Aeneid Translation (1.494-1.545)

Haec dum Dardanio Aeneae miranda videntur,

dum stupet obtutuque haeret defixus in uno,

regina ad templum, forma pulcherrima Dido,

incessit magna iuvenum stipante caterva.

While these things to be wondered at are seen by Dardanian Aeneas. While he stands agape, and he, having been fixed on one gaze, clings, the queen, most beautiful with respect to form, Dido marched to the temple with a great band of young people crowding.

Qualis in Eurotae ripis aut per iuga Cynthi

exercet Diana choros, quam mille secutae

hinc atque hinc glomerantur Oreades; illa pharetram

fert umero gradiensque deas supereminet omnes

(Latonae tacitum pertemptant gaudia pectus):

Of what sort Diana trains her choruses on the banks of Eurotas or through the ridges of Cynthus, whom a thousand Oreads, having followed, on this side and that are gathered; she brings a quiver on her shoulder, and she stepping, towers above all goddesses (joys possess the silent heart of Latona):

talis erat Dido, talem se laeta ferebat

per medios instans operi regnisque futuris.

Tum foribus divae, media testudine templi,

saepta armis solioque alte subnixa resedit.

such was Dido, she happily was carrying herself as such through the middle [of the people] urging on the work and the future kingdoms. Then at the doors of the goddess, in the middle of the vault of the temple, she, having been enclosed with weapons, and resting on her throne on high, sat down.

Iura dabat legesque viris, operumque laborem

partibus aequabat iustis aut sorte trahebat:

cum subito Aeneas concursu accedere magno

Anthea Sergestumque videt fortemque Cloanthum Teucrorumque alios ater quos aequore turbo

dispulerat penitusque alias avexerat oras.

She was giving rights and laws to the men and equaling the labor of works in just parts or she was drawing by lot: when suddenly Aeneas sees that Antheus and Sergestus and brave Cloanthus and others of the Teucrians approach in a great crowd, whom the black whirlpool had scattered in the sea and had carried away to other shores deep within.

Obstipuit simul ipse, simul percussus Achates

laetitiaque metuque; avidi coniungere dextras

ardebant, sed res animos incognita turbat.

Dissimulant et nube cava speculantur amicti

quae fortuna viris, classem quo litore linquant,

quid veniant; cunctis nam lecti navibus ibant

orantes veniam et templum clamore petebant.

At the same time, he himself stood agape, at the same time, Achates was struck both with joy and fear; they were eagerly burning to join their right [hands], but the unknown circumstance disturbs their minds. They hide [their minds] and they, having been enfolded in a hollow cloud, watch what fortune [there is] for the men, on what shore they leave their fleet, why they come; for they, having been chosen from all the ships were going, begging a favor and they were seeking the temple with a shout.

Postquam introgressi et coram data copia fandi,

maximus Ilioneus placido sic pectore coepit:

"O regina, novam cui condere Iuppiter urbem

iustitiaque dedit gentes frenare superbas,

Troes te miseri, ventis maria omnia vecti,

oramus: prohibe infandos a navibus ignes,

parce pio generi et propius res aspice nostras.

After they entered and the opportunity of speaking face to face was given, very great Ilioneus began thus with a peaceful heart: "Oh queen, to whom Jupiter has given [the ability] to found a new city and to check the proud races with justice, we, poor Trojans, having been carried by the winds, over all the seas, beseech you: keep unspeakable fires away from our ships, spare our loyal race and watch at our circumstances more closely.

Non nos aut ferro Libycos populare penates

venimus, aut raptas ad litora vertere praedas;

non ea vis animo nec tanta superbia victis.

Est locus, Hesperiam Grai cognomine dicunt,

terra antiqua, potens armis atque ubere glaebae;

We have not come either to plunder the Libyan household gods with iron or to turn the snatched loots to the shores; this violence [is] not for our mind nor [is there] so great an arrogance for the conquered. There is a place the Greeks call [it] "Hesperia" in name, an ancient land, powerful in arms and in the fertility of the soil;

Oenotri coluere viri; nunc fama minores

Italiam dixisse ducis de nomine gentem.

Hic cursus fuit,

cum subito adsurgens fluctu nimbosus Orion

in vada caeca tulit penitusque procacibus Austris

perque undas superante salo perque invia saxa

dispulit; huc pauci vestris adnavimus oris.

the Oenotrian men cultivated [it]; now [there is] a rumor that their descendants called the race "Italy", from the name of their leader. Here was our course, when suddenly stormy Orion, rising up from the wave, carried [us] into blind shallows and scattered [us] deeply, with the South winds being bold both through the waves, with the sea overcoming and through the pathless rocks; hither we few swam to you all's shores.

Quod genus hoc hominum? Quaeve hunc tam barbara morem permittit patria? Hospito prohibemur harenae;

bella cient primaque vetant consistere terra.

Si genus humanum et mortalia temnitis arma,

at sperate deos memores fandi atque nefandi.

Rex erat Aeneas nobis, quo iustior alter,

nec pietate fuit, nec bello maior et armis.

What race of people [is] this? Or what so barbaric a fatherland allows this custom? We are kept away from the hospitality of the sand; they stir up wars and forbid [us] to stand on the first land. If you all scorn the human race and mortal weapons, but hope that the gods [are] mindful of right and wrong. Aeneas was the king for us, than whom another was neither more just in loyalty, nor greater in war and weapons.