The Aeneid of Virgil

by Virgil, John William Mackail (Translator)

This book was converted from its physical edition to the digital format by a community of volunteers. You may find it for free on the web. Purchase of the Kindle edition includes wireless delivery.

Genres: Classics, Poetry, Fiction, Mythology, Ancient History, Fantasy, School

179 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1952

About the author

born 15 October 70 BC
died 21 September 19 BC

Roman poet Virgil, also Vergil, originally Publius Vergilius Maro, composed the Aeneid , an epic telling after the sack of Troy of the wanderings of Aeneas.

Work of Virgil greatly influenced on western literature; in most notably Divine Comedy of Dante Alighieri.

Reviews

[aliyah · Rating 5 out of 5]

definitely preferred this over the iliad

[Hoàng Nguyễn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cứ ngỡ là thơ cổ thì khó đọc lắm, ai dè không những dễ đọc mà mình còn phát hiện ra hễ là tác giả thì đời nào cũng giống nhau: nhây thấy tía luôn. Chưa kể, tính đi tính lại, thì trường thi này chẳng qua cũng chỉ là fanfic của Illiad thôi còn gì :))

Aeneas kể ra siêu tội nghiệp, kiểu như lúc nào chúc cũng trong tâm trạng @Các vị thần: Tại sao lại là con???, lúc nào trong lòng cũng lo lắng cơ mà bên ngoài lại tỏ ra mạnh mẽ để trấn an mọi người. Aeneas, con thương chú... Mọi người trong đây ai mình cũng thích, muốn thấy Aeneid được làm thành TV show ghê ;^;

Câu "If I cannot move Heaven, I'll raise Hell" là của Virgil, nhưng đa số bây giờ mọi người biết đến trích dẫn này al2 qua truyện của Cassandra Clare, ái chà.

[napofastar · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was better than The Illiad

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Aeneid is a Latin epic poem, written by Virgil between 29 and 19 BC, that tells the legendary story of Aeneas, a Trojan who travelled to Italy, where he became the ancestor of the Romans. The backstory is somewhat based on the Iliad and the Odyssey by the Greek poet Homer, so you may want to read that first. A general knowledge of Greek and Roman mythology and the geography of Italy, Greece, and the Mediterranean region would be helpful. Since the original was written in Latin, it is important to know what translation is being used. This translation into English verse by E. Fairfax Taylor contains extensive notes to explain many of the details, however you still may need to consult a dictionary for words like corslet, helm, sward, mead, etc. Also, the formatting for this Kindle edition was not the best. The prose translation by Fitzgerald may be easier to read, but would be far less interesting, I think.

It is easy to see why the Aeneid is considered an epic. It is hard for me to imagine writing nearly a thousand lines of poetry in twelve parts, but there is a lot to the story. Plenty of blow-by-blow battle action, the glory of victory and the agony of defeat, death itself and a visit to the afterlife:
"Those, who with hate a brother's love repaid, Or drove a parent outcast from their door, Or, weaving fraud, their client's trust betrayed; Those, who—the most in number—brooded o'er Their gold, nor gave to kinsmen of their store; Those, who for foul adultery were slain, Who followed treason's banner, or forswore Their plighted oath to masters, here remain, And, pent in dungeons deep, await their doom of pain." (Kindle Locations 4260-4264).

There is voyage at sea, misdirection, natural and supernatural disasters. Romance, athletic competition, devotion to parents, care for one's children, family heritage, religion and piety (devotion to the gods of Rome and ancient Troy).

The opponents that Aeneas faces are not such that he can easily prevail. Virgil presents Aeneus with worthy and noble opponents, as well as some examples of cowardice, plus meddling gods, goddesses, nymphs and fates. The poetry is rich with metaphor: an aged oak, a falcon, an eagle, a bull et cetera, are used to add descriptive color. Here is one example:

"Such furies urge him, and, ablaze with ire, His hot face sparkles, and his eyes burn bright, And from his eyeballs leaps the living fire; As when a bull, in prelude for the fight, Roars terribly, and fills the hinds with fright, And, butting at a chance-met tree, would try To vent his fury on his horns of might, And with his fierce hoofs flings the sand on high, And gores the empty air, and challenges the sky." (Locations 8396-8400).

