The Fourth Book of Virgil's Aeneid and the Ninth Book of Voltaire's Henriad · Virgil
ARGUMENT.
Venus, aware of the deceit, appears in a very complimentary style to give into it, and consents to her projects. While the Tyrian princess and the Trojan are hunting in a forest Juno sends down a violent storm, and the Queen and Æneas take shelter alone in a dark cavern.--There Juno performed the nuptial rite and the passion of Dido was reconciled to her conscience.--Fame soon spreads the report of this alliance.--Iarba, one of Dido's suitors, hears of it and addresses an angry prayer to Jupiter Ammon from whom he was descended. Jove sends down Mercury to order Æneas to leave Carthage. Dido endeavours to make him alter this terrible resolution, falls into the most violent paroxism of rage at his cold refusal, again melts into tenderness, employs her sister to prevail upon Æneas, at least, to wait till the wintry storms were past. All is in vain, and Dido resolved to die, deceives her sister with an idea of magic rites to get rid of her passion--and persuades her to raise a funeral pyle in her palace, Æneas a second time admonished by Mercury sets sail; when Dido, at the break of day, beholds his vessels out of reach she again bursts into a violent fit of passion, but soon sinks into despair.--Accuses her sister's fatal kindness, upbraids herself with her infidelity to the memory of Sicheus, vents the most dreadful imprecations against Æneas and the Romans, who were to be his ascendants, bequeaths all her hatred to her subjects, than relaxes into a momentary tenderness at the sight of the nuptial bed, the cloaths and pictures of Æneas which she had placed on the funeral pyre, and at last puts an end to her life with the sword of her faithless lover.
THE FOURTH BOOK OF VIRGIL'S ÆNEID, TRANSLATED INTO ENGLISH VERSE. While Dido, now with rising cares opprest, Indulg'd the pain; the flame within her breast In silence prey'd, and burn'd in every vein. Fix'd in her heart, his voice, his form remain; 5 Still would her thought the Hero's fame retrace, Her fancy feed upon his heav'nly race: Care to her wearied frame gives no repose, Her anxious night no balmy slumber knows; And scarce the morn, in purple beams array'd, 10 Chas'd from the humid pole the ling'ring shade, Her sister, fond companion of her thought, Thus in the anguish of her soul she sought. Dear Anna, tell me, why this broken rest? What mean these boding thoughts? who is this guest, 15 This lovely stranger that adorns our court? How great his mein! and what a godlike port! It must be true, no idle voice of Fame, From heav'n, I'm sure, such forms, such virtue came. } Degenerate spirits are by fear betray'd, 20 } His soul, alas, what fortunes have essay'd; } What feats of war!--and in what words convey'd! Were it not fix'd, determin'd in my mind, That me no more the nuptial tye shall bind, Since Death deceiv'd the first fond flame I knew: 25 Were Hymen's rites less odious to my view, To this one fault perhaps I might give way; For must I own it? Anna since the day Sicheus fell, (that day a brother's guilt, A brother's blood upon our altars spilt); 30 He, none but he, my feelings could awake, Or with one doubt my wav'ring bosom shake. Yes! these are symptoms of my former flame; But sooner thro' her very inmost frame, May gaping Earth my sinking feet betray; 35 Jove's light'ning blast me from this vital ray To Hell's pale shade, and Night's eternal reign, Ere, sacred Honor, I thy rite profane. Oh, no! to whom my virgin faith I gave, "Twas his, and his remains within the grave".
40 She ceas'd--but down her bosom gush'd her tears. "O dearer than the genial ray that cheers", Her sister cry'd, shall lonely grief consume, Lost to the joys of love your beauties bloom, Lost to the joys, maternal feelings share? 45 Do shades for this, do buried ashes care? That new in grief no lover should succeed, Tyrians in vain, in vain Iarba plead; That every chief of Afric's wide domain, In triumphs proud, should learn to sue in vain; 50 'Twas well; but why a mutual flame withstand? Can you forget who owns this hostile land? Unconquer'd Getulans your walls surround, The Syri untam'd, the wild Numidian bound. Thro' the wide desert fierce Barceans roam: 55 Why need I mention from our former home, The deadly war, a brother's threats prepare? For me, I think, that Juno's fost'ring care, Some god auspicious, rais'd the winds that bore Those Phrygian vessels to our Lybian shore. 60 Their godlike chief should happy Dido wed, How would her walls ascend, her empire spread? Join'd by the arms of Troy, with such allies, Think to what height will Punic glory rise. Win but the gods, their sacred off'rings pay; 65 Detain your guest; invent some fond delay. See low'ring tempests o'er the ocean ply, The shatter'd vessels, the inclement sky». Each word that dropt inflam'd her burning mind, And all her wav'ring soul to love inclin'd; 70 New gleams of hope in Dido's bosom play, And Honor's bright idea fades away.
