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Notes Display Latin text | translated by Theodore C. Williams Book II Chapter 24: Helen | Next chapter Return to index Previous chapter |
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I [Note 1] stood there sole surviving; when, behold, to Vesta's altar clinging in dumb fear, hiding and crouching in the hallowed shade, Tyndarus' daughter! [Note 2] -- 't was the burning town lighted full well my roving steps and eyes. In fear was she both of some Trojan's rage for Troy o'erthrown, and of some Greek revenge, or her wronged husband's long indignant ire. So hid she at that shrine her hateful brow, being of Greece and Troy, full well she knew, the common curse. Then in my bosom rose a blaze of wrath; methought I should avenge my dying country, and with horrid deed pay crime for crime. Shall she return unscathed to Sparta, to Mycenae's golden pride, and have a royal triumph? Shall her eyes her sire and sons, her hearth and husband see, while Phrygian captive follow in her train? is Priam murdered? Have the flames swept o'er my native Troy? and cloth our Dardan strand sweat o'er and o'er with sanguinary dew? O, not thus unavenged! For though there be no glory if I smite a woman's crime, nor conqueror's fame for such a victory won, yet if I blot this monster out, and wring full punishment from guilt, the time to come will praise me, and sweet pleasure it will be to glut my soul with vengeance and appease the ashes of my kindred. Note 1: I = Aeneas Event: The fall of Troy |
567-587 [Iamque adeo super unus eram, cum limina Vestae seruantem et tacitam secreta in sede latentem Tyndarida aspicio; dant claram incendia lucem erranti passimque oculos per cuncta ferenti. illa sibi infestos euersa ob Pergama Teucros et Danaum poenam et deserti coniugis iras praemetuens, Troiae et patriae communis Erinys, abdiderat sese atque aris inuisa sedebat. exarsere ignes animo; subit ira cadentem ulcisci patriam et sceleratas sumere poenas. 'scilicet haec Spartam incolumis patriasque Mycenas aspiciet, partoque ibit regina triumpho? coniugiumque domumque patris natosque uidebit Iliadum turba et Phrygiis comitata ministris? occiderit ferro Priamus? Troia arserit igni? Dardanium totiens sudarit sanguine litus? non ita. namque etsi nullum memorabile nomen feminea in poena est, habet haec uictoria laudem; exstinxisse nefas tamen et sumpsisse merentis laudabor poenas, animumque explesse iuuabit ultricis ~famam et cineres satiasse meorum.' |