Home Introduction Persons Geogr. Sources Events Mijn blog(Nederlands)
Religion Subjects Images Queries Links Contact Do not fly Iberia
This is a non-commercial site. Any revenues from Google ads are used to improve the site.

Custom Search
Quote of the day: There never was a genius more fitted for
Notes
Do not display Latin text
The Aeneid by Virgil
translated by Theodore C. Williams
Book III Chapter 7: Aeneas on Crete
Next chapter
Return to index
Previous chapter
The tale was told us that Idomeneus,
from his hereditary kingdom driven,
had left his Crete abandoned, that no foe
now harbored there, but all its dwellings lay
untenanted of man. So forth we sailed
out of the port of Delos, and sped far
along the main. The maenad-haunted hills
of Naxos came in view; the ridges green
of fair Donysa, with Olearos,
and Paros, gleaming white, and Cyclades
scattered among the waves, as close we ran
where thick-strewn islands vex the channelled seas
with rival shout the sailors cheerly called:
"On, comrades! On, to Crete and to our sires!"
Freely behind us blew the friendly winds,
and gave smooth passage to that fabled shore,
the land of the Curetes, friends of Jove.
There eagerly I [Note 1] labored at the walls
of our long-prayed-for city; and its name
was Pergama; to my Trojan band,
pleased with such name, I gave command to build
altar and hearth, and raise the lofty tower.

Note 1: I = Aeneas

Events: The wanderings of Aeneas, Aeneas on Crete

121-134
Fama uolat pulsum regnis cessisse paternis
Idomenea ducem, desertaque litora Cretae,
hoste uacare domum sedesque astare relictas.
linquimus Ortygiae portus pelagoque uolamus
bacchatamque iugis Naxon uiridemque Donusam,
Olearon niueamque Paron sparsasque per aequor
Cycladas, et crebris legimus freta concita terris.
nauticus exoritur uario certamine clamor:
hortantur socii Cretam proauosque petamus.
prosequitur surgens a puppi uentus euntis,
et tandem antiquis Curetum adlabimur oris.
ergo auidus muros optatae molior urbis
Pergameamque uoco, et laetam cognomine gentem
hortor amare focos arcemque attollere tectis.