Aen. 9.246Hīc annīs gravis atque animī mātūrus Alētēs:
Dī patriī, quōrum semper sub nūmine Troia est,
nōn tamen omnīnō Teucrōs dēlēre parātis,
cum tālīs animōs iuvenum et tam certa tulistis
250pectora.At this Aletes, weighed down by years and mature in judgement: 'Gods of our fathers, under whose power Troy always lies, you are not, after all, preparing to destroy the Teucrians utterly, since you have brought forth such spirits in our young men and such steadfast hearts.' Aen. 9.250Sīc memorāns umerōs dextrāsque tenēbat
ambōrum et voltum lacrimīs atque ōra rigābat.So saying, he clasped the shoulders and right hands of both, and wet his face and cheeks with tears. Aen. 9.252Quae vōbīs, quae digna, virī, prō laudibus istīs
praemia posse rear solvī?'What rewards, men, what worthy rewards can I think could be paid you for such deeds of glory? Aen. 9.253Pulcherrima prīmum
dī mōrēsque dabunt vestrī;The fairest the gods and your own characters will give first; Aen. 9.254tum cētera reddet
255āctūtum pius Aenēās atque integer aevī
Ascanius, meritī tantī nōn immemor umquam.then dutiful Aeneas will soon repay the rest, and Ascanius, untouched by age, never forgetful of so great a service.' Aen. 9.257Immō ego vōs, cui sōla salūs genitōre reductō,
excipit Ascanius, per magnōs, Nīse, penātīs
Assaracīque larem et cānae penetrālia Vestae
260obtestor;'No, I too,' Ascanius breaks in, 'whose only salvation lies in my father's return, I implore you both, Nisus, by the great Penates, by the household god of Assaracus and the shrine of grey Vesta; Aen. 9.260quaecumque mihi fortūna fidēsque est,
in vestrīs pōnō gremiīs: revocāte parentem,
reddite cōnspectum;whatever fortune and trust I have, I lay in your laps: call back my father, give me sight of him again; Aen. 9.262nihil illō trīste receptō.with him recovered, nothing will be sad.
Aen. 9.263Bīna dabō argentō perfecta atque aspera signīs
pōcula, dēvictā genitor quae cēpit Arisbā,
265et tripodas geminōs, aurī duo magna talenta,
crātēra antīquum, quem dat Sīdōnia Dīdō.I will give two cups wrought in silver and rough with figures, which my father took when Arisba was conquered, and a pair of tripods, two great talents of gold, and an ancient mixing-bowl which Sidonian Dido gave. Aen. 9.267Sī vērō capere Ītaliam scēptrīsque potīrī
contigerit victōrī et praedae dīcere sortem,
vīdistī quō Turnus equō, quibus ībat in armīs
270aureus: ipsum illum, clipeum cristāsque rubentīs
excipiam sortī, iam nunc tua praemia, Nīse.But if it falls to the victor to take Italy and win the sceptre and to allot the booty, you saw the horse Turnus rode, the arms in which he went, all golden: that very horse, the shield and the red crests I shall exempt from the lot, already now your prize, Nisus. Aen. 9.272Praetereā bis sex genitor lēctissima mātrum
corpora captīvōsque dabit suaque omnibus arma,
īnsuper hīs campī quod rēx habet ipse Latīnus.Besides, my father will give twelve choice bodies of matrons, and captives, each with his arms, and on top of these the land that King Latinus himself holds.
