 Raptatus bigis, ut quondam, aterque cruento 
 Pulvere, perque pedes traiectus lora tumentes. 
 Hei mihi, qualis erat ! quantum mutatus ab illo 
 Hectore, qui redit exuvias indutus Achilli, 
 Vel Danaum Phrygios iaculatus puppibus ignis ! 
 Squalentem barbam et concretos sanguine crines 
 Volneraque ilia gerens, quae circum plurima muros 
 Accepit patrios. Ultro flens ipse videbar 
 Compellare virum et maestas expromere voces : 280 
 
 O lux Dardaniae, spes o fidissima Teucrum, 
 Quae tantae tenuere morae ? quibus Hector ab oris 
 
20 &NEID, BOOK II. 
 
 Delayed thy coming ? Ah what travail sore, 
 
 What sad bereavement of thy comrades slain 
 
 Hath Ilium borne, impatient to behold 
 
 Her Hector, long desired, in arms once more. 
 
 But say, what foul despite thy gracious form 
 
 Hath thus defaced ? what mean those ghastly wounds ? " 
 
 c Here failed my speech : he to such aimless words 310 
 No answer deigned, but deeply groaning, " Fly, 
 Fly hence," he cried, " ere yet the surging flames 
 Arrest thee— all is lost — our walls admit 
 The foe — proud Ilium from her summit falls : 
 Troy and her princely race can ask no more : 
 Could arm of man have saved our sinking state, 
 That arm was mine ! To thee thy country now 
 Commits — high trust — her tutelary Gods ; 
 Bear with thee in thy flight those relics dear, 
 And in thy new-built Troy beyond the main 320 
 
 Restore their ruined fanes." With that, he snatched 
 From Vesta's shrine the unextinguished fire, 
 The fillet bands, and Effigy divine. 
 
 ' Meanwhile a wildering roar of sounds confused 
 The city filled : though from the din retired 
 And screened with trees Anchises' mansion stood, 
 E'en there the uproar wild and clash of arms 
 Louder and louder came. From slumber roused, 
 I climbed the roof and strained my listening ears. 
 Such was the roar as when, by southern gales 330 
 
 Tempestuous fanned, devouring flame o'erruns 
 The billowy corn ; or rain-swoln mountain stream 
 Lays some fair landscape waste, the cultured fields, 
 Fond hope of swains, despoils ; th' uprooted trees 
 Sweeps down its torrent course : from distant height 
 Aghast the shepherd hears the tempest's wrack. 
 Disguise was needless now — the Grecian wiles 
 Told their own tale. Thy stately mansion first, 
 
AENE1D0S, LIB. II. 21 
 
 Exspectate venis ? ut te post multa tuorum 
 
 Funera, post varios hominumque urbisque labores 
 
 Defessi aspicimus ! quae caussa indigna serenos 
 
 Foedavit voltus ? aut cur haec volnera cerno ? 
 
 Ille nihil, nee me quaerentem vana moratur, 
 
 Sed grayiter gemitus imo de pectore ducens, 
 
 Heu fuge, nate dea, teque his, ait, eripe flammis. 
 
 Hostis habet muros ; ruit alto a culmine Troia. 290 
 
 Sat patriae Priamoque datum : si Pergama dextra 
 
 Defendi possent, etiam hac defensa fuissent : 
 
 Sacra suosque tibi commendat Troia Penatis : 
 
 Hos cape fatorum comites, his moenia quaere 
 
 Magna, pererrato statues quae denique ponto. 
 
 Sic ait, et manibus vittas Vestamque potentem 
 
 Aeternumque adytis effert penetralibus ignem. 
 
 Diverso interea miscentur moenia luctu, 
 Et magis atque magis, quamquam secreta parentis 
 Anchisae domus arboribusque obtecta recessit, 300 
 
 Clarescunt sonitus, armorumque ingruit horror. 
 Excutior somno, et summi fastigia tecti 
 Ascensu supero, atque arrectis auribus adsto : 
 In segetem veluti cum flamma furentibus austris 
 Incidit, aut rapidus montano flumine torrens 
 Sternit agros, sternit sata laeta boumque labores, 
 Praecipitesque trahit silvas, stupet inscius alto 
 Accipiens sonitum saxi de vertice pastor. 
 Turn vero manifesta fides, Danaumque patescunt 
 Insidiae. lam Deiphobi dedit ampla ruinam 310 
 
22 JENEID, BOOK II. 
 
 Deiphobus, the wasting flames laid low, 
 
 Thine next, Ucalegon — the glistening waves 340 
 
 Beyond Sigeum's cape threw back the glare. 
 
 Then rose the battle-shout and trumpet's bray : 
 
 I seize my arms, but my distracted brain 
 
 No counsel yields : perchance a trusty band 
 
 To rally and hold out the citadel 
 
 Might yet avail : — but frenzy sways my mind 
 
 Irresolute : anon the thought recurs, 
 
 'Twere glorious end to die a soldier's death. 
 
 c Lo ! Pantheus, scarce escaped the Grecian spears, 
 The son of Othrys and Apollo's Priest, 350 
 
 His unshrined Gods and sacred vessels bears, 
 His youthful grandchild clinging to his side, 
 And rushes, wild with terror, to my gate. 
 " Ho ! Pantheus," I exclaim, " how fares the cause ? 
 What stronghold seize we now ? " He with deep sigh 
 Replies, " Alas ! my friend, the end is come, 
 The hour of Troy's inevitable doom. 
 No country now is ours, no common name : 
 Our race, our glories, live but in the past. 
 Remorseless Jove to Greece transfers the sway, 360 
 
 The Argive lords it in our blazing streets. 
 Towering aloft the accursed Horse pours forth 
 His warrior brood, while glorying in his wiles 
 False Sinon deals the fiery brands around. 
 Such hosts Mycenae never sent to war 
 As throng our unclosed gates — the streets are barred 
 With serried foes — a rampart of bright steel 
 Glistens with sword-points fixed — amid the gloom 
 Surprised our sentries scarce make feint to fight." 
 
 ' Such tidings Pantheus in his terror gave : 370 
 
 Fired at his words, and by some Fury driven, 
 I plunged amid the fray where fiercest shrieks 
 Of Discord rose, and Havoc deadliest raged. 
 
AEXEIDOS, LIB. II. 23 
 
 Volcano superante domus, iam proxumus ardet 
 Ucalegon ; Sigea igni freta lata relucent. 
 Exoritur clamorque virum clangorque tubarum. 
 Arma amens capio ; nee sat rationis in armis ; 
 Sed glomerare manum bello et concurrere in arcem 
 Cum sociis ardent animi ; furor iraque mentem 
 Praecipitant, pulchrumque mori succurrit in armis. 
 
 Ecce autem telis Panthus elapsus Achivom, 
 Panthus Othryades, arcis Phoebique sacerdos, 
 Sacra manu victosque deos parvumque nepotem 320 
 
 Ipse trahit, cursuque amens ad limina tendit. 
 Quo res summa loco, Panthu ? quam prendimus arcem ? 
 Vix ea fatus erarn, gemitu cum talia reddit : 
 Venit summa dies et ineluctabile tempus 
 Dardaniae. Fuimus Troes, fuit Ilium et ingens 
 Gloria Teucrorum ; ferus omnia Iuppiter Argos 
 Transtulit : incensa Danai dominantur in urbe. 
 Arduus armatos mediis in moenibus adstans 
 Fundit equus, victorque Sinon incendia miscet 
 Insultans. Portis alii bipatentibus adsunt, 330 
 
 Millia quot magnis nunquam venere Mycenis ; 
 Obsedere alii telis angusta viarum 
 Oppositi j stat ferri acies mucrone corusco 
 Stricta, parata neci ; vix primi proelia temptant 
 Portarum vigiles, et caeco Marte resistunt. 
 Talibus Othryadae dictis et numine divom 
 In flammas et in arma feror, quo tristis Erinys, 
 Quo fremitus vocat et sublatus ad aethera clamor. 
 
