vix ea fatus erat: medios uolat ecce per hostis 650

1. vix ea fatus erat: medios uolat ecce per hostis               650 • He had scarcely spoken when Saces sped by through the thick of the enemy • uectus equo spumante Saces, aduersa sagitta • carried on a foaming horse, wounded by an arrow full • saucius ora, ruitque implorans nomine Turnum: • in the face, and calling to Turnus by name as he rushed on: • 'Turne, in te suprema salus, miserere tuorum. • Turnus, in you our last hope lies, pity your people • fulminat Aeneas armis summasque minatur • Aeneas flashes/is explosive in his arms and threatens to throw down • deiecturum arces Italum excidioque daturum,               655 • the heighest citadels of the Italians and deliver them to destruction • iamque faces ad tecta uolant. in te ora Latini, • even now torches are flying towards the roofs. The Latins turn their faces

2. in te oculos referunt; mussat rex ipse Latinus • to you, to you they turn their eyes; king Latinus himself mutters • quos generos uocet aut quae sese ad foedera flectat. • wavering as to whom to call his sons, or towards what alliance to lean • praeterea regina, tui fidissima, dextra • Moreover the queen herself, most loyal to you, by her own right hand • occidit ipsa sua lucemque exterrita fugit.               660 • has fallen and fled in horror of the light. • soli pro portis Messapus et acer Atinas • Messapus and fierce Atinas, alone in front of the gates • sustentant acies. circum hos utrimque phalanges • sustain our lines. Around them dense squadrons stand on every side • stant densae strictisque seges mucronibus horret • a harvest of steel that bristles with naked swords,

3. ferrea; tu currum deserto in gramine uersas.‘ • while you drive your chariot over the empty turf’ • obstipuit uaria confusus imagine rerum               665 • Stunned and amazed by this vision of multiple disaster, • Turnus et obtutu tacito stetit; aestuat ingens • Turnus stood silently gazing; fierce shame surged • uno in corde pudor mixtoque insania luctu • in that solitary heart, and madness mingled with grief, • et furiis agitatus amor et conscia uirtus. • love stung to frenzy, consciousness of virtue. • ut primum discussae umbrae et lux reddita menti, • As soon as the shadows dispersed, and light returned to his mind • ardentis oculorum orbis ad moenia torsit               670 • he turned the blazing circles of his eyes towards the walls,

4. turbidus eque rotis magnam respexit ad urbem. • wildly, and looked back on the mighty city from his chariot. • Ecce autem flammis inter tabulata uolutus • See now a spiralling tongue of flame was fastening on a tower • ad caelum undabat uertex turrimque tenebat, • and was rolling skywards through the stories, • turrim compactis trabibus quam eduxerat ipse • a tower he had built himself with joined beams, • subdideratque rotas pontisque instrauerat altos.               675 • set on wheels, and equipped with high walkways. • 'iam iam fata, soror, superant, absiste morari; • He spoke: ‘Now, sister, now fate triumphs: no more delays: • quo deus et quo dura uocat Fortuna sequamur. • where god and cruel fortune calls, let me follow.

5. stat conferre manum Aeneae, stat, quidquid acerbi est, • it is my fixed purpose to meet Aeneas, my fixed purpose • morte pati, neque me indecorem, germana, uidebis • to suffer death, however bitter: you’ll see me ashamed sister • amplius. hunc, oro, sine me furere ante furorem.'               680 • no longer. I beg you let me rage before I am maddened.’ • dixit, et e curru saltum dedit ocius aruis • He said this and, he leapt swiftly from his chariot to the ground, • perque hostis, per tela ruit maestamque sororem • and ran through enemy spears, deserting his grieving sister, • deserit ac rapido cursu media agmina rumpit. • and burst, in his quick passage, through the ranks. • ac ueluti montis saxum de uertice praeceps • as when a rock torn from the mountaintop by the wind

