OF THE 
 
 UNIVERSITY 
 Of ILLINOIS 
 
 a7\ , 
 V3.E<i 
 1870 
 

 / 
 
VIRGIL’S WORKS 
 
Edinburgh 
 
 London 
 
 Glasgow 
 
 Johfi Ross ^ Co. 
 Simpkin, Marshall Co. 
 Maurice Ogle 6 ^ Co. 
 
THE 
 
 WORKS OF VIRGIL 
 
 TRANSLATED BY 
 
 DRYDEN 
 
 EDINBURGH 
 
 JOHN ROSS AND COMPANY 
 1870 
 
? 7 / 
 l/^Ed 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 Life of Virgil 
 
 PAGE 
 
 vil 
 
 
 THE HlNEIS. 
 
 BOOK 
 
 - I. The Trojans’ Escape from the Storm, and Reception 
 
 IN Carthage 
 
 -- II. The Fall of Troy, and Escape of ^Eneas . 
 
 III. The Trojans’ Wanderings in Search of a Settlement 
 -- IV. Dido’s Passion for ^neas, her Desertion and Death 
 V. Return to Sicily; Games and Burning of the Fleet 
 ** VI. The Interview with the Sibyl and Descent to Hell 
 VII. Reception in Italy, and Juno’s Efforts to Raise War 
 VIII. War Preparations and Alliances ; Arms for ^Eneas 
 IX. The War begun; Adventure of Nisus and Euryalus 
 X. The Gods in Council, ^Eneas’ Return, and War Revived 
 XI. Burying the Dead, and the Latian Council 
 XII. Challenge, Combat, and Death ofTurnus 
 
 29 
 
 57 
 
 82 
 
 108 
 
 137 
 
 169 
 
 198 
 
 223 
 
 252 
 
 286 
 
 320 
 
 GEORGIC S. 
 
 I. Invocation: of Soils, Seasons, and the Weather . . 357 
 
 II. Planting OF Trees; Culture of the Vine and Olive . 375 
 
 III. Breeding, etc., of Horses, Cattle, and other Animals . 396 
 
 — ■ IV. Bees, AND their Treatment 418 
 
 PASTORALS. 
 
 \ 
 
 
 I. Tityrus and Melibceus 
 II. Alexis . 
 
 III. Pal^emon 
 
 IV. POLLIO . 
 
 V. Daphnis 
 
 VI. SiLENUS 
 VII. Melibceus 
 VIII. Pharmaceutria 
 IX. Lycidas and Mceris 
 
 X. Gallus 
 
 *■0 
 
 OInDEX to iFNEIS 
 
 441 
 
 445 
 
 449 
 
 454 
 
 457 
 
 461 
 
 465 
 
 468 
 
 473 
 
 476 
 
 481 
 
 996738 
 
HE Publishers, having reversed the order hitherto observed 
 
 'with Virgil’s works, have to state their reasons for the 
 
 change. 
 
 The order hitherto observed is that in which the Works were 
 written, viz. ; Pastorals, Georgies, .^neis. In this Edition, the 
 ^neis is placed first as most readable. The order of merit, 
 according to the critics, would place the Georgies first, but the 
 reader, who reads to be gratified, never forgets the merits of the 
 subject. It has been a complaint in Dryden’s time that the pages 
 of the Pastorals were hurried over to get at the ^neis, and the 
 readers of the present day are not a whit more tolerant of obstruc- 
 tions to their taste. We have, therefore, thought it best to save 
 our readers the necessity of thus slighting the author ; it might 
 be throwing his book aside without even reaching that which 
 would really interest them. Milton’s works have had their order 
 similarly reversed. 
 
 The text followed- is Dr. Carey’s as adopted by Scott. The 
 following deviations have been made in the ^neis, solely, to pre- 
 vent unpleasant haults : in book iv. line 825, “banks” has been 
 changed to “oars” — this word has been a stumbling-block to 
 several Editors who have made it barks; vii. 29, “bear” to 
 “hear”; vii. 83, “to” to “too”; ix. 1040, “He joints” to 
 “Disjoints,” the period being substituted by a dash at the end 
 of the line before; x, 143, “all” is dropped before “the united.” 
 
 The Life, and Index to the ^neis have been compiled specially 
 for this Edition. 
 
THE LIFE OF VIRGIL. 
 
 HE events of Virgil’s life derive their -whole interest from 
 
 i his works, and, but for these would have passed long ago 
 into oblivion. He was unfitted, both by his pliysical and mental 
 constitution, for excelling in arms, or those more peaceful though 
 hardly less exciting contests of politics which formed the chief 
 attraction for his Roman cotemporaries ; and it may be, that to 
 these infirmities the world owes those works which have been 
 the admiration of every generation of scholars since his time ; and 
 himself a more enviable immortality than that of the greatest 
 of the Caesars. 
 
 Publius Virgilius Maro was born at Andes near Mantua. The 
 15th October of the year of Rome 684 (b.c. 70) is generally 
 accepted as the date of his birth ; this date was afterwards ob- 
 served as his birth- day by the Romans, who held his memory in 
 great esteem. 
 
 Greater uncertainty exists as to his parents, and their rank and 
 circumstances. According to one account, his father was an 
 opulent farmer, another states that he was a basket-maker, and a 
 third gives us as the most probable account of him, that he was the 
 servant or assistant of a wandering Greek or Syrian astrologer, 
 who settled in Italy, and soon made himself rich among the 
 superstitious inhabitants, He is said to have married Maja, his 
 master’s daughter, by whom he had Virgil ; and by his skill in 
 planting and husbandry, to have greatly improved his circum- 
 stances. Popular veneration afterwards embellished Virgil’s nati- 
 vity with those supernatural surroundings with which it loves to 
 invest the objects of its worship. Judging from what we know 
 Virgil to have been, we may safely conclude that the circumstances 
 of his parents, were such as enabled him early in life, to take 
 pleasure in the knowledge of pastoral and agricultural pursuits, 
 for the studies of his after years did not present opportunities for 
 acquiring that intimate acquaintance with rural affairs, which 
 he possessed. 
 
 He began his education at Cremona, from thence he was sent 
 to Milan ; and completed his studies at Naples, where he read the 
 writings of the Greek and Latin authors, and became learned 
 in Mathematics and Natural Philosophy, including Physic. He 
 is said to have adopted the speculative views of the Epicurean 
 Philosophy from Syron, who was a leader of the sect ; but he soon 
 
THE LIFE OF VIRGIL. 
 
 viii 
 
 dropped the Epicurean tenets and adopted the Platonic system, 
 to which he adhered during the rest of his life ; not however 
 without retaining a tinge of his former views. His instructor in 
 Greek was Parthenius of Nicaea. 
 
 We are left to infer, that, after completing his studies, he returned 
 home, and took possession of his paternal patrimony. He did not 
 however remain long at home, for we soon after find him in Rome ; 
 but whether his first journey thither was undertaken under the 
 impulse of improving himself by the society of the capital, or 
 whether he took Rome as in his way on a more extensive tour, is 
 uncertain. It was not to his writings that he owed his intro- 
 duction to influential society, but to his knowledge of the 
 diseases of horses, the possession of which brought him into 
 contact with the master of the horse of Augustus. The 
 correctness of his judgment in the case of a favourite colt of 
 the future Emperor, was the cause of his introduction to him ; 
 and such was the impression which Virgil’s learning left upon his 
 mind, that he recommended him to the favour of Pollio, then 
 his lieutenant, in the district of Mantua. His introduction to 
 Augustus is related otherwise, and is said to have been brought 
 about through Varus and Pollio ; indeed, all the events of his 
 life, up to the publication of his Pastorals, have been variously 
 related. He returned to his farm soon after his introduction 
 to Augustus, and it is probable that it was at this time that 
 he was dispossessed of his property. This event must have taken 
 place shortly after the battle of Philippi, as it was on account of 
 that victory that Augustus, to reward his veteran troops, assigned 
 to them those lands around Mantua, which included Virgil’s 
 possessions. He applied to Pollio to be reinstated, and through 
 him was introduced to his future patron, Maecenas, himself being 
 at the time out of court favour. Through the influence of 
 Maecenas, he received a warrant for the restoration of his pro- 
 perty, but on presenting it to the centurion who had taken posses- 
 sion, he was attacked by him so furiously, that to save his life he 
 was forced to swim across the Mincio. His influence at Rome 
 was now, however, sufficient to procure effectual orders being 
 issued for reinstating him in his possessions. 
 
 Soon after this event, at the request of Pollio, who was again 
 in favour, he collected his Pastorals into a volume, having spent 
 three years in revising them. Their publication at once brought 
 him into such favour in Rome, that according to Tacitus, all the 
 spectators in the theatre rose to their feet when some of his verses 
 were being recited in his presence, thus paying him equal honours 
 with Augustus himself. Plis fame now introduced him to the 
 best society of Rome, and procured him many private friends, 
 among whom was the poet Horace. 
 
 This brings us to the thirty-fourth year of his age, when, at 
 the request of Maecenas, he commenced to write his Georgies. 
 He is said to have occupied seven years in their composi- 
 tion, and these the best of his life. The critics are all agreed 
 that they are his most perfect compositions, and had their 
 
THE LIFE OF VIRGIL. 
 
 IX 
 
 subject been one more fitted to arouse human sympathy, their 
 popularity might be more commensurate with their merits. 
 
 His Georgies were written at Naples, to which place the 
 bounty of Augustus had piabled him to retire. The climate of 
 Naples suited his constitution better than that of Rome, and 
 to the advantages of greater retirement was added that of refined 
 society, for its charming situation attracted the Roman nobility, 
 who there erected villas of great magnificence. It has been 
 observed that the agricultural precepts of the Georgies are more 
 suited to the climate of Mantua than of Naples, from which 
 it has been inferred that they were rough sketched before he 
 quitted his native place, but the fact that his agricultural know- 
 ledge must have been first obtained there, is quite sufficient to 
 account for this. 
 
 It is stated by Donatus, that Augustus while staying at 
 Attella for the benefit of his health, after the battle of Actium, 
 spent four days hearing Virgil reading his Georgies. When 
 his voice failed, Maecenas relieved him in the task of reading. 
 Such was the charm and sweetness of his pronunciation that a 
 cotemporary poet said : “that if he could violently seize upon 
 anything belonging to Virgil, it would be his voice, his counte- 
 nance and his action. 
 
 Besides his villa at Naples, the generosity of Augustus furnished 
 him with a handsome house on the Esquiline Hill at Rome. He 
 had here a well-selected library, which, through his liberality, 
 was free of access to all lovers of learning. 
 