24 JENEID, BOOK II 
 
 First, as it chanced, the moon's uncertain light 
 
 Brought Ripheus to my side, and Epytus 
 
 For feats of war renowned ; next Hypanis 
 
 With Dymas joined, and Mygdon's gallant son 
 
 Choroebus : he, distracted with the love 
 
 Of young Cassandra, to King Priam's aid 
 
 For her dear sake his well-armed succours led. 380 
 
 O that the plighted maid's ecstatic strains 
 
 Had warned him of his doom ! When now I marked 
 
 These generous youths in courage unsubdued, 
 
 " Brave friends," I cried, "but brave in vain ; if yet 
 
 Ye dare to follow one who dares the worst, 
 
 Mark in what plight we stand. The powers Divine, 
 
 Erewhile our empire's strength, forsake their shrines ; 
 
 Our city sunk in ashes, all is lost : 
 
 Then charge yon foemen's ranks and die for Troy — 
 
 Who cease to hope find courage in despair." 390 
 
 c My words inspired new ardour : fierce as wolves 
 Whom Hunger's pangs at nightfall drive abroad, 
 Or quest of plunder for their ravening whelps, 
 'Mid sword and flame, each step confronting death, 
 We scour the town ; deep gloom o'ershadows all. 
 The carnage and the horrors of that night 
 What tongue can tell, what flood of tears bewail r 
 Reft of her ancient state a city falls, 
 Her streets, her ravished homes, her hallowed fanes 
 Choked with the corpses of unnumbered slain. 400 
 
 Nor Troy alone the brunt of battle bears, 
 Her vanquished sons take heart awhile, and Greeks 
 Fall in their turn — on every side is death 
 In myriad forms, and anguish and dismay. 
 
 c Androgeos, captain of a Grecian band, 
 First, in the gloom encountering, deems us friends, 
 And not ungently chides — " On, laggards, on ! 
 Why linger thus ? your comrades, more alert, 
 
AENEIDOS, LIB. II. 25 
 
 Addunt se socios Rhipeus et maxumus armis 
 
 Epytus, oblati per lunam, Hypanisque Dymasque, 340 
 
 Et lateri adglomerant nostro, iuvenisque Coroebus, 
 
 Mygdonides. Illis ad Troiam forte diebus 
 
 Venerat, insano Cassandrae incensus amore, 
 
 Et gener auxilium Priamo Phrygibusque ferebat, 
 
 Infelix, qui non sponsae praecepta furentis 
 
 Audierit. 
 
 Quos ubi confertos audere in proelia vidi, 
 
 Incipio super his : Iuvenes, fortissima frustra 
 
 Pectora, si vobis audentem extrema cupido 
 
 Certa sequi, quae sit rebus fortuna videtis : 350 
 
 Excessere omnes, adytis arisque relictis, 
 
 Di, quibus inperium hoc steterat ; succurritis urbi 
 
 Incensae ; moriamur, et in media arma ruamus. 
 
 Una salus victis, nu.Uam sperare salutem. 
 
 Sic animis iuvenum furor additus. Inde, lupi ceu 
 
 Raptores atra in nebula, quos inproba ventris 
 
 Exegit caecos rabies, catulique relicti 
 
 Faucibus exspectant siccis, per tela, per hostes 
 
 Vadimus haud dubiam in mortem, mediaeque tenemus 
 
 Urbis iter ; nox atra cava circumvolat umbra. 360 
 
 Quis cladem illius noctis, quis funera fando 
 
 Explicet, aut possit lacrimis aequare labores ? 
 
 Urbs antiqua ruit, multos dominata per annos ; 
 
 Plurima perque vias sternuntur inertia passim 
 
 Corpora perque domos et religiosa deorum 
 
 Limina. Nee soli poenas dant sanguine Teucri ; 
 
 Quondam etiam victis redit in praecordia virtus 
 
 Victoresque cadunt Danai. Crudelis ubique 
 
 Luctus, ubique pavor, et plurima mortis imago. 
 
 Primus se, Danaum magna comitante caterva, 370 
 
 Androgeos offert nobis, socia agmina credens 
 Inscius, atque ultro verbis compellat amicis : 
 Festinate, viri. Nam quae tarn sera moratur 
 
26 ALhEID, BOOK II 
 
 Already rack and strip the burning town ; 
 
 Ye from your ships thus slowly wend." He spoke, 410 
 
 And in a moment, meeting scant response, 
 
 Knew us for foes : at once his step was stayed, 
 
 His voice was dumb. As traveller in the brake 
 
 Treads on the couching serpent unawares, 
 
 And back recoils affrighted as he marks 
 
 The monster's turgid throat and eyes of flame ; 
 
 So the swift Greeks sprang back, but all too late ; 
 
 Hemmed in, bewildered in the tangling maze 
 
 Of unknown paths, they fall an easy prey : 
 
 On our first venture treacherous Fortune smiles. 420 
 
 Cheered with unhoped success, Chorcebus cries, 
 
 " Where Fortune points the way 'tis wisdom's part 
 
 To follow in her track : exchange we now 
 
 Our Trojan armour with the fallen foe, 
 
 And mask us in his spoils ! the battle o'er, 
 
 Who asks if craft or valour won the day ? " 
 
 This said, he seized the Greek's emblazoned shield, 
 
 Placed on his head the casque with nodding plume, 
 
 And girt the Argive falchion to his side ; 
 
 Next Dymas, Ripheus, and their comrades all 430 
 
 Assume the garb and emblems of the foe : 
 
 Then mingling with the Greeks we range the town, 
 
 And, favoured by the night, in many a fray 
 
 Victorious lay th' invaders in the dust — 
 
 Some wait not combat, but with panic seized 
 
 Fly to their ships : a coward few remount 
 
 The sheltering Horse, and couch them in his womb. 
 
 c Ah ! bootless brief success, unblest of Heaven ! 
 Lo ! with dishevelled hair and frantic mien 
 Cassandra, from the tutelary shrine 440 
 
 Of Pallas dragged a captive, lifts in vain 
 Her flashing eyes to Heaven ; — her tender hands 
 By bonds confined. Infuriate at the sight, 
 
AENEIDOS, LIB. II. 27 
 
 Segnities ? alii rapiunt incensa feruntque 
 
 Pergama ; vos celsis nunc primum a navibus itis. 
 
 Dixit, ex extemplo, neque enim responsa dabantur 
 
 Fida satis, sensit medios delapsus in hostes. 
 
 Obstipuit, retroque pedem cum voce repressit. 
 
 Inprovisum aspris veluti qui sentibus anguem 
 
 Pressit humi nitens, trepidusque repente refugit 380 
 
 Attollentem iras et caerula colla tumentem ; 
 
 Haud secus Androgeos visu tremefactus abibat. 
 
 Inruimus, densis et circumfundimur armis, 
 
 Ignarosque loci passim et formidine captos 
 
 Sternimus. Adspirat primo fortuna labori. 
 
 Atque hie successu exsultans animisque Coroebus, 
 
 O socii, qua prima, inquit, fortuna salutis 
 
 Monstrat iter, quaque ostendit se dextra, sequamur : 
 
 Mutemus clipeos, Danaumque insignia nobis 
 
 Aptemus. Dolus an virtus, quis in hoste requirat ? 390 
 
 Arma dabunt ipsi. Sic fatus, deinde comantem 
 
 Androgei galeam clipeique insigne decorum 
 
 Induitur, laterique Argivum adcommodat ensem. 
 
 Hoc Rhipeus, hoc ipse Dymas omnisque iuventus 
 
 Laeta facit ; spoliis se quisque recentibus armat. 
 
 Vadimus inmixti Danais haud numine nostro, 
 
 Multaque per caecam congressi proelia noctem 
 
 Conserimus, multos Danaum demittimus Oreo. 
 
 Diffugiunt alii ad naves, et litora cursu 
 
 Fida petunt : pars ingentem formidine turpi 400 
 
 Scandunt rursus equum et nota conduntur in alvo. 
 
 Heu nihil invitis fas quemquam fidere divis ! 
 Ecce trahebatur passis Priameia virgo 
 Crinibus a templo Cassandra adytisque Minervae, 
 Ad caelum tendens ardentia lumina frustra, 
 Lumina, nam teneras arcebant vincula palmas. 
 
