s: "What! eating boards as well?" Iulus cries in jest.


s: Our toils. AEneas caught it, as it flew,


s: And hushed them, marvelling at the sign revealed.


s: "Hail! land," he cries, "long destined for our due.


s: Hail, household deities, to Troy still true!


s: Here lies our home. Thus, thus, I mind the hour,


s: Anchises brought Fate's hidden things to view:


s: 'My son, when famine on an unknown shore


s: Shall make thee, failing food, the very boards devour,


s: And build thy walls, and bank them with a mound.'


s: This was that famine; this the last to come


s: Of all our woes, the woful term to bound.


s: Come then, at daybreak search the land around


s: (Each from the harbour separate let us fare)


s: And see what folk, and where their town, be found,


s: Now pour to Jove libations, and with prayer


s: Invoke Anchises' shade, and back the wine-cups bear."


s: Invokes the Genius whom the place doth own,


s: And Earth, first Goddess, and the Nymphs who there


s: Night and the stars that glitter in her zone


s: And Phrygia's Mother on her heavenly throne,


s: Invokes his sire below and mother queen above.


s: Thunders aloud, and flashes in the skies


s: A cloud ablaze with rays of golden light.


s: 'Tis come--so Rumour through the Trojans flies--


s: The day to bid their promised walls arise.


s: Cheered by the mighty omen and the sign,


s: They spread the feast, and each with other vies


s: To range the goblets and to wreath the wine,


s: And gladdening hearts rejoice to greet the day divine.


s: In dawning light, by separate ways they fare


s: To search the town, the frontiers and the shore.


s: Here is Numicius' fountain, Tiber there,


s: Here dwell the Latins. Then Anchises' heir


s: Choice spokesmen to the monarch's city sends,


s: Five score, their peaceful errand to declare,


s: And royal presents to their charge commends,


s: And bids them claim of right the welcome due to friends.


s: And each and all, with rapid steps, and crowned


s: With Pallas' olive, hasten on their way.


s: Himself with shallow trench marks out the ground,


s: And, camp-like, girds with bastions and a mound


s: The new-formed settlement. Meanwhile the train


s: Of delegates their journey's end have found,


s: And greet with joy, uprising o'er the plain,


s: The Latin towers and homes, and now the walls attain.


s: On horseback. Through the whirling dust they steer


s: Their chariots and the practised steeds, or bend


s: The tight-strung bow, or aim the limber spear,


s: Or urge fist-combat or the foot's career.


s: Now to their king a message quick has flown;


s: Tall men and strange, in foreign garb are here.


s: Amidmost of his court he mounts the ancestral throne.


s: Of Picus. Dark woods shrouded, and the dread


s: Of ages filled, the precinct. Here, 'tis said,


s: Kings took the sceptre and the axe of fate,


s: Their senate house this temple; here were spread


s: The tables for the sacred feast, where sate,


s: What time the ram was slain, the elders of the State.


s: The sculptured effigies of sires divine.


s: Curved hook in hand, the planter of the vine.


s: There two-faced Janus, and, in ordered line,


s: Old kings and patriot chieftains. Captive cars


s: Hang round, and arms upon the doorposts shine,


s: Curved axes, crests of helmets, towngates' bars,


s: Spears, shields and beaks of ships, the trophies of their wars.


s: Tamer of steeds. The augur's gown he wore,


s: Short, striped and belted; and his lifted hand


s: Him Circe, his enamoured bride, of yore,


s: Wild with desire, so ancient legends say,


s: Smote with her golden rod, and sprinkling o'er


s: His limbs her magic poisons, made a jay,


s: And sent to roam the air, with dappled plumage gay.


s: Latinus waits the Teucrians on his throne,


s: And kindly thus accosts them as they come:


s: 'Speak, Dardans,--for the Dardan name ye own;


s: Nor strange your race and city, nor unknown


s: Sail ye the plains of Ocean--tell me now,


s: What seek ye? By the tempest tost, or blown


s: Came ye to Latin shores the dark-blue deep to plough?


s: By storms--such ills as oft-times on the main


s: O'ertake poor mariners--your ships at last


s: Our stream have entered, and the port attain.


s: Shun not a welcome, nor our cheer disdain.


s: For dear to Saturn, whom our sires adored,


s: Was Latium. Manners, not the laws, constrain


s: We mind the golden age, and virtues of our lord.


s: (Age dims, but memory can the tale retrace)


s: Went forth to northern Samos, styled of Thrace,


s: And reached the towns at Phrygian Ida's base.


s: He went, and now among the stars hath place,


s: Throned in the golden palace of the sky.


s: On earth his altar marks one godhead more on high."


s: "O King, blest seed of Faunus! Star nor strand


s: Misled us, nor hath stress of storm or wave


s: Forced us to seek the shelter of your land.


s: Freewill hath brought us hither, forethought planned


s: Our flight; for we are outcasts, every one,


s: The toil-worn remnant of an exiled band,


s: Driven from a mighty empire; mightier none


s: In bygone years was known beneath the wandering sun.


s: Their parent; he who sends us is our lord


s: How fierce a tempest from Mycenae poured


s: O'er Ida's fields; how Fate with fire and sword


s: Made Europe clash with Asia, he hath known


s: The utmost earth, or in the central zone


s: Dwells, if a man there be, in torrid climes unknown.


s: A home for home-gods, shelter on the strand,


s: And man's free privilege of air and wave.


s: We shall not shame the lustre of your land,


s: Nor stint the gratitude kind deeds demand.


s: Grant Troy a refuge, and Ausonians ne'er


s: Shall rue the welcome proffered by your hand.


s: Yea, scorn us not, that thus unsought we bear


s: The lowly suppliant's wreath, and speak the words of prayer.


s: Ne'er pledged in vain, our bravest and our best--


s: Full many a tribe, though lowly be our plight,


s: Have sought with ours their fortunes to unite.


s: Fate bade us seek your country and her King.


s: Hither, where Dardanus first saw the light,


s: Apollo back the Dardan race would bring,


s: To Tuscan Tiber's banks and pure Numicius' spring.


s: Poor relics saved from Ilion, but a sign


s: Of ancient greatness, and the gifts of friends.


s: See, from this golden goblet at the shrine


s: His sire Anchises poured the sacred wine;


s: Clad in these robes sat Priam, when of old


s: The laws he ministered. These robes are thine,


s: This sceptre, this embroidered vest,--behold,


s: 'Twas wrought by Trojan dames,--this diadem of gold."


s: Latinus; but his restless eyes confessed


s: His musings. Not the sceptre nor the gown


s: Of purple moved him, but his pensive breast


s: Dwelt on his daughter's marriage, till he guessed


s: His destined heir, the bridegroom and the guest,


s: Whose glorious progeny, by Fate's decree,


s: The Latin throne should share, and rule from sea to sea.


s: And heaven's own augury. Your wish shall stand;


s: I take the gifts. Yours, Trojans, all ye need--


s: The wealth of Troy, the fatness of the land,--


s: Nought shall ye lack from King Latinus' hand.


s: To claim our friendship, and a home demand,


s: Come here, nor fear to greet us. Not in vain


s: 'Twixt monarchs stands the peace, which plighted hands ordain.


s: 'A child, the daughter of my heart, is mine,


s: Whom neither frequent prodigies from heaven,


s: Nor voices uttered from my father's shrine,


s: Strange sons--so Latin oracles conspire--


s: Shall come, whose offspring shall exalt our line.


s: Thy King the bridegroom whom the Fates require


s: I deem, and, if in aught I read the truth, desire.'"


s: Choice steeds selects. Three hundred of the best


s: Stand in his lofty stables, sleek and fair;


s: And forth in order for each Teucrian guest


s: His servants led them, at their King's behest.


s: Rich housings, wrought in many a purple fold,


s: And broidered rugs adorn them; o'er each breast


s: Hang golden poitrels, glorious to behold.


s: Each champs with foaming mouth a chain of glittering gold.


s: And twin-yoked coursers of ethereal seed,


s: Whose snorting nostrils breathe the flames of fire.


s: Half-mortal, half-immortal was each steed,


s: Raised to her sire the Sun-god. So with speed


s: The mounted Trojans to their prince repair,


s: Pleased with the gifts and words, for peaceful news they bear.


s: Jove's consort her avenging flight pursues,


s: And far off, from Pachynus, as she flies


s: And great AEneas, gladdening at the news.


s: The rising settlement, the new-tilled shore,


s: The ships deserted for the land she views,


s: And shaking her imperial brows, and sore


s: With anguish, from her breast these wrathful words doth pour:


s: XL. "Ah, hateful race! Ah, Phrygian fates abhorred!


s: What, fell they not on the Sigean plain?


s: Must captives be twice captured? Have the sword


s: And flames of Troy avenged me but in vain?


s: Have foes and fire found passage for the slain?


s: Sooth, then, my godhead sleepeth, and that hand


s: Is tired of hate, which whilom o'er the main


s: Dared chase these outcasts and their paths withstand,


s: Where'er the deep sea rolled, far from their native land!


s: XLI. "Have sea and sky been wielded to destroy,


s: Nor Syrtes yet, nor Scylla's fierce embrace,


s: Nor vast Charybdis whelmed the sons of Troy,


s: Who, safe in Tiber, flout me to the face?


s: Yet Mars from earth, and for a less disgrace


s: Could sweep the Lapithae, and Heaven's great Sire


s: Did ever crime of theirs the Dardans' meed require?


s: XLII. "But I, Jove's consort, who have stooped to seek


s: And Hell shall hear, if Heaven its aid deny.


s: Grant that these Dardans must in Latium reign,


s: That fixt and changeless stands the doom, whereby


s: His bride shall be Lavinia, that in vain


s: Can Juno thwart whate'er the Destinies ordain;


s: XLIII. "Yet time delayed can make occasion lost,


s: Yet mutual strife each nation may devour,


s: And Kings plight marriage at their peoples' cost.


s: Troy's blood and Latium's, maiden, be thy dower.


s: Bellona lights thee to thy bridal bower.


s: Conceives a firebrand. Born in evil hour,


s: The child of Venus shall her hopes destroy,


s: And, like another Paris, fire a new-born Troy."


s: XLIV. She spake, and earthward darting, fierce and fell,


s: Sweet are war's sorrows to her soul, and sweet


s: E'en Pluto, e'en her sister-fiends detest


s: The monstrous shape, so many forms complete


s: The grisly horrors of that hateful pest,


s: So many a coal-black snake sprouts from her threatening crest.


s: XLV. Her Juno finds, and thus new rage inspires:


s: "Grant, virgin daughter of eternal Night,


s: This boon, the labour that thy soul desires.


s: Lest here my fame and honour lose their might,


s: Troy's prince with Latium's heiress. Thou can'st turn


s: Fond hearts to feuds, and brethren arm for fight.


s: Thou know'st, for savage is thy mood and stern,


s: To breed domestic strife and happy homes to burn.


s: XLVI. "A thousand names, a thousand means hast thou


s: Of mischief. Search thy fertile breast, and break


s: The plighted peace. Breed calumnies, and sow


s: The strife. Let youth desire, demand and take


s: Thy weapons."--Wreathed with many a Gorgon snake,


s: While, musing on her new-come guests, the queen,


s: Wroth for her Turnus, boiled with woman's rage and spleen.


s: XLVII. At her the goddess from her dark locks threw


s: A snake, and lodged the monster in her breast,


s: In glides, impalpable, the maddening pest


s: Breathing its venom. Like a necklace thin


s: It hung, all golden, like a wreath, caressed


s: Her hair its slippery coils, and wandered o'er her skin.


s: XLVIII. So, while the taint, first stealing through her frame,


s: Slipped in, with slimy venom, and the pest


s: Thrilled every sense, and wrapped her bones in flame,


s: Nor yet her soul had caught it, or confessed


s: The fiery fever that consumed her breast;


s: Soft, like a mother, and with tears, she cried,


s: Grieved for her child, and pondering with unrest


s: The Phrygian match, "Ah, woe the day betide,


s: If Teucrian exiles win Lavinia for a bride!


s: XLIX. "Hast thou no pity for thy child, nor thee,


s: When, with the rising North-wind, o'er the sea


s: Yon faithless pirate hath the maiden borne?


