Vergil Class –“Literal” TranslationsBook I, p. 1
AP syllabus: Book 1: lines 1-519 Parentheses or slashes indicate alternative translations
I sing of arms and a man,[1] who first from the shores/beaches of Troy came to Italy and the Lavinian shores (as) a fugitive (exiled) by fate. He was tossed a lot on both lands and sea (the deep) by/because of the force of the gods, on account of the “unforgetting” wrath of cruel (and) mindful Juno, (having) suffered many things also in war, until he could establish/found a cityand bring the gods into/to Latium, from where (“derive/descend”) the Latin race and the Alban fathers and the (lofty) walls of lofty Rome.
O Muse,[2] recall to me the reasons, because of what offended divinity or grieving at what, did the queen of the gods force the man (hero), distinguished in his sense of duty, to undergo so many misfortunes, to enter into so many hardships. Do such great angers (belong) to the minds of gods?!
There was an ancient city (Tyrian colonists controlled it), Carthage, opposite Italy and far from the mouths of the Tiber, rich in (of) resources, and most fierce in its pursuits of war; which (city) Juno is said to have cherished singly/alone more than all lands, with (eventhe island of) Samos (having been)held/considered after (it) (i.e., in importance): here wereher weapons, here was her chariot; the goddessintends[3] and cherishes3 this[4] to be a kingdom for (sc. all) races, if in any way/somehowthe fates should allow (it).But indeed she had heard that a race/offspring was being drawn from Trojan blood which one day would overturn the Tyrian citadels/fortress (= Carthage – think Punic Wars). From this race (=hinc) (she had heard that) a people, rulingwidely, and proud in war, would/might come for the destruction of Libya: thus (she had heard that) the fates were rolling (unraveling).[5] Saturnia, fearing this and mindful of the old war, which she first had waged at (carried to) Troy for her beloved Argos --not yet, indeed,had the reasons for (of) her anger and her fierce pains/resentments fallen from her mind:(1) the judgment of Paris stays3(having been) stored deep in her mind and the insult to her rejected beauty,and (2) the hated race, and (3) the honors of Ganymede (having been) snatched up. Having been inflamed/enraged by these things,in addition/moreover she kept the Trojans,(having been) tossed about on top of the whole sea, far away from Latium, (the Trojans) the remnants[6] of the Greeks and cruel Achilles, and for many years they were wandering, (having been) driven by the fates, around all seas. It was (of)so great adifficulty[7] to establish the Roman race!
Scarcely out of view of the land of Sicily, they set sail happily into the deep and they plowed the foam of the salt with the bronze[8] (prow), when Juno, keeping the eternal wound in (under ≈ within) her heart,(said) these things to herself: “Am I,(as if having been) conquered, to stop/cease from my undertaking and not be able to turn the king of the Trojans aside from Italy? Surely I am forbidden by the fates.[9] Minerva was able to burn up the fleet of the Greeks and drown the very same (ipsos ≈ Greeks) in the sea because of the crime and the rage/ragings of one (man) Ajax of Oileus? She (Minerva) herself, having hurled the swift fire of Jupiter from the clouds, both scattered the ships and overturned the sea by means of the winds,(and)[10]snatched him up (Ajax, son of Oileus) in a whirlwind (as he was)exhaling/breathing out flames from his pierced breast, and impaled him on a sharp rock; “But I, who stride (walk proudly) as queen of the gods, and (am) both the sister and wife of Jupiter, I wage battles for so many years with one race. And does anyone worship[11] the divine authority of Juno, or in addition will anyone, as a suppliant, place an offering on my altars?”
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The goddess turning (over) such things in her inflamed heart with/to herself, (she) came to the country of the storm clouds, Aeolia, a place (pl. in Latin) teeming with the raving south winds. Here in his enormous cave, King Aeolus controls the wrestling winds and howling storms with his power (imperium) and (he) restrains them with chains[12] and a jail. They (the winds) being angry(because they are angry?), murmur with a loud rumble around the barriers of the mountain[13]; Aeolus, is sitting in his lofty citadel/fortress holding his scepter (pl. in Latin), and calms their anger (pl. in Latin); if he should/did not do this, certainly they would swiftly bear away with themselves the seasand the lands and the vast heaven and sweep it all (maria, terras caelum) through the breezes. But, fearing this (outcome), the all-powerful father hid (the winds) in black/gloomy caves and placed tall mountains above them, and gave them a king who by a fixed/sure agreement might know, when ordered, how both to control and give them free reins. To him/whom then Juno humbly employed these words:
“Aeolus, since the father and king of the gods and men has given to you (the power) to soothe and raise the waves by means of the wind… a race hateful to me is sailing the Tyrrhenian sea, carrying Troy to Italy and the conquered household gods:
Strike force into the winds and crush the (having been) sunken ships, or drive the scattered Trojans and disperse their bodies on the sea. I have twice seven (i.e., fourteen) nymphs of outstanding body/shape, of whom (is) Deiopea, who is the most beautiful in respect to the body, I will join (her) to you in a lasting marriage and I will consecrate (dedicate) her as your own, so that she may spend all her years with you in return for such deserving deeds/favors, and (so that) she may make you a parent of beautiful offspring.”
