The Aeneid with the Commentary of Servius

At the top left of the page is a large, elaborate circular diagram integrated with the ornamental initial letter "U" that begins the main text. In the center of the diagram is a circular medallion containing a bust of a figure with a halo (likely Christ or a saint), holding a cross-tipped staff in the left hand and an open book in the right. Radiating from this central medallion are four curved bands leading to four smaller circular medallions. These smaller medallions contain figures: a warrior with a sword and shield (top left), a figure with a book (top right), a figure with a staff (bottom left), and another figure with a book (bottom right). The circular bands and paths within the diagram contain a decorative and somewhat corrupted repetition of the first six lines of the primary text. The entire diagram is executed in fine pen-and-ink lines with some stippled or shaded areas.

When the signal of war was raised, Laurentum was a city of Latium Laurentum was the capital of the Latins, ruled by King Latinus which first held the place. Indeed, in the times of King Latinus, it was called Laurentum from the laurel tree in the citadel. It is said "into the citadel of Laurentum" then "from the citadel of Laurentum," just as in all of Laurentum. Turnus was the king of the Rutulians, the son of Daunus and Venilia. The Rutulians truly had their name because they bear "reddish" rutilas: glowing red or golden-red hair; the color of the gods is reddish. Reddish is said for Gaius, that is, a "glowing" leader because he sits and flies and follows. And because the outcome is struggling at the same time, and truly he is called by name. I follow concerning the time, and then it is called a "song," that is, the trumpet which is blown, because they seen to follow a just color. Now and then two are brought through me; I and you are called Rutulians because first... The commentary here becomes fragmented and repetitive ...it is a sign of war for the Rutulians. "Rutili" comes from the color "rutilum" because they had reddish hair. The sign of war, as told from the first, was that no one should bear a signal unless a reddish one appeared. The gods wish that no one be conquered.

First they were constrained, because they sounded together. It scatters to the senses; the horns stand with a hoarse sound. Then the arts are horses. When the horns are struck, it is said. It is a city through me. Turnus, this sign of war... then it was made the Rutulians are... the first leaders were feasting. The Rutulians at the same time as the gods... from the help, a sudden breeze, a tempered breeze... The mound was tempered for good. New celebration from a good time, with celebration... a youth's future. The harvest of the Rutulians then from the matter, the first leaders must be held. As with good horses, that is, the victory.

The "scorner of the gods" is Mezentius Mezentius was an exiled Etruscan king known for his cruelty and impiety. Mezentius, Mezentius, Mezentius. They lay waste to Laurentum... they seek great Diomedes Diomedes was a Greek hero of the Trojan War now living in Italy; the Latins seek his military aid so that he might come, and it is not a victory for the Rutulians, but he speaks of Astura in Apulia... The text here descends into a long sequence of repetitive abbreviations (r, k, r, m, s, r, p) which likely served as a scribal mnemonic, musical notation, or decorative space-filler, interspersed with fragments of the main narrative regarding Turnus, victory, and the fleet ...to the conquered... the victory of the fleet truly from the word... he prepares... he comes to the victory of the Rutulians... he should come, it is a future... he should come, that is... it is played in the Rutulian place... he settles... to Diomedes... the Rutulians consist... a king... from there he is... then at the citadel of Laurentum... the Rutulian name... he settles... a victor... a son, a victor... he should come, a victor... a son from the Rutulian place... he should come... from the Rutulian... he should come... a victor... he should come... through Latium, what the Laomedontian hero Aeneas, referred to by his ancestral lineage to Laomedon, King of Troy, that is Aeneas. The sun having been struck back, the breeze with the image of the radiant moon. He should come and... in the Rutulian place... he should come... he should come... victor... he should come from the Rutulian... the image of the moon... which victory... should come... from the Rutulian place... he should come... from the Rutulian place... it is a victory... he should come... it is a victory... from the Rutulian... victor... he should come... Tiberinus, the god of the river... should come... and the conquered Rutulians... from the Rutulian place... let him come...

Book VIII

When Turnus raised the sign of war from the citadel
Of Laurentum, and the horns rang out with a hoarse song;
When he spurred the spirited horses, and clashed his arms,
At once hearts were troubled. Together, Latium in a trembling
Tumult swears an oath, and the fierce youth rages.
The first leaders, Messapus and Ufens,

And Mezentius, the scorner of the gods, gather help
From every side, and strip the broad fields of their farmers.
Venulus is sent to the city of great Diomedes
To seek aid, and to report that Aeneas has settled in Latium,
Bringing his fleet and his conquered household gods,
And claiming he is summoned by the fates to be king.

He reports that many tribes have joined the Dardanian man,
And his name spreads wide through Latium.
What Aeneas intends with these beginnings, and what he hopes
The outcome of the fight will be if fortune follows him,
Would be more manifest to Diomedes himself

Than to King Turnus or King Latinus.
Such things were happening through Latium. The Laomedontian hero
Sees it all, and is tossed on a great tide of grief.
He divides his swift mind now here, now there,

And he divides his swift
mind now here,
now there.

Whirling it through various parts and turning it through all things:
Just as when in brazen bowls the light of water trembles,
Struck back by the sun or the image of the radiant moon,
It flutters far and wide through every place, and now
It is lifted up into the air and strikes the high ceiling.

It was night, and throughout all lands deep sleep held
The weary creatures, the race of birds and cattle alike,
When father Aeneas, his heart troubled by the grim war,
Lay down upon the bank under the cold axis of heaven
And at last allowed sleep to spread through his limbs.
To him, the god of the place, Tiberinus of the pleasant stream,
Among the poplar leaves, seemed to rise up as an old man;
A fine linen cloth of sea-gray veiled him,
And a shady reed covered his hair.
Then he spoke thus, and took away cares with these words:

"O you born of the race of gods, who bring back to us
The Trojan city from the enemy, and preserve Troy forever,
Long-awaited on Laurentine soil and Latin fields!"