§2.724implicuit sequiturque patrem non passibus aequis; §2.725pone subit coniunx: ferimur per opaca locorum;
He clasped his hand in mine and followed his father with unequal steps; my wife followed behind.
§2.726et me, quem dudum non ulla iniecta movebant §2.727tela neque adverso glomerati ex agmine Grai, §2.728nunc omnes terrent aurae, sonus excitat omnis §2.729suspensum et pariter comitique onerique timentem.
We are borne through the dark places; and me, whom lately no showered weapons could move nor Greeks massed together from the opposing army, now every breeze terrifies, every sound startles, anxious as I am and fearing equally for both my companion and my burden.
§2.730Iamque propinquabam portis, omnemque videbar §2.731evasisse viam, subito cum creber ad auris §2.732visus adesse pedum sonitus, genitorque per umbram §2.733prospiciens; Nate
exclamat,
fuge nate, propinquant.
And now I was approaching the gates, and seemed to have escaped every path, when suddenly a thick sound of feet seemed to be close to my ears, and my father, looking out through the darkness, cried: "Son, flee, son! They are drawing near.
§2.734Ardentis clipeos atque aera micantia cerno!
— §2.735Hic mihi nescio quod trepido male numen amicum §2.736confusam eripuit mentem.
I discern glowing shields and flashing bronze!" — Here, in my panic, some unfriendly deity or other snatched away my confused mind.
Namque avia cursu §2.737dum sequor, et nota excedo regione viarum, §2.738heu, misero coniunx fatone erepta Creüsa §2.739substitit, erravitne via, seu lassa resedit,
For while I pursue pathless ways at a run and depart from the familiar direction of the streets, alas! did my wife Creusa, snatched from miserable me by fate, halt, or did she wander from the path, or sit down weary?
§2.740incertum; nec post oculis est reddita nostris.
It is uncertain; nor was she afterward restored to our eyes.
§2.741Nec prius amissam respexi animumque reflexi, §2.742quam tumulum antiquae Cereris sedemque sacratam §2.743venimus; hic demum collectis omnibus una §2.744defuit, et comites natumque virumque fefellit.
Nor did I look back for the lost one or turn my mind toward her, until we came to the mound and sacred seat of ancient Ceres; here at last, when all were gathered, she alone was missing, and failed her companions, her son, and her husband.
Whom of men or gods did I not accuse in my madness, or what did I see more cruel in the overturned city?
§2.747Ascanium Anchisenque patrem Teucrosque Penatis §2.748commendo sociis et curva valle recondo; §2.749ipse urbem repeto et cingor fulgentibus armis.
Ascanius, my father Anchises, and the Teucrian Penates I commend to my companions and hide in a winding valley; I myself seek the city again and gird myself in shining arms.
§2.750Stat casus renovare omnis, omnemque reverti §2.751per Troiam, et rursus caput obiectare periclis.
My resolve is fixed to renew every hazard, to return through all Troy, and again expose my head to dangers.
§2.752Principio muros obscuraque limina portae, §2.753qua gressum extuleram, repeto, et vestigia retro §2.754observata sequor per noctem et lumine lustro.
First, I seek again the walls and the dark portal of the gate by which I had bent my steps, and trace back my footprints noted through the night, and scan them with my eyes.
§2.755Horror ubique animo, simul ipsa silentia terrent.
Everywhere is horror in my soul, at the same time the very silence terrifies.
§2.756Inde domum, si forte pedem, si forte tulisset, §2.757me refero: inruerant Danai, et tectum omne tenebant.
Then I return home, if by chance she had bent her steps there, if by chance she had: the Greeks had rushed in, and held the whole house.
§2.758Ilicet ignis edax summa ad fastigia vento §2.759volvitur; exsuperant flammae, furit aestus ad auras.
Immediately the devouring fire is rolled by the wind to the highest gables; the flames master them, the heat rages to the heavens.
§2.760Procedo et Priami sedes arcemque reviso.
I go forward and revisit the palace of Priam and the citadel.
§2.761Et iam porticibus vacuis Iunonis asylo §2.762custodes lecti Phoenix et dirus Ulixes §2.763praedam adservabant.
And now in the empty porticoes, in Juno's sanctuary, chosen guardians, Phoenix and dreadful Ulysses, were keeping watch over the spoil.
