The Aeneid Book X

Lines 215-275

Iamque dies caelo concesserat almaque curru 215

And now the day had vanished from the sky, and kind {Phoebe} with [her] chariot

noctivago Phoebe medium pulsabat Olympum:

wandering through the night {Phoebe} was driving on the middle of Olympus [heaven]

Aeneas (neque enim membris dat cura quietem)

Aeneas (for care gives no rest to [his] limbs)

ipse sedens clavumque regit velisque ministrat.

Himself sitting and he controls the rudder, and tends to the sails.

atque illi medio in spatio chorus, ecce, suarum

and there, in mid-wander, a chorus, look, of his

occurrit comitum: nymphae, quas alma Cybebe 220

companions appears: nymphs, who kind Cybebe

numen habere maris nymphasque e navibus esse

to have divine power of the sea and nymphs from ships to be

iusserat, innabant pariter fluctusque secabant,

had commanded, were swimming up together, and cutting the waves,

quot prius aeratae steterant ad litora prorae.

As many as the bronze prows [which] had previously lain on the beach.

agnoscunt longe regem lustrantque choreis;

They recognise from afar [their] king, and shining in a round dance;

quarum quae fandi doctissima Cymodocea 225

of them, she who [was] most eloquent for what is to be said, Cymodocea

pone sequens dextra puppim tenet ipsaque dorso

following at the stern, she holds the deck with her right hand, and she herself [her] back

eminet ac laeva tacitis subremigat undis.

Projects and [her] left hand in silence rows under the waves,

tum sic ignarum adloquitur: 'vigilasne, deum gens,

then in this way the unaware [one] is spoken to: “do you remain awake, you born of the gods,

Aenea? vigila et velis immitte rudentis.

Aeneas? Awake and let loose the cloths of the sails.

nos sumus, Idaeae sacro de vertice pinus, 230

We are, sacred pine of the peak of Ida,

nunc pelagi nymphae, classis tua. perfidus ut nos

Now nymphs of the sea, your ships. We, since the disloyal

praecipitis ferro Rutulus flammaque premebat,

Rutulian with iron and flame was pressing in danger,

rupimus invitae tua vincula teque per aequor

We broke unwillingly your bonds, and you through the sea

quaerimus. hanc genetrix faciem miserata refecit

Sought. That mother, having taken pity, reformed

et dedit esse deas aevumque agitare sub undis. 235

And gave that we be goddesses and ageless to stir among the waves.

at puer Ascanius muro fossisque tenetur

Yet the boy Ascanius at the wall and moats is held

tela inter media atque horrentis Marte Latinos.

In between spears and Latins trembling for Mars [war].

iam loca iussa tenent forti permixtus Etrusco

Already hold the commanded positions, mixed with brave Etruscans

Arcas eques; medias illis opponere turmas,

The Arcadian cavalry; to fight against them the central cavalry squadrons,

ne castris iungant, certa est sententia Turno. 240

Lest they join the camp, is for certain the intention of Turnus.

surge age et Aurora socios veniente vocari

Rise then, and in the coming of dawn, call [your] companions,

primus in arma iube, et clipeum cape quem dedit ipse

command [them] to arms, and take the shield which gave himself

invictum ignipotens atque oras ambiit auro.

The undisputed master of fire, he even skirted the rims with gold.

crastina lux, mea si non inrita dicta putaris,

Tomorrow’s light, if you don’t think my speech invalid,

ingentis Rutulae spectabit caedis acervos.' 245

Will see huge masses of slaughtered Rutulians.”

dixerat et dextra discedens impulit altam

She had spoken, and departing, pushed with her right hand the tall

haud ignara modi puppim: fugit illa per undas

Ship, hardly ignorant of the way: it flew through the waves

ocior et iaculo et ventos aequante sagitta.

Swifter [than] both a javelin and an arrow equalling the winds.

inde aliae celerant cursus. stupet inscius ipse

From there the others sped along on their way. Himself bewildered hesitates

Tros Anchisiades, animos tamen omine tollit. 250

The Trojan of Anchises, his spirit however lifted at the omen.

tum breviter supera aspectans convexa precatur:

then briefly, looking at the vaulted sky, he prayed:

'alma parens Idaea deum, cui Dindyma cordi

“kind mother of the gods of Ida, to whose heart [are dear] Dindymus

turrigeraeque urbes biiugique ad frena leones,

and turreted cities and lions yoked to a harness,

tu mihi nunc pugnae princeps, tu rite propinques

You [are] now my leader in battle, hasten solemnly

augurium Phrygibusque adsis pede, diva, secundo.' 255

Augury, and be by [your] foot by the Phryigians, goddess, for a second time.”

tantum effatus, et interea revoluta ruebat

having uttered as much, and meanwhile hastening was the revolving,

matura iam luce dies noctemque fugarat;

Ripe light of day now, and the night had fled;

principio sociis edicit signa sequantur

First he ordered his companions to follow his signals

atque animos aptent armis pugnaeque parent se.

And then to adapt their spirits to arms, and prepare themselves for battle.

Iamque in conspectu Teucros habet et sua castra 260

And now in sight has he the Trojans and his camp

stans celsa in puppi, clipeum cum deinde sinistra

Standing on the tall stern, henceforth with his left hand the shield

extulit ardentem. clamorem ad sidera tollunt

Blazing he displayed, a shout to the stars raised

Dardanidae e muris, spes addita suscitat iras,

The Dardanidans on the wall, added hope raises wraths,

tela manu iaciunt, quales sub nubibus atris

Spears by hand they throw, which [like] under gloomy clouds

Strymoniae dant signa grues atque aethera tranant 265

Strymonian cranes give signs and pass through the air

cum sonitu, fugiuntque Notos clamore secundo.

With sound, and they flee the South wind with their noise following.

at Rutulo regi ducibusque ea mira videri

To the Rutulian king and the {Italian} leaders this sight seemed,

Ausoniis, donec versas ad litora puppis

{Italian}, until turned to the beach the ships

respiciunt totumque adlabi classibus aequor.

They saw, and the whole sea moving with fleets.

ardet apex capiti cristisque a vertice flamma 270

The top of his head blazed, and from the crests on his head flames

funditur et vastos umbo vomit aureus ignis:

Flames were strewn, and the golden boss spewed vast fires:

non secus ac liquida si quando nocte cometae

Not differently if when by calm night comets

sanguinei lugubre rubent, aut Sirius ardor

bloody [and] ominous red are, or [when] fire[y] Sirius

ille sitim morbosque ferens mortalibus aegris

that [star] bearing drought and plague, troublesome to mortals

nascitur et laevo contristat lumine caelum. 275

rises and makes gloomy with its unlucky light the sky.