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Notes Do not display Latin text | translated by Theodore C. Williams Book V Chapter 9: Sergestus hits the rocks | Next chapter Return to index Previous chapter |
But Mnestheus and Sergestus, coming last, have joyful hope enkindled in each heart to pass the laggard Gyas. In the lead Sergestus' ship shoots forth; and to the rock runs boldly nigh; but not his whole long keel may pass his rival; the projecting beak is followed fast by Pristis' emulous prow. Then, striding straight amidships through his crew, thus Mnestheus urged them on: O Hector's friends! Whom in the dying hours of Troy I chose for followers! Now stand ye to your best! Put forth the thews of valor that ye showed in the Gaetulian Syrtes, or that sea Ionian, or where the waves race by the Malean promontory! Mnestheus now hopes not to be the first, nor do I strive for victory. O Father Neptune, give that garland where thou wilt! But O, the shame if we are last! Endure it not, my men! The infamy refuse! So, bending low, they enter the home-stretch. Beneath their stroke the brass-decked galley throbs, and under her the sea-floor drops away. On, on they fly! Parched are the panting lips, and sweat in streams pours down their giant sides; but lucky chance brought the proud heroes what their honor craved. For while Sergestus furiously drove his ship's beak toward the rock, and kept inside the scanty passage, by his evil star he grounded on the jutting reef; the cliffs rang with the blow, and his entangled oars grated along the jagged granite, while the prow hung wrecked and helpless. With loud cry upsprang the sailors, while the ship stood still, and pushed off with long poles and pointed iron, or snatched the smashed oars from the whirling tide. Mnestheus exults; and, roused to keener strife by happy fortune, with a quicker stroke of each bright rank of oars, and with the breeze his prayer implored, skims o'er the obedient wave and sweeps the level main. Not otherwise a startled dove, emerging o'er the fields from secret cavern in the crannied hill where her safe house and pretty nestlings lie, soars from her nest, with whirring wings -- but soon through the still sky she takes her path of air on pinions motionless. So Pristis sped with Mnestheus, cleaving her last stretch of sea, by her own impulse wafted. She outstripped Sergestus first; for he upon the reef fought with the breakers, desperately shouting for help, for help in vain, with broken oars contriving to move on. Then Mnestheus ran past Gyas, in Chimaera's ponderous hulk, of pilot now bereft; |
183-224 Hic laeta extremis spes est accensa duobus, Sergesto Mnestheique, Gyan superare morantem. Sergestus capit ante locum scopuloque propinquat, nec tota tamen ille prior praeeunte carina; parte prior, partim rostro premit aemula Pristis. at media socios incedens naue per ipsos hortatur Mnestheus: 'nunc, nunc insurgite remis, Hectorei socii, Troiae quos sorte suprema delegi comites; nunc illas promite uiris, nunc animos, quibus in Gaetulis Syrtibus usi Ionioque mari Maleaeque sequacibus undis. non iam prima peto Mnestheus neque uincere certo (quamquam o!—sed superent quibus hoc, Neptune, dedisti); extremos pudeat rediisse: hoc uincite, ciues, et prohibete nefas.' olli certamine summo procumbunt: uastis tremit ictibus aerea puppis subtrahiturque solum, tum creber anhelitus artus aridaque ora quatit, sudor fluit undique riuis. attulit ipse uiris optatum casus honorem: namque furens animi dum proram ad saxa suburget interior spatioque subit Sergestus iniquo, infelix saxis in procurrentibus haesit. concussae cautes et acuto in murice remi obnixi crepuere inlisaque prora pependit. consurgunt nautae et magno clamore morantur ferratasque trudes et acuta cuspide contos expediunt fractosque legunt in gurgite remos. at laetus Mnestheus successuque acrior ipso agmine remorum celeri uentisque uocatis prona petit maria et pelago decurrit aperto. qualis spelunca subito commota columba, cui domus et dulces latebroso in pumice nidi, fertur in arua uolans plausumque exterrita pennis dat tecto ingentem, mox aere lapsa quieto radit iter liquidum celeris neque commouet alas: sic Mnestheus, sic ipsa fuga secat ultima Pristis aequora, sic illam fert impetus ipse uolantem Et primum in scopulo luctantem deserit alto Sergestum breuibusque uadis frustraque uocantem auxilia et fractis discentem currere remis. inde Gyan ipsamque ingenti mole Chimaeram consequitur; cedit, quoniam spoliata magistro est. |