Arma virumque cano, Troiae qui primus ab oris
Italiam, fato profugus, Laviniaque venit
litora, multum ille et terris iactatus et alto
vi superum saevae memorem Iunonis ob iram;
multa quoque et bello passus, dum conderet urbem, 5
inferretque deos Latio, genus unde Latinum,
Albanique patres, atque altae moenia Romae.
Musa, mihi causas memora, quo numine laeso,
quidve dolens, regina deum tot volvere casus
insignem pietate virum, tot adire labores 10
impulerit. Tantaene animis caelestibus irae?
Urbs antiqua fuit, Tyrii tenuere coloni,
Karthago, Italiam contra Tiberinaque longe
ostia, dives opum studiisque asperrima belli;
quam Iuno fertur terris magis omnibus unam 15
posthabita coluisse Samo; hic illius arma,
hic currus fuit; hoc regnum dea gentibus esse,
si qua fata sinant, iam tum tenditque fovetque.
Progeniem sed enim Troiano a sanguine duci
audierat, Tyrias olim quae verteret arces; 20
hinc populum late regem belloque superbum
venturum excidio Libyae: sic volvere Parcas.
Id metuens, veterisque memor Saturnia belli,
prima quod ad Troiam pro caris gesserat Argis—
necdum etiam causae irarum saevique dolores 25
exciderant animo: manet alta mente repostum
iudicium Paridis spretaeque iniuria formae,
et genus invisum, et rapti Ganymedis honores.
His accensa super, iactatos aequore toto
Troas, reliquias Danaum atque immitis Achilli, 30
arcebat longe Latio, multosque per annos
errabant, acti fatis, maria omnia circum.
Tantae molis erat Romanam condere gentem!
Vix e conspectu Siculae telluris in altum
vela dabant laeti, et spumas salis aere ruebant, 35
cum Iuno, aeternum servans sub pectore volnus,
haec secum: 'Mene incepto desistere victam,
nec posse Italia Teucrorum avertere regem?
Quippe vetor fatis. Pallasne exurere classem
Argivom atque ipsos potuit submergere ponto, 40
unius ob noxam et furias Aiacis Oilei?
Ipsa, Iovis rapidum iaculata e nubibus ignem,
disiecitque rates evertitque aequora ventis,
illum expirantem transfixo pectore flammas
turbine corripuit scopuloque infixit acuto. 45
Ast ego, quae divom incedo regina, Iovisque
et soror et coniunx, una cum gente tot annos
bella gero! Et quisquam numen Iunonis adoret
praeterea, aut supplex aris imponet honorem?'
Talia flammato secum dea corde volutans 50
nimborum in patriam, loca feta furentibus austris,
Aeoliam venit. Hic vasto rex Aeolus antro
luctantes ventos tempestatesque sonoras
imperio premit ac vinclis et carcere frenat.
Illi indignantes magno cum murmure montis 55
circum claustra fremunt; celsa sedet Aeolus arce
sceptra tenens, mollitque animos et temperat iras.
Ni faciat, maria ac terras caelumque profundum
quippe ferant rapidi secum verrantque per auras.
Sed pater omnipotens speluncis abdidit atris, 60
hoc metuens, molemque et montis insuper altos
imposuit, regemque dedit, qui foedere certo
et premere et laxas sciret dare iussus habenas.
Ad quem tum Iuno supplex his vocibus usa est:
'Aeole, namque tibi divom pater atque hominum rex 65
et mulcere dedit fluctus et tollere vento,
gens inimica mihi Tyrrhenum navigat aequor,
Ilium in Italiam portans victosque Penates:
incute vim ventis submersasque obrue puppes,
aut age diversos et disiice corpora ponto. 70
Sunt mihi bis septem praestanti corpore nymphae,
quarum quae forma pulcherrima Deiopea,
conubio iungam stabili propriamque dicabo,
omnis ut tecum meritis pro talibus annos
exigat, et pulchra faciat te prole parentem.' 75
Aeolus haec contra: 'Tuus, O regina, quid optes
explorare labor; mihi iussa capessere fas est.
Tu mihi, quodcumque hoc regni, tu sceptra Iovemque
concilias, tu das epulis accumbere divom,
nimborumque facis tempestatumque potentem.' 80
Haec ubi dicta, cavum conversa cuspide montem
impulit in latus: ac venti, velut agmine facto,
qua data porta, ruunt et terras turbine perflant.
