Anchises sights Italy.
Text: ITALIAM LAETO SOCII CLAMORE SALVTANT (AEN.III)
Italy the crews hail with joyful cry.
Extract from Aeneid 3.524-525:
Italiam primus conclamat Achates,
Italiam laeto socii clamore salutant.
tum pater Anchises magnum cratera corona
induit implevitque mero divosque vocavit
stans celsa in puppi:
'di maris et terrae tempestatumque potentes
ferte viam vento facilem et spirate secundi'.
'Italy!' first Achates shouts aloud;
'Italy' the crews hail with joyful cry.
Then father Anchises wreathed a great bowl,
filled it with wine, and standing on the lofty stern
called on the gods;
‘Ye gods, lords of the sea and earth and storms,
waft us onward with easy wind, and blow with favouring breath!’
Anchises, who followed Aeneas to Italy, sacrifices ritually to the Gods when he for the first time spots the Italian coast.
Michel 351, Sassone 288, AFA 301
Date of issue: 1930
Face value: 1.25 l.
Date created: 22/03/00 11:41:47