28 sEXEID, BOOK II 
 
 Choroebus singly 'gainst a host in arms 
 Rushed to his certain fate : reckless alike 
 We follow, hemmed around with serried foes. 
 
 ' And now our borrowed guise disaster brings : 
 Our friends, in turn deceived, on our thinned ranks 
 From temple roofs pour down a murderous hail 
 Of Dardan spears. Meanwhile the Argive chiefs — 450 
 Fired at the rescue of their virgin prize, 
 Ajax the bold, the sons of Atreus twain, 
 With all the fierce Dolopian infantry, 
 Join in one furious charge their severed bands : 
 As when the four strong winds of Heaven unchained 
 With warring blasts encounter in mid air, 
 The creaking forests reel, the Sea God roused 
 With his forked sceptre stirs the depths profound, 
 And churns the waves to foam. A crowd of foes, 
 Whom in the darkness our deceitful arms 460 
 
 Had scattered, rally now ; — at once detect 
 Our ensigns feigned and tones unlike their own. 
 By numbers crushed we yield : Choroebus first 
 By strong Peneleus felled, the altar near 
 Of Pallas, Warrior Goddess, breathes his last ; 
 Next Ripheus falls, of all the sons of Troy 
 Most upright he — of faith inflexible — 
 But Heaven so willed ! then Dymas, pierced by friends, 
 And Hypanis ; nor could the blameless life 
 Of Pantheus nor Apollo's mitre save 470 
 
 His sacred head. Witness, ye dying fires 
 Of Troy, ye ashes of her heroes slain, 
 In that last conflict from no foe I quailed, 
 No danger shunned : had Fate decreed my fall, 
 My deeds had earned me no inglorious end. 
 Chance now divides our little band : with me 
 Went Iphitus, a warrior weak from age, 
 And Pelias from the wound Ulysses gave. 
 
A E NEW OS, LIB. II. 29 
 
 Non tulit hanc speciem furiata mente Coroebus, 
 
 Et sese medium iniecit periturus in agmen. 
 
 Consequimur cuncti et densis incurrimus armis. 
 
 Hie primum ex alto delubri culmine telis 410 
 
 Nostrorum obruimur, oriturque miserrima caedes 
 
 Armorum facie et Graiarum errore iubarum. 
 
 Turn Danai gemitu atque ereptae virginis ira 
 
 Undique collecti invadunt, acerrimus Aiax, 
 
 Et gemini Atridae, Dolopumque exercitus omnis ; 
 
 Adversi rupto ceu quodam turbine venti 
 
 Confligunt, Zephyrusque Notusque et laetus Eois 
 
 Eurus equis ; stridunt silvae, saevitque tridenti 
 
 Spumeus atque imo Nereus ciet aequora fundo. 
 
 Illi etiam, si quos obscura nocte per umbram 420 
 
 Fudimus insidiis totaque agitavimus urbe, 
 
 Adparent ; primi clipeos mentitaque tela 
 
 Adgnoscunt, atque ora sono discordia signant. 
 
 Ilicet obruimur numero ; primusque Coroebus 
 
 Penelei dextra divae armipotentis ad aram 
 
 Procumbit ; cadit et Rhipeus, iustissimus unus 
 
 Qui fuit in Teucris et servantissimus aequi ; 
 
 Dis aliter visum ; pereunt Hypanisque Dymasque 
 
 Confixi a sociis ; nee te tua plurima, Panthu, 
 
 Labentem pietas nee Apollinis infula texit. 430 
 
 Iliaci cineres et flamma extrema meorum, 
 
 Testor, in occasu vestro nee tela nee ullas 
 
 Vitavisse vices Danaum, et, si fata fuissent, 
 
 Ut caderem, meruisse manu. Divellimur inde, 
 
 Iphitus et Pelias mecum, quorum Iphitus aevo 
 
 lam gravior, Pelias et volnere tardus Ulixi ; 
 
30 ^NEID, BOOK II 
 
 Soon deafening shouts to Priam's mansion call ; 
 
 So furious there the fray, you well might deem 480 
 
 The din of battle and the waste of life 
 
 To that one spot confined. To mount the wall 
 
 With scaling-ladders fixed th' assailants swarm, 
 
 While the huge engine, tortoise-shaped, blockades 
 
 The portal ; step by step th' invading crew 
 
 Press upward j with one hand the sheltering targe 
 
 Uphold, the other grasps the battlement. 
 
 Hard pressed, the Dardan champions from above 
 
 Hurl turrets huge and roof-trees on the foe : 
 
 The gilded cornice and the sculptured frieze, 490 
 
 Pride of ancestral homes, yield weapons now 
 
 To desperate men in dire extremity 
 
 Of life or death ; beneath, a chosen band 
 
 With falchions bared defend the postern gate. 
 
 Our hearts beat high to save th' imperial dome 
 
 From rapine, and revive our drooping friends. 
 
 c Within the palace bounds, a wicket screened 
 From view gave covert access through the courts 
 Of that vast pile, by which, in happier davs, 
 Andromache would bear her infant son 500 
 
 Astyanax to his fond grandsire's arms. 
 From thence I climbed the roof, whence few and faint 
 The Trojans straggling darts at random thre 
 Skirting the roof a lofty watch-tower rose 
 Sheer to the sky, whence all the plain of Troy, 
 The Grecian camp, and anchored fleet beyond, 
 Lay like a map outstretched : with weapon's point, 
 Inserted where the loosened tiers give room, 
 A breach is made ; the turret, rent and torn, 
 In instantaneous ruin topples down, 510 
 
 Crushing a host beneath : still, as they fall 
 New swarms press on, nor fails a moment's space 
 The ceaseless rain of javelin, brand, and spear. 
 
A £ NEW OS, LIB. II. 
 
 31 
 
 Protinus ad secies Priami clamore vocati. 
 
 Hie vero ingentem pugnam, ceu cetera nusquam 
 
 Bella forent, nulli tota morerentur in urbe, 
 
 Sic Martem indomitum, Danaosque ad tecta ruentis 440 
 
 Cernimus obsessumque acta testudine limen. 
 
 Haerent parietibus scalae, postesque sub ipsos 
 
 Nituntur gradibus, clipeosque ad tela sinistris 
 
 Protect! obiiciunt, prensant fastigia dextris. 
 
 Dardanidae contra turres ac tecta domorum 
 
 Culmina convellunt ; his se, quando ultima cernunt, 
 
 Extrema iam in morte parant defendere telis ; 
 
 Auratasque trabes, veterum decora alta parentum, 
 
 Devolvunt ; alii strictis mucronibus imas 
 
 Obsedere fores; has servant agmine denso. 450 
 
 Instaurati animi, regis succurrere tectis, 
 
 Auxilioque levare viros, vimque addere victis. 
 
 Limen erat caecaeque fores et pervius usus 
 Tectorum inter se Priami, postesque relicti 
 A tergo, infelix qua se, dum regna manebant, 
 Saepius Andromache ferre incomitata solebat 
 Ad soceros, et avo puerum Astyanacta trahebat. 
 Evado ad summi fastigia culminis, unde 
 Tela manu miseri iactabant inrita Teucri. 
 Turrim in praecipiti stantem summisque sub astra 460 
 
 Eductam tectis, unde omnis Troia videri 
 Et Danaum solitae naves et Achaica castra, 
 Adgressi ferro circum, qua summa labantes 
 Iuncturas tabulata dabant, convellimus altis 
 Sedibus, inpulimusque ; ea lapsa repente ruinam 
 Cum sonitu trahit et Danaum super agmina late 
 Incidit. Ast alii subeunt, nee saxa, nee ullum 
 Telorum interea cessat genus. 
 
