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Notes Display Latin text | translated by Theodore C. Williams Book VI Chapter 16: Crossing the Styx | Next chapter Return to index Previous chapter |
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The twain continue now their destined way Unto the river's edge. The Ferryman, [Note 1] Who watched them through still groves approach his shore, Hailed them, at distance, from the Stygian wave, And with reproachful summons thus began: Whoe'er thou art that in this warrior guise Unto my river comest, -- quickly tell Thine errand! Stay thee where thou standest now! This is ghosts' land, for sleep and slumbrous dark. That flesh and blood my Stygian ship should bear Were lawless wrong. Unwillingly I took Alcides, Theseus, and Pirithous, Though sons of gods, too mighty to be quelled. One bound in chains yon warder of Hell's door, And dragged him trembling from our monarch's throne: The others, impious, would steal away Out of her bride-bed Pluto's ravished Queen. Briefly th' Amphrysian priestess made reply: Not ours, such guile: Fear not! This warrior's arms Are innocent. Let Cerberus from his cave Bay ceaselessly, the bloodless shades to scare; Let Proserpine immaculately keep The house and honor of her kinsman king. Trojan Aeneas, famed for faithful prayer And victory in arms, descends to seek His father in this gloomy deep of death. If loyal goodness move not such as thee, This branch at least (she [Note 2] drew it from her breast) Thou knowest well. Then cooled his wrathful heart; With silent lips he looked and wondering eyes Upon that fateful, venerable wand, Seen only once an age. Shoreward he turned, And pushed their way his boat of leaden hue. The rows of crouching ghosts along the thwarts He scattered, cleared a passage, and gave room To great Aeneas. The light shallop groaned Beneath his weight, and, straining at each seam, Took in the foul flood with unstinted flow. At last the hero and his priestess-guide Came safe across the river, and were moored 'mid sea-green sedges in the formless mire. Note 1: Ferryman = Charon Event: Aeneas visits the Underworld |
384-416 Ergo iter inceptum peragunt fluuioque propinquant. nauita quos iam inde ut Stygia prospexit ab unda per tacitum nemus ire pedemque aduertere ripae, sic prior adgreditur dictis atque increpat ultro: 'quisquis es, armatus qui nostra ad flumina tendis, fare age, quid uenias, iam istinc et comprime gressum. umbrarum hic locus est, somni noctisque soporae: corpora uiua nefas Stygia uectare carina. nec uero Alciden me sum laetatus euntem accepisse lacu, nec Thesea Pirithoumque, dis quamquam geniti atque inuicti uiribus essent. Tartareum ille manu custodem in uincla petiuit ipsius a solio regis traxitque trementem; hi dominam Ditis thalamo deducere adorti.' quae contra breuiter fata est Amphrysia uates: 'nullae hic insidiae tales (absiste moueri), nec uim tela ferunt; licet ingens ianitor antro aeternum latrans exsanguis terreat umbras, casta licet patrui seruet Proserpina limen. Troius Aeneas, pietate insignis et armis, ad genitorem imas Erebi descendit ad umbras. si te nulla mouet tantae pietatis imago, at ramum hunc' (aperit ramum qui ueste latebat) 'agnoscas.' tumida ex ira tum corda residunt; nec plura his. ille admirans uenerabile donum fatalis uirgae longo post tempore uisum caeruleam aduertit puppim ripaeque propinquat. inde alias animas, quae per iuga longa sedebant, deturbat laxatque foros; simul accipit alueo ingentem Aenean. gemuit sub pondere cumba sutilis et multam accepit rimosa paludem. tandem trans fluuium incolumis uatemque uirumque informi limo glaucaque exponit in ulua. |