On arriving at the place of rendezvous3, numerous fugitives4, of both sexes, were found, who put themselves under the guidance of ?neas. Some months were spent in preparation, and at length they embarked5. They first landed on the neighboring shores of Thrace, and were preparing to build a city, but ?neas was deterred6 by a prodigy7. Preparing to offer sacrifice, he tore some twigs8 from one of the bushes. To his dismay the wounded part dropped blood. When he repeated the act a voice from the ground cried out to him, “Spare me, ?neas; I am your kinsman9, Polydore, here murdered with many arrows, from which a bush has grown, nourished with my blood.” These words recalled to the recollection of ?neas that Polydore was a young prince of Troy, whom his father had sent with ample treasures to the neighboring land of Thrace, to be there brought up, at a distance from the horrors of war. The king to whom he was sent had murdered him and seized his treasures. ?neas and his companions, considering the land accursed by the stain of such a crime, hastened away.
They next landed on the island of Delos, which was once a floating island, till Jupiter fastened it by adamantine chains to the bottom of the sea. Apollo and Diana were born there, and the island was sacred to Apollo. Here ?neas consulted the oracle10 of Apollo, and received an answer, ambiguous as usual,—“Seek your ancient mother; there the race of ?neas shall dwell, and reduce all other nations to their sway.” The Trojans heard with joy and immediately began to ask one another, “Where is the spot intended by the oracle?” Anchises remembered that there was a tradition that their forefathers11 came from Crete and thither12 they resolved to steer13. They arrived at Crete and began to build their city, but sickness broke out among them, and the fields that they had planted failed to yield a crop. In this gloomy aspect of affairs ?neas was warned in a dream to leave the country and seek a western land, called Hesperia, whence Dardanus, the true founder14 of the Trojan race, had originally migrated. To Hesperia, now called Italy, therefore, they directed their future course, and not till after many adventures and the lapse16 of time sufficient to carry a modern navigator several times round the world, did they arrive there.
Their first landing was at the island of the Harpies. These were disgusting birds with the heads of maidens17, with long claws and faces pale with hunger. They were sent by the gods to torment18 a certain Phineus, whom Jupiter had deprived of his sight, in punishment of his cruelty; and whenever a meal was placed before him the Harpies darted19 down from the air and carried it off. They were driven away from Phineus by the heroes of the Argonautic expedition, and took refuge in the island where ?neas now found them.
When they entered the port the Trojans saw herds20 of cattle roaming over the plain. They slew21 as many as they wished and prepared for a feast. But no sooner had they seated themselves at the table than a horrible clamor was heard in the air, and a flock of these odious22 harpies came rushing down upon them, seizing in their talons23 the meat from the dishes and flying away with it. ?neas and his companions drew their swords and dealt vigorous blows among the monsters, but to no purpose, for they were so nimble it was almost impossible to hit them, and their feathers were like armor impenetrable to steel. One of them, perched on a neighboring cliff, screamed out, “Is it thus, Trojans, you treat us innocent birds, first slaughter24 our cattle and then make war on ourselves?” She then predicted dire15 sufferings to them in their future course, and having vented25 her wrath26 flew away. The Trojans made haste to leave the country, and next found themselves coasting along the shore of Epirus. Here they landed, and to their astonishment27 learned that certain Trojan exiles, who had been carried there as prisoners, had become rulers of the country. Andromache, the widow of Hector, became the wife of one of the victorious28 Grecian chiefs, to whom she bore a son. Her husband dying, she was left regent of the country, as guardian29 of her son, and had married a fellow-captive, Helenus, of the royal race of Troy. Helenus and Andromache treated the exiles with the utmost hospitality, and dismissed them loaded with gifts.
