Aeneid

Created by: alijen
Created on: 04-12-18 12:55

AENEID: But indeed Aeneas losing his mind, became speechless at the sight and his hair stood on end and his voice stuck in his throat. He burns to depart in flight and to leave the sweet lands, astonished by so great a warning and the command of the

gods. Alas, what should he do? With what speech now should he dare to approach the queen? What first beginning should he choose? And he divides his mind in all directions, racing, now this way, now that, and wrenches it in all sorts of directions,

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and turns it through all things. To him hesitating, this decision seemed better: he calls for Mnestheus and Sergestus and brave Serestus: Silently he let them prepare the fleet and assemble their companions at the shore, let them prepare arms and let

them conceal what is the reason for the change of plan; he himself, meanwhile, while noble Dido is unaware and does not expect such great loves to be broken, tried out which might be the most tender times of speaking, and what may be the right way of

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speaking, and what may be the right way of things. Swiftly they all delighted to obey his commands and performed his orders. But the queen (who could deceive a lover?) anticipated his deceits, and was the first to catch wind of the coming movements

fearing all things safe. This same unruly Rumour reported to her raging that the fleet was being fitted out and the voyage prepared. She rages senseless in her mind and inflamed she raves in a frenzy through the whole of the city, just like a Thyiad

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who has been excited by the shaking of sacred objects with Bacchus having been heard, the three yearly sacred rites goads her and at night, mount Cithaeron calls her with its cry. At last with these words of her own accord she addresses Aeneas: ‘did

you really expect, treacherous one, to be able to hide so great a crime and silently steal away from my land? Neither our love, nor your right hand once given more Dido being about to die by a cruel death holds you back? Even more, do you hasten, oh

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cruel one to get under way your fleet in the winter season and to go across the deep (sea) in the midst of the North Winds. What (would you be doing) if you were not seeking foreign lands and an unknown home, and ancient Troy still remained, would

Troy now be sought by your fleets through the surging sea? Is it me you flee from? Through these tears and by your right hand (since I myself have left nothing else for me, wretched as I am) by our marriage, by our marriage having begun, if I have

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treated you well, or anything of mine has been sweet to you, have pity on a house that is falling and I beg you, if there is any place for prayers, lay aside this intention” thus she had spoken. He, by the warnings of Jupiter held his eyes unmoved

and standing firm, was pressing down his cares deep in his heart at last he answers with a few words: I will never deny, oh queen that you have done all those very many kind services to me which you can list in speaking, nor will it distress me to

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remember Elissa as long as I remember myself, as long as life rules those limbs. I will say a few words on the matter. Neither I hoped (don’t imagine it) to conceal this flight by stealth nor did I ever hold out the marriage torches of a husband or

did I enter into those contracts. If the fates were allowing me to lead my life by my own auspices and to arrange my concerns by my own will, I would first be looking after the Trojan city and sweet remains of my people. The high towers of Priam

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would remain, and with my hand I would have laid down a rebuilt Troy for the defeated. But Gryneus Apollo, the Lycian oracles, now have ordered me to strive for Italy, great Italy, this is my love, this is my native land. If the towers of Carthage

and the sight of a Libyan City, detain you, a Phoenician what grudge is there, I ask you, for the Teucrians to settle on Ausorian land? It is allowed for us also to seek out foreign kingdoms. As often as night covers the land with dripping shadows,

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as often as the fiery stars rise, the vision of my father Anchises is warning me in my sleep and troubled, terrifies (me), the boy Ancanius (warns) me and the wronging of his dear person whom I am depriving of the kingdom of the west and the lands

ordained by fate. Now even the messenger of the Gods sent by Jupiter himself. (I call witness to each person) has brought down demands through the swift breezes: myself in the clear light (of day) I saw the god entering his walls and I drank in his

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words with these ears cease to inflame both me and you with your complaints; I do not seek Italy of my own free will’. Go, follow Italy with the winds, seek kingdoms across the waves. I hope indeed if the good divinities have any power, you will

drink your fill of punishments in the midst of the rocks and often be about to call out ‘Dido’. Absent, I will follow with black fires and, when chill death has parted the limbs from my soul, I shall be there, as a ghost, in all places. Wicked one

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you will pay the penalty I shall hear and this report will come to me deep in the shades far below.’ With these words she breaks off her speech in the midst and faint she flees the breezes and turns herself away from his eyes and takes herself away,

leaving him hesitating and preparing to say many things. Her maid servants hold her up and her fainting limbs, they carry her back to the marble chamber and lay her down on the couch. But dutiful Aeneas, although he desires to calm her grief by

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comforting and to divert her cares with words, groaning much and his mind shaken by (his) great love nevertheless he carries out the orders of the gods and returns to the fleet. Among whom Phoenician Dido fresh from her wound was wondering in the

great forest: whom when at first the Trojan hero stood beside her and recognised her dimly seen through the shadows, like the moon which a man sees or thinks he sees to be rising among the cloud at the month’s beginning he let loose tears and with

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tender love addressed her: ‘unhappy Dido, so a true message had come to me of your death and to have your end with a sword? Alas, was I the cause of your death? I swear by the stars by the gods above and by whatever oath is below in the depths of the

earth unwilling Queen, I quit your shore. But I was commanded by the gods, which now compel me to go through these shades through places fall with decay and deepest night, they drove with their commands; nor did I believe that leaving there would

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bring you to such great grief. Halt your footsteps and do not withdraw yourself from our seeing. Whom do you flee? The last thing allowed us by fate which I address to you is this.’ With such words Aeneas was soothing her fiery spirit and savage

looks and brought forth tears. She turned away and fixed her eyes on the ground her face not moved anymore by the conversation begun than if she were set as hard flint or Marpesian marble. At last she tore herself away and hostile fled back into the

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shady grove where Sychaeus, her husband in former times responded to her cares and returns equally her love. Aeneas, no less stricken by her unjust fate followed her, far off, with his tears and laments her.

The end.

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Aeneid

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Card 2

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