32 ^NEID, BOOK II 
 
 4 Lo ! Pyrrhus at the gates with conquest flushed, 
 Radiant in burnished mail ; as crested snake 
 That, with rank herbage bloated, in the earth 
 Lay couched and torpid all the winter long ; 
 Warmed to new life, his scaly raiment purged, 
 Suns in the mid-day beam his glistening coils 
 With crest erect, and darts his arrowy tongue. 520 
 
 Automedon, well trained in battle field 
 To guide Achilles' car, huge Periphas, 
 And all the Scyrian youth, with flaming brands 
 Assail the palace roof: the chief himself 
 With ponderous axe the massive portal cleaves. 
 Crushed by redoubled strokes, the solid oak 
 Yields a wide fissure : to rude gaze exposed 
 Lies Priam's princely home, the stately courts 
 Of Dardan kings of old : across the breach 
 Grim warriors, ranged in line, confront their foes. 530 
 
 c Within is tumult all and dire dismay, 
 And women's agonising shrieks that pierce 
 The skies and through the vaulted chambers ring ; 
 Pale mothers run distracted to and fro, 
 Clutching the pillars with delirious grasp. 
 To Pyrrhus all gives way, nor barriers strong 
 Nor stalwart arms arrest him ; like his sire 
 In aspect as in might : to giant stroke, 
 Unhinged and battered, yields the mighty door. 
 Sheer force of arm prevails : the barrier burst, 540 
 
 The sentries slain, the Grecian host pours in 
 Resistless as a stream, whose force unpent 
 Sweeps pile and mound away, and o'er the plain 
 Bursts in a flood, engulfing flocks and folds. 
 Within the threshold with these eyes I saw 
 Fell Pyrrhus revelling in the gory fray, 
 Saw both the hated chiefs of Atreus' line, 
 Saw Hecuba with all her weeping train, 
 
AENEIDOS, LIB. II. 33 
 
 Vestibulum ante ipsum primoque in limine Pyrrhus 
 Exsultat, telis et luce coruscus aena ; 470 
 
 Qualis ubi in lucem coluber mala gramina pastus, 
 Frigida sub terra tumidum quern bruma tegebat, 
 Nunc, positis novus exuviis nitidusque iuventa, 
 Lubrica convolvit sublato pectore terga 
 Arduus ad solem, et Unguis micat ore trisulcis. 
 Una ingens Periphas et equorum agitator Achillis, 
 Armiger Automedon, una omnis Scyria pubes 
 Succedunt tecto, et flammas ad culmina iactant. 
 Ipse inter primos correpta dura bipenni 
 Limina perrumpit, postesque a cardine vellit 480 
 
 Aeratos ; iamque excisa trabe firma cavavit 
 Robora, et ingentem lato dedit ore fenestram. 
 Adparet domus intus, et atria longa patescunt ; 
 Adparent Priami et veterum penetralia regum, 
 Armatosque vident stantes in limine primo. 
 
 At domus interior gemitu miseroque tumultu 
 Miscetur, penitusque cavae plangoribus aedes 
 Femineis ululant ; ferit aurea sidera clamor. 
 Turn pavidae tectis matres ingentibus errant, 
 Amplexaeque tenent postes atque oscula figunt. 490 
 
 Instat vi patria Pyrrhus ; nee claustra, neque ipsi 
 Custodes sufferre valent ; labat ariete crebro 
 Ianua, et emoti procumbunt cardine postes. 
 Fit via vi ; rumpunt aditus, primosque trucidant 
 Inmissi Danai, et late loca milite conplent. 
 Non sic, aggeribus ruptis cum spumeus amnis 
 Exiit oppositasque evicit gurgite moles, 
 Fertur in arva furens cumulo, camposque per omnes 
 Cum stabulis armenta trahit. Vidi ipse furentem 
 Caede Neoptolemum geminosque in limine Atridas ; 500 
 
34 MNEID, BOOK II 
 
 Wives of a hundred sons ; and, saddest sight, 
 
 The altar hallowed late by Priam's vows 550 
 
 Now reeking with his blood. Beneath that roof 
 
 Were fifty bridal chambers, promise fair 
 
 For heirs of Dardan line ; the couches rich 
 
 With gold and spoils barbaric, all despoiled : 
 
 Fire and the Greek alternate ravage all. 
 
 c Hear now the piteous tale of Priam's end : 
 Soon as he learns his captured city's fate, 
 His palace stormed, the foemen in his halls, 
 The aged chief arrays his trembling limbs— 
 Ah ! bootless task — in armour long disused ; 560 
 
 Grasps with weak clutch his unavailing sword, 
 And sallies to the fight. An altar vast 
 Within the precincts of the palace walls 
 Stood open to the sky, and close beside 
 An ancient bay-tree, with expanding shade, 
 O'ercanopied the shrine. Here Hecuba 
 With her fair daughters terror-stricken sat, 
 Like flock of cowering doves by tempest scared, 
 Clasping the statues of their country's Gods. 
 Soon as the Queen her royal spouse beheld 570 
 
 In panoply of arms arrayed, unmeet 
 For reverend age, her anguish thus broke forth : 
 " What dire resolve is this ? what madness prompts 
 To gird thee with these arms, unhappy lord ! 
 Not such the champion nor the strength we crave 
 In hour of mortal need : 't were bootless now 
 Though Hector's self, our loved and lost, were here ! 
 Yield now to me : this shrine shall guard us all 
 In life or death — a refuge or a tomb." 
 
 Thus Hecuba : submissive to her prayer, 580 
 
 The king within the hallowed pale retires. 
 c But now Polites, child of Priam's age, 
 Sore wounded by Achilles' vengeful son, 
 
AENEIDOS, LIB. II. 35 
 
 Vidi Hecubam centumque nurus, Priamumque per aras 
 Sanguine foedantem, quos ipse sacraverat, ignes. 
 Quinquaginta illi thalami, spes tanta nepotum, 
 Barbarico postes auro spoliisque superbi, 
 Procubuere ; tenent Danai, qua deficit ignis. 
 
 Forsitan et, Priami fuerint quae fata, requiras. 
 Urbis uti captae casum convolsaque vidit 
 Limina tectorum et medium in penetralibus hostem, 
 Arma diu senior desueta trementibus aevo 
 Circumdat nequiquam humeris, et inutile ferrum 510 
 
 Cingitur, ac densos fertur moriturus in hostis. 
 Aedibus in mediis nudoque sub aetheris axe 
 Ingens ara fuit iuxtaque veterrima laurus, 
 Incumbens arae atque umbra conplexa Penatis. 
 Hie Hecuba et natae nequiquam altaria circum, 
 Praecipites atra ceu tempestate columbae, 
 Condensae et divom amplexae simulacra sedebant. 
 Ipsum autem sumptis Priamum iuvenalibus armis 
 Ut vidit, Quae mens tarn dira, miserrime coniunx, 
 Inpulit his cingi telis ? aut quo ruis ? inquit. 520 
 
 Non tali auxilio nee defensoribus istis 
 Tempus eget ; non, si ipse meus nunc adforet Hector. 
 Hue tandem concede ; haec ara tuebitur omnes, 
 Aut moriere simul. Sic ore effata recepit 
 Ad sese et sacra longaevum in sede locavit. 
 
 Ecce autem elapsus Pyrrhi de caede Polites, 
 Unus natorum Priami, per tela, per hostes 
 
 D 2 
 
36 MNEID, BOOK II. 
 
 Flies, winged by terror, down the long area des, 
 Darts through the vacant courts, and strains for life : 
 Him Pyrrhus with uplifted arm and spear 
 Pursues, in act to strike ; the goal just gained, 
 Even at his father's feet the unhappy boy 
 Exhausted sinks, and bathed in blood expires. 
 Th' indignant king, in agony of soul, 590 
 
 His life, his all at stake, yet felt no fear, 
 Nor curbed his righteous ire : " On thee," he cried, 
 " For this thy cruel and unnatural deed, 
 If justice dwells above, if Gods regard 
 Domestic sanctities, shall vengeance fall, 
 Inhuman ! who before a father's eyes, 
 Trampling on laws divine, couldst slay the son ! 
 Unlike to thee, thy falsely-vaunted sire 
 Even in a foe could pity grief like mine : 
 Achilles reverenced a father's prayer, 600 
 
 Restored my Hector's loved remains, and me 
 Sent to my home unharmed." This said, the chief 
 Essayed with nerveless arm his spear to fling ; 
 The fluttering shaft sped on, but made no dint, 
 And in the target's boss innocuous hung. 
 Then Pyrrhus, with insulting scorn : " Depart 
 Old man, and to my sire, in shades below, 
 Tell the ill deeds of his degenerate son. 
 Now meet thy fate." He seized the trembling prince, 
 Along the red and slippery pavement dragged 610 
 
 E'en to the altar's edge \ the left hand clutched 
 The hoary locks, the right as swiftly drew 
 The gleaming blade and plunged it in his heart. 
 Thus Priam fell, just spared to see the doom 
 Of burnt and ravaged Troy ; there, in the dust, 
 Once lord of Asia's wide and peopled realm, 
 A headless frame, a nameless trunk, he lies. 
 ' Then speechless horror paralysed my soul. 
 
