The Aeneids of Virgil Part 18

Then they, whose mothers midst the wood G.o.d Bacchus overbore, To lead the dance--Amata's name being held in nowise light-- 581 Together draw from every side, and weary for the fight.

Yea, all with froward heart and voice cry out for war and death, That signs of heaven forbid so sore, that high G.o.d gainsayeth, And King Latinus' house therewith beset they eagerly; But he unmoved against them stands as crag amid the sea; As crag amid the sea, that stands unmoved and huge to meet The coming crash, while plenteously the waves bark round its feet: Vain is the roaring on the rocks and rattling shingly crash, The wrack from off its smitten sides falls down amid the wash. 590

But when no might is given him their blindness to o'ercome, And by the road fell Juno would the matter must win home, Sore called the father on the G.o.ds and emptiness of air: "Ah, broken by the Fates," he cried, "amid the storm we bear!

Ye with your G.o.dless blood yourselves shall pay the penalty, Unhappy men! But Turnus, thou, thine ill deed bideth thee With woe enough, and overlate the G.o.ds shalt thou adore.

For me, my rest is gained, my foot the threshold pa.s.seth o'er; Yet is my happy ending spilled."

Nor further would he say; But, hedged within his house, he cast the reins of rule away. 600

In Latium of the Westland world a fashion was whilome, Thence hallowed of the Alban folk, held holy thence by Rome, Earth's mightiest thing: and this they used what time soe'er they woke Mars unto battle; whether they against the Getic folk, Ind, Araby, Hyrcanian men, fashioned the woeful wrack, Or mid the dawn from Parthian men the banners bade aback.

For twofold are the Gates of War--still bear they such a name-- Hallowed by awe of Mars the dread, and worship of his fame, Shut by an hundred brazen bolts, and iron whose avail Shall never die: nor ever thence doth door-ward Ja.n.u.s fail. 610 Now when amid the Fathers' hearts fast is the war-rede grown, The Consul, girt in Gabine wise, and with Quirinus gown Made glorious, doth himself unbar the creaking door-leaves great, And he himself cries on the war; whom all men follow straight, The while their brazen yea-saying the griding trumpets blare.

In e'en such wise Latinus now was bidden to declare The battle 'gainst aeneas' folk, and ope the gates of woe.

But from their touch the Father shrank, and fleeing lest he do The evil deed, in eyeless dark he hideth him away.

Then slipped the Queen of G.o.ds from heaven, and ended their delay; For back upon their hinges turned the Seed of Saturn bore 621 The tarrying leaves, and burst apart the iron Gates of War, And all Ausonia yet unstirred brake suddenly ablaze: And some will go afoot to field, and some will wend their ways Aloft on horses dusty-fierce: all seek their battle-gear.

Some polish bright the buckler's face and rub the pike-point clear With fat of sheep; and many an axe upon the wheel is worn.

They joy to rear the banners up and hearken to the horn.

And now five mighty cities forge the point and edge anew On new-raised anvils; Tibur proud, Atina staunch to do, 630 Ardea and Crustumerium's folk, Antemnae castle-crowned.

They hollow helming for the head; they bend the withe around For buckler-boss: or other some beat breast-plates of the bra.s.s, Or from the toughened silver bring the shining greaves to pa.s.s.

Now fails all prize of share and hook, all yearning for the plough; The swords their fathers bore afield anew they smithy now.

Now is the gathering-trumpet blown; the battle-token speeds; And this man catches helm from wall; this thrusteth foaming steeds To collar; this his shield does on, and mail-coat threesome laid Of golden link, and girdeth him with ancient trusty blade. 640

O Muses, open Helicon, and let your song awake To tell what kings awoke to war, what armies for whose sake Filled up the meads; what men of war sweet mother Italy Bore unto flower and fruit as then; what flame of fight ran high: For ye remember, Holy Ones, and ye may tell the tale; But we--a slender breath of fame scarce by our ears may sail.

