Virgil Book 4

At regina graui iamdudum saucia cura

But the queen, wounded by an intense love for a long time

vulnus alit venis et caeco carpitur igni.

nourished the wound with her blood and is worn down by an unseen fire.

multa viri virtus animo multusque recursat

The great courage of the man and the great glory of his descent

gentis honos; haerent infixi pectore vultus

return to her mind; his face and words clung, fixed on, to her heart

verbaque nec placidam membris dat cura quietem.               5

nor does the love grant peaceful rest to her limbs.

postera Phoebea lustrabat lampade terras

The next dawn lit the land with Apollo’s light and

umentemque Aurora polo dimouerat umbram,

dispelled the dewy shadows from the sky,

cum sic unanimam adloquitur male sana sororem:

when she spoke to her loving sister in this way with an unstable mind:

'Anna soror, quae me suspensam insomnia terrent!

‘Sister Anna, what nightmares terrify me being anxious!

quis nouus hic nostris successit sedibus hospes,               10

Who is this stranger, who comes here to our homes,

quem sese ore ferens, quam forti pectore et armis!

carrying such a face, what strong chest and arms!

credo equidem, nec uana fides, genus esse deorum.

indeed I believe, nor is it an empty belief, that he is born of the gods.

degeneres animos timor arguit. heu, quibus ille

Fear proves degenerate souls. Alas, he has been thrown around

iactatus fatis! quae bella exhausta canebat!

by such fates! What exhausting wars he tells of!

si mihi non animo fixum immotumque sederet               15

If my mind was not set fixed and immovable

ne cui me uinclo uellem sociare iugali,

I would not want to come together to him in the bond of marriage,

postquam primus amor deceptam morte fefellit;

after having been deceived cheated by death of my first love,

si non pertaesum thalami taedaeque fuisset,

if I had not been utterly weary of the bedroom and marriage,

huic uni forsan potui succumbere culpae.

perhaps I would be able to succumb to this one temptation.

Anna (fatebor enim) miseri post fata Sychaei               20

Anna for I will confess after the fate of my wretched husband

coniugis et sparsos fraterna caede penatis

Sychaeus and after the altars sprinkled with the slaughter by my brother

solus hic inflexit sensus animumque labantem

he alone affected my senses and troubled my wavering mind.

impulit. agnosco ueteris uestigia flammae.

I recognise the traces of an ancient flame.

sed mihi uel tellus optem prius ima dehiscat

But I would choose either for the land to split open to its deepest for me

vel pater omnipotens adigat me fulmine ad umbras,                25

or the all-powerful father strike me with his thunderbolt down to the shadows,

pallentis umbras Erebo noctemque profundam,

the pale shadows of Erebus and its deep night,

ante, pudor, quam te uiolo aut tua iura resoluo.

before, shame, I violate you and rescind your laws.

ille meos, primus qui me sibi iunxit, amores

He, who first joined me to him in marriage, stole my love,

abstulit; ille habeat secum seruetque sepulcro.'

he shall have it and guard it in his grave.’

sic effata sinum lacrimis impleuit obortis.               30

Thus having spoken she filled up her breast with tears which got in the way (of her speaking).

Anna refert: 'o luce magis dilecta sorori

Anna replies: ‘O you who are loved by your sister more than light,

solane perpetua maerens carpere iuuenta

will you spend all your youth mourning alone

nec dulcis natos Veneris nec praemia noris?

not knowing neither sweet children nor the rewards of love?

id cinerem aut manis credis curare sepultos?

Do you believe that ash and buried spirits care about this?

esto: aegram nulli quondam flexere mariti,               35

Let it be: since no husbands have influenced you when you were sick (with grief)

non Libyae, non ante Tyro; despectus Iarbas

not in Libya, not in Tyre; Iarbas was rejected

ductoresque alii, quos Africa terra triumphis

and other leaders, whom Africa nourishes with rich triumphs:

diues alit: placitone etiam pugnabis amori?

will you even fight a love which gives you pleasure?

nec uenit in mentem quorum consederis aruis?

Does it not come into mind in whose field you have settled?

hinc Gaetulae urbes, genus insuperabile bello,               40

Here the Gaetulian cities, a race unconquerable in war,

et Numidae infreni cingunt et inhospita Syrtis;

and the wild Numidians surround you and the inhospitable Syrtis;

hinc deserta siti regio lateque furentes

there a region of waterless desert and far and wide there are vicious

Barcaei. quid bella Tyro surgentia dicam

Barcaeans. What should I say about wars rising in Tyre and

germanique minas?

the threats of your brother?

dis equidem auspicibus reor et Iunone secunda               45

I indeed think that by the blessing of the gods and with Juno on their side

hunc cursum Iliacas uento tenuisse carinas.

that the Trojan boats held a course here in the wind.

quam tu urbem, soror, hanc cernes, quae surgere regna

What a city you will see, sister, what kingdoms rise

coniugio tali! Teucrum comitantibus armis

with such a marriage! With weapons of the Trojans accompanying us

Punica se quantis attollet gloria rebus!

by what great things will Punic’s glory grow!

tu modo posce deos ueniam, sacrisque litatis               50

Demand only the mercy of the gods and having offered sacrifices

indulge hospitio causasque innecte morandi,

indulge in hospitality and invent reasons for delaying,

dum pelago desaeuit hiems et aquosus Orion,

while winter and stormy Orion rage at sea,

quassataeque rates, dum non tractabile caelum.'

and the ships are shattered, while the sky is not manageable.’

His dictis incensum animum inflammavit amore

Having said these words she set on fire Dido’s inflamed heart with love

spemque dedit dubiae menti soluitque pudorem.               55

and gave hope to her doubtful mind and loosened her shame.

principio delubra adeunt pacemque per aras

In the beginning they went to the temples and asked for peace at the

exquirunt; mactant lectas de more bidentis

altars; they offered sheep chosen in due course

legiferae Cereri Phoeboque patrique Lyaeo,

to lawgiving Cere and to Phoebus and to Bacchus,

Iunoni ante omnis, cui uincla iugalia curae.

above all to Juno , to whom the marriage bonds are of concern.

ipsa tenens dextra pateram pulcherrima Dido               60

The very beautiful Dido herself holding the bowl in her right hand

candentis uaccae media inter cornua fundit,

poured (a libation) in between the middle of the horns of a white cow,

aut ante ora deum pinguis spatiatur ad aras,

or she would walk before the faces of the gods to the rich altars,

instauratque diem donis, pecudumque reclusis

and she starts the day with gifts, and gaping into the opened up chests

pectoribus inhians spirantia consulit exta.

of beasts she reads the living entrails.

heu, vatum ignarae mentes! quid vota furentem,               65

Alas, the minds of prophets are ignorant! How do temples and

quid delubra iuuant? est mollis flamma medullas

prayers help one who is out of their mind? The flame eats her soft marrow

interea et tacitum uiuit sub pectore uulnus.

all along and the wound lives silently under her breast.