From hence ?neas coasted along the shore of Sicily and passed the country of the Cyclopes. Here they were hailed from the shore by a miserable30 object, whom by his garments, tattered31 as they were, they perceived to be a Greek. He told them he was one of Ulysses’s companions, left behind by that chief in his hurried departure. He related the story of Ulysses’s adventure with Polyphemus, and besought32 them to take him off with them as he had no means of sustaining his existence where he was but wild berries and roots, and lived in constant fear of the Cyclopes. While he spoke33 Polyphemus made his appearance; a terrible monster, shapeless, vast, whose only eye had been put out.[26] He walked with cautious steps, feeling his way with a staff, down to the sea-side, to wash his eye-socket in the waves. When he reached the water, he waded34 out towards them, and his immense height enabled him to advance far into the sea, so that the Trojans, in terror, took to their oars35 to get out of his way. Hearing the oars, Polyphemus shouted after them, so that the shores resounded36, and at the noise the other Cyclopes came forth37 from their caves and woods and lined the shore, like a row of lofty pine trees. The Trojans plied38 their oars and soon left them out of sight.
?neas had been cautioned by Helenus to avoid the strait guarded by the monsters Scylla and Charybdis. There Ulysses, the reader will remember, had lost six of his men, seized by Scylla while the navigators were wholly intent upon avoiding Charybdis. ?neas, following the advice of Helenus, shunned39 the dangerous pass and coasted along the island of Sicily.
Juno, seeing the Trojans speeding their way prosperously towards their destined40 shore, felt her old grudge41 against them revive, for she could not forget the slight that Paris had put upon her, in awarding the prize of beauty to another. In heavenly minds can such resentments42 dwell![27] Accordingly she hastened to ?olus, the ruler of the winds,—the same who supplied Ulysses with favoring gales44, giving him the contrary ones tied up in a bag. ?olus obeyed the goddess and sent forth his sons, Boreas, Typhon, and the other winds, to toss the ocean. A terrible storm ensued and the Trojan ships were driven out of their course towards the coast of Africa. They were in imminent45 danger of being wrecked46, and were separated, so that ?neas thought that all were lost except his own.
At this crisis, Neptune47, hearing the storm raging, and knowing that he had given no orders for one, raised his head above the waves, and saw the fleet of ?neas driving before the gale43. Knowing the hostility48 of Juno, he was at no loss to account for it, but his anger was not the less at this interference in his province. He called the winds and dismissed them with a severe reprimand. He then soothed49 the waves, and brushed away the clouds from before the face of the sun. Some of the ships which had got on the rocks he pried50 off with his own trident, while Triton and a sea-nymph, putting their shoulders under others, set them afloat again. The Trojans, when the sea became calm, sought the nearest shore, which was the coast of Carthage, where ?neas was so happy as to find that one by one the ships all arrived safe, though badly shaken.
Waller, in his “Panegyric to the Lord Protector” (Cromwell), alludes51 to this stilling of the storm by Neptune:
“Above the waves, as Neptune showed his face,
To chide52 the winds and save the Trojan race,
So has your Highness, raised above the rest,
Storms of ambition tossing us repressed.”
DIDO
Carthage, where the exiles had now arrived, was a spot on the coast of Africa opposite Sicily, where at that time a Tyrian colony under Dido, their queen, were laying the foundations of a state destined in later ages to be the rival of Rome itself. Dido was the daughter of Belus, king of Tyre, and sister of Pygmalion, who succeeded his father on the throne. Her husband was Sich?us, a man of immense wealth, but Pygmalion, who coveted53 his treasures, caused him to be put to death. Dido, with a numerous body of friends and followers54, both men and women, succeeded in effecting their escape from Tyre, in several vessels55, carrying with them the treasures of Sich?us. On arriving at the spot which they selected as the seat of their future home, they asked of the natives only so much land as they could enclose with a bull’s hide. When this was readily granted, she caused the hide to be cut into strips, and with them enclosed a spot on which she built a citadel56, and called it Byrsa (a hide). Around this fort the city of Carthage rose, and soon became a powerful and flourishing place.