A E NEW OS, LIB. II. 27 
 
 Porticibus longis fugit, et vacua atria lustrat 
 
 Saucius : ilium ardens infesto volnere Pyrrhus 
 
 Insequitur, iam iamque manu tenet et premit hasta : 530 
 
 Ut tandem ante oculos evasit et ora parentum, 
 
 Concidit, ac multo vitam cum sanguine fudit. 
 
 Hie Priamus, quamquam in media iam morte tenetur, 
 
 Non tamen abstinuit, nee voci iraeque pepercit : 
 
 At tibi pro scelere, exclamat, pro talibus ausis, 
 
 Di, si qua est caelo pietas, quae talia curet, 
 
 Persolvant grates dignas et praemia reddant 
 
 Debita, qui nati coram me cernere letum 
 
 Fecisti et patrios foedasti funere voltus. 
 
 At non ille, satum quo te mentiris, Achilles 540 
 
 Talis in hoste fuit Priamo ; sed iura fidemque 
 
 Supplicis erubuit, corpusque exsangue sepulchro 
 
 Reddidit Hectoreum, meque in mea regna remisit. 
 
 Sic fatus senior, telumque inbelle sine ictu 
 
 Coniecit, rauco quod protinus aere repulsum 
 
 Et summo clipei nequiquam umbone pependit. 
 
 Cui Pyrrhus : Referes ergo haec et nuntius ibis 
 
 Pelidae genitori ; illi mea tristia facta 
 
 Degeneremque Neoptolemum narrare memento. 
 
 Nunc morere. Hoc dicens altaria ad ipsa trementem 550 
 
 Traxit et in multo lapsantem sanguine nati, 
 
 Inplicuitque comam laeva, dextraque coruscum 
 
 Extulit ac lateri capulo tenus abdidit ensem. 
 
 Haec finis Priami fatorum ; hie exitus ilium 
 
 Sorte tulit, Troiam incensam et prolapsa videntem 
 
 Pergama, tot quondam populis terrisque superbum 
 
 Regnatorem Asiae. Iacet ingens litore truncus, 
 
 Avolsumque humeris caput, et sine nomine corpus. 
 
 At me turn primum saevus circumstetit horror. 
 
38 ^ENEID, BOOK II. 
 
 The murdered monarch's form recalled my sire 
 
 In age, in grief the same : with him the thought 620 
 
 Of loved Creusa and Ascanius came, 
 
 Forlorn and helpless in their ravaged home. 
 
 I gazed around me ; all were gone — the few 
 
 Who late kept ward had sunk, with toil outworn, 
 
 Leapt from the walls, or plunged amid the flames. 
 
 c Awhile I stood alone, when in the gloom 
 Of Vesta's fane I spied a cowering form ; 
 'Twas Helen : as she crept and peered around 
 With timorous eyes, the city's fitful glare 
 Threw light upon her : she with fear perplexed, 630 
 
 Alternate of her injured husband's wrath, 
 The Trojans' vengeance and the Argives' hate; — 
 To both th' accursed source of ills untold, — 
 Had fled for refuge to the altar's pale. 
 Rage grew within me at the sight ; I longed 
 To wreak upon her guilty head the wrongs 
 Of my lost country. " Shall this child of shame 
 Flaunt with our captive daughters in her train, 
 Through Sparta or Mycenae, like a queen 
 Flushed with the pride of conquest ? greet once more 640 
 Home, consort, parents, kindred ? Unavenged 
 Shall Priam fall, his city wrapt in flames, 
 His soil distained with carnage ? No, by Heaven ! 
 For though such conquest o'er a woman won 
 Scant honour yield, 't were no unworthy deed 
 To execute stern justice on foul crime, 
 To glut the thirst of vengeance, and appease 
 The injured shades of friends beloved and slain." 
 
 c Thus in the storm and frenzy of my thoughts 
 Discoursing with myself I raved, when lo ! 650 
 
 A luminous form athwart the darkness gleamed ; 
 My Goddess-mother ! never seemed before 
 So heavenly bright the vision : all divine 
 
A EXE ID OS, LIB. II. 39 
 
 Obstupui ; subiit cari genitoris imago, 560 
 
 Ut regem aequaevum crudeli volnere vidi 
 
 Vitam exhalantem ; subiit deserta Creusa, 
 
 Et direpta domus, et parvi casus Iuli. 
 
 Respicio, et, quae sit me circum copia, lustro. 
 
 Deseruere omnes defessi, et corpora saltu 
 
 Ad,terram misere aut ignibus aegra dedere. 
 
 [Iamque adeo super unus eram, cum limina Vestae 
 Servantem et tacitam secreta in sede latentem 
 Tyndarida aspicio : dant clara incendia lucem 
 Errand passimque oculos per cuncta ferenti. 570 
 
 Ilia sibi infestos eversa ob Pergama Teucros 
 Et poenas Danaum et deserti coniugis iras 
 Praemetuens, Troiae et patriae communis Erinys, 
 Abdiderat sese atque aris invisa sedebat. 
 Exarsere ignes animo ; subit ira cadentem 
 Ulcisci patriam et sceleratas sumere poenas. 
 Scilicet haec Spartam incolumis patriasque Mycenas 
 Aspiciet ? partoque ibit regina triumpho, 
 Coniugiumque, domumque, patres, natosque videbit, 
 Iliadum turba et Phrygiis comitata ministris ? 580 
 
 Occident ferro Priamus ? Troia arserit igni ? 
 Dardanium toties sudarit sanguine litus ? 
 Non ita. Namque etsi nullum memorabile nomen 
 Feminea in poena est nee habet victoria laudem, 
 Exstinxisse nefas tamen et sumpsisse merentis 
 Laudabor poenas, animumque explesse iuvabit 
 Ultricis flammae, et cineres satiasse meorum. 
 Talia iactabam, et furiata mente ferebar,] 
 Cum mihi se, non ante oculis tarn clara, videndam 
 Obtulit et pura per noctem in luce refulsit 590 
 
 Alma parens, confessa deam, qualisque videri 
 
40 MNEID, BOOK II. 
 
 In form and stature, as she moves on high, 
 
 Among th' Olympian denizens. Her hand 
 
 With soft constraint she laid on me, and spoke : 
 
 " Ah ! why, my son, this transport of wild wrath ? 
 
 Where now for me thy filial fond regard, 
 
 So quickly flown ? unheeded hast thou left 
 
 Thy aged sire, thy wife, thy helpless son ? 660 
 
 If numbered with the living or the dead, 
 
 Unknown to thee j meanwhile the banded Greeks 
 
 Swarm round them ; my protecting hand alone 
 
 'Mid flame and sword preserves them yet unharmed. 
 
 If Ilium sinks in dust, not Helen's form 
 
 Abhorred, nor crime of Paris, but the Gods, 
 
 The immortal Gods incensed, have wrought her fall. 
 
 Lo ! for a space the film of vaporous cloud 
 
 That dims thy mortal eyesight I remove : 
 
 Thou to thy mother's counsels yield, nor aught 670 
 
 She bids mistrust. Mark you those riven piles, 
 
 Huge stones asunder torn, with dust and smoke 
 
 Commingled ? Neptune there with trident armed 
 
 The deep foundations heaves, and from its base 
 
 The city rocks. Beside the Scaean Gate, 
 
 With sword begirt, fell Juno from the ships 
 
 New levies to the deadly onslaught calls : 
 
 See — on the rampart's verge, a cloud-veiled form 
 
 With Gorgon shield refulgent, Pallas sits ; 
 
 Great Jove himself against yon towers incites 680 
 
 The Gods, himself lends courage to the foe. 
 
