Robert Fitzgerald's Aeneid Translation

The Book
The Translator
The Translation
An Excerpt, Aeneid IV.693-705.
The Aeneid in English

The Book

There are at least two versions of Fitzgerald's translation in print - one in paperback - The Aeneid, (New York, NY: Vintage Classics Edition, Vintage Books, Random House, Inc., 1990), ISBN: 0679729526, and a hardback - The Aeneid, (New York, NY: Everymans Library, Alfred A. Knopf, Random House, Inc., 1992), ISBN: 0679413359. In the paperback, the translation is followed by a wide-ranging Postscript by the translator. A Brief Glossary is also included. The "Brief" refers, I believe, to the definitions and not to the glossary itself, as it seems quite extensive. The hardcover edition includes an Introduction by Philip Hardie, a Select Bibliography, a Chronology of Virgil's life, the literary context of the Aeneid, and historical events. The translation is followed by the same Postscript and Brief Glossary as the paperback version, and, in addition, 39 pages of notes. Both paperback and hardcover versions are readily available in libraries and bookstores, including the Joepye Latin Bookstore (text-only version).

The Translator

Until his death in 1985, Robert Fitzgerald was Boylston Professor of Rhetoric and Oratory Emeritus at Harvard University. He was a member of the National Academy of Arts and Scieneces and a Chancellor of the Academy of American Poets. In 1984 he was named the poet of the Library of Congress. He published four volumes of his own poetry, and translations, with Dudley Fitts, of Alcestis, Antigone, and Oedipus Rex, in addition to his Iliad, Odyssey, and Oedipus at Colunus. [1]

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The Translation

Until the recent publication of Fagles' translation, Fitzgerald's seemed to be the most popular English translation of the Aeneid available. I wonder if perhaps it won't return to that status once the novelty of Fagles' wears off. I enjoyed this translation more than any other verse translation I have read to this point. I'm sure it is a matter of personal taste. I liked Fitzgerald's consistency in meter and language and his faithfulness to the original Latin.

Here are some links of interest:

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An Excerpt, Aeneid IV.693-705.

Latin [2]	Fitzgerald's Translation [3]
Tum Iuno omnipotens, longum miserata dolorem difficilisque obitus, Irim demisit Olympo, quae luctantem animam nexosque resolveret artus. Nam quia nec fato, merita nec morte peribat, sed misera ante diem, subitoque accensa furore, nondum illi flavum Proserpina vertice crinem abstulerat, Stygioque caput damnaverat Orco. Ergo Iris croceis per caelum roscida pennis, mille trahens varios adverso sole colores, devolat, et supra caput adstitit: "Hunc ego Diti sacrum iussa fero, teque isto corpore solvo." Sic ait, et dextra crinem secat: omnis et una dilapsus calor, atque in ventos vita recessit.	... Almighty Juno, Filled with pity for this long ordeal And difficult passage, now sent Iris down Out of Olympus to set free The wrestling spirit from the body's hold. For since she died, not at her fated span Nor as she merited, but before her time Enflamed and driven mad, Proserpina Had not yet plucked from her the golden hair, Delivering her to Orcus of the Styx. So humid Iris through bright heaven flew On saffron-yellow wings, and in her train A thousand hues shimmered before the sun. At Dido's head she came to rest. "This token Sacred to Dis I bear away as bidden And free you from your body." Saying this, She cut a lock of hair. Along with it Her body's warmth fell into dissolution, And out into the winds her life withdrew.

Latin [2]

Fitzgerald's Translation [3]

Tum Iuno omnipotens, longum miserata dolorem
difficilisque obitus, Irim demisit Olympo,
quae luctantem animam nexosque resolveret artus.
Nam quia nec fato, merita nec morte peribat,
sed misera ante diem, subitoque accensa furore,
nondum illi flavum Proserpina vertice crinem
abstulerat, Stygioque caput damnaverat Orco.
Ergo Iris croceis per caelum roscida pennis,
mille trahens varios adverso sole colores,
devolat, et supra caput adstitit: "Hunc ego Diti
sacrum iussa fero, teque isto corpore solvo."
Sic ait, et dextra crinem secat: omnis et una
dilapsus calor, atque in ventos vita recessit.

                                  ... Almighty Juno,
Filled with pity for this long ordeal
And difficult passage, now sent Iris down
Out of Olympus to set free
The wrestling spirit from the body's hold.
For since she died, not at her fated span
Nor as she merited, but before her time
Enflamed and driven mad, Proserpina
Had not yet plucked from her the golden hair,
Delivering her to Orcus of the Styx.
So humid Iris through bright heaven flew
On saffron-yellow wings, and in her train
A thousand hues shimmered before the sun.
At Dido's head she came to rest.
                                                  "This token
Sacred to Dis I bear away as bidden
And free you from your body."
                                               Saying this,
She cut a lock of hair. Along with it
Her body's warmth fell into dissolution,
And out into the winds her life withdrew.

[1] Virgil, The Aeneid, trans. Robert Fitzgerald, (New York, NY: Vintage Classics, Vintage Books, Random House, Inc., 1990).

[2] P. Vergilius Maro, Aeneid, edited by J. B. Greenough, from The Perseus Digital Library.

[3] Virgil, 121.

Created on Decembere 18, 2006. Updated on January 3, 2007. Comments to joepye@pobox.com.