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Notes Do not display Latin text | translated by Theodore C. Williams Book II Chapter 21: Priam arms himself | Next chapter Return to index Previous chapter |
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But would ye haply know what stroke of doom on Priam fell? Now when his anguish saw his kingdom lost and fallen, his abode shattered, and in his very hearth and home th' exulting foe, the aged king did bind his rusted armor to his trembling thews, -- all vainly, -- and a useless blade of steel he girded on; then charged, resolved to die encircled by the foe. Within his walls there stood, beneath the wide and open sky, a lofty altar; an old laurel-tree leaned o'er it, and enclasped in holy shade the statues of the tutelary powers. Here Hecuba and all the princesses took refuge vain within the place of prayer. Like panic-stricken doves in some dark storm, close-gathering they sate, and in despair embraced their graven gods. But when the queen saw Priam with his youthful harness on, What frenzy, O my wretched lord, she cried, Arrayed thee in such arms? O, whither now? Not such defences, nor such arm as thine, the time requires, though thy companion were our Hector's self. O, yield thee, I implore! This altar now shall save us one and all, or we must die together. With these words she drew him to her side, and near the shrine made for her aged spouse a place to cling. Event: The fall of Troy |
506-525 Forsitan et Priami fuerint quae fata requiras. urbis uti captae casum conuulsaque uidit limina tectorum et medium in penetralibus hostem, arma diu senior desueta trementibus aeuo circumdat nequiquam umeris et inutile ferrum cingitur, ac densos fertur moriturus in hostis. aedibus in mediis nudoque sub aetheris axe ingens ara fuit iuxtaque ueterrima laurus incumbens arae atque umbra complexa penatis. hic Hecuba et natae nequiquam altaria circum, praecipites atra ceu tempestate columbae, condensae et diuum amplexae simulacra sedebant. ipsum autem sumptis Priamum iuuenalibus armis ut uidit, 'quae mens tam dira, miserrime coniunx, impulit his cingi telis? aut quo ruis?' inquit. 'non tali auxilio nec defensoribus istis tempus eget; non, si ipse meus nunc adforet Hector. huc tandem concede; haec ara tuebitur omnis, aut moriere simul.' sic ore effata recepit ad sese et sacra longaeuum in sede locauit. |