Aeolus (spoke) these words in reply: “Oh queen, your task is to seek out what you desire; it is my (divine) duty to me to perform your commands. You win for me whatever this is in the way of a kingdom, (you win for me)a scepter, and Jupiter, you allow (me) to recline at the feasts of the gods, you make me powerful over storm clouds and storms.”
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When/After he had said these things, he struck the hollow mountain against its side with the spear point (having been) turned around/down: and the winds just like (in the form of) a column having been made (military language: agmen facere= “a column on the march”), where an opening had been given (made), rush out and blow through the lands in a whirlwind. They lay (hovered) over the sea and the East Wind and the South Wind together overturn (ruunt) the whole sea from its lowest depths/seats and also the Southwest Wind, frequent with its blasts, (they) roll huge waves towards the shores. There follows both the shouting of men and the creaking of ropes. Suddenly, they snatch away the clouds and the sky, and the day (i.e., sunlight) from the eyes of the Trojans; Black night hovers/broods over the sea. The poles (heavens) thundered, and the upper air flashes with frequent fires (lightning), and all things threaten instant/present death for the men.
Immediately, the limbs of Aeneas relax/grow slack because of the cold (both coldness and the chill of fear); he groans and, stretching both hands towards the stars, he says such words as follow[14] with his voice: ‘O three times and four times blessed, to whom it befell (“happened” by fate) to meet death before the faces of their fathers (or “parents”) beneath the lofty walls of/at Troy. O strongest of the race of the Greeks, son of Tydeus (= Diomedes)! Could I not have fallen in death on the fields at Ilium (=Troy) and poured out my life-breath with your right hand where fierce Hector lies because/by means of the spear of Achilles (descendant of Aeacus), where enormous Sarpedon lies, where the Simois rolls so many snatched up shields, helmets and strong bodies of men beneath its waves.”
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A roaring blast from the north wind strikes against the sail as he is “throwing/tossing” out such words, and (the blast) raises the waves to the stars. The oars are broken, then the prow turns aside/away and gives its side to the waves; a towering mountain of water follows in a heap. These ones cling to the top of a wave, for these (i.e., others) ones[15] a gaping wave opens up the land (i.e., “bottom of the sea”) between the waves, the sea-surge rages with sand (pl. in Latin). The south windwhirls/twists[16] three (having-been) snatched up(ships) against (hiding) rocks lying hidden (the Italians call the rocks which are in the middle of the sea “The Altars,” a huge reef at the surface of the sea); the East wind forces three ships away from the deep into the shallows and sandbars, (a terrible thing to see!), and dashes them against the shallows and encircles them with a mound of sand. One ship ( accusative), which was carrying the Lycians and faithful Orontes, a huge sea strikes (the one ship) from above against the stern before his very[17] eyes: the captain is shaken out headfirst and is rolled onto his head; but thrice in the same place a wave twists/spins that ship driving it around, and a swift/rapid whirlpool swallows it in the sea. Men appear scattered, swimming in the huge whirlpool. (Also appearing) throughout the waves (are) the weapons of the men and ship boards and Trojan treasure. Now the storm has conquered/overwhelmed the mighty of ship of Ilioneus, now/then (the ship) of brave Achates, and (the one) on which Abas was carried, and (the one) on which aged Aletes was borne; with/because the fastenings of their sides are loosened, all the ships take in the hostile rain/storm and split open with cracks.