 Virgil is supposed at an early age to have conceived the design 
 of writing an Epic poem, but it was not till about his forty-second 
 year that he commenced the ^neis. It has been said that his 
 object in writing it was to justify the usurpation of Augustus ; if 
 such was his motive he displayed an amount of moderation unus- 
 ual in a partizan, in keeping the interests of his patron so well in 
 the background. An incident which is recorded of him while 
 writing the first Book of the ^neis, is at once creditable to his 
 prudence and independence, and from it we may gather that what- 
 ever were his political principles, the good of his country was their 
 chief object. It is the only recorded event of his life which may 
 be said to have any direct bearing on the destinies of the Empire. 
 Augustus, to gain the credit of moderation with the people or to 
 test the disposition of his friends, deliberated whether he should 
 retain the sovereign power or restore the commonwealth. 
 Agrippa gave his advice in favour of the latter course, while 
 Maecenas advised the adoption of the former. He next appealed 
 to Virgil, who delivered his opinion in these words : “The change 
 from a popular unto an absolute government has generally been 
 of very ill consequence ; for betwixt the hatred of the people and 
 injustice of the prince, it of necessity comes to pass that they live 
 in distrust and mutual apprehensions. But if the Commons 
 knew a just person whom they entirely confided in, it would be 
 for the advantage of all parties that such a one should be their 
 sovereign : wherefore if you shall continue to administer justice 
 
THE LIFE OF VIRGIL. 
 
 impartially as hitherto you ha-ve done, your power will prove 
 safe to yourself and beneficial to mankind. ” The advice is con- 
 sidered to have been adapted to the circumstances ; and the fact 
 of its being derived from Plato, does not detract from the politi- 
 cal wisdom of the poet in applying it to a practical use. 
 
 While Virgil was on terms of the greatest intimacy with Au- 
 gustus and his councillors, he also held his place in popular esteem, 
 and this is accounted for to the credit of his wisdom, for he did 
 not despise popular applause, and was too unselfish to court it. 
 
 Augustus took great interest in the progress of the ^neis, and 
 frequently corresponded with its author. He, after much effort, 
 prevailed on Virgil to recite part of it. His sister Qctavia formed 
 one of the party met to honour the poet’s recitation. He selected 
 the sixth Book, which contains the panegyric on Marcellus, her 
 son, whom Augustus before his death, which took place shortly 
 before this event, designed to succeed him. Such was the effect 
 produced upon the feelings of the Emperor by the allusion to 
 his nephew, that he begged the poet to desist ; and it is said that 
 Octavia fainted away. She afterwards presented him with a 
 sum equal to two thousand one hundred pounds of our money. 
 
 After having completed the writing of the ^neis he revised 
 his Pastorals and Georgies. He then resolved to travel in 
 Greece with a view to the perfecting of the Hineis, which 
 he meant to be his last poetical work ; his intention being, 
 after it was finished, to devote the rest of his life to philosophy, 
 his favourite pursuit. It was his opinion that, weighing the 
 cadence of words and measuring verses, unless under the constraint 
 of necessity, was not occupation, becoming a grave man. 
 
 In the progress of his tour through Greece, he had not got 
 beyond Athens, when he was met by Augustus, whom he re- 
 solved to accompany back to Italy. He became unwell at 
 Megara, but his indisposition was so much aggravated by the sea 
 voyage, that he died in a day or two after landing at Brundusium, 
 22d September, E.c. 19. He passed out of the world as quietly 
 as he ’eame into it. 
 
 During his illness, which he himself apprehended would prove 
 fatal, he desired that the ^neis might be destroyed, but to this 
 Augustus would not consent ; he therefore gave it in charge to 
 Tucca and Varius, with injunctions that no alteration whatever 
 should be made upon it. On his death-bed he ordered that 
 he should be buried at Naples, and wrote an inscription for 
 his monument, without ostentation, as follows : — 
 
 I sung flocks, tillage, heroes ; Mantua gave 
 Me life, Brundusium death, Naples a grave. 
 
 By his will, of which the Emperor was executor, he left one 
 half of his property to his half-brother, Valerius Proculus, and 
 the rest was divided amongst his friends, Maecenas, Varius, and 
 Tucca, Augustus also coming in for a share ; for it became a 
 fashion in his time to leave legacies to the sovereign. 
 
 His personal appearance was pleasing ; his complexion was 
 
THE LIFE OF VIRGIL. 
 
 XI 
 
 swarthy, indicative of his southern extraction ; in figure he was 
 tall and broad shouldered, and his manner was rustic and 
 ungraceful. His constitutior^ was delicate — a weak stomach, 
 frequent headache, and blood-spitting, being his habitual com- 
 plaints. These were necessarily aggravated by his studious habits 
 and the want of exercise. He had a hesitation in his speech, but 
 it must have been very slight : that it was otherwise, is contrary 
 to the account given of him as a reader. The gift of ready extem- 
 pore speaking he may have wanted, and this may be one of his 
 reasons for having abandoned the bar, which he is said to h^ve 
 done, after pleading his first case. \ 
 
 His moral character has not altogether escaped reproach, but 
 such accusations as could be disproved by evidence, are without" 
 foundation, as the charge of his being avaricious because he 
 died rich. Other charges rest on similar inferences, and have no 
 authority from the earliest accounts which we have of his life. 
 Donatus represents him as of a kindly disposition, attached 
 to the learned and the virtuous, free from envy, and delighted 
 with the literary success of others, and so affable that none but 
 the most perverse could fail to love him. He was modest even 
 to bashfulness, so that if he happened to be the object of popular 
 curiosity he made his escape in the nearest way possible. His 
 disinterestedness is amply proved by the fact of his being esteemed 
 by almost all his literary cotemporaries, to whom his library was 
 as accessible as to himself. Before he made his own fortune, he 
 settled the estate restored to him by the Emperor upon his 
 parents and brothers, and sent them large sums yearly besides. 
 
 But after all, as has been already remarked, it is his works 
 that constitute our principal interest in him ; yet in contrasting 
 liis fate with that of Homer, it is fortunate that we have so many 
 authentic details of his life as we do possess. But for the childish 
 fables of the Middle Ages, which endowed him with the powers 
 of magic and necromancy, whatever these may be, his life has 
 given occasion to comparatively little discussion. A tithe of 
 the information we possess of Virgil, if known with the same 
 authenticity of Homer, what an amount of speculation it would 
 have saved the world ! 
 
 As an author, he has always been placed in the first rank, and 
 we cannot close this short sketch of his life better than by quoting 
 a few of the distinguished authors who have studied his works. 
 To Dryden, as his most distinguished translator, who it is to be 
 regretted, has not himself written a life of him, we give the 
 precedence. 
 
 So great was Dryden’s admiration of Virgil, that there are few 
 pages of his prose writings which do not contain some reference 
 to him. In his Dedication to the “yEneis,” he says, “Long 
 before I undertook this work, I was no stranger to the original. 
 
 I had also studied Virgil’s design, his disposition of it, his 
 manners, his judicious management of the figures, the sober re- 
 trenchments of his sense, which always leave somewhat to gratify 
 our imagination, on which it may enlarge at pleasure, but above 
 
xii THE LIFE QF VIRGIL, 
 
 all, the elegance of his expression and the harijiony of his num- 
 bers : for, as I have said in a fotnaer dissertation, the words are 
 in poetry what the colours are in p'ainting : if the design be good 
 and the draught true, the colouring is the first beauty that strikes 
 the eye.” In his “ Parallel between Poetry and Painting,” he is 
 fairly carried off his feet, and exclaims, “ Good heavens ! how 
 the plain sense is raised by the beauty of the words.” 
 
 The celebrated Scaliger says of him, “Never any man pos- 
 sessed all the graces of poesy in so eminent a degree as Virgil ; 
 he had an exquisite taste for what is natural, an exquisite judg- 
 ment for the contrivance, and an incomparable delicacy in regard 
 to the numbers and harmony of versification.” 
 
 Addison, in an Essay on the Georgies, says, “ Herein consists 
 Virgil’s masterpiece, who has not only excelled all other poets, 
 but even himself, in the language of the Georgies, where we 
 receive more strong and lively ideas of things* from his words 
 than we would have done from the objects .them selves ; and find 
 our imaginations more affected by his* descriptions than they 
 would have been by the very sight of what he describes.” 
 
 Pope’s estimate of him is given in his celebrated comparison 
 between Homer and Virgil, as follow^s : — “No author or man 
 ever excelled all the world in more than one faculty ; and as 
 Homer has done this in invention, Virgil has in judgment. Not 
 that we are to think Homer wanted judgment, because Virgil had 
 it in a more eminent degree ; or that Virgil wanted invention, be- 
 cause Homer possessed a larger share of it : each of these great 
 authors had more of both than perhaps any man besides, and are 
 only said to have less in comparison with one another. Homer 
 was the greater genius, Virgil the better artist. In one we most 
 admire the man, in the other the work : Homer hurries and 
 transports us with a commanding impetuosity, Virgil leads us 
 with an attractive majesty : Homer scatters with a generous pro- 
 fusion, Virgil bestows with a careful magnificence : Homer, like 
 the Nile, pours out his riches with a boundless overflow*, Virgil, 
 like a river in its banks, with a gentle and constant stream.” 
 
 Melmoth, the excellent translator of “Cicero’s Letters,” says, 
 “Virgil is no less admired as a virtuous, ingenious, and judicious 
 author, than as an incomparable poet, and excellent philosopher. 
 His works, which are replete with richness of sentiment, elegance 
 of expression, and a happy intermixture of useful and entertain- 
 ing precepts and descriptions, will be read and esteemed as long 
 as solid judgment and classical taste remain amongst mankind ; 
 and will moreover honourably transmit the name of their inesti- 
 mable author to the latest posterity. ” 
 
BOOK I.] 
 
 VlRGinS AlNEIS. 
 
 And ploughing frothy furrows in the main ; 
 
 When, laboring still with endless discontent, 
 
 The queen of heaven did thus her fury vent : 
 
 Then am I vanquished? must I yield? (said she) 
 And must the Trojans reign in Italy? 
 
 So Fate will have it ; and Jove adds his force ; 
 
 Nor can my power divert their happy course. 
 
 Could angry Pallas, with revengeful spleen. 
 
 The Grecian navy burn, and drown the men ? 
 
 She, for the fault of one offending foe. 
 
 The bolts of Jove himself presumed to throw : 
 
 With whirlwinds from beneath she tossed the ship. 
 And bare exposed the bosom of the deep : 
 
 Then — as an eagle gripes the trembling game — 
 
 The wretch, yet hissing with her father’s flame, 
 
 She strongly seized, and, with a burning wound 
 Transfixed, and naked on a rock she bound. 
 
 But I, who walk in awful state above. 
 
 The majesty of heaven, the sister- wife of Jove, 
 
 For length of years my fruitless force employ 
 Against the thin remains of ruined Troy ! 
 
 What nations now to Juno’s power will pray. 
 
 Or offerings on my slighted altars lay ?” 
 
 Thus raged the goddess ; and with fury fraught. 
 The restless regions of the storms she sought. 
 
 Where, in a spacious cave of living stone. 
 
 The tyrant ^olus, from his airy throne. 
 
 With power imperial curbs the struggling winds. 
 
 And sounding tempests in dark prisons binds : 
 
 This way, and that, the impatient captives tend, 
 
 And, pressing for release, the mountains rend. 
 
 High in his hall the undaunted monarch stands. 
 
 And shakes his sceptre, and their rage commands ; 
 Which did he not, their unresisted sway 
 Would sweep the world before them in their way ; 
 Earth, air, and seas, through empty space would roll. 
 And hSrarwould fly before the driving soul. 
 