uritur infelix Dido totaque uagatur

The unlucky Dido was on fire and she wondered through the

urbe furens, qualis coniecta cerua sagitta,

whole city in madness, just as deer when an arrow has been shot,

quam procul incautam nemora inter Cresia fixit               70

which a shepherd hunting in the woods of Crete has caught off guard,

pastor agens telis liquitque uolatile ferrum

he fixes from far away her with his weapons and the arrow is abandoned in her

nescius: illa fuga siluas saltusque peragrat

with him being unaware: she passes through the mountain-country and the woods

Dictaeos; haeret lateri letalis harundo.

of Dicte in her flight; and the arrow-shaft that brings death sticks in her side.

nunc media Aenean secum per moenia ducit

Now she took Aeneas with her through the city

Sidoniasque ostentat opes urbemque paratam,               75

and she shows him Sidonian wealth and the city ready for him,

incipit effari mediaque in uoce resistit;

she begins to speak and stops in mid-sentence;

nunc eadem labente die conuiuia quaerit,

now while the day was ending she asked for the same banquet

Iliacosque iterum demens audire labores

and she demanded to listen to, being out of her mind, again the sufferings of Troy

exposcit pendetque iterum narrantis ab ore.

and she hangs from his lips as again he tells the story.

post ubi digressi, lumenque obscura uicissim               80

Then after they left, and the moon suppresses the light growing dark

luna premit suadentque cadentia sidera somnos,

in turn and the setting stars urge sleep,

sola domo maeret uacua stratisque relictis

alone she grieves in the empty house and she broods on the couches

incubat. illum absens absentem auditque uidetque,

he left. Being apart (from him) she heard and saw him in his absence,

aut gremio Ascanium genitoris imagine capta

or she would detain Ascanius on her lap captured by the likeness of his father,

detinet, infandum si fallere possit amorem.               85

so that she might be able to cheat unspeakable love.

non coeptae adsurgunt turres, non arma iuuentus

The towers which she begun were not rising, the youth

exercet portusue aut propugnacula bello

were not exercising their weapons, nor were (the people) preparing

tuta parant: pendent opera interrupta minaeque

the ports of the turrets to be safe from war: the interrupted work

murorum ingentes aequataque machina caelo.

and the huge threatening walls and the crane raised to the sky (all) hang (idle).

Quam simul ac tali persensit peste teneri               90

As soon as the dear wife of Jupiter, Juno, realised that

cara Iouis coniunx nec famam obstare furori,

Dido was held by such an illness and that her reputation was not

talibus adgreditur Venerem Saturnia dictis:

blocking her passion, she went to Venus with such words:

'egregiam uero laudem et spolia ampla refertis

‘Indeed you and your boy have brought back an outstanding

tuque puerque tuus (magnum et memorabile numen),

glory and ample spoils (what a great and notable divine (he is)),

una dolo diuum si femina uicta duorum est.               95

and so one woman has been defeated by the trick of two gods.

nec me adeo fallit ueritam te moenia nostra

Nor has it deceived me so much that you are afraid of my walls,

suspectas habuisse domos Karthaginis altae.

that you have held the houses of high Carthage in suspicion.

sed quis erit modus, aut quo nunc certamine tanto?

But what will be the end, into what contest are we now going?

quin potius pacem aeternam pactosque hymenaeos

Why instead don’t we practise eternal peace and a wedding agreement?

exercemus? habes tota quod mente petisti:               100

You have everything that which you sought with your mind:

ardet amans Dido traxitque per ossa furorem.

Dido is in love and she burns and drags the passion through her bones.

communem hunc ergo populum paribusque regamus

Therefore let us rule these people together and with equal leadership;

auspiciis; liceat Phrygio seruire marito

let it be permitted for her to serve a Phyrgian husband

dotalisque tuae Tyrios permittere dextrae.'

and allow her Tyrians to be entrusted to your right hand as a dowry.’

Olli (sensit enim simulata mente locutam,               105

To her, Venus thus spoke to her (since she knew that Juno had spoken

quo regnum Italiae Libycas auerteret oras)

with a deceitful mind, in order to divert the kingdom of Italy to the shores of Libya):

sic contra est ingressa Venus: 'quis talia demens

‘Who would be mad enough to refuse such things

abnuat aut tecum malit contendere bello?

or prefer to compete with you in a war?’

si modo quod memoras factum fortuna sequatur.

So long as fate follows what you mention with action.

sed fatis incerta feror, si Iuppiter unam               110

But I am carried along uncertain by the fates, whether Jupiter wants there

esse uelit Tyriis urbem Troiaque profectis,

to be a single city for Tyrians and for the Trojan exiles,

misceriue probet populos aut foedera iungi.

or approves of the idea that the people are to be mixed up or joined with a treaty.

tu coniunx, tibi fas animum temptare precando.

You are his wife, it is divine right for you to ask his mind by praying.

perge, sequar.' tum sic excepit regia Iuno:

Lead and I shall follow.’ Then in this way the royal Juno replied:

'mecum erit iste labor. nunc qua ratione quod instat               115

‘That task will be mine. Now I will explain in a few words how that which is

confieri possit, paucis (aduerte) docebo.

upon us is able to be accomplished.

uenatum Aeneas unaque miserrima Dido

Aeneas and very wretched Dido together are preparing to go into

in nemus ire parant, ubi primos crastinus ortus

the wood to hunt together, when tomorrow’s sun presents his first risings

extulerit Titan radiisque retexerit orbem.

and he reveals the world with his rays.

his ego nigrantem commixta grandine nimbum,               120

I will pour down on them a black cloud with hail mixed in,

dum trepidant alae saltusque indagine cingunt,

while the beaters bustle and they surround the woodlands in a ring,

desuper infundam et tonitru caelum omne ciebo.

from above and I will drive the whole of the sky with thunder.

diffugient comites et nocte tegentur opaca:

Their comrades will scatter and they will be hidden by the dark night:

speluncam Dido dux et Troianus eandem

Dido and the Trojan leader will reach the same cave.

deuenient. adero et, tua si mihi certa uoluntas,               125

I will be there and, if your goodwill is assured to me,

conubio iungam stabili propriamque dicabo.

I shall join them in lasting marriage and I will speak of her as his own.

hic hymenaeus erit.' non aduersata petenti

This will be their wedding.’ Not opposed to what Juno was seeking

adnuit atque dolis risit Cytherea repertis.

Venus nodded and laughed at her discovered plot.

Oceanum interea surgens Aurora reliquit.