s: Robbed Helen, when the Phrygian shepherd planned


s: Her capture. Is thy sacred faith forsworn?


s: Where is thy old affection? Where that hand


s: So oft to Turnus pledged, thy kinsman of the land?


s: L.  "If Latins for Lavinia needs must find


s: A foreign mate; if so the Fates constrain,


s: And Faunus' words weigh heavy on thy mind,


s: All lands, that yield not to the Latin reign,


s: I count as foreign; so the Gods speak plain;


s: The first beginning of his princely strain.


s: Greeks were his grandsires; Argos was the place


s: Where old Acrisius ruled, where dwelt th' Inachian race."


s: LI. So pleading, and so weeping, she essayed


s: To move the king; but when her prayers were vain,


s: Nor tears Latinus from his purpose stayed,


s: Crept to her inmost parts, and through each vein


s: The maddening poison to her heartstrings stole,


s: Then, scared by monstrous phantoms of the brain,


s: Poor queen! she raved, and maddening past control,


s: Ran through the crowded streets in impotence of soul.


s: LII. Like as a whip-top by the lash is sent


s: In widening orbs to spin, when lads among


s: The empty courtyards urge their merriment;


s: And, scourged in circling courses by the thong


s: It wheels and eddies, while the beardless throng


s: And marvel, as the boxwood whirls along,


s: Stirred by each stroke; so fast Amata flies


s: From street to street, while crowds look on with lowering eyes.


s: LIII. Nay, simulating Bacchus, now she dares


s: To feign new orgies, and her crime complete.


s: Swift with her daughter to the woods she fares,


s: And hides her on the mountains, fain to cheat


s: The Trojans, and the purposed rites defeat.


s: "Hail, thou alone art worthy of the fair!


s: For thee she leads the dance, the ivied wand doth bear."


s: LIV. The matrons then--so fast the rumour flew,--


s: Fired like the Queen, and frenzied with despair,


s: Rush forth, and leave their ancient homes for new,


s: And to the breezes give their necks and hair.


s: These with their tremulous wailings fill the air,


s: And, girt about with fawn-skins, bear along


s: The vine-branch javelins, and Amata there,


s: Herself ablaze with fury, o'er the throng


s: A blazing pine-torch waves, and chants the nuptial song


s: LV. Of Turnus and Lavinia. Fiercely roll


s: Her blood-shot eyes, and, frowning, suddenly


s: She pours the frantic passions of her soul.


s: Deserve your pity, let your hair be seen


s: Loosed from the fillets, and be mad, like me."


s: So through the woods, the wild-beasts' lairs between,


s: With Bacchanalian goads Alecto drives the Queen.


s: LVI. When now thus fairly was the work begun,


s: The barbs of anger planted, pleased to view


s: On dusky wings the Goddess soared, and through


s: The liquid air to neighbouring Ardea flew,


s: By Danae, thither when the South-wind blew


s: Her and her followers. Ardea's name it bore,


s: And Ardea's name still lives, though fortune smiles no more.


s: LVII. There in his palace, locked in sleep's embrace,


s: Lay Turnus. Straight Alecto, versed in snares,


s: Doffs the fiend's figure and her frowning face.


s: The likeness of a withered crone she wears,


s: With wrinkled forehead and with hoary hairs.


s: The priestess. Changed in semblance, she appears


s: Thus to the youth she comes, and hails him by his name.


s: LVIII. "Fie! Turnus, fie! wilt thou behold unstirred


s: Such labours wasted, and thy hopes belied?


s: Thy sceptre to a Dardan guest transferred?


s: Thy blood-bought dowry, and thy promised bride,


s: And seeks a stranger for his throne. Away


s: To thankless perils, while thy friends deride!


s: Go, strew the Tuscans, scatter their array,


s: Till Latins, saved once more, their plighted word betray.


s: LIX. "This mandate great Saturnia bade me bear,


s: Thou sleeping. Up, then! greet the welcome hour;


s: Arm, arm the youth, and from the towngates fare!


s: These Phrygian vessels with the flames devour,


s: Moored yonder in fair Tiber. 'Tis the power


s: Of Heaven that bids thee. Let Latinus, too,


s: If false and faithless he withhold the dower,


s: And grudge thy marriage, learn the deed to rue,


s: And taste at length and try what Turnus armed can do."


s: LX. Then he in scorn: "Yea, Tiber's waves beset


s: With foreign ships--I know it; wherefore feign


s: For me such terrors? Juno guards me yet.


s: Good mother, dotage wears thee, and thy brain


s: Is rusty; age hath troubled thee in vain,


s: And, 'midst the feuds of monarchs, mocks with fright


s: A priestess. Go; 'tis thine to guard the fane


s: And sacred statues; these be thy delight;


s: Leave peace and war to men, whose business is to fight."


s: LXI. Therewith in fire Alecto's wrath outbroke,


s: A sudden tremor through his limbs ran fast,


s: His stony eyeballs stiffened as he spoke.


s: So hissed the Fury with her snakes, so vast


s: Her shape appeared, so fierce the look she cast,


s: As back she thrust him with her flaming eyes,


s: Fain to say more, but faltering and aghast.


s: Two serpents from her Gorgon locks uprise;


s: Shrill sounds her scorpion lash, as, foaming, thus she cries:


s: LXII. "Behold me, worn with dotage! me, whom age


s: Hath rusted, and, while monarchs fight, would scare


s: I come, the Furies' minister; see there,


s: War, death and havoc in these hands I bear."


s: Full at his breast a firebrand, as she spoke,


s: Black with thick smoke, but bright with lurid glare,


s: And o'er his bones and limbs a clammy sweat outbroke.


s: LXIII. "Arms, arms!" he yells, and searches for his sword


s: In couch and chamber, maddening at the core


s: With war's fierce passion, and the lust abhorred


s: Of slaughter, and with bitter wrath yet more.


s: As when a wood-fire crackles with fierce roar,


s: Heaped round a caldron, and the simmering stream


s: Foams, fumes, and bubbles, and at last boils o'er,


s: And upward shoots the mingled smoke and steam;


s: So Turnus boils with wrath, so dire his rage doth seem.


s: LXIV. Choice youths he sends, to let Latinus know


s: The peace was torn, then musters his array


s: Let Trojans league with Latins as they may,


s: Himself can match them, and he comes to slay.


s: So saying, his vows he renders. Ardour fires


s: The fierce Rutulians, and each hails the fray;


s: And one his youth, and one his grace admires,


s: And one his valorous deeds, and one his kingly sires.


s: LXV. So Turnus the Rutulians stirred to war.


s: Her flight; with wily eye she marked afar,


s: With snares and steeds upon the chase intent,


s: To chase the stag, as with the well-known scent


s: She lured their nostrils.--Thus the feud outbroke;


s: So small a cause of strife could rustic hearts provoke.


s: LXVI. Broad-antlered, beauteous was the stag, which erst


s: The sons of Tyrrheus (Tyrrheus kept whilere


s: The royal herd and pastures), fostering nursed,


s: Snatched from the dam. Their sister, Silvia fair,


s: Oft wreathed his horns, and oft with tender care


s: She washed him, and his shaggy coat would comb.


s: So tamed, and trained his master's board to share,


s: The gentle favourite in the woods would roam;


s: Each night, how late soe'er, he sought the well-known home.


s: LXVII. Him the fierce hounds now startle far astray,


s: As down the stream he floats, or, crouching low,


s: Rests on the green bank from the noontide ray.


s: Athirst for praise, Ascanius bends his bow;


s: Loud whirs the arrow, for Fate aims the blow,


s: And cleaves his flank and belly. Homeward flies


s: The wounded creature, moaning in his woe.


s: Blood-stained, with piteous and imploring eyes,


s: Like one who sues for life, he fills the house with cries.


s: LXVIII. Smiting the breast, poor Silvia calls for aid.


s: Forth rush the churls, scarce waiting her demand,


s: Roused by the Fury in the wood's still shade.


s: One grasps a club, another wields a brand;


s: Rage makes a weapon of what comes to hand.


s: Forth from his work ran Tyrrheus, who an oak


s: Was cleaving with the wedge, and cheered the band.


s: His hand still grasped the hatchet for the stroke,


s: And bitter wrath he breathed, and fierce the words he spoke.


s: LXIX. The Fury snatched the moment; forth she flew,


s: And, perching on the cabin-roof, looked round,


s: And from the curved horn of the shepherds blew


s: A blast of Tartarus, that shook the ground,


s: And made the forests and the groves rebound


s: The infernal echoes. Trivia's lakes afar,


s: And Velia's fountains heard the dreadful sound;


s: The white waves heard it of the sulphurous Nar,


s: And mothers clasped their babes, and trembled at the war.


s: LXX. Swift at the summons, as the trumpet brayed,


s: The sturdy shepherds arm them for the fray.


s: Swift pour the Trojans from their camp, to aid


s: Ascanius. Lo! 'tis battle's stern array,


s: No village brawl, where churls dispute the day


s: With charred oak-staves and cudgels. Broadswords clash


s: With broadswords, and War's harvest far away


s: Stands, bristling black with iron, as they dash


s: Together, and drawn swords in doubtful conflict flash.


s: LXXI. And brazen arms shoot many a blinding ray,


s: Smit by the sun, as clouds that fill the sky,


s: Disparting, show the splendours of the fray.


s: As when a light wind o'er the sea doth fly,


s: And the wave whitens as the breeze goes by,


s: Heaves up and swells, till higher and more high


s: The billows rise, and, gathering in a heap,


s: From Ocean's caves mount up, and storm the ethereal steep.


s: LXXII. First falls the son of Tyrrheus, stretched in death,


s: Young Almo. In his throat the deadly bane


s: Stuck fast, and choked the humid pass of breath,


s: And clipped the thin-spun life. There, too, is slain


s: Grey-haired Galaesus, parleying but in vain.


s: More righteous none, though many around lie killed,


s: None wealthier did Ausonia's realm contain.


s: Five herds, five bleating flocks, his pastures filled,


s: And with a hundred ploughs his fruitful lands he tilled.


s: LXXIII. Thus while the conflict wavered on the plain,


s: The Fury, pleased her triumph to survey,


s: Her pledge fulfilled,--War crimsoned with the stain


s: Of gore, and grim Death busy with his prey,--


s: And proudly speaks to Juno: "See, 'tis done;


s: The discord perfect in the dolorous fray,


s: Now bid, forsooth, the foes plight friendship and be one.


s: LXXIV. "Steeped are thy Trojans in Ausonian gore.


s: Yet speak, and more will I perform, if so


s: Thy purpose holds. Along the neighbouring shore


s: Each town shall hear the rumour of the foe,


s: Each breast with frenzy for the strife shall glow,


s: Till all bring aid, and fruitful is the land


s: In deeds of blood."--Then Juno: "Nay, not so;


s: Enough of fraud and terror. Firmly stand


s: The causes of the feud; they battle hand to hand,


s: LXXV. "And fresh blood stains the weapons chance supplied.


s: And Venus' wondrous offspring, and his bride.


s: But thou--for scarce Olympus' king would bear


s: Give place; myself will guide the rest aright."


s: Her wings, that hiss with serpents, spreads for flight,


s: And to Cocytus dives, and leaves the realms of light.


s: LXXVI. In mid Italia lies a vale renowned,


s: Amsanctus. Dark woods down the mountain grow


s: This side and that; a torrent with the sound


s: There, black as night, an awful cave they show,


s: The gorge of Dis. Dread Acheron from beneath


s: Bursts in a whirlpool, with its waves of woe,


s: And jaws that gape with pestilential death.


s: There plunged the hateful Fiend, and earth and air took breath.


s: LXXVII. Nor less, meanwhile, Saturnia hastes to crown


s: The war's mad tumult. Home the shepherds bore


s: Their dead from out the battle to the town.


s: Young Almo, and Galaesus, fouled with gore.


s: The gods, and while the blood-cry calls for flame


s: And slaughter, Turnus swells the wild uproar.


s: What! he an outcast? Shall the Trojans claim


s: LXXVIII. Then they, whose mothers through the pathless vales


s: And forests, fired with Bacchic frenzy, ply


s: Their orgies--so Amata's name prevails--


s: Come forth, and, gathering from far and nigh,


s: Weary the War-god with their clamorous cry,


s: Till, thwarting Heaven's high purpose, each and all


s: War now is all their wish, "to arms" the general call.