Fain would the sisters now, by gift and pray'r, With heav'n seduc'd, the conscious error share. At ev'ry shrine, the fav'ring gods to gain, 75 In order due are proper victims slain; To Ceres, Bacchus, and the God of Light, And Juno most, who tends the nuptial rite. Herself the goblet lovely Dido bears, Her graceful arm the sacred vessel rears; 80 And where the horns above the forehead join, Upon the snow-white heifer pours the wine: Before the god with awful grace she bows, Moves round the altar rich with daily vows, Hangs o'er the victim, in its bosom pries, 85 And through the breathing entrail darts her eyes. Vain cares, alas! and rites too fondly paid! The tortur'd soul, can vows, can altars aid? Weak boast of priests, and ineffectual pray'rs! In her own heart, unknown, her fate she bears. 90 The pleasing flame upon her vitals feeds, The silent wound within her bosom bleeds.
She raves, she burns, and with uncertain mind, Roams o'er the town; roams like the wounded hind, Whom in the woods, unconscious of his deed, 95 The hunter pierc'd, and left the trembling reed; O'er woods, o'er quaries, from the pain she springs, While in her flank the deadly arrow clings. } So with Æneas love-sick Dido strays, 100 } Points to her town, her Tyrian wealth displays, } While ev'ry look her longing soul betrays; And fain her lips would tell the fond desire, But scarce begun--the trembling words expire: --When later hours convivial pleasure bring, Then back to Troy, her thoughts impatient spring, 105 The well known story still enchants her ears, She hangs enamour'd on each word she hears: But when the moon with paler splendor glows, When stars descending counsel sweet repose, In the deserted hall, alone she mourns; 110 Each word, each look, upon her soul returns, She sees him absent, hears him o'er again, Presses the happy couch where he had lain; Or with the father's rising form beguil'd, Deludes her flame, and clasps the lovely child. 115 Each other care her burning thoughts refuse, In arms no more her Tyrian youth she views; No spreading moles the boistrous tide command; The tow'rs, the forts, begun, unfinish'd stand: The mighty structure threat'ning from on high 120 Hangs interrupted--all inactive lie Unbrac'd,--the vast machines that thro' the air, Lab'ring, the pond'rous mass, aloft, suspended bear.
When Juno view'd the tumult in her breast, That Fame with Passion could no more contest, She sought the Cyprian queen, «What praise, what fame» 126 She cried, «what glorious triumph you may claim, What high renown, for you and for your son! Two mighty gods--one woman have undone! I'm not deceiv'd, I know what jealous hate 130 Our rising walls and Punic pow'r create; To what extreme, what purpose will it tend? Why may not peace and nuptial union end This dire debate?----You've gain'd your utmost aim; Thro' every fibre Dido feels the flame; 135 She doats, she burns;--then let the nuptial rite, At once the people, and the chiefs, unite, And both the nations be alike our care; The sceptre let the Phrygian husband bear, And take my Tyrians for the nuptial dow'r».
140 Venus who saw how much the Latian pow'r; The promised empire in the Trojan line Alarm'd the goddess, felt her false design, But smiling said, «Who madly would refuse Such offers--and eternal warfare choose? 145 Would Fortune friendly on our project wait. But doubts within my mind arise, if Fate And Jove allow, that, with the sons of Troy, The Tyrian race one empire should enjoy, The people mingled, and their rites combin'd. 150 'Tis yours; his queen, to try the thund'rer's mind; Mine to obey»--«Be that my care,» replied Jove's sister Queen--«Now hear what I provide: To-morrow, when the rising lamp of day Shoots o'er the humid orb its golden ray, 155 Unhappy Dido and her guest of Troy Together in the woods the chase enjoy, When ev'ry mind is on the sport intent, From gather'd clouds with livid light'ning rent, Of rain and pelting hail, a horrid show'r, 160 With peals of thunder on their heads I'll poor: All fly the storm, and in one dark retreat, The Trojan hero, and the Queen shall meet; There will I be; there if unchang'd your mind, Shall Hymen's chain at once the lovers bind». 165 The Queen of love perceiv'd her false intent, Smil'd at the smooth deceit, and bow'd assent.