Such was the state of affairs when ?neas with his Trojans arrived there. Dido received the illustrious exiles with friendliness57 and hospitality. “Not unacquainted with distress,” she said, “I have learned to succor58 the unfortunate.”[28] The queen’s hospitality displayed itself in festivities at which games of strength and skill were exhibited. The strangers contended for the palm with her own subjects, on equal terms, the queen declaring that whether the victor were “Trojan or Tyrian should make no difference to her.”[29] At the feast which followed the games, ?neas gave at her request a recital59 of the closing events of the Trojan history and his own adventures after the fall of the city. Dido was charmed with his discourse60 and filled with admiration61 of his exploits. She conceived an ardent62 passion for him, and he for his part seemed well content to accept the fortunate chance which appeared to offer him at once a happy termination of his wanderings, a home, a kingdom, and a bride. Months rolled away in the enjoyment63 of pleasant intercourse64, and it seemed as if Italy and the empire destined to be founded on its shores were alike forgotten. Seeing which, Jupiter despatched Mercury with a message to ?neas recalling him to a sense of his high destiny, and commanding him to resume his voyage.
?neas parted from Dido, though she tried every allurement65 and persuasion66 to detain him. The blow to her affection and her pride was too much for her to endure, and when she found that he was gone, she mounted a funeral pile which she had caused to be erected67, and having stabbed herself was consumed with the pile. The flames rising over the city were seen by the departing Trojans, and, though the cause was unknown, gave to ?neas some intimation of the fatal event.
The following epigram we find in “Elegant Extracts”:
From the Latin
“Unhappy, Dido, was thy fate
In first and second married state!
One husband caused thy flight by dying,
Thy death the other caused by flying.”
PALINURUS
After touching68 at the island of Sicily, where Acestes, a prince of Trojan lineage, bore sway, who gave them a hospitable69 reception, the Trojans re?mbarked, and held on their course for Italy. Venus now interceded70 with Neptune to allow her son at last to attain71 the wished-for goal and find an end of his perils72 on the deep. Neptune consented, stipulating73 only for one life as a ransom74 for the rest. The victim was Palinurus, the pilot. As he sat watching the stars, with his hand on the helm, Somnus sent by Neptune approached in the guise75 of Phorbas and said: “Palinurus, the breeze is fair, the water smooth, and the ship sails steadily76 on her course. Lie down awhile and take needful rest. I will stand at the helm in your place.” Palinurus replied, “Tell me not of smooth seas or favoring winds,—me who have seen so much of their treachery. Shall I trust ?neas to the chances of the weather and the winds?” And he continued to grasp the helm and to keep his eyes fixed77 on the stars. But Somnus waved over him a branch moistened with Leth?an dew, and his eyes closed in spite of all his efforts. Then Somnus pushed him overboard and he fell; but keeping his hold upon the helm, it came away with him. Neptune was mindful of his promise and kept the ship on her track without helm or pilot, till ?neas discovered his loss, and, sorrowing deeply for his faithful steersman, took charge of the ship himself.
There is a beautiful allusion78 to the story of Palinurus in Scott’s “Marmion,” Introduction to Canto79 I., where the poet, speaking of the recent death of William Pitt, says:
“O, think how, to his latest day,
When death just hovering80 claimed his prey81,
With Palinure’s unaltered mood,
Firm at his dangerous post he stood;
Each call for needful rest repelled82,
With dying hand the rudder held,
Till in his fall, with fateful sway,
The steerage of the realm gave way.”
The ships at last reached the shores of Italy, and joyfully83 did the adventurers leap to land. While his people were employed in making their encampment ?neas sought the abode84 of the Sibyl. It was a cave connected with a temple and grove85, sacred to Apollo and Diana. While ?neas contemplated86 the scene, the Sibyl accosted87 him. She seemed to know his errand, and under the influence of the deity88 of the place, burst forth in a prophetic strain, giving dark intimations of labors89 and perils through which he was destined to make his way to final success. She closed with the encouraging words which have become proverbial: “Yield not to disasters, but press onward90 the more bravely.”[30] ?neas replied that he had prepared himself for whatever might await him. He had but one request to make. Having been directed in a dream to seek the abode of the dead in order to confer with his father, Anchises, to receive from him a revelation of his future fortunes and those of his race, he asked her assistance to enable him to accomplish the task. The Sibyl replied, “The descent to Avernus is easy: the gate of Pluto91 stands open night and day; but to retrace92 one’s steps and return to the upper air, that is the toil93, that the difficulty.”[31] She instructed him to seek in the forest a tree on which grew a golden branch. This branch was to be plucked off and borne as a gift to Proserpine, and if fate was propitious94 it would yield to the hand and quit its parent trunk, but otherwise no force could rend2 it away. If torn away, another would succeed.[32]
?neas followed the directions of the Sibyl. His mother, Venus, sent two of her doves to fly before him and show him the way, and by their assistance he found the tree, plucked the branch, and hastened back with it to the Sibyl.
