Virgil’s the Aeneid translation

Urbs antiqua fuit (Tyrii tenuere coloni) Karthago, Italiam contra Tiberinaque longe Ostia, dives opum studiisque asperrima belli,

There was an ancient city (Tyrian settlers possessed it), Carthage, facing Italy and the mouth of the Tiber far away, rich in resources and very fierce in war’s activities,

Quam Iuno fertur terris magis omnibus unam posthabita coluisse Samo.

Which Juno is said to have cared for more than all other lands, since she esteemed Samos less.

Hic illius arma, hic currus fuit, hoc regnum dea gentibus esse, si qua fata sinant, iam tum tenditque fovetque.

Here was her armour, here was her chariot; even then the goddess both aimed and cherished the aim that this city should be kingdom of all races, if the fates allowed it in any way.

Progeniem sed enim Trioano a sanguine duck audierat Tyrias olim quae verteret arces;

But in fact, she had heard that offspring was being produced from Trojan blood to overthrow the Tyrian citadels some day;

hinc populum late regem belloque superbum venturum excidio Libyae; sic volvere Parcas.

From this a race would come ruling far and wide and arrogant in war to destroy Libya; thus, the fates were bringing to pass.

Id metuens veterisque memor Saturnia belli, prima quod ad Troiam pro caris gesserat Argis -

The daughter of Saturn, fearing this, and mindful of the old war, which she had previously waged near Troy on behalf of her beloved Greeks -

Necdum etiam causae irarum saevique dolores exciderant animo;

For even now the causes of her outbursts of anger and her savage pains had not yet disappeared from her mind;

Manet alta mente repostum iudicium Paridis spretaeque iniurae formae et genus invisum et rapti Ganymedis honores:

The judgement of Paris and the insult done to her spurned beauty and the hated race and the honours given to the snatched Ganymede remained buried deep in her mind:

His accensa super iactatos aequore toto Troas, reliquias Danaum atque immitis Achilli,

Fired by these injustices as well, she kept the Trojans tossed about over the whole sea, the remnants left by the Greeks and savage Achilles,

Arcebat longe Latio, multosque per annos errabant acti fatis maria omnia circum.

Far from Latinum, and for many years they wandered driven by the fates all around the seas.

Tantae molis erat Romanam condere gentem.

It invilved such great difficulty to found the Roman race.

Vix e conspectu Siculae telluris in altum vela dabant laeti et spumas salis aere ruebant,

Scarcely out of sight from the land of Sicily, the Trojans were happily sailing into the high sea and churning up the foam of the salt sea with their bronze prows

Cum Iuno aeternum servans sub pectore vulnus haec secum:

When Juno, retaining the everlasting wound beneath her breast, said these words within herself:

‘Mene incepto desistere victam nec posse Italia Teucorum avertere regem!

‘To think that I, defeated, should give up my purpose, and not be able to divert the king of the Trojans from Italy!

Quippe vetor fatis.

Of course, I am forbidden by the fates.

Pallasne exurere classem Argivum atque ipsos potuit submergere ponto unius ob noxam et furias Aiacis Oilei?

Was Pallas able to burn up the fleet of the Greeks and drown the Greeks themselves in the sea because of one man’s offence and the madness of Ajax, son of Oileus?

Ipsa Iovis rapidum iaculata e nubibus ignem disiecitque rates evertitque aequora ventis,

She herself, hurling the swift fire of Jupiter from the clouds both scattered the ships and upturned the seas with their winds,

Illum exspirantem transfixo pectore flammas turbine corripuit scopuloque infixit acuto;

While him, as he breathed forth flame from his pierced breast, she snatched up in a whirlwind and impaled on a sharp rock.

Ast ago, quae divum incedo regina Iovisque et sonor et coniunx, una cum gente tot annos bella gero.

But I, who grandly walk as queen of the gods, and both sister and wife of Jupiter, have been waging wars for so many years with one race.

Et quisquam numen Iunonis adorat praeterea aut supplex aris imponet honorem?’

And does anyone worship the divine power of Juno anymore or in supplication will anyone place an offering upon her altars?’

Talia flammato secum dea corde volutans nimborum in patriam, loca feta furentibus Austris, Aeoliam venit.

The goddess, turning over such thoughts with herself in her inflamed heart, came to the land of the clouds, Aeolia, an area teeming with raging south winds.

Hic vasto rex Aeolus antro luctantes ventos tempestatesque sonoras impero premit ac vinclis et carcere frenat.

Here, King Aeolus by means of his power confines the struggling winds and sounding storms within a huge cave and curbs them with chains and a prison.

Illi indignantes magno cum murmure montis circum claustra fremunt;

They, indignant, roar around the prison bars accompanied by the mighty murmur of the mountain;

Celsa sedet Aeolus arce sceptra tenens mollitque animos et temperat iras.

