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Notes Do not display Latin text | translated by Theodore C. Williams Book IV Chapter 9: Prayer of Iarbas | Next chapter Return to index Previous chapter |
Him [Note 1] the god Ammon got by forced embrace upon a Libyan nymph; his kingdoms wide possessed a hundred ample shrines to Jove, a hundred altars whence ascended ever the fires of sacrifice, perpetual seats for a great god's abode, where flowing blood enriched the ground, and on the portals hung garlands of every flower. The angered king, half-maddened by malignant Rumor's voice, unto his favored altars came, and there, surrounded by the effluence divine, upraised in prayer to Jove his suppliant hands. Almighty Jupiter, to whom each day, at banquet on the painted couch reclined, Numidia pours libation! Do thine eyes behold us? Or when out of yonder heaven, o sire, thou launchest the swift thunderbolt, is it for naught we fear thee? Do the clouds shoot forth blind fire to terrify the soul with wild, unmeaning roar? O, look upon that woman [Note 2], who was homeless in our realm, and bargained where to build her paltry town, receiving fertile coast-land for her farms, by hospitable grant! She dares disdain our proffered nuptial vow. She has proclaimed Aeneas partner of her bed and throne. And now that Paris, with his eunuch crew, beneath his chin and fragrant, oozy hair ties the soft Lydian bonnet, boasting well his stolen prize. But we to all these fanes, though they be thine, a fruitless offering bring, and feed on empty tales our trust in thee. Note 1: Him = Iarbas Events: The Gods interfere in the Aeneid, Love and Death of Dido |
198-218 Hic Hammone satus rapta Garamantide nympha templa Ioui centum latis immania regnis, centum aras posuit uigilemque sacrauerat ignem, excubias diuum aeternas, pecudumque cruore pingue solum et uariis florentia limina sertis. isque amens animi et rumore accensus amaro dicitur ante aras media inter numina diuum multa Iouem manibus supplex orasse supinis: 'Iuppiter omnipotens, cui nunc Maurusia pictis gens epulata toris Lenaeum libat honorem, aspicis haec? an te, genitor, cum fulmina torques nequiquam horremus, caecique in nubibus ignes terrificant animos et inania murmura miscent? femina, quae nostris errans in finibus urbem exiguam pretio posuit, cui litus arandum cuique loci leges dedimus, conubia nostra reppulit ac dominum Aenean in regna recepit. et nunc ille Paris cum semiuiro comitatu, Maeonia mentum mitra crinemque madentem subnexus, rapto potitur: nos munera templis quippe tuis ferimus famamque fouemus inanem.' |