Aeneid Translation (1.546-1.578)

Quem si fata virum servant, si vescitur aura

aetheria neque adhuc crudelibus occubat umbris,

non metus, officio nec te certasse priorem

paeniteat. Sunt et Siculis regionibus urbes

armaque Troianoque a sanguine clarus Acestes.

If the fates save this man, if he feeds upon the ethereal air and does not yet lie dead in the cruel shades, [there is] not fear, nor let it grieve you to have striven [to be] first in duty. There are also cities in Sicilian regions and weapons and famous Acestes from Trojan blood.

Quassatam ventis liceat subducere classem

et silvis aptare trabes et stringere remos,

si datur Italiam sociis et rege recepto

tendere, ut Italiam laeti Latiumque petamus;

Let it be allowed to draw up our fleet, having been shaken by wind, and to furnish beams from forests and to trim oars, if it is given to stretch to Italy, with our allies and our king, having been recovered, in order that we may happily seek Italy and Latium;

sin absumpta salus, et te, pater optime Teucrum,

pontus habet Libyae nec spes iam restat Iuli,

at freta Sicaniae saltem sedesque paratas,

unde huc adventi, regemque petamus Acesten."

Talibus Ilioneus; cuncti simul ore fremebant

Dardanidae.

but if safety [has been] taken away, and the sea of Libya holds you, the best father of the Teucrians, and hope for Iulus no longer remains, but at least let us seek the straits of Sicily and the prepared homes from where we have been carried to this place, and our king Acestes." Ilioneus [spoke] with such [words]; at the same time, all descendants of Dardanus were roaring with their mouth.

Tum breviter Dido vultum demissa profatur:

"Solvite corde metum, Teucri, secludite curas.

Res dura et regni novitas me talia cogunt

moliri et late fines custode tueri.

Quis genus Aeneadum, quis Troiae nesciat urbem,

virtutesque virosque aut tanti incendia belli?

Then Dido, having been sent down with respect to her face, speaks forth briefly: "Teucrians, loosen fear from you all's heart, shut off you all's cares. The harsh situation and the newness of my kingdom force me to undertake such things and to protect my borders widely with a guard. Who [would not know] the race of the descendants of Aeneas, who would not know the city of Troy, both the courages and the men or the fires of so great a war?

Non obtunsa adeo gestamus pectora Poeni,

nec tam aversus equos Tyria Sol iungit ab urbe.

Seu vos Hesperiam magnam Saturniaque arva

sive Erycis fines regemque optatis Acesten,

auxilio tutos dimittam opibusque iuvabo.

Vultis et his mecum pariter considere regnis?

We Phoenicians do not carry hearts, having been weakened to such an extent, nor does the Sun join his horses so opposite from the Tyrian city. Whether you all [desire] great Hesperia and the Saturnian fields, or you all desire the borders of Erycs and king Acestes, I will send [you all] away safe[ly] with my help, and I will help [you all] with my resources. Do you all also want to settle equally with me in these kingdoms?

Urbem quam statuo, vestra est; subducite naves;

Tros Tyriusque mihi nullo discrimine agetur.

Atque utinam rex ipse Noto compulsus eodem

adforet Aeneas! Equidem per litora certos

dimittam et Libyae lustrare extrema iubebo,

si quibus eiectus silvis aut urbibus errat."

The city, which I found, is yours; beach your ships; Trojan and Tyrian will be led by me with no distinction. And if only king Aeneas himself, having been driven by the same South wind, were here! Truly I will send out sure men through the shores, and I will order [them] to survey the farthest [borders] of Libya, if he, having been cast out, wanders in any forests or cities."