Don't expect easy reading, but it may be enjoyable, if you like poetry and are fascinated by the ancient Roman world.

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

(I don't think we've translated the whole thing, but we did spend 4 years on translating the Aeneid in class.)

[Rita · Rating 5 out of 5]

Due to travel I read between this version in paperback, and the Robert Fitzgerald and Duke Classics versions on Libby. I found this to be the easiest reading.

[Kacper Włoszczyński · Rating 3 out of 5]

Powtórka z lektur #8

5/10

Dzieło Wergiliusza próbując oddać hołd dziełom Homera gubi się w nawiązaniach stając się jedynie imitacją lepszych historii. Pierwsze 6 części są kalką odysei jeszcze czyta się dobrze na szczególne pochwały zasługuje księga 4 która wzbije się na poziom Homera i niestety już nigdy tam nie doskakuje. Druga część jest wzorowana na Iliadzie jednak przez to, że Eneida jest o połowę krótsza niż jej pierwowzór nie ma aż tyle czasu na podbudowanie bohaterów przez co sceny bitewne czyta się jak jedną papkę różnych imion które słyszymy po raz pierwszy, przez co nie jesteśmy w stanie sprawić, że zależy nam na bohaterach (wyjątkiem jest Kamilla). Sam bohater nie ma nawet połowy charakteru Odyseusza czy nawet Achillesa. Podsumowując Eneida zdecydowanie nie była przyjemną przeprawą i z powodu swojej długości stawiam ją niżej niż krótszego i przyjemniejszego Edypa w Kolonie

[Arun Sarma · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Aeneid is a story of heroism, duty, love, and destiny, and is considered one of the greatest works of Western literature. It has influenced countless writers and artists throughout the centuries and continues to be studied and celebrated today.

[TrumanCoyote · Rating 2 out of 5]

Starts off rousingly enough...and I was beginning to think that I was in for quite the Epic Read (even through that chapter--or book, or canto, or whatever it was called--which proved to be a detour into The Wide World of Sports). Soon enough though the whole business began to pale on me. First off, there was that constant invocation of the gods, which only served to trivialize matters--as though the human agents were nothing but puppets in their hands. Then there were the frequent analogies/similes, which came across as increasingly perfunctory and formulaic (although there was admittedly a certain fascination to: "As when, in a bronze basin, the quivering water reflects/ A sunbeam or the round of the radiant moon, a light/ Goes glancing hither and thither, now shooting up from the water/ And jigging upon the fretted ceiling over your head"). The biggest problem for me though was its emphasis on being a war chronicle--and so we had to put up with page after page of tedious blow-by-blow descriptions of massacres and mayhem, a la The Iliad. Not merely a war story, but a Glorious War Story (with all the distaste and nausea which such an approach inevitably entails). As well as many a dubious moral stance, as when the fact that Aeneas and his band of cutthroats are nothing but bloodthirsty invaders is conveniently lost sight of in all the turmoil.

[Suzan Poisner · Rating 3 out of 5]

While Aeneid was originally written as a Latin didactic 12-book poem, I read the English translation by J W MacKail (2004).

Using a period map and a mythology dictionary, it often took me a solid hour to read each of the 12 books (under 30 pages).

I found the first six books very captivating--especially book six about the underworld, and book five about games reminiscent of the early Olympic competitions. Wow! Boxing was much more brutal back then.

The second half of Aeneid was about bloody war. These books were more difficult for me as I don't enjoy reading about violence or pain. I focused on the historical context, but it dragged a bit. Speaking of history, I think the many references to corn were incorrect as corn comes from the Americas and was not introduced in Europe until the 15th Century--1,500 years after Virgil wrote Aeneid...methinks this was a translation error.