Incubuere mari, totumque a sedibus imis
una Eurusque Notusque ruunt creberque procellis 85
Africus, et vastos volvunt ad litora fluctus.
Insequitur clamorque virum stridorque rudentum.
Eripiunt subito nubes caelumque diemque
Teucrorum ex oculis; ponto nox incubat atra.
Intonuere poli, et crebris micat ignibus aether, 90
praesentemque viris intentant omnia mortem.
Extemplo Aeneae solvuntur frigore membra:
ingemit, et duplicis tendens ad sidera palmas
talia voce refert: 'O terque quaterque beati,
quis ante ora patrum Troiae sub moenibus altis 95
contigit oppetere! O Danaum fortissime gentis
Tydide! Mene Iliacis occumbere campis
non potuisse, tuaque animam hanc effundere dextra,
saevus ubi Aeacidae telo iacet Hector, ubi ingens
Sarpedon, ubi tot Simois correpta sub undis 100
scuta virum galeasque et fortia corpora volvit?'
Talia iactanti stridens Aquilone procella
velum adversa ferit, fluctusque ad sidera tollit.
Franguntur remi; tum prora avertit, et undis
dat latus; insequitur cumulo praeruptus aquae mons. 105
Hi summo in fluctu pendent; his unda dehiscens
terram inter fluctus aperit; furit aestus harenis.
Tris Notus abreptas in saxa latentia torquet—
saxa vocant Itali mediis quae in fluctibus aras—
dorsum immane mari summo; tris Eurus ab alto 110
in brevia et Syrtis urget, miserabile visu,
inliditque vadis atque aggere cingit harenae.
Unam, quae Lycios fidumque vehebat Oronten,
ipsius ante oculos ingens a vertice pontus
in puppim ferit: excutitur pronusque magister 115
volvitur in caput; ast illam ter fluctus ibidem
torquet agens circum, et rapidus vorat aequore vortex.
Adparent rari nantes in gurgite vasto,
arma virum, tabulaeque, et Troia gaza per undas.
Iam validam Ilionei navem, iam fortis Achati, 120
et qua vectus Abas, et qua grandaevus Aletes,
vicit hiems; laxis laterum compagibus omnes
accipiunt inimicum imbrem, rimisque fatiscunt.
Interea magno misceri murmure pontum,
emissamque hiemem sensit Neptunus, et imis 125
stagna refusa vadis, graviter commotus; et alto
prospiciens, summa placidum caput extulit unda.
Disiectam Aeneae, toto videt aequore classem,
fluctibus oppressos Troas caelique ruina,
nec latuere doli fratrem Iunonis et irae. 130
Eurum ad se Zephyrumque vocat, dehinc talia fatur:
'Tantane vos generis tenuit fiducia vestri?
Iam caelum terramque meo sine numine, venti,
miscere, et tantas audetis tollere moles?
Quos ego—sed motos praestat componere fluctus. 135
Post mihi non simili poena commissa luetis.
Maturate fugam, regique haec dicite vestro:
non illi imperium pelagi saevumque tridentem,
sed mihi sorte datum. Tenet ille immania saxa,
vestras, Eure, domos; illa se iactet in aula 140
Aeolus, et clauso ventorum carcere regnet.'
Sic ait, et dicto citius tumida aequora placat,
collectasque fugat nubes, solemque reducit.
Cymothoe simul et Triton adnixus acuto
detrudunt navis scopulo; levat ipse tridenti; 145
et vastas aperit syrtis, et temperat aequor,
atque rotis summas levibus perlabitur undas.
Ac veluti magno in populo cum saepe coorta est
seditio, saevitque animis ignobile volgus,
iamque faces et saxa volant—furor arma ministrat; 150
tum, pietate gravem ac meritis si forte virum quem
conspexere, silent, arrectisque auribus adstant;
ille regit dictis animos, et pectora mulcet,—
sic cunctus pelagi cecidit fragor, aequora postquam
prospiciens genitor caeloque invectus aperto 155
flectit equos, curruque volans dat lora secundo.
Defessi Aeneadae, quae proxima litora, cursu
contendunt petere, et Libyae vertuntur ad oras.
Est in secessu longo locus: insula portum
efficit obiectu laterum, quibus omnis ab alto 160
frangitur inque sinus scindit sese unda reductos.
