Vergil 1 - Storm

Context

This passage starts just after Juno has convinced Aeolus, god of the winds, to whip up a fierce storm to break up Aeneas’ ships as they depart Sicily and are trying to head to Italy. We see Aeneas speaking for the first time, crying out to himself as the storm separates many of his ships.

• Steadman Commentaries for Pliny/Vergil.
  • click on the link under 1.

Aeneas Caught in the Storm

Eripiunt subito nubes caelumque diemque

Teucrorum ex oculis; ponto nox incubat atra.

Intonuere poli, et crebris micat ignibus aether, 90

praesentemque viris intentant omnia mortem.

Extemplo Aeneae solvuntur frigore membra:

ingemit, et duplicis tendens ad sidera palmas

talia voce refert: ‘O terque quaterque beati,

quis ante ora patrum Troiae sub moenibus altis 95

contigit oppetere! O Danaum fortissime gentis

Tydide! Mene Iliacis occumbere campis

non potuisse, tuaque animam hanc effundere dextra,

saevus ubi Aeacidae telo iacet Hector, ubi ingens

Sarpedon, ubi tot Simois correpta sub undis 100

scuta virum galeasque et fortia corpora volvit?’

Talia iactanti stridens Aquilone procella

velum adversa ferit, fluctusque ad sidera tollit.

Franguntur remi; tum prora avertit, et undis

dat latus; insequitur cumulo praeruptus aquae mons. 105

Hi summo in fluctu pendent; his unda dehiscens

terram inter fluctus aperit; furit aestus harenis.