Meanwhile the rising dawn left the ocean.

it portis iubare exorto delecta iuuentus,               130

When the sun had risen the chosen youth went from the gates,

retia rara, plagae, lato uenabula ferro,

with wide and fine meshed nets, with broad-bladed spears,

Massylique ruunt equites et odora canum uis.

and the Massylian horsemen rushed forward and the keen-scented strength of hounds.

reginam thalamo cunctantem ad limina primi

The nobles of the Carthaginians were expecting the queen lingering, at the doorway,

Poenorum exspectant, ostroque insignis et auro

in her bridle chamber. Her horse stood conspicuous with purple and gold

stat sonipes ac frena ferox spumantia mandit.               135

and proudly chewed at the foaming bit.

tandem progreditur magna stipante caterua

Finally she went forward with a great crowd surrounding her

Sidoniam picto chlamydem circumdata limbo;

clothed in a Sidonian robe with an embroidered fringe;

cui pharetra ex auro, crines nodantur in aurum,

her quiver was made from gold, her hair was plaited in a golden ring,

aurea purpuream subnectit fibula uestem.

a golden clasp bound her purple tunic.

nec non et Phrygii comites et laetus Iulus               140

Both her Phrygian comrades and the excitable Iulus set out.

incedunt. ipse ante alios pulcherrimus omnis

Aeneas himself the most handsome among the rest

infert se socium Aeneas atque agmina iungit.

presents himself and he joined himself to the line of his allies.

qualis ubi hibernam Lyciam Xanthique fluenta

Like Apollo when he leaves the Lycian winter and the streams of Xanthus

deserit ac Delum maternam inuisit Apollo

and he visits his mother’s Delos

instauratque choros, mixtique altaria circum               145

and he starts the dances again, and all in confusion around the altars

Cretesque Dryopesque fremunt pictique Agathyrsi;

both the Cretans and the Dryopes are revelling and the painted Agathyrsians;

ipse iugis Cynthi graditur mollique fluentem

Apollo himself strides on the slopes of Mount Cynthus and he presses his

fronde premit crinem fingens atque implicat auro,

flowing hair with soft foliage and shaping I and plaits it with gold,

tela sonant umeris: haud illo segnior ibat

his weapons rattle on his shoulders: no more slothful than him was Aeneas

Aeneas, tantum egregio decus enitet ore.                150

striding, such great beauty shined from his noble face.

postquam altos uentum in montis atque inuia lustra,

After they arrived in the high mountains and the pathless haunts,

ecce ferae saxi deiectae uertice caprae

look behold there were wild goats flinging themselves down from the top of the rock

decurrere iugis; alia de parte patentis

running down over the slopes; from another direction deer

transmittunt cursu campos atque agmina cerui

they cross the open fields at a run and they mass together in herds

puluerulenta fuga glomerant montisque relinquunt.               155

in a dusty flight and they leave the mountains.

at puer Ascanius mediis in uallibus acri

But the boy Ascanius rejoices in his keen horse in the middle of the valleys

gaudet equo iamque hos cursu, iam praeterit illos,

and now at a gallop passes these and those,

spumantemque dari pecora inter inertia uotis

and he desires by his prayers to be given a foaming boar among the harmless cattle,

optat aprum, aut fuluum descendere monte leonem.

or a tawny lion descending the mountain.

Interea magno misceri murmure caelum               160

Meanwhile the sky begins to be filled with a great murmur,

incipit, insequitur commixta grandine nimbus,

rain follows mixed with hail,

et Tyrii comites passim et Troiana iuuentus

and in all directions the Tyrian companions and the Trojan youth and

Dardaniusque nepos Veneris diuersa per agros

the Dardanian grandson of Venus separated through the fields

tecta metu petiere; ruunt de montibus amnes.

seeking shelter through fear; torrents rush from the mountains.

speluncam Dido dux et Troianus eandem               165

Dido and the Trojan leader reach the same cave.

deueniunt. prima et Tellus et pronuba Iuno

Both the Earth and the matron of honour Juno gave

dant signum; fulsere ignes et conscius aether

the signal first; and fire and the upper air blazed out,

conubiis summoque ulularunt uertice Nymphae.

witnesses to the marriage union and the Nymphs howl from the summit of the mountain.

ille dies primus leti primusque malorum

The first day was the cause of death and of misfortunes;

causa fuit; neque enim specie famaue mouetur               170

for she was moved by neither her appearance or reputation

nec iam furtiuum Dido meditatur amorem:

nor did Dido think about her secret affair any longer:

coniugium uocat, hoc praetexit nomine culpam.

she calls it her marriage, by this name she disguises her failing.

Extemplo Libyae magnas it Fama per urbes,

At once Rumour went through the great cities of Libya,

Fama, malum qua non aliud uelocius ullum:

Rumour, than whom no other evil goes more quickly:

mobilitate uiget uirisque adquirit eundo,               175

she flourishes with speed and she gains strength by going,

parua metu primo, mox sese attollit in auras

at first she is small with fear, soon she raises herself into the sky

ingrediturque solo et caput inter nubila condit.

and she walks on the ground and she hides her head among the clouds.

illam Terra parens ira inritata deorum

Earth the mother provoked by the anger towards the gods parented her last

extremam, ut perhibent, Coeo Enceladoque sororem

as they say, a sister to Coeus and Enceladus,

progenuit pedibus celerem et pernicibus alis,               180

quick on her feet and nimble on her wings,

monstrum horrendum, ingens, cui quot sunt corpore plumae,

a huge, terrible, monster, who has as many feathers on her body,

tot uigiles oculi subter (mirabile dictu),

as she has watchful eyes underneath (marvellous to tell),

tot linguae, totidem ora sonant, tot subrigit auris.

as she has tongues, as many mouths speaking, as many ears pricked.

nocte uolat caeli medio terraeque per umbram

By night she flies between earth and sky through the shadows

stridens, nec dulci declinat lumina somno;               185

screeching, and she does not close her eyes in sweet sleep;

luce sedet custos aut summi culmine tecti

by day she sits on guard either on the roof on the top of a house

turribus aut altis, et magnas territat urbes,

or on tall towers, and she terrifies great cities,

tam ficti pravique tenax quam nuntia ueri.

she is as tenacious of fiction and disgrace as she is the messenger of truth.

haec tum multiplici populos sermone replebat

Then rejoicing she filled the people with various conversation

gaudens, et pariter facta atque infecta canebat:               190

and she was singing both fact and fiction equally:

uenisse Aenean Troiano sanguine cretum,

that Aeneas born from Trojan blood has come

cui se pulchra uiro dignetur iungere Dido;

and to him, beautiful Dido thought fit to join herself, as a husband;

nunc hiemem inter se luxu, quam longa, fouere

now they kept the winter warm among themselves in luxury, for as long as it was,

regnorum immemores turpique cupidine captos.

forgetful of their rule and trapped by shameful lust.

haec passim dea foeda uirum diffundit in ora.               195

The loathsome goddess spread these words in all directions into the mouth of all men.

protinus ad regem cursus detorquet Iarban

Immediately she changed her course to king Iarbas

incenditque animum dictis atque aggerat iras.

and she set his mind on fire with words and she piled up his angers.