Huc undique Troia gaza §2.764incensis erepta adytis, mensaeque deorum, §2.765crateresque auro solidi, captivaque vestis §2.766congeritur; pueri et pavidae longo ordine matres §2.767stant circum.
Hither from all sides Troy's treasure, snatched from burning shrines, and the tables of the gods, and mixing bowls of solid gold, and captured raiment are piled together; boys and trembling mothers in a long line stand around.
§2.768Ausus quin etiam voces iactare per umbram §2.769implevi clamore vias, maestusque Creüsam §2.770nequiquam ingeminans iterumque iterumque vocavi.
Nay, even venturing to cast my voice through the shadow I filled the streets with clamor, and sorrowfully calling Creusa in vain, redoubled it again and again.
§2.771Quaerenti et tectis urbis sine fine furenti §2.772infelix simulacrum atque ipsius umbra Creüsae §2.773visa mihi ante oculos et nota maior imago.
To me, as I searched and raged without limit through the houses of the city, the unhappy phantom and the shade of Creusa herself appeared before my eyes, an image larger than the one I knew.
§2.774Obstipui, steteruntque comae et vox faucibus haesit.
I was astounded, my hair stood on end, and my voice clung to my throat.
"What does it please you to indulge so much in mad grief, O sweet husband?
§2.778eveniunt; nec te hinc comitem asportare Creüsam §2.779fas, aut ille sinit superi regnator Olympi.
Not without the will of the gods do these things happen; nor is it lawful for you to carry Creusa hence as your companion, nor does that great ruler of high Olympus permit it.
§2.780Longa tibi exsilia, et vastum maris aequor arandum, §2.781et terram Hesperiam venies, ubi Lydius arva §2.782inter opima virum leni fluit agmine Thybris: §2.783illic res laetae regnumque et regia coniunx §2.784parta tibi.
Long exile is yours, and the vast expanse of the sea must be plowed, and you will come to the land of Hesperia, where the Lydian Tiber flows with gentle course between the rich fields of men; there joyful fortunes, a kingdom, and a royal bride are provided for you.
Lacrimas dilectae pelle Creüsae.
Banish tears for your beloved Creusa.
§2.785Non ego Myrmidonum sedes Dolopumve superbas §2.786aspiciam, aut Graiis servitum matribus ibo, §2.787Dardanis, et divae Veneris nurus. §2.788Sed me magna deum genetrix his detinet oris:
I shall not look upon the proud seats of the Myrmidons or Dolopians, nor shall I go to serve Greek mothers, I, a Trojan woman, and daughter-in-law of divine Venus; but the great mother of the gods detains me on these shores.
§2.789iamque vale, et nati serva communis amorem. §2.790Haec ubi dicta dedit, lacrimantem et multa volentem §2.791dicere deseruit, tenuisque recessit in auras.
And now farewell, and guard the love of our common son." When she gave these words, she abandoned me weeping and wishing to say many things, and withdrew into the thin air.
§2.792Ter conatus ibi collo dare bracchia circum: §2.793ter frustra comprensa manus effugit imago, §2.794par levibus ventis volucrique simillima somno.
Three times I attempted there to throw my arms around her neck; three times the phantom, grasped in vain, escaped my hands, like light winds and most similar to a fleeting dream.
§2.795Sic demum socios consumpta nocte reviso.
Thus at last, the night being spent, I revisit my companions.
§2.796Atque hic ingentem comitum adfluxisse novorum §2.797invenio admirans numerum, matresque virosque, §2.798collectam exsilio pubem, miserabile volgus.
And here I find with wonder that a vast number of new companions have streamed in, both mothers and men, a band gathered for exile, a miserable crowd.
From all sides they assembled, prepared in minds and resources for whatever lands I might wish to lead them to across the sea.
§2.801Iamque iugis summae surgebat Lucifer Idae §2.802ducebatque diem, Danaique obsessa tenebant §2.803limina portarum, nec spes opis ulla dabatur; §2.804cessi, et sublato montes genitore petivi.
And now Lucifer was rising over the ridges of highest Ida and was bringing on the day, and the Greeks held the besieged entrances of the gates, nor was any hope of aid offered; I yielded, and, lifting my father, I sought the mountains.