Lines 268 - 297: Hector appears in a dream

tempus erat quo prima quies mortalibus aegris

It was the time at which first rest began for weary mortals

incipit et dono divum gratissima serpit.

and it, most welcome, slowly spread by the gods’ gift.

in somnis, ecce, ante oculos maestissimus Hector            

In my dreams, look, before my eyes most woeful Hector

visus adesse mihi largosque effundere fletus,

seemed to me to be present and to be pouring forth copious tears,

raptatus bigis ut quondam, aterque cruento

as when he had been dragged violently by a two horse chariot, and dark with blood-stained

pulvere perque pedes traiectus lora tumentes.

dust and pierced by leather straps through his swollen feet.

ei mihi, qualis erat, quantum mutatus ab illo

Alas for me! What kind of a man he was, how greatly changed from that

Hectore qui redit exuvias indutus Achilli

Hector who returned draped in the spoils of Achilles

vel Danaum Phrygios iaculatus puppibus ignes;

or hurled Trojan fires on the ships of the Greeks;

squalentem barbam et concretos sanguine crines

he was bearing a filthy beard and hair matted with blood

vulneraque illa gerens, quae circum plurima muros / accessit patrios.

and those wounds, the very many which he received around the walls of his homeland.

ultro flens ipse videbar

Of my own accord I, weeping myself, seemed

compellare virum et maestas expromere voces:              

to call to the man and to offer up woeful words:

'o lux Dardaniae, spes o fidissima Teucrum,

‘O light of the Trojans, o most faithful hope of the Trojans,

quae tantae tenuere morae? quibus Hector ab oris / exspectate venis?

What so great delays have kept you? From what shores do you come, Hector, the awaited?

ut te post multa tuorum / funera, (decessi aspicimus!)

How we weary ones see you, after the many deaths of your kin,

post varios hominumque urbisque labores,

after the various hardships of our people and our city!

quae causa indigna serenos / foedavit vultus?              

What unmerited cause defiled your clear face?

aut cur haec vulnera cerno?'

Or why do I see these wounds?’

ille nihil, nec me quaerentem vana moratur,

He replied nothing, nor did he hinder me from asking pointless questions,

sed graviter gemitus imo de pectore ducens,

but heavily drawing groans from the bottom of his chest, he said

'heu fuge, nate dea, teque his' ait 'eripe flammis.

‘Alas, flee, goddess-born, and steal yourself away from these flames.

hostis habet muros; ruit alto a culmine Troia.              

The enemy have the walls; Troy is falling in ruins from its high point.

sat patriae Priamoque datum: si Pergama dextra / defendi possent,

Enough has been given to your homeland and to Priam: if Troy could be defended by a right hand,

etiam hac defensa fuissent.

it would have been defended by this one too.

sacra suosque tibi commendat Troia penates;

Troy entrusts its sacred things and own house-hold gods to you;

hos cape fatorum comites, his moenia quaere / magna

Take these as companions of your fate, for them search for great walls,

pererrato statues quae denique ponto.'              

which you will construct at last after you have wandered across the sea.’

sic ait et manibus vittas Vestamque potentem

Thus he spoke and in his hands brings out the sacrificial ribbons and powerful Vesta

aeternumque adytis effert penetralibus ignem.

and the eternal flame from the innermost chambers.