Hic Hammone satus rapta Garamantide nympha

He, born of Jupiter, after he raped a Garamantian nymph,

templa Ioui centum latis immania regnis,

he set up one hundred immense temples in his wide kingdom,

centum aras posuit uigilemque sacrauerat ignem,               200

one hundred altars and he made the watchful fire holy:

excubias diuum aeternas, pecudumque cruore

the eternal guardian of the gods, and he made the ground holy with

pingue solum et uariis florentia limina sertis.

the rich blood of beasts and he made the doorways holy blooming with various garlands.

isque amens animi et rumore accensus amaro

And now he distraught in mind, and enraged by bitter rumour

dicitur ante aras media inter numina diuum

(and) he is said to have prayed before the altars, among the middle of the powers of the gods,

multa Iouem manibus supplex orasse supinis:               205

many things to Jupiter with upturned hands as a suppliant:

'Iuppiter omnipotens, cui nunc Maurusia pictis

‘All-powerful Jupiter, to whom now the Moors the race with the embroidered

gens epulata toris Lenaeum libat honorem,

couches, feasting, pours a Bacchic offering,

aspicis haec? an te, genitor, cum fulmina torques

do you see this? Or should we shudder in vain, father, when you hurl your lightning bolts,

nequiquam horremus, caecique in nubibus ignes

and are the fires in the cloud that terrify our minds

terrificant animos et inania murmura miscent?               210

and mix with the empty rumbling unseen?

femina, quae nostris errans in finibus urbem

That woman, who wandering in our borders has set up for

exiguam pretio posuit, cui litus arandum

a price a small city, to whom we gave coastal land to plough

cuique loci leges dedimus, conubia nostra

and to whom we gave the laws of the land, has rejected a marriage with me

reppulit ac dominum Aenean in regna recepit.

and she accepts Aeneas in her kingdom as a master.

et nunc ille Paris cum semiuiro comitatu,                215

And now that Paris with his accompaniment of half-men,

Maeonia mentum mitra crinemque madentem

with a Trojan headband which has been tied under his chin and his soaked

subnexus, rapto potitur: nos munera templis

hair, he take possession of what he has seized: but we carry gifts to your

quippe tuis ferimus famamque fouemus inanem.'

temples indeed and we cherish your empty reputation.’

Talibus orantem dictis arasque tenentem

After he said such things begging and gripping the altars

audiit Omnipotens, oculosque ad moenia torsit               220

the All-powerful heard him, and he turned his eyes to the kingdom walls

regia et oblitos famae melioris amantis.

and the lovers, forgetful of a better reputation.

tum sic Mercurium adloquitur ac talia mandat:

Then in this way he addressed Mercury and he ordered these things:

'vade age, nate, voca Zephyros et labere pennis

‘Go off with you now, son, call the Winds and glide on your wings

Dardaniumque ducem, Tyria Karthagine qui nunc

and address the Trojan leader, who now waits in Tyrian Carthage

exspectat fatisque datas non respicit urbes,               225

and he does not think about the city given by fate,

adloquere et celeris defer mea dicta per auras.

and bring my words quickly through the air.

non illum nobis genetrix pulcherrima talem

This is not what his very beautiful mother promised me

promisit Graiumque ideo bis uindicat armis;

and not for this reason did she rescue him twice from the arms of the Greeks;

sed fore qui grauidam imperiis belloque frementem

but to become, the one who will rule Italy laden with power and

Italiam regeret, genus alto a sanguine Teucri               230

seething with war, he will bring forth a race from the high blood of Teucer,

proderet, ac totum sub leges mitteret orbem.

and he will place the whole world under law.

si nulla accendit tantarum gloria rerum

if the glory of such things does not inspire him at all

nec super ipse sua molitur laude laborem,

and he does not exert himself for his own honour,

Ascanione pater Romanas inuidet arces?

does the father begrudge Roman citadels from Ascanius?

quid struit? aut qua spe inimica in gente moratur               235

What does he plan? But with what hope does he hesitate among a hostile race?

nec prolem Ausoniam et Lauinia respicit arua?

Nor does he consider the Ausonian offspring and the Lavinian fields?

nauiget! haec summa est, hic nostri nuntius esto.'

Let him sail! That is it, let this be my speech.’

Dixerat. ille patris magni parere parabat

He had spoken. Mercury prepared to obey the command of the great father;

imperio; et primum pedibus talaria nectit

and first he bound his golden sandals to his feet,

aurea, quae sublimem alis siue aequora supra               240

which carry him high up on their wings over both water and land,

seu terram rapido pariter cum flamine portant.

at the same speed as the wind.

tum uirgam capit: hac animas ille euocat Orco

Then he grabbed his wand: with this he summons the pale souls

pallentis, alias sub Tartara tristia mittit,

from Orcus, and he sends the others down to grim Tartarus,

dat somnos adimitque, et lumina morte resignat.

he gives and takes away sleep, and he opens their eyes to death.

illa fretus agit uentos et turbida tranat               245

Relying on it he drive the winds and he floats on the stormy clouds.

nubila. iamque uolans apicem et latera ardua cernit

And now flying he sees the peak and the steep flanks of

Atlantis duri caelum qui uertice fulcit,

hard-working Atlas who supports the sky on his top,

Atlantis, cinctum adsidue cui nubibus atris

Atlas, whose pine-clad head is constantly surrounded by dark clouds

piniferum caput et uento pulsatur et imbri,

and he is battered by the wind and rain,

nix umeros infusa tegit, tum flumina mento               250

laden snow covers his shoulders, while rivers flow from

praecipitant senis, et glacie riget horrida barba.

the chin of the old man, and his unkempt beard is stiff with ice.

hic primum paribus nitens Cyllenius alis

There Cyllenius first halted relying on level wings;

constitit; hinc toto praeceps se corpore ad undas

from there he threw his whole body headlong towards the waves,

misit aui similis, quae circum litora, circum

just like a bird, which flies low around the shore, around

piscosos scopulos humilis uolat aequora iuxta.               255

the fishy rocks next to the sea.

haud aliter terras inter caelumque uolabat

So Mercury was flying between earth and heaven by no other means

litus harenosum ad Libyae, uentosque secabat

to the sand shore of Libya, and he cut through the winds

materno ueniens ab auo Cyllenia proles.

coming from his mother’s father (Atlas).

ut primum alatis tetigit magalia plantis,

As soon as he reached the huts with his winged feet,

Aenean fundantem arces ac tecta nouantem               260

he saw Aeneas building citadels and restoring houses.

conspicit. atque illi stellatus iaspide fulua

And he had a sword starred with tawny jasper

ensis erat Tyrioque ardebat murice laena

and the cloak that hung from his shoulder blazed with Tyrian purple die,

demissa ex umeris, diues quae munera Dido

rich gifts which Dido had made,

fecerat, et tenui telas discreuerat auro.

and she weaved the threads with fine gold.

continuo inuadit: 'tu nunc Karthaginis altae               265

Immediately Mercury challenged him: ‘Are you now building the foundations of high

fundamenta locas pulchramque uxorius urbem

Carthage and a beautiful city, devoted to your wife?

exstruis? heu, regni rerumque oblite tuarum!

Alas, you forget about your kingdom and your fate!

ipse deum tibi me claro demittit Olympo

He himself, the king of the gods, has sent me down to you from famous Olympus,

regnator, caelum et terras qui numine torquet,

he who turns heaven and earth with his divine power,

ipse haec ferre iubet celeris mandata per auras:               270

he himself orders me to carry these orders through the swift air:

quid struis? aut qua spe Libycis teris otia terris?

What are you planning? Or by what hope do you squander your time in

si te nulla mouet tantarum gloria rerum

idleness in the lands of Libya? If no glory of such fate moves you

[nec super ipse tua moliris laude laborem,]

[nor do you yourself exert for your own honour,]

Ascanium surgentem et spes heredis Iuli

consider the growing Ascanius and the hope of your heir Iulus,

respice, cui regnum Italiae Romanaque tellus               275

to whom it is owed the kingdom of Italy and the Roman lands.’

debetur.' tali Cyllenius ore locutus

Mercury having expressed himself so

mortalis uisus medio sermone reliquit

he left the sight of the mortal in the middle of the conversation

et procul in tenuem ex oculis euanuit auram.

and he vanished into thin air far away from his eyes.

