Aeneid Books 9 And 10

Front 1

Turnus, what no god would daer to promise you the courage of time has of itself brought on. Leaving his town and ships and followers Aeneas journeyed to the Palatine court of Evander. Still unsatisfied, he's gond to distant hamlets of Corythus to rally and arm the Lydian countrymen.

Back 1

Iris

Front 2

Why hesitate? Now is the time to sound the call for cavalry and war-cars now! Break off this lull, strike at their flurried camp, take it by storm!

Back 2

Iris

Front 3

Glory of the sky, who brought you down to me, cloudborne to earth? What makes the sudden brilliance of the ari? I see the vault of heaven riven, and stars that drift across the night sky. I'll obey this great presage, no matter who you are who call me to attack

Back 3

Turnus

Front 4

Countrymen, what is the mass of men there on the plain in a dark cloud of dust? Take arms, be quick, hand missiles out, and spears, and man the walls. Here comes the enemy. On guard!

Back 4

Caicus

Front 5

Who will it be, men? Who will join with me to open the attack? Look here!

Back 5

Turnus

Front 6

They won't risk themselves in the open in a fafir fight, won't come down to stand up to us. How they hug the camp.

Back 6

Turnus

Front 7

Son, now Olympus owns your mastery, grant your dear mother waht she asks of you. There was a forest of pines I loved for years, a grove high on a mountain crest, where men brought offerings to me--a dusky place with dark pine trees and a tall stand of maple.

Back 7

Berechynthian

Front 8

These I gladly gave to the Dardan prince when he required a fleet. But now a pang of fear has made my heart contract. Relieve my anguish, let your mother's plea avail in this: that those ships' timbers not be breached or swamped on any course by any storm, but let their birth and growth here on our mountians prosper them all

Back 8

Berecynthian

Front 9

What swerving, mother, do you ask of fate? What privilege for these, your ships? Shall hulls that mortal hands have made enjoy a right that only immortals have? And shall Aeneas go secure through insecurities and dangers? Which of the gods can wield that power?

Back 9

Jupiter

Front 10

Rather, when they have done their work and moored in the Ausonian ports one day, those ships that have escaped the srotm waves and brought home the Dardan hero to Laurentine lands, then I shall strip away their mortal shape and make them, at my bidding, goddesses of the deep, like Doto, Nereus' child, and Galatea, in the midsea foam breasting their way.

Back 10

Jupiter

Front 11

No desperatmen for that. e rallying to defend my ships, you Torjans, ne equipping Turnus may sooner fire the sea itself than hulls of holy pine. Ships, now go free, go as sea-goddesses, Your mother sends you.

Back 11

????? Book 9 lines 162-166

Front 12

The open sea is closed to Trojans now, now they have no way out. That element is taken from the, and dry land is ours, where all the tribes of Italy, men in thousands, take up arms.

Back 12

Turnus

Front 13

Those fateful oracles, on which the Phrygians plume themselves, terrify me not in the least: enough and more has now been granted Fate and Venus, seeing the Trojans reached Ausonian lands. I have my fate as well to combat theirs, to cut this criminal people down, my bride being stolen.

Back 13

Turnus

Front 14

Pain over such a loss is not for the Atridae only, nor may only mycenae justly have recourse to arms.

Back 14

Turnus

Front 15

I need no arms from Vulcan, nor a thousand ships, to take these Trojans on

Back 15

Turnus

Front 16

Nor will we hide ina horse's pitch dark belly openly by day I'll have their ramparts ringed with flame.

Back 16

Turnus

Front 17

A fight's in preperation you can be sure of that

Back 17

Turnus

Front 18

This urge ot action, do the gods instil it, or is each man's desire a god to him, Euryalus? For all these hours I've longed to engage in battle, or to try some great adventure. In this lull I cannot rest.

