Earlier in the year, I shared my translation of the opening scenes of Virgil’s Aeneid IV, which I have also been teaching. My hope is to write a translation that is both true to the Latin but also more approachable to a modern audience and vocabulary - so many older translation sound like they’re almost in another language!
Last time we saw Dido battling with the conflicting feelings of passionate love for Aeneas and her commitment to her murdered husband. With the (un)timely intervention of her sister Anna, she decided that she would pursue the man whom the gods had doomed her to fall in love with. Now the action shifts to Dido and Aeneas’ patrons, the Goddesses Juno and Venus respectively, who contrive to make matters much, much worse…
As soon as Jupiter’s dear wife realised that the love-sickness had its hold on Dido, and her sense of decency would no longer hinder her passion, she approached Saturnian Venus with this to say:
“My, what a mighty prize you’ve won for yourself, what an incredible haul, you and that sons of yours - such a great and memorable power, for two gods to conquer one woman by deceit. Nor has it escaped my notice that you fear this city; you have long held the halls of high Carthage under suspicion. But to what end? Why bother fighting now? Why not work together on eternal peace and marriage vows? Don’t you have everything you set your heart on? Dido burns with love and the passion now seeps into her bones. Why not, therefore, rule these people together with equal authority - let her serve her Trojan husband and hand over her Tyrians as a dowry.”
Venus, who knew well that Juno spoke with an ulterior motive, to divert the promised Kingdom from the shores of Italy towards Libya, addressed her adversary in this way:
“Who would be so mad as to deny such an offer? Who would want to fight against you in war? Ah… if only fortune aligned with the plan you suggest. But Fate makes me uncertain whether Jupiter would allow there to be one city both for Trojan and Tyrian refugees, or would approve these two races to be mixed or joined by treaty. Well, you are his wife, why don’t you ask him! See what he thinks, and I’ll follow suit.”
To this, royal Juno replied: “Leave that task to me. Now, pay attention and I will briefly outline the plan to achieve the task at hand. Aeneas and poor sweet Dido are planning to go on a hunt together in the forest, when the morning sun’s light first covers the land tomorrow. While their men are out stirring the wildlife and encircling their prey with nets, I will pour rain down on them from a dark cloud, mixed with hail, and stir the whole sky with thunder. Their companions will scatter to the four winds and disappear from sight in the the shady darkness. But Dido and the Trojan leader shall each arrive at the same cave. I too will be there and, if you’re in agreement, I will join them in a lasting marriage and entrust her to him. This shall be their wedding night.” Venus, not averse to this proposal, nodded her agreement and smiled, seeing through her trickery.
Now behold, Aurora rises from the watery horizon, her rays beaming down as a handpicked detachment of young men depart through the city gates. Along with them rush the men carrying nets, snares and wide spears, the Massylian cavalry and the keen-scented hunting dogs. The Punic princes wait upon the threshold for their Queen, making her final preparations in her chambers, while her horse stands ready, resplendent in purple and gold, champing at the bit with its foaming mouth. At last she sets forth, thronged by a great crowd, wearing her Sydonian mantle with a painted fringe. She carries a golden quiver, her hair is tied in golden knots, and a gold brooch is tied beneath her purple tunic. In much the same way, her Trojan comrades and the cheerful Iulus set out with her.
Aeneas himself, his beauty surpassing all others, strides forward and adds his friendly troops to the party. Just like Apollo when he left behind the Lycian winters and the streams of Xanthus, and visited his mother’s home of Delos, restoring the ritual dances. Cretans and Dryopes and painted Agathyrsi cry out around the altars, while he himself strides along the ridges of Cynthus and presses a tender wreath into his flowing hair, entwining it with gold, his arrows jangling against his shoulder; barely slower than him went Aeneas, his beauty beaming from such a formidable face.
Now they had come to the high mountains and the pathless haunts, see how the wild goats, dislodged from their lofty peaks, scatter down the ridges. From elsewhere deer make a pass across open fields, gathering together into a dusty herd in their rush to escape and leave the hills behind. But young Ascanius, down in the lower valleys, rejoices in the spirit of his mount and speeds past riders left and right, praying that he will find a foaming boar among the harmless flock, or a tawny lion descending from the mountains.
Meanwhile, the sky begins to stir to stir with a great rumbling, followed by a rain shower and accompanying hail. The Tyrian soldiers and the Trojan youth scatter in all directions through the fields, and the Dardanian grandson of Venus makes for cover out of fear. Torrents stream down from the mountains. Dido and the Trojan leader each find their way to the same cave. Primeval Earth and Juno the Matron of Honour give the sign - fires flash and the skies play witness to their marriage, as nymphs howl from the highest peaks.
This day was the genesis of her death and all the evils that followed. For Dido was no longer troubled by her appearance or her reputation, nor did she make a secret of her love. She called it a marriage, and with that name she suppressed her own guilt….
That’s all for this time… thanks for reading and please pass on any comments or thoughts!