Aurora now her wat'ry couch forsakes, The chosen youth her earliest beam awakes, The bounding steed, the highly scented hound, 170 Nets, toils, and spears, the palace court surround. A favour'd band within the royal gate, The Queen who still delay'd, respectful wait. In purple trapping, burnish'd gold array'd, Proud on the foaming bit, her courser play'd; 175 She comes; the court her graceful steps surround; Her Tyrian vest, embroider'd fringes bound; Her quiver gold, with gold her hair enlac'd, A golden clasp her flowing mantle brac'd. Next with his Phrygian youth Iulus came 180 On wings of joy; but charms divine proclaim Cythereas offspring as he join'd the train. Thus when young Phoebus leaves the wintry plain, From Lycia and the Xanthian flood, retires To native Delos, and his sacred choirs; 185 Mingled in carols loud around his shrine, Cretans and Greeks, and painted Scythians join. Graceful on high the god o'er Cynthio glides, His wanton locks with pliant gold divides, With tender foliage crowns his radiant hair; 190 Wide sounds the dart bu spreading shoulders bear. Æneas moves not with inferior grace, Such heav'nly beauty beam'd upon his face. O'er hills and rocks, and thro' the pathless wood, From their old haunts they rouse the savage brood; 195 Here downward springs the shaggy goat, and here, From the steep cliff down rush the bounding deep, Dart from the hills, in panting herds unite, Stretch o'er the plain and spread their dusty flight. As thro' the vale Iulus winds his steed, 200 Leads on the chase, and passes all in speed, A nobler prey his youthful vows implore, The tawny lion or the foaming boar.
But murky clouds are gath'ring round the pole-, In hollow murmur distant thunders roll; 205 The hail, the rain a mingled tempest pour, Whole rivers swelling down the mountain roar, The trembling youths of Troy, the Tyrian train, Cytherea's grandson, scatter'd o'er the plain, All fly the storm, and in one dark retreat 210 The Tyrian Queen and Trojan Hero meet. Strait nuptial Juno, gives the fatal sign; Pale flames the torch, and trembling Earth the shrine: Night spread the veil;--and to the vow they swore The murmuring air, ill omen'd witness bore. 215 The frighted Nymphs along the mountain height, In doleful cries proclaim the genial rite. That hour her death and all her sorrows wrought; Then fame and honor vanish'd from her thought; No more she struggles with a secret flame, 220 The crime is veil'd in wedlock's specious name. Soon thro' the Lybian towns, Fame blew the deed; Fame, that outstrips all other ills in speed, That feeds on motion, strengthens as she flies, 225 Weak, timid first, but soon of monstrous size, Her feet on earth, amid the clouds her head.
With Heav'n incens'd, her mother Earth 'tis said, This sister added to the Giant brood, With wings, with feet, with dreadful speed endu'd. Huge horrid monster!----Ev'ry plume she wears 230 A watching eye conceal'd beneath it bears, And strange to tell--on ev'ry feather hung A gaping ear--a never ceasing tongue. Sleep never enter'd yet those glaring eyes; All night 'twixt earth and heav'n she buzzing flies; 235 All day sits watchful on the turrets height, Or palace roof, the babbling town to fright. Falsehood and truth, she spreads with equal real, To gaping crouds rejoicing to reveal What is, what was, and what has never been. 240 Æneas fled from Troy;--The Tyrian queen, Her bed, her sceptre, with an exile shares; And now forgetful of all other cares, With shameful passion blindly led astray, In love and joy they waste the hours away.
245 This, all around Fame glories to diffuse, And to Iarba next her flight pursues, To fan the flame that in his bosom glows. To Jove himself, his birth the monarch owes; A nymph his mother, by a forc'd embrace; 250 And to the God, the author of his race, Their lofty domes an hundred temples raise, An hundred shrines with flames perpetual blaze, Hung round with wreaths: through all his vast domain, The soil was rich with blood of victims skin. 255 He, by the dire report, to madness fir'd, Vents his dark soul by jealous rage inspir'd, Before the gods, while curling incense blaz'd, His suppliant hands to Jove almighty rais'd. «All potent Jove! those eyes that view the Moor 260 From painted coaches full libations pour, See they not this? Or when thy thunder rolls Do causeless fears, O Father, shake our souls? Is there no vengeance in the bolt you poise? Is all but fancied horror, empty noise? 265 A woman, wand'ring outcast on our shore, Bargains a petty spot and owns no more, Accepts a portion of our coast to till, Ev'n from our pity; from our royal will; And she--the offer of our hand disdains, 270 And she--Æneas in her court detains!
