ictibus; ingeminant hastis et Troes et ipse 815 814 aeger] acer known to Servius. 816 flavo] vasto Py1. blows the Trojans and Mnestheus himself, with lightning force, launch a storm of spears. Then o'er all his body flows the sweat and runs in pitchy stream, nor has he breathing space; and a sickly panting shakes his wearied limbs. Then at length, with headlong leap, he plunges in full armour into the river. Tiber with his yellow flood received him as he came, uplifted him on buoyant waters, and, washing away the carnage, returned the joyous hero to his comrades. LIBER X 5 PANDITUR interea domus omnipotentis Olympi MPRV conciliumque vocat divum pater atque hominum rex sideream in sedem, terras unde arduus omnis castraque Dardanidum aspectat populosque Latinos. considunt tectis bipatentibus, incipit ipse: "caelicolae magni, quianam sententia vobis versa retro tantumque animis certatis iniquis? abnueram bello Italiam concurrere Teucris. quae contra vetitum discordia? quis metus aut hos aut hos arma sequi ferrumque lacessere suasit? adveniet iustum pugnae, ne arcessite, tempus, cum fera Karthago Romanis arcibus olim exitium magnum atque Alpis immittet apertas: tum certare odiis, tum res rapuisse licebit. nunc sinite et placitum laeti componite foedus." Iuppiter haec paucis, at non Venus aurea contra pauca refert: 10 15 20 "o pater, o hominum rerumque aeterna potestas (namque aliud quid sit, quod iam implorare queamus?) cernis, ut insultent Rutuli, Turnusque feratur per medios insignis equis tumidusque secundo Marte ruat? non clauså tegunt iam moenia Teucros : 4 spectat P2y. 11 adveniat γ. 15 laeti placidum M. 20 feratur. . . tumidusque omitted M1. 22 claustra M1. 1 The palace of Olympus has doors at the east and west ends. Through the former comes the sun at dawn; through the latter it returns at night. BOOK X MEANWHILE there is thrown open the palace of omnipotent Olympus, and the Sire of gods and King of men calls a council to his starry dwelling, whence, high-throned, he surveys all lands, the Dardan camp, and the Latin peoples. Within the double-doored hall1 they take their seats, and the king begins : 6" Mighty sons of Heaven, wherefore is your judgment reversed, and why strive ye with hearts so discordant? I had forbidden Italy to clash in war with Troy. What feud is this, in face of my command? What terror has bidden these or those to rush to arms and provoke the sword? There shall come-hasten it not—a lawful time for battle, when fierce Carthage shall one day let loose upon the heights of Rome mighty destruction, and open upon her the Alps.2 Then shall it be lawful to vie in hate, then to ravage; now let be and cheerfully assent to the covenant I ordain." 16 Thus Jupiter in brief; but not briefly golden Venus makes reply: "O Father, O eternal sovereignty of men and things for what else can there be which we may yet entreat?—seest thou how insolent are the Rutulians, and how Turnus fares elate through the midst upon his chariot, and rushes in swollen pride along the tide of war? No longer do barred walls shelter the 2 A reference to Hannibal's invasion of Italy in 218 B.C. quin intra portas atque ipsis proelia miscent obsidione sines? muris iterum imminet hostis 25 MPR 30 35 40 quae Superi Manesque dabant, cur nunc tua quisquam vertere iussa potest aut cur nova condere fata? quid repetam exustas Erycino in litore classis, quid tempestatum regem ventosque furentis Aeolia excitos aut actam nubibus Irim? nunc etiam Manis (haec intemptata manebat sors rerum) movet et superis immissa repente Allecto, medias Italum bacchata per urbes. nil super imperio moveor; speravimus ista, dum fortuna fuit; vincant quos vincere mavis. si nulla est regio, Teucris quam det tua coniunx dura, per eversae, genitor, fumantia Troiae excidia obtestor, liceat dimittere ab armis incolumem Ascanium, liceat superesse nepotem. Aeneas sane ignotis iactetur in undis et, quamcumque viam dederit Fortuna, sequatur: hunc tegere et dirae valeam subducere pugnae. est Amathus, est celsa mihi Paphus atque Cythera 4.5 50 |