Aeolus sits in the lofty citadel, holding the sceptre, soothes their feelings and restrains their outbursts of anger.

Ni faciat, maria ac terras caelumque profundum quippe ferant rapidi secum verrantque per auras;

If he did not do this, they would doubtless carry hurriedly away with them seas, lands and the high heaven and sweep them through the breezes;

Sed pater omnipotens speluncis abdidit atris hoc metuens molemque et montes insuper altos imposuit,

But the all powerful father, fearing this, hid them in dark caverns, placed a mass of high mountains on top,

Regemque dedit qui foedere certo et premere et laxas sciret dare iussus habenas.

And gave them a king so that, under a fixed contract, he might know both how to tighten and to relax and give the reins when ordered.

Ad quem tum Iuno supplex his vocibus usa est:

To him, then, Juno in supplication used these words:

‘Aeole (namque tibi divum pater atque hominum rex et dedit fluctus et tollere vento),

‘Aeolus (for to you the father of the gods and king of men has granted both to calm the waves and raise them with the wind),

Gens inimica mihi Tyrrhenum navigat aequor Ilium in Italiam portans victosque penates:

A race hostile to me sails the Etruscan sea carrying Troy and its defeated household gods to Italy:

Incute vim ventis submersasque obrue puppes, aut age diversos et dissice corpora ponto.’

Strike violence into the winds, sink and destroy their ships, or drive them in different directions and scatter the bodies in the ocean.’

‘Sunt mihi bis septem praestanti corpore Nymphae, quarum quae forma pulcherrima Deiopea,

‘I have twice seven Nymphs of outstanding beauty, of whom she is the most beautiful in form, Deiopea,

Conubio iungam stabili propiamque dicabo, omnes ut tecum meritis pro talibus

I will join with you in steadfast marriage and consecrate her with your own, so that, in return for such services,

Annos exigat et pulchra faciat te prole parentem.’

She might spend all her years with you and make you a parent with a beautiful offspring.’

Aeolus haec contra: ‘tuus, o regina, quid optes explorare labor;

In answer to this Aeolus said: ‘O queen, it is your task to search out what you desire;

Mihi iussa capessere fas est.

For me, it is right to carry out your orders.

Tu mihi quodcumque hoc regni, tu sceptra Iovemque concilias,

You provide for me this modest kingdom, the sceptre and Jupiter’s favour,

Tu das epulis accumbere divum nimborumque facis tempestatumque potentem.’

You grant me to recline at the banquet of the gods, and make me master of clouds and storms.’

Haec ubi dicta, cavum conversa cuspide montem impulit in latus;

When these things had been said, reversing his spear, he struck the mountain on the side;

Ac venti velut agmine facto, qua data porta, ruunt et terras turbine perflant.

And the winds, as if they had formed an army column, rush wherever passage had been given and blow through the lands with a whirlwind.

Incubuere mari totumque a sedibus imis una Eurusque Notusque ruunt creberque procellis Africus,

They fell upon the sea, and Eurus and Notus together and Africus, abundant with storms,

Et vastos volvunt ad litora fluctus.

Churn up everything from their lowest depths, and roll huge waves towards the coasts.

Insequitur clamorque virum stridorque rudentum;

There follows both a shout of men and the hissing of cables;

Eripiunt subito nubes caelumque diemque Teucrorum ex oculis;

Suddenly, the clouds snatch away both sky and daylight from the eyes of the Trojans;

Ponto nox incubat atra;

Black night falls upon the sea;

Intonuere police et crebris micat ignibus aether praesentemque viris intentant omnia mortem.

The heavens thundered, the upper air flashes with abundant fires, and everything threatens instant death for the men.

Extemplo Aeneae solvuntur frigore membra;

Immediately, Aeneas’ limbs were loosened with an icy terror;

Ingemit et duplices tendens ad sidera palmas talia voce refert:

He groaned and, stretching out both his palms towards the stars, he repeated such words aloud:

‘O terque quaterque beati, quis ante ora patrum Troiae sun moenibus altis contigit oppetere!

‘O thrice and four times blessed are those to whom it befell to die before the faces of their fathers beneath the lofty walls of Troy!

O Danaum fortissime gentis Tydide!

O son of Tydeus, bravest of the race of Greeks!

Mene Iliacis occumbere campis non potuisse tuaque animam hanc effundere dextra,

To think that I was not able to fall on the plains of Troy and pour out this life beneath your right hand,

Saevus ubi Aeacidae telo iacet Hector, ubi ingens Sarpedon, ubi tot Simois

Where fierce Hector lies beneath the spear of the descendant of Aeacus, where mighty Sarpedon lies, where the Simois,

Correpta sub undis scuta virum galeasque et fortia corpora volvit!’

Having seized so many shields of heroes, rolls them, helmets and brave bodies beneath its waves.’