The Story of Dido and Æneas, The Fourth Book of Virgil's 'Æneid'

Virgil, Henry S. Salt (Translator)

Publisher: Watts & Co., London
Published: April, 1926
Length: 46
Format: Paperback

Summary

The Story of Dido and Æneas: The Fourth Book of Virgil’s ‘Æneid’ Translated into English Verse by Henry S. Salt is a compelling rendition of one of classical literature’s most tragic love stories. This volume offers more than just a translation of the fourth book of Virgil’s Æneid; it provides a complete narrative of the ill-fated love between Dido, Queen of Carthage, and the Trojan hero, Æneas, by including key passages from Books I and VI, creating a full arc of their relationship—from their first encounter to their final, haunting meeting in Hades.

Henry S. Salt, known for his humanitarianism and literary talent, has brought Virgil’s poetry to life in a fresh and innovative way. By using a decasyllabic line with irregular rhyming patterns inspired by Milton’s Lycidas, Salt achieves a rhythm that mirrors the varying harmonies of Virgil’s original verse, capturing the gravitas and emotional depth of the story without being confined to rigid rhyme schemes. This approach, praised by critics, delivers “the authentic Virgilian note” with a sense of dignity and fluidity rarely seen in English translations.

Both The Guardian and Times Literary Supplement commend Salt’s achievement, noting that his innovative metre provides a balance of poetic freedom and fidelity to the original text. In Salt’s hands, the tale of Dido’s unfulfilled love and Æneas’s duty-bound departure is rendered with striking clarity, making this volume a worthy addition to any collection of classical translations.

This edition is not only a translation but a literary accomplishment that breathes new life into Virgil’s epic, offering readers an accessible yet profound experience of one of antiquity’s greatest romances.