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Notes Display Latin text | translated by Theodore C. Williams Book IV Chapter 11: Mercury visits Aeneas | Next chapter Return to index Previous chapter |
He [Note 1] spoke. The god a prompt obedience gave to his great sire's command. He fastened first those sandals of bright gold, which carry him aloft o'er land or sea, with airy wings that race the fleeting wind; then lifted he his wand, wherewith he summons from the grave pale-featured ghosts, or, if he will, consigns to doleful Tartarus; or by its power gives slumber or dispels; or quite unseals the eyelids of the dead: on this relying, he routs the winds or cleaves th' obscurity of stormful clouds. Soon from his flight he spied the summit and the sides precipitous of stubborn Atlas, whose star-pointing peak props heaven; of Atlas, whose pine-wreathed brow is girdled evermore with misty gloom and lashed of wind and rain; a cloak of snow melts on his shoulder; from his aged chin drop rivers, and ensheathed in stiffening ice glitters his great grim beard. Here first was stayed the speed of Mercury's well-poising wing; here making pause, from hence he headlong flung his body to the sea; in motion like some sea-bird's which along the levelled shore or round tall crags where rove the swarming fish, flies low along the waves: o'er-hovering so between the earth and skies, Cyllene's god flew downward from his mother's mountain sire, parted the winds and skimmed the sandy merge of Libya. When first his winged feet came nigh the clay-built Punic huts, he saw Aeneas building at a citadel, and founding walls and towers; at his side was girt a blade with yellow jaspers starred, his mantle with the stain of Tyrian shell flowed purple from his shoulder, broidered fair by opulent Dido with fine threads of gold, her gift of love; straightway the god began: Dost thou for lofty Carthage toil, to build foundations strong? Dost thou, a wife's weak thrall, build her proud city? Hast thou, shameful loss! Forgot thy kingdom and thy task sublime? From bright Olympus, I. He who commands all gods, and by his sovran deity moves earth and heaven -- he it was who bade me bear on winged winds his high decree. What plan is thine? By what mad hope dost thou linger so long in lap of Libyan land? If the proud reward of thy destined way move not thy heart, if all the arduous toil to thine own honor speak not, look upon Iulus in his bloom, thy hope and heir Ascanius. It is his rightful due in Italy o'er Roman lands to reign. After such word Cyllene's winged god vanished, and e'er his accents died away, dissolved in air before the mortal's eyes. Note 1: He = Jove Events: The Gods interfere in the Aeneid, Love and Death of Dido |
238-278 Dixerat. ille patris magni parere parabat imperio; et primum pedibus talaria nectit aurea, quae sublimem alis siue aequora supra seu terram rapido pariter cum flamine portant. tum uirgam capit: hac animas ille euocat Orco pallentis, alias sub Tartara tristia mittit, dat somnos adimitque, et lumina morte resignat. illa fretus agit uentos et turbida tranat nubila. iamque uolans apicem et latera ardua cernit Atlantis duri caelum qui uertice fulcit, Atlantis, cinctum adsidue cui nubibus atris piniferum caput et uento pulsatur et imbri, nix umeros infusa tegit, tum flumina mento praecipitant senis, et glacie riget horrida barba. hic primum paribus nitens Cyllenius alis constitit; hinc toto praeceps se corpore ad undas misit aui similis, quae circum litora, circum piscosos scopulos humilis uolat aequora iuxta. haud aliter terras inter caelumque uolabat litus harenosum ad Libyae, uentosque secabat materno ueniens ab auo Cyllenia proles. ut primum alatis tetigit magalia plantis, Aenean fundantem arces ac tecta nouantem conspicit. atque illi stellatus iaspide fulua ensis erat Tyrioque ardebat murice laena demissa ex umeris, diues quae munera Dido fecerat, et tenui telas discreuerat auro. continuo inuadit: 'tu nunc Karthaginis altae fundamenta locas pulchramque uxorius urbem exstruis? heu, regni rerumque oblite tuarum! ipse deum tibi me claro demittit Olympo regnator, caelum et terras qui numine torquet, ipse haec ferre iubet celeris mandata per auras: quid struis? aut qua spe Libycis teris otia terris? si te nulla mouet tantarum gloria rerum [nec super ipse tua moliris laude laborem,] Ascanium surgentem et spes heredis Iuli respice, cui regnum Italiae Romanaque tellus debetur.' tali Cyllenius ore locutus mortalis uisus medio sermone reliquit et procul in tenuem ex oculis euanuit auram. |