6. cum ruit auulsum uento, seu turbidus imber               685 • hurtles downward, washed free by a tempest of rain • proluit aut annis soluit sublapsa uetustas; • or loosened and undermined by the long passage of the years • fertur in abruptum magno mons improbus actu • and the wilful mass plunges down the slope in a mighty rush • exsultatque solo, siluas armenta uirosque • and leaps over the ground, rolling trees, herds and men • inuoluens secum: disiecta per agmina Turnus • with it: so Turnus runs through the broken ranks • sic urbis ruit ad muros, ubi plurima fuso               690 • to the city walls, where the soil is most drenched • sanguine terra madet striduntque hastilibus aurae, • with blood and the air shrills with spears

7. significatque manu et magno simul incipit ore: • and he signals with his hand and begins shouting in a loud voice: • 'parcite iam, Rutuli, et uos tela inhibete, Latini. • ‘Rutulians, stop now, and you Latins hold back your spears. • quaecumque est fortuna, mea est; me uerius unum • Whatever fate is here, is mine: it is better that I alone • pro uobis foedus luere et decernere ferro.'               695 • make reparation for the truce and decide it with the sword.’ • discessere omnes medii spatiumque dedere. • All drew back, and left a space in their midst. • At pater Aeneas audito nomine Turni • But Father Aeneas, hearing the name of Turnus • deserit et muros et summas deserit arces • left the walls and left the high fortress

8. praecipitatque moras omnis, opera omnia rumpit • and cast aside all delays, broke off from every task, • laetitia exsultans horrendumque intonat armis:               700 • and exultant with delight clashed his weapons fiercely: • quantus Athos aut quantus Eryx aut ipse coruscis • As huge as Athos, as huge as Eryx or as huge as father Appeninus • cum fremit ilicibus quantus gaudetque niuali • himself when he roars amidst his waving oaks and rejoices • uertice se attollens pater Appenninus ad auras. • as he towers high with snowy summit up to the breezes of heaven. • iam uero et Rutuli certatim et Troes et omnes • Now all truly turned their eyes, Rutulians, Trojans • conuertere oculos Itali, quique alta tenebant               705 • and Italians, both those who held the high

9. moenia quique imos pulsabant ariete muros, • ramparts and those who battered the walls below with their ram • armaque deposuere umeris. stupet ipse Latinus • stripping the arms from their shoulders. Latinus himself was amazed • ingentis, genitos diuersis partibus orbis, • at those mighty men, born on opposite sides of the world • inter se coiisse uiros et cernere ferro. • meeting and deciding the outcome with their swords. • atque illi, ut uacuo patuerunt aequore campi,               710 • As soon as the field was clear on the open plain, they both • procursu rapido coniectis eminus hastis • dashed quickly forward, hurling their spears from a distance • inuadunt Martem clipeis atque aere sonoro. • rushing with shield and ringing bronze to battle.

10. dat gemitum tellus; tum crebros ensibus ictus • The earth groaned; then they redoubled the frequent blows of their swords, • congeminant, fors et uirtus miscetur in unum. • chance and valour mingled together as one. • ac uelut ingenti Sila summoue Taburno               715 • And as when on mighty Sila or on Taburnus’ heights • cum duo conuersis inimica in proelia tauri • two bulls charge head to head in mortal/hostile combat • frontibus incurrunt, pauidi cessere magistri, • and in terror their keepers retreat • stat pecus omne metu mutum, mussantque iuuencae • the whole herd stand silent with fear and the heifers hesitate, waiting to see • quis nemori imperitet, quem tota armenta sequantur; • which will be lord of the forest, whom all the herds will follow

11. illi inter sese multa ui uulnera miscent               720 • cornuaque obnixi infigunt et sanguine largo • colla armosque lauant, gemitu nemus omne remugit: • non aliter Tros Aeneas et Daunius heros • concurrunt clipeis, ingens fragor aethera complet. • Iuppiter ipse duas aequato examine lances               725 • sustinet et fata imponit diuersa duorum,

12. quem damnet labor et quo uergat pondere letum. • Emicat hic impune putans et corpore toto • alte sublatum consurgit Turnus in ensem • et ferit; exclamant Troes trepidique Latini,               730 • arrectaeque amborum acies. at perfidus ensis • frangitur in medioque ardentem deserit ictu, • ni fuga subsidio subeat. fugit ocior Euro

