Arma virumque cano, Troiae qui primus ab oris
Arms and a man I sing, who was the first from the shores of Troy,
Italiam, fato profugus, Laviniaque venit
a fugitive by fate, to come to Italy and the Lavinian
litora, multum ille et terris iactatus et alto
shores — (having been) buffeted much both on lands and on sea
vi superum saevae memorem Iunonis ob iram;
by the force of the gods, because of the mindful wrath of cruel Juno,
multa quoque et bello passus, dum conderet urbem,
5
and also (having) suffered many things in war, until he should found a city
inferretque deos Latio, genus unde Latinum,
and bear the gods into Latium — from where (came) the Latin race
Albanique patres, atque altae moenia Romae.
and the Alban fathers and the walls of lofty Rome.
Musa, mihi causas memora, quo numine laeso,
Muse, recall for me the reasons, because of what divine will (having been) slighted
quidve dolens, regina deum tot volvere casus
or suffering what did the queen of the gods drive
insignem pietate virum, tot adire labores
10 a man marked by devotion to undergo so many misfortunes,
impulerit. Tantaene animis caelestibus irae?
to encounter so many hardships. Do heavenly minds (have) such wrath?
Urbs antiqua fuit, Tyrii tenuere coloni,
There was an ancient city, Tyrian colonists held (it),
Karthago, Italiam contra Tiberinaque longe
Carthage, opposite Italy and the mouth(s) of the Tiber by far,
ostia, dives opum studiisque asperrima belli;
rich of resources and very fierce in (respect to) zeal for war;
quam Iuno fertur terris magis omnibus unam
15 which Juno is said to have cherished alone more than all of the lands
posthabita coluisse Samo; hic illius arma,
with Samos (having been) placed after: here (were) her arms,
hic currus fuit; hoc regnum dea gentibus esse,
here was her chariot; for this to be the kingdom for the nations,
si qua fata sinant, iam tum tenditque fovetque.
if in any way the fates would allow, the goddess already then both strives and cherishes.
Progeniem sed enim Troiano a sanguine duci
But indeed she had heard that a race had been led from Trojan blood
audierat, Tyrias olim quae verteret arces;
20 which would one day overturn Tyrian citadels;
hinc populum late regem belloque superbum
hence that a people ruling widely and proud in war
venturum excidio Libyae: sic volvere Parcas.
would come as the destruction for Libya: that thus the Fates had spun.
Id metuens, veterisque memor Saturnia belli,
Saturnia, fearing this and mindful of the former war,
prima quod ad Troiam pro caris gesserat Argis—
which she foremost had waged near Troy on behalf of her dear Argos—
necdum etiam causae irarum saevique dolores
25 not yet, too, had the reasons for her wrath and the cruel sorrows
exciderant animo: manet alta mente repostum
fallen from her mind: the judgment of Paris remains stored up in her deep mind
iudicium Paridis spretaeque iniuria formae,
and the injury of her spurned beauty,
et genus invisum, et rapti Ganymedis honores—
and the envied race, and the honors of snatched up Ganymede—
his accensa super, iactatos aequore toto
inflamed at these things, moreover, [Saturnia, from line 23] was warding the Trojans,
Troas, reliquias Danaum atque immitis Achilli,
30 tossed on the entire sea, the remnants of the Greeks and fierce Achilles,
arcebat longe Latio, multosque per annos
from Latium far off, and through many years
errabant, acti fatis, maria omnia circum.
they were wandering, driven by their fates, around all of the seas.
Tantae molis erat Romanam condere gentem!
Of so great a burden it was to found the Roman race!
Vix e conspectu Siculae telluris in altum
Scarcely out of sight of Sicilian land on the deep (sea)
vela dabant laeti, et spumas salis aere ruebant,
cum Iuno, aeternum servans sub pectore vulnus,
35 happ(il)y they were giving their sails, and they were plowing the foam of the salt with bronze,
when Juno, nursing an ever-lasting wound at the bottom of her heart,
haec secum: “Mene incepto desistere victam,
to herself (said) these things: “(Who would think) me to cease from something begun, defeated,
nec posse Italia Teucrorum avertere regem?
and not to be able to avert the king of the Teucrians from Italy?
Quippe vetor fatis. Pallasne exurere classem
Surely I am forbidden by the fates. Was Pallas able to burn up an Argive fleet
Argivum atque ipsos potuit submergere ponto,
40 and to sink the very men in the sea
unius ob noxam et furias Aiacis Oilei?
because of the crime of one and the frenzy of Ajax of Oileus?