Hinc atque hinc vastae rupes geminique minantur
in caelum scopuli, quorum sub vertice late
aequora tuta silent; tum silvis scaena coruscis
desuper horrentique atrum nemus imminet umbra. 165
Fronte sub adversa scopulis pendentibus antrum,
intus aquae dulces vivoque sedilia saxo,
nympharum domus: hic fessas non vincula navis
ulla tenent, unco non alligat ancora morsu.
Huc septem Aeneas collectis navibus omni 170
ex numero subit; ac magno telluris amore
egressi optata potiuntur Troes harena,
et sale tabentis artus in litore ponunt.
Ac primum silici scintillam excudit Achates,
succepitque ignem foliis, atque arida circum 175
nutrimenta dedit, rapuitque in fomite flammam.
Tum Cererem corruptam undis Cerealiaque arma
expediunt fessi rerum, frugesque receptas
et torrere parant flammis et frangere saxo.
Aeneas scopulum interea conscendit, et omnem 180
prospectum late pelago petit, Anthea si quem
iactatum vento videat Phrygiasque biremis,
aut Capyn, aut celsis in puppibus arma Caici.
Navem in conspectu nullam, tris litore cervos
prospicit errantis; hos tota armenta sequuntur 185
a tergo, et longum per vallis pascitur agmen.
Constitit hic, arcumque manu celerisque sagittas
corripuit, fidus quae tela gerebat Achates;
ductoresque ipsos primum, capita alta ferentis
cornibus arboreis, sternit, tum volgus, et omnem 190
miscet agens telis nemora inter frondea turbam;
nec prius absistit, quam septem ingentia victor
corpora fundat humi, et numerum cum navibus aequet.
Hinc portum petit, et socios partitur in omnes.
Vina bonus quae deinde cadis onerarat Acestes 195
litore Trinacrio dederatque abeuntibus heros,
dividit, et dictis maerentia pectora mulcet:
'O socii—neque enim ignari sumus ante malorum—
O passi graviora, dabit deus his quoque finem.
Vos et Scyllaeam rabiem penitusque sonantis 200
accestis scopulos, vos et Cyclopea saxa
experti: revocate animos, maestumque timorem
mittite: forsan et haec olim meminisse iuvabit.
Per varios casus, per tot discrimina rerum
tendimus in Latium; sedes ubi fata quietas 205
ostendunt; illic fas regna resurgere Troiae.
Durate, et vosmet rebus servate secundis.'
I sing of arms and the man who came first from the shores
of Troy exiled by fate came to Italy and Lavinia --
that man having been tossed much both on land and on sea
by the force of the gods, on account of the unforgiving anger of cruel
Juno. And he suffered many things also in war, until could he found the city 5
and bring the household gods to Latium--whence the Latin race
and the Alban fathers and the walls of high Rome.
Muse, recount to me her divinity having been offended by what
or grieving of what did the queen of the gods force a man distinguished by
loyalty to undergo so many misfortunes and to approach so many 10
labors. Is there such anger to heavenly spirits?
There was an ancient city Tyrian settlers held it
Carthage, far opposite of Italy and Tiberine mouth
rich in resources and in the fiercest pursuits of war
which alone Juno is said to have cherished more than all lands, 15
Samos having been esteemed less: here were the her arms
and here was her chariot; then the goddess both strived and cherished
this already to be the ruling power for nations if somehow the fates would allow it
for truly she had heard that offspring were being produced from Trojan blood
which one day would overturn Tyrian citadels 20
and that a people would come ruling far and proud in war
for the destruction for Libya: and that the fates unrolled thus.
Fearing this and mindful of the old war
which she foremost had waged at Troy for dear Argos
(not yet even had the causes of her anger and the cruel griefs 25
fallen from her mind; the judgment of Paris
the injury of her rejected beauty and the hated
race and the honors of Ganymedis is remained stacked up in her deep mind)--
inflamed by these things Juno kept the Trojans
tossed above on the whole sea, the leavings of the Greeks and 30
of cruel Achilles far from Latium,and through many years
they were wandering driven by the fates around all seas.
It was so great a burden to found the Roman race.
Scarcely out of the sight of Sicilian land
the happy men gave sails into the deep sea and they plowed the foam of the sea with bronze. 35
When Juno keeping the eternal wound under her chest said
these things with herself: "Do I having been conquered
cease from my undertaking nor am I able to turn away
the king of the Trojans from Italy. Indeed I am forbidden by the fates. Was Pallas able to burn the fleet
of the Greeks and to drown them themselves in the sea 40
on account of the crime and madness of Ajax alone of Oileus?