13. ut capulum ignotum dextramque aspexit inermem. • fama est praecipitem, cum prima in proelia iunctos               735 • conscendebat equos, patrio mucrone relicto, • dum trepidat, ferrum aurigae rapuisse Metisci; • idque diu, dum terga dabant palantia Teucri, • suffecit; postquam arma dei ad Volcania uentum est, • mortalis mucro glacies ceu futtilis ictu               740

14. dissiluit, fulua resplendent fragmina harena. • ergo amens diuersa fuga petit aequora Turnus • et nunc huc, inde huc incertos implicat orbis; • undique enim densa Teucri inclusere corona • atque hinc uasta palus, hinc ardua moenia cingunt.               745 • nec minus Aeneas, quamquam tardata sagitta • interdum genua impediunt cursumque recusant,

15. insequitur trepidique pedem pede feruidus urget: • inclusum ueluti si quando flumine nactus • ceruum aut puniceae saeptum formidine pennae               750 • uenator cursu canis et latratibus instat; • ille autem insidiis et ripa territus alta • mille fugit refugitque uias, at uiuidus Vmber • haeret hians, iam iamque tenet similisque tenenti

16. increpuit malis morsuque elusus inani est;               755 • tum uero exoritur clamor ripaeque lacusque • responsant circa et caelum tonat omne tumultu. • ille simul fugiens Rutulos simul increpat omnis • nomine quemque uocans notumque efflagitat ensem. • Aeneas mortem contra praesensque minatur               760 • exitium, si quisquam adeat, terretque trementis

17. excisurum urbem minitans et saucius instat. • quinque orbis explent cursu totidemque retexunt • huc illuc; neque enim leuia aut ludicra petuntur • praemia, sed Turni de uita et sanguine certant.               765 • forte sacer Fauno foliis oleaster amaris • hic steterat, nautis olim uenerabile lignum, • seruati ex undis ubi figere dona solebant

18. Laurenti diuo et uotas suspendere uestis; • sed stirpem Teucri nullo discrimine sacrum               770 • sustulerant, puro ut possent concurrere campo. • hic hasta Aeneae stabat, huc impetus illam • detulerat fixam et lenta radice tenebat. • incubuit uoluitque manu conuellere ferrum • Dardanides, teloque sequi quem prendere cursu               775

19. non poterat. tum uero amens formidine Turnus • 'Faune, precor, miserere' inquit 'tuque optima ferrum • Terra tene, colui uestros si semper honores, • quos contra Aeneadae bello fecere profanos.‘ • dixit, opemque dei non cassa in uota uocauit.               780 • namque diu luctans lentoque in stirpe moratus • uiribus haud ullis ualuit discludere morsus

20. roboris Aeneas. dum nititur acer et instat, • rursus in aurigae faciem mutata Metisci • procurrit fratrique ensem dea Daunia reddit.               785 • quod Venus audaci nymphae indignata licere • accessit telumque alta ab radice reuellit. • olli sublimes armis animisque refecti, • hic gladio fidens, hic acer et arduus hasta,

21. adsistunt contra certamina Martis anheli.               790 • Iunonem interea rex omnipotentis Olympi • adloquitur fulua pugnas de nube tuentem: • 'quae iam finis erit, coniunx? quid denique restat? • indigetem Aenean scis ipsa et scire fateris • deberi caelo fatisque ad sidera tolli.               795 • quid struis? aut qua spe gelidis in nubibus haeres?

22. mortalin decuit uiolari uulnere diuum? • Was it right that this god be defiled by a mortal’s wound? • aut ensem (quid enim sine te Iuturna ualeret?) • Or that the lost sword (for what could Juturna achieve without you?) • ereptum reddi Turno et uim crescere uictis? • be restored to Turnus, the defeated gaining new strength? • desine iam tandem precibusque inflectere nostris,               800 • Now cease at last and give way to my entreaties, • ne te tantus edit tacitam dolor et mihi curae • lest such sadness consume you in silence, and your bitter • saepe tuo dulci tristes ex ore recursent. • woes stream back to me often from your sweet lips. • uentum ad supremum est. terris agitare uel undis • It has reached its end. You have had the power to drive