 In fear of this, the father ofgEp 
 onfined their fury to thosj 
 ed them safe wk 
 
 55 
 
 6o 
 
 65 
 
 70 
 
 75 
 
 80 
 
 85 
 
4 
 
 VIRGinS JRNEIS. 
 
 [book I. 
 
 Imposed a king with arbitrary sway, 
 
 To loose their fetters, or their force allay ; 
 
 95 To whom the suppliant queen her prayers addressed. 
 And thus the tenor of her suit expressed : 
 
 O tEoIus ! — for to thee the king of heaven 
 The power of tempests and of winds has given ; 
 
 Thy force alone their fury can restrain^ 
 loo And smooth the waves, or swell the troubled main — 
 A race of wandering slaves, abhorred by me. 
 
 With prosperous passage cut the Tuscan sea : 
 
 To fruitful Italy their course they steer, [there. 
 
 And, for their vanquished gods design new temples 
 105 Raise all thy winds ; with night involve the skies ; 
 Sink or disperse my fatal enemies ! 
 
 Twice seven — the charming daughters of the main. 
 Around my person wait, and bear my train : 
 
 Succeed my wish, and second my design ; 
 no The fairest, Deiopeia, shall be thine. 
 
 And make thee father of a happy line.” 
 
 To this the god : ’Tis yours, O queen ! to will 
 The work, which duty binds me to fulfil. 
 
 These airy kingdoms, and this wide command, 
 
 1 15 Are all the presents of your bounteous hand : 
 
 Yours is my sovereign's grace ; and as your guest, 
 
 1 sit with gods at their celestial feast. 
 
 Raise tempests at your pleasure, or subdue ; 
 
 Dispose of empire, which I hold from you.” 
 
 120 He said, and hurled against the mountain side 
 His quivering spear, and all the god applied. 
 
 The raging winds rush through the hollow wound, 
 And dance aloft in air, and skim along the ground ; 
 Then, settling on the sea, the surges sweep, 
 
 125 Raise liquid mountains, and disclose the deep. 
 
 South, East, and West, with mixed confusion roar. 
 And roll the foaming billows to the shore. 
 
 The cables crack ; the sailors’ fearful cries 
 Ascend ; and sable night involves the sETes ; 
 
BOOK J.] 
 
 VlRGins yENEIS. 
 
 5 
 
 The face of things a frightful image bears ; 
 
 And present death in various forms appears. 
 
 Struck with unusual fright, the Trojan chief, 135 
 
 With lifted hands and eyes, invokes relief ; 
 
 And, ‘‘Thrice and four times happy those (he cried), 
 
 That under Ilian walls, before their parents, died ! 
 Tydides, bravest of the Grecian train ! 
 
 Why could not I by that strong arm be slain, 140 
 
 And lie by noble Hector on the plain. 
 
 Or great Sarpedon ; in those bloody fields. 
 
 Where Siniois rolls the bodies and the shields 
 Of heroes, whose dismembered hands yet bear 
 The dart aloft, and clench the pointed spear 145 
 
 Thus while the pious prince his fate bewails. 
 
 Fierce Boreas drove against his flying sails. 
 
 And rent the sheets : the raging billows rise. 
 
 And mount the tossing vessel to the skies ; 
 
 Nor can the shivering oars sustain the blow : 150 
 
 The galley gives her side, and turns her prow ; 
 
 While those astern, descending down the steep. 
 
 Through gaping waves behold the boiling deep. 
 
 Three ships were hurried by the southern blast. 
 
 And on the secret shelves with fury cast. 155 
 
 Those hidden rocks the Ausonian sailors knew : 
 
 They called them Altars, when they rose in view. 
 
 And shewed their spacious backs above the flood. 
 
 Three more, fierce Eurus in his angry mood, 
 
 Dashed on the shallows of the moving sand, 160 
 
 And in mid ocean left them moored a-land. 
 
 Orontes^ bark, that bore the Lycian crew, 
 
 (A horrid sight !) e’en in the hero’s view. 
 
 From stem to stern by waves was overborne : 
 
 The trembling pilot, from his rudder torn, 165 
 
 Was headlong hurled : thrice round, the ship was tossed. 
 Then bulged at once, and in the deep was lost ; 
 
 And here and there above the waves were seen 
 Arms, pictures, precious goods, and floating men. 
 
 The stoutest vessel to the storm gave way, 170 
 
 And sucked through loosened planks the rushing sea. 
 Ilioneus was her chief : Aletes old. 
 
6 
 
 VIRGirS MNEIS. 
 
 [book I. 
 
 Achates faithful, Abas young and bold, 
 
 Endured not less : their ships, with gaping seams, 
 175 Admit the deluge of the briny streams. 
 
 Meantime imperial Neptune heard the sound 
 Of raging billows breaking on the ground. 
 Displeased, and fearing for his watery reign, 
 
 He reared his awful head above the main, 
 
 180 Serene in majesty, — then rolled his eyes 
 
 Around the space of earth, and seas, and skies. 
 
 He saw the Trojan fleet dispersed, distressed. 
 
 By stormy winds and wintry heaven oppressed. 
 
 Full well the god his sister^s envy knew, 
 
 185 And what her aims and what her arts pursue. 
 
 He summoned Eurus and the western blast. 
 
 And first an angry glance on both he cast. 
 
 Then thus rebuked : ‘‘Audacious winds ! from whence 
 This bold attempt, this rebel insolence ? 
 
 190 Is it for you to ravage seas and land. 
 
 Unauthorized by my supreme command.^ 
 
 To raise such mountains on the troubled main? 
 Whom I — but first ^tis fit the billows to restrain ; 
 
 And then you shall be taught obedience to my reign. 
 195 Hence ! to your lord my royal mandate bear — 
 
 The realms of ocean and the fields of air 
 Are mine, not his. By fatal lot to me 
 The liquid empire fell, and trident of the sea. 
 
 His power to hollow caverns is confined : 
 
 200 There let him reign the jailor of the wind. 
 
 With hoarse commands his breathing subjects call, 
 And boast and bluster in his empty hall.^’ 
 
 He spoke ; and while he spoke, he smoothed the sea. 
 Dispelled the darkness, and restored the day. 
 
 205 Cymothoe, Triton, and the sea-green train 
 
 Of beauteous nymphs, the daughters of the main. 
 Clear from the rocks the vessels with their hands : 
 The god himself with ready trident stands. 
 
 And opes the deep, and spreads the moving sands ; 
 210 Then heaves them off the shoals. — Where’er he guides 
 His finny coursers, and in triumph rides. 
 
 The waves unruffle, and the sea subsides. 
 
VIRGIL S MNEIS. 
 
 7 
 
 BOOK I.] 
 
 As, when in tumults rise the ignoble crowd, 
 
 Mad are their motions, and their tongues are loud ; 
 
 And stones and brands in rattling volleys fly, 215 
 
 And all the rustic arms that fury can supply : 
 
 If then some grave and pious man appear. 
 
 They hush their noise, and lend a listening ear : 
 
 He soothes with sober words their angry mood, 
 
 And quenches their innate desire of blood : 220 
 
 So, when the father of the flood appears, 
 
 And o’er the seas his sovereign trident rears, 
 
 Their fury falls : he skims the liquid plains, 
 
 High on his chariot, and, with loosened reins, 
 
 Majestic moves along, and awful peace maintains. 225 
 The weary Trojans ply their shattered oars 
 To nearest land, and make the Libyan shores. 
 
 Within a long recess there lies a bay : 
 
 An island shades it from the rolling sea. 
 
 And forms a port secure for ships to ride : 230 
 
 Broke by the jutting land, on either side. 
 
 In double streams the briny waters glide. 
 
 Betwixt two rows of rocks : a sylvan scene 
 Appears above, and groves for ever green : 
 
 A grot is formed beneath, with mossy seats, 235 
 
 To rest the Nereids, and exclude the heats. 
 
 Down through the crannies of the living walls, 
 
 The crystal streams descend in murmuring falls. 
 
 No halsers need to bind the vessels here. 
 
 Nor bearded anchors ; for no storms they fear. 240 
 
 Seven ships within this happy harbour meet. 
 
 The thin remainders of the scattered fleet. 
 
 The Trojans, worn with toils, and spent with woes, 
 
 Leap on the welcome land, and seek their wished repose. 
 
 First, good Achates, with repeated strokes 245 
 
 Of clashing flints, their hidden fire provokes : 
 
 Short flame succeeds ; a bed of withered leaves 
 The dying sparkles in their fall receives : 
 
 Caught into life, in fiery fumes they rise. 
 
 And, fed with stronger food, invade the skies. 250 
 
 The Trojans, dropping wet, or stand around 
 The cheerful blaze, or lie along the ground. 
 
8 
 
 VIRGinS ^NEIS. 
 
 [book I. 
 
 Some dry their corn infected with the brine, 
 
 Then grind with marbles, and prepare to dine. 
 
 25 5 ^neas climbs the mountain’s airy brow. 
 
 And takes a prospect of the seas below. 
 
 If Capys thence, or Antheus, he could spy, 
 
 Or see the streamers of Caicus fly. 
 
 No vessels were in view ; but, on the plain, 
 
 260 Three beamy stags command a lordly train 
 Of branching heads : the more ignoble throng 
 Attend their stately steps, and slowly graze along. 
 He stood ; and, while secure they fed below. 
 
 He took the quiver and the trusty bow 
 265 Achates used to bear : the leaders first 
 
 He laid along, and then the vulgar pierced; 
 
 Nor ceased his arrows, till the shady plain 
 Seven mighty bodies with their blood distain. 
 
 For the seven ships he made an equal share, 
 
 270 And to the port returned triumphant from the war. 
 The jars of generous wine (Acestes’ gift. 
 
 When his Trinacrian shores the navy left) 
 
 He set abroach, and for the feast prepared. 
 
 In equal portions with the ven’son shared. 
 
 275 Thus while he dealt it round, the pious chief 
 
 With cheerful words allayed the common grief: — 
 ‘^Endure, and conquer ! Jove will soon dispose 
 To future good, our past and present woes. 
 
 With me, the rocks of Scylla you have tried ; 
 
 280 The inhuman Cyclops, and his den, defied. 
 
 What greater ills hereafter can you bear.^ 
 
 Resume your courage, and dismiss your care : 
 
 An hour will come, with pleasure to relate 
 Your sorrows past, as benefits of fate. 
 
 285 Through various hazards and events, we move 
 To Latium, and the realms foredoomed by Jove. 
 Called to the seat (the promise of the skies) 
 
 Where Trojan kingdoms once again may rise. 
 Endure the hardships of your present state ; 
 
 290 Live, and reserve yourselves for better fate.” 
 
 These words he spoke, but spoke not from his heart ; 
 His outward smiles concealed his inward smart. 
 
BOOK I.] 
 
 VIRGirs MNEIS, 
 
 9 
 
 The jolly crew, unmindful of the past, 
 
 The quarry share, their plenteous dinner haste. 
 
 Some strip the skin ; some portion out the spoil ; 295 
 
 The limbs, yet trembling, in the caldrons boil ; 
 
 Some on the fire the reeking entrails broil. 
 