Mezentius first, the foe of G.o.ds, fierce from the Tuscan sh.o.r.e Unto the battle wends his way, and armeth host of war: Lausus, his son, anigh him wends;--no lovelier man than he, Save Turnus, the Laurentine-born, the crown of all to see.-- 650 Lausus, the tamer of the horse, the wood-deer's following bane, Who led from Agyllina's wall a thousand men in vain.

Worthy was he to have more mirth than 'neath Mezentius' sway; Worthy that other sire than he had given him unto day.

The goodly Aventinus next, glorious with palm of prize, Along the gra.s.s his chariot shows and steeds of victories, Sprung from the goodly Hercules, marked by his father's shield, Where Hydra girded hundred-fold with adders fills the field: Him Rhea the priestess on a day gave to the sun-lit earth, On wooded bent of Aventine, in secret stolen birth; 660 The woman mingled with a G.o.d, what time that, Geryon slain, The conquering man of Tiryns touched the fair Laurentian plain, And washed amidst the Tuscan stream the bulls Iberia bred.

These bear in war the bitter glaive and darts with piled head: With slender sword and Sabine staff the battle they abide; But he afoot and swinging round a monstrous lion's hide, Whose bristly brow and terrible with sharp white teeth a-row Hooded his head, beneath the roof where dwelt the king did go All s.h.a.ggy rough, his shoulders clad with Herculean cloak.

Then next twin brethren wend away from Tibur's town and folk, 670 Whose brother-born, Tiburtus, erst had named that citied place; Catillus, eager Coras they, men of the Argive race; In forefront of the battle-wood, mid thick of sleet they fare, Like as two centaurs cloud-begot, that down the mountains bear, Leaving the high-piled h.o.m.ole, and Othrys of the snow With hurrying hoofs: the mighty wood yields to them as they go; The tangle of the thicket-place before them gives aback.

Nor did Praeneste's raiser-up from field of battle lack, That Caeculus, whom king of men mid cattle of the mead, All ages of the world have trowed was Vulcan's very seed 680 Found on the hearth: from wide away gathered his rustic band: Those housed upon Praeneste's steep; they of the Juno land Of Gabii: abiders near cool Anio, they that dwell On Hernic rocks, the stream-bedewed: they whom thou feedest well, Anagnia rich; the foster-sons of Amasenus' coast.

Not all had arms, or clash of shield, or war-wain; but the most Cast the grey plummets forth, and some, the dart in hand they bear, And on the head the fallow fell of woodland wolf they wear For helming: now with all of them the left foot goes aground, Naked and bare; but with the hide untanned the left is bound. 690

Messapus lo, the horse-tamer, a child by Neptune won, Ne'er by the fire to be spilled, nor by the steel undone; His folk this long while sunk in peace, a battle-foolish band, He calleth suddenly to fight, and taketh sword in hand; aequi Falisci are of these, Fescennium's folk of fight, These lie upon Flavinium's lea, and hold Soracte's hight, And mere and mound of Ciminus, Capena's woodland broad.

With measured footfalls on they go, a-singing of their lord: As whiles the snowy swans will fare amid the world of cloud, Returning from their feeding-field; far goes the song and loud, 700 Whose notes along their necks they pour: the flood resounds, and all The Asian marish beat with song.

Scarce might ye deem the brazen ranks of such a mighty host Were gathered there: but rather fowl a-driving toward the coast, An airy cloud of hoa.r.s.e-voiced things drawn from the wallowing sea.

