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Notes Display Latin text | translated by Theodore C. Williams Book XI Chapter 10: Diomedes does not want to fight | Next chapter Return to index Previous chapter |
My countrymen, he [Note 1] said, our eyes have seen strongholds of Greeks and Diomed the king. We braved all perils to our journey's end and clasped that hand whereof the dreadful stroke wrought Ilium's fall. The hero built a town, Argyripa, hereditary name, near Mount Garganus in Apulian land: passing that city's portal and the king's we found free audience, held forth thy gifts, and told our names and fatherland. We showed what conflict was enkindled, and what cause brought us to Arpi's king. He, hearing all, with brow benign made answer to our plea: O happy tribes in Saturn's kingdom born, Ausonia's ancient stem! What fortune blind tempts ye from peace away, and now ensnares in wars unknown? Look how we men that dared lay Ilium waste (I speak not of what woes in battling neath her lofty walls we bore, nor of dead warriors sunk in Simois' wave) have paid the penalty in many a land with chastisement accurst and changeful woe, till Priam's self might pity. Let the star of Pallas tell its tale of fatal storm, off grim Caphereus and Euboea's crags. Driven asunder from one field of war, Atrides unto farthest Egypt strayed, and wise Ulysses saw from Aetna's caves the Cyclops gathering. Why name the throne of Pyrrhus, or the violated hearth whence fled Idomeneus? Or Locri cast on Libya's distant shore? For even he, Lord of Mycenae by the Greeks obeyed, fell murdered on his threshold by the hand of that polluted wife [Note 2], whose paramour [Note 3] trapped Asia's conqueror. The envious gods withheld me also from returning home to see once more the hearth-stone of my sires, the wife [Note 4] I yearn for, and my Calydon, the beauteous land. For wonders horrible pursue me still. My vanished followers through upper air take wing, or haunt and rove in forms of birds the island waters o'er: ah me, what misery my people feel! The tall rocks ring with their lament and cry. Naught else had I to hope for from that day when my infatuate sword on gods I drew, and outraged with abominable wound the hand of Venus. Urge me not, I pray, to conflicts in this wise. No more for me of war with Trojans after Ilium's fall! I take no joy in evils past, nor wish such memory to renew. Go, lay these gifts, brought to my honor from your ancient land, at great Aeneas' feet. We twain have stood confronting close with swords implacable in mortal fray. Believe me, I have known the stature of him when he lifts his shield, and swings the whirlwind of his spear. If Troy two more such sons had bred, the Dardan horde had stormed at Argos' gates, and Greece to-day were for her fallen fortunes grieving sore. Our lingering at Ilium's stubborn wall, our sluggard conquest halting ten years long, was his and Hector's work. Heroic pair! Each one for valor notable, and each famous in enterprise of arms, -- but he was first in piety. Enclasp with his your hands in plighted peace as best ye may: but shock of steel on steel ye well may shun. now hast thou heard, good king, a king's reply, and how his wisdom sits in this vast war. Note 1: he = Venulus Events: Polyphemus, Agamemnon murdered, Companions of Diomedes turn into birds, Diomedes does not want to fight, Aeneas and Diomedes |
243-295 'Vidimus, o ciues, Diomedem Argiuaque castra, atque iter emensi casus superauimus omnis, contigimusque manum qua concidit Ilia tellus. ille urbem Argyripam patriae cognomine gentis uictor Gargani condebat Iapygis agris. postquam introgressi et coram data copia fandi, munera praeferimus, nomen patriamque docemus, qui bellum intulerint, quae causa attraxerit Arpos. auditis ille haec placido sic reddidit ore: "o fortunatae gentes, Saturnia regna, antiqui Ausonii, quae uos fortuna quietos sollicitat suadetque ignota lacessere bella? quicumque Iliacos ferro uiolauimus agros (mitto ea quae muris bellando exhausta sub altis, quos Simois premat ille uiros) infanda per orbem supplicia et scelerum poenas expendimus omnes, uel Priamo miseranda manus; scit triste Mineruae sidus et Euboicae cautes ultorque Caphereus. militia ex illa diuersum ad litus abacti Atrides Protei Menelaus adusque columnas exsulat, Aetnaeos uidit Cyclopas Vlixes. regna Neoptolemi referam uersosque penatis Idomenei? Libycone habitantis litore Locros? ipse Mycenaeus magnorum ductor Achiuum coniugis infandae prima inter limina dextra oppetiit, deuictam Asiam subsedit adulter. inuidisse deos, patriis ut redditus aris coniugium optatum et pulchram Calydona uiderem? nunc etiam horribili uisu portenta sequuntur et socii amissi petierunt aethera pennis fluminibusque uagantur aues (heu, dira meorum supplicia!) et scopulos lacrimosis uocibus implent. haec adeo ex illo mihi iam speranda fuerunt tempore cum ferro caelestia corpora demens appetii et Veneris uiolaui uulnere dextram. ne uero, ne me ad talis impellite pugnas. nec mihi cum Teucris ullum post eruta bellum Pergama nec ueterum memini laetorue malorum. munera quae patriis ad me portatis ab oris uertite ad Aenean. stetimus tela aspera contra contulimusque manus: experto credite quantus in clipeum adsurgat, quo turbine torqueat hastam. si duo praeterea talis Idaea tulisset terra uiros, ultro Inachias uenisset ad urbes Dardanus, et uersis lugeret Graecia fatis. quidquid apud durae cessatum est moenia Troiae, Hectoris Aeneaeque manu uictoria Graium haesit et in decimum uestigia rettulit annum. ambo animis, ambo insignes praestantibus armis, hic pietate prior. coeant in foedera dextrae, qua datur; ast armis concurrant arma cauete." et responsa simul quae sint, rex optime, regis audisti et quae sit magno sententia bello.' |