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Notes Display Latin text | translated by Theodore C. Williams Book III Chapter 14: The story of Andromache | Next chapter Return to index Previous chapter |
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With drooping brows and lowly voice she [Note 1] cried: “O, happy only was that virgin blest, daughter of Priam, summoned forth to die in sight of Ilium, on a foeman's tomb! No casting of the lot her doom decreed, nor came she to her conqueror's couch a slave. Myself from burning Ilium carried far o'er seas and seas, endured the swollen pride of that young scion of Achilles' race, and bore him as his slave a son. When he sued for Hermione, of Leda's line, and nuptial-bond with Lacedaemon's lords, I, the slave-wife, to Helenus was given, and slave was wed with slave. But afterward Orestes, crazed by loss of her he loved, and ever fury-driven from crime to crime, crept upon Pyrrhus in a careless hour and murdered him upon his own hearth-stone. Part of the realm of Neoptolemus fell thus to Helenus, who called his lands Chaonian, and in Trojan Chaon's name his kingdom is Chaonia. Yonder height is Pergamus, our Ilian citadel. What power divine did waft thee to our shore, not knowing whither? Tell me of the boy Ascanius! Still breathes he earthly air? In Troy she bore him -- is he mourning still that mother ravished from his childhood's eyes? what ancient valor stirs the manly soul of thine own son, of Hector's sister's child?” Thus poured she forth full many a doleful word with unavailing tears. But as she ceased, out of the city gates appeared the son of Priam, Helenus, with princely train. He welcomed us as kin, and glad at heart gave guidance to his house, though oft his words fell faltering and few, with many a tear. Soon to a humbler Troy I lift my eyes, and of a mightier Pergamus discern the towering semblance; there a scanty stream runs on in Xanthus' name, and my glad arms the pillars of a Scaean Gate embrace. My Teucrian mariners with welcome free enjoyed the friendly town; his ample halls our royal host threw wide; full wine-cups flowed within the palace; golden feast was spread, and many a goblet quaffed. Note 1: she = Andromache Events: Fate of Andromache after the Trojan war, The wanderings of Aeneas |
320-355 deiecit uultum et demissa uoce locuta est: 'o felix una ante alias Priameia uirgo, hostilem ad tumulum Troiae sub moenibus altis iussa mori, quae sortitus non pertulit ullos nec uictoris heri tetigit captiua cubile! nos patria incensa diuersa per aequora uectae stirpis Achilleae fastus iuuenemque superbum seruitio enixae tulimus; qui deinde secutus Ledaeam Hermionen Lacedaemoniosque hymenaeos me famulo famulamque Heleno transmisit habendam. ast illum ereptae magno flammatus amore coniugis et scelerum furiis agitatus Orestes excipit incautum patriasque obtruncat ad aras. morte Neoptolemi regnorum reddita cessit pars Heleno, qui Chaonios cognomine campos Chaoniamque omnem Troiano a Chaone dixit, Pergamaque Iliacamque iugis hanc addidit arcem. sed tibi qui cursum uenti, quae fata dedere? aut quisnam ignarum nostris deus appulit oris? quid puer Ascanius? superatne et uescitur aura? quem tibi iam Troia— ecqua tamen puero est amissae cura parentis? ecquid in antiquam uirtutem animosque uirilis et pater Aeneas et auunculus excitat Hector?' talia fundebat lacrimans longosque ciebat incassum fletus, cum sese a moenibus heros Priamides multis Helenus comitantibus adfert, agnoscitque suos laetusque ad limina ducit, et multum lacrimas uerba inter singula fundit. procedo et paruam Troiam simulataque magnis Pergama et arentem Xanthi cognomine riuum agnosco, Scaeaeque amplector limina portae; nec non et Teucri socia simul urbe fruuntur. illos porticibus rex accipiebat in amplis: aulai medio libabant pocula Bacchi impositis auro dapibus, paterasque tenebant. |