P. Vergilius Maro, Aeneid 6.450–476

Aenēās, descending into the underworld, encounters the shade of Dīdō among the souls of those who died for love. He attempts to speak with her, but she turns away in silence and returns to her former husband Sychaeus.

 

Tier 1

Phoenissa Dīdō recēns ā vulnere erat. inter umbrās in magnā silvā errābat. Aenēās prope eam stetit. eam in tenebrīs vix vīdit, sed agnōvit. lūna nova prīmō tempore mēnsis vix per nūbēs vidētur. tālis erat Dīdō. Aenēās lacrimās ēmīsit. dulciter dīxit:

 

“ō miserrima Dīdō, nūntius vēnit ad mē. nūntius dīxit: ‘Dīdō ferrum cēpit, sē interfēcit.’ estne hoc vērum?

 

heu, ego ergō causa fūneris tibi fuī? per sīdera iūrō. per superōs deōs iūrō. sī aliqua fidēs sub terrā est, etiam per illam iūrō: ego invītus dē tuō lītore discessī, ō rēgīna. sed deī mē iussērunt īre. iussa deōrum mē tulērunt. nunc deī mē iubent: ‘ī per umbrās et per noctem obscūram!’

 

ego nōn crēdidī hoc: tū tantum dolēs quia ego ā tē discessī. nunc autem videō. siste! nōlī ā mē fugere. ā quō fugis? fātum hoc imperat: nunc ultimum tempus tibi loquor.”

 

Aenēās tālia verba dīcēbat. Dīdō ārdēbat. Aenēās voluit eam nōn ārdēre. lacrimae cadēbant. illa autem oculōs in humō tenēbat et ab Aenēā āvertēbat. nōn movēbātur verbīs Aenēae. erat sīcut saxum dūrum.

 

tandem Dīdō discessit. inimīca in silvam refūgit. ibi prīstinus coniunx eius, Sychaeus, eam exspectābat. ille Dīdōnem amat et amōrem eius reddit.

 

Aenēās quoque trīstis erat. saevus enim cāsus Dīdōnis erat. Aenēās longē sequēbātur. Dīdō discēdēbat. Aenēās lacrimās fundēbat et eam miserābātur.

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