Lo sprung from ancient Sabine blood comes Clausus presently, Leading a mighty host, himself a very host of war; From whom the Claudian tribe and race hath spread itself afar Through Latium, since the Sabine folk was given a share in Rome: With him the Amiternian host and old Quirites come; 710 Eretus' host and they that keep Mutusca's olive gain, The biders in Nomentum's wall, and Veline Rosea's plain, The bristling rocks of Tetricae and high Severus' flank, Casperia and Foruli and wet Himella's bank; The drinkers of the Tiber-stream and Fabaris, and folk Cool Nursia sends, and Horta's troop, and men of Latin yoke; And they whom hapless Allia parts with wash of waters wan: As many as on Lybian main the tumbling waves roll on When fierce Orion falls to sleep in wintry waters' lair; Or thick as stand the wheaten ears the young sun burneth there 720 On Hermus' plain or Lycia's lea a-yellowing for the hook: Loud clashed the shields, and earth afeared beneath their footfalls shook.

Halaesus, Agamemnon's blood, a foe to Troy inbred, Next yoked the horses to the car; a thousand men he led, Fierce folk for Turnus: they that hoe the vine-fair Ma.s.sic soil; And they that from their lofty hills adown unto the broil Aruncan fathers sent, and they of Sidicinum's lea; All who leave Cales, all whose homes beside Vulturnus be, The shoally water: with them went Saticula's fierce band, And host of Oscans: slender shafts are weapons of their hand, 730 Which same to toughened casting-thong amid the fight they tie; With bucklered left and scanty blade they come to blows anigh.

Nor, Oebalus, shalt thou unsung from this our story fail, Whom Telon on nymph Sebethis begat as tells the tale When Teleboan Capreae he reigned o'er waxen old; Whose son might not abide to sit within his father's fold; But even then held neath his sway the country far and wide, Sarrastes' folk, and all the plain along the Sarnus side.

Celenna's lea, and Batulum, and folk of Rufra's town, And those on whom Abella's walls, the apple-rich, look down. 740 But these are wont to hurl the spear after the Teuton wise, Their heads are helmed with e'en such bark as on the holm-oak lies: All brazen-wrought their targets gleam, their brazen sword-blades flash.

'Twas Nursae in the heart of hills sent thee to battle-clash, O Ufens, well renowned of fame, and rich in battle's grace; Whose folk are roughest lived of men, eager for woodland chase; aequiculi they hight; who dwell on land of little gain, And ever armed they till the earth, and ever are they fain To drive the spoil from hour to hour, and live upon the prey.

Then Umbro of the hardy heart went on the battle-way; 750 Priest was he of Marruvian folk; about his helm was bent The happy olive, leaf and twig: him King Archippus sent: Wont was he with his hand and voice the bitter viper-kind And water-worms of evil breath in bonds of sleep to bind; And he would soothe the wrath of them, and dull their bite by craft, Yet nothing might he heal the hurt that came of Dardan shaft; Nay, nothing might the sleepy song avail against his bane, All herbs on Marsian mountains plucked were nought thereto and vain.

Anguitia's thicket wept for thee, Fucinus wave of gla.s.s, The thin wan waters wept for thee. 760

Most goodly Virbius went to war, Hippolytus' own son: His mother fair Aricia sent this battle-glorious one From fostering of Egeria's wood, from out the marish place Where standeth Dian's altar rich fulfilled of plenteous grace.

For folk say, when Hippolytus, undone by step-dame's lie, Had paid unto his father's wrath that utmost penalty, He, piecemeal torn by maddened steeds, yet came aback to live Beneath the starry firmament, and air that heaven doth give, Brought back to life by healing herbs and Dian's cherishing: Then the Almighty Father, wroth that any mortal thing 770 Should rise again to light of life from nether shadows wan, Beat down with bolt to Stygian wave the Phoebus-gotten man, The finder of such healing craft, the wise in such an art.

But Trivia's lovingkindness hid Hippolytus apart, And in the nymph Egeria's wood she held him many a day: Alone in woods of Italy he wore his life away, Deedless, his very name all changed, and Virbius by-named then.

So for this cause to Trivia's fane and hallowed grove do men Drive horn-foot steeds, because, o'ercome by sea-beasts dread of yore, Piecemeal the chariot and the man they strewed about the sh.o.r.e. 780 No less his son would drive the steeds across the level plain For all their heat, and rush to war aloft in battle-wain.