At uero Aeneas aspectu obmutuit amens,

But Aeneas truly struck dumb at the sight was mindless,

arrectaeque horrore comae et uox faucibus haesit.               280

and his hair stood on end in horror and his voice stuck fast in his throat.

ardet abire fuga dulcisque relinquere terras

He burned to leave and to leave behind the sweet lands in flight,

attonitus tanto monitu imperioque deorum.

astonished by such a great warning and by the order of the gods.

heu quid agat? quo nunc reginam ambire furentem

Alas, what to do? With what address should he dare

audeat adfatu? quae prima exordia sumat?

to get around the raging queen? Which words should he first use?

atque animum nunc huc celerem nunc diuidit illuc               285

And now he quickly turned his mind now here, now there, and he seizes

in partisque rapit uarias perque omnia uersat.

(the ideas) in various ways and he turned them in every way.

haec alternanti potior sententia uisa est:

Switching back and forth this decision seemed preferable:

Mnesthea Sergestumque uocat fortemque Serestum,

he called Mnestheus and Segestus and brave Serestus,

classem aptent taciti sociosque ad litora cogant,

to make the fleet ready silently and to gather the companions at the shore

arma parent et quae rebus sit causa nouandis               290

to prepare their weapons and to conceal what reason might be for these new plans;

dissimulent; sese interea, quando optima Dido

meanwhile Aeneas himself, since the excellent Dido did not know

nesciat et tantos rumpi non speret amores,

and she would not hope for such a love to be broken,

temptaturum aditus et quae mollissima fandi

he would try out an approach and (try out) what was the softest occasion

tempora, quis rebus dexter modus. ocius omnes

for confessing, what was the favourable way in these matters. They all happily

imperio laeti parent et iussa facessunt.               295

obeyed the command with full speed and they carried out his orders.

At regina dolos (quis fallere possit amantem?)

But the Queen noticed his tricks (who is able to deceive a lover?),

praesensit, motusque excepit prima futuros

and she was the first to pick up on the future events

omnia tuta timens. eadem impia Fama furenti

being afraid of everything even what was safe. The same wicked Rumour

detulit armari classem cursumque parari.

brought to her in her frenzy that the fleet was armed and the course prepared.

saeuit inops animi totamque incensa per urbem 300

Helpless in mind, she raged and she ran wild, inflamed, through the whole city

bacchatur, qualis commotis excita sacris

like Maenad aroused when the sacred objects are moved,

Thyias, ubi audito stimulant trieterica Baccho

when, having heard Bacchus, the triennial rituals goad her

orgia nocturnusque uocat clamore Cithaeron.

and Cithaeron calls her with an uproar at night.

tandem his Aenean compellat uocibus ultro:

At last she spoke to Aeneas with these words of her own accord:

'dissimulare etiam sperasti, perfide, tantum 305

‘Traitor, did you really hope that you could hide such

posse nefas tacitusque mea decedere terra?

a crime and leave my land silently?

nec te noster amor nec te data dextera quondam

Will neither my love nor the promises once given hold you

nec moritura tenet crudeli funere Dido?

nor the promises that Dido will die with a cruel death?

quin etiam hiberno moliri sidere classem

Indeed do you even hurry to work at your fleet in the winter season

et mediis properas Aquilonibus ire per altum, 310

and you hurry to go through the deep at the height of the northern winds,

crudelis? quid, si non arua aliena domosque

cruel man? Why, if you were not seeking foreign lands and unknown settlements,

ignotas peteres, et Troia antiqua maneret,

and ancient Troy remained,

Troia per undosum peteretur classibus aequor?

would Troy be sought by your fleet through a billowy sea?

mene fugis? per ego has lacrimas dextramque tuam te

Are you fleeing me? I beg you through these tears and your own right hand

(quando aliud mihi iam miserae nihil ipsa reliqui), 315

(since I myself have left nothing else to me in my misery now),

per conubia nostra, per inceptos hymenaeos,

through our union, through the marriage that we began,

si bene quid de te merui, fuit aut tibi quicquam

if I deserved anything well from you, or there was anything of me

dulce meum, miserere domus labentis et istam,

that was sweet to you, pity my collapsing house and put aside that frame of mind,

oro, si quis adhuc precibus locus, exue mentem.

if there is any place for prayers still.

te propter Libycae gentes Nomadumque tyranni 320

The Libyan tribes and the Numidian kings hate me because of you,

odere, infensi Tyrii; te propter eundem

my Tyrians are hostile; also because of you

exstinctus pudor et, qua sola sidera adibam,

my shame is lost, and my previous reputation (is lost), by which alone I was going

fama prior. cui me moribundam deseris hospes

to the stars. My guest, to whom do you desert me, a dying woman

(hoc solum nomen quoniam de coniuge restat)?

(since his name alone remains from the marriage)?

quid moror? an mea Pygmalion dum moenia frater 325

Why do I delay? Either until Pygmalion my brother destroys my walls

destruat aut captam ducat Gaetulus Iarbas?

or Iarbas the Gaetulian takes me as a captive?

saltem si qua mihi de te suscepta fuisset

If at least a child had been born to me from you

ante fugam suboles, si quis mihi paruulus aula

before you flight, if the small Aeneas were playing in my palace,

luderet Aeneas, qui te tamen ore referret,

who however recalls you with their face,

non equidem omnino capta ac deserta uiderer.' 330

I might not seem indeed completely deceived and deserted.’

Dixerat. ille Iouis monitis immota tenebat

She had spoken. He held his gaze firmly on the warnings of Jupiter

lumina et obnixus curam sub corde premebat.

and he suppressed his worry in his heart having made an effort.

tandem pauca refert: 'ego te, quae plurima fando

Finally he replied a few words: ‘I will never deny that you, queen,

enumerare uales, numquam, regina, negabo

have done us kindness all those many things, which you can number by speaking,

promeritam, nec me meminisse pigebit Elissae 335

nor shall I regret my memories of you Elissa while I have a memory,

dum memor ipse mei, dum spiritus hos regit artus.

while my breath rules these limbs.

pro re pauca loquar. neque ego hanc abscondere furto

I shall speak a little about this matter. I did not hope

speraui (ne finge) fugam, nec coniugis umquam

to conceal this flight by stealth (do not invent), nor have I ever offered

praetendi taedas aut haec in foedera ueni.

the marriage-torches or come into these agreements.

me si fata meis paterentur ducere uitam 340

If the fates allowed me to lead my life under

auspiciis et sponte mea componere curas,

my own auspices and allowed me to settle my concerns by my own accord,

urbem Troianam primum dulcisque meorum

I should have tended the Trojan city first and the sweet remains

reliquias colerem, Priami tecta alta manerent,

of my own people, the high roofs of Priam would remain,

et recidiua manu posuissem Pergama uictis.

and I would have been able to rebuild Pergamum with my own hand for the defeated.

