# Quote — Virgil, The Aeneid

> I pray that the earth gape deep enough to take me down
>
> or the almighty Father blast me with one bolt to the shades,
>
> the pale, glimmering shades in hell, the pit of night,
>
> before I dishonor you, my conscience, break your laws.
>
> He's carried my love away, the man who wed me first—
>
> may he hold it tight, safeguard it in his grave.

- Author: [Virgil](https://www.leafyquotes.com/virgil.md)
- Book: [The Aeneid](https://www.leafyquotes.com/virgil/the-aeneid.md)
- Original (la): Sed mihi vel tellus optem prius ima dehiscat / Vel pater omnipotens adigat me fulmine ad umbras, / Pallentis umbras Erebo noctemque profundam / Ante, pudor, quam te violo aut tua iura resolvo. / Ille meos, primus qui me sibi iunxit, amores / Abstulit; ille habeat secum servetque sepulcro.
- Source: [Wikiquote](https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Aeneid#Book_IV) ([CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/))
- Quote page: https://www.leafyquotes.com/virgil/the-aeneid/i-pray-that

## More from this book

> But the trumpet with brazen song rang out afar its fearful call; a shout follows and the sky re-echoes.

[Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/virgil/the-aeneid/but-the-trumpet.md)

> Chance joins with force to guide the steel.

[Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/virgil/the-aeneid/chance-joins-with.md)

> Valiant of tongue, though his hand was cold for battle.

[Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/virgil/the-aeneid/valiant-of-tongue.md)