 Stretched on the grassy turf, at ease they dine, [wine. 
 Restore their strength with meat, and cheer their souls with 
 Their hunger thus appeased, their care attends 300 
 
 The doubtful fortune of their absent friends : 
 
 Alternate hopes and fears their minds possess. 
 
 Whether to debm them dead, or in distress. 
 
 Above the rest, ^neas mourns the fate 
 
 Of brave Orontes, and the uncertain state 305 
 
 Of Gyas, Lycus, and of Amycus. 
 
 The day, but not their sorrows, ended thus. 
 
 When from aloft, almighty Jove surveys 
 Earth, air, and shores, and navigable seas : 
 
 At length, on Libyan realms he fixed his eyes : 310 
 
 Whom, pondering thus on human miseries. 
 
 When Venus saw, she with a lowly look, 
 
 Not free from tears, her heavenly sire bespoke : 
 
 O king of gods and men ! whose awful hand 
 Disperses thunder on the seas and land ; 315 
 
 Disposes all with absolute command ; 
 
 How could my pious son thy power incense ? 
 
 Or what, alas 1 is vanished Troyes offence 1 
 Our hope of Italy not only lost ; 
 
 On various seas by various tempests tossed, 320 
 
 But shut from every shore, and barred from every coast. 
 You promised once, a progeny divine. 
 
 Of Romans, rising from the Trojan line. 
 
 In after-times should hold the world in awe, 
 
 And to the land and ocean give the law. 325 
 
 How is your doom reversed, which eased my care 
 When Troy was ruined in that cruel war ! 
 
 Then fates to fates I could oppose ; but now, 
 
 When fortune still pursues her former blow. 
 
 What can I hope ? What worse can still succeed 1 330 
 
 What end of labours has your will decreed 1 
 Antenor, from the midst of Grecian hosts 
 
lO 
 
 VIRGirs ^NEIS. 
 
 [book I. 
 
 Could pass secure, and pierce the Illyrian coasts ; 
 Where, rolling down the steep, Timavus raves, 
 
 335 And through nine channels disembogues his waves. 
 At length he founded Paduans happy seat. 
 
 And gave his Trojans a secure retreat: 
 
 There fixed their arms, and there renewed their name ; 
 And there in quiet rules, and crowned with fame. 
 
 340 But we, descended from your sacred line. 
 
 Entitled to your heaven and rites divine. 
 
 Are banished earth, and, for the wrath of one. 
 Removed from Latium, and the promised throne. 
 
 Are these our sceptres ? these our due rewards ? 
 
 345 And is it thus that Jove his plighted faith regards 
 To whom the father of the immortal race. 
 
 Smiling, with that serene indulgent face 
 
 With which he drives the clouds and clears the skies — 
 
 First gave a holy kiss ; then thus replies : 
 
 350 “ Daughter, dismiss thy fears : to thy desire. 
 
 The fates of thine are fixed, and stand entire. 
 
 Thou shalt behold thy wished Lavinian walls ; 
 
 And, ripe for heaven, when fate ^neas calls. 
 
 Then shalt thou bear him up, sublime, to me : 
 
 355 No counsels have reversed my firm decree. 
 
 And, lest new fears disturb thy happy state, 
 
 Know, I have searched the mystic rolls of fate : 
 
 Thy son (nor is the appointed season far) 
 
 In Italy shall wage successful war : 
 
 360 Shall tame fierce nations 'in the bloody field ; 
 
 And sovereign laws impose, and cities build ; 
 
 Till, after every foe subdued, the sun 
 
 Thrice through the signs his annual race shall run : 
 
 This is his time prefixed. Ascanius then, 
 
 365 Now called liilus, shall begin his reign. 
 
 He, thirty rolling years the crown shall wear ; 
 
 Then from Lavinium shall the seat transfer, 
 
 And with hard labour, Alba-longa build : 
 
 The throne with his succession shall be filled, 
 
 370 Three hundred circuits more: then shall be seen 
 Ilia the fair, a priestess and a queen. 
 
 Who, full of Mars, in time, with kindly throes. 
 
BOOK I.] 
 
 VIRGirS ALNEIS, 
 
 II 
 
 Shall at a birth two goodly boys disclose. 
 
 The royal babes a tawny wolf shall drain : 
 
 Then Romulus his grandsire^s throne shall gain, 375 
 Of martial towers the founder shall become, 
 
 The people Romans call, the city Rome. 
 
 To them no bounds of empire I assign. 
 
 Nor term of years to their immortal line. 
 
 E’en haughty Juno, who, with endless broils, 380 
 
 Earth, seas, and heaven, and Jove himself, turmoils, 
 
 At length atoned, her friendly power shall join. 
 
 To cherish and advance the Trojan line. 
 
 The subject world shall Rome’s dominion own. 
 
 And, prostrate, shall adore the nation of the gown. 385 
 An age is ripening in revolving fate. 
 
 When Troy shall overturn the Grecian state. 
 
 And sweet revenge her conquering sons shall call. 
 
 To crush the people that conspired her fall. 
 
 Then Caesar from the Julian stock shall rise, 390 
 
 Whose empire ocean, and whose fame the skies 
 Alone shall bound ; whom, fraught with eastern spoils. 
 Our heaven, the just reward of human toils. 
 
 Securely shall repay with rights divine ; 
 
 And incense shall ascend before his sacred shrine. 395 
 Then dire debate, and impious war, shall cease. 
 
 And the stern age be softened into peace : 
 
 Then banished Faith shall once again return. 
 
 And Vestal fires in hallowed temples burn ; 
 
 And Remus, with Quirinus shall sustain 400 
 
 The righteous laws, and fraud and force restrain. 
 
 Janus himself before his fane shall wait. 
 
 And keep the dreadful issues of his gate 
 With bolts and iron bars ; within remains 
 Imprisoned Fury, bound in brazen chains : 405 
 
 High on a trophy raised, of useless arms. 
 
 He sits, and threats the world with vain alarms.” 
 
 He said, and sent Cyllenius with command 
 To free the ports, and ope the Punic land 
 To Trojan guests ; lest, ignorant of fate, 410 
 
 The queen might force them from her town and state. 
 Down from the steep of heaven Cyllenius flies, 
 
12 
 
 VIRGirS ^NEIS. 
 
 [book I. 
 
 And cleaves with all his wings the yielding skies. 
 
 Soon on the Libyan shore descends the god, 
 
 415 Performs his message, and displays his rod. 
 
 The surly murmurs of the people cease ; 
 
 And, as the fates required, they give the peace. 
 
 The queen herself suspends the rigid laws. 
 
 The Trojans pities, and protects their cause. 
 
 420 Meantime, in shades of night ALneas lies : 
 
 Care seized his soul, and sleep forsook his eyes. 
 
 But when the sun restored the cheerful day. 
 
 He rose, the coast and country to survey ; 
 
 Anxious and eager to discover more. 
 
 425 It looked a wild uncultivated shore : 
 
 But, whether human kind, or beasts alone 
 Possessed the new-found region, was unknown. 
 Beneath a ledge of rocks his fleet he hides : 
 
 Tall trees surround the mountain's shady sides : 
 
 430 The bending brow above, a safe retreat provides. 
 
 Armed with two pointed darts, he leaves his friends ; , 
 And true Achates on his steps attends. 
 
 Lo ! in the deep recesses of the wood. 
 
 Before his eyes his goddess mother stood : 
 
 435 A huntress in her habit and her mien ; 
 
 Her dress, a maid, her air, confessed a queen. 
 
 Bare were her knees, and knots her garments bind ; 
 Loose was her hair, and wantoned in the wind ; 
 
 Her hand sustained a bow ; her quiver hung behind. 
 440 She seemed a virgin of tlie Spartan blood : 
 
 With such array Harpalyce bestrode 
 
 Her Thracian courser, and outstripped the rapid flood. 
 
 Ho ! strangers ! have you lately seen (she said). 
 
 One of my sisters, like myself arrayed, 
 
 445 Who crossed the lawn, or in the forest strayed ? 
 
 A painted quiver at her back she bore ; 
 
 Varied with spots, a lynx’s hide she wore ; 
 
 And at full cry pursued the tusky boar.” 
 
 Thus Venus : thus her son replied again : 
 
 450 “ None of your sisters have we heard or seen, 
 
 O virgin ! or what other name you bear 
 Above that style — O more than mortal fair ! 
 
BOOK I.] 
 
 VIRGinS ALNEIS. 
 
 13 
 
 Your voice and mien celestial birth betray. 
 
 If, as you seem, the sister of the day, 
 
 Or one at least of chaste Diana’s train. 
 
 Let not an humble suppliant sue in vain ; 
 
 But tell a stranger, long in tempests tossed, 
 
 What earth we tread, and who commands the coast 
 Then on your name shall wretched mortals call, 
 And offered victims at your altars fall.” 
 
 “ I dare not, (she replied,) assume the name 
 Of goddess, or celestial honours claim ; 
 
 For Tyrian virgins bows and quivers bear. 
 
 And purple buskins o’er their ankles wear. 
 
 Know, gentle youth, in Libyan lands you are — 
 
 A people rude in peace, and rough in war. 
 
 The rising city, which from far you see. 
 
 Is Carthage, and a Tyrian colony. 
 
 Phoenician Dido rules the growing state ; 
 
 Who fled from Tyre, to shun her brother’s hate. 
 Great were her wrongs, her story full of fate ; 
 
 Which I will sum in short. Sichaeus, known 
 F or wealth, and brother to the Punic throne. 
 Possessed fair Dido’s bed ; and either heart 
 At once was wounded with an equal dart. 
 
 Her father gave her, yet a spotless maid : 
 Pygmalion then the Tyrian sceptre swayed — 
 
 One who contemned divine and human laws : 
 
 Then strife ensued, and cursed gold the cause. 
 
 The monarch, blinded with desire of wealth. 
 
 With steel invades his brother’s life by stealth ; 
 Before the sacred altar rrjade him bleed. 
 
 And long from her concealed the cruel deed. 
 
 Some tale, some new pretence, he daily coined 
 To soothe his sister, and delude her mind. 
 
 P^X. length, in dead of night, the ghost appears 
 Of her unhappy lord : the spectre stares. 
 
 And, with erected eyes, his bloody bosom bares. 
 The cruel altars, and his fate, he tells. 
 
 And the dire secret of his house reveals ; 
 
 Then warns the widow, with her household gods. 
 
 To seek a refuge in remote abodes. 
 
 455 
 
 460 
 
 465 
 
 470 
 
 475 
 
 480 
 
 485 
 
 490 
 
14 
 
 VIRGirs ^NEIS. 
 
 [book I. 
 
 Last, to support her in so long a way, 
 
 He shows her where his hidden treasure lay. 
 
 495 Admonished thus, and seized with mortal fright, 
 
 The queen provides companions of her flight : 
 
 They meet, and all combine to leave the state. 
 
 Who hate the tyrant, or who fear his hate. 
 
 They seize a fleet, which ready rigged they find ; 
 
 500 Nor is Pygmalion’s treasure left behind. 
 
 The vessels, heavy laden, put to sea 
 
 With prosperous winds : a woman leads the way. 
 
 I know not, if by stress of weather driven. 
 