That Paris, with that woman crew, that wear Those Phrygian bonnets on their scented hair, Enjoys the spoil.--while I--thy power proclaim, Adorn thy shrine, and feed on empty fame». 275 Thus, while he pray'd and bow'd before the shrine: Th' Almighty hearing, throws his eyes divine On Lybia's coast; there views the lovelest pair Forgetting fame and ev'ry nobler care, And quick commands the herald of the sky. 280 «Go, call the zephyrs, spread your pinnions, fly, Fly to the Dardan chief who ling'ring waits Mindless in Carthage of the promis'd fates; Swift as the rushing wind, my order bear. Not such a man--unworthy of her care, 285 His mother promis'd, when her powerful charms, Twice, made me save him from the Grecian arms. No--For Hesperia's realm a future king, Thro' whom, from Teucer's blood untam'd to spring A warlike race, the pregnant seeds to lay, 290 Of boundless empire, universal sway. If he, unmov'd, such' proferr'd greatness sees, Renouncing glory for ignoble ease. } Julus too, must he forego his claim? } Spoil'd by a father of his birthright fame, 295 } The pow'r, the glory, of the Roman name. What mean these structures in a hostile place? What hopes deceitful from his mind efface Th' Ausonian offspring, the Lavinian land? But let him sail--no more--bear my command».
300 Jove spoke--His son obey'd:--and to his feet Bound the light wings of gold--wings ever fleet, Which over earth and sea, through yielding air, Swift as the wind the rapid herald bear; 305 And took the rod that calls the trembling ghost To light, or binds it to the Stygian coast, Gives balmy slumber, breaks the sweet repose, Weighs down the lid of dying eyes that close. Thro' storms and dripping clouds with this he glides; Now o'er the summit and the hoary sides 310 Of Atlas hangs, pois'd on whose shoulders rest The Heav'ns: his head eternal storms infest, Crown'd with dark pines, inwrap'd with gloomy clouds; Primeval snow his shaggy bosom shrouds, Furrow'd with streams that down his chin descend, 315 And chains of ice from his broad beard that pend. Here light the God--Balanc'd his equal wings, And darting forward to the ocean flings. Through misty air as nearer earth he drew, Cutting the winds and whirling sands, he flew 320 Like birds, that hov'ring o'er the fishy main, Drop from the sky', and skim the watry plain. So from the height his mighty grandsire props, Down on the pinion light Cyllenius drops; And scarce his winged feet had touch'd the ground, 325 Æneas with the busy crew he found, Planning new structures for the rising town.
Bright with a radiant gem his sword hung down, A mantle graceful o'er his shoulder thrown With sparkling gold and Tyrian purple shone. 330 'Twas Dido's present: thro' the blushing thread The docile gold her taper fingers led. The god accosts him.--«With uxorious care The walls of Carthage does Æneas rear, Himself forgotten and his future state? 335 But he that reigns--the pow'r who next to Fate, Roles Earth and Heav'n, and moves them with a nod, Thro' skies unclouded, he--the ruling God, This to your ear commands me to convey; Why on the Lybian shore this fond delay? 340 These rising tow'rs--If satisfied with these, You barter glory for ignoble ease, Your injur'd heir--your young Ascanius view, Rome and th' Italian reign to him are due.» While thus the God convey'd what Jove resolv'd, 345 From human eyes in air his form dissolved. Æneas stood with sacred terror chill'd; His hair erect, his lips with horror seal'd; Aw'd by the present God, the high command, He burns to fly, and leave the much lov'd land. 350 But how alas!--What words, what soothing art? How meet the Queen, the sad design impart? Now here, now there, his wav'ring soul inclin'd; He bends on ev'ry side his anxious mind: And thus at length his doubting councils end. 355 He bids Cleanthus and the chiefs attend, The crews assemble and the ships prepare, In silence hid the object of their care; While Dido yet the faithless dream deludes, And not one doubt upon her bliss intrudes: 360 That he, mean while, the fittest time would seek, The fittest place the sad reverse to speak.
