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Notes Display Latin text | translated by Theodore C. Williams Book VI Chapter 15: Aeneas meets Palinurus | Next chapter Return to index Previous chapter |
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There, too, the helmsman Palinurus strayed Who, as he whilom watched the Libyan stars, Had fallen, plunging from his lofty seat Into the billowy deep. Aeneas now Discerned his sad face through the blinding gloom, And hailed him thus : O Palinurus, tell What god was he who ravished thee away From me and mine, beneath the o'vrwhelming wave? Speak on! for he who ne'er had spoke untrue, Apollo's self, did mock my listening mind, And chanted me a faithful oracle That thou shouldst ride the seas unharmed, and touch Ausonian shores. Is this the pledge divine? Then he, O chieftain of Anchises' race, Apollo's tripod told thee not untrue. No god did thrust me down beneath the wave, For that strong rudder unto which I clung, My charge and duty, and my ship's sole guide, Wrenched from its place, dropped with me as I fell. Not for myself -- by the rude seas I swear -- Did I have terror, but lest thy good ship, Stripped of her gear, and her poor pilot lost, Should fail and founder in that rising flood. Three wintry nights across the boundless main The south wind buffeted and bore me on; At the fourth daybreak, lifted from the surge, I looked at last on Italy, and swam With weary stroke on stroke unto the land. Safe was I then. Alas! but as I climbed With garments wet and heavy, my clenched hand Grasping the steep rock, came a cruel horde Upon me with drawn blades, accounting me -- So blind they were! -- a wrecker's prize and spoil. Now are the waves my tomb; and wandering winds Toss me along the coast. O, I implore, By heaven's sweet light, by yonder upper air, By thy lost father, by Iulus dear, Thy rising hope and joy, that from these woes, Unconquered chieftain, thou wilt set me free! Give me a grave where Velia's haven lies, For thou hast power! Or if some path there be, If thy celestial mother guide thee here (For not, I ween, without the grace of gods Wilt cross yon rivers vast, you Stygian pool) Reach me a hand! and bear with thee along! Until (least gift!) death bring me peace and calm. Such words he spoke: the priestess [Note 1] thus replied: Why, Palinurus, these unblest desires? Wouldst thou, unsepulchred, behold the wave Of Styx, stern river of th' Eumenides? Wouldst thou, unbidden, tread its fearful strand? Hope not by prayer to change the laws of Heaven! But heed my words, and in thy memory Cherish and keep, to cheer this evil time. Lo, far and wide, led on by signs from Heaven, Thy countrymen from many a templed town Shall consecrate thy dust, and build thy tomb, A tomb with annual feasts and votive flowers, To Palinurus a perpetual fame! Thus was his anguish stayed, from his sad heart Grief ebbed awhile, and even to this day, Our land is glad such noble name to wear. Note 1: priestess = Deiphobe Event: Aeneas visits the Underworld |
337-383 Ecce gubernator sese Palinurus agebat, qui Libyco nuper cursu, dum sidera seruat, exciderat puppi mediis effusus in undis. hunc ubi uix multa maestum cognouit in umbra, sic prior adloquitur: 'quis te, Palinure, deorum eripuit nobis medioque sub aequore mersit? dic age. namque mihi, fallax haud ante repertus, hoc uno responso animum delusit Apollo, qui fore te ponto incolumem finisque canebat uenturum Ausonios. en haec promissa fides est?' ille autem: 'neque te Phoebi cortina fefellit, dux Anchisiade, nec me deus aequore mersit. namque gubernaclum multa ui forte reuulsum, cui datus haerebam custos cursusque regebam, praecipitans traxi mecum. maria aspera iuro non ullum pro me tantum cepisse timorem, quam tua ne spoliata armis, excussa magistro, deficeret tantis nauis surgentibus undis. tris Notus hibernas immensa per aequora noctes uexit me uiolentus aqua; uix lumine quarto prospexi Italiam summa sublimis ab unda. paulatim adnabam terrae; iam tuta tenebam, ni gens crudelis madida cum ueste grauatum prensantemque uncis manibus capita aspera montis ferro inuasisset praedamque ignara putasset. nunc me fluctus habet uersantque in litore uenti. quod te per caeli iucundum lumen et auras, per genitorem oro, per spes surgentis Iuli, eripe me his, inuicte, malis: aut tu mihi terram inice, namque potes, portusque require Velinos; aut tu, si qua uia est, si quam tibi diua creatrix ostendit (neque enim, credo, sine numine diuum flumina tanta paras Stygiamque innare paludem), da dextram misero et tecum me tolle per undas, sedibus ut saltem placidis in morte quiescam.' talia fatus erat coepit cum talia uates: 'unde haec, o Palinure, tibi tam dira cupido? tu Stygias inhumatus aquas amnemque seuerum Eumenidum aspicies, ripamue iniussus adibis? desine fata deum flecti sperare precando, sed cape dicta memor, duri solacia casus. nam tua finitimi, longe lateque per urbes prodigiis acti caelestibus, ossa piabunt et statuent tumulum et tumulo sollemnia mittent, aeternumque locus Palinuri nomen habebit.' his dictis curae emotae pulsusque parumper corde dolor tristi; gaudet cognomine terra. |