 Yield then, my son, and quit th' unequal strife, 
 
 My care shall shield and guide thee to thy home." 
 
 She spoke and vanished in the deepening shade — 
 
 Terrific shapes appear : the Gods in arms 
 
 Arrayed — the dread antagonists of Troy. 
 
 4 Now rooted from its base, proud Ilium seemed 
 To sink, a ruined pile, amid the flames ; 
 
AENEIDOS, LIB. II. 4 1 
 
 Caelicolis et quanta solet, dextraque prehensum 
 
 Continuit, roseoque haec insuper addidit ore : 
 
 Nate, quis indomitas tantus dolor excitat iras ? 
 
 Quid furis ? aut quonam nostri tibi cura recessit ? 
 
 Non prius aspicies, ubi fessum aetate parentem 
 
 Liqueris Anchisen ? superet coniunxne Creusa, 
 
 Ascaniusque puer ? quos omnes undique Graiae 
 
 Circumerrant acies, et, ni mea cura resistat, 
 
 lam flammae tulerint inimicus et hauserit ensis. 600 
 
 Non tibi Tyndaridis facies invisa Lacaenae 
 
 Culpatusve Paris, divom inclementia, divom, 
 
 Has evertit opes sternitque a culmine Troiam. 
 
 Aspice — namque omnem, quae nunc obducta tuenti 
 
 Mortalis hebetat visus tibi et humida circum 
 
 Caligat, nubem eripiam ; tu ne qua parentis 
 
 Iussa time, neu praeceptis parere recusa — 
 
 Hie, ubi disiectas moles avolsaque saxis 
 
 Saxa vides mixtoque undantem pulvere fumum, 
 
 Neptunus muros magnoque emota tridenti 610 
 
 Fundamenta quatit totamque a sedibus urbem 
 
 Eruit. Hie Iuno Scaeas saevissima portas 
 
 Prima tenet, sociumque furens a navibus agmen 
 
 Ferro accincta vocat. 
 
 lam summas arces Tritonia, respice, Pallas 
 
 Insedit, nimbo effulgens et Gorgone saeva. 
 
 Ipse Pater Danais animos viresque secundas 
 
 Sufficit, ipse deos in Dardana suscitat arma. 
 
 Eripe, nate, fugam, finemque inpone labori. 
 
 Nusquam abero, et tutum patrio te limine sistam. 620 
 
 Dixerat, et spissis noctis se condidit umbris. 
 
 Adparent dirae facies inimicaque Troiae 
 
 Numina magna deum. 
 
 Turn vero omne mihi visum considere in ignes 
 Ilium et ex imo verti Neptunia Troia ; 
 
42 ^ENEID, BOOK II 
 
 Like ancient mountain-ash on summit steep, 
 
 That woodmen striving with redoubled blows 690 
 
 Of echoing axe assail : the mighty stem 
 
 Bows to the storm awhile its leaf-crowned head 
 
 Impending to its fall ; till, stroke by stroke 
 
 Asunder cleft, it sinks with parting groan, 
 
 And strews, a giant wreck, the mountain side. 
 
 Safe in my heavenly guardian's charge I pass 
 
 Uninjured through the thickest of the fight, 
 
 The flames give room, the darts are turned aside. 
 
 c Now, reached at length my old ancestral home, 
 My sire; whom first my anxious soul desired 700 
 
 To bear for safety to some mountain hold, 
 Refuses to outlive his country's fall 
 Or tempt an exile's fate. " P'or you," he cried, 
 u Whose pulses warmly beat, whose youthful limbs 
 Are braced with sinewy strength, 'tis well to seek 
 New homes beyond the main ; had Heaven designed 
 To lengthen my brief span, its hand had spared 
 These ancient loved abodes : enough for me 
 That Troy once captured, I survived her fall : — 
 Let this suffice ; — go, bid these poor remains 710 
 
 A solemn last farewell : the parting stroke 
 Myself will give ; perchance the foe that spoils 
 Will pity too : — to lie unsepulchred 
 Afflicts not me, who many a lingering year 
 Endure the burthen of a life unblest, 
 Scathed by the lightning-blast of angry Jove." 
 
 c Thus deeply-rooted in his stern resolve 
 Anchises spoke ; his weeping household all 
 With prayers and fond remonstrance strove to bend 
 His stubborn purpose, lest the fate he sought, 720 
 
 Unheedful of himself, should ruin all. 
 He stirs not nor relents. Incensed, I long 
 To fling me on the foe and end my woes, 
 
AENEIDOS, LIB. II. 43 
 
 Ac veluti summis antiquam in montibus ornum 
 
 Cum ferro accisam crebrisque bipennibus instant 
 
 Eruere agricolae certatim ; ilia usque minatur 
 
 Et tremefacta comam concusso vertice nutat, 
 
 Volneribus donee paulatim evicta supremum 630 
 
 Congemuit traxitque iugis avolsa ruinam. 
 
 Descendo, ac ducente deo fiammam inter et hostes 
 
 Expedior ; dant tela locum, flammaeque recedunt. 
 
 Atque ubi iam patriae perventum ad limina sedis 
 Antiquasque domos, genitor, quern tollere in altos 
 Optabam primum montes primumque petebam, 
 Abnegat excisa vitam producere Troia 
 Exsiliumque pati. Vos o, quibus integer aevi 
 Sanguis, ait, solidaeque suo stant robore vires, 
 Vos agitate fugam. 640 
 
 Me si caelicolae voluissent ducere vitam, 
 Has mihi servassent sedes. Satis una superque 
 Vidimus exscidia et captae superavimus urbi. 
 Sic o, sic positum adfati discedite corpus. 
 Ipse manu mortem inveniam j miserebitur hostis 
 Exuviasque petet ; facilis iactura sepulchri. 
 Iam pridem invisus divis et inutilis annos 
 Demoror, ex quo me divom pater atque hominum rex 
 Fulminis adflavit ventis et contigit igni. 
 
 Talia perstabat memorans, fixusque manebat. 650 
 
 Nos contra effusi lacrimis coniunxque Creusa 
 Ascaniusque omnisque domus, ne vertere secum 
 Cuncta pater fatoque urgenti incumbere vellet. 
 Abnegat, inceptoque et sedibus haeret in isdem. 
 Rursus in arma feror, mortemque miserrimus opto, 
 
44 sENEID, BOOK II 
 
 Since counsel failed and fortune treacherous proved. 
 
 " Heard I aright, and couldst thou bid thy son 
 
 (O words unseemly for a father's lips !) 
 
 To quit these shores and leave thee to thy fate ? 
 
 If Heaven's high will of all that once was Troy 
 
 No remnant leaves, and thy resolve consigns 
 
 Home, children, kindred, to the common doom, 730 
 
 Have now thy wish fulfilled. See ! Pyrrhus comes, 
 
 Reeking with blood of Priam and his race, 
 
 Who killed the son and doubly killed the sire, 
 
 Stabbed at the altar's foot beside his child. 
 
 For this, dear Goddess-mother, didst thou shield 
 
 From steel and flame thy hardly-rescued son, 
 
 That murderous foes should riot in his halls, 
 
 Wife, father, child before his eyes despatched, 
 
 Sink in one bloody grave ? To arms, brave friends, 
 
 To arms, and charge the conquering Greeks once more ! 
 
 Be death our portion — one at least will die 741 
 
 Not unavenged ! " Once more I grasp my sword, 
 
 Adjust my shield, and gird me for the fight, 
 
 But ere I passed the gate Creusa knelt, 
 
 Ascanius in her arms, and clasped my feet. 
 
 " If death you seek," she cried, "why leave us here ? 
 
 The doom you meet be ours ! If yet you trust 
 
 In spear and shield, remain and guard your home. 
 
 Bethink thee, O my husband, of the fate 
 
 Thy loved ones must endure, of thee bereaved." 750 
 
 She wept and filled the mansion with her shrieks. 
 
 c But now a wondrous prodigy appears : 
 E'en as between our arms Ascanius lay, 
 A slender shaft of flame from his fair head 
 Spontaneous rose, glowed 'mid his waving locks 
 With harmless sheen, and round his temples played. 
 Scared at the sight we grasp the sparkling hair, 
 And strive to quench the flame ; of wiser mind 
 
AENEIDOS, LIB. II. 45 
 
 Nam quod consilium aut quae iam fortuna dabatur ? 
 
