Virgil

Even his children's children and their race that shall be born of them.

So I resigned myself, picked up my father,

And turned my face toward the mountain range.

Alas, it is wrong for man to rely on the gods for anything against their will!

He follows his father, but not with equal steps.

It was the hour when for weary mortals their first rest begins, and by grace of the gods steals over them most sweet.

Live on in your blessings, your destiny's been won!

But ours calls us on from one ordeal to the next.

I dragged on my ruined life in darkness and grief.

If you have no use for humankind and mortal armor,

at least respect the gods. They know right from wrong.

What region of the earth is not full of our calamities?

If only Jupiter would give me back

The past years and the man I was...

Many blows he took on land and sea from the gods above—

thanks to cruel Juno's relentless rage—and many losses

he bore in battle too, before he could found a city,

bring his gods to Latium, source of the Latin race,

the Alban lords and the high walls of Rome.

Jove almighty,

nod assent to the daring work I have in hand!