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Virgil · Aeneid §9.221-9.293

The Trojan Council and Ascanius's Promise

Passage 84 of 127 · Latin

Summary

Nisus and Euryalus present their night expedition plan to the council of Trojan leaders, who praise their courage. Ascanius promises them generous rewards, and Euryalus moves the assembly by asking him to protect and care for his mother in his absence.

§9.221adceleremus, ait.
"Let us hasten," he said.
Vigiles simul excitat, illi §9.222succedunt servantque vices: statione relicta §9.223ipse comes Niso graditur, regemque requirunt.
At the same time he rouses the watchmen, who succeed them and keep their turns; leaving their post, he himself goes as companion to Nisus, and they seek the leaders.
§9.224Cetera per terras omnis animalia somno §9.225laxabant curas et corda oblita laborum:
All other living creatures throughout all lands in sleep were relaxing their cares and their hearts were forgetful of labors.
§9.226ductores Teucrum primi et delecta iuventus §9.227consilium summis regni de rebus habebant, §9.228quid facerent quisve Aeneae iam nuntius esset.
The chief leaders of the Trojans and chosen youth were holding a council on the highest affairs of the realm, what they should do, or who should now be a messenger to Aeneas.
§9.229Stant longis adnixi hastis, et scuta tenentes, §9.230castrorum et campi medio.
They stand leaning on long spears and holding their shields, in the middle of the camp and the plain.
Tum Nisus et una §9.231Euryalus confestim alacres admittier orant: §9.232rem magnam, pretiumque morae fore.
Then Nisus and with him Euryalus eagerly pray to be admitted immediately: that the matter is great and would be worth the delay.
Primus Iulus §9.233accepit trepidos ac Nisum dicere iussit.
First Iulus received them in their excitement and ordered Nisus to speak.
§9.234Tum sic Hyrtacides: Audite O mentibus aequis, §9.235Aeneadae, neve haec nostris spectentur ab annis, §9.236quae ferimus.
Then thus the son of Hyrtacus: "Hear with impartial minds, followers of Aeneas, and let not these things which we bring be judged by our years.
Rutuli somno vinoque soluti §9.237conticuere; locum insidiis conspeximus ipsi, §9.238qui patet in bivio portae, quae proxuma ponto; §9.239interrupti ignes, aterque ad sidera fumus
The Rutulians, relaxed by sleep and wine, have fallen silent; we ourselves have observed a place for ambush, which lies open at the parting of the way of the gate which is nearest to the sea; the fires are interrupted, and black smoke rises to the stars.
§9.240erigitur: si fortuna permittitis uti §9.241quaesitum Aenean et moenia Pallantea, §9.242mox hic cum spoliis ingenti caede peracta §9.243adfore cernetis.
If you permit us to use this fortune to seek Aeneas and the walls of Pallanteum, soon you will see him present here with spoils, after a huge slaughter has been performed.
Nec nos via fallit euntis: §9.244vidimus obscuris primam sub vallibus urbem §9.245venatu adsiduo et totum cognovimus amnem. §9.246Hic annis gravis atque animi maturus Aletes: §9.247Di patrii, quorum semper sub numine Troia est, §9.248non tamen omnino Teucros delere paratis, §9.249cum talis animos iuvenum et tam certa tulistis §9.250pectora. Sic memorans umeros dextrasque tenebat §9.251amborum et voltum lacrimis atque ora rigabat.
Nor does the way deceive us as we go; for we have seen the first outskirts of the city below in the dark valleys in our constant hunting, and we have come to know the whole river." Here Aletes, heavy with years and mature in mind, said: "Ancestral gods, under whose divinity Troy always remains, you do not prepare, after all, to utterly destroy the Trojans, since you have brought such spirits in our youth and such steadfast hearts." Thus speaking, he held the shoulders and right hands of both, and wet his face and features with tears.
§9.252Quae vobis, quae digna, viri, pro laudibus istis §9.253praemia posse rear solvi? Pulcherrima primum
"What rewards, what worthy rewards, men, can I think can be paid to you for these glorious deeds?
§9.254di moresque dabunt vestri; tum cetera reddet §9.255actutum pius Aeneas atque integer aevi §9.256Ascanius, meriti tanti non immemor umquam. §9.257Immo ego vos, cui sola salus genitore reducto, §9.258excipit Ascanius, per magnos, Nise, penatis §9.259Assaracique larem et canae penetralia Vestae §9.260obtestor; quaecumque mihi fortuna fidesque est,
First, the most beautiful, the gods and your own character will give; then the rest pious Aeneas will render immediately, and Ascanius, young in years, never unmindful of such great merit." "Nay, I," Ascanius interrupts, "to whom the sole safety lies in my father being brought back, entreat you, Nisus, by the great Penates and the Lar of Assaracus and the shrines of hoary Vesta; whatever fortune and faith I have, I place in your laps.
§9.261in vestris pono gremiis: revocate parentem, §9.262reddite conspectum; nihil illo triste recepto.
Bring back my father, restore his sight to us; nothing is sad if he is received.
§9.263Bina dabo argento perfecta atque aspera signis §9.264pocula, devicta genitor quae cepit Arisba, §9.265et tripodas geminos, auri duo magna talenta, §9.266cratera antiquum, quem dat Sidonia Dido.
I will give a pair of cups finished in silver and rough with figures, which my father took from conquered Arisba, and twin tripods, two great talents of gold, and an ancient mixing-bowl, which Sidonian Dido gave.
§9.267Si vero capere Italiam sceptrisque potiri §9.268contigerit victori et praedae dicere sortem, §9.269vidisti quo Turnus equo, quibus ibat in armis §9.270aureus: ipsum illum, clipeum cristasque rubentis §9.271excipiam sorti, iam nunc tua praemia, Nise.
But if indeed it should fall to our lot to capture Italy, to possess the scepter as victor, and to assign the lot of the booty— you saw on what horse Turnus rode, in what arms he went, all golden: that very horse, the shield and the red crests I will exempt from the lot, even now your rewards, Nisus.
§9.272Praeterea bis sex genitor lectissima matrum §9.273corpora captivosque dabit suaque omnibus arma, §9.274insuper his campi quod rex habet ipse Latinus.
Besides, my father will give twice six most chosen bodies of matrons and captives, and their own arms to all, and besides these, the land which king Latinus himself possesses.
§9.275Te vero, mea quem spatiis propioribus aetas §9.276insequitur, venerande puer, iam pectore toto §9.277accipio et comitem casus complector in omnis.
But as for you, whom my age follows with a closer span, revered boy, even now with my whole heart I receive you and embrace you as a companion in all fortunes.
§9.278Nulla meis sine te quaeretur gloria rebus; §9.279seu pacem seu bella geram, tibi maxima rerum §9.280verborumque fides. Contra quem talia fatur §9.281Euryalus: Me nulla dies tam fortibus ausis §9.282dissimilem arguerit; tantum, fortuna secunda §9.283aut adversa cadat.
No glory shall be sought in my affairs without you; whether I lead peace or war, to you the greatest trust of deeds and words shall be given." In reply to him, Euryalus speaks such things: "No day shall prove me unequal to such brave endeavors, so much I promise, let fortune fall favorable or adverse.
Sed te super omnia dona §9.284unum oro, genetrix Priami de gente vetusta §9.285est mihi, quam miseram tenuit non Ilia tellus §9.286mecum excedentem, non moenia regis Acestae.
But one thing above all gifts I beg of you: I have a mother from the ancient race of Priam, whom, unhappy, neither the Ilian land nor the walls of king Acestes could keep from departing with me.
§9.287Hanc ego nunc ignaram huius quodcumque pericli est §9.288inque salutatam linquo: nox et tua testis §9.289dextera, quod nequeam lacrumas perferre parentis
Her I now leave, ignorant of whatever danger this is, and without having said farewell: night and your right hand are witness that I cannot bear a parent's tears.
§9.290at tu, oro, solare inopem et succurre relictae.
But you, I pray, console her in her helplessness and help her who is left behind.
§9.291Hanc sine me spem ferre tui: audentior ibo §9.292in casus omnis. Percussa mente dedere §9.293Dardanidae lacrimas; ante omnis pulcher Iulus,
Permit me to carry this hope of you; more boldly shall I go into all fortunes." Struck in their minds, the Trojans shed tears; before all, beautiful Iulus,