She herself having thrown the swift fire of Jove from the
clouds scattered the ships and overturned the seas with the breeze
and she seized him by means of a whirlpool him breathing flames
from his pierced chest and impaled on a sharp rock 45
but I, who walk as queen of the gods and sister and
wife of Jupiter, I wage war for so many years with
one race. Does anyone adore the divinity of Juno hereafter
or will anyone place an honor on my altar as a suppliant?"
The goddess pondering such things in her inflamed heart with herself 50
came into the fatherland of the storm clouds a place teeming with raging
winds Aeola. Here in his vast cave King Aeolus
controls by means of his power the struggling winds and the howling
storms and he restrained them by chains and prison
those angry winds with great rumbling roar around the mountain 55
Aeolus sits on his high throne
holding his scepter and he soothes their spirits and he calms their angers;
unless he should do this, indeed the rapid winds
would carry the seas and the lands and the vast skies with themselves and would sweep them through the air
but the all-powerful father hid them in dark caves 60
fearing this and he placed above them a mass and high mountains
and he gave a king who by a sure agreement
knew how both to repress and to give free reigns having been ordered
To whom then Juno is a suppliant used these words
"Aeolus, for the father of the gods and the kings of men has given to you 65
to calm the sea and to raise winds.
A race hostile to me is sailing the Terrinum sea
carrying Ilium and the conquered household gods into Italy
strike violence with the winds and overwhelm the submerged
ships or drive them diverse and scatter the corpses in the sea 70
There are to me twice seven nymphs of excellent body,
of whom I shall join by means of a stable marriage Deiopa who is the most beautiful
with respect to form and I shall consecrate her as your permanent wife
so that she may pass all years with you for such merits
and she may make you a parent with beautiful offspring." 75
Aeolus said these things in reply: "O queen, it is your labor to explore what you
want; it is right for me to carry out your orders.
You win for me whatever of my kingdom this is and the scepter and Jupiter
and you give to me to recline at the feast of the gods
and you make me powerful of storm clouds and storms." 80
When these things were said, he struck the hallow mountain
against its side with his spear reversed and the winds rushed as if a
battle line were made and blew over the land with a whirlpool wherever there was a door
At the same time Eurus, Notus, and Africus frequent with
gusts brooded over the sea and overturn the whole sea from the lowest bottom 85
they roll vast waves to the shore: the shout of men
and the creaking of ropes followed suddenly
storm clouds snatched both sky and day from
the eyes of the Trojans; black night lay upon the sea
and the air flashed with frequent fire 90
and all things threatened instant death to the men.
Immediately the limbs of Aeneas were relaxed with chilly fear
he groaned and stretching his two hands to the stars
he replied such things with his voice: "O thrice and four times blessed
to whom it befell to meet death before the faces of your fathers 95
under the high walls of Troy! O son of Tydus bravest of the Greek race!
Was I not able to fall in death in the Trojan plains
and my soul pour out in your right hand
cruel when fierce Hector dies by the weapon of Achilles and where mighty
Sarpedon lies, where the Semois rolls so many shields of men 100
and helmets and brave corpses having been snatched under the waves?"
To him uttering such things, a blast roaring with wind
beat opposite the sail raised the waves to the stars
the oars were broken, then the prow turned aside, and gave its
side to the waves, a towering mountain of water follows in a heap 105
Some hang on the top of a wave for others the waves splitting
open the land between the waves, the tide rages with sand
the wind snatched three ships onto the hiding rocks
(rocks which the Italians call the Altars in the middle of the sea
a huge reef at the top of the sea), Eurus forced three from the deep 110
and into the short shallows miserable to see
and dashed them in the shallows and surrounded them with a mound of sand
the mighty sea from above struck on which carried the Liceans
and faithful Orontes before the eyes of the master against the stern
was rolled onto his head:the pilot was shaken out headfirst and 115
onto his head; but a wave twisted it thrice to the same place
driving it around and a swift whirlpool devoured it in the sea.
The scattered men appear floating in the vast whirlpool
and arms of men and planks and Trojan wealth through the waves
Now the storm conquered the strong ship of Iliones then the 120
ship of brave Achates and the ship by which Abas was carried and the
ship by which old Aletes was carried; the fastenings of the side having been loosened
all received the hostile water and they split open with cracks.