 Or w^as their fatal course disposed by Heaven : 
 
 505 At last they landed, where from far, your eyes 
 May view the turrets of new Carthage rise ; 
 
 There, bought a space of ground, which (Byrsa called. 
 From the bull’s hide) they first enclosed, and walled. 
 But whence are you? what country claims your birth? 
 510 What seek you, strangers, on our Libyan earth?” 
 
 To whom, with sorrow streaming from his eyes. 
 And deeply sighing, thus her son replies : 
 
 Could you with patience hear, or I relate, 
 
 O nymph ! the tedious annals of our fate, 
 
 515 Through such a train of woes if I should run. 
 
 The day would sooner than the tale be done. 
 
 From ancient Troy, by force expelled, we came — 
 
 If you by chance have heard the Trojan name. 
 
 On various seas by various tempests tossed, 
 
 520 At length we landed on your L.ibyan coast. 
 
 The good ^neas am I called — a name. 
 
 While Fortune favoured, not unknown to fame. 
 
 My household gods, companions of my woes. 
 
 With pious care I rescued from our foes. 
 
 525 To fruitful Italy my course was bent ; 
 
 And from the king of heaven is my descent. 
 
 With twice ten sail I crossed the Phrygian sea; 
 
 Fate and my mother-goddess led my way. 
 
 Scarce seven, the thin remainders of my fleet, 
 
 530 From storms preserved, within your harbour meet. 
 Myself distressed, an exile, and unknown. 
 
 Debarred from Europe, and from Asia -thrown. 
 
BOOK I.] 
 
 VIRGinS MNEIS. 
 
 15 
 
 In Libyan deserts wander thus alone.^^ 
 
 His tender parent could no longer bear, 
 
 But, interposing, sought to soothe his care. 535 
 
 ‘‘Whoe’er you are — not unbeloved by Heaven, 
 
 Since on our friendly shore your ships are driven — 
 
 Have courage: to the gods permit the rest. 
 
 And to the queen expose your just request. 
 
 Now take this earnest of success for more: 540 
 
 Your scattered fleet is Joined upon the shore ; 
 
 The winds are changed, your friends from danger free ; 
 Or I renounce my skill in augury. 
 
 Twelve swans behold in beauteous order move. 
 
 And stoop with closing pinions from above; 545 
 
 Whom late the bird of J ove had driven along. 
 
 And through the clouds pursued the scattering throng : 
 Now, all united in a goodly team. 
 
 They skim the ground, and seek the quiet stream. 
 
 As they, with joy returning, clap their wings, 550 
 
 And ride the circuit of the skies in rings : 
 
 Not otherwise your ships, and every friend. 
 
 Already hold the port, or with swift sails descend. 
 
 No more advice is needful; but pursue 
 The path before you, and the town in view.” 555 
 
 Thus having said, she turned, and made appear 
 Her neck refulgent, and dishevelled hair. 
 
 Which, flowing from her shoulders, reached the ground. 
 And widely spread ambrosial scents around. 
 
 In length of train descends her sweeping gown ; 560 
 
 And by her graceful walk, the queen of love is known. 
 The prince pursued the parting deity 
 With words like these : “ Ah ! whither do you fly? 
 
 Unkind and cruel ! to deceive your son 
 
 In borrowed shapes, and his embrace to shun : 565 
 
 Never to bless my sight but thus, unknown; 
 
 And still to speak in accents not your own.” 
 
 Against the goddess these complaints he made. 
 
 But took the path, and her commands obeyed. 
 
 They march obscure; for Venus kindly shrouds 570 
 With mists their persons, and involves in clouds. 
 
 That, thus unseen, their passage none might stay. 
 
VJRGirS ^NEIS. 
 
 [book I. 
 
 i6 
 
 Or force to tell the causes of their way. 
 
 This part performed, the goddess flies sublime, 
 
 575 To visit Paphos, and her native clime ; 
 
 Where garlands, ever green and ever fair, 
 
 With vows are offered, and with solemn prayer : 
 
 A hundred altars in her temples smoke : 
 
 A thousand bleeding hearts her power invoke. 
 
 580 They climb the next ascent, and, looking down, 
 Now at a nearer distance view the town. 
 
 The prince with wonder sees the stately towers 
 (Which late were huts, and shepherds’ homely bowers). 
 The gates and streets ; and hears from every part 
 585 The noise and busy concourse of the mart. 
 
 The toiling Tyrians on each other call. 
 
 To ply their labour: some extend the wall ; 
 
 Some build the citadel ; the brawny throng 
 Or dig, or push unwieldy stones along. 
 
 590 Some for their dwellings choose a spot of ground. 
 Which, first designed, with ditches they surround. 
 Some laws ordain ; and some attend the choice 
 Of holy senates, and elect by voice. 
 
 Here some design a mole, while others there 
 595 Lay deep foundations for a theatre. 
 
 From marble quarries mighty columns hew. 
 
 For ornaments of scenes, and future view. 
 
 Such is their toil, and such their busy pains. 
 
 As exercise the bees in flowery plains, 
 
 600 When winter past, and summer scarce begun. 
 
 Invites them forth to labour in the sun: 
 
 Some lead their youth abroad, while some condense 
 Their liquid store, and some in cells dispense: 
 
 Some at the gate stand ready to receive 
 605 The golden burden, and their friends relieve : 
 
 All, with united force, combine to drive 
 The lazy drones from the laborious hive. 
 
 With envy stung, they view each other’s deeds : 
 
 The fragrant work with diligence proceeds. 
 
 610 “ Thrice happy you, whose walls already rise!” 
 ^neas said, and viewed, with lifted eyes. 
 
 Their lofty towers : then entering at the gate. 
 
VJJ^GirS yENEIS. 
 
 BOOK L] 
 
 Concealed in clouds (prodigious to relate), 
 
 He mixed, unmarked, among the busy throng 
 Borne by the tide, and passed unseen along. 615 
 
 Full in the centre of the town there stood. 
 
 Thick set with trees, a venerable wood : 
 
 The Tyrians, landing near this holy ground. 
 
 And digging here, a prosperous omen found : 
 
 From under earth a courser’s head they drew, 620 
 
 Their growth and future fortune to foreshow : 
 
 This fated sign their foundress Juno gave. 
 
 Of a soil fruitful, and a people brave. 
 
 Sidonian Dido here with solemn state 
 
 Did Juno’s temple build, and consecrate ; 625 
 
 Enriched with gifts, and with a golden shrine ; 
 
 But more the goddess made the place divine. 
 
 On brazen steps the marble threshold rose. 
 
 And brazen plates the cedar beams inclose : 
 
 The rafters are with brazen coverings crowned; 630 
 The lofty doors on brazen hinges sound. 
 
 What first ^neas in this place beheld. 
 
 Revived his courage, and his fears expelled. 
 
 For, while expecting there the queen, he raised 
 
 His wondering eyes, and round the temple .gazed, 635 
 
 Admired the fortune of the rising town. 
 
 The striving artists, and.their art’s renown — 
 
 He saw, in order painted on the wall. 
 
 Whatever did unhappy Troy befall : 
 
 The wars that fame around the world had blown, 640 
 All to the life, and every leader known. 
 
 There Agamemnon, Priam here, he spies. 
 
 And fierce Achilles, who both kings defies. ^ 
 
 He stopped, and weeping said : friend ! e’en here 
 
 The monuments of Trojan woes appear ! 645 
 
 Our known disasters fill e’en foreign lands : 
 
 See there, where old unhappy Priam stands ! 
 
 E’en the mute walls relate the warrior’s fame. 
 
 And Trojan griefs the Tyrians’ pity claim.” 
 
 He said — (his tears a ready passage find) 
 
 Devouring what he saw so well designed; 
 
 And with an encipty picture fed his mind : 
 
 B 
 
 650 
 
VIRGirS yENEIS. 
 
 [book I. 
 
 For there he saw the fainting Grecians yield, 
 
 And here the trembling Trojans quit the field, 
 
 655 Pursued by fierce Achilles through the plain. 
 
 On his high chariot driving o’er the slain. 
 
 The tents of Rhesus next his grief renew, 
 
 By their white sails betrayed to nightly view ; 
 
 And wakeful Diomede, whose cruel sword 
 660 The sentries slew, nor spared their slumbering lord ; 
 Then took the fiery steeds, ere yet the food 
 Of Troy they taste, or drink the Xanthian flood. 
 Elsewhere, he saw where Troilus defied 
 Achilles, and unequal combat tried ; 
 
 665 Then, where the boy disarmed, with loosened reins. 
 Was by his horses hurried o’er the plains. 
 
 Hung by the neck and hair, and dragged around : 
 The hostile spear, yet sticking in his wound. 
 
 With tracks of blood inscribed the dusty ground. 
 
 670 Meantime the Trojan dames, oppressed with woe. 
 To Pallas’ fane in long procession go. 
 
 In hopes to reconcile their heavenly foe : 
 
 They weep; theybeattheirbreasts; they rend their hair, 
 And rich embroidered vests for presents bear ; 
 
 675 But the stern goddess stands unmoved with prayer. 
 Thrice round the Trojan walls Achilles drew 
 The corpse of Hector, whom in fight he slew. 
 
 Here Priam sues ; and there, for sums of gold. 
 
 The lifeless body of his son is sold. 
 
 680 So sad an object, and so well expressed. 
 
 Drew sighs and groans from the grieved hero’s breast. 
 To see the figure of his lifeless friend. 
 
 And his old sire his helpless hands extend. 
 
 Himself he saw amidst the Grecian train, 
 
 685 Mixed in the bloody battle on the plain. 
 
 And swarthy Memnon in his arms he knew. 
 
 His pompous ensigns, and his Indian crew. 
 Penthesilea there, with haughty grace. 
 
 Leads to the wars an Amazonian race : 
 
 690 In their right hands a pointed dart they wield ; 
 
 The left, for ward, sustains the lunar shield. 
 
 Athwart her breast a golden belt she throws. 
 
BOOK I.] 
 
 VIRGirS ^NEIS. 
 
 19 
 
 Amidst the press alone provokes a thousand foes, 
 
 And dares her maiden arms to manly force oppose. 
 
 Thus while the Trojan prince employs his eyes, 695 
 Fixed on the walls with wonder and surprise, 
 
 The beauteous Dido, with a numerous train, 
 
 And pomp of guards, ascends the sacred fane. 
 
 Such on Eurotas’ banks, or Cynthus’ height, 
 
 Diana seems ; and so she charms the sight, 700 
 
 When in the dance the graceful goddess leads 
 The choir of nymphs, and overtops their heads. 
 
 Known by her quiver, and her lofty mien. 
 
 She walks majestic, and she looks their queen : 
 
 Latona sees her shine above the rest, 705 
 
 And feeds with secret joy her silent breast. 
 
 Such Dido was ; with such becoming state, 
 
 Amidst the crowd, she walks serenely great. 
 
 Their labour to her future sway she speeds. 
 
 And passing with a gracious glance proceeds ; 710 
 
 Then mounts the throne, high placed before the shrine : 
 In crowds around the swarming people join. 
 
 She takes petitions, and dispenses laws, 
 
 Hears and determines every private cause ; 
 
 Their tasks in equal portions she divides, 715 
 
 And, where unequal, there by lot decides. 
 