I think I'll wait before tackling The Eclogues and The Georgics, both also by Virgil.

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aeneas, a Trojan hero, abandons his captured city, taking his father and little son. His destiny is to found Rome and father the Roman race. While journeying to Italy, Aeneas must prove his capability for his illustrious task. He battles terrifying storms in the Mediterranean, encounters the fearsome Cyclopes, falls in love with the charismatic Dido, queen of Carthage, enters the underworld, and wages war with Italy.

There really isn't too much to say. This is Virgil's telling of the founding of Rome, as there are pieces in the Iliad and the Oddessy, among other works regarding Aeneas and the Gods, Goddesses, and the prophesies. He felt that Rome needed just one story to explain how they came to be.

[Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although quite long and the lists of names of the dead at times dull and helping to send me to sleep at night, this certainly has moments of brilliance - namely the beautiful metaphors throughout which permeate the heavily dialogued and plotted tale at fortunate intervals. My favourite part is definitely the end, as covered in GCSE Latin, full of fast action, intense dialogue and wonderful imagery - enhanced by knowing and having already enjoyed the section. Translated very well and maintaining the beauty of Virgil's words, although it lacks the meaning hidden in the untranslatable word order, sounds and alliteration, as well as heroic couplets.

[Ryan · Rating 2 out of 5]

This didn't strike me nearly as well as Homer's Iliad and Odyssey. Perhaps it was the obvious propaganda attempting to legitimize Caesar Augustus. Maybe it was the language of either the Latin or the translation (J. W. Mackail) that was florid and obtuse. Either way, this book was much more difficult to read, especially with other things going on. I finished it, but the similarity to parts of The Iliad and The Odyssey just made it hollow. Sorry Virgil, not my scene.

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

This older translation, despite not being formatted in verse-form, was actually more engaging than that I had read previously. (Plus it was free online...)
There is some beautiful writing in this book, and its influence on later poetry and literature stands out very clearly, particularly in Dido's book and at the death of Nisus and Euryalus. After a while, one may find themselves tiring of blood splattering on faces and what-have-ya, but Virgil always seems to slip something wonderful in just when you're thinking of putting the book down and reaching for the Babysitter's Club.

[William · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wow, that was hard to get through. It feels a lot like a workout when you are out of shape, very difficult, hard to work on, but rewarding. I didn't love everything, and there was a lot that went over my head, but on the whole I am glad I read it. This book would be best read by people already familiar with Roman mythology and heroes.

[Teri · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't like this one as much as The Odyssey, but I'm glad I read it. It helped me make sense of Dante's Divine Comedy even more-- and I could see the debt that Dante owed Virgil. Especially the parts dealing with the underworld. Funny, this story is portrayed as the glorious start of a glorious empire, yet I found it an ominous and prophetic beginning.

[Nicole C. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Classic epic poem, gods and blood and guts. War, what is it good for? I prefer Homer, now that I have something to compare him to. Virgil name-checks too many people and it becomes rather difficult to read at times.

[Alison · Rating 3 out of 5]

Aeneas stood agape at things, and though he was rather lame, he was very human.

[Cathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Difficult to read but interesting

[Victoria Wilde · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was painful. That is all.

[Gary Lanier · Rating 4 out of 5]

a wonderful read once you find the propper pace. very descriptive and lyrical. i especially liked the part where Anneas is sailing to meet the Rutulians. and Camilla was a beast.

[Kristina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitely worth reading

I might even have to read it again to make sure I have all the names straight. It gets confusing after a while, but I manage the best I can.

[Meredith Bailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Allen Mendelbaum, translator.

[Johan · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was all right, but I found myself reading it very slowly.

[Benjamin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this better than the poetic version.

[Megan]

DNS 7/15/2021

[Helena · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautiful translation #adaptthishollywood

[mr. darcy’s left pinky toe · Rating 4 out of 5]

when the hero becomes the villain.