 Mene efferre pedem, genitor, te posse relicto 
 
 Sperasti, tantumque nefas patrio excidit ore ? 
 
 Si nihil ex tanta Superis placet urbe relinqui, 
 
 Et sedet hoc animo, perituraeque addere Troiae 660 
 
 Teque tuosque iuvat, patet isti ianua leto, 
 
 Iamque aderit multo Priami de sanguine Pyrrhus, 
 
 Gnatum ante ora patris, patrem qui obtruncat ad aras. 
 
 Hoc erat, alma parens, quod me per tela, per ignes 
 
 Eripis, ut mediis hostem in penetralibus, utque 
 
 Ascanium patremque meum iuxtaque Creusam 
 
 Alterum in alterius mactatos sanguine cernam ? 
 
 Arma, viri, ferte arma ; vocat lux ultima victos. 
 
 Reddite me Danais ; sinite instaurata revisam 
 
 Proelia. Numquam omnes hodie moriemur inulti. 670 
 
 Hinc ferro accingor rursus clipeoque sinistram 
 Insertabam aptans meque extra tecta ferebam. 
 Ecce autem conplexa pedes in limine coniunx 
 Haerebat, parvumque patri tendebat Iulum : 
 Si periturus abis, et nos rape in omnia tecum ; 
 Sin aliquam expertus sumptis spem ponis in armis, 
 Hanc primum tutare domum. Cui parvus lulus, 
 Cui pater et coniunx quondam tua dicta relinquor ? 
 
 Talia vociferans gemitu tectum omne replebat, 
 Cum subitum dictuque oritur mirabile monstrum. 680 
 
 Namque manus inter maestorumque ora parentum 
 Ecce levis summo de vertice visus Iuli 
 Fundere lumen apex, tactuque innoxia molles 
 Lambere flamma comas et circum tempora pasci. 
 Nos pavidi trepidare metu, crinemque flagrantem 
 
46 MNEID, BOOK II. 
 
 My sire with outstretched arms appeals to Heaven. 
 
 " Great Jove ! if mortal prayers can reach thine ear, 760 
 
 Regard thy suppliants now, to pious hearts 
 
 Lend succour and confirm th' auspicious sign ! " 
 
 Scarce ceased his prayer, when from the side of Heaven 
 
 Whence happiest omens come, loud thunder pealed — 
 
 Then darted down a solitary star, 
 
 Trailing a stream of light athwart the gloom : 
 
 We marked its course : right o'er our palace roof 
 
 It seemed to glide, then sank in Ida's woods, 
 
 Graving its fiery track adown the sky ; 
 
 While all the air a sulphurous vapour filled. 770 
 
 Instant the old man rose, the mystic star 
 
 Adored, and bowed submission : u On," he said ; 
 
 " No more I bid you linger : let us go ! 
 
 Ye Gods of Ilium ! guard our ancient house 
 
 And this its youthful heir : from you the sign 
 
 Propitious came ; whate'er remains of Troy 
 
 By your protection lives. Go now, my son, 
 
 Where'er you lead I follow." As he spoke 
 
 Near and more near the burning city's crash 
 
 Smote on our ears, more scorching grew the blast. 780 
 
 " Now, father, on my shoulders mount," I cried ; 
 
 " These arms shall bear thee well, nor grudge their load j 
 
 Let both one peril face, whate'er befall, 
 
 Or one deliverance share : with me shall walk 
 
 Ascanius hand in hand ; my wife behind 
 
 Keep the same track and mark our footsteps well. 
 
 And ye, my followers, this instruction heed — 
 
 Beyond the ramparts, on a slope retired 
 
 An unfrequented fane of Ceres stands, 
 
 An ancient cypress near, for many an age 790 
 
 In reverence held by our religious sires ; 
 
 There will we muster our collected bands. 
 
 Thou, reverend father, bear our household Gods, 
 
AENEIDOS, LIB. II. 47 
 
 Excutere et sanctos restinguere fontibus ignes. 
 At pater Anchises oculos ad sidera laetus 
 Extulit, et caelo palmas cum voce tetendit : 
 Iuppiter omnipotens, precibus si flecteris ullis, 
 Aspice nos ; hoc tantum ; et, si pietate meremur, 690 
 
 Da deinde auxilium, pater, atque haec omina firma. 
 Vix ea fatus erat senior, subitoque fragore 
 Intonuit laevum, et de caelo lapsa per umbras 
 Stella facem ducens multa cum luce cucurrit. 
 Illam, summa super labentem culmina tecti, 
 Cernimus Idaea claram se condere silva 
 Signantemque vias ; turn longo limite sulcus 
 Dat lucem, et late circum loca sulfure fumant. 
 Hie vero victus genitor se tollit ad auras, 
 Adfaturque deos et sanctum sidus adorat. 700 
 
 lam iam nulla mora est ; sequor, et, qua ducitis, adsum. 
 Di patrii, servate domum, servate nepotem. 
 Vestrum hoc augurium, vestroque in numine Troia est. 
 Cedo equidem, nee, nate, tibi comes ire recuse 
 Dixerat ille ; et iam per moenia clarior ignis 
 Auditur, propiusque aestus incendia volvunt. 
 Ergo age, care pater, cervici inponere nostrae ; 
 Ipse subibo humeris, nee me labor iste gravabit ; 
 Quo res cumque cadent, unum et commune periclum, 
 Una salus ambobus erit. Mihi parvus lulus 710 
 
 Sit comes, et longe servet vestigia coniunx. 
 Vos, famuli, quae dicam, animis advertite vestris. 
 Est urbe egressis tumulus templumque vetustum 
 Desertae Cereris, iuxtaque antiqua cupressus 
 Religione patrum multos servata per annos. 
 Hanc ex diverso sedem veniemus in unam. 
 Tu, genitor, cape sacra manu patriosque Penates ; 
 
48 jENEID, BOOK II. 
 
 These hallowed emblems brook not touch of hands 
 With battle soiled, unpurged by flowing stream." 
 
 ' Clothed with a tawny lion's mantling hide, 
 My shoulders now receive their honoured load ; 
 Beside me, pacing with unequal steps, 
 Ascanius twined his little hand in mine : 
 Last came my wife. Through darkling ways we stole, 800 
 And I who late 'mid iron shower of darts 
 Had known no fear, nor blenched at Grecian lines 
 Advancing to the charge, now coward made 
 By helpless burthens, quake at every gale 
 And think each sound a foe. At length we reached 
 The gates and deemed our perils well-nigh past, 
 When sudden tramp of warriors' feet drew near. 
 Anchises, peering through the gloom, exclaims — 
 <c Haste, haste, my son ! the foe ! they come, they come ! 
 I see their burnished helms and glittering shields." 810 
 
 Then did some power malign my #m*ered brain 
 Whelm in confusion : as we travelled on 
 By unfrequented paths and by-ways dim, 
 Creusa, snatched by ruthless Fate, was gone — 
 How lost I never knew ; if spent with toil 
 She paused to rest, or wandered from the way : — 
 Never in life these eyes beheld her more : 
 Nor marked I what befell, nor knew we yet, 
 Sire, husband, child, th' irreparable loss, 
 Till halting for awhile by Ceres' fane 820 
 
 Our little band we numbered — one was gone. 
 Frantic with grief I railed on Gods and men, 
 And deemed my country's woes surpassed by mine. 
 With trusty friends in sheltering cave I leave 
 My child, Anchises, and the Gods of Troy ; 
 Then, armed for fight, again I scour the town 
 Reckless of life, and tempt my fate once more. 
 