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1
conflagration
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| n.建筑物或森林大火 | |
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rend
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| vt.把…撕开，割裂；把…揪下来，强行夺取 | |
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rendezvous
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| n.约会，约会地点，汇合点；vi.汇合，集合；vt.使汇合，使在汇合地点相遇 | |
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fugitives
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| n.亡命者，逃命者( fugitive的名词复数 ) | |
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embarked
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| 乘船( embark的过去式和过去分词 )； 装载； 从事 | |
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deterred
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| v.阻止，制止( deter的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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prodigy
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| n.惊人的事物，奇迹，神童，天才，预兆 | |
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twigs
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| 细枝，嫩枝( twig的名词复数 ) | |
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kinsman
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| n.男亲属 | |
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oracle
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| n.神谕，神谕处，预言 | |
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forefathers
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| n.祖先，先人；祖先，祖宗( forefather的名词复数 )；列祖列宗；前人 | |
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thither
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| adv.向那里；adj.在那边的，对岸的 | |
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steer
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| vt.驾驶，为…操舵；引导；vi.驾驶 | |
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Founder
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| n.创始者，缔造者 | |
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dire
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| adj.可怕的，悲惨的，阴惨的，极端的 | |
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lapse
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| n.过失，流逝，失效，抛弃信仰，间隔；vi.堕落，停止，失效，流逝；vt.使失效 | |
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maidens
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| 处女( maiden的名词复数 )； 少女； 未婚女子； （板球运动）未得分的一轮投球 | |
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18
torment
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| n.折磨；令人痛苦的东西(人)；vt.折磨；纠缠 | |
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darted
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| v.投掷，投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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herds
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| 兽群( herd的名词复数 )； 牧群； 人群； 群众 | |
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slew
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| v.（使）旋转；n.大量，许多 | |
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odious
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| adj.可憎的，讨厌的 | |
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talons
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| n.（尤指猛禽的）爪( talon的名词复数 )；（如爪般的）手指；爪状物；锁簧尖状突出部 | |
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slaughter
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| n.屠杀，屠宰；vt.屠杀，宰杀 | |
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vented
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| 表达，发泄（感情，尤指愤怒）( vent的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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wrath
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| n.愤怒，愤慨，暴怒 | |
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astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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victorious
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| adj.胜利的，得胜的 | |
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guardian
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| n.监护人；守卫者，保护者 | |
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30
miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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31
tattered
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| adj.破旧的，衣衫破的 | |
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32
besought
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| v.恳求，乞求（某事物）( beseech的过去式和过去分词 )；(beseech的过去式与过去分词) | |
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33
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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waded
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| （从水、泥等）蹚，走过，跋( wade的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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oars
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| n.桨，橹( oar的名词复数 )；划手v.划（行）( oar的第三人称单数 ) | |
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36
resounded
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| v.（指声音等）回荡于某处( resound的过去式和过去分词 )；产生回响；（指某处）回荡着声音 | |
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37
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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plied
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| v.使用（工具）( ply的过去式和过去分词 )；经常供应（食物、饮料）；固定往来；经营生意 | |
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39
shunned
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| v.避开，回避，避免( shun的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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40
destined
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| adj.命中注定的；(for)以…为目的地的 | |
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41
grudge
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| n.不满，怨恨，妒嫉；vt.勉强给，不情愿做 | |
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resentments
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| （因受虐待而）愤恨，不满，怨恨( resentment的名词复数 ) | |
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gale
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| n.大风，强风，一阵闹声（尤指笑声等） | |
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44
gales
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| 龙猫 | |
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45
imminent
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| adj.即将发生的，临近的，逼近的 | |
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46
wrecked
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| adj.失事的，遇难的 | |
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47
Neptune
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| n.海王星 | |