 Another way by chance ^neas bends 
 His eyes, and unexpected sees his friends, 
 
 Antheus, Sergestus brave, Cloanthus strong, 
 
 And at their backs a mighty Trojan throng, 720 
 
 Whom late the tempest on the billows tossed. 
 
 And widely scattered on another coast. 
 
 The prince, unseen, surprised with wonder stands. 
 
 And longs, with joyful haste, to join their hands ; 
 
 But, doubtful of the wished event, he stays, 725 
 
 And from the hollow cloud his friends surveys. 
 
 Impatient, till they told their present state, 
 
 And where they left their ships, and what their fate. 
 
 And why they came, and what was their request : 
 
 For these were sent commissioned by the rest, 730 
 
 To sue for leave to land their sickly men, 
 
 And gain admission to the gracious queen. 
 
 
20 
 
 VIRGinS y^NEIS. 
 
 [book I. 
 
 Entering, with cries they filled the holy fane ; 
 
 Then thus, with lowly voice, Ilioneus began : 
 
 735 O queen ! indulged by favour of the gods 
 To found an empire in these new abodes ; 
 
 To build a town ; with statutes to restrain 
 The wild inhabitants beneath thy reign : 
 
 We wretched Trojans, tossed on every shore, 
 
 740 From sea to sea, thy clemency implore ! 
 
 Forbid the fires our shipping to deface : 
 
 Receive the unhappy fugitives to grace, 
 
 And spare the remnant of a pious race ! 
 
 We come not with design of wasteful prey, 
 
 745 To drive the country, force the swains away : 
 
 Nor such our strength, nor such is our desire : 
 
 The vanquished dare not to such thoughts aspire. 
 
 A land there is, Hesperia named of old — 
 
 The soil is fruitful, and the men are bold 
 750 (The QEnotrians held it once) — by common fame 
 Now called Italia, from the leadeFs name. 
 
 To that sweet region was our voyage bent. 
 
 When winds and every warring element 
 Disturbed our course, and, far from sight of land 
 755 Cast our torn vessels on the moving sand. 
 
 The sea came on ; the South, with mighty roar. 
 Dispersed and dashed the rest upon the rocky shore. 
 Those few you see, escaped the storm, and fear 
 (Unless you interpose) a shipwreck here. 
 
 760 What men, what monsters, what inhuman race. 
 
 What laws, what barbarous customs of the place, 
 Shut up a desert shore to drowning men. 
 
 And drive us to the cruel seas again ! 
 
 If our hard fortune no compassion draws, 
 
 765 Nor hospitable rights, nor human laws. 
 
 The gods are just, and will revenge our cause. 
 
 vEneas was our prince : a juster lord, 
 
 Or nobler warrior, never drew a sword : 
 
 Observant of the right, religious of his word. 
 
 770 If yet he lives, and draws this vital air. 
 
 Nor we, his friends, of safety shall despair. 
 
 Nor you, great queen, these offices repent. 
 
BOOK I .] VIRGWS MNEIS. 2 1 
 
 Which he will equal, and perhaps augment. 
 
 We want not cities, nor Sicilian coasts. 
 
 Where king Acestes Trojan lineage boasts. 775 
 
 Permit our ships a shelter on your shores, 
 
 Refitted from your woods with planks and oars. 
 
 That, if our prince be safe, we may renew 
 Our destined course, and Italy pursue. 
 
 But if, O best of men ! the Fates ordain 780 
 
 That thou art swallowed in the Libyan main. 
 
 And if our young liilus be no more, 
 
 Dismiss our navy from your friendly shore, 
 
 That we to good Acestes may return. 
 
 And with our friends our common losses mourn.” 785 
 Thus spoke llioneus : the Trojan crew 
 With cries and clamours his request renew. 
 
 The modest queen awhile, with downcast eyes, 
 
 Pondered the speech, then briefly thus replies : 
 
 Trojans ! dismiss your fears : my cruel fate, 790 
 
 And doubts attending an unsettled state. 
 
 Force me to guard my coast from foreign foes. 
 
 Who has not heard the story of your woes. 
 
 The name and fortune of your native place. 
 
 The fame and valour of the Phrygian race ? 795 
 
 We Tyrians are not so devoid of sense, ^ 
 
 Nor so remote from Phoebus^ influence. 
 
 Whether to Latian shores your course is bent. 
 
 Or, driven by tempests from your first intent. 
 
 You seek the good Acestes’ government, 800 
 
 Your men shall be received, your fleet repaired, 
 
 And sail, with ships of convoy for your guard : 
 
 Or, would you stay, and join your friendly powers 
 To raise and to defend the Tyrian towers. 
 
 My wealth, my city, and myself, are yours. 805 
 
 And would to heaven, the storm you felt would bring 
 On Carthaginian coasts your wandering king. 
 
 My people shall, by my command, explore 
 The ports and creeks of every winding shore. 
 
 And towns, and wilds, and shady woods, in quest 810 
 Of so renowned, and so desired a guest.” 
 
 Raised in his mind the Trojan hero stood. 
 
22 
 
 VIRGinS MNEIS. 
 
 [book I. 
 
 And longed to break from out his ambient cloud : 
 Achates found it, and thus urged his way : 
 
 815 From whence, O goddess-born, this long delay? 
 What more can you desire, your welcome sure. 
 
 Your fleet in safety, and your friends secure? 
 
 One only wants ; and him we saw in vain 
 Oppose the storm, and swallowed in the main. 
 
 820 Orontes in his fate our forfeit paid : 
 
 The rest agrees with what your mother said.” 
 
 Scarce had he spoken, when the cloud gave way ; 
 The mists flew upward, and dissolved in day. 
 
 The Trojan chief appeared in open sight, 
 
 825 August in visage, and serenely bright. 
 
 His mother-goddess, with her hands divine. 
 
 Had formed his curling locks, and made his temples 
 And given his rolling eyes a sparkling grace, [shine. 
 And breathed a youthful vigour on his face; 
 
 830 Like polished ivory, beauteous to behold. 
 
 Or Parian marble, when enchased in gold : 
 
 Thus radiant from the circling cloud he broke ; 
 
 And thus with manly modesty he spoke : 
 
 He whom you seek am I ; by tempests tossed, 
 
 835 And saved from shipwreck on your Libyan coast : 
 Presenting, gracious queen, before your throne, 
 
 A prince that owes his life to you alone : 
 
 Fair majesty ! the refuge and redress 
 
 Of those whom fate pursues, and wants oppress ! 
 
 840 You, who your pious offices employ 
 To save the relics of abandoned Troy ; 
 
 Receive the shipwrecked on your friendly shore ; 
 With hospitable rites relieve the poor ; 
 
 Associate in your town a wandering train, 
 
 845 And strangers in your palace entertain. 
 
 What thanks can wretched fugitives return. 
 
 Who, scattered through the world in exile mourn? 
 The gods (if gods to goodness are inclined : 
 
 If acts of mercy touch their heavenly mind), 
 
 850 And, more than all the gods, your generous heart, 
 Conscious of worth, requite its own desert ! 
 
 In you this age is happy, and this earth ; 
 
BOOK I.] 
 
 VIRGirS MNEIS. 
 
 23 
 
 And parents more than mortal gave you birth. 
 
 While rolling rivers into seas shall run, 
 
 And round the space of heaven the radiant sun ; 855 
 
 While trees the mountain-tops with shades supply, 
 
 Your honour, name, and praise, shall never die. 
 
 Whate’er abode my fortune has assigned. 
 
 Your image shall be present in my mind.^^ 
 
 Thus having said, he turned with pious haste, 860 
 
 And joyful his expecting friends embraced : 
 
 With his right hand Ilioneus he graced, 
 
 Sergestus with his left ; then to his breast 
 Cloanthus and the noble Gyas pressed ; 
 
 And so by turns descended to the rest. 865 
 
 The Tyrian queen stood fixed upon his face. 
 
 Pleased with his motions, ravished with his grace ; 
 Admired his fortunes, more admired the man ; 
 
 Then re-collected stood, and thus began : 
 
 What fate, O goddess-born ! what angry powers 870 
 Have cast you shipwrecked on our barren shores 1 
 Are you the great ^neas, known to fame. 
 
 Who from celestial seed your lineage claim ? 
 
 The same ^Hneas, whom fair Venus bore 
 
 To famed Anchises on the Idaean shore ? 875 
 
 It calls into my mind, though then a child. 
 
 When Teucer came, from Salamis exiled, 
 
 And sought my father^s aid, to be restored : 
 
 My father, Belus, then with fire and sword 
 
 Invaded Cyprus, made the region bare, 880 
 
 And, conquering, finished the successful war. 
 
 From him the Trojan siege I understood. 
 
 The Grecian chiefs, and your illustrious blood. 
 
 Your foe himself the Dardan valour praised. 
 
 And his own ancestry from Trojans raised. 885 
 
 Enter, my noble guest ! and you shall find. 
 
 If not a costly welcome, yet a kind : 
 
 For I myself, like you, have been distressed. 
 
 Till Heaven afforded me this place of rest ; 
 
 Like you, an alien in a land unknown, 
 
 I learn to pity woes so like my own.^’ 
 
 She s aid, and to the palace led her guest ; 
 
 890 
 
24 VIRGirS jENEIS. [book i. 
 
 Then offered incense, and proclaimed a feast. 
 
 Nor yet less careful for her absent friends, 
 
 895 Twice ten fat oxen to the ships she sends : 
 
 Besides a hundred boars, a hundred lambs. 
 
 With bleating cries, attend their milky dams ; 
 
 And jars of generous wine, and spacious bowls 
 She gives, to cheer the sailors’ drooping souls. 
 
 900 Now purple hangings clothe the palace-walls, 
 
 And sumptuous feasts are made in splendid halls: 
 On Tyrian carpets, richly wrought, they dine; 
 
 With loads of massy plate the sideboards shine, 
 
 And antique vases all of gold, embossed 
 905 (The gold itself inferior to the cost 
 
 Of curious work), where on the sides were seen 
 The fights and figures of illustrious men. 
 
 From their first founder to the present queen. 
 
 The good ^neas, whose paternal care 
 910 lulus’ absence could no longer bear. 
 
 Dispatched Achates to the ships in haste. 
 
 To give a glad relation of the past. 
 
 And, fraught with precious gifts, to bring the boy. 
 Snatched from the ruins of unhappy Troy. 
 
 915 A robe of tissue, stiff with golden wire; 
 
 An upper vest, once Helen’s rich attire. 
 
 From Argos by the famed adult’ress brought. 
 
 With golden flowers and winding foliage wrought : 
 Her mother Leda’s present, when she came 
 920 To ruin Troy, and set the world on flame; 
 
 The sceptre Priam’s eldest daughter bore. 
 
 Her orient necklace, and the crown she wore 
 Of double texture, glorious to behold : 
 
 One order set with gems, and one with gold. 
 
 925 Instructed thus, the wise Achates goes. 
 
 And, in his diligence, his duty shews. 
 
 But Venus, anxious for her son’s affairs. 
 