Ipsa Iovis rapidum iaculata e nubibus ignem
She herself hurled the swift fire of Jupiter from the clouds,
disiecitque rates evertitque aequora ventis,
and she scattered the ships and overturned the waters with the winds,
illum expirantem transfixo pectore flammas
him, breathing out flames from his pierced breast,
turbine corripuit scopuloque infixit acuto.
45 she snatched up with a whirlwind and impaled on a sharp crag.
Ast ego, quae divum incedo regina, Iovisque
But I, who stride in as queen of the gods and Jupiter’s
et soror et coniunx, una cum gente tot annos
both sister and wife, with one nation for so many years
bella gero! Et quisquam numen Iunonis adorat
am waging wars! And who worships the divinity of Juno,
praeterea, aut supplex aris imponet honorem?”
Talia flammato secum dea corde volutans
moreover, or will as a suppliant place honor on her altars?”
50 Turning [i.e., considering] such things to herself in her inflamed heart, the goddess
nimborum in patriam, loca feta furentibus austris,
into the country of the clouds, regions teaming with raging winds,
Aeoliam venit. Hic vasto rex Aeolus antro
Aeolia, comes. Here, King Aeolus in his vast cave
luctantes ventos tempestatesque sonoras
represses the struggling winds and the howling storms
imperio premit ac vinclis et carcere frenat.
with his sway and reins them with chains and a prison.
Illi indignantes magno cum murmure montis
55 They, being indignant, with a great murmur of the mountain
circum claustra fremunt; celsa sedet Aeolus arce
roar around the barriers; Aeolus sits on his lofty stronghold
sceptra tenens, mollitque animos et temperat iras.
holding the scepter, and he calms their spirits and he controls their wrath.
Ni faciat, maria ac terras caelumque profundum
If he were not doing (this), surely they would carry (off) the seas and the lands and deep heaven
quippe ferant rapidi secum verrantque per auras.
swift(ly) with themselves and would sweep (them) through the breezes.
Sed pater omnipotens speluncis abdidit atris,
60 But the all-powerful father hid (them) in black caves,
hoc metuens, molemque et montes insuper altos
fearing this, and he placed on top (of them) a burden and tall mountains,
imposuit, regemque dedit, qui foedere certo
and he gave (them) a king who, by a sure agreement,
et premere et laxas sciret dare iussus habenas.
would know (how) both to control them and to give loose reins when ordered.
Ad quem tum Iuno supplex his vocibus usa est:
To him then Juno as a suppliant used these words:
“Aeole, namque tibi divum pater atque hominum rex
65 “Aeolus, indeed to you the father of the gods and the king of men
et mulcere dedit fluctus et tollere vento,
has granted both to soothe and to raise the waves with the wind,
gens inimica mihi Tyrrhenum navigat aequor,
a race unfriendly to me sails the Tyrrhenian sea,
Ilium in Italiam portans victosque Penates:
carrying Troy and its defeated Penates into Italy:
incute vim ventis submersasque obrue puppes,
strike power into the winds and overwhelm the sunken ships,
aut age diversos et disiice corpora ponto.
70 or drive them scattered and scatter their bodies on the sea.
Sunt mihi bis septem praestanti corpore nymphae,
I have twice seven nymphs with excellent body,
quarum quae forma pulcherrima Deiopea
of whom (the one) who is most beautiful in shape, Deiopea,
conubio iungam stabili propriamque dicabo,
I will join (to you) in a lasting marriage and will dedicate as your own,
omnes ut tecum meritis pro talibus annos
so that with you, [in return] for such merits,
exigat, et pulchra faciat te prole parentem.”
75 she will spend all of the years and will make you a parent with handsome offspring.”
Aeolus haec contra: “Tuus, O regina, quid optes
Aeolus (said) these things in reply: “(It is) your task, O queen,
explorare labor; mihi iussa capessere fas est.
to examine what you wish; for me it is the divine law to perform the things ordered.
Tu mihi, quodcumque hoc regni, tu sceptra Iovemque
You reconcile to me whatever of a kingdom this is, you (reconcile to me) the scepter and Jupiter,
concilias, tu das epulis accumbere divum,
you grant (me) to recline at the banquets of the gods,
nimborumque facis tempestatumque potentem.”
80 and you make (me) powerful of clouds and storms.”
Haec ubi dicta, cavum conversa cuspide montem
When these things (were) said, with his spear turned
impulit in latus; ac venti, velut agmine facto,
he strikes the hollow mountain into the side; and the winds, just as with a battle line made,
qua data porta, ruunt et terras turbine perflant.
where a portal (has been) given, rush and blow through the lands with a whirlwind.