A E NEW OS, LIB. II 49 
 
 Me, bello e tanto digressum et caede recenti, 
 
 Attrectare nefas, donee me flumine vivo 
 
 Abluero. 720 
 
 Haec fatus, latos humeros subiectaque colla % 
 
 Veste super fulvique insternor pelle leonis, 
 Succedoque oneri ; dextrae se parvus lulus 
 Inplicuit sequiturque patrem non passibus aequis ; 
 Pone subit coniunx. Ferimur per opaca locorum ; 
 Et me, quern dudum non ulla iniecta movebant 
 Tela neque adverso glomerati ex agmine Graii, 
 Nunc omnes terrent aurae, sonus excitat omnis 
 Suspensum et pariter comitique onerique timentem. 
 
 Iamque propinquabam portis, omnemque videbar 730 
 
 Evasisse viam, subito cum creber ad aures 
 Visus adesse pedum sonitus, genitorque per umbram 
 Prospiciens, Nate, exclamat, fuge, nate ; propinquant. 
 Ardentes clipeos atque aera micantia cerno. 
 Hie mihi nescio quod trepido male numen amicum 
 Confusam eripuit mentem. Namque avia cursu 
 Dum sequor et nota excedo regione viarum, 
 Heu ! misero coniunx fatone erepta Creusa 
 Substitit, erravitne via, seu lassa resedit, 
 Incertum ; nee post oculis est reddita nostris. 740 
 
 Nee prius amissam respexi animumque reflexi, 
 Quam tumulum antiquae Cereris sedemque sacratam 
 Venimus ; hie demum collectis omnibus una 
 Defuit, et comites natumque virumque fefellit. 
 Quern non incusavi amens hominumque deorumque, 
 Aut quid in eversa vidi crudelius urbe ? 
 Aseanium Anchisenque patrem Teucrosque Penates 
 Commendo sociis et curva valle recondo ; 
 Ipse urbem repeto et cingor fulgentibus armis. 
 Stat casus renovare omnes, omnemque reverti 750 
 
 Per Troiam, et rursus caput obiectare periclis. 
 
50 &NEID, BOOK II 
 
 ' Retracing step by step our devious track, 
 By wall and gate I searched each dark recess : 
 The stillness as of death appalled my soul : 830 
 
 Then homeward I returned, if haply there 
 The wanderer's steps had borne her — ere I came 
 The Greek had forced the gates and ravaged all. 
 E'en now the mantling flames, by night wind fanned, 
 Climbed o'er the roof: the air like furnace glowed. 
 To Priam's mansion next I bent my way : 
 There in the vacant courts by Juno's shrine 
 Phoenix and stern Ulysses watched the spoil, 
 Dread sentinels ! I saw the wealth of Troy 
 Piled in promiscuous heaps, embroidered vests, 840 
 
 Beakers of massive gold, the treasured hoards 
 Of altars spoiled : hard by, a fettered line 
 Of boys and matrons wailed, the conquerors' prize. 
 Nor feared I, through th' unpeopled streets, to shout 
 Aloud to her I sought, till far and near 
 
 The walls re-echoed with Creusa's name. 
 
 Yet fruitless still my wild distracted search 
 
 Through all the city made, when suddenly 
 
 The very counterpart of that dear form, 
 
 Fair as in life, yet statelier (as it seemed), 850 
 
 Burst on my ravished sight. I stood aghast, 
 
 Entranced by fear. With soothing tones she spoke : 
 
 " Yield not, dear husband mine, to senseless grief; 
 
 'Tis Heaven's decree we part, nor wills great Jove 
 
 Together we should cross the azure main. 
 
 Long wanderings must be thine by land and sea, 
 
 Long exile, crowned at last with blissful end 
 
 In that Hesperian land where Tiber laves 
 
 His blooming plains : there shalt thou find repose, 
 
 A destined kingdom and a royal bride. 860 
 
 Mourn not Creusa ! no proud Myrmidon 
 
 Shall call me slave, no Grecian dame assign 
 
AENEIDOS, LIB. II. 
 
 51 
 
 Principio muros obscuraque limina portae, 
 Qua gressum extuleram, repeto, et vestigia retro 
 Observata sequor per noctem et lumine lustro. 
 Horror ubique anitnos, simul ipsa silentia terrent. 
 Inde domum, si forte pedem, si forte tulisset, 
 Me refero. Inruerant Danai, et tectum omne tenebant. 
 Uicet ignis edax sum ma ad fastigia vento 
 Volvitur ; exsuperant flammae, furit aestus ad auras. 
 Procedo et Priami sedes arcemque reviso. 760 
 
 Et iam porticibus vacuis Iunonis asylo 
 Custodes lecti Phoenix et dirus Ulixes 
 Praedam adservabant. Hue undique Troia gaza 
 Incensis erepta adytis, mensaeque deorum, 
 Crateresque auro solidi, captivaque vestis 
 Congeritur. Pueri et pavidae longo ordine matres 
 Stant circum. 
 
 Ausus quin etiam voces iactare per umbram 
 Inplevi clamore vias, maestusque Creusam 
 Nequiquam ingeminans iterumque iterumque vocavi. 770 
 Quaerenti et tectis urbis sine fine furenti 
 Infelix simulacrum atque ipsius umbra Creusae 
 Visa mihi ante oculos et nota maior imago. 
 Obstupui, steteruntque comae et vox faucibus haesit. 
 Turn sic adfari et curas his demere dictis : 
 Quid tantum insano iuvat indulgere dolori, 
 O dulcis coniunx ? non haec sine numine divom 
 Eveniunt ; nee te hinc comitem asportare Creusam 
 Fas aut ille sinit superi regnator Olympi. 
 Longa tibi exsilia, et vastum maris aequor arandum, 780 
 
 Ad terram Hesperiam venies, ubi Lydius arva 
 Inter opima virum leni fluit agmine Thybris : 
 Illic res laetae regnumque et regia coniunx 
 Parta tibi. Lacrimas dilectae pelie Creusae : 
 Non ego Myrmidonum sedes Dolopumve superbas 
 Aspiciam, aut Graiis servitum matribus ibo, 
 
52 &NEID, BOOK II 
 
 To menial tasks, whom Venus daughter owns, 
 
 A Dardan princess born ! But now, farewell, 
 
 The Mother of th' Immortals claims my vow : 
 
 Cherish our much-loved child — once more, farewell." 
 
 She spoke, and, as I wept and strove to frame 
 
 The words that crowded to my lips, was gone — 
 
 Thrice round what seemed her neck my arms were flung, 
 
 Thrice had the dear illusion mocked my grasp, 870 
 
 Fleet as the wind and transient as a dream i 
 
 c Now, as the night was waning, I rejoined 
 My comrades, and perceived our slender band 
 Swelled to a host, from every side convened : 
 Wond'ring I viewed the mingled group forlorn : 
 Matrons and youths were there, and stalwart men, 
 For exile all prepared, with me to seek 
 New homes beyond the sea. O'er Ida's height 
 Now rose the morning star, day's harbinger : 
 No refuge else remained — at every post 880 
 
 The Greeks kept watch and ward ; — to fate resigned 
 Once more I stooped my shoulders to receive 
 My helpless sire, then climbed the mountain's side.' 
 
AEiVEIDOS, LIB. II. 
 
 53 
 
 Dardanis, et divae Veneris nurus ; 
 
 Sed me magna deum Genetrix his detinet oris. 
 
 Iamque vale, et nati serva communis amorem. 
 
 Haec ubi dicta dedit, lacrimantem et multa volentem 790 
 
 Dicere deseruit, tenuesque recessit in auras. 
 
 Ter conatus ibi collo dare brachia circum : 
 
 Ter frustra conprensa manus effugit imago, 
 
 Par levibus ventis volucrique simillima somno. 
 
 Sic demum socios consumpta nocte reviso. 
 Atque hie ingentem comitum adfluxisse novorum 
 Invenio admirans numerum, matresque, virosque, 
 Collectam exsilio pubem, miserabile volgus. 
 Undique convenere, animis opibusque parati,. 
 In quascumque velim pelago deducere terras. 800 
 
 Iamque iugis summae surgebat Lucifer Idae 
 Ducebatque diem, Danaique obsessa tenebant 
 Limina portarum, nee spes opis ulla dabatur ; 
 Cessi et sublato montes genitore petivi. 
 
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 
 
 003 093 789 2 
 
LIBRPRY OF CONG "|j* 
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