The Shield of Aeneas by Virgil

Then the goddess Venus was there, shinning among the heavenly clouds. She saw her son in a remote valley in the distance and he was cut off by a cold river. She addressed him with these words and suddenly appeared.

“Look! Gifts, finished by the promised skills of my husband: Vulcan.  Do not hesitate to challenge either the proud Laurentines or the violent Turnus to battle” she said this and sought the embraces of her son; she placed the shining weapons under the oak tree opposite.

He was delighted by the great hour of his mother’s gifts. He could not look enough he rolled his eyes through every single object. He was amazed and took in his hands and arms and turned over the helmet with its terrifying crest pouring out flames, the deadly sword, the breast plate made of solid bronze, blood red, and huge like when a dark blue cloud glows with the rays of the sun and reflects in the distance, then the smooth greaves (leg armour) made of re-forged amber-metal and gold, the spear and the indescribable fabric of the shield.

On it Vulcan, the master of fire had crafted the events in Italy and the triumphs of the Romans. Fully aware of the profits and knowing of the age to come there he had crafted the whole race of the future offspring of Ascanius, and the wars fought in order.

Among these things there flowed the image of a golden sea swelling far and wide, but the blue sea foamed with white waves, and around it in a circle there were bright silver dolphins sweeping the sea with their tails and cutting through the tides. In the middle of the shield, it was possible to see the bronze fleets from the battle of Actium, and you might see the whole (headland) of Leucate seething/boiling in full battle order and the waves shining with gold.

On this side was Augustus Caesar leading the Italians into battle along with the senate and the people, the household gods and the great gods, himself standing on the raised stern (back of the boat), and his temples happily pour out double flames. And his father’s star appears at the top of his head.

In another part of the shield, Agrippa (the general) is leading with favourable winds and gods, and his temples shine with the naval crown adorned with the…