s: LXXIX. Firm stands the monarch as a sea-girt rock,


s: A sea-girt rock against the roaring main,


s: Which, spite of barking billows and the shock


s: Of Ocean, doth its own huge mass sustain.


s: The foaming crags around it chafe in vain,


s: And back it flings the seaweed from its side.


s: Too weak at length their madness to restrain,


s: For things move on as Juno's whims decide,


s: Oft to the gods, and oft to empty air he cried.


s: LXXX. "Ah me! the tempest hurries us along.


s: Fate grinds us sore. Poor Latins! ye must sate,


s: Your blood must pay, the forfeit for your wrong.


s: Thee, Turnus, thee the avenging fiends await,


s: Thou, too, the gods shalt weary, but too late.


s: And to his chamber fled, and flung the crown aside.


s: LXXXI. A custom in Hesperian Latium reigned,


s: Which Alban cities kept with sacred care,


s: And Rome, the world's great mistress, hath retained.


s: Thus still they wake the War-god, whensoe'er


s: Or Getic tribes the tearful woes of war,


s: Or push to Ind their distant arms, or dare


s: To track the footsteps of the Morning star,


s: And claim their standards back from Parthia's hosts afar.


s: LXXXII. Twain are the Gates of War, to dreadful Mars


s: With awe kept sacred and religious pride.


s: Shut fast the doors, and Janus stands beside.


s: And Gabine cincture, flings the portals wide,


s: And cries to arms; the warriors, one and all,


s: With blare of brazen horns make answer to the call.


s: LXXXIII. 'Twas thus that now Latinus they require


s: And ope the portals. But the good old Sire


s: Shrank from the touch, and, shuddering with dismay,


s: Shunned the foul office, and abjured the day.


s: Then, downward darting from the skies afar,


s: Heaven's empress with her right hand wrenched away


s: The lingering bars. The grating hinges jar,


s: As back Saturnia thrusts the iron gates of War.


s: LXXXIV. Then woke Ausonia from her sleep. Forth swarm


s: Footmen and horsemen, and in wild career


s: Whirl up the dust. "Arm," cry the warriors, "arm!"


s: With unctuous lard their polished shields they smear,


s: And whet the axe, and scour the rusty spear.


s: Their banners wave, their trumpets sound the fight.


s: Five towns their anvils for the war uprear,


s: Crustumium, Tibur, glorying in her might,


s: Ardea, Atina strong, Antemnae's tower-girt height.


s: LXXXV. Lithe twigs of osier in their shields they weave,


s: And shape the casque, and in the mould prepare


s: The brazen breastplate and the silver greave.


s: Their fathers' falchions to the forge they bear.


s: Now peals the clarion; through the host hath spread


s: The watch-word. Helmets from the walls they tear,


s: And yoke the steeds. In triple gold arrayed,


s: Each grasps the burnished shield, and girds the trusty blade.


s: LXXXVI. Now open Helicon; awake the strain,


s: Ye Muses. Aid me, that the tale be told,


s: What kings were roused, what armies filled the plain,


s: What battles blazed, what men of valiant mould


s: Graced fair Italia in those days of old.


s: But faint and feeble is the voice we hear,


s: A slender breath of Fame, that falters on the ear.


s: LXXXVII. First came with armed men from Etruria's coast


s: Mezentius, scorner of the Gods. Next came


s: His son, young Lausus, comeliest of the host,


s: Save Turnus--Lausus, who the steed could tame,


s: And quell wild beasts and track the woodland game.


s: He leads--ah vainly! though he died with fame.


s: Proud had he been and worthy to have known


s: A nobler sire's commands, a nobler sire to own.


s: LXXXVIII. With conquering steeds triumphant o'er the mead,


s: His chariot, crowned with palm-leaves, proudly wheeled


s: Of glorious Hercules; the blazoned shield


s: His father's Hydra and her snakes revealed.


s: Him, when of old, the monstrous Geryon slain,


s: The lord of Tiryns, victor of the field,


s: Reached in his wanderings the Laurentian plain,


s: And bathed in Tiber's stream the captured herds of Spain,


s: LXXXIX. The priestess Rhea, in the secret shade


s: Of wooded Aventine, brought forth to light,


s: With pikes and poles his followers join the fight,


s: Their swords are sharp, their Sabine spears are bright.


s: With sharp teeth set in rows of glittering white,


s: Swings o'er his forehead, as with eager stride,


s: Clad in his father's cloak, he seeks the monarch's side.


s: And one fierce Coras, each of Argive fame,


s: Each in the van, where deadliest raves the fight.


s: As when two cloud-born Centaurs in their might


s: From some tall mountain with swift strides descend,


s: The thickets yield, trees crash, and branches bend,


s: As with resistless force the trampled woods they rend.


s: Found on the hearthstone--if the tale be true,--


s: Brave Caeculus, the Shepherds' monarch styled.


s: Forth from Praeneste swarmed the rustic crew,


s: From Juno's Gabium to the fight they flew,


s: From ice-cold Anio, swoln with wintry rain,


s: From Hernic rocks, which mountain streams bedew,


s: From fat Anagnia's pastures, from the plain


s: Where Amasenus rolls majestic to the main.


s: Not all can boast the clashing of the shield,


s: Not all the thunder of the rattling car.


s: These sling their leaden bullets o'er the field,


s: Those in each hand the deadly javelin wield.


s: With caps of fur their rugged brows are dight,


s: The tawny covering from the dark wolf peeled;


s: Bare is the left foot, as they march to fight,


s: And, rough with raw bull's-hide, a sandal guards the right.


s: Great Neptune's son. Fire nor the steel's sharp stroke


s: Could lay him lifeless, so the Fates decreed.


s: Grasping his sword, a laggard race he woke,


s: Behind him throng Fescennia's ranks to fight,


s: And those whom fair Capena's groves delight,


s: Ciminius' mount and lake, and steep Soracte's height.


s: Like snowy swans, the liquid clouds among,


s: Which homeward from their feeding ply the wing,


s: When o'er Cayster's marish, loud and long,


s: The echoes float of their melodious song.


s: None, sure, such countless multitudes would deem


s: The mail-clad warriors of an armed throng:


s: Nay, rather, like a dusky cloud they seem


s: Of sea-fowl, landward driven with many a hoarse-voiced scream.


s: Himself a host. From Sabine sires he came,


s: And Latium thence the Claudian house o'erspread,


s: When Romans first with Sabines dared to claim


s: From fair Velinus' dewy fields they came,


s: From olive-crowned Mutusca, from the land


s: Where proud Nomentum's towers the fruitful plains command.


s: Her hosts; they came from tall Severus' flank,


s: Wash'd by Himella's waves, and those who drank


s: Those, too, whom Nursia sendeth from the snows,


s: And Horta's sons, in many an ordered rank,


s: Between whose parted fields th' ill-omened Allia flows.


s: Sinks, dark with tempests, and the waves upleap;


s: As, parched with suns of summer, stands the grain


s: On Hermus' fields, or Lycia's golden plain;


s: So countless swarm the multitudes around


s: Bold Clausus, and the wide air rings again


s: With echoes, as their clashing shields resound,


s: And with the tramp of feet they shake the trembling ground.


s: Halaesus. Trojans were his foes, his friend


s: Was Turnus. Lo, a thousand tribes he leads;


s: Those who on Massic hills the vineyards tend,


s: Those whom Auruncans from their mountains send.


s: From Sidicinum and her neighbouring plain,


s: From Cales, from Volturnus' shoals they wend.


s: Fierce for the fray, comes down and joins the Oscan train.


s: A leathern target o'er the left is strung,


s: And short, curved daggers the close fight decide.


s: Nor, OEbalus, those gallant hosts among,


s: Shalt thou go nameless, and thy praise unsung,


s: Thou, from old Telon, as the tale hath feigned,


s: And beauteous Sebethis, the wood-nymph, sprung,


s: But Caprea's narrow realm proud OEbalus disdained.


s: And they, whose lands the Sarnian waters drain,


s: And they, who till Celenna's fields, and they


s: Whom Batulum and Rufrae's walls contain,


s: And where through apple-orchards o'er the plain


s: Shines fair Abella. Deftly can they wield


s: Their native arms; the Teuton's lance they strain;


s: Bark helmets guard them, from the cork-tree peeled,


s: And brazen are their swords, and brazen every shield.


s: Comes Ufens, with his AEquians, in array.


s: Rude huntsmen these; in arms the stubborn ground


s: They till, themselves as stubborn. Day by day


s: They snatch fresh plunder, and they live by prey.


s: There, too, brave Umbro, of Marruvian fame,


s: Sent by his king Archippus, joins the fray.


s: The auspicious olive's leaves the sacred priest proclaim.


s: With hand and voice he lulled asleep; his art


s: Their bite could heal, their fury could assuage.


s: Wrought by the griding of the Dardan dart.


s: Nor Massic herbs, nor slumberous charms avail


s: To cure the wound, that rankles in his heart.


s: Ah, hapless! thee Anguitia's bowering vale,


s: Thee Fucinus' clear waves and liquid lakes bewail!


s: Amid Egeria's grove, where rich and mild


s: Stands Dian's altar on the meadowy shore.


s: For when (Fame tells) Hippolytus of yore


s: Was slain, the victim of a stepdame's spite,


s: And, torn by frightened horses, quenched with gore


s: His father's wrath, famed Paeon's herbs of might


s: And Dian's fostering love restored him to the light.


s: Should rise by mortal healing from the grave,


s: And change the nether darkness for the day,


s: And him, whose leechcraft thus availed to save,


s: Hurled with his lightning to the Stygian wave.


s: And fair Egeria nursed him in her grove,


s: Far from the view of men, and wrath of mighty Jove.


s: Unknown, through life in Latin woods he strayed.


s: Thenceforth, in memory of the deed of shame,


s: No horn-hoof'd steeds are suffered to invade


s: Chaste Trivia's temple or her sacred glade,


s: Since, scared by Ocean's monsters, from his car


s: They dashed him by the deep. Yet, undismayed,


s: His son, young Virbius, o'er the plains afar


s: The fleet-horsed chariot drives, and hastens to the war.


s: Turnus himself. His three-plumed helmet bore


s: A dragon fierce, that breathed AEtnean flame.


s: The bloodier waxed the battle, so the more


s: Its fierceness blazed, the louder was its roar.


s: Behold, the heifer on his shield, the sign


s: The virgin watches, and the stream doth shine,


s: Poured from the pictured urn of Inachus divine.


s: Auruncan bands, Sicanians famed of yore,


s: Argives, Rutulians, and Sacranians proud.


s: Their painted shields the brave Labicians bore;


s: From Tibur's glades, from blest Numicia's shore,


s: From Circe's mount, from where great Jove presides


s: O'er Anxur, from Feronia's grove they pour,


s: From Satura's dark pool, where Ufens glides


s: Cold through the deepening vales, and mingles with the tides.


s: Fierce horsemen, each in glittering arms bedight,


s: A warrior-virgin; ne'er her tender hands


s: Had plied the distaff; war was her delight,


s: Her joy to race the whirlwind and to fight.


s: Swift as the breeze, she skimmed the golden grain,


s: Nor bent the tapering wheatstalks in her flight,


s: So swift, the billows of the heaving main


s: Touched not her flying fleet, she scoured the watery plain.


s: With wonder, men and matrons, young and old,


s: And greet the maiden as she moves along.


s: Entranced with greedy rapture, they behold


s: Float o'er her shining shoulders, and her hair


s: Her Lycian quiver, and her pastoral spear


s: Of myrtle, tipt with steel, and her, the maid, how fair!


s: Mustering of Italians, and embassage to Diomedes (1-18). Tiber in


s: Signalled the strife, and bade the war-horns bray,


s: And stirred the mettled steeds, and woke the war,


s: Hearts leaped at once; all Latium swore that day


s: The oath of battle, burning for the fray.


s: Who scorned the Gods, ride foremost. Far away


s: They scour the fields; the shepherd and the swain


s: Rush to the war, and bare of ploughmen lies the plain.