Now mid the forefront Turnus self of body excellent, Strode sword in hand: there by the head all others he outwent: His threefold crested helm upbore Chimaera in her wrath; Where very flame of aetna's womb her jaws were pouring forth; And fiercer of her flames was she, and madder of her mood As bloomed the battle young again with more abundant blood.

But on the smoothness of his shield was golden Io shown With upraised horns, with hairy skin, a very heifer grown,-- 790 A n.o.ble tale;--and Argus there was wrought, the maiden's ward; And father Inachus from bowl well wrought the river poured.

A cloud of foot-folk follow him; his shielded people throng The meadows all about; forth goes the Argive manhood strong; Aruncan men and Rutuli, Sicanians of old years, Sacranian folk, Labicus' band the blazoned shield-bearers: Thy thicket-biders, Tiber; those that holy acres till Beside Numicus, those that plough Rutulian holt and hill, And ridges of Circaei: they whose meadows Anxur Jove Looks down on, where Feronia joys amid her fair green grove; 800 Where Satura's black marish lies, where chilly Ufens glides, Seeking a way through lowest dales, till in the sea he hides.

And after these from Volscian folk doth fair Camilla pa.s.s, Leading a mighty host of horse all blossoming with bra.s.s; A warrior maid, whose woman's hands unused to ply the rock, Unused to bear Minerva's crate, were wise in battle's shock.

The very winds might she outgo with hurrying maiden feet, Or speed across the topmost blades of tall unsmitten wheat, Nor ever hurt the tender ears below her as she ran; Or she might walk the middle sea, and cross the welter wan, 810 Nor dip the nimble soles of her amid the wavy ways.

From house and field the youth pours forth to wonder and to gaze; The crowd of mothers stands at stare all marvelling, and beholds Her going forth; how kingly cloak of purple dye enfolds Her shining shoulders, how the clasp of gold knots up her hair, And how a quiver Lycian-wrought the Queen herself doth bear, And shepherd's staff of myrtle-wood steel-headed to a spear.

BOOK VIII.

ARGUMENT.

THE LATINS SEEK HELP OF DIOMEDE, AND aeNEAS OF EVANDER, TO WHOM HE GOETH AS A GUEST. VENUS CAUSETH VULCAN TO FORGE ARMOUR AND WEAPONS FOR HER SON aeNEAS.

When Turnus from Laurentum's burg the battle-sign upreared, When with their voices hard and shrill the gathering trumpets blare, When he had stirred his war-steeds on and clashed his weed of war, All troubled were the minds of men, and midst of tumult sore All Latium swore the battle oath, and rage of men outbroke; Messapus then, and Ufens great, the dukes of warring folk, Mezentius, scorner of the G.o.ds, these drive from every side The folk to war, and waste the fields of tillers far and wide.

And Venulus is sent withal to Diomedes' town To pray for aid, and tell him how the Teucrians are come down 10 On Latium: how aeneas comes with ship-host, carrying His vanquished House-G.o.ds, calling him the Fate-ordained King; How many a folk of Italy hath joined the Dardan lord, How that his name in Latin land is grown a mighty word-- 'What thing the man will build from this, what way the prize of fight, If Fortune aid him he shall turn--through this thou see'st more light Than cometh to King Turnus yet or King Latinus eyes.

So goes the world in Latium now, and noting how all lies, The Trojan hero drifts adown a mighty tide of care, And hither now his swift thought speeds, now thither bids it fare, 20 And sends it diversely about by every way to slip: As quivering light of water is in brazen vessel's lip, Smit by the sun, or casting back the image of the moon.

It flitteth all about the place, and rising upward soon Smiteth the fashioned ceiling spread beneath the tiling steep.

