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Notes Display Latin text | translated by Theodore C. Williams Book V Chapter 1: To Sicily | Next chapter Return to index Previous chapter |
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Meanwhile Aeneas, now well launched away, steered forth with all the fleet to open sea, on his unswerving course, and ploughed the waves, sped by a driving gale; but when his eyes looked back on Carthage, they beheld the glare of hapless Dido's fire. Not yet was known what kindled the wild flames; but that the pang of outraged love is cruel, and what the heart of desperate woman dares, they knew too well, and sad foreboding shook each Trojan soul. Soon in mid-sea, beyond all chart of shore, when only seas and skies were round their way, full in the zenith loomed a purple cloud, storm-laden, dark as night, and every wave grew black and angry; from his lofty seat the helmsman Palinurus cried, Alas! What means this host of storms encircling heaven? What, Neptune, wilt thou now? He, having said, bade reef and tighten, bend to stronger stroke, and slant sail to the wind; then spake again: High-souled Aeneas, not if Jove the King gave happy omen, would I have good hope of making Italy through yonder sky. Athwart our course from clouded evening-star rebellious winds run shifting, and the air into a cloud-wrack rolls. Against such foes too weak our strife and strain! Since now the hand of Fortune triumphs, let us where she calls obedient go. For near us, I believe, lies Eryx' faithful and fraternal shore: here are Sicilian havens, if my mind of yon familiar stars have knowledge true. then good Aeneas: For a friendly wind long have I sued, and watched thee vainly strive. Shift sail! What happier land for me and mine, or for our storm-beat ships what safer shore, than where Dardanian Acestes reigns; the land whose faithful bosom cherishes Anchises' ashes? Heedful of his word, they landward steer, while favoring zephyrs fill the spreading sail. On currents swift and strong the fleet is wafted, and with thankful soul they moor on Sicily's familiar strand. Events: Love and Death of Dido, Aeneas on Sicily |
1-34 Interea medium Aeneas iam classe tenebat certus iter fluctusque atros Aquilone secabat moenia respiciens, quae iam infelicis Elissae conlucent flammis. quae tantum accenderit ignem causa latet; duri magno sed amore dolores polluto, notumque furens quid femina possit, triste per augurium Teucrorum pectora ducunt Ut pelagus tenuere rates nec iam amplius ulla occurrit tellus, maria undique et undique caelum, olli caeruleus supra caput astitit imber noctem hiememque ferens et inhorruit unda tenebris. ipse gubernator puppi Palinurus ab alta: 'heu quianam tanti cinxerunt aethera nimbi? quidue, pater Neptune, paras?' sic deinde locutus colligere arma iubet ualidisque incumbere remis, obliquatque sinus in uentum ac talia fatur: 'magnanime Aenea, non, si mihi Iuppiter auctor spondeat, hoc sperem Italiam contingere caelo. mutati transuersa fremunt et uespere ab atro consurgunt uenti, atque in nubem cogitur aer. nec nos obniti contra nec tendere tantum sufficimus. superat quoniam Fortuna, sequamur, quoque uocat uertamus iter. nec litora longe fida reor fraterna Erycis portusque Sicanos, si modo rite memor seruata remetior astra.' tum pius Aeneas: 'equidem sic poscere uentos iamdudum et frustra cerno te tendere contra. flecte uiam uelis. an sit mihi gratior ulla, quoue magis fessas optem dimittere nauis, quam quae Dardanium tellus mihi seruat Acesten et patris Anchisae gremio complectitur ossa?' haec ubi dicta, petunt portus et uela secundi intendunt Zephyri; fertur cita gurgite classis, et tandem laeti notae aduertuntur harenae. |