Aen. 9.275Tē vērō, mea quem spatiīs propiōribus aetās
īnsequitur, venerande puer, iam pectore tōtō
accipiō et comitem cāsūs complector in omnīs.But you, revered boy, whom my age follows at a nearer distance, I now take to my whole heart and embrace as my companion in every fortune. Aen. 9.278Nūlla meīs sine tē quaerētur glōria rēbus;No glory will be sought for my affairs without you; Aen. 9.279seu pācem seu bella geram, tibi maxima rērum
280verbōrumque fidēs.whether I wage peace or war, my greatest trust in deeds and words will be in you.' Aen. 9.280Contrā quem tālia fātur
Euryalus: Mē nūlla diēs tam fortibus ausīs
dissimilem arguerit;In answer to him Euryalus speaks thus: 'No day shall prove me unequal to such brave ventures; Aen. 9.282tantum, fortūna secunda
aut adversa cadat.this only I add: whether fortune fall out favourable or adverse. Aen. 9.283Sed tē super omnia dōna
ūnum ōrō, genetrīx Priamī dē gente vetustā
285est mihi, quam miseram tenuit nōn Īlia tellūs
mēcum excēdentem, nōn moenia rēgis Acestae.But beyond all gifts I ask you for one thing: I have a mother of the ancient line of Priam, whom, poor woman, neither the land of Ilium could hold back from leaving with me, nor the walls of King Acestes.
Aen. 9.287Hanc ego nunc ignāram huius quodcumque perīclī est
inque salūtātam linquō: nox et tua testis
dextera, quod nequeam lacrumās perferre parentis
290at tū, ōrō, sōlāre inopem et succurre relictae.I am now leaving her ignorant of this danger, whatever it is, and without a farewell: night and your right hand are my witnesses that I could not bear a mother's tears; but you, I beg, comfort her in her helplessness and aid her when she is left alone. Aen. 9.291Hanc sine mē spem ferre tuī: audentior ībō
in cāsūs omnīs.Let me take this hope of you with me: I shall go more boldly into every peril.' Aen. 9.292Percussā mente dedēre
Dardanidae lacrimās;Their hearts were struck, and the Dardanians shed tears; Aen. 9.293ante omnīs pulcher Iūlus,
atque animum patriae strinxit pietātis imāgō.beautiful Iulus above all, and the image of his own love for his father touched his heart. Aen. 9.295Tum sīc effātur:
Spondē digna tuīs ingentibus omnia coeptīs.Then he speaks thus: 'Be sure of everything worthy of your great undertaking. Aen. 9.297Namque erit ista mihi genetrīx nōmenque Creūsae
sōlum dēfuerit, nec partum grātiā tālem
parva manet.For she shall be a mother to me, and only the name of Creusa will be lacking; nor does slight gratitude await one who bore such a son.
Aen. 9.299Cāsūs factum quīcumque sequentur,
300per caput hoc iūrō, per quod pater ante solēbat:
quae tibi polliceor redūcī rēbusque secundīs,
haec eadem mātrīque tuae generīque manēbunt.Whatever outcome follows your deed, I swear by this head, by which my father used to swear before: what I promise you on your return in success, these same things shall remain for your mother and your kin.' Aen. 9.303Sīc ait inlacrimāns;So he speaks, weeping; Aen. 9.303umerō simul exuit ēnsem
aurātum, mīrā quem fēcerat arte Lycāōn
305Gnōsius atque habilem vāgīnā aptārat eburnā.at the same time he takes from his shoulder his gilded sword, which Lycaon of Cnossos had made with wondrous art and fitted, easy to handle, in an ivory scabbard. Aen. 9.306Dat Nīsō Mnēstheus pellem horrentisque leōnis
exuviās;Mnestheus gives Nisus a pelt, the bristling hide of a lion; Aen. 9.307galeam fīdus permūtat Alētēs.faithful Aletes exchanges helmets with him. Aen. 9.308Prōtinus armātī incēdunt;Armed, they set out at once; Aen. 9.308quōs omnis euntīs
prīmōrum manus ad portās iuvenumque senumque
310prōsequitur vōtīs.as they go, the whole band of leaders, young and old, escorts them to the gates with prayers.
Aen. 9.310Nec nōn et pulcher Iūlus,
ante annōs animumque gerēns cūramque virīlem,
multa patrī mandāta dabat portanda: sed aurae
omnia discerpunt et nūbibus inrita dōnant.Beautiful Iulus too, bearing a man's spirit and concern beyond his years, was giving many messages to be carried to his father: but the breezes scatter them all and give them, unfulfilled, to the clouds.