Virgil’s The Aeneid
Translated by Robert Fitzgerald
Translated by Robert Fitzgerald
Finished Book VI and began Book VII (both the English translation) today. Its interesting seeing the difference between the first six books compared to the second half. Everything slows. It is instant, almost shockingly sudden. You are taken through this quick paced tour of islands, Carthage, and the underworld and then you just stop and have a nice feast on the beach. Well, you also get Juno’s and Amata’s ravings …
So, this sudden switch, of Aeneas coming up from the underworld, walking through the Ivory gate, and then taking a quick sail to their fated land. I think the author meant to make this like a rebirthing. Aeneas emerges from the underworld, a new man, a king, ready to meet his fate (he had seemed to be wavering… and then he hears from his father’s lips the future of his people, the Romans).
“There are two gates of Sleep, one said to be
Of horn, whereby the true shades pass with ease,
The other all white Ivory agleam
Without a flaw, and yet false dreams are sent
Through this one by the ghosts to the upper world.”
(VI. 1211-1215)
“A blessing on the land
The fates have held in store for me, a blessing
On our true gods of Troy! Here is our home,
Here is our Fatherland. You know, my father
Anchises once foretold this secret token-
Now I remember- of our destiny.
He told me then: ‘My son, when the time comes
That hunger on a strange coast urges you,
When food has failed, to eat your very tables,
Then you may look for home: be mindful of it,
Weary as you are, and turn your hand
To your first building there with moat and mound.’
Here we have felt that hunger, here at last
Adversity awaited us, a limit
Set to our misfortunes.”
(VII. 158-172)
Of horn, whereby the true shades pass with ease,
The other all white Ivory agleam
Without a flaw, and yet false dreams are sent
Through this one by the ghosts to the upper world.”
(VI. 1211-1215)
“A blessing on the land
The fates have held in store for me, a blessing
On our true gods of Troy! Here is our home,
Here is our Fatherland. You know, my father
Anchises once foretold this secret token-
Now I remember- of our destiny.
He told me then: ‘My son, when the time comes
That hunger on a strange coast urges you,
When food has failed, to eat your very tables,
Then you may look for home: be mindful of it,
Weary as you are, and turn your hand
To your first building there with moat and mound.’
Here we have felt that hunger, here at last
Adversity awaited us, a limit
Set to our misfortunes.”
(VII. 158-172)
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