In secret they, the pleasing task pursue; But soon--(what can escape a lovers view) Soon Dido saw the change, her boding mind 365 Fancied, foresaw, or felt what they desgn'd. Trembling, alive to all she sees or hears, Suspecting ev'ry thing, she doubts, she fears, While Fame that wounded feeling never spar'd, The crews on board announced, the fleet prepar'd: 379 Till mad'ning flames within her bosom rise; Distracted, furious, o'er the town she flies, Wild as the Woodnymph when the frantic rite And Bacchanalian shout, to rage excite Madder and louder as the God invades, 375 She hears him bounding thro' the midnight shades. Dido, herself, at length, Æneas sought; Could you, false man, conceive the cruel thought, To hide a crime so great--unseen to go,-- Silent, unnotic'd--Would you leave me so? 380 Has love no charm, has plighted faith no tie? Nor Dido doom'd a cruel death to dye. And for yourself--unfeeling!--when die skies With tempest low'r--when wintry blasts arise, You tempt the dang'rous ocean--to explore 385 A distant, strange, unhospitable shore. Had Troy herself existed, who would brave For Troy herself, the treach'rous wintry wave. 'Tis me you fly--Oh, by your sacred vow, By these sad tears, (they're all that's left me now 390 To move your heart); by all our solemn ties, By what I've suffer'd, by our shortliv'd joys, If gratitude has giv'n me any right, If any charm in me once gave delight, Do not desert the wreck yourself have made, 395 Nor from my falling state withdraw your aid. If yet there's any pow'r in pray'rs like mine, Oh pity me; recal that sad design-- See Africa pow'rs, my feeble realm pursue, My Tyrians hearts are gone,--'Tis all for you, 400 To you I've sacrific'd my brightest claim, My sacred honor--all my former fame: Since the dear name of husband is forgot, Think, cruel guest, of wretched Dido's lot. What prospect in her ruin'd state remains? 405 Pygmalions vengeance--proud Iarba's chains. Of you--of all that's dear in life bereft, Oh were some pledge of mutual passion left: Some young Æneas, in whose face alone His father's dear resemblance I might own, 410 With infant grace my lonely court to cheer, Not lost, not widow'd quite I should appear».
She ceas'd.--With eyes unmov'd,--o'er aw'd by Jove He stood, and with contending passions strove. At length he spoke. «For ever I confess 415 I owe you all that words could e'er express, And in this grateful heart Eliza reigns, While life itself, and memory remains. Ne'er did I hope my voyage to conceal; Never, (my words are few for all I feel), 420 Be not deceiv'd, no, never did I join These nuptial ties, nor this alliance sign. Had Fate, alas, allow'd me to dispose, To end these troubles in the way I chose, The ruins of my friends, the wreck of Troy, 425 Should all my care, and all my hope employ. Then, sailing back to Asia's fertile shore, For them, should Priam's city rise once more. But now 'tis Italy Apollo shows, 'Tis Italy the Lycian fates propose, 430 My country's there, there all cry vows unite. Far from your native soil, if you delight In Afric's coast, these walls if you enjoy; Allow Ansonia to the sons of Troy. We too, in foreign lands a state may raise. 435 As oft as Night her humid veil displays, Oft as the stars, in solemn glory rise, My father's murm'ring ghost before my eyes Brings young Ascanius, and upbraiding stands, And claims th' Hesperian crown, the promised lands; 440 And even now--(on both their heads I swear) From Joves high throne above, thro' flitting air, } The thund'rer's will, the herald God declar'd; } These eyes beheld him, and these ears have heard; } He past these walls, and in broad day appear'd. 445 Then cease the wounding accent of complaint-- I follow not my will, but Heav'n's constraint».
She heard his words--but turning from his view, Now here, now there, her eyes indignant threw. She fix'd him with a scornful silent cast, 450 All over view'd him--and burst forth at last. «No, faithless monster, no! Nor race divine, Nor Dardan sire, nor Goddess mother thine! Form'd in the flinty womb of rocks accurst, 455 Begot by Caucasus, by tygers nurst. What need I more? why doubt of what is plain? One sigh, one look, did all my tears obtain. How name his crimes? did loves extremest woe, Move that hard heart, or cause one tear to flow! But will Jove's Queen who guards the nuptial vow, 460 Will mighty Jove himself, such deeds allow? Whom now confide in? Cast upon my shore, Shipwreck'd, distress'd, a friendly aid I bore: Himself, his fleet, his friends, from ruin drew, Nay, foolish woman! shar'd my kingdom too, 465 Now,--my rage to very madness tends: Now Lycian fates, now Phæbus he pretends, } Nay mighty Jove himself, thro' flitting air } Sends down a god his dread command to bear. } A worthy object, truly, for his care! 470 A mighty thing, to break the God's repose! But go, such fates no longer I oppose; Go, seek Ausonia in the hollow wind, And in the frothy surge a kingdom find. Yes may you find--just Heav'n my wishes serve! 475 Dash'd on some rock, the fate that you deserve. Then, when you call on injure! Dido's name, I'll follow glaring in the light'ning's flame; When Death's cold hand this wretched soul shall free, My ghost shall haunt you, wheresoe'er you be. 480 Yes wretch--be sure--the vengeance will be paid. 'Twill reach my ear--'twill sooth my angry shade». While yet she spoke, she trembling turn'd away, Broke from his sight, and shun'd the light of day.
Text from Project Gutenberg, public domain in the United States.