Incubuere mari, totumque a sedibus imis
They have lain upon the sea, and they overturn the entire (sea) from the deepest seats
una Eurusque Notusque ruunt creberque procellis
85 together both the Eurus and the Notus and frequent-with-blasts
Africus, et vastos volvunt ad litora fluctus.
Africus, and they roll vast waves to the shores.
Insequitur clamorque virum stridorque rudentum.
There follows a commotion of men and squeal of the riggings.
Eripiunt subito nubes caelumque diemque
Suddenly clouds snatch away both heaven and day
Teucrorum ex oculis; ponto nox incubat atra.
from the eyes of the Teucrians; black night lies upon the sea.
Intonuere poli, et crebris micat ignibus aether
90 The poles thundered, and the upper air flashes with frequent fire,
praesentemque viris intentant omnia mortem.
and everything threatens instant death for the men.
Extemplo Aeneae solvuntur frigore membra:
Suddenly the limbs of Aeneas are loosened with chill:
ingemit et duplicis tendens ad sidera palmas
he groans and, stretching both of his palms to the stars,
talia voce refert: “O terque quaterque beati,
relates such things with his voice: “O both three and four times blessed,
quis ante ora patrum Troiae sub moenibus altis
contigit oppetere! O Danaum fortissime gentis
95 (those) for whom before the faces of their fathers under the lofty walls of Troy
it happened to meet (death)! O most brave of the race of Greeks,
Tydide! Mene Iliacis occumbere campis
son of Tydeus [Diomedes]! (Why could) I not have fallen on Ilian plains
non potuisse, tuaque animam hanc effundere dextra,
and have poured out my life by your right (hand),
saevus ubi Aeacidae telo iacet Hector, ubi ingens
where fierce Hector lies by the weapon of the descendant of Aeacus [Achilles], where huge
Sarpedon, ubi tot Simois correpta sub undis
100 Sarpedon (lies), where the Simois turns so many snatched-up-under-its-waves
scuta virum galeasque et fortia corpora volvit?”
shields of men and helmets and brave bodies!”
Talia iactanti stridens Aquilone procella
For him uttering such things, a gale roaring with the Aquilla
velum adversa ferit, fluctusque ad sidera tollit.
strikes against the sail, and it raises the waves to the stars.
Franguntur remi, tum prora avertit et undis
Oars are shattered, then the prow turns away and to the waves
dat latus; insequitur cumulo praeruptus aquae mons.
105 gives its side; there follows in a heap a towering mountain of water.
Hi summo in fluctu pendent; his unda dehiscens
Some (ships) hang on the top of a wave; to others a yawning wave
terram inter fluctus aperit; furit aestus harenis.
discloses the land between the waves; the surf seethes with sand.
Tres Notus abreptas in saxa latentia torquet—
The Notus twists three (having been) snatched up against the lurking crags—
saxa vocant Itali mediis quae in fluctibus aras—
which crags in the middle of the waves the Italians call The Altars—
dorsum immane mari summo; tres Eurus ab alto
110 a huge ridge at the surface of the sea; the Eurus drives three from the deep
in brevia et Syrtes urget, miserabile visu,
into the shallows and sand bars, pitiable to see,
inliditque vadis atque aggere cingit harenae.
and dashes (them) into the shoals and encircles (them) with a wall of sand.
Unam, quae Lycios fidumque vehebat Oronten,
One, which was conveying the Lycians and faithful Orontes,
ipsius ante oculos ingens a vertice pontus
before the eyes of (Aeneas) himself the huge sea from above
in puppim ferit: excutitur pronusque magister
115 strikes upon the stern: the helmsman is cast off and, leaning forward,
volvitur in caput; ast illam ter fluctus ibidem
is rolled onto his head; but three times in the same place a wave
torquet agens circum, et rapidus vorat aequore vortex.
twists that (ship), driving (it) around, and a swift whirlpool swallows (it) on the sea.
Apparent rari nantes in gurgite vasto,
Scattered swimmers appear in the vast abyss,
arma virum, tabulaeque, et Troia gaza per undas.
arms of men and planks and Trojan treasure through the waves (appears).
Iam validam Ilionei navem, iam fortis Achati,
120 Now the strong ship of Ilioneus, now (the ship) of brave Achates,
et qua vectus Abas, et qua grandaevus Aletes,
and (one) in which Abas has been conveyed, and (one) in which aged Aletes (has been carried)
vicit hiems; laxis laterum compagibus omnes
the storm conquered; with the joints of the sides loose, all of them
accipiunt inimicum imbrem, rimisque fatiscunt.
receive the hostile flood, and they gape open in cracks.