Back 18

Nisus

Front 19

You see how confident the Rutulians are. Their watchfire lights wink few and far between, they've all lain down in wine and drowsiness, and the whole place is quiet. Now attend to a thought I'm turning over in my mind, a plan that growns on me

Back 19

Nisus

Front 20

REcall Aeneas everyone seniors all our folk demand: dispatch men to report to him. Will they promise the reward I ask for you? The glory of the feat's enough for me. Below that ris of gound there I can find, I think, a way through to Fort Pallanteum

Back 20

Nisus

Front 21

Ane me? Are you refusing me my place beside you in this great affair? Muse I send you alone into such danger? Born for that, was I, and trained for that amid the Argive terror, those hard hours of Troy, by a true fighter, one inured to battle, my father Opheltes?

Back 21

Euryalus

Front 22

Never till now have I behaved so at your side, and as a soldier pledged to see Aeneas' destiny through. Believe me, here's a spirit that disdains mere daylight! I hold life well spent to buy that glory you aspire to

Back 22

Euryalus

Front 23

Not for a minute had I any qualms about you on that score. Unthinkable! Witness to great Jupiter by bringing me in triumph back to you. But if some god or accident defeats me you must live on.

Back 23

Nisus

Front 24

Your age deserves more life. If I am dragged free from a fight or ransomed, lt there be someone who can bury me. Or if bad luck rules that out someone who can carry out the ritual for me and honor me with an empty tomb

Back 24

Nisus

Front 25

Then too, I would not bring such grief on your poor mother, one who dared as many mothers did not to come this far with you taking no care for shelter behind Acestes wals

Back 25

Nisus

Front 26

Your reasoning is all a waste of breath not by an inch has my position changed. Let us be off.

Back 26

Euryalus

Front 27

Soldiers of Aeneas, listen with open minds, and let what we propose be looked on w/o reference to our years. The Rutulians have quieted down. Their wine has put them all to sleep. But we make out an opening for a sortie where the road divides there at the gate nearest to sea, a gap at that point in their line of fires with only black smoke rising

Back 27

Nisus

Front 28

If you let us take advantage of this to find our way to Aeneas and Pallanteum, you'll see us back with plunder before long, and slaughter done. NO fear the path will fool us: many times, hunting these valleys, we have come in view of the town's outposts, and we know the river, the whole course of it.

Back 28

Nisus

Front 29

Gods of our fathers, in whose shadow Troy forever lives, you are not after all intent on wiping out the Teucrians, seeing you've given our fighters daring sould and resolute hearts like these.

Back 29

Aletes

Front 30

What fit rewards for this brave action, soldiers, shall I reckon we can make to you? The best of all the gods will give, you and your own sense of duty, Then our devout Aeneas will recompense you in other ways, and soon; so will Ascanius, young as he is: never will he forget a feat of this distinction...

Back 30

Aletes

Front 31

Nisus, hear my voe: whetever fortune I may have, whatever hope, I now commit to both of you. Recall my fatherm bring him before my eyes.

Back 31

Ascanius

Front 32

Someone gives an account of what will be given to Nisus and Euryleus for going to look for Aeneas. Who is it?

Back 32

Ascenius

Front 33

The day will never come when I shall orive unequal to this kind of mission, hard and daring as it is--if only fortune turns to our benefit and not against us. One gift I ask of you. My mother comes of the old stock of Priam. I leave here ignorant of the risks I run... will you console her in her deprivation, help her if she is left without me.

Back 33

Euryalus

Front 34

Be sure of it. All here will be conducted worthily of the great thing you undertake. That mother will be mine and I shall not stint in gratitude for parenthood so noble. Whatever comes of your attempt I swera as once my father did, by my own life that all I promise on your safe return holds likewise for your mother and kin.

Back 34

Iulus

Front 35

Euryalus, here I must dare to use my sword: the case cries out for it; our path lies there. But you keep watch, keep well alert all round about for any stroke against us from behind. Ahead, I'll devastate them right and left and take you through.

Back 35

Nisus

Front 36

Let us have done the dawn's at hand and dangerous. We've made them pay enough, we've cut our way through.

