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Notes Display Latin text | translated by Theodore C. Williams Book V Chapter 22: The show | Next chapter Return to index Previous chapter |
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The Trojans, with exultant, loud acclaim, receive the shy-faced boys, and joyfully trace in the features of the sons their sires. After, with smiling eyes, the horsemen proud have greeted each his kin in all the throng, Epytides th' appointed signal calls, and cracks his lash; in even lines they move, then, loosely sundering in triple band, wheel at a word and thrust their lances forth in hostile ranks; or on the ample field retreat or charge, in figure intricate of circling troop with troop, and swift parade of simulated war; now from the field they flee with backs defenceless to the foe; then rally, lance in rest -- or, mingling all, make common front, one legion strong and fair. As once in Crete, the lofty mountain-isle, that fabled labyrinthine gallery wound on through lightless walls, with thousand paths which baffled every clue, and led astray in unreturning mazes dark and blind: so did the sons of Troy their courses weave in mimic flights and battles fought for play, like dolphins tumbling in the liquid waves, along the Afric or Carpathian Seas. This game and mode of march Ascanius, when Alba Longa's bastions proudly rose, taught to the Latin people of the prime; and as the princely Trojan and his train were wont to do, so Alba to her sons the custom gave; so glorious Rome at last the heritage accepted and revered; and still we know them for the Trojan Band, and call the lads a Troy. Such was the end of game and contest at Anchises' grave. |
575-603 excipiunt plausu pauidos gaudentque tuentes Dardanidae, ueterumque agnoscunt ora parentum. postquam omnem laeti consessum oculosque suorum lustrauere in equis, signum clamore paratis Epytides longe dedit insonuitque flagello. olli discurrere pares atque agmina terni diductis soluere choris, rursusque uocati conuertere uias infestaque tela tulere. inde alios ineunt cursus aliosque recursus aduersi spatiis, alternosque orbibus orbis impediunt pugnaeque cient simulacra sub armis; et nunc terga fuga nudant, nunc spicula uertunt infensi, facta pariter nunc pace feruntur. ut quondam Creta fertur Labyrinthus in alta parietibus textum caecis iter ancipitemque mille uiis habuisse dolum, qua signa sequendi frangeret indeprensus et inremeabilis error; haud alio Teucrum nati uestigia cursu impediunt texuntque fugas et proelia ludo, delphinum similes qui per maria umida nando Carpathium Libycumque secant. hunc morem cursus atque haec certamina primus Ascanius, Longam muris cum cingeret Albam, rettulit et priscos docuit celebrare Latinos, quo puer ipse modo, secum quo Troia pubes; Albani docuere suos; hinc maxima porro accepit Roma et patrium seruauit honorem; Troiaque nunc pueri, Troianum dicitur agmen. hac celebrata tenus sancto certamina patri. |