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Notes Display Latin text | translated by Theodore C. Williams Book XII Chapter 18: Venus provides healing | Next chapter Return to index Previous chapter |
Then Venus, by her offspring's guiltless woe sore moved, did cull from Cretan Ida's crest some dittany, with downy leaf and stem and flowers of purple bloom -- a simple known to mountain goats, when to their haunches clings an arrow gone astray. This Venus brought, mantling her shape in cloud; and this she steeped in bowls of glass, infusing secretly ambrosia's healing essence and sweet drops of fragrant panacea. Such a balm aged Iapyx poured upon the wound, though unaware; and sudden from the flesh all pain departed and the blood was staunched, while from the gash the arrow uncompelled followed the hand and dropped: his wonted strength flowed freshly through the hero's frame. Make haste! Bring forth his arms! Why tarry any more? Iapyx shouted, being first to fire their courage 'gainst the foe. This thing is done not of man's knowledge, nor by sovereign skill; nor has my hand, Aeneas, set thee free. Some mighty god thy vigor gives again for mighty deeds. Aeneas now put on, all fever for the fight, his golden greaves, and, brooking not delay, waved wide his spear. Soon as the corselet and the shield were bound on back and side, he clasped Ascanius to his mailed breast, and through his helmet grim tenderly kissed his son. My boy", he cried, What valor is and patient, genuine toil learn thou of me; let others guide thy feet to prosperous fortune. Let this hand and sword defend thee through the war and lead thee on to high rewards. Thou also play the man! And when thy riper vigor soon shall bloom, forget not in thy heart to ponder well the story of our line. Heed honor's call, like Sire Aeneas and Hector thy close kin. After such farewell word, he from the gates in mighty stature strode, and swung on high his giant spear. With him in serried line Antheus and Mnestheus moved, and all the host from the forsaken fortress poured. The plain was darkened with their dust; the startled earth shook where their footing fell. From distant hill Turnus beheld them coming, and the eyes of all Ausonia saw: a chill of fear shot through each soldier's marrow; in their van Juturna knew full well the dreadful sound, and fled before it, shuddering. But he hurried his murky cohorts o'er the plain. As when a tempest from the riven sky drives landward o'er mid-ocean, and from far the hearts of husbandmen, foreboding woe, quake ruefully, -- for this will come and rend their trees asunder, kill the harvests all, and sow destruction broadcast; in its path fly roaring winds, swift heralds of the storm: such dire approach the Trojan chieftain showed before his gathered foes. In close array they wedge their ranks about him. With a sword Thymbraeus cuts huge-limbed Osiris down; Mnestheus, Arcetius; from Epulo Achates shears the head; from Ufens, Gyas; Tolumnius the augur falls, the same who flung the first spear to the foeman's line. Uprose to heaven the cries. In panic now the Rutules in retreating clouds of dust scattered across the plain. Aeneas scorned either the recreant or resisting foe to slaughter, or the men who shoot from far: for through the war-cloud he but seeks the arms of Turnus, and to single combat calls. Events: The Gods interfere in the Aeneid, Renewal of the war. |
411- Hic Venus indigno nati concussa dolore dictamnum genetrix Cretaea carpit ab Ida, puberibus caulem foliis et flore comantem purpureo; non illa feris incognita capris gramina, cum tergo uolucres haesere sagittae. hoc Venus obscuro faciem circumdata nimbo detulit, hoc fusum labris splendentibus amnem inficit occulte medicans, spargitque salubris ambrosiae sucos et odoriferam panaceam. fouit ea uulnus lympha longaeuus Iapyx ignorans, subitoque omnis de corpore fugit quippe dolor, omnis stetit imo uulnere sanguis. iamque secuta manum nullo cogente sagitta excidit, atque nouae rediere in pristina uires. 'arma citi properate uiro! quid statis?' Iapyx conclamat primusque animos accendit in hostem. 'non haec humanis opibus, non arte magistra proueniunt, neque te, Aenea, mea dextera seruat: maior agit deus atque opera ad maiora remittit.' ille auidus pugnae suras incluserat auro hinc atque hinc oditque moras hastamque coruscat. postquam habilis lateri clipeus loricaque tergo est, Ascanium fusis circum complectitur armis summaque per galeam delibans oscula fatur: 'disce, puer, uirtutem ex me uerumque laborem, fortunam ex aliis. nunc te mea dextera bello defensum dabit et magna inter praemia ducet. tu facito, mox cum matura adoleuerit aetas, sis memor et te animo repetentem exempla tuorum et pater Aeneas et auunculus excitet Hector.' Haec ubi dicta dedit, portis sese extulit ingens telum immane manu quatiens; simul agmine denso Antheusque Mnestheusque ruunt, omnisque relictis turba fluit castris. tum caeco puluere campus miscetur pulsuque pedum tremit excita tellus. uidit ab aduerso uenientis aggere Turnus, uidere Ausonii, gelidusque per ima cucurrit ossa tremor; prima ante omnis Iuturna Latinos audiit agnouitque sonum et tremefacta refugit. ille uolat campoque atrum rapit agmen aperto. qualis ubi ad terras abrupto sidere nimbus it mare per medium (miseris, heu, praescia longe horrescunt corda agricolis: dabit ille ruinas arboribus stragemque satis, ruet omnia late), ante uolant sonitumque ferunt ad litora uenti: talis in aduersos ductor Rhoeteius hostis agmen agit, densi cuneis se quisque coactis adglomerant. ferit ense grauem Thymbraeus Osirim, Arcetium Mnestheus, Epulonem obtruncat Achates Vfentemque Gyas; cadit ipse Tolumnius augur, primus in aduersos telum qui torserat hostis. tollitur in caelum clamor, uersique uicissim puluerulenta fuga Rutuli dant terga per agros. ipse neque auersos dignatur sternere morti nec pede congressos aequo nec tela ferentis insequitur: solum densa in caligine Turnum uestigat lustrans, solum in certamina poscit. |