23. Troianos potuisti, infandum accendere bellum, • the Trojans over land and sea, to stir up evil war, • deformare domum et luctu miscere hymenaeos:               805 • to mar a house, and mix marriage with grief. • ulterius temptare ueto.' sic Iuppiter orsus; • I forbid you to attempt more.’ So Jupiter spoke: • sic dea summisso contra Saturnia uultu: • Thus, with humble look, the Saturnian goddess replied: • 'ista quidem quia nota mihi tua, magne, uoluntas, • ‘Great Jupiter, truly, it was because I knew it was your wish • Iuppiter, et Turnum et terras inuita reliqui; • that I parted reluctantly from Turnus and the Earth: • nec tu me aeria solam nunc sede uideres               810 • or you would not see me alone now, on my celestial perch

24. digna indigna pati, sed flammis cincta sub ipsa • enduring the just and the unjust, but I’d be standing, wreathed in flame. • starem acie traheremque inimica in proelia Teucros. • in the battle line itself, and drawing the Trojans into deadly combat. • Iuturnam misero (fateor) succurrere fratri • I counselled Juturna (I confess) to help her unfortunate brother • suasi et pro uita maiora audere probaui, • and approved greater acts of daring for the sake of his life, • non ut tela tamen, non ut contenderet arcum;               815 • yet not for her to contend with the arrow or the bow: • adiuro Stygii caput implacabile fontis, • I swear it by the implacable fountainhead of Styx, • una superstitio superis quae reddita diuis. • that alone is held in awe by the gods above.

25. et nunc cedo equidem pugnasque exosa relinquo. • And now I yield, yes, and leave the fighting I loathe. • illud te, nulla fati quod lege tenetur, • Yet I beg this of you, for Latium’s sake, for the majesty • pro Latio obtestor, pro maiestate tuorum:               820 • of your own kin: since it is not prohibited by any law of fate: • cum iam conubiis pacem felicibus (esto) • When they soon make peace with happy nuptials (so be it) • component, cum iam leges et foedera iungent, • when they join together soon in laws and treaties, • ne uetus indigenas nomen mutare Latinos • don’t order the native Latins to change their ancient name, • neu Troas fieri iubeas Teucrosque uocari • to become Trojans or be called Teucrians,

26. aut uocem mutare uiros aut uertere uestem.               825 • or change their language, or alter their clothing • sit Latium, sint Albani per saecula reges, • Let Latium still exist, let there be Alban kings through the ages • sit Romana potens Itala uirtute propago: • let there be Roman offspring strong in Italian virtue; • occidit, occideritque sinas cum nomine Troia.‘ • Troy has fallen, let her stay fallen, along with her name.’ • olli subridens hominum rerumque repertor: • Smiling at her, the creator of men and things replied • 'es germana Iouis Saturnique altera proles,               830 • You are a true sister of Jove, another child of Saturn • irarum tantos uoluis sub pectore fluctus. • such waves of anger surge within your heart.

27. uerum age et inceptum frustra summitte furorem: • Come, truly, calm all this passion that was needlessly roused: • do quod uis, et me uictusque uolensque remitto. • I grant what you wish, and I relent, willingly defeated. • sermonem Ausonii patrium moresque tenebunt, • Ausonia’s sons will keep their father’s speech and manners, • utque est nomen erit; commixti corpore tantum               835 • as their name is, so it will be: the Trojans shall sink, merged • subsident Teucri. morem ritusque sacrorum • into the mass, only, I will add sacred laws and rites, • adiciam faciamque omnis uno ore Latinos. • and make them all Latins of one tongue. • hinc genus Ausonio mixtum quod sanguine surget, • From them a race will rise, merged with the Ausonian blood,

28. supra homines, supra ire deos pietate uidebis, • that you will see surpass men and gods in virtue, • nec gens ulla tuos aeque celebrabit honores.'               840 • no nation will celebrate your rites with as much devotion.’ • adnuit his Iuno et mentem laetata retorsit; • Juno agreed it, and joyfully altered her purpose: • interea excedit caelo nubemque relinquit. • then left her cloud, and departed from the sky. • His actis aliud genitor secum ipse uolutat • This done the father turns something else over in his mind • Iuturnamque parat fratris dimittere ab armis. • and prepares to take Juturna from her brother’s side. • dicuntur geminae pestes cognomine Dirae,   845 • Men speak of twin plagues, named the Dread Ones,