Night fell, and over all the world the earthly slumber deep Held weary things, the fowl of air, the cattle of the wold, And on the bank beneath the crown of heaven waxen cold, Father aeneas, all his heart with woeful war oppressed, Lay stretched along and gave his limbs the tardy meed of rest: 30 When lo, between the poplar-leaves the G.o.dhead of the place, E'en Tiber of the lovely stream, arose before his face, A veil of linen grey and thin the elder's body clad, And garlanding of shady sedge the tresses of him had; And thus aeneas he bespeaks to take away his woe:

"O Seed of G.o.ds, who bearest us Troy-town from midst the foe, Who savest Pergamus new-born no more to die again, Long looked-for on Laurentine earth and fields of Latin men; This is your sure abiding-place, your House-G.o.ds' very stead; Turn not, nor fear the battle-threats, for now hath fallen dead 40 The swelling storm of G.o.dhead's wrath.

And lest thou think I forge for thee an idle dream of sleep, Amid the holm-oaks of the sh.o.r.e a great sow shalt thou see, Who e'en now farrowed thirty head of young; there lieth she All white along, with piglings white around her uddered sides: That earth shall be thy dwelling-place; there rest from toil abides.

From thence Ascanius, when the year hath thrice ten times rolled round, Shall raise a city, calling it by Alba's name renowned.

No doubtful matters do I sing,--but how to speed thee well, And win thee victor from all this, in few words will I tell: 50 Arcadian people while agone, a folk from Pallas come, Following Evander for their king, have borne his banners home, And chosen earth, and reared their town amid a mountain place E'en Pallanteum named, from him who first began their race: This folk against the Latin men for ever wages fight, Bid them as fellows to thy camp, and treaty with them plight; But I by bank and flow of flood will straightly lead thee there, While thou with beating of the oars the stream dost overbear.

Arise, arise, O G.o.ddess-born, when the first star-world sets, Make prayer to Juno in due wise; o'ercome her wrath and threats 60 With suppliant vows: victorious grown, thou yet shalt worship me; For I am that abundant flood whom thou today dost see Sweeping the bank and cleaving way amid the plenteous earth, Blue Tiber, sweetest unto heaven of all the streams of worth.

This is my mighty house; my head from lofty cities sweeps."

The River spake, and hid himself amid the watery deeps; But night and slumber therewithal aeneas' eyes forsook; He rose and toward the dawning-place and lights of heaven 'gan look, And duly in his hollow hand he lifted water fair 69 From out the stream, and unto heaven in such wise poured his prayer:

"O Nymphs, Laurentian Nymphs, from whence the race of rivers springs, And thou, O father Tiber fair, with holy wanderings, Cherish aeneas; thrust from me the bitter following bane, What pool soe'er may nurse thy spring, O pityer of my pain, From whatso land, O loveliest, thy stream may issue forth.

For ever will I give thee gifts, and worship well thy worth, Horned river, of all Westland streams the very king and lord; Only be with me; faster bind thy great G.o.d-uttered word."

Thus having said, two twi-banked keels he chooseth from the fleet, And mans the oars and dights his folk with gear and weapons meet. 80

But lo meanwhile a wondrous sign is thrust before his eyes; For on the green-sward of the wood a snow-white sow there lies Down by the strand, her little ones, like-hued, about her pressed; Whom G.o.d-loving aeneas slays to thee, O mightiest, O Juno, at thine altar-fires hallowing both dam and brood.

Now while the long night wore away, the swelling of his flood Had Tiber soothed, and eddying back in peace the stream was stayed, And in the manner of a mere the water's face was laid, Or as a pool, that so the oars unstrained their work may ply.

So now they speed their journey forth amid a happy cry; 90 The oiled fir slips along the seas, the waves fall wondering then,-- The woods, unused, fall wondering sore to see the shields of men Shine far up stream; to see the keels bepainted swimming there: But day and night, with beat of oars, the watery way they wear, And conquer reaches long, o'erlaid with many a shifting tree, And cleave the forest fair and green along the waveless sea.