Interea magno misceri murmure pontum,
Meanwhile Neptune perceived that the sea has been mixed with a great rumble
emissamque hiemem sensit Neptunus, et imis
125 and that a storm (had been) sent forth, and that from the bottom
stagna refusa vadis, graviter commotus; et alto
depths still waters (have been) poured back, gravely disturbed [describing Neptune];
prospiciens, summa placidum caput extulit unda.
and looking out on the deep, he lifted his calm head from the top of a wave.
Disiectam Aeneae toto videt aequore classem,
He sees that the fleet of Aeneas (has been) scattered on the entire sea,
fluctibus oppressos Troas caelique ruina,
that the Trojans (have been) overwhelmed by the waves and by the downfall of the sky,
nec latuere doli fratrem Iunonis et irae.
130 and the tricks and wrath of Juno did not escape the notice of her brother.
Eurum ad se Zephyrumque vocat, dehinc talia fatur:
He calls Eurus and Zephyrus to him, and then he says such things:
“Tantane vos generis tenuit fiducia vestri?
“Has such confidence of your birth taken hold of you?
Iam caelum terramque meo sine numine, venti,
Now do you dare to mix the heaven and earth without my assent, winds,
miscere, et tantas audetis tollere moles?
and to raise such great masses?
Quos ego — sed motos praestat componere fluctus.
135 (You) whom I — but it is better to calm the moved waves.
Post mihi non simili poena commissa luetis.
Afterwards you will atone to me for your crimes by no similar [i.e., a worse] punishment.
Maturate fugam, regique haec dicite vestro:
Hasten your flight, and say these things to your king:
non illi imperium pelagi saevumque tridentem,
that not to him (has) command of the sea and the fierce trident
sed mihi sorte datum. Tenet ille immania saxa,
(been) given, but to me by lot. He holds immense crags,
vestras, Eure, domos; illa se iactet in aula
140 your home(s), Eurus; let Aeolus boast himself in those halls,
Aeolus, et clauso ventorum carcere regnet.”
and let him reign in the closed prison of the winds.”
Sic ait, et dicto citius tumida aequora placat
Thus he speaks, and more quickly than the word he calms the swollen waters,
collectasque fugat nubes solemque reducit.
and he puts to flight the gathered clouds, and he leads back the sun.
Cymothoe simul et Triton adnixus acuto
At the same time Cymothoe and Triton, having leaned against,
detrudunt naves scopulo; levat ipse tridenti,
145 push the ships from the sharp crag; he himself lifts (them) with his trident,
et vastas aperit syrtes, et temperat aequor,
and he opens the vast sand bars, and he calms the water,
atque rotis summas levibus perlabitur undas.
and he glides along the tops of the waves on light wheels.
Ac veluti magno in populo cum saepe coorta est
And just as in a great nation when often there has arisen
seditio saevitque animis ignobile vulgus,
strife, and the ignoble crowd rages in its mind(s),
iamque faces et saxa volant—furor arma ministrat;
150 and now firebrands and rocks fly—madness supplies the arms;
tum, pietate gravem ac meritis si forte virum quem
then, if by chance they have caught sight of some man marked with devotion and services,
conspexere, silent, arrectisque auribus adstant;
they fall silent and stand near with ears raised up;
ille regit dictis animos, et pectora mulcet,—
he guides their minds with words, and he soothes their hearts,—
sic cunctus pelagi cecidit fragor, aequora postquam
thus the entire uproar of the sea has fallen, after the father,
prospiciens genitor caeloque invectus aperto
flectit equos, curruque volans dat lora secundo.
155 looking out over the waters and carried into an open sky,
turns his horses, and flying, he gives the reins to his obedient chariot.
Defessi Aeneadae quae proxima litora cursu
The tired out followers of Aeneas struggle to seek in their course
contendunt petere, et Libyae vertuntur ad oras.
the shores which (are) closest, and they are turned to the shores of Libya.
Est in secessu longo locus: insula portum
There is a place in a long inlet: an island makes a port
efficit obiectu laterum, quibus omnis ab alto
160 with the projection of its sides, by which each wave from the sea
frangitur inque sinus scindit sese unda reductos.
is broken and divides itself into recessed bays.
Hinc atque hinc vastae rupes geminique minantur
On this side and that, vast crags and twin crags tower
in caelum scopuli, quorum sub vertice late
into the sky, under the summit of which
aequora tuta silent; tum silvis scaena coruscis
the protected waters widely lie still; then a background with waving woods
desuper horrentique atrum nemus imminet umbra.
165 from above and a grove, black with trembling shade, overhangs.
