Thursday, October 8, 2009

187-266

187 Here Aeneas settled and in his hand snatched up his bow and quick arrows, the weapons which loyal Achates was carrying, and first the leaders themselves, he lay low their high heads bearing branching horns, then the herd, and confused the whole crowd driving them with his weapons among the leafy forest; and he did not stop sooner than he lays out seven mighty bodies on the ground in triumph and with the number (of deer) equaling with the ships. The he seeks the port and divides (the deer) among all his comrades. Then he divides the wine(s) which good Acestes had loaded into jars on the Trinacrian shores and which the hero had given to the departing and soothed the grieving chests with speech:
198 "O, comrades, (and we are indeed not ignorant of troubles before), O [you] having suffered grave things, the gods will give these an end also. You approached the deeply roaring cliffs and the Scyllian rage, you experienced the rocks of the Cyclopes: (recall your spirits and send (away) mournful dread); perhaps even these things at some time will be pleasing to remember. Through various misfortunes, through so many crises of things we are extending into Latium; where the fates are showing quiet chairs (homes); there it is right that the kingdom of Troy to rise. Harden yourselves, save yourselves for favorable things."
He says such things with a voice, and weary with huge cares he imitates hope with his countenance, he controls his deep grief in his heart. They gird themselves ............ [I lost my translation here].............
220 Now pious Aeneas especially groans to himself for the suffering of sharp Orontes, now for Amycus and the cruel fate of strong Lycus and strong Gyas and Cloanthus. And now there was an end, when Jupiter looking down from the highest heavens at the sea winged with sails and the lying low lands and shores and wide nations, thus he stood on the top of heaven and fastened his eyes at the kingdom(s) of Libya.
227 And the sadder Venus, having filled her shining eyes with tears, addressed him (Jupiter), such worries such worries buffeting in his breast: O [you] who rules the affairs both of men and of the gods with eternal command and you terrify with lightning, what so great [offense] was my Aeneas able to commit against you, what were the Trojans able to [commit], to whom the whole globe of lands is closed off on account of Italy, having suffered so many disasters? Surely you promised, that from here the Romans, with the years rolling, will be leaders, recalled from the blood of Teucris, who hold the sea, who hold all the lands by power. What opinion turns you, forefather? Indeed I was being consoled with this (by myself) balancing the opposite fates, the fall of Troy and the sad ruins with the fates. Now the same fate follows the men driven by so many sufferings. What end do you give, great king, of their labors? Antenor havgin escaped the midst of the Greeks was able to penetrate the Illyrian bay and safe to overcome the inmost kingdoms of Liburnia and the font of Timavus, from which through the nine mouths with the vast roaring of the mountains it comes into the furious sea and overwhelms the fields with its resounding sea. Here however he established the city and the homes of Patavius and gave a name to the race of the Teucrians and fixed the arms of Troy, now he rests having settled in placid peace. We, your offspring, to whom you promised the palace of heaven, with ships having been lost on account of the anger of one (unspeakable!) we are betrayed and we are being separated far from the shore of Italy. [Is] this the reward for piety? Thus you, in power, reward us?"
254 The father of men and of the gods smiling at her with the face, which calms the sky and tempests, he poured out kisses to his daughter, here he says such things: "Spare your fear, Cytherea, the fates of your people remain unmoved for you; you will discern the city and the promised walls of Lavinia and you will bring great-souled and on high Aeneas to the stars of heaven; and no opinion turns me. He shall wage a great war for you in Italy (I will even say, since this worry troubles you, and I will move the secrets of the fates rolling farther) and he will crush the fierce peoples and he will place laws for men and [city] walls, until the third summer will have seen his reign in Latium, and three winters will have passed by with the Rutulians having been subdued.