 New counsels tries, and new designs prepares: 
 
 That Cupid should assume the shape and face 
 930 Of sweet Ascanius, and the sprightly grace ; 
 
 Should bring the presents, in her nephew’s stead. 
 And in Eliza’s veins the gentle poison shed : 
 
25 
 
 BOOK I .] VJRGirS ^NEIS, 
 
 For much she feared the Tyrians, double-tongued ; 
 And knew the town to Juno’s care belonged. 
 
 These thoughts by night her golden slumbers broke ; 
 And thus, alarmed, to winged Love she spoke : 
 
 My son, my strength, whose mighty power alone 
 Controls the Thunderer on his awful throne! 
 
 To thee thy much-afflicted mother flies. 
 
 And on thy succour and thy faith relies. 
 
 Thou knowest, my son, how Jove’s revengeful wife 
 By force and fraud, attempts thy brother’s life ; 
 
 And often hast thou mourned with me his pains. 
 
 Him Dido now with blandishment detains ; 
 
 But I suspect the town where Juno reigns. 
 
 For this, ’tis needful to prevent her art, 
 
 And fire with love the proud Phoenician’s heart — 
 
 A love so violent, so strong, so sure, 
 
 That neither age can change, nor art can cure. 
 
 How this may be performed, now take my mind : 
 Ascanius, by his father is designed 
 To come with presents laden, from the port. 
 
 To gratify the queen, and gain the court. 
 
 I mean to plunge the boy in pleasing sleep. 
 
 And, ravished, in Idalian bowers to keep, 
 
 Or high Cythera, that the sweet deceit 
 May pass unseen, and none prevent the cheat. 
 
 Take thou his form and shape. I beg the grace 
 But only for a night’s revolving space : 
 
 Thyself a boy, assume a boy’s dissembled face ; 
 
 That when, amidst the fervour of the feast. 
 
 The Tyrian hugs and fonds thee on her breast, 
 
 And with sweet kisses in her arms constrains, 
 
 Thou mayest infuse thy venom in her veins.” 
 
 The god of love obeys, and sets aside 
 His bow and quiver, and his plumy pride : 
 
 He walks liilus in his mother’s sight, 
 
 And in the sweet resemblance takes delight. 
 
 The goddess then to young Ascanius flies. 
 
 And in a pleasing slumber seals his eyes : 
 
 Lulled in her lap, amidst a train of Loves, 
 
 She gently bears him to her blissful groves ; 
 
 935 
 
 940 
 
 945 
 
 950 
 
 955 
 
 960 
 
 965 
 
 970 
 
[book t. 
 
 26 VIRGIL'S MNEIS. 
 
 Then with a wreath of myrtle crowns his head, 
 
 And softly lays him on a flowery bed. 
 
 975 Cupid meantime assumed his form and face, 
 Following Achates with a shorter pace. 
 
 And brought the gifts. The queen already sat 
 Amidst the Trojan lords, in shining state. 
 
 High on a golden bed : her princely guest 
 980 Was next her side; in order sat the rest. 
 
 Then canisters with bread are heaped on high : 
 
 The attendants water for their hands supply. 
 
 And, having washed, with silken towels dry. 
 
 Next fifty handmaids in long order bore 
 985 The censers, and with fumes the gods adore ; 
 
 Then youths and virgins, twice as many, join 
 To place the dishes, and to serve the wine. 
 
 The Tyrian train, admitted to the feast. 
 
 Approach, and on the painted couches rest. 
 
 990 All on the Trojan gifts with wonder gaze. 
 
 But view the beauteous boy with more amaze ; 
 
 His rosy-coloured cheeks, his radiant eyes. 
 
 His motions, voice, and shape, and all the god’s dis- 
 Nor pass unpraised the vest and veil divine, [guise ; 
 995 Which wandering foliage and rich flowers entwine. 
 But far above the rest, the royal dame 
 (Already doomed to love’s disastrous flame). 
 
 With eyes insatiate, and tumultuous joy. 
 
 Beholds the presents, and admires the boy. 
 
 1000 The guileful god about the hero, long. 
 
 With children’s play, and false embraces, hung; 
 Then sought the queen : she took him to her arms 
 With greedy pleasure, and devoured his charms. 
 Unhappy Dido little thought, what guest, 
 
 1005 How dire a god she drew so near her breast. 
 
 But he, not mindless of his mothers prayer. 
 
 Works in the pliant bosom of the fair. 
 
 And moulds her heart anew, and blots her former care. 
 The dead is to the living love resigned; 
 
 1010 And all ^neas enters in her mind. 
 
 Now, when the rage of hunger was appeased. 
 
 The meat removed, and every guest was pleased, 
 
27 
 
 BOOK I.] VIJ^GWS MNEIS. 
 
 The golden bowls with sparkling wine are crowned, 
 
 And through the palace cheerful cries resound. 
 
 From gilded roofs depending lamps display 1015 
 
 Nocturnal beams, that emulate the day. 
 
 A golden bowl, that shone with gems divine. 
 
 The queen commanded to be crowned with wine — 
 
 The bowl that Belus used, and all the Tyrian line. 
 
 Then, silence through the hall proclaimed, she spoke : 
 
 O hospitable Jove! we thus invoke 1021 
 
 With solemn rites, thy sacred name and power: 
 
 Bless to both nations this auspicious hour ! 
 
 So may the Trojan and the Tyrian line 
 
 In lasting concord from this day combine. 1025 
 
 Thou, Bacchus, god of joys and friendly cheer, 
 
 And gracious Juno, both, be present here 1 
 And you, my lords of Tyre, your vows address 
 To heaven with mine, to ratify the peace.^^ 
 
 The goblet then she took, with nectar crowned 1030 
 (Sprinkling the first libations on the ground). 
 
 And raised it to her mouth with sober grace, 
 
 Then, sipping, offered to the next in place. 
 
 ^Twas Bitias whom she called — a thirsty soul : 
 
 He took the challenge, and embraced the bowl, 1035 
 With pleasure swilled the gold, nor ceased to draw 
 Till he the bottom of the brimmer saw. 
 
 The goblet goes around : lopas brought 
 His golden lyre, and sung what ancient Atlas taught — 
 The various labours of the wandering moon, 1040 
 
 And whence proceed the eclipses of the sun ; 
 
 The original of men and beasts ; and whence 
 The rains arise, and fires their warmth dispense. 
 
 And fixed and erring stars dispose their influence ; 
 
 What shakes the solid earth; what cause delays 1045 
 The summer nights, and shortens winter days. 
 
 With peals of shouts the Tyrians praise the song ; 
 
 Those peals are echoed by the Trojan throng. 
 
 The unhappy queen with talk prolonged the night. 
 
 And drank large draughts of love with vast delight : 1050 
 Of Priam much inquired, of Hector more ; 
 
 Then asked what arms the swarthy Memnon wore. 
 
28 
 
 VIRGirs ^NEIS. 
 
 [book I 
 
 What troops he landed on the Trojan shore: 
 
 The steeds of Diomede varied the discourse, 
 
 1055 And fierce Achilles, with his matchless force : 
 
 At length, as Fate and her ill stars required. 
 
 To hear the series of the war desired. 
 
 Relate at large, my godlike guest (she said). 
 
 The Grecian stratagems, the town betrayed : 
 
 1060 The fatal issue of so long a war. 
 
 Your flight, your wanderings, and your woes declare 
 For, since on every sea, on every coast. 
 
 Your men have been distressed, your navy tossed. 
 Seven times the sun has either tropic viewed, 
 
 1065 The winter banished, and the spring renewed.^^ 
 
BOOK 11. 
 
 THE ARGUMENT. 
 
 i^lneas relates how the city of Troy was taken, after a ten years’ 
 siege, by the treachery of Sinon, and the stratagem of a 
 wooden horse. He declares the fixed resolution he had 
 taken not to survive the ruin of his country, and the various 
 adventures he met with in the defence of it. At last, having 
 been before advised by Hector’s ghost, and now by the 
 appearance of his mother Venus, he is prevailed upon to 
 leave the town, and settle his household gods in another 
 country. In order to this, he carries off his father on his 
 shoulders, and leads his little son by the hand, his wife 
 following him behind. When he comes to the place 
 appointed for the general rendezvous, he finds a great con- 
 fluence of people, but misses his wife, whose ghost afterwards 
 appears to him, and tells him the land which was designed 
 for him. 
 
 A LL were attentive to the godlike man, 
 
 When from his lofty couch he thus began : 
 
 “ Great queen, what you command me to relate, 
 
 Renews the sad remembrance of our fate : 
 
 An empire from its old foundations rent, 5 
 
 And every woe the Trojans underwent ; 
 
 A peopled city made a desert place ; 
 
 All that I saw, and part of which I was ; 
 
 Not e’en the hardest of our foes could hear. 
 
 Nor stern Ulysses tell, without a tear. 10 
 
 And now the latter watch of wasting night. 
 
 And setting stars, to kindly rest invite. 
 
 But since you take such interest in our woe. 
 
 And Troy’s disastrous end desire to know, 
 
 I will restrain my tears, and briefly tell 
 What in our last and fatal night befell. 
 
 By destiny compelled, and in despair. 
 
 15 
 
30 
 
 VIRGIL! S ^NEIS. 
 
 [book II. 
 
 The Greeks grew weary of the tedious war, 
 
 And by Minerva’s aid, a fabric reared, 
 
 20 Which like a steed of monstrous height appeared : 
 The sides were planked with pine : they feigned it made 
 For their return, and this the vow they paid. 
 
 Thus they pretend ; but in the hollow side, 
 
 Selected numbers of their soldiers hide : 
 
 25 With inward arms the dire machine they load ; 
 
 And iron bowels stuff the dark abode. 
 
 In sight of Troy lies Tenedos, an isle 
 (While Fortune did on Priam’s empire smile) 
 Renowned for wealth ; but since, a faithless bay, 
 
 30 Where ships exposed to wind and weather lay. 
 
 Therewas their fleet concealed. We thought, for Greece 
 Their sails were hoisted, and our fears release. 
 
 The Trojans, cooped within their walls so long. 
 Unbar their gates, and issue in a throng 
 35 Like swarming bees, and with delight survey 
 The camp deserted, where the Grecians lay : 
 
 The quarters of the several chiefs they showed : 
 
 Here Phoenix, here Achilles, made abode; 
 
 Here joined the battles; there the navy rode. 
 
 40 Part on the pile their wondering eyes employ — 
 
 The pile by Pallas raised to ruin Troy. 
 
 Thymoetes first (’tis doubtful whether hired. 
 
 Or so the Trojan destiny required) 
 
 Moved that the ramparts might be broken down, 
 
 45 To lodge the monster fabric in the town. 
 
 But Capys, and the rest of sounder mind. 
 
 The fatal present to the flames designed. 
 
 Or to the watery deep : at least to bore 
 The hollow sides, and hidden frauds explore. 
 
 50 The giddy vulgar, as their fancies guide. 
 
 With noise say nothing, and in parts divide. 
 
 Laocoon, followed by a numerous crowd. 
 
 Ran from the fort, and cried from far, aloud : 
 
 ‘ O wretched countrymen ! what fury reigns 1 
 55 What more than madness has possessed your brains.^ 
 Think you the Grecians from your coasts are gone.^ 
 And are Ulysses’ arts no better known? 
 