29. quas et Tartaream Nox intempesta Megaeram • whom Night bore untimely, in one birth with Tartarean Megara, • uno eodemque tulit partu, paribusque reuinxit • wreathing them equally in snaky coils, and • serpentum spiris uentosasque addidit alas. • adding wings swift as the wind. • hae Iouis ad solium saeuique in limine regis • They wait by Jupiter’s throne on the fierce king’s threshold, • apparent acuuntque metum mortalibus aegris,               850 • and sharpen the fears of weak mortals • si quando letum horrificum morbosque deum rex • whenever the king of the gods sends plagues • molitur, meritas aut bello territat urbes. • and death’s horrors or terrifies guilty cities with war

30. harum unam celerem demisit ab aethere summo • Jupiter sent one of them quickly down from heaven’s height • Iuppiter inque omen Iuturnae occurrere iussit: • and ordered her to meet with Juturna as a sign: • illa uolat celerique ad terram turbine fertur.               855 • she flew, and darted to earth in a swift whirlwind. • non secus ac neruo per nubem impulsa sagitta, • Like an arrow loosed from the string, through the clouds, • armatam saeui Parthus quam felle ueneni, • that a Parthian has fired a Parthian or a Cydonian, an arrow armed with the gall of cruel poison • Parthus siue Cydon, telum immedicabile, torsit, • a weapon against which there is no remedy, • stridens et celeris incognita transilit umbras: • hissing, and unperceived cuts through the swift shadows

31. talis se sata Nocte tulit terrasque petiuit.               860 • so sped the daughter of the night, seeking the earth. • postquam acies uidet Iliacas atque agmina Turni, • As soon as she saw the Trojan ranks and Turnus’s troops • alitis in paruae subitam collecta figuram, • she changed her shape, suddenly shrinking to form of that • quae quondam in bustis aut culminibus desertis • small bird that perching at night on tombs or deserted rooftops, • nocte sedens serum canit importuna per umbras— • often sings her troubling song so late among the shadows - • hanc uersa in faciem Turni se pestis ob ora               865 • and the fiend flew screeching to and fro in front • fertque refertque sonans clipeumque euerberat alis. • of Turnus’ face, and beat at his shield with her wings.

32. illi membra nouus soluit formidine torpor, • A strange numbness loosed his limbs in dread, • arrectaeque horrore comae et uox faucibus haesit. • his hair stood up in terror and his voice clung to his throat. • At procul ut Dirae stridorem agnouit et alas, • But when his wretched sister, Juturna, recognised the Dread one’s whirring wings in the distance, • infelix crinis scindit Iuturna solutos               870 • she tore at her loosened hair, • unguibus ora soror foedans et pectora pugnis: • marring her face with her nails and her breasts with her fists: • 'quid nunc te tua, Turne, potest germana iuuare? • What help can your sister give you now, Turnus? • aut quid iam durae superat mihi? qua tibi lucem • What is left for me who have suffered so? With what art

33. arte morer? talin possum me opponere monstro? • can I prolong your life? Can I stand against such a portent? • iam iam linquo acies. ne me terrete timentem,               875 • Now at last I leave the ranks. Bird of ill-omen, do not terrify • obscenae uolucres: alarum uerbera nosco • me who am already afraid: I know the beats of your wings • letalemque sonum, nec fallunt iussa superba • and their fatal sound, and the proud commands of great-hearted • magnanimi Iouis. haec pro uirginitate reponit? • Jupiter do not deceive me. Is the reward for my virginity? • quo uitam dedit aeternam? cur mortis adempta est • Why did he give me eternal life? Why is the condition of death • condicio? possem tantos finire dolores               880 • taken from me? Then at least I could end such pain

