Learn from me Son; Disce puer

Aeneid Book XII lines 435-440

The pain is gone, the arrowhead removed, the wound mostly healed. Strength has returned, but it is not all returned, nor will it all return. Aeneas starts putting his armor back on with the golden brass piece that covers his wounded leg first. One leg, two legs.

It takes too long – he hates the delay. He needs to be out there, leading. The god Apollo says so, through the healer, Iapex. His goddess mother, Venus, says so. He already knew it anyway.

But his very eagerness causes delay – he can’t help shaking his spear in frustration and eagerness. Now he rubs clean his shield and his leather cuirass – another delay – before he puts them on, and finishes by putting on his helmet.

Ascanius watches, silent, transfixed, although this is not a new sight for him. He has seen his father arm like this before, even wounded. His father is a Trojan prince in wartime, and so, a warrior. As Ascanius himself will be someday.

Aeneas, now armed, looks to his son. Wordless, he hugs him as closely as his armor allows – the shoulders – and brushes a kiss on lips he can barely reach through his helmet.

Someday Ascanius will do this.

VP1502_183_401r_Aeneas_in_conversation_with_Ascanius_Aen._12_425-499 Detail from woodcut illustration from the “Strasbourg Vergil,” edited by Sebastian Brant: Publii Virgilii Maronis Opera cum quinque vulgatis commentariis expolitissimisque figuris atque imaginibus nuper per Sebastianum Brant superadditis (Strasbourg: Johannis Grieninger, 1502), fol. 401r, executed by an anonymous engraver under the direction of Brant.

“This is what it means to be a man,” he says. “Going on bravely through the toil, the pain, and the suffering. That’s what I have to teach. Luck you’ll have to learn from others.

“It’s time for me to defend you in battle. And win war’s booty as well. As one day, a man, you will too, for those who will be your responsibility then.

“When that day comes, perform the memorial. May the examples of your own people stir your soul, and may you be roused to action by your father Aeneas, and your mother’s brother, Hector.”

– My paraphrase

Then he goes out to the final battle, and then the final duel with Turnus.

Disce, puer,virtutem ex me verumque laborem,
fortunam ex aliis. Nunc te mea dextera bello
defensum dabit et magna inter praemia ducet.
Tu facito, mox cum matura adoleverit aetas,
sis memor, et te animo repetentem exempla tuorum
et pater Aeneas et avunculus excitet Hector.

Learn fortitude and toil from me, my son,
Ache of true toil. Good fortune learn from others.
My sword arm now will be your shield in battle
And introduce you to the boons of war.
When, before long, you come to man’s estate,
Be sure that you recall this. Harking back
For models in your family, let your father,
Aeneas, and uncle, Hector, stir your heart.
– Translated by Robert Fitzgerald