Notes

  1. 9.231admittier — An archaic form of the present passive infinitive (equivalent to the classical `admitti`), used here for poetic archaism or metrical convenience.
  2. 9.232rem magnam, pretiumque morae fore — An accusative with infinitive construction in indirect speech depending on `orant` (9.231) with an implied verb of saying. `fore` (= `futurum esse`) has `rem magnam` and `pretium` as its subjects, meaning '[saying that] the matter is great and would be worth the delay'.
  3. 9.255integer aevi — The genitive `aevi` is a genitive of specification or respect modifying the adjective `integer` ('unimpaired in age', i.e., 'youthful'). This usage imitates the Greek genitive of relation.
  4. 9.257cui sola salus genitore reducto — `cui` is a dative of reference or possession referring to `ego` (the speaker Ascanius, emphasized by `immo ego vos`), rather than the adjacent `vos`. `genitore reducto` is an ablative absolute ('my father having been brought back'). The structure means: 'I, to whom the sole safety lies in my father being brought back...'.
  5. 9.281Me nulla dies tam fortibus ausis / dissimilem arguerit — `arguerit` is a perfect subjunctive (potential subjunctive) expressing a mild but confident assertion about the future ('no day shall prove...'). `dissimilem` takes the ablative of comparison/respect `fortibus ausis` ('different from/unequal to such brave endeavors').

Cite this passage

Virgil, Aeneid §9.221-9.293. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi0690.phi003.humanitext-lat2:9.221-9.293

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