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Notes Display Latin text | translated by Theodore C. Williams Book VIII Chapter 18: The shield is forged | Next chapter Return to index Previous chapter |
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At their task were found the Cyclops in vast cavern forging steel, naked Pyracmon and gigantic-limbed Brontes and Steropes; beneath their blows a lightning-shaft, half-shaped, half-burnished lay, such as the Thunderer is wont to fling in numbers from the sky, but formless still. Three strands of whirling storm they wove with three of bursting cloud, and three did interfuse of ruddy-gleaming fires and winged winds; then fearful lightnings on the skilful forge they welded with loud horror, and with flames that bear swift wrath from Jove. Elsewhere a crew toiled at the chariot and winged wheel wherewith the war-god [Note 1] wakens from repose heroes and peopled cities. Others wrought the awful Aegis, herald of dismay, by angry Pallas worn; they burnished bright the golden serpent-scales and wreathing snakes, till from the corselet of the goddess glared the Gorgon's severed head and rolling eyes. Cyclops of Aetna, Vulcan cried, have done! Leave ev'ry task unfinished, and receive my new command! Good armor must be forged for warrior brave. For this I need to use your utmost sinew and your swiftest hand, with all your master skill. No lingering now! Swift the command, and swiftly they divide to each his portion, and united urge the common task. Forth flow the molten streams of brass and gold, and, melted in fierce flame, the deeply-wounding steel like liquid flows. A mighty shield took shape, its single orb sufficient to withstand the gathered shock of all the Latin arms; for seven times they welded ring with ring. Some deftly ply the windy bellows, which receive and give the roaring blasts; some plunge in cooling pond the hissing metal, while the smithy floor groans with the anvil's weight, as side by side they lift their giantarms in numbered blows and roll with gripe of tongs the ponderous bars. Note 1: war-god = Mars Events: The Gods interfere in the Aeneid, The shield of Aeneas |
424-453 ferrum exercebant uasto Cyclopes in antro, Brontesque Steropesque et nudus membra Pyragmon. his informatum manibus iam parte polita fulmen erat, toto genitor quae plurima caelo deicit in terras, pars imperfecta manebat. tris imbris torti radios, tris nubis aquosae addiderant, rutuli tris ignis et alitis Austri. fulgores nunc terrificos sonitumque metumque miscebant operi flammisque sequacibus iras. parte alia Marti currumque rotasque uolucris instabant, quibus ille uiros, quibus excitat urbes; aegidaque horriferam, turbatae Palladis arma, certatim squamis serpentum auroque polibant conexosque anguis ipsamque in pectore diuae Gorgona desecto uertentem lumina collo. 'tollite cuncta' inquit 'coeptosque auferte labores, Aetnaei Cyclopes, et huc aduertite mentem: arma acri facienda uiro. nunc uiribus usus, nunc manibus rapidis, omni nunc arte magistra. praecipitate moras.' nec plura effatus, at illi ocius incubuere omnes pariterque laborem sortiti. fluit aes riuis aurique metallum uulnificusque chalybs uasta fornace liquescit. ingentem clipeum informant, unum omnia contra tela Latinorum, septenosque orbibus orbis impediunt. alii uentosis follibus auras accipiunt redduntque, alii stridentia tingunt aera lacu; gemit impositis incudibus antrum; illi inter sese multa ui bracchia tollunt in numerum, uersantque tenaci forcipe massam. |