sed nunc Italiam magnam Gryneus Apollo, 345

But now Gryneus Apollo and the Lycian oracles, they order me

Italiam Lyciae iussere capessere sortes;

to make for Italy, Great Italy;

hic amor, haec patria est. si te Karthaginis arces

this is my love, this is my country. If the towers of Carthage,

Phoenissam Libycaeque aspectus detinet urbis,

and the sight of a Libyan city charm you, a Phoenecian,

quae tandem Ausonia Teucros considere terra

why at last do you resent that the Trojans settle in the

inuidia est? et nos fas extera quaerere regna. 350

land of Italy? It is divine right that we search for foreign kingdoms.

me patris Anchisae, quotiens umentibus umbris

As often as night covers the land with moist shadows, as

nox operit terras, quotiens astra ignea surgunt,

often as the burning stars rise,

admonet in somnis et turbida terret imago;

the turbulent image of my father Anchises terrifies me and warns me in my dreams;

me puer Ascanius capitisque iniuria cari,

my boy Ascanius and the wrong (done by me) to a dear person,

quem regno Hesperiae fraudo et fatalibus aruis. 355

whom I am cheating of the kingdom of Hesperia and the destined fields.

nunc etiam interpres diuum Ioue missus ab ipso

Now even the spokesman of the gods sent by Jupiter himself

(testor utrumque caput) celeris mandata per auras

(I call each head to witness) has brought down the commands on

detulit: ipse deum manifesto in lumine uidi

the swift breezes: I saw the god myself in clear light

intrantem muros uocemque his auribus hausi.

entering the walls, I drained his voice with these ears.

desine meque tuis incendere teque querelis; 360

Stop inflaming both me and you with your complaints;

Italiam non sponte sequor.'

I pursue Italy not of my own accord.’

Talia dicentem iamdudum auersa tuetur

While speaking such things she gazed at him for a long time having turned away

huc illuc uoluens oculos totumque pererrat

rolling her eyes here and there and she stared at his whole body

luminibus tacitis et sic accensa profatur:

with silent eyes and thus she spoke inflamed:

'nec tibi diua parens generis nec Dardanus auctor, 365

‘Traitor, your mother was not a goddess nor was Dardanus the creator of your race,

perfide, sed duris genuit te cautibus horrens

but harsh Caucasus bore you on the rough rocks

Caucasus Hyrcanaeque admorunt ubera tigres.

and Hyrcanaen tigers gave you their breasts.

nam quid dissimulo aut quae me ad maiora reseruo?

For why do I pretend or reserve myself for something worse?

num fletu ingemuit nostro? num lumina flexit?

Surely he did not groan my weeping? Surely he did not flutter his eyes at me?

num lacrimas uictus dedit aut miseratus amantem est? 370

Surely he did not shed tears in defeat or pity his lover?

quae quibus anteferam? iam iam nec maxima Iuno

What shall I put before these things? Now now neither greatest Juno

nec Saturnius haec oculis pater aspicit aequis.

nor father Jupiter, son of Saturn, are looking at this with fair eyes.

nusquam tuta fides. eiectum litore, egentem

Nowhere is the truth safe. I took him in as a cast away on the shore,

excepi et regni demens in parte locaui.

being in need, and madly put him in place in part of the kingdom.

amissam classem, socios a morte reduxi 375

I saved his lost fleet and his companions from death

(heu furiis incensa feror!): nunc augur Apollo,

(alas having been burnt by the Furies I burn): now the prophet Apollo,

nunc Lyciae sortes, nunc et Ioue missus ab ipso

now the Lycian oracles, now even the spokesman of the gods

interpres diuum fert horrida iussa per auras.

sent by Jupiter himself carries orders through the air.

scilicet is superis labor est, ea cura quietos

Evidently this is the work of the gods, these concerns trouble their rest.

sollicitat. neque te teneo neque dicta refello: 380

I neither hold you back nor challenge your words:

i, sequere Italiam uentis, pete regna per undas.

go, seek Italy with the winds, search for your kingdom through the waves.

spero equidem mediis, si quid pia numina possunt,

If any of the gods have divine power, I hope you will drain

supplicia hausurum scopulis et nomine Dido

your death, indeed, in the middle of the reefs and you will often call

saepe uocaturum. sequar atris ignibus absens

Dido by name. I will follow you with dark fires being absent,

et, cum frigida mors anima seduxerit artus, 385

and when cold death has carried off my limbs and my soul,

omnibus umbra locis adero. dabis, improbe, poenas.

I will be present in all places as a ghost. You will receive punishments, shameless man.

audiam et haec Manis ueniet mihi fama sub imos.'

I will hear (of it) and this news will come to me under the depths of the realm of the

dead.

his medium dictis sermonem abrumpit et auras

Having said these words she broke off in the middle of her sentence and

aegra fugit seque ex oculis auertit et aufert,

she fled the air sick and she turned herself away from his eyes and carried herself off,

linquens multa metu cunctantem et multa parantem 390

leaving him thinking in fear and ready to say many things.

dicere. suscipiunt famulae conlapsaque membra

Her maid-servants received her and they carried her collapsing body to

marmoreo referunt thalamo stratisque reponunt.

her marble bedroom and they placed her on her bed-clothes.

At pius Aeneas, quamquam lenire dolentem

But pious Aeneas, although he desired to soften her suffering

solando cupit et dictis auertere curas,

by comforting her and to avert her worries with words,

multa gemens magnoque animum labefactus amore 395

groaning much and having shaken loose his mind from the great love,

iussa tamen diuum exsequitur classemque reuisit.

however he followed the orders of the gods and returned to his fleet.

tum uero Teucri incumbunt et litore celsas

Then truly did the Trojans get down to work and hauled down

deducunt toto nauis. natat uncta carina,

the tall ships along the whole shore. He floated the oiled keels,

frondentisque ferunt remos et robora siluis

and in their eagerness for flight they brought foliage and

infabricata fugae studio. 400

unformed timber from the woods as oars.

migrantis cernas totaque ex urbe ruentis:

You could see them moving around and rushing from every part of the city

ac uelut ingentem formicae farris aceruum

and just like ants when they plunder the huge pile of grain

cum populant hiemis memores tectoque reponunt,

and they deposit it in their home,

it nigrum campis agmen praedamque per herbas

a black column goes through the fields and they carry

conuectant calle angusto; pars grandia trudunt 405

their spoils through the grass along a narrow track; some

obnixae frumenta umeris, pars agmina cogunt

having made an effort shove huge pieces of grain with their shoulder, others drive

castigantque moras, opere omnis semita feruet.

the columns and punish delays, the whole path seethes with grain.

quis tibi tum, Dido, cernenti talia sensus,

What were your feelings then Dido, seeing such things,

quosue dabas gemitus, cum litora feruere late

what groans were you uttering, when you were looking out from

prospiceres arce ex summa, totumque uideres 410

the top of the citadel at the shore seething far and wide, and

misceri ante oculos tantis clamoribus aequor!

you saw the whole sea before your eyes confused by such shouting!

improbe Amor, quid non mortalia pectora cogis!