s: His aid, and tell how Teucrians hold the land;


s: AEneas with his gods hath crossed the wave,


s: And claims the throne his vaunted Fates demand.


s: How many a tribe hath joined the Dardan's band,


s: How spreads his fame through Latium. What the foe


s: May purpose next, what conquest he hath planned,


s: Should friendly fortune speed the coming blow,


s: Better than Latium's king AEtolia's lord must know.


s: Of thought, for well he marked the growing fight,


s: This way and that his eager mind divides,


s: Reflects, revolves and ponders on his plight.


s: Smit by the sunbeam or the moon's pale rays,


s: And round the chamber flits the trembling light,


s: And darts aloft, and on the ceiling plays,


s: So many a varying mood his anxious mind displays.


s: All slept, the cattle and the fowls of air.


s: Stretched on a bank, beneath the cold, clear sky,


s: Lay good AEneas, fain at length to share


s: Late slumber, troubled by the war with care.


s: When, 'twixt the poplars, where the fair stream flows,


s: With azure mantle, and with sedge-crowned hair,


s: And, standing by, thus spake, and comforted his woes:


s: Our Troy dost bring, and to an endless date


s: Hath looked for, and Laurentum's fields await,


s: Here, doubt not, are thy homegods, here hath Fate


s: Thy home decreed. Let not war's terrors seem


s: To daunt thee. Heaven is weary of its hate;


s: Its storms are spent. Distrust not, nor esteem


s: These words of idle worth, the coinage of a dream.


s: A huge, white swine, and, clustering around


s: Her teats, are thirty young ones, white as she.


s: There shall thy labour with repose be crown'd,


s: Thy city set. There Alba's walls renowned,


s: When twice ten times hath rolled the circling year,


s: Called Alba Longa, shall Ascanius found.


s: Sure stands the word; and now attend and hear,


s: How best through present straits a prosperous course to steer.


s: From Pallas sprung, with king Evander came,


s: And on the hill-side built a chosen town,


s: Called Pallanteum, from their founder's name.


s: Year after year they ply the war's rude game


s: With Latins. Go, and win them to thy side,


s: Bid them as fellows to thy camp, and frame


s: A league. Myself along the banks will guide,


s: And teach thy labouring oars to mount the opposing tide.


s: Subdue her wrath with supplication. Mine


s: Heaven's favoured stream, whose brimming waves ye see,


s: Borne in full flood these flowery banks between,


s: Chafe the fat soil and cleave the fruitful lea,


s: Blue Tiber. Here my dwelling shall be seen,


s: Fairest of lofty towns, the world's majestic queen."


s: And sought the deep. Slumber at once and night


s: And eastward gazing at the dawning light,


s: Scooped up the stream, obedient to the rite,


s: And prayed, "O nymphs, Laurentian nymphs, whence spring


s: All rivers; father Tiber, blest and bright,


s: Peace to his toil-worn heart, and shield the Dardan king.


s: The soil, from whence thou leapest to the day


s: In loveliness, these grateful hands shall bear


s: Due gifts, these lips shall hallow thee for aye,


s: Horned river, whom Hesperian streams obey,


s: Whose pity cheers; be with us, I entreat,


s: Confirm thy purpose, and thy power display."


s: He spake, and chose two biremes from the fleet,


s: Equipped with oars, and rigged with crews and arms complete.


s: Stretched at full length along the bank, they view


s: The fateful swine, conspicuous on the green,


s: White, with her litter of the self-same hue.


s: To Juno, mightiest of all powers divine,


s: Yea, e'en to thee, dread Juno, caught and slew,


s: And lit the altars and outpoured the wine,


s: And left the dam and brood together at the shrine.


s: And with hushed wave, recoiling from the main,


s: Calm as some pool or quiet lake, he stood


s: And smoothed his waters like a liquid plain,


s: That not an oar should either strive or strain.


s: Thus on they go; smooth glides the bark of pine,


s: Borne with glad shouts; and ever and again


s: The woods and waters wonder, as the line


s: Of painted keels goes by, with arms of glittering shine.


s: Up the long reaches, through the groves, that lie


s: With green trees shadowing the tranquil mere.


s: Now flamed the sun in the meridian high,


s: And scattered roofs. Where now the power of Rome


s: Hath made her stately structures mate the sky,


s: Then poor and lowly stood Evander's home.


s: Thither their prows are turned, and to the town they come.


s: Before the town, a solemn feast had planned


s: His son, young Pallas, and a youthful band,


s: Each offering incense, and the warm, fresh blood


s: Still smokes upon the shrines, when, hard at hand,


s: They see the tall ships, through the shadowy wood,


s: Glide up with silent oars along the sacred flood.


s: And quit the board. But Pallas, bold of cheer,


s: Bids them not break the worship. Forth he flies


s: To meet the strangers, as their ships appear,


s: His right hand brandishing a glittering spear.


s: "Gallants," he hails them from a mound afar,


s: "What drove you hither by strange ways to steer?


s: Say whither wending? who and what ye are?


s: Your kin, and where your home? And bring ye peace or war?"


s: A branch of olive, and bespake him fair:


s: "Troy's sons ye see, by Latin pride expelled.


s: 'Gainst Latin enemies these arms we bear.


s: Choice Dardan chiefs his friendship come to claim.


s: His aid we ask for, and his arms would share."


s: He ceased, and wonder and amazement came


s: On Pallas, struck with awe to hear the mighty name.


s: "Step forth, and to my father tell thy quest,


s: And take the welcome that true hearts provide."


s: Forth as he leaped, the Dardan's hand he pressed,


s: And, pressing, held it, and embraced his guest.


s: So from the river through the grove they fare,


s: And reach the place, where, feasting with the rest,


s: They find Evander. Him with speeches fair


s: AEneas hails, and hastes his errand to declare.


s: Hath Fortune willed me to entreat; yet so


s: I shunned thee not, albeit Arcadian thou,


s: A Danaan leader, in whose veins doth flow


s: The blood of Atreus, and my country's foe.


s: My conscious worth, our ties of ancestry,


s: Thy fame, which rumour through the world doth blow,


s: And Heaven's own oracles, by Fate's decree,


s: My willing steps have led, and link my heart, to thee.


s: Child of Electra, so the Greeks declare.


s: Whose shoulders still the starry skies upbear.


s: And Maia's sire, if aught of truth we hear,


s: Was Atlas, he who doth the spheres uphold.


s: Thus from a single stock the double stems unfold.


s: No arts employed, thy purpose to explore.


s: And stand a humble suppliant at thy door.


s: Thy foes are ours, the Daunian race, and sore


s: They grind us. If they drive us hence, they say,


s: Their conquering arms shall stretch from shore to shore.


s: Plight we our troth; strong arms are ours to-day,


s: Stout hearts, and manhood proved in many a hard essay."


s: His face and eyes, and scanned through and through,


s: Then spake: "O bravest of the sons of Troy!


s: What joy to greet thee; thine the voice, the hue,


s: The face of great Anchises, whom I knew.


s: His sister's realms, Hesione's, and passed


s: To far Arcadia, chilled with many a Northern blast.


s: With wondering awe I viewed the Trojan train,


s: And gazed at Priam. But Anchises stepped


s: To greet the hero, and his hand to strain.


s: I ventured, and to Pheneus brought my guest.


s: All golden--Pallas holds them,--and a vest


s: And scarf of broidered gold his parting thanks expressed.


s: The plighted pact; and when to-morrow's ray


s: Shall chase the shadows, and the dawn shall shine,


s: Aid will I give you, and due stores purvey,


s: And send you hence rejoicing on your way.


s: Meanwhile, since Heaven forbids us to postpone


s: These yearly rites, and we are friends, be gay


s: And share with us the banquet. Sit ye down,--


s: Behold, the boards are spread,--and make the feast your own."


s: The food and wine. The chiefs, in order meet,


s: Along the grass he ranges, and their king


s: Leads to his throne; of maple was the seat;


s: A lion's hide lay bristling at his feet.


s: Youths and the altar's minister bring wine,


s: And heap the bread, and serve the roasted meat.


s: On lustral entrails and the bull's whole chine,


s: Couched round the Trojan king, the Trojan warriors dine.


s: Thus spake Evander: "Lo, this solemn show,


s: This sacred altar, and this ordered feast,


s: No idle witchwork are they. Well we know


s: The ancient gods. Saved from a fearful foe,


s: Each year the deed we celebrate. See there


s: Yon nodding crag; behold the rocks below,


s: Scooped from the mountain's side, how wild the waste and bare!


s: Wherein the monster Cacus dwelt of yore,


s: Half-human. Never sunlight pierced the gloom;


s: But day by day the rank earth reeked with gore,


s: Hung, foul and ghastly. From the loins he came


s: Spewed forth a torrent of Vulcanian flame;


s: Proudly he stalked the earth, and shook the world's fair frame.


s: Brought aid,--a God to help us in our need.


s: Flushed with the death of Geryon, came this way


s: And hither drove his mighty bulls to feed.


s: These, pasturing in the valley, from his lair


s: Fierce Cacus saw, and, scorning in his greed


s: To leave undone what crime or craft could dare,


s: Four beauteous heifers stole, four oxen sleek and fair.


s: Back by their tails he dragged the captured kine,


s: With hoofs reversed, and shut them in his lair,


s: And whoso sought the cavern found no sign.


s: But when at last Amphitryon's son divine,


s: Called from their pastures, and in long-drawn line,


s: With plaintive lowing, the departing drove


s: Trooped from the echoing hills, and clamours filled the grove,


s: Lowed back, in answer to the sound, and broke


s: The hopes of Cacus, and his theft was plain.


s: Grasping his arms and club of knotted oak,


s: Straight to the sky-capt Aventine he hies,


s: And scales the steep. Then, not till then, our folk


s: Saw Cacus tremble. To the cave he flies,


s: Wing'd like the wind with fear, and terror in his eyes.


s: Slung high in iron by his father's care,


s: And with the barrier blocked the door; when lo,


s: With heart aflame, great Hercules was there,


s: And searched each way for access to his lair,


s: Grinding his teeth. Thrice round the mount he threw


s: His vengeful eyes, thrice strove from earth to tear


s: The stone, and storm the threshold, thrice withdrew,


s: And in the vale sat down, and nursed his wrath anew.


s: A crag, fit home for evil birds to light.


s: This, where it frowned to leftward o'er the flood,


s: Alcides shook, and, heaving from the right,


s: Tore from its roots, and headlong down the height


s: Impelled it. With the impulse and the fall


s: Heaven thunders; back the river in affright


s: Shrinks to its source. Bank leaps from bank, and all


s: The mountain, yawning, shows the monster's cave and hall.


s: Lie open to their inmost; e'en as though


s: Earth, rent asunder with convulsive wrack,


s: And opening to the centre, gaped to show


s: Hell's regions, and the gloomy realms of woe,


s: Abhorr'd of gods, and bare to mortals lay


s: The pallid spectres, huddling in dismay,


s: Looked up with dazzled eyes, at influx of the day.


s: With uncouth bellowing, to elude the light.


s: With darts Alcides plies him from above,


s: Huge trunks and millstones seizing for the fight,


s: Hard pressed at length, and desperate for flight,


s: Black smoke he vomits, wondrous to be told,


s: That shrouds the cavern, and obscures the sight,


s: And, denser than the night, around his hold


s: Thick darkness, mixt with fire, and smothering fumes are rolled.


s: And through the fire, indignant, with a bound


s: He dashes, where thickest rolled the cloud of smoke,


s: And in black vapours all the cave was drowned.


s: Here, vomiting his idle flames, he found


s: Huge Cacus in the darkness. Like a thread


s: He twists him--chokes him--pins him to the ground,


s: The strangled eyeballs starting from his head;


s: Blood leaves the blackened throat, the giant form lies dead.


s: The gloomy den stands open, and the prey,


s: The stolen oxen, and the spoils forsworn,


s: Are bared to heaven, and by the heels straightway


s: All, thronging round, with hungry gaze admire


s: They mark the eyes, late terrible with ire,


s: The face, the bristly breast, the jaw's extinguished fire.


s: Preserve the praise of Hercules; and here


s: This altar named 'the Greatest' did they rear.


