| from the AENEID - Book X, ll.1-37 | |
| Virgil (Publius Vergilius Maro) | tr. J.P.Nosbaum |
|
............ ............ iamque fere mediam caeli Nox umida metam contigerat, placida laxabant membra quiete sub remis fusi per dura sedilia nautae, cum leuis aetheriis delapsus Somnus ab astris aera dimouit tenebrosum et dispulit umbras, te, Palinure, petens, tibi somnia tristia portans insonti; puppique deus consedit in alta Phorbanti similis funditque has ore loquelas: 'Iaside Palinure, ferunt ipsa aequora classem, aequatae spirant aurae, datur hora quieti. pone caput fessosque oculos furare labori. ipse ego paulisper pro te tua munera inibo.' cui uix attollens Palinurus lumina fatur: 'mene salis placidi uultum fluctusque quietos ignorare iubes? mene huic confidere monstro? Aenean credam (quid enim?) fallacibus auris et caeli totiens deceptus fraude sereni?' talia dicta dabat, clauumque adfixus et haerens nusquam amittebat oculosque sub astra tenebat. ecce deus ramum Lethaeo rore madentem uique soporatum Stygia super utraque quassat tempora, cunctantique natantia lumina soluit. uix primos inopina quies laxauerat artus, et super incumbens cum puppis parte reuulsa cumque gubernaclo liquidas proiecit in undas praecipitem ac socios nequiquam saepe uocantem; ipse uolans tenuis se sustulit ales ad auras. currit iter tutum non setius aequore classis promissisque patris Neptuni interrita fertur. ............ ............ |
............ ............ Then down came Sleep from Heaven, adrift on the night, like a passing breeze in search of peace: so Sleep sought Palinurus, almost playful; and the demigod sat upon the deck, spoke to the guiltless helmsman, saying "Father, this sea is a mirror in the dark, smooth, unbroken even by reflection, and the night is clear as might the Lord of Heaven grant Himself were we to be so honoured, please -" and raised his hand for the tiller, but Palinurus did not stir, his eyes did not turn from the fore, his grip never lessened, and so again, "Father, hear me: Sleep’s hour has arrived. Lay your head upon the deck and close your eyes, I’ll guide the fleet till dawn -" but Palinurus neither stirred, nor did he shift his grip, his eyes remaining wide and fixed upon the sea before them, so that inwardly, the god seethed: for he was Sleep and like Hunger, Death, no man denied him, but smooth and youthful was the face that smiled as Palinurus’ second rose, and dove, a dolphin now, into the sea, pulling Palinurus to his feet to peer down at the god glistening in the dark, whose eyes engulfed the peerless helmsman so that he fell (though it felt like rising) into the water, and the sea was soon a mirror and the night a bell, vast above him as he breathed his last, and the fleet bore onward, guided by the sea, Neptune mindful of his promise. ............ ............ |
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Copyright © J.P.Nosbaum 2006