Shameless love, to what do you not drive the human heart!

ire iterum in lacrimas, iterum temptare precando

To go again into tears, to try again by praying (if) he (can) be

cogitur et supplex animos summittere amori,

compelled and to submit to love her pride by prayer,

ne quid inexpertum frustra moritura relinquat. 415

lest she leave anything untied dying in vain.

'Anna, uides toto properari litore circum:

‘Anna you see them hurrying around the whole shore:

undique conuenere; uocat iam carbasus auras,

they convene from all sides, the canvas already calls them to the winds,

puppibus et laeti nautae imposuere coronas.

and the happy sailors place garlands on their sterns,

hunc ego si potui tantum sperare dolorem,

if I were able to foresee this pain that would be so great,

et perferre, soror, potero. miserae hoc tamen unum 420

and to endure to the end, sister, I would (as I was able to previously).

exsequere, Anna, mihi; solam nam perfidus ille

Anna, do however this thing for miserable me,

te colere, arcanos etiam tibi credere sensus;

he cultivates in you alone, even trusting you with his secret thoughts;

sola uiri mollis aditus et tempora noras.

and only you know the times of approaching the man easily.

i, soror, atque hostem supplex adfare superbum:

Go, sister, and speak to the arrogant enemy in prayer:

non ego cum Danais Troianam exscindere gentem 425

I did not take an oath with the Greeks at Aulis to destroy the Trojan

Aulide iuraui classemue ad Pergama misi,

race nor did I send a fleet at Pergamum

nec patris Anchisae cinerem manisue reuelli:

nor did I disturb the ashes or ghost of his father Anchises:

cur mea dicta negat duras demittere in auris?

why does he deny my words to access his harsh ears?

quo ruit? extremum hoc miserae det munus amanti:

Where does he rush? Let him give this last gift to his miserable lover:

exspectet facilemque fugam uentosque ferentis. 430

let him wait for the easy flight and carrying winds:

non iam coniugium antiquum, quod prodidit, oro,

I no longer beg for that ancient marriage, which he betrayed,

nec pulchro ut Latio careat regnumque relinquat:

nor that he do without beautiful Latium and leave behind his kingdom

tempus inane peto, requiem spatiumque furori,

I seek unsubstantial time, rest and space for my passion,

dum mea me uictam doceat fortuna dolere.

while luck teaches me to grieve my beaten spirit.

extremam hanc oro ueniam (miserere sororis), 435

I beg for this last mercy (pity your sister),

quam mihi cum dederit cumulatam morte remittam.'

which when he has given it to me I will return it heaped up with my death!

Talibus orabat, talisque miserrima fletus

She prayed for such things, and such things her sister brought back and forth

fertque refertque soror. sed nullis ille mouetur

weeping most sorrowfully. But he was moved by no

fletibus aut uoces ullas tractabilis audit;

tears and he listened to no voice receptively; fate stood in (her)

fata obstant placidasque uiri deus obstruit auris. 440

way and a god blocked the untroubled ears of the man.

ac uelut annoso ualidam cum robore quercum

And just like the northerly winds from the Alps compete with

Alpini Boreae nunc hinc nunc flatibus illinc

each other with blasts now here now there to uproot a sturdy oak tree;

eruere inter se certant; it stridor, et altae

strong with age; the noise goes, and the high branches cover the ground

consternunt terram concusso stipite frondes;

after the trunk has been struck;

ipsa haeret scopulis et quantum uertice ad auras 445

it clung to the rocks and as far with its crown it stretched towards

aetherias, tantum radice in Tartara tendit:

the winds of heaven, as with its roots it stretched into Tarturus:

haud secus adsiduis hinc atque hinc uocibus heros

just so the hero was battered by constant voices on this side and on that side, he

tunditur, et magno persentit pectore curas;

(truly) felt the worries with his great heart;

mens immota manet, lacrimae uoluuntur inanes.

his mind remained immovable, their futile tears rolled.

Tum uero infelix fatis exterrita Dido 450

Then indeed the unhappy Dido who is terrified by fate she begged for death;

mortem orat; taedet caeli conuexa tueri.

the curved volt of heaven is tiresome to be gazed at.

quo magis inceptum peragat lucemque relinquat,

Moreover she might accomplish her plan and she might leave the light,

uidit, turicremis cum dona imponeret aris,

She sees, when she placed gifts on the incense-burning altar,

(horrendum dictu) latices nigrescere sacros

(horrible to tell) the holy water turning black

fusaque in obscenum se uertere uina cruorem; 455

and the wine which she had poured turned itself into a disgusting blood;

hoc uisum nulli, non ipsi effata sorori.

she mentioned this sight to no one, not even her sister.

praeterea fuit in tectis de marmore templum

Besides there was in the palace a shrine of marble to her former

coniugis antiqui, miro quod honore colebat,

husband, which she used to tend to with wonderful honour,

uelleribus niueis et festa fronde reuinctum:

with snow white fleeces and wreathed with festive foliage:

hinc exaudiri uoces et uerba uocantis 460

from this shrine she seemed to hear clearly the voices and words

uisa uiri, nox cum terras obscura teneret,

of her calling husband, when the dark night holds the earth

solaque culminibus ferali carmine bubo

and the lonely eagle owl on the roof with a funeral song

saepe queri et longas in fletum ducere uoces;

often grieved and led long calls in a lament;

multaque praeterea uatum praedicta priorum

and moreover many prophecies of old prophets terrified her

terribili monitu horrificant. agit ipse furentem 465

with a dreadful warning. Savage Aeneas himself drove her in her

in somnis ferus Aeneas, semperque relinqui

crazed sleep, and that she was always left behind,

sola sibi, semper longam incomitata uidetur

always she seemed to go on a long road unaccompanied and

ire uiam et Tyrios deserta quaerere terra,

she seemed to seek the Tyrian people in a deserted land,

Eumenidum ueluti demens uidet agmina Pentheus

just like mad Pentheus sees the columns of the Furies

et solem geminum et duplices se ostendere Thebas, 470

and he sees a twin son and a double Thebes reveals itself,

aut Agamemnonius scaenis agitatus Orestes,

or Orestes, son of Agamemnon, driven across the stage,

armatam facibus matrem et serpentibus atris

when he flees his mother armed with torches and black snakes

cum fugit ultricesque sedent in limine Dirae.

and the avenging Furies they are sitting on the threshold.

Ergo ubi concepit furias euicta dolore

There when, overcome with grief, she harboured anger and

decreuitque mori, tempus secum ipsa modumque 475

she resolved to die, she thought about the time with herself and the method

exigit, et maestam dictis adgressa sororem

and having approached her sorrowful sister with a face that concealed

consilium uultu tegit ac spem fronte serenat:

her plan and she brightened hope with her brow, said:

'inueni, germana, uiam (gratare sorori)

‘I have found, sister, a path (rejoice with your sister)

quae mihi reddat eum uel eo me soluat amantem.

which will bring back him to me or will free me form loving him.