s: (Greatest 'twill be for ever). Come then, all,


s: And give such worth due honour. Wreathe your hair,


s: And pass the wine-bowl merrily, and call


s: Each on our common God, the guardian of us all."


s: Hung, twining o'er his brows. His right hand bore


s: The sacred bowl. All, gladdening, hail the rite,


s: 'Twas evening, and the Western star once more


s: Sloped towards Olympus. Forth Potitius came,


s: Leading the priests, girt roughly, as of yore,


s: With skins of beasts, and bearing high the flame.


s: Fresh, dainty gifts they bring, the second course to frame.


s: Around the blazing altars. Poplar crowned


s: Their brows; a double chorus, old and young,


s: Chant forth the glories and the deeds renowned


s: His stepdame's hate, he crushed the serpents twain;


s: What towns in war he levelled to the ground,


s: Troy and OEchalia; how with infinite pain


s: Eurystheus' tasks he sped, and Juno's fates were vain:


s: Smote the twin giants of the cloud-born crew,


s: Freed from its monster; and in Nemea slew


s: The lion! Styx hath trembled at thy view,


s: And Cerberus, when, smeared with gore, he lay


s: On bones half-mumbled in his darksome mew.


s: He towered erect, could daunt, nor grisly shapes dismay.


s: XL. "Prompt was thy wit, when, powerless to prevail,


s: Around thee twined, the beast of Lerna's fen


s: Hissed with the legion of its heads. O hail,


s: True son of Jove, the praise of mortal men,


s: And Heaven's new glory. Hither turn thy ken,


s: And cheer thy votaries." So with heart and will


s: They chant his praise, nor less the monster's den,


s: And Cacus, breathing flames. The loud notes fill


s: The sacred grove around, and echo to the hill.


s: XLI. The rites thus ended, to the town they fare.


s: In front, the good Evander, old and grey,


s: Moves 'twixt AEneas and his youthful heir,


s: And oft with various converse, as they stray,


s: Beguiles the lightened labour of the way.


s: Now this, now that the Trojan chief admires,


s: Filled with new pleasure, as his eyes survey


s: Each place in turn. Oft, gladly he enquires


s: The tokens, one by one, and tales of ancient sires.


s: XLII. Then he, who built the citadel of Rome,


s: Spake thus--the good Evander: "Yonder view


s: The forest; 'twas the Fauns' and Wood-nymphs' home.


s: Their birth from trunks and rugged oaks they drew;


s: No arts they had, nor settled life, nor knew


s: To yoke the ox, or lay up stores, or spare


s: What wealth they gathered; but their wants were few;


s: The branches gave them sustenance, whate'er


s: In toilsome chase they won, composed their scanty fare.


s: XLIII. "Then first came Saturn from Olympus' height,


s: Flying from Jove, his kingdom barred and banned,


s: He taught the scattered hillsmen to unite,


s: And gave them laws, and bade the name to stand


s: Then tranquilly the happy seasons rolled


s: Year after year, and Peace, with plenteous hand,


s: Smiled on his sceptre. 'Twas the Age of Gold,


s: So well his placid sway the willing folk controlled.


s: XLIV. "Then waxed the times degenerate, and the stain


s: With stealthy growth gave birth to deeds of shame,


s: The rage of battle, and the lust of gain.


s: Then came Ausonians, then Sicanians came,


s: And oft the land of Saturn changed its name.


s: Strange tyrants came, and ruled Italia's shore,


s: Grim-visaged Thybris, of gigantic frame;


s: His name henceforth the river Tiber bore,


s: And Albula's old name was known, alas! no more.


s: XLV. "Me, from my country driven forth to roam


s: The utmost deep, perforce the Fates' design


s: And Fortune's power drove hitherward. This home


s: My mother, Nymph Carmentis, warned was mine;


s: A god, Apollo, did these shores assign."


s: So saying, he shows the altar and the gate


s: Long called Carmental, from the Nymph divine,


s: First seer who sang, with faithful voice, how great


s: AEneas' race should rise, and Pallanteum's fate.


s: XLVI. He shows the grove of Romulus, his famed


s: Asylum; then, beneath the rock's cold crest


s: Lupercal's cave, from Pan Lycaean named;


s: Then, Argiletum's grove, whose shades attest


s: The death of Argus, once the monarch's guest;


s: Of tangled brakes, yet hallowed was the site


s: E'en then, and wood and rock filled the rude hinds with fright.


s: XLVII. "These wooded steeps," he said, "this sacred grove


s: What godhead haunts, we know not; legends say


s: Arcadians here have seen the form of Jove,


s: And seen his right hand, with resistless sway,


s: Shake the dread AEgis, and the clouds array.


s: See, yon two cities, once renowned by fame,


s: Now ruined walls and crumbling to decay;


s: This Janus built, those walls did Saturn frame;


s: Janiculum was this, that bore Saturnia's name."


s: XLVIII. So talking, to Evander's lowly seat


s: They journeyed. Herds were lowing on the plain,


s: Where stand the Forum and Carinae's street.


s: "These gates," said he, "did great Alcides deign


s: To pass; this palace did the god contain.


s: Dare thou to quit thee like the god, nor dread


s: To scorn mere wealth, nor humble cheer disdain."


s: So saying, AEneas through the door he led,


s: And skins of Libyan bears on garnered leaves outspread.


s: XLIX. Night, with dark wings descending, wrapt the world,


s: When Venus, harassed, nor in vain, with fear,


s: To Vulcan, on his golden couch, drew near,


s: Breathing immortal passion: "Husband dear,


s: With fire and sword were ravaging, or ere


s: Her towers had fallen, I sought not to employ


s: Arms, arts or aid of thine, their purpose to destroy.


s: L.  "Ne'er taxed I then thy labours, dearest love,


s: Large as my debt to Priam's sons, and sore


s: My grief for poor AEneas. Now, since Jove


s: Hath brought him here to the Rutulian shore,


s: A mother for her son. Dread power divine,


s: Whom Thetis, whom Tithonus' spouse of yore


s: Could move with tears, behold, what hosts combine,


s: What towns, with barr'd gates, arm to ruin me and mine."


s: LI. She spake, and both her snowy arms outflung


s: Around him doubting, and embraced the Sire,


s: And, softly fondling, kissed him as she clung.


s: Through bones and veins her melting charms inspire


s: The well-known heat, and reawake desire.


s: So, riven by the thunder, through the pile


s: Of storm-clouds runs the glittering cleft of fire.


s: Proud of her beauty, with a conscious smile,


s: The Goddess feels her power, and gladdens at the guile.


s: LII. Then Vulcan, mastered by immortal love,


s: Answers his spouse, "Why, Goddess mine, invent


s: Such far-fetched pleas? Dost thou thy faith remove,


s: And cease to trust in Vulcan? Had thy bent


s: So moved thee then, arms quickly had I lent


s: To aid thy Trojans, and thy wish were gained,


s: Had crossed my purpose; then had Troy remained,


s: And Priam ten years more the kingly line sustained.


s: LIII. "E'en now, if war thou seekest to prepare,


s: And thither tends thy purpose, be it sped.


s: Whate'er my craft can promise, whatso'er


s: Fanned with the blast, or molten in the bed,


s: Thine be it all; forbear a suppliant's quest,


s: Nor wrong thy beauty's potency." He said,


s: And gave the love she longed for; on her breast


s: Outpoured at length he slept, and loosed his limbs with rest.


s: LIV. 'Twas midnight; sleep had faded from its prime,


s: The hour, when housewives, who a scanty fare


s: Eke out with loom and distaff, rise in time


s: To wake the embers, and the night outwear;


s: Then call their handmaids, by the light to share


s: The task, that keeps the husband's bed from shame,


s: And earns a pittance for the babes. So there,


s: Springs from his couch of down, the workmen's task to frame.


s: With smoking rocks. There AEtna's caverns roar,


s: Hewn by the Cyclop's forges from the steep.


s: There the steel hisses and the sparks upleap,


s: And clanging anvils, smit with dexterous aim,


s: Groan through the cavern, as their strokes they heap,


s: And restless in the furnace pants the flame.


s: 'Twas Vulcan's house, the land even yet bears Vulcan's name.


s: LVI. Down to this cavern came the Lord of Flame,


s: Brontes and Steropes. Their hands still frame


s: Tipt with twelve barbs and never known to fail.


s: Part still remain unwrought; three rays they wove


s: Of ruddy fire, three of the Southern gale,


s: Three of the watery cloud, and three of twisted hail.


s: LVII. They blend the frightful flashes and the peals,


s: Sound, fear, and fury with the flames behind.


s: These forge the War-Gods' chariot and swift wheels,


s: Which stir up cities, and arouse mankind.


s: Here, burnished bright for wrathful Pallas, shined,


s: With serpent scales, and golden links firm bound,


s: Her dreadful AEgis, and the snakes entwined;


s: And on her breast, with severed neck, still frowned


s: Medusa's head, and rolled her dying eyes around.


s: LVIII. "Cease now," said Vulcan, "and these toils forbear,


s: Cyclops of AEtna; hither turn your heed.


s: Now use your strength and nimble hands; ye need


s: A master's cunning; to your tasks with speed."


s: He spake; each quickly at the word once more


s: Falls to his labour, as the lots decreed.


s: Now flows the copper, now the golden ore;


s: Now melts the deadly steel; the flames resume their roar.


s: LIX. A mighty shield they fashion, fit to meet


s: Singly all arms of Latium. Layer on layer,


s: Seven folds in circles on its face they beat.


s: These from the windy bellows force the air,


s: These hissing copper for the forge prepare,


s: Dipt in the trough. The cavern floor below


s: Groans with the anvils and the strokes they bear,


s: As strong arms timed heap measured blow on blow,


s: And, turned with griping tongs, the molten mass doth glow.


s: LX. While on AEolia's coast the Lemnian sire


s: Wrought thus, the fair Dawn, mantling in the skies,


s: Of birds beneath the eaves invites to rise.


s: Links to his side. A panther's skin supplies


s: His scarf, hung leftward, and his watchful ward,


s: Two dogs, the threshold leave, and 'company their lord.


s: LXI. So to the chamber of his Dardan guest


s: Full early hastens pondering in his breast


s: The tale he listened to, the words he spake.


s: Goes forth. Achates at his side attends,


s: His son, young Pallas, doth Evander take.


s: So meeting, each a willing hand extends,


s: And host and guest sit down, and frankly talk as friends.


s: LXII. First spake the King: "Great Chief of Trojan fame,


s: Who living, ne'er the Trojan state is lost.


s: Small is our strength for war, though great our name.


s: Here Tiber bounds us, there Rutulians boast


s: To rend our walls, and thunder with their host.


s: But mighty tribes and wealthy realms shall band


s: Their arms with mine. Chance, where unlooked-for most,


s: Points to this succour. By the Fate's command


s: Thou comest; thee the gods have guided to our land.


s: LXIII. "Not far from here, upon an aged rock,


s: There stands a town, Agylla is its name,


s: Where on Etruscan ridges dwells the stock


s: Long years it flourished, till Mezentius came


s: And ruled it fiercely, with a tyrant's sway.


s: Ah me! why tell the nameless deeds of shame,


s: The savage murders wrought from day to day?


s: May Heaven on him and his those cruelties repay!


s: LXIV. "Nay more, he joined the living to the dead,


s: Hand linked to hand in torment, face to face.


s: The rank flesh mouldered, and the limbs still bled,


s: Till death, O misery, with lingering pace,


s: Loosed the foul union and the long embrace.


s: Worn out at last with all his crimes abhorred,


s: The armed Agyllans. On his roof they poured


s: The firebrands, seized his guards and slew them with the sword.


s: LXV. "He safely through the carnage slunk away


s: To fields Rutulian, where with sheltering hand


s: Great Turnus shields the tyrant. So to-day,


s: Stirred with just fury, all Etruria's land


s: Springs to the war, prompt vengeance to demand.


s: Thine be these all, for thousands can I boast,


s: Mark now their shouts; already roars the host,


s: 'Arm, bring the banners forth'; their vessels crowd the coast.