Meanwhile Neptune realized that the sea was stirred up
with great rumbling and that a storm had been sent down and that 125
the waters had been poured back from the lowest shallows, gravely disturbed; and looking out
from the deep he raised his peaceful head from the top of a wave.
He saw the fleet of Aeneas scattered on the whole sea,
the trojans overwhelmed by waves and the downfall of heaven.
Nor did the tricks and anger of Juno escape the notice of the brother. 130
He recalled Eurus and Zephyrus himself, then said such things:
"Did such great faith of your race hold you?
Do you now dare the stir up heaven and earth without my divine will,
winds, and to raise so great a mass?"
You whom I--! but it is better to calm the moved waves. 135
After you will atone to me for the crimes by a punishment not similar
hasten flight and say these things to your king:
that the power of the sea and the fierce trident were given
not to him but to me by lot. That man holds the immense rocks
your home, Eurus; let Aeolus toss himself in that court and 140
let him rule in the inclosed prison of the winds."
Thus he spoke and he calmed the swollen seas more quickly
than a word and he put to flight the collected clouds and led back the sun.
Cymothe and Triton having striven at the same time
dislodge the ships from the sharp rock; he himself lifted them with his trident 145
and he opened the vast sand bars and calmed the sea
and he glided over the tops of the waves with his light wheels.
And when in great [number of] people a riot often has arisen
and the inglorious common people rage in their mind;
and now torches and rocks fly, and madness supplied the arms; 150
if by chance they have caught sight of some man serious in
respect to loyalty and merit, they are silent and stand with raised ears;
that man rules minds by words and soothes their hearts:
thus the whole uproar of the sea subsided after the father
looking out over the seas and having carried over the opened sky 155
guided the horses and flying gave reigns to his obedient chariot.
The weary followers of Aeneas strive on their course to seek to
the shores which are nearest and they are turned to the shores of Libya.
There is a place in a long inlet: an island forms a
port by the projection of its sides by which every wave from the deep 160
is broken and it splits itself into a bay set back.
On this side and that vast cliffs and twin rocks tower
into the sky under the top of which the safe seas
are broadly silent; then there is a back drop with shuttering forests
from above, and a dark grove overhangs with shuttering shadow; 165
under the opposite face is a cave, with hanging rocks and
within the sweet water and seats of the natural rock
the home of the nymphs. Here not any chains hold the weary ships
and an anchor does not bind them with its curved fluke.
Hither Aeneas approached with seven ships having been collected 170
from the whole number; and having disembarked with great
love of the land the Trojans won the desired beach
and they placed their limbs dripping with salt on the shore.
And first Achates struck a spark with a flint
and it took fire with leaves and he put dry 175
fuel around it and it snatched the flame in the fuel.
Then they weary of of things recover grain spoiled by waves
and the arms of Ceres and the prepare to roast by
means of flames the recovered grain and to break it with a rock.
Meanwhile Aeneas climbs rocks and he broadly sought 180
the whole view over the sea, if he might see any Antheus
tossed by the winds and the Phygian biremes
or Capys or the arms of Caicus on the swift ship.
He saw no ship in sight, but he saw three male deer
wondering on the shore;the whole herd follows these 185
from the back and a long line grazed though the valley
he stopped here and he seized his bow and swift arrow
with his hands weapons which faithful Achates bore
and he laid low the leaders themselves bearing their high
heads with branching horns, then he laid low the heard 190
and he confused the whole croud driving them with weapons among the
leafy grove; nor did he stop sooner than as victor he laid low seven huge
bodies on the ground and he made the number equal with the ships.
From here he sought the port and he divided them among all his comrades
he divided the wine which good Acestes had loaded in jars then on the 195
Trinacrian shore and which the hero had given to them departing
and he soothes their grieving hearts with words:
"O comrades (for truly we are not ignorant of evils before),
O you having suffered more serious things, god will give an end even to these things
you have approached the madness of Scyllia and the rocks resounding 200
deeply, you have already, experienced Cyclopean rocks:
call back you courage and send away gloomy fear;
perhaps one day it will be pleasing to remember even these things
through various misfortunes through so many dangerous things
we are hastening into Latium, where fates show a quiet 205
home; there in that place it is right for the kingdom of Troy to rise again.
Endure and save yourselves for favorable affairs."