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Notes Display Latin text | translated by Theodore C. Williams Book III Chapter 24: Achaemenides | Next chapter Return to index Previous chapter |
When from the eastern waves the light of morn began to peer, and from the upper sky Aurora flamed away the dark and dew, out of the forest sprang a startling shape [Note 1] of hunger-wasted misery; a man in wretched guise, who shoreward came with hands outstretched in supplication. We turned back and scanned him well. All grime and foulness he, with long and tangled beard, his savage garb fastened with thorns; but in all else he seemed a Greek, and in his country's league of arms sent to the siege of Troy. Then he beheld the Dardan habit, and our Trojan steel, he somewhat paused, as if in dread dismay such sight to see, and falteringly moved; but soon with headlong steps he sought the shore, ejaculating broken sobs and prayers: “By stars above! By gods on high! O, hear! By this bright heavenly air we mortals breathe, save me, sweet Trojans! Carry me away unto what land ye will! I ask no more. I came, I know it, in the ships of Greece; and I did war, t is true, with Ilium's gods. O, if the crime deserve it, fling my corse on yonder waves, and in the boundless brine sink me forever! Give me in my death the comfort that by human hands I die." He clasped our knees, and writhing on his own clung fast. We bid him tell his race and name, and by what fate pursued. Anchises gave his own right hand in swift and generous aid, and by prompt token cheered the exile's heart, who, banishing his fears, poured forth this tale : Note 1: shape = Achaemenides Event: The wanderings of Aeneas |
588-612 Postera iamque dies primo surgebat Eoo umentemque Aurora polo dimouerat umbram, cum subito e siluis macie confecta suprema ignoti noua forma uiri miserandaque cultu procedit supplexque manus ad litora tendit. respicimus. dira inluuies immissaque barba, consertum tegimen spinis: at cetera Graius, et quondam patriis ad Troiam missus in armis. isque ubi Dardanios habitus et Troia uidit arma procul, paulum aspectu conterritus haesit continuitque gradum; mox sese ad litora praeceps cum fletu precibusque tulit: 'per sidera testor, per superos atque hoc caeli spirabile lumen, tollite me, Teucri. quascumque abducite terras: hoc sat erit. scio me Danais e classibus unum et bello Iliacos fateor petiisse penatis. pro quo, si sceleris tanta est iniuria nostri, spargite me in fluctus uastoque immergite ponto; si pereo, hominum manibus periisse iuuabit.' dixerat et genua amplexus genibusque uolutans haerebat. qui sit fari, quo sanguine cretus, hortamur, quae deinde agitet fortuna fateri. ipse pater dextram Anchises haud multa moratus dat iuueni atque animum praesenti pignore firmat. ille haec deposita tandem formidine fatur |