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Meanwhile, Neptune[18] realized that the sea was being stirred up with a great rumbling/roar and (that) a storm had been sent forth, and the still depths/waters had been poured back from the lowest depths; heavily disturbed ( describing Neptune); and looking out over the sea, he raised up his calm head from the top of the wave. He sees that the fleet of Aeneas was scattered over the whole sea, [and][19] (that) the Trojans (had been) overwhelmed by waves and the downfall of the sky. Nor did the tricks and the wrath of Juno escape the notice of her brother.[20] He calls/summonsEurus (the east wind) and Zephyr (the west wind) to him; thereupon he says the following things:
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“Has so much confidence of/in your kind held/possessed you?! O winds, now you dare to stir up the sky and the land without my (divine) authority and to raise up such great heaps of trouble?! You whom I…! (aposiopesis)… but it is better to calm the stirred up waves. Later you will atone/pay to me for your crimes with a not similar/unmatched[21]punishment. Hasten your flight[22] and say these things to your king: ‘not to him was the rule over the sea and the harsh trident given by fate, but to me. He controls the huge rocks, your homes, o Eurus; let Aeolus toss himself about/boast himselfin that court (of his), and let him rule in his closed up prison of the winds.’ Thus he spoke and faster than his speech[23] he calms the swollen seas (sea surface), and he puts to flight the gathered winds, and he brings back the sun. Cymothoe at the same time as Triton leaning against the sharp rocks dislodged the ships. He[24] lifts (the ships) with his trident, and opens up/clearsthe wide sand bars, and calms the sea surface, and he glides over the top of the waves with his swift/light wheels. And just as when in a great people a riot often has arisen/arises, and the common/low-born crowd rages with emotions/spirits, and now/then torches and rocks fly – Rage[25] serves/helps their weapons, then if by chance they(have) caught sight of some man grave/important in respect to PIETAS (loyalty) and service/accomplishments, they grow quiet and they stand with raised ears; that man controls/directs their emotions/spirits with (his) words,18 and soothes their hearts – thus the whole uproar/crashing of the sea fell/subsided, afterwards the father (Neptune), looking out over the sea and traveling in/carried on the open sky, bends the horses, and flying gives (free) reinsto his obedient chariot.[26]
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The weary followersof Aeneas (“the Aeneads”) hasten to seek in their course the shores which are nearest, and turn/are turned[27] toward the shores of Libya. There is a place in a long inlet: an island forms a harbor by means of the projection of its sides, on (by) which every wave from the deep is broken and splits itself into remote bays. On this side and on this (the other) side[28]threaten/towerinto the sky enormous crags and twin cliffs,[29] under whose peak safe seas are widely silent; then a backdrop of a forest quivering/waving from above and a gloomy grove threatens with/because of its shuddering shadow. Under the opposing face there is a cave with hanging rocks,[30]within there are sweet waters and seats/benches [made] out of natural (“living”) rock: the home of the nymphs: here not any chains hold tired[31] ships, an anchor does not bind them (ships) with a curved fluke/bite. Aeneas enters here (this place) with seven gathered ships out of the whole number; and the Trojans disembarking/having disembarked with great desire for the land they gain hold of the desired sand and they place their limbs dripping with salt (the sea) on the shore. And first, Achates struck a spark from flint(stone) and caught up fire with leaves and gave dry fuel around, and he snatched up the flame in the tinder (leaf). Then they,weary of/from the things (experienced), bring out/prepare the grain,[32]ruined by the waves,and the utensils of Ceres, and they prepare to roast the recovered grain and to crush it with a rock.
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Meanwhile, Aeneas climbs the cliff and searches the whole view (vista) over the sea far and wide, if he should/might see any (sign of) Antheus, tossed by the wind, and the Trojan biremes or Capys or the weapons of Caicus on the lofty ships. No ship in sight, he sees/spies three stags wandering on the shore; the entire herd follow these from behind and a long column is grazing throughout the valley(s). Here/At this he stopped and snatched up his bow with one hand and the swift arrows, weapons which faithful Achates was carrying; and he lays low the leaders themselves first, (who were) carrying their heads high with their tree-like horns (antlers), then he mixes up the whole herd, driving the mob with his darts/arrows between the leafy groves.
And he does not stop before he lays low to the ground, as a conqueror, seven massive bodies, and makes the number equal with the (number of) ships. From there he seeks (rushes to) the harbor and divides (the deer) among all his comrades. The wines which good Acestes had loaded in jars on the Sicilian shore and had given to them (as they were) departing, the hero distributes (the wines) and he soothes their gloomy hearts with words: ‘O comrades, indeed we are not inexperienced of (in) the evils of prior misfortunes – O you who have suffered more serious things, the god will give an end to these things also. You (have) approached both the madness of Scylla and herdeeply roaring/resoundingcliffs, you have experienced even/also the rocks of the Cyclops: restore your spirits (i.e., courage), dismiss/put aside your sad fear: perhaps it will be pleasing to remember even these things one day/someday. Through various misfortunes, through so many critical situations we aim into/to Latium; where the fates showing peaceful homes/abodes[33]; there it is right for the kingdom(s) of Troy to arise again. Endure, and save yourselves for favorable times/events.’
He says such things with his voice, and sickwith/because of huge cares, he pretends hope on his face, he presses his grief deep in his heart. They gird[34] themselves for the booty and future[35] feasts/banquets; they tear the hides off from the ribs and they strip/lay bare the flesh; some cut it into little pieces and pierce the trembling chunks (of meat) by means of spikes[36]; others place bronze vessels on the shore and tend to the flames. Then they restore their strength by means of food, and having(been) poured[37] (spread out/recumbent) through the grass they are filled of/with old wine[38] and rich game (venison). After their hunger had been removed by the feasts and the tables had been taken away, they search again for their lost comrades with a long speech, wavering between hope and fear, whether they should believe that they are living, or that they are enduring the final moment and they can no longer hear them when (having been) called. Especiallyloyal Aeneas bemoans first (now) the misfortune of fierce Orontus, then (now) the fate of Amyci and (bemoans) to himself the cruel fates of Lycius, and brave Gyus and brave Cloanthum.