s: LXVI. "An aged seer thus warns them to refrain,


s: Expounding Fate: 'Choice youths, the flower and show


s: Whom just resentment arms against the foe,


s: Whose souls with hatred of Mezentius glow,


s: Seek ye a foreign captain."' Awed, they heed


s: The warning words divine, and camp upon the mead.


s: LXVII. "Lo, Tarchon sends ambassadors; they bring


s: The crown, and sceptre, and the signs of state,


s: And bid me join the Tuscans as their king.


s: But frosty years have dulled me; life is late,


s: And envious Age forbids an Empire's weight.


s: His mother born a Sabine. Thee hath Fate


s: Endowed with years and proper birth; for thee


s: The Gods this throne have willed, and, what they will, decree.


s: LXVIII. "Advance, brave Chief of Italy and Troy!


s: Advance; young Pallas at thy side shall fare,


s: My hope, my solace, and my heart's best joy.


s: With thee to teach him, he shall learn to share


s: The war's grim work, the warrior's toil to bear;


s: From earliest youth to marvel at thy deeds,


s: And try to match them. Horsemen shall be there,


s: Ten score, the choicest that Arcadia breeds;


s: Two hundred more, his own, the gallant stripling leads."


s: LXIX. He spake: AEneas and Achates stood


s: With down-fixt eyes, musing the strange event.


s: Dark thoughts were theirs, and sorrowful their mood;


s: A flash of lightning swift from ether sprang


s: With arms, and loudly pealed the Tuscan trumpet's clang.


s: LXX. Upward they look: again and yet again


s: Comes the loud crash of thunder, and between


s: A cloud that frets the firmamental plain,


s: With bright, red flash amid the sky serene,


s: Long-promised. "Ask not," he exclaims, "what mean


s: These prodigies and portents; they are mine.


s: Me great Olympus calls; I hear the voice divine.


s: LXXI. "This sign my Goddess-mother vowed to send,


s: If war should threaten; thus in armed array


s: From heaven with aid she promised to descend.


s: Ah, woe for thee, Laurentum, soon the prey


s: Of foeman! What a reckoning shalt thou pay


s: Helmets, and shields and bodies of the brave!


s: Ay, let them break the league, and bid the War-god rave."


s: LXXII. He spake, and, rising from his seat, renews


s: The slumbering fires of Hercules, and tends


s: The hearth-god's shrine of yesterday. Choice ewes


s: They slay--Evander and his Trojan friends.


s: Then to his comrades and the shore he wends,


s: Arrays the crews, and takes the bravest there


s: To follow him in fight. The rest he sends


s: To young Ascanius down the stream, to bear


s: News of his absent sire, and how the cause doth fare.


s: LXXIII. With steeds, to aid the Tuscans, they provide


s: All glittering with gilded claws, bespread.


s: Now rumour through the little town hath sped,


s: Of horsemen for the Tuscan king, with spear


s: And shield for battle. Mothers, pale with dread,


s: Heap vows on vows. The War-god, drawing near,


s: Looms larger, and more close to danger draws the fear.


s: LXXIV. Then cries Evander, clinging, and with tears


s: "Ah! would but Jove bring back the bygone years,


s: I strowed the van, and laid their mightiest low,


s: And burned their shields, and with this hand to Hell


s: Hurled down King Erulus, the monstrous foe,


s: Three lives had given, and thrice to battle ere he fell.


s: LXXV. "Twice up he rose, but thrice I slew the slain,


s: Thrice of his life I robbed him, till he died,


s: Thrice stripped his arms. O, were I such again,


s: Danger, nor death, nor aught of ill beside,


s: Sweet son, should ever tear me from thy side.


s: Ne'er had Mezentius then, the neighbouring lord,


s: Dared thus to flout me, nor this arm defied.


s: Nor wrought such havoc and such crimes abhorred,


s: Nor made a weeping town thus widowed by the sword.


s: LXXVI. "O Gods, and thou, who rulest earth and air,


s: Great Jove, their mightiest, pity, I implore,


s: Arcadia's King, and hear a father's prayer.


s: If Fate this happiness reserve in store,


s: Then let me live; how hard soe'er and sore


s: My trials, gladly will I count them gain.


s: Sweet will the suffering seem, and light the load of pain.


s: LXXVII. "But O, if Fortune, with malignant spite,


s: Some blow past utterance for my life prepare,


s: Now, now this moment rid me of the light,


s: While fears are vague, nor hoping breeds despair,


s: While, dearest boy, my late and only care,


s: Thus--thus I fold thee in my arms to-day.


s: Nor wound with news too sorrowful to bear


s: A father's ears!" He spake, and swooned away;


s: Back to his home the slaves their fainting lord convey.


s: LXXVIII. Forth troop the horsemen from the gates. First ride


s: Troy's nobles, led by Pallas, in the pride


s: Of broidered scarf and figured arms, appear.


s: Beyond all planets and each starry beam,


s: High up in heaven his sacred head doth rear,


s: Bathed in the freshness of the Ocean stream,


s: And melts the dark, so fair the gallant youth doth seem.


s: LXXIX. The matrons stand upon the walls, distraught,


s: And mark the dust-cloud and the mail-clad train.


s: These through the brushwood, where the road lies short,


s: Move on in arms. The war-shout peals again,


s: The hard hoofs clattering shake the crumbling plain.


s: And now, where, cold with crystal waves, is found


s: Fair Caere's stream, a spreading grove they gain.


s: Ages have spread its sanctity, and, crowned


s: With pine-woods dark as night, the hollow hills stand round.


s: LXXX. This grove, 'tis said, the tribes Pelasgian--they,


s: Who first in Latin marches dwelt of old--


s: Vowed to the guardian of the field and fold.


s: Hard by, brave Tarchon and his Tuscans bold


s: Lay camped. His legions, stretching o'er the meads,


s: The Trojans from a rising ground behold.


s: AEneas here his toil-worn warriors leads;


s: Food for themselves they bring, and forage for their steeds.


s: LXXXI. Meanwhile fair Venus through the clouds came down,


s: Bearing her gifts. Couched in a secret glade,


s: And hails him: "See the promised gifts displayed,


s: Wrought by my husband's cunning for thine aid.


s: Thy prowess now let proud Laurentum taste,


s: Nor fear with Turnus to contend." So said


s: Cythera's goddess, and her child embraced,


s: And on an oak in front the radiant arms she placed.


s: LXXXII. Joy fills AEneas; with insatiate gaze


s: He views the gifts, and marvels at the sight.


s: The helmet tall with fiery crest bedight,


s: The fateful sword, the breastplate's brazen might,


s: Blood-red, and huge, and glorious to behold


s: As some dark cloud, far-blazing with the light


s: Of sunset; then the polished greaves of gold,


s: The spear, the mystic shield, too wondrous to be told.


s: LXXXIII. There did the Fire-king, who the future cons,


s: Rome's triumphs, and Ascanius' distant sons,


s: Their wars in order, and each hard-fought fray.


s: There, in the cave of Mars all verdurous, lay


s: The fostering she-wolf with the twins; they hung


s: About her teats, and licked in careless play


s: Their mother. She, with slim neck backward flung,


s: In turn caressed them both, and shaped them with her tongue.


s: LXXXIV. There, later Rome, and there, the Sabine dames


s: Raped by the Romans at the Circus games;


s: The sudden war, that from the deed ensued,


s: There stand the kings, still armed, but foes no more,


s: Beside Jove's altar, and abjure the feud.


s: Goblet in hand, the sacred wine they pour,


s: And o'er the slaughtered swine the plighted peace restore.


s: LXXXV. Next, Mettus, by the four-horsed chariot torn.


s: ('Twere better, perjured Alban, to be true!)


s: Fierce Tullus dragged the traitor's limbs in scorn


s: Through brambles, dripping with the crimson dew.


s: His 'leaguering host. But freedom fired the blood


s: How Cocles on the battered bridge withstood,


s: And Cloelia burst her bonds, and singly stemmed the flood.


s: LXXXVI. Next, Manlius guards the Capitol; see here


s: The straw-thatched palace. Silvered in the gold,


s: The fluttering goose proclaims the Gauls are near.


s: They, screened by darkness, thread the woods, and hold


s: With arms the slumbering citadel. Behold


s: Their beards all golden, and their golden hair,


s: Their white necks gleaming with the twisted gold,


s: Their chequered plaids. Each hand an Alpine spear


s: Waves, and an oblong shield their stalwart arms upbear.


s: LXXXVII. There danced the Salians, the Luperci reeled


s: Half-naked. See them sculptured in array,


s: With caps wool-tufted, and the sky-dropt shield.


s: Chaste dames, in cushioned chariots, lead the way


s: Through the glad city. Elsewhere, far away,


s: Loom Dis and Tartarus, where the guilty pine,


s: Hangs, shuddering at the Furies. Distant shine


s: The just, where Cato stands, dealing the law divine.


s: LXXXVIII. The swelling ocean in the midst is seen,


s: All golden, but the billow's hoary spray


s: Foams o'er the blue. Dolphins of silvery sheen


s: Lash the white eddies with their tails in play,


s: The brazen fleets, all panoplied for war,


s: 'Tis Actium's fight; Leucate's headland grey


s: Boils with the tumult of the distant jar,


s: And golden glow the waves, effulgent from afar.


s: LXXXIX. Augustus his Italians leads from home,


s: High on the stern. The Senators stand round,


s: The people, and the guardian gods of Rome.


s: With double flame his joyous brows are crowned;


s: Beams o'er his head. There too, his ships in line,


s: With winds and gods to prosper him, is found


s: The crown of golden beaks, the battle's glorious sign.


s: See now the fight; prows churn and oar-blades lash


s: The foam. 'Twould seem the Cyclads swim the tide,


s: Torn from his moorings, or the mountains clash,


s: So huge the tower-crowned ships, so terrible the crash.


s: Of Neptune redden. There the queen stands by,


s: And sounds the timbrel for the fray, nor sees


s: The asps behind. All monsters of the sky


s: The combatants; the Furies frown on high.


s: With mantle rent, glad Discord joins the throng;


s: Behind, with bloody scourge, Bellona stalks along.


s: And India turned in terror. There, the queen


s: Calls to the winds; behold, the sails are spread.


s: Her, pale with thoughts of dying, through the dead


s: The waves and zephyrs--so the gold expressed--


s: Bear onward. Yonder, to his sheltering bed


s: Nile, sorrowing, calls the fugitives to rest,


s: Unfolds his winding robes, and bares his azure breast.


s: Three hundred temples, each a stately fane.


s: Behold his triple triumph. Shouts and games


s: Gladden the streets; glad matrons chant the strain


s: At every altar, and the steers are slain.


s: He takes the offerings, and reviews the throng,


s: Diverse in arms and garb, and each of different tongue.


s: Last, proud Araxes, whom no bridge could bind,


s: Euphrates humbled, and the horned Rhine.


s: All this, by Vulcan on the shield designed,


s: He sees, and, gladdening at the gift divine,


s: Upbears aloft the fame and fortunes of his line.


s: harangues his men and beleaguers the camp (145-198). Nisus and


s: Euryalus (514-576). The allies assault the camp. Virgil invokes


s: Mnestheus and Serestus. Turnus plunges into the river and with


s: difficulty escapes by swimming (883-927).


s: Down to the daring Turnus from the skies


s: Comes Iris, sent by the Saturnian queen.


s: Him seated in a hallowed vale, where lies


s: His father's grove, Pilumnus', she espies.


s: There straight with rosy lips the daughter fair


s: Of Thaumas hails the hero: "Turnus, rise.


s: Behold what none of all the Gods would dare


s: To promise, rolling Time hath proffered without prayer.


s: Nay, the far towns of Corythus hath sought,


s: And arms the Lydian swains to meet the fray!


s: Now call for steel and chariot. Why delay?


s: Surprise the camp and capture it."--She said,


s: And straight on balanced pinions soared away,


s: Cleaving the bow. The warrior marked, and spread


s: His hands, and thus with prayer pursued her as she fled:


s: Thee hither? whence this sudden light so clear?


s: And planets wandering in the polar sphere.


s: Blest omens, hail! I follow thee, whoe'er


s: Thou art, that call'st to battle." He arose


s: With joy, and stepping to the streamlet near,


s: Scoops up the water in his palms, and bows


s: In suppliance to the Gods, and burdens Heaven with vows.