Fronte sub adversa scopulis pendentibus antrum,
At the foot of the opposite face (is) a cave with overhanging crags,
intus aquae dulces vivoque sedilia saxo,
sweet waters within and seats of living rock,
nympharum domus. Hic fessas non vincula naves
a home of nymphs. Here neither do any chains
ulla tenent, unco non alligat ancora morsu.
Huc septem Aeneas collectis navibus omni
hold weary ships, nor does an anchor bind with curved fluke.
170 To here with seven ships gathered from the entire number
ex numero subit; ac magno telluris amore
Aeneas enters; and with a great love for the earth,
egressi optata potiuntur Troes harena,
the disembarking Trojans gain the desired beach,
et sale tabentes artus in litore ponunt.
and they place their limbs, dripping with salt, on the shore.
Ac primum silici scintillam excudit Achates,
And at once Achates struck out spark from a flint (pocket-sized crag),
succepitque ignem foliis, atque arida circum
175 and he caught up the fire with leaves, and around
nutrimenta dedit, rapuitque in fomite flammam.
he gave dry fuel, and he caught up the flame in the tinder.
Tum Cererem corruptam undis Cerealiaque arma
Then the Ceres, spoiled by the waves, and the implements of Ceres
expediunt fessi rerum, frugesque receptas
they bring out, weary of their affairs, and they prepare both to roast
et torrere parant flammis et frangere saxo.
the recovered grain(s) with the flames and to break (them) with a rock.
Aeneas scopulum interea conscendit, et omnem
180 Meanwhile Aeneas climbs a cliff, and he seeks
prospectum late pelago petit, Anthea si quem
the entire view on the sea widely, if he should see any (sign of) Antheus
iactatum vento videat Phrygiasque biremes,
tossed on the wind and Phrygian biremes,
aut Capyn, aut celsis in puppibus arma Caici.
or Capys, or the arms of Caicus on lofty ships.
Navem in conspectu nullam, tres litore cervos
In his view (there are) no ship, (but) three stags on the shore
prospicit errantes; hos tota armenta sequuntur
185 he sees wandering; entire herds follow these
a tergo, et longum per valles pascitur agmen.
from the back, and the long line grazes throughout the valley.
Constitit hic, arcumque manu celeresque sagittas
Here he stops, and he snatched up the bow with his hand and
corripuit, fidus quae tela gerebat Achates;
the swift arrows, which missiles faithful Achates was bearing;
ductoresque ipsos primum, capita alta ferentes
and he lays low first the leaders themselves bearing heads high
cornibus arboreis, sternit, tum vulgus, et omnem
190 with branching antlers, then he mixes up the crowd and the entire
miscet agens telis nemora inter frondea turbam;
mob, driving (it/them) with missiles within the leafy grove;
nec prius absistit quam septem ingentia victor
and he does not stop before as victor he pours out seven huge
corpora fundat humi, et numerum cum navibus aequet.
bodies on the ground, and he equals their number with his ships.
Hinc portum petit, et socios partitur in omnes.
From here he seeks the harbor, and he divides (them) among all of his comrades.
Vina bonus quae deinde cadis onerarat Acestes
195 Then wine(s), which good Acestes had laden in jars
litore Trinacrio dederatque abeuntibus heros,
on the Sicilian shore and the hero [referring to Acestes] had given to (them) departing,
dividit, et dictis maerentia pectora mulcet:
he distributes, and he soothes their grieving hearts with words:
“O socii—neque enim ignari sumus ante malorum—
“O comrades—and indeed we are not ignorant of hardships before—
O passi graviora, dabit deus his quoque finem.
O (you) having suffered more serious (things), god [Jupiter] will give an end to these (things) also.
Vos et Scyllaeam rabiem penitusque sonantes
200 You have approached both the Scyllan madness and the crags echoing
accestis scopulos, vos et Cyclopea saxa
within, and you have experienced the Cyclopian rocks:
experti: revocate animos, maestumque timorem
recall your morale, and your sad fear
mittite: forsan et haec olim meminisse iuvabit.
send away: perhaps it will help one day even to remember these things.
Per varios casus, per tot discrimina rerum
Through various misfortunes, through so many crises of affairs
tendimus in Latium, sedes ubi fata quietas
205 we stretch into Latium, where the fates promise
ostendunt; illic fas regna resurgere Troiae.
a peaceful home; there it is right (by the will of the gods) for the realms of Troy to rise again.
Durate, et vosmet rebus servate secundis.”
Endure, and preserve yourselves for favorable things.”
Talia voce refert, curisque ingentibus aeger
He relates such (words) with his voice, and sick with huge concerns,
spem voltu simulat, premit altum corde dolorem.
209 he feigns hope with his face, he represses deep grief in his heart.