| from the AENEID - Book X, ll.1-37 | |||||||
| Virgil (Publius Vergilius Maro) | tr. A.S.Kline | ||||||
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Panditur interea domus omnipotentis Olympi, conciliumque vocat divom pater atque hominum rex sideream in sedem, terras unde arduus omnis castraque Dardanidum adspectat populosque Latinos. Considunt tectis bipatentibus, incipit ipse: 'Caelicolae magni, quianam sententia vobis versa retro tantumque animis certatis iniquis? Abnueram bello Italiam concurrere Teucris. Quae contra vetitum discordia? Quis metus aut hos aut hos arma sequi ferrumque lacessere suasit? Adveniet iustum pugnae, ne arcessite, tempus, cum fera Karthago Romanis arcibus olim exitium magnum atque Alpes immittet apertas: tum certare odiis, tum res rapuisse licebit. Nunc sinite et placitum laeti componite foedus.' Iuppiter haec paucis; at non Venus aurea contra
Namque aliud quid sit, quod iam implorare queamus? Cernis ut insultent Rutulli Turnusque (feratur per medios insignis equis tumidusque) secundo Marte ruat? Non clausa tegunt iam moenia Teucros: quin intra portas atque ipsis proelia miscent aggeribus moerorum et inundant sanguine fossas. Aeneas ignarus abest. Numquamne levari obsidione sines? Muris iterum imminet hostis nascentis Troiae (nec non exercitus alter;) atque iterum in Teucros Aetolis surgit ab Arpis Tydides. Equidem credo, mea volnera restant et tua progenies mortalia demoror arma. Si sine pace tua atque invito numine Troes Italiam petiere, luant peccata neque illos iuveris auxilio; sin tot responsa secuti, quae superi manesque dabant: cur nunc tua quisquam vertere iussa potest aut cur nova condere fata? Quid repetem exustas Erycino in litore classes, quid tempestatum regem ventosque furentis Aeolia excitos aut actam nubibus Irim? ............ ............ |
Meanwhile the palace of all-powerful Olympus was opened wide, and the father of the gods, and king of men, called a council in his starry house, from whose heights he gazed at every land, at Trojan camp, and Latin people. They took their seats in the hall with doors at east and west, and he began: 'Great sky-dwellers, why have you changed your decision, competing now, with such opposing wills? I commanded Italy not to make war on the Trojans. Why this conflict, against my orders? What fear has driven them both to take up arms and incite violence? The right time for fighting will arrive (don’t bring it on) when fierce Carthage, piercing the Alps, will launch great destruction on the Roman strongholds: then it will be fine to compete in hatred, and ravage things. Now let it alone, and construct a treaty, gladly, as agreed.’ Jupiter’s speech was brief as this: but golden Venus’s reply
(for who else is there I can make my appeal to now?) you see how the Rutulians exult, how Turnus is drawn by noble horses through the crowd, and, fortunate in war, rushes on proudly. Barred defences no longer protect the Trojans: rather they join battle within the gates, and on the rampart walls themselves, and the ditches are filled with blood. Aeneas is absent, unaware of this. Will you never let the siege be raised? A second enemy once again menaces and harasses new-born Troy, and again, from Aetolian Arpi, a Diomede rises. I almost think the wound I had from him still awaits me: your child merely delays the thrust of that mortal’s weapon. If the Trojans sought Italy without your consent, and despite your divine will, let them expiate the sin: don’t grant them help. But if they’ve followed the oracles of powers above and below, why should anyone change your orders now, and forge new
Or the king of the storms and his furious winds roused from Aeolia, or Iris sent down from the clouds? ............ ............ |
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Copyright © A. S. Kline 2004