s: Well-horsed, and panoplied in golden gear,


s: With broidered raiment. Brave Messapus leads


s: The van, the sons of Tyrrheus close the rear,


s: And Turnus in mid column shakes his spear.


s: Slow moves the host, as when his seven-fold head


s: Great Ganges lifts in silence, calm and clear,


s: Or Nile, whose flood the fruitful soil hath fed,


s: Ebbs from the fattened fields, and hides him in his bed.


s: The gathering dust-cloud on the plains appear.


s: "What dark mass, rolling towards us, have we here?


s: Arm, townsmen, arm! Bring quick the sword and spear,


s: And mount the battlements, and man the wall.


s: The foemen, ho!" And with a mighty cheer


s: The Teucrians, hurrying at the warning call,


s: Pour in through all the gates, and muster on the wall.


s: Should chance surprise them, with their chief away,


s: To shun the field, nor battle hand to hand,


s: But safe behind their sheltering earthworks stay,


s: And, guarding wall and rampart, stand at bay.


s: So now, though passion and indignant hate


s: Prompt to engage, his mandate they obey,


s: And bar each inlet, and secure each gate,


s: And, armed, in sheltering towers their enemies await.


s: To lag behind, and near the town-gate drew


s: All unforeseen. A Thracian steed he pressed,


s: Dappled with white; a crest of scarlet hue


s: High o'er his golden helmet flamed in view.


s: Loudly he shrills in anger to his train,


s: "Who first with me will at the foemen--who?


s: See there!" and, rising hurls his spear amain,


s: Sign of the fight begun, and pricks along the plain.


s: And clamouring fiercely follow in his train.


s: They marvel at the Teucrian hearts so slack,


s: That none will dare to trust the open plain,


s: And fight like men, but in the camp remain,


s: And safe behind their sheltering rampart stay.


s: Now here, now there, fierce Turnus in disdain


s: Rides round the walls, and, searching for a way,


s: Where way is none, still strives an entrance to essay.


s: With winds, at midnight howls amid the rain.


s: The lambs beneath their mothers safely bleat.


s: He, mad with rage, and faint with famine's pain,


s: Thirsts for their blood, and ramps at them in vain;


s: So raves fierce Turnus, as his eyes survey


s: The walls and camp. Grief burns in every vein,


s: To shake the Teucrians out, and strew them forth to slay.


s: Fenced by the river and the mounded sand,


s: He marks, then loudly to the burning cries,


s: And with a flaming pinestock fills his hand,


s: Himself aflame. His presence cheers the band.


s: All set to work, and strip the watchfires bare:


s: Each warrior arms him with a murky brand:


s: The smoking torch shoots up a pitchy glare,


s: And clouds of mingled soot the Fire-god flings in air.


s: Old is its faith, but deathless is its fame.


s: 'Neath Phrygian Ida, through the seas to fare,


s: Spake thus, 'tis said, urging a suppliant's prayer:


s: Grant what thy mother asks, who made Olympus thine.


s: Darksome with maple and the swart pitch-pine.


s: This wood, these trees, my ever-dear delight,


s: Gladly I gave to speed the Dardan's flight.


s: But doubts and fears my troubled mind assail.


s: O calm them; may a parent's prayer have might,


s: And this their birth upon our hills avail


s: To guide their voyage safe, and shield them from the gale."


s: "Mother, what would'st thou of the Fates demand?


s: What art thou seeking for these Teucrians here?


s: Shall vessels, fashioned by a mortal hand,


s: And shall AEneas sail the uncertain main,


s: Himself of safety certain, and his band?


s: Nay, rather, when at length, Ausonian ports they gain,


s: What ships soe'er shall have escaped, to bear


s: The Dardan chief to the Laurentian shore,


s: Shall lose their perishable form, and wear


s: The sea-nymphs' shape, like Galatea fair


s: And Doto, when they breast the deep." He spake,


s: And by his brother's Stygian river sware,


s: Whose pitchy torrent swells the infernal lake,


s: And with his awful nod made all Olympus shake.


s: When Turnus' insults bade the Mother rise


s: And ward the firebrands from her sacred fleet.


s: A sudden light now flashed upon their eyes,


s: A cloud from eastward ran athwart the skies,


s: With choirs of Ida, and a voice through air


s: Pealed forth, and filled both armies with surprise,


s: "Trojans, be calm; your needless pains forbear,


s: Nor arm to save these ships; their safety is my care.


s: Than these my pines. Go, sea-nymphs, and be free,


s: Your mother bids you." Each at once obeys,


s: Their cables snapt, like dolphins in their glee,


s: They dip their beaks, and dive beneath the sea.


s: Hence, where before along the shore had stood


s: The brazen poops--O marvellous to see!--


s: Rise up, and reappear, and float upon the flood.


s: Messapus quails, and Tiber checks his tide,


s: And, hoarsely murmuring, from the deep recedes.


s: Yet fails not Turnus, prompt to cheer or chide.


s: "To Teucrians point these prodigies," he cried,


s: "They bide not, they, Rutulian sword and brand.


s: E'en Jove their wonted succour hath denied.


s: Barred is the sea, and half the world is banned;


s: Earth, too, is ours, such hosts Italia's chiefs command.


s: When Trojans touched Ausonia. I have, too,


s: My Fates, these robbers of my bride to slay.


s: Have known a sorrow and a smart so keen,


s: And armed for vengeance. But enough, ye say,


s: Once to have fallen? One trespass then had been


s: Enough, and made them loathe all womankind, I ween.


s: A narrow ditch can thwart us,--these, so bold,


s: With but a span betwixt them and the grave!


s: Saw they not Troy, which Neptune reared of old,


s: Sink down in ruin, as the flames uprolled?


s: But ye, my chosen, who with me will scale


s: Yon wall, and storm their trembling camp? Behold,


s: No aid divine nor ships of thousand sail,


s: Nor Vulcan's arms I need, o'er Trojans to prevail.


s: No raid, nor robbed Palladium they shall fear,


s: Nor sentries stabbed beneath the night's dark pall.


s: No horse shall hide us; by the daylight clear


s: Our flames shall ring their ramparts. Dream they here


s: To find such Danaan striplings, weak as they


s: Whom Hector baffled till the tenth long year?


s: But now, since near its ending draws the day,


s: Take rest, and bide prepared the dawning of the fray."


s: The gates with watchfires, and the walls invest.


s: Twice seven captains round the camp keep ward,


s: Each with a hundred warriors of the best,


s: With golden armour and a blood-red crest.


s: These to and fro pace sentinels, and share


s: The watch in turn; those, on the sward at rest,


s: Tilt the brass wine-bowl. Bright the watch-fires flare,


s: And games and festive mirth the wakeful night outwear.


s: The heights in arms, and test with hurrying fear


s: The gates, and bridges to the bulwarks join,


s: And bring up darts and javelins. Mnestheus here,


s: There bold Serestus is at hand to cheer,


s: They, whom AEneas left to rule the host,


s: Should ill betide them, or the foe draw near.


s: Thus all in turn, where peril pressed the most,


s: Keep watch along the wall, dividing danger's post.


s: Quick with light arrows and the flying spear.


s: Scarce on his cheeks the down of manhood grew,


s: The comeliest youth that donned the Trojan gear.


s: Love made them one; as one, to fight they flew,


s: As one they guard the gates, companions tried and true.


s: Battle I seek, or some adventurous quest,


s: And scorn to dally with inglorious rest,


s: See yonder the Rutulians, stretched supine,


s: What careless confidence is theirs, oppressed


s: With wine and slumber; how the watch-fires shine,


s: Faint, few, and far between; what silence holds the line.


s: 'AEneas should be summoned,' one and all,--


s: Camp, council,--cry, and messengers would find


s: To take sure tidings and our chief recall.


s: If thee the meed I ask for shall befall,--


s: Bare fame be mine--methink the pathway lies


s: Then, fired with zeal and smitten with surprise,


s: Thus to his ardent friend Euryalus replies:


s: Brought up and taught me, when in evil strait


s: Was Troy, and Argives battered at her gate.


s: His trusty follower through the paths of Fate.


s: Here dwells a soul that dares the light disown,


s: And counteth life well sold, to purchase such renown."


s: "'Twere shame, indeed, to doubt a friend so tried.


s: With equal eyes this exploit shall decide,


s: Thee Heaven preserve, whose youth far less deserves to die.


s: Rescued or ransomed, in my native ground;


s: Or, if hard fortune grudge a boon so small,


s: And o'er the lost one rear an empty mound.


s: A pang so keen, and such a cureless wound.


s: She, who, alone of mothers, dared for thee


s: Acestes' walls to leave, and braved the stormy sea."


s: "These empty pretexts cannot shake me--no.


s: Hence, let us haste." And to the guard he cries,


s: Who straight march up, and forth the two friends go


s: To find the chief. All creatures else below


s: Lay wrapt in sleep, forgetting toil and care;


s: But sleepless still, in presence of the foe,


s: Troy's chosen chiefs urge council, what to dare,


s: Whom to AEneas send, the desperate news to bear.


s: Each shield in hand, and leaning on his spear,


s: They stand; when lo! in eager haste the twain,


s: High matter theirs, and worth a pause to hear.


s: Then first Iulus greets the breathless pair,


s: And calls to Nisus. "Dardans, lend an ear,"


s: Nor rate by youthful years the proffered aid we bear.


s: Where by the sea-gate, parts the road in twain,


s: A stealthy passage from the camp we know.


s: Black roll the smoke-clouds, and the watch-fires wane.


s: Yourselves shall see, from Pallanteum's town,


s: AEneas, rich with trophies of the slain.


s: Plain lies the path, for oft the chase hath shown


s: From darksome vales the town, and all the stream is known."


s: "Not yet ye mean to raze the Trojan race,


s: Who give to Troy such gallant hearts and bold."


s: So saying, he clasped them in a fond embrace,


s: And bathed in tears his features and his face.


s: "What gifts can match such valour? Deeds so bright


s: Heaven and your hearts with fairest meed shall grace.


s: Nor young Ascanius e'er such services shall slight."


s: "I, too, who count my father's safety mine,


s: Adjure thee, by the household gods I swear


s: Bring back my sire in safety; care nor pain


s: Shall ever vex me more, if he return again.


s: Of sculptured silver, beauteous to behold,


s: The spoils my sire from sacked Arisbe brought,


s: With two great talents of the purest gold,


s: Two tripods, and a bowl of antique mould,


s: The gift at Carthage of the Tyrian queen.


s: Nay, more, if e'er Italia's realm I hold,


s: And share the spoils of conquest,--thou hast seen


s: The steed that Turnus rode, his arms of golden sheen,--


s: I keep for thee,--thine, Nisus, from to-day.


s: Twelve lovely matrons and male captives too,


s: Each with his armour, shall my sire convey,


s: With all the lands that own Latinus' sway.


s: But thee, whose years the most with mine agree,


s: Brave youth! my heart doth welcome. Come what may,


s: In peace or war my comrade shalt thou be.


s: Thine are my thoughts, my deeds; fame tempts me but for thee."


s: "Shall shame the promise of this bold design,


s: Come weal, come woe. One boon alone I prize


s: Beyond all gifts. A mother dear is mine,


s: A mother, sprung from Priam's ancient line.


s: Stayed her from following, when I crossed the brine.


s: Her of this risk--whate'er the risk I dare--


s: Weetless, I left behind, nor breathed a parting prayer.


s: Be thou her solace, comfort her despair;


s: To face all hazards and confront the foe."


s: Grief smote the Dardans, and the tears ran down,


s: And young Iulus, pierced with kindred woe,


s: Outweeps them all; in filial love thus shown,


s: Touched to the heart, he traced the likeness of his own.


s: I promise for thy guerdon. Mine shall be


s: Nor small her praise to bear a son like thee.


s: I swear--so swore my father--by my head,


s: What gifts I pledge, if thou return, to thee,


s: These, if thou fall, thy mother in thy stead,


s: These shall thy kinsmen keep, the heirlooms of the dead."


s: Lycaon's work, with sheath of ivory fair.


s: His helmet changed Aletes. Forth they fare,


s: And round them to the gates, with vows and prayer,


s: The band of chiefs their parting steps attend;


s: Full many a message to his sire would send.


