# Quote — Virgil, The Aeneid

> "Seek not to know," the ghost replied with tears,
>
> "The sorrows of thy sons in future years.
>
> This youth (the blissful vision of a day)
>
> Shall just be shown on earth, and snatched away.
>
> The gods too high had raised the Roman state:
>
> Were but their gifts as permanent as great!
>
> What groans of men shall fill the Martian field!
>
> How fierce a blaze his flaming pile shall yield!
>
> What funeral pomp shall floating Tiber see,
>
> When, rising from his bed, he views the sad solemnity!
>
> No youth shall equal hopes of glory give,
>
> No youth afford so great a cause to grieve;
>
> The Trojan honor, and the Roman boast,
>
> Admired when living, and adored when lost!
>
> Mirror of ancient faith in early youth!
>
> Undaunted worth, inviolable truth!
>
> No foe, unpunished, in the fighting field
>
> Shall dare thee, foot to foot, with sword and shield;
>
> Much less in arms oppose thy matchless force,
>
> When thy sharp spurs shall urge thy foaming horse.
>
> Ah! couldst thou break through fate's severe decree,
>
> A new Marcellus shall arise in thee!"

- Author: [Virgil](https://www.leafyquotes.com/virgil.md)
- Book: [The Aeneid](https://www.leafyquotes.com/virgil/the-aeneid.md)
- Original (la): O nate, ingentem luctum ne quaere tuorum; / Ostendent terris hunc tantum fata, neque ultra / Esse sinent. Nimium vobis Romana propago / Visa potens, Superi, propria haec si dona fuissent. / Quantos ille virum magnam Mavortis ad urbem / Campus aget gemitus, vel quae, liberine, videbis / Funera, cum tumulum praeterlabere recentem! / Nec puer Iliaca quisquam de gente Latinos / In tantum spe tollet avos, nec Romula quondam / Ullo se tantum tellus iactabit alumno. / Heu pietas, heu prisca fides, invictaque bello / Dextera! Non illi se quisquam impune tulisset / Obvius armato, seu cum pedes iret in hostem, / Seu spumantis equi foderet calcaribus armos. / Heu, miserande puer, si qua fata aspera rumpas, / Tu Marcellus eris.
- Source: [Wikiquote](https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Aeneid#Book_VI) ([CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/))
- Quote page: https://www.leafyquotes.com/virgil/the-aeneid/seek-not-to-know

## 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)