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Notes Display Latin text | translated by Theodore C. Williams Book XII Chapter 9: Prayer of Aeneas | Next chapter Return to index Previous chapter |
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Then good Aeneas, his sword drawn, put forth this votive prayer: O Sun [Note 1] in heaven; and thou, Italia, for whom such toils I bear, be witness of my orison. On thee, Father [Note 2] omnipotent, I call; on thee, his Queen Saturnia, -- now may she be more gracious to my prayer! O glorious Mars, beneath whose godhead and paternity all wars begin and end, on thee I call; hail, all ye river-gods and haunted springs; hail, whatsoever gods have seat of awe in yonder distant sky, and ye whose power is in the keeping of the deep, blue sea: if victory to Ausonian Turnus fall, then let my vanquished people take its way unto Evander's city! From these plains Iulus shall retire -- so stands the bond; nor shall the Trojans with rebellious sword bring after-trouble on this land and king. But if on arms of ours success shall shine, as I doubt not it shall (may gods on high their will confirm!), I purpose not to chain Italian captive unto Teucrian lord, nor seek I kingly power. Let equal laws unite in federation without end the two unconquered nations; both shall share my worshipped gods. Latinus, as my sire, shall keep his sword, and as my sire receive inviolable power. The Teucrians shall build my stronghold, but our citadel shall bear forevermore Lavinia's name. |
175-194 Tum pius Aeneas stricto sic ense precatur: 'esto nunc Sol testis et haec mihi terra uocanti, quam propter tantos potui perferre labores, et pater omnipotens et tu Saturnia coniunx (iam melior, iam, diua, precor), tuque inclute Mauors, cuncta tuo qui bella, pater, sub numine torques; fontisque fluuiosque uoco, quaeque aetheris alti religio et quae caeruleo sunt numina ponto: cesserit Ausonio si fors uictoria Turno, conuenit Euandri uictos discedere ad urbem, cedet Iulus agris, nec post arma ulla rebelles Aeneadae referent ferroue haec regna lacessent. sin nostrum adnuerit nobis uictoria Martem (ut potius reor et potius di numine firment), non ego nec Teucris Italos parere iubebo nec mihi regna peto: paribus se legibus ambae inuictae gentes aeterna in foedera mittant. sacra deosque dabo; socer arma Latinus habeto, imperium sollemne socer; mihi moenia Teucri constituent urbique dabit Lauinia nomen.' |