Book I Lines 1-11

Arma virumque cano, Trojae qui primus ab oris
Italiam fato profugus Lavinaque venit
litora--multum ille et terris jactatus et alto
vi superum, saevae memorem Junonis ob iram,
multa quoque et bello passus, dum conderet urbem 5
inferretque deos Latio--genus unde Latinum
Albanique patres atque altae moenia Romae.

Musa, mihi causas memora, quo numine laeso
quidve dolens regina deum tot volvere casus
insignem pietate virum, tot adire labores 10
impulerit. Tantaene animis caelestibus irae?


I sing of wars and a man, the first who came from Trojan Borders
to Italy and Lavinan shores a fugitive of fate
--this man was tossed a great deal throughout the lands and over the deep
by the force of the gods, on account of the unrelenting anger of fierce Juno,
and he also endured many wars, while establishing a city 5
and bringing the gods to Latium--from whence comes the Latin race
and the Alban fathers and also the high walls of Rome.

Muse, remember for me the causes, by which the divinity having been offended
or resenting what did the queen of the gods force this man
distinguised in piety to undergo so much misfortune, to encounter so much hardship 10
Is the heavenly anger so great?