s: Vain wish! his fruitless words the scattering breezes rend.


s: XL. So past the trench, upon the shadowy plain


s: Forth issuing, to the foemen's tents they creep,


s: Warriors they see, who drank the wine-bowl deep,


s: Beside their tilted chariots stretched in sleep,


s: And reins, and wheels and wine-jars tost away,


s: And arms and men in many a mingled heap.


s: Haste, for the hour is ripe, and yonder lies the way.


s: XLI. "Watch thou, lest hand be lifted in the rear.


s: There, flanked with swaths of corpses, will I reap


s: Thy pathway; broad shall be the lane and clear."


s: So saying, he checks his voice, and, aiming steep,


s: Drives at proud Rhamnes. On a piled-up heap


s: Of carpets lay the warrior, and his breast


s: Heaved with hard breathing and the sounds of sleep:


s: Augur and king, whom Turnus loved the best.


s: Not all his augur's craft could now his doom arrest.


s: XLII. Three slaves beside him, lying heedless here


s: Amidst their arms, he numbers with the slain,


s: Then Remus' page, and Remus' charioteer,


s: Caught by their steeds. The weapon, urged amain,


s: Swoops down, and cleaves their drooping necks in twain.


s: Their master's head he severs with a blow,


s: And leaves the trunk, still heaving, on the plain,


s: And o'er the cushions and the ground below,


s: Wet with the warm, black gore, the spouting streams outflow.


s: XLIII. Lamus and Lamyras he slew outright,


s: Tamed by the God; for long and late that night


s: The youth had gamed. Ah! happier, had his play


s: Outlived the night, and lasted till the day.


s: Like some starved lion, that on the teeming fold


s: Springs, mad with hunger, and the feeble prey,


s: All mute with terror, in his clutch doth hold,


s: And rends with bloody mouth, and riots uncontrolled,


s: XLIV. Such havoc wrought Euryalus, so flamed


s: Caught unaware. But Rhoetus woke, and tried


s: Full in the breast, or e'er the wretch upstood,


s: The shining sword-blade to the hilt he plied,


s: Then drew it back death-laden. Wine and blood


s: Gush out, the dying lips disgorge the crimson flood.


s: XLV. Thence, burning, to Messapus' camp he speeds,


s: Where faint the watch-fires flicker far away,


s: And tethered on the herbage graze the steeds,


s: When briefly thus speaks Nisus, fain to stay


s: The lust of battle and mad thirst to slay:


s: "Cease we; the light, our enemy, is near.


s: Vengeance is glutted; we have hewn our way."


s: Bowls, solid silver armour here and there


s: They leave behind untouched, and arras rich and rare.


s: XLVI. The arms and belt of Rhamnes, bossed with gold,


s: Which Caedicus, his friendship to attest,


s: Whose grandson took it, as a last bequest


s: (Rutulians thence these spoils of war possessed)--


s: These trophies seized Euryalus, and braced


s: The useless trappings on his valorous breast,


s: And on his head Messapus' helm he placed,


s: Light and with graceful plumes; and from the camp they haste.


s: XLVII. Meanwhile from out Laurentum rides a train


s: With news of Turnus, while the main array


s: With marshalled ranks is lingering on the plain,


s: Three hundred shieldsmen Volscens' lead obey.


s: Now to the ramparts they have found their way,


s: When lo, to leftward, hurrying from their raid,


s: They mark the youths amid the twilight grey.


s: XLVIII. Nor passed the sight unheeded. Shrill and loud


s: "Stand, who are ye in armour dight, and why?


s: What make ye there?" cries Volscens from the crowd,


s: "And whither wend ye?" Naught the youths reply,


s: But swiftly to the bordering forest fly,


s: And trust to darkness. Then around each way


s: Circling, like huntsmen, closely as they may,


s: They watch the well-known turns, and wait the expected prey.


s: XLIX. Shagg'd with rough brakes and sable ilex, spread


s: The wood, and, glimmering in the twilight grey,


s: Through broken tracks a narrow pathway led.


s: The shadowy boughs, the cumbrous spoils delay


s: Nisus, unheeding, through the foemen flies,


s: And gains the place,--called Alba now--where lay


s: Latinus' pastures; then with back-turned eyes


s: Stands still, and seeks in vain his absent friend, and cries:


s: L.  "Where, in what quarter, have I left thee? Where,


s: Euryalus, shall I follow thee? What clue


s: Shall trace the mazes of this silvan snare,


s: The tangled path unravelling?" Back he flew,


s: Picking his footsteps with observant view,


s: And roamed the silent brushwood. Steeds he hears,


s: The noise, the signs of foemen who pursue.


s: A moment more, and, bursting on his ears,


s: There came a shout, and lo, Euryalus appears.


s: LI. Him, in false ways, amid the darkness, ta'en,


s: The gathering band with sudden rush o'erbear.


s: Poor Nisus sees him struggling, but in vain.


s: What should he do? By force of arms how dare


s: His friend to rescue? Shall he face them there,


s: And rush upon the foemen's swords, to die,


s: And welcome wounds that win a death so fair?


s: His spear he poises, and with upturned eye


s: And stalwart arm drawn back, invokes the Moon on high:


s: LII. "Come thou, Latonia, succour my distress!


s: Guardian of groves, bright glory of the sky,


s: If e'er with offerings for his son's success


s: Enriched them from the chase, and hung on high


s: Spoils in thy deep-domed temple, or arrayed


s: Thy roof with plunder; make this troop to fly,


s: And guide my weapons through the air." He prayed,


s: LIII. It struck the shield of Sulmo at his side;


s: There broke the shaft and splintered. Down he rolled


s: Pierced through the midriff, and his life's warm tide


s: Poured from his bosom, and the long sobs told


s: Its heavings, ere the stiffening limbs grew cold.


s: Aimed from his ear-tip. Through the temples twain


s: Of Tagus whizzed the steel, and warmed within the brain.


s: LIV. Fierce Volscens raves with anger, nor espies


s: The wielder of the weapon, nor which way


s: To rush, aflame with fury. "Thou," he cries,


s: "Thy blood meanwhile the penalty shall pay


s: For both," and with his falchion bared to slay


s: Springs at Euryalus. Then, wild with fear,


s: Nor longer in the dark can hide, nor bear


s: A pang of grief so keen--to lose a friend so dear,


s: LV. "Me--me, behold the doer! mine the deed!


s: Kill me, Rutulians. By this hand they fell.


s: He could not--durst not. By the skies I plead,


s: By yon bright stars, that witnessed what befell,


s: He only loved his hapless friend too well."


s: Vain was his prayer; the weapon, urged amain,


s: Pierced through his ribs and snowy breast. Out swell


s: Dark streams of gore his lovely limbs to stain;


s: The sinking neck weighs o'er the shoulders of the slain.


s: LVI. So doth the purple floweret, dying, droop,


s: Smit by the ploughshare. So the poppy frail


s: On stricken stalk its languid head doth stoop,


s: And bows o'erladen with the drenching hail.


s: But onward now, through thickest ranks of mail,


s: Rushed Nisus. Volscens only will he slay;


s: He waits for none but Volscens. They assail


s: From right and left, and crowd his steps to stay.


s: He whirls his lightning brand, and presses to his prey.


s: LVII. Ere long he meets him clamouring, and down


s: His throat he drives the griding sword amain,


s: And takes his life, ere laying down his own.


s: Then, pierced he sinks upon his comrade slain,


s: And death's long slumber puts an end to pain.


s: No length of time shall make your memory wane,


s: The AEneian house shall reign, and Roman rule endure.


s: LVIII. Weeping, the victors took the spoils and prey,


s: And back dead Volscens to their camp they bore.


s: Nor less the wailing in the camp that day,


s: Brave Rhamnes found, and many a captive more,


s: Numa, Serranus, weltering in their gore.


s: Thick round the dead and dying, where the plain


s: Reeks freshly with the frothing blood, they pour.


s: The trappings saved with sweat, the helmet of the slain.


s: LIX. Now, rising from Tithonus' saffron couch,


s: Sprinkled the earth, and 'neath the wakening touch


s: Of sunlight, all things stand revealed to-day.


s: Wakes up his warriors with the morning light.


s: And rumours whet their rage, and prick them to the fight.


s: LX. Nay more, aloft upon the javelin's end,


s: With shouts they bear--a miserable sight!--


s: The heads, the heads of Nisus and his friend.


s: On the walls' left--the river flanked their right--


s: The sturdy Trojans stand arrayed for fight,


s: And line the trenches and each lofty tower,


s: Sad, while the foemen, clamorous with delight,


s: March onward, with the heroes' heads before,


s: Well known--alas! too well--and dropping loathly gore.


s: LXI. Now Fame, winged herald, through the wildered town


s: Swift to Euryalus' mother speeds her way.


s: Life's heat forsakes her; from her hand drops down


s: The shuttle, and the task-work rolls away.


s: Forth with a shriek, like women in dismay,


s: Rending her hair, in frantic haste she flies,


s: And seeks the ramparts and the war's array,


s: Heedless of darts and dangers and surprise,


s: Heedless of armed men, and fills the heaven with cries.


s: LXII. "Thou--is it thou, Euryalus, my own?


s: Thou, the late solace of my age? Ah, why


s: So cruel? Could'st thou leave me here alone,


s: Of dogs and birds, nor I, thy mother, there


s: To wash thy wounds, and close thy lightless eye,


s: And shroud thee in the robe I wrought so fair,


s: Fain with the busy loom to soothe an old wife's care!


s: LXIII. "Where shall I follow thee? Thy corpse defiled,


s: Thy mangled limbs--where are they? Woe is me!


s: Is this then all of what was once my child?


s: Was it for this I roamed the land and sea?


s: Pierce _me_, Rutulians; hurl your darts at me,


s: Me first, if ye a mother's love can know.


s: Great Sire of Heaven, have pity! set me free.


s: This hateful head, that longs to quit a world of woe!"


s: LXIV. So wails the mother, weeping and undone,


s: And sorrow smites each warrior, as he hears,


s: Grief runs, like wildfire, through the Trojan peers,


s: And numbs their courage, and augments their fears.


s: Then, fain the spreading sorrow to allay,


s: The aged dame lift up, and to her home convey.


s: LXV. Now terribly the brazen trumpet pealed


s: Its summons, and the war-shout rent the air.


s: On press the Volscians, locking shield to shield,


s: And fill the trenches, and the breastwork tear.


s: These plant their ladders for assault, where'er


s: A gap, just glimmering, shows the line less dense.


s: Vain hope! the Teucrians with their darts are there.


s: Stout poles they ply, and thrust them from the fence,


s: Trained by a lingering siege, and tutored to defence.


s: LXVI. Stones, too, they roll, to crush the serried shields:


s: Blithely the warriors bear the storm below,


s: Yet not for long; for, see, the penthouse yields.


s: Down on the midst, where thickest press the foe,


s: The Teucrians, rolling, with a crash let go


s: A ponderous mass, that opens to the light


s: The jointed shields, and lays the warriors low.


s: Nor care they longer in the dark to fight,


s: But vie with distant darts to sweep the rampart's height.


s: LXVII. Pine-stock in hand, Mezentius hurls the flame;


s: There, fierce Messapus rends the palisade,--


s: Tamer of steeds, from Neptune's loins he came,--


s: To sing of Turnus and his deeds that day,


s: The deaths he wrought, the havoc that he made,


s: And whom each warrior singled for his prey;


s: Roll back the war's great scroll, the mighty leaves display.


s: LXVIII. Built high, with lofty gangways, stood a tower,


s: Fit post of vantage, which the Latins vied,


s: With utmost effort and with all their power,


s: To capture and destroy, while armed inside


s: With stones, the Trojans through the loopholes plied


s: Their missiles. Turnus, 'mid the foremost, cast


s: A blazing brand, and, fastening to the side,


s: Up went the flame; from floor to floor it passed,


s: Clung to and licked the posts, and maddened with the blast.


s: LXIX. Within 'twas hurrying and tumultuous fright,


s: As, crowding backward, they retreat before


s: The advancing flames, and vainly long for flight.


s: Lo! toppling suddenly, the tower went o'er,


s: And shook the wide air with reverberant roar.