Book I, lines 142-253

sic ait et dicto citius tumida aequora placat

collectasque fugat nubes solemque reducit

Cymothoe simul et Triton adnixus acuto

detrudunt navis scopulo levat ipse tridenti

et vastas aperit syrtis et temperat aequor

atque rotis summas levibus perlabitur undas

 

 

 

ac veluti magno in populo cum saepe coorta est

seditio saevitque animis ignobile vulgus

iamque faces et saxa volant furor arma ministrat

tum pietate gravem ac meritis si forte virum quem

conspexere silent arrectisque auribus astant

 

 

ille regit dictis animos et pectora mulcet

sic cunctus pelagi cecidit fragor aequora postquam

prospiciens genitor caeloque invectus aperto

flectit equos curruque volans dat lora secundo

 

 

 

defessi Aeneadae quae proxima litora cursu

contendunt petere et Libyae vertuntur ad oras

est in secessu longo locus insula portum

efficit obiectu laterum quibus omnis ab alto

frangitur inque sinus scindit sese unda reductos

 

 

hinc atque hinc vastae rupes geminique minantur

in caelum scopuli quorum sub vertice late

aequora tuta silent tum silvis scaena coruscis

desuper horrentique atrum nemus imminet umbra

fronte sub adversa scopulis pendentibus antrum

intus aquae dulces vivoque sedilia saxo

Nympharum domus hic fessas non vincula navis

ulla tenent unco non alligat ancora morsu

 

 

huc septem Aeneas collectis navibus omni

ex numero subit ac magno telluris amore

egressi optata potiuntur Troes harena

et sale tabentis artus in litore ponunt

 

 

ac primum silici scintillam excudit Achates

succepitque ignem foliis atque arida circum

nutrimenta dedit rapuitque in fomite flammam

tum cererem corruptam undis Cerealiaque arma

expediunt fessi rerum frugesque receptas

et torrere parant flammis et frangere saxo

 

Thus he spoke, and swifter than his speech he calms the swollen sea, puts to flight the collected clouds and brings back the sun.  Cymothoe and at the same time Triton, pushing, dislodge the ships from the sharp rock, and Neptune himself raises the ships with his trident and clears the vast sandbars and calms the sea and glides over the tops of the waves with his swift chariot.

 

Just as when often in a great crowd a riot has arisen and the common crowd rages with their passions; torches and rocks fly, the madness provides weapons; by chance if they have seen some man of great virtue and weighty service, they are silent and stand listening attentively,

 

he controls their passions and soothes their hearts with these words.  Thus the entire roar of the sea had subsided, and afterwards, looking out over the sea, the father is carried through the open sky and guides his horses and, flying, gives free reins to his favorable chariot.

 

The tired followers of Aeneas hastened to seek shores nearest in their course, and they turn to the coasts of Libya.  The place is in a deep inlet; the island forms a barrier by its sides; on which every wave from the sea is broken and splits itself into folds being led back.

 

On this side and that, vast cliffs and twin rocks [tower] into the sky, under whose summit the secure sea is quiet; then above is a scene of flashing forest, and a dark grove overhangs the water, with leafy shade, under the headland opposite is a cave, curtained with rock, inside it, fresh water, and seats of natural stone; the home of Nymphs.  No chains moor the weary ships here, anchor does not bind them with its hooked bite.

 

Aeneas approaches with seven ships having been collected from the multitude, and th Trojans, with a great love of land, having disembarked, gain the desired beach and place their limbs having been soaked in salt (from the storm) in the waves.

 

And, first thing, Achestes struck a spark from a piece of flint and started a fire with the leaves, and gave dry fuel around and caught flame in the kindling.  Then they bring out the grain ruined by the waters and the arms of Ceres, exhausted by these things, and they prepare the recovered corn to roast with flames and to grind with a stone.