Lost in a dark wood, prevented from climbing to the sunny heights by a leopard, a lion and a she-wolf, Dante makes out a dim figure and appeals for help. The illustration is by a third visionary, William Blake.
Hear the Italian and follow in English here.
There is a portrait of Dante by Botticelli on his poet page here.
The Trojan priest Laocoon pays the price for warning his fellow-citizens against bringing the Trojan horse into the city, as monstrous serpents crush first his two sons then Laocoon himself in their coils. Not only can you follow the Latin here, you can now also hear the poets Friedrich Schiller’s fine German version in our “Other Poems” section here.
Laocoon warns his fellow-Trojans not to take the Trojan horse into their city. Hear the Latin and follow the English here.
Aeneas and Dido have begun their affair. The monstrous Goddess, Rumour, sets to work to spread the news, some fake, some otherwise. Hear the poem here.
Dido has discovered that Aeneas is preparing to leave her, and Carthage, without telling her. Their next interview does not go well. Hear Dido’s reaction here.
A royal hunt follows a gorgeous levee: a great storm rocks all of nature which is matched by the storm of passion between Dido and Aeneas, sheltering in their cave. Hear one of Virgil’s greatest set-pieces in Latin and follow it in English here.