Oceani finem iuxta solemque cadentem 480

Next to the ends of the Ocean and where the sun sets

ultimus Aethiopum locus est, ubi maximus Atlas

is the furthest land, Ethiopia, where mightiest Atlas twists the

axem umero torquet stellis ardentibus aptum:

sky which is fitted with burning stars on his shoulders.

hinc mihi Massylae gentis monstrata sacerdos,

A priestess has been shown to me of Massylian race there,

Hesperidum templi custos, epulasque draconi

the guardian of the temple of the Hesperides, and who gives feasts to the

quae dabat et sacros seruabat in arbore ramos, 485

dragon and she guards the sacred branches on the tree,

spargens umida mella soporiferumque papauer.

scattering the moist honey and the sleep-bringing poppy seeds.

haec se carminibus promittit soluere mentes

With her spells she promises to loosen the minds which she

quas uelit, ast aliis duras immittere curas,

wants, but to let in cruel worry to others,

sistere aquam fluuiis et uertere sidera retro,

to stop the water in the rivers and to turn back the stars,

nocturnosque mouet Manis: mugire uidebis 490

and she wakes the nocturnal spirits: you will see the Earth

sub pedibus terram et descendere montibus ornos.

yawn beneath your feet and you will see ash-trees descend from the mountains.

testor, cara, deos et te, germana, tuumque

I call to witness, you dear sister and the gods, and your sweet head,

dulce caput, magicas inuitam accingier artis.

that I unwillingly make myself ready with magic art.

tu secreta pyram tecto interiore sub auras

Build a pure secretly in an inner part of the house under the sky

erige, et arma uiri thalamo quae fixa reliquit 495

and fix the weapons of the impious man which he left behind

impius exuuiasque omnis lectumque iugalem,

in the bedroom and all the clothes and marriage bed,

quo perii, super imponas: abolere nefandi

by which I have perished, and place them on top: it pleases me to

cuncta uiri monimenta iuuat monstratque sacerdos.'

destroy all the reminders of the unspeakable man and as the priestess instructs.’

haec effata silet, pallor simul occupat ora.

Having said this she fell silent, at the same time a pallor came over her face.

non tamen Anna nouis praetexere funera sacris 500

However Anna did not realise her sister was disguising her funeral with strange

germanam credit, nec tantos mente furores

rituals, nor did she conceive such great fury in her mind.

concipit aut grauiora timet quam morte Sychaei.

And she feared nothing more serious then when Sychaeus died,

ergo iussa parat.

therefore she prepared the orders.

At regina, pyra penetrali in sede sub auras

But when the huge pyre of cut pine and oak was raised up in an inner most

erecta ingenti taedis atque ilice secta, 505

place under the sky the queen hung the place with garlands and she wreathed

intenditque locum sertis et fronde coronat

herself with funeral foliage;

funerea; super exuuias ensemque relictum

she placed on top of the bed clothes the sword which

effigiemque toro locat haud ignara futuri.

he had left behind as an effigy not neglectful of the future.

stant arae circum et crinis effusa sacerdos

Altars stood around and the priestess having let down her hair

ter centum tonat ore deos, Erebumque Chaosque 510

she thundered the names of three hundred gods with her mouth

tergeminamque Hecaten, tria uirginis ora Dianae.

and triplets Hecate, and three faces of the virgin Diana.

sparserat et latices simulatos fontis Auerni,

She sprinkled both water, signifying the fountain of Avernis

falcibus et messae ad lunam quaeruntur aenis

and young grass reaped by bronze sickles searched for at moonlight,

pubentes herbae nigri cum lacte ueneni;

with the milk of black venom;

quaeritur et nascentis equi de fronte reuulsus 515

and hair acquired by tearing from the forehead of a new born horse,

et matri praereptus amor.

and the love having been taken from its mother.

ipsa mola manibusque piis altaria iuxta

She herself with purified hands next to the altars and with the holy meal

unum exuta pedem uinclis, in ueste recincta,

one foot free from the chains, in loosened clothes,

testatur moritura deos et conscia fati

she called to witness the gods, her dying, and the stars conscious of her fate;

sidera; tum, si quod non aequo foedere amantis 520

then she prays to any god who, (being) fair and mindful,

curae numen habet iustumque memorque, precatur.

has in his care lovers in an unequal relationship.

Nox erat et placidum carpebant fessa soporem

It was night and through the land tired bodies were taking peaceful sleep

corpora per terras, siluaeque et saeua quierant

and the woods and the savage waves were resting,

aequora, cum medio uoluuntur sidera lapsu,

while the stars were being turned in the middle of their falling,

cum tacet omnis ager, pecudes pictaeque uolucres, 525

while every field was silent, and beasts and colourful birds,

quaeque lacus late liquidos quaeque aspera dumis

and those that live on wide watery lakes and those who live

rura tenent, somno positae sub nocte silenti.

in rough countryside among thorn bushes, were placed in sleep under a silent night.

at non infelix animi Phoenissa, neque umquam 529

But not the Phoenician unlucky in her soul, she was not

soluitur in somnos oculisue aut pectore noctem

ever loosened in sleep nor receive the night in her eyes or in her heart:

accipit: ingeminant curae rursusque resurgens

her cares redoubled and her love swelling again became savage

saeuit amor magnoque irarum fluctuat aestu.

and she seethed with a great tide of anger.

sic adeo insistit secumque ita corde uolutat:

Thus she pressed on in this way turning it over in her heart:

'en, quid ago? rursusne procos inrisa priores

‘Oh, what do I do? Shall I again seek previous suitors who hated me,

experiar, Nomadumque petam conubia supplex, 535

and shall I ask in supplication for marriage with the Nomads,

quos ego sim totiens iam dedignata maritos?

whom I have already scorned so often as husbands?

Iliacas igitur classis atque ultima Teucrum

Therefore shall I follow the Trojan fleet and every last order of the

iussa sequar? quiane auxilio iuuat ante leuatos

Trojans? Because it please them that they have been relieved with help before

et bene apud memores ueteris stat gratia facti?

and the favour of a former kindness stays with those who remember it well?

quis me autem, fac uelle, sinet ratibusue superbis 540

But who would allow me, just imagine that I want to, or receive

inuisam accipiet? nescis heu, perdita, necdum

the woman they hate in their proud ships? Alas do you not know, lost girl, or

Laomedonteae sentis periuria gentis?

feel yet the treachery of the Laomedon race?

quid tum? sola fuga nautas comitabor ouantis?

What then? Shall I accompany the triumphant sailors in flight alone?

an Tyriis omnique manu stipata meorum

Or with all the band of my Tyrians gathered around, shall I join the company of (the

Trojans)

inferar et, quos Sidonia uix urbe reuelli, 545

and again lead them to sea, those whom I could hardly tear away

rursus agam pelago et uentis dare uela iubebo?

from the Sidonian city, and shall I order them to give their sails to the winds?

quin morere ut merita es, ferroque auerte dolorem.

Why not die as you deserve, and turn away grief with a sword.

tu lacrimis euicta meis, tu prima furentem

You, my sister, overcome by my tears, you first burdened me in my

his, germana, malis oneras atque obicis hosti.

madness with these ills, and you put me in the path of the enemy.

non licuit thalami expertem sine crimine uitam 550

I was not allowed to pass my life, having no part in marriage,

degere more ferae, talis nec tangere curas;

without blame in the manner of a wild beast, nor touching such pains;

non seruata fides cineri promissa Sychaeo.'

I have not kept the faith promised to the ashes of Sychaeus.