34. nunc certe, et misero fratri comes ire per umbras! • and go through the shadows as a companion to my poor brother! • immortalis ego? aut quicquam mihi dulce meorum • An immortal, I? Will anything of mine be sweet to me • te sine, frater, erit? o quae satis ima dehiscat • without you, my brother? Oh what earth can gape deep enough • terra mihi, Manisque deam demittat ad imos?‘ • for me, and send a goddess down to the deepest shades? • tantum effata caput glauco contexit amictu               885 • So saying she veiled her head in a grey mantle, and the goddess, • multa gemens et se fluuio dea condidit alto. • with many a cry of grief, plunged into the river’s depths. • Aeneas instat contra telumque coruscat • Aeneas pressed on, brandishing his great spear

35. ingens arboreum, et saeuo sic pectore fatur: • like a tree, and angered at heart, he cried out in this way: • 'quae nunc deinde mora est? aut quid iam, Turne, retractas? • non cursu, saeuis certandum est comminus armis.               890 • uerte omnis tete in facies et contrahe quidquid • siue animis siue arte uales; opta ardua pennis • astra sequi clausumque caua te condere terra.' • ille caput quassans: 'non me tua feruida terrent

36. dicta, ferox; di me terrent et Iuppiter hostis.'               895 • nec plura effatus saxum circumspicit ingens, • saxum antiquum ingens, campo quod forte iacebat, • limes agro positus litem ut discerneret aruis. • uix illum lecti bis sex ceruice subirent, • qualia nunc hominum producit corpora tellus;               900 • ille manu raptum trepida torquebat in hostem

37. altior insurgens et cursu concitus heros. • sed neque currentem se nec cognoscit euntem • tollentemue manu saxumue immane mouentem; • genua labant, gelidus concreuit frigore sanguis.               905 • tum lapis ipse uiri uacuum per inane uolutus • nec spatium euasit totum neque pertulit ictum. • ac uelut in somnis, oculos ubi languida pressit

38. nocte quies, nequiquam auidos extendere cursus • uelle uidemur et in mediis conatibus aegri               910 • succidimus; non lingua ualet, non corpore notae • sufficiunt uires nec uox aut uerba sequuntur: • sic Turno, quacumque uiam uirtute petiuit, • successum dea dira negat. tum pectore sensus • uertuntur uarii; Rutulos aspectat et urbem               915

39. cunctaturque metu letumque instare tremescit, • nec quo se eripiat, nec qua ui tendat in hostem, • nec currus usquam uidet aurigamue sororem. • cunctanti telum Aeneas fatale coruscat, • sortitus fortunam oculis, et corpore toto               920 • eminus intorquet. murali concita numquam • tormento sic saxa fremunt nec fulmine tanti

40. dissultant crepitus. uolat atri turbinis instar • exitium dirum hasta ferens orasque recludit • loricae et clipei extremos septemplicis orbis;               925 • per medium stridens transit femur. incidit ictus • ingens ad terram duplicato poplite Turnus. • consurgunt gemitu Rutuli totusque remugit • mons circum et uocem late nemora alta remittunt.

41. ille humilis supplex oculos dextramque precantem               930 • protendens 'equidem merui nec deprecor' inquit; • 'utere sorte tua. miseri te si qua parentis • tangere cura potest, oro (fuit et tibi talis • Anchises genitor) Dauni miserere senectae • et me, seu corpus spoliatum lumine mauis,               935 • redde meis. uicisti et uictum tendere palmas

42. Ausonii uidere; tua est Lauinia coniunx, • ulterius ne tende odiis.' stetit acer in armis • Aeneas uoluens oculos dextramque repressit; • et iam iamque magis cunctantem flectere sermo               940 • coeperat, infelix umero cum apparuit alto • balteus et notis fulserunt cingula bullis • Pallantis pueri, uictum quem uulnere Turnus

43. strauerat atque umeris inimicum insigne gerebat. • ille, oculis postquam saeui monimenta doloris               945 • exuuiasque hausit, furiis accensus et ira • terribilis: 'tune hinc spoliis indute meorum • eripiare mihi? Pallas te hoc uulnere, Pallas • immolat et poenam scelerato ex sanguine sumit.' • hoc dicens ferrum aduerso sub pectore condit               950 • feruidus; ast illi soluuntur frigore membra • uitaque cum gemitu fugit indignata sub umbras.