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48
hostility
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| n.敌对，敌意；抵制［pl.］交战，战争 | |
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49
soothed
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| v.安慰( soothe的过去式和过去分词 )；抚慰；使舒服；减轻痛苦 | |
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50
pried
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| v.打听，刺探（他人的私事）( pry的过去式和过去分词 )；撬开 | |
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51
alludes
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| 提及，暗指( allude的第三人称单数 ) | |
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52
chide
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| v.叱责；谴责 | |
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53
coveted
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| adj.令人垂涎的；垂涎的，梦寐以求的v.贪求，觊觎(covet的过去分词)；垂涎；贪图 | |
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54
followers
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| 追随者( follower的名词复数 )； 用户； 契据的附面； 从动件 | |
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55
vessels
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| n.血管( vessel的名词复数 )；船；容器；（具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的）人 | |
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56
citadel
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| n.城堡；堡垒；避难所 | |
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57
friendliness
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| n.友谊，亲切，亲密 | |
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58
succor
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| n.援助，帮助；v.给予帮助 | |
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59
recital
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| n.朗诵，独奏会，独唱会 | |
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60
discourse
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| n.论文，演说；谈话；话语；vi.讲述，著述 | |
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61
admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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62
ardent
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| adj.热情的，热烈的，强烈的，烈性的 | |
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63
enjoyment
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| n.乐趣；享有；享用 | |
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64
intercourse
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| n.性交；交流，交往，交际 | |
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65
allurement
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| n.诱惑物 | |
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66
persuasion
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| n.劝说；说服；持有某种信仰的宗派 | |
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67
ERECTED
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| adj. 直立的，竖立的，笔直的 vt. 使 ... 直立，建立 | |
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touching
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| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
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69
hospitable
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| adj.好客的；宽容的；有利的，适宜的 | |
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70
interceded
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| v.斡旋，调解( intercede的过去式和过去分词 )；说情 | |
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71
attain
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| vt.达到，获得，完成 | |
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72
perils
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| 极大危险( peril的名词复数 )； 危险的事（或环境） | |
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73
stipulating
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| v.（尤指在协议或建议中）规定，约定，讲明（条件等）( stipulate的现在分词 )；规定，明确要求 | |
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74
ransom
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| n.赎金，赎身；v.赎回，解救 | |
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75
guise
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| n.外表，伪装的姿态 | |
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76
steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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77
fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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78
allusion
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| n.暗示，间接提示 | |
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79
canto
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| n.长篇诗的章 | |
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80
hovering
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| 鸟( hover的现在分词 )； 靠近（某事物）； （人）徘徊； 犹豫 | |
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81
prey
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| n.被掠食者，牺牲者，掠食；v.捕食，掠夺，折磨 | |
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82
repelled
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| v.击退( repel的过去式和过去分词 )；使厌恶；排斥；推开 | |
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83
joyfully
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| adv. 喜悦地, 高兴地 | |
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84
abode
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| n.住处，住所 | |
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85
grove
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| n.林子，小树林，园林 | |
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86
contemplated
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| adj. 预期的 动词contemplate的过去分词形式 | |
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87
accosted
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| v.走过去跟…讲话( accost的过去式和过去分词 )；跟…搭讪；（乞丐等）上前向…乞讨；（妓女等）勾搭 | |
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88
deity
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| n.神，神性；被奉若神明的人(或物) | |
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89
labors
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| v.努力争取(for)( labor的第三人称单数 )；苦干；详细分析；（指引擎）缓慢而困难地运转 | |
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90
onward
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| adj.向前的，前进的；adv.向前，前进，在先 | |
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91
Pluto
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| n.冥王星 | |
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92
retrace
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| v.折回；追溯，探源 | |
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93
toil
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| vi.辛劳工作，艰难地行动；n.苦工，难事 | |
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94
propitious
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| adj.吉利的；顺利的 | |
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