Back 36

Nisus

Front 37

Soldiers halt! What's this patrol? Who are you two in arms there, and where bound?

Back 37

Volcens

Front 38

Euryalus, poor fellow, where did I lose you? Where shall I hunt for you? Back all that winding way, that maze of woodland?

Back 38

Nisus

Front 39

Thou goddess, thou be near and help my effort,Latona's daughter, glory of the stars and guardian of the groves. If Hyrtacus, my father, ever brought gifts to thy altars, votice gifts for me; if I myself have honored thee out of my hunting spoils with offerings, hung in thy dome or fixed outside upon thy sacred roof, now let me throw this troop into confusion: guide my weapon through the air

Back 39

Nisus

Front 40

All right you then you'll pay with your hot blood for both my men

Back 40

Volcens

Front 41

No, me! ME! Here I am! Take your swords to me, Rutulians. All the trickery was mine. He had not dared do anything, he could not. Heaven's my witness and the stars that look down on us, all he did was care too mcuh for a luckless friend

Back 41

Nisus

Front 42

Must I see you even like this, Euryalus? You that were in these last days the comroft of my age could leave me alone? Sent into danger so had you no time for your poor mother's last farewell?

Back 42

Eurylaus mother

Front 43

Put your spears into me if you can be moved, ;let your javelins all at me and let me be the first you kill. Or else take pity father of the great ogds with your bolt, dispatch this hateful soul to the abyss. I cannot else break off my tortured life.

Back 43

Eurylaus mother

Front 44

Did you hope to get away, you madman, from our hands?

Back 44

Turnus

Front 45

What not ashamed to be besieged again, pinned by a rampart, walling yourselves away from death? You Phrygians twice-conquered! Look, see those who cliam our wives, prizes of war! What god, what madness brought you to Italy? Here are no Atridae, here is no artful talker like Ulsses

Back 45

Remelus

Front 46

Our boys are keen at hunting and they wear the forests out; their pasttimes are horse taming and archery. Hard labor and a life of poverty our men are inured to. THey can crumble

Back 46

Remelus

Front 47

Almighty Jupiter, only give consent to this attempt this venture. I shall bring thy temple gifts in my own hands each year and place a snowy bullock at thy altar, gold leaf on his brow, grown up to hold his head high as his mother's, then to charge with lowered horns and paw the sand with hooves

Back 47

Ascanius

Front 48

Go on, please, mock our courage with windy talk. Twice-conquered Phrygians return this answer to the Rutulians

Back 48

Ascanius

Front 49

Blessed be your new-found manhood, child. By striving so men reach the stars, dear son of gods and sire of gods to come. All fated wars will quiet down, and justly, in the end under descendeants of Assaracus, for Troy no longer bounds ou

Back 49

Apollo

Front 50

Let it suffice that Numanus met death by your good shot whithout retaliation, son of Aeneas. This feat of arms, your first, mighty Apollo grants you, and he feels no jealousy for the weapon matched with his. Only refrain from other acts of war.

Back 50

Apollo disguised as Butes

Front 51

Here is no bridegroom's royal house from Amata, no Ardean inner court to comfort Turnus with his native walls. Your enemy's fortress-camp is what you see, and not the faintest chance of getting away.

Back 51

Pandarus

Front 52

Step forward if you have the heart for it. Come within range. You will be telling Priam Achilles has been found again and here

Back 52

Turnus

Front 53

Not from this blade, the stroke of my sword arm, will you escape. THe man responsible for wound and weapon is no bungler

Back 53

Turnus

Front 54

How could the war have ended?

Back 54

If Turnus had broken the gate

Front 55

Where do you think you'll run after this? What walls what fortress have you in reserve? Is sa single man, hemmed in by your own ramparts on all sides going to cause a massacre like this throughout the town and not be stopped? Will he dispatch so many of our best men to Orcus? You polrtoons have you no shame, no pity for your own unhappy country for the gods of old, for great Aeneas?

Back 55

Mnestheus