BOOK II.] 
 
 VIRGinS ALNEIS. 
 
 31 
 
 This hollow fabric either must inclose 
 Within its blind recess, our secret foes ; 
 
 Or ’tis an engine raised above the town 60 
 
 To overlook the walls, and then to batter down. 
 
 Somewhat is sure designed by fraud or force : 
 
 Trust not their presents, nor admit the horse,’ 
 
 Thus having said, against the steed he threw 
 
 His forceful spear, which, hissing as it flew, 65 
 
 Pierced through the yielding planks of jointed wood. 
 
 And trembling in the hollow belly stood. 
 
 The sides, transpierced, return a rattling sound ; [wound. 
 And groans of Greeks inclosed come issuing through the 
 And had not Heaven the fall of Troy designed, 70 
 
 Or had not men been fated to be blind, 
 
 Enough was said and done t’ inspire a better mind. 
 
 Then had our lances pierced the treacherous wood. 
 
 And Ilian towers and Priam’s empire stood. 
 
 Meantime, with shouts, the Trojan shepherds bring 75 
 A captive Greek in bands, before the king — 
 
 Taken, to take — who made himself their prey 
 To impose on their belief, and Troy betray : 
 
 Fixed on his aim, and obstinately bent 
 
 To die undaunted, or to circumvent. 80 
 
 About the captive, tides of Trojans flow ; 
 
 All press to see, and some insult the foe. 
 
 Now hear how well the Greeks their wiles disguised : 
 Behold a nation in a man comprised ! 
 
 Trembling the miscreant stood : unarmed and bound, 85 
 He stared, and rolled his haggard eyes around. 
 
 Then said, ‘ Alas ! what earth remains, what sea. 
 
 Is open to receive unhappy me? 
 
 What fate a wretched fugitive attends. 
 
 Scorned by my foes, abandoned by my friends ?’ 90 
 
 He said, and sighed, and cast a rueful eye : 
 
 Our pity kindles, and our passions die. 
 
 We cheer the youth to make his own defence, 
 
 And freely tell us what he was, and whence : 
 
 What news he could impart we long to know, 95 
 
 And what to credit from a captive foe. 
 
 His fear at length dismissed, he said, ‘ Whate’er 
 
3 2 VlRGinS ALNEIS. [book ii . 
 
 My fate ordains, my words shall be sincere ; 
 
 I neither can nor dare my birth disclaim ; 
 loo Greece is my country, Sinon is my name : 
 
 Though plunged by Fortune’s power in misery, 
 
 ’Tis not in Fortune’s power to make me lie. 
 
 If any chance has hither brought the name 
 Of Palamedes, not unknown to fame, 
 
 105 Who suffered from the malice of the times. 
 
 Accused and sentenced for pretended crimes, 
 
 Because these fatal wars he would prev^ent : 
 
 Whose death the wretched Greeks too late lament. 
 Me, then a boy, my father, poor and bare 
 no Of other means, committed to his care. 
 
 His kinsman and companion in the war. 
 
 While fortune favoured, while his arms support 
 The cause, and ruled the counsels of the court, 
 
 I made some figure there.; nor was my name 
 1 15 Obscure, nor I without my share of fame. 
 
 But when Ulysses, with fallacious arts. 
 
 Had made impression in the people’s hearts. 
 
 And forged a treason in my patron’s name 
 (I speak of things too far divulged by fame), 
 
 120 My kinsman fell. Then I, without support. 
 
 In private mourned his loss, and left the court. 
 
 Mad as I was, I could not bear his fate 
 With silent grief, but loudly blamed the state. 
 
 And cursed the direful author of my woes. — 
 
 125 ’Twas told again ; and hence my ruin rose. 
 
 I threatened, if indulgent Heaven once more 
 Would land me safely on my native shore. 
 
 His death with double vengeance to restore. 
 
 This moved the murderer’s hate ; and soon ensued 
 130 The effects of malice from a man so proud. 
 
 Ambiguous rumours through the camp he spread. 
 And sought, by treason, my devoted head ; 
 
 New crimes invented ; left unturned no stone. 
 
 To make my guilt appear, and hide his own ; 
 
 135 Till Calchas was by force and threatening wrought — 
 But why — why dwell 1 on that anxious thought 
 If on my nation just revenge you seek, 
 
book II.] 
 
 VIRGinS ALNEIS. 
 
 33 
 
 (And ^tis to appear a foe, to appear a Greek); 
 
 Already you my name and country know : 
 
 Assuage your thirst of blood, and strike the blow : 140 
 
 My death will both the kingly brothers please, ' 
 
 And set insatiate Ithacus at ease 3 
 
 This fair unfinished tale, these broken starts. 
 
 Raised expectations in our longing hearts ; 
 
 Unknowing as we were in Grecian arts. 145 
 
 His former trembling once again renewed. 
 
 With acted fear, the villain thus pursued : 
 
 ‘ Long had the Grecians (tired with fruitless care, 
 
 And, wearied with an unsuccessful war) 
 
 Resolved to raise the siege, and leave the town ; 150 
 
 And had the gods permitted, they had gone. 
 
 But oft the wintry seas, and southern winds. 
 
 Withstood their passage home, and changed their minds* 
 Portents and prodigies their souls amazed ; 
 
 But most, when this stupendous pile was raised ; 155 
 
 Then flaming meteors, hung in air, were seen, 
 
 And thunders rattled through a sky serene. 
 
 Dismayed, and fearful of some dire event, 
 
 Eurypylus, to inquire their fate, was sent. 
 
 He from the gods this dreadful answer brought : 160 
 
 ‘ O Grecians, when the Trojan shores you sought. 
 
 Your passage with a virgin’s blood was bought : 
 
 So must your safe return be bought again. 
 
 And Grecian blood once more atone the main.’ 
 
 The spreading rumour round the people ran ; 165 
 
 All feared, and each believed himself the man. 
 
 Ulysses took the advantage of their fright ; 
 
 Called Calchas, and produced in open sight ; 
 
 Then bade him name the wretch, ordained by fate 
 The public victim, to redeem the state. 170 
 
 Already some presaged the dire event. 
 
 And saw what sacrifice Ulysses meant. 
 
 For twice five days, the good old seer, withstood 
 The intended treason, and was dumb to blood,' 
 
 Till, tired with endless clamours and pursuit 175 
 
 Of Ithacus, he stood no longer mute. 
 
 But, as it was agreed, pronounced that I 
 C 
 
34 
 
 VIRGirS MNEIS, 
 
 [book II. 
 
 Was destined by the wrathful gods to die. 
 
 All praised the sentence, pleased the storm should fall 
 i8o On one alone, whose fury threatened all. 
 
 The dismal day was come ; the priests prepare 
 Their leavened cakes, and fillets for my hair. 
 
 I followed nature’s laws, and must avow, 
 
 I broke my bonds, and fled the fatal blow. 
 
 185 Hid in a weedy lake all night I lay. 
 
 Secure of safety when they sailed away. 
 
 But now, what further hopes for me remain 
 To see my friends, or native soil again ; 
 
 My tender infants, or my careful sire, 
 
 190 Whom they, returning, will to death require ; 
 
 Will perpetrate on them their first design. 
 
 And take the forfeit of their heads for mine.^ 
 
 Which, O ! if pity mortal minds can move. 
 
 If there be faith below, or gods above, 
 
 195 If innocence and truth can claim desert, 
 
 Ye Trojans, from an injured wretch avert ! 
 
 Failse tears true, pity move : the king commands 
 To loose his fetters, and unbind his hands ; 
 
 Then adds these friendly words : ‘ Dismiss thy fears ; 
 200 Forget the Greeks ; be mine as thou wert theirs ; 
 
 But truly tell, was it for force or guile. 
 
 Or some religious end, you raised the pile?’ 
 
 Thus said the king. He, full of fraudful arts. 
 
 This well-invented tale for truth imparts : 
 
 205 ‘ Ye lamps of heaven ! (he said, and lifted high 
 His hands, now free) Thou venerable sky ! 
 
 Inviolable powers, adored with dread ! 
 
 Ye fatal fillets, that once bound this head ! 
 
 Ye sacred altars, from whose flames I fled! 
 
 210 Be all of you adjured ; and grant I may 
 
 Without a crime, the ungrateful Greeks betray. 
 
 Reveal the secrets of the guilty state. 
 
 And justly punish whom I justly hate ! 
 
 But you, O king ! preserve the faith you gave, 
 
 215 If I to save myself, your empire save. 
 
 The Grecian hopes, and all the attempts they made, 
 Were only founded on Minerva’s aid. 
 
BOOK II.] 
 
 VIRGWS MNEIS. 
 
 35 
 
 But from the time when impious Diomede, 
 
 And false Ulysses, that inventive head. 
 
 Her fatal image from the temple drew, 220 
 
 The sleeping guardians of the castle slew, 
 
 Her virgin statue with their bloody hands 
 Polluted, and profaned her holy bands ; 
 
 From thence the tide of fortune left their shore. 
 
 And ebbed much faster than it flowed before : 225 
 
 Their courage languished, as their hopes decayed ; 
 
 And Pallas, now averse, refused her aid. 
 
 Nor did the goddess doubtfully declare 
 Her altered mind, and alienated care. 
 
 When first her fatal image touched the ground, 230 
 
 She sternly cast her glaring eyes around. 
 
 That sparkled as they rolled, and seemed to threat : 
 
 Her heavenly limbs distilled a briny sweat. 
 
 Thrice from the ground she leaped, was seen to wield 
 Her brandished lance, and shake her horrid shield. 235 
 Then Calchas bade our host for flight prepare. 
 
 And hope no conquest from the tedious war. 
 
 Till first they sailed for Greece ; with prayers besought 
 Her injured power, and better omens brought. 
 
 And now their navy ploughs the watery main, 240 
 
 Yet soon expect it on your shores again, 
 
 With Pallas pleased ; as Calchas did ordain. 
 
 But first, to reconcile the blue-eyed maid 
 For her stolen statue and her tower betrayed, 
 
 Warned by the seer, to her offended name 245 
 
 We raised and dedicate this wondrous frame. 
 
 So lofty, lest through your forbidden gates 
 It pass, and intercept our better fates : 
 
 For, once admitted there, our hopes are lost ; 
 
 And Troy may then a new Palladium boast : 250 
 
 For so religion and the gods ordain. 
 
 That, if you violate with hands profane 
 Minerva^s gift, your town in flames shall burn ; 
 
 (Which omen, O ye gods, on Crsecia turn !) 
 
 But if it climb, with your assisting hands. 
 
 The Trojan walls, and in the city stands ; 
 
 Then Troy shall Argos and Mycenae burn. 
 
 255 
 
36 
 
 VIRGIL'S VENEIS. 
 
 [book II. 
 
 And the reverse of fate on us return.’ 
 
 With such deceits he gained their easy hearts, 
 
 260 Too prone to credit his perfidious arts. 
 
 What Diomede, nor Thetis’ greater son, 
 
 A thousand ships, nor ten years’ siege, had done — 
 False tears and fawning words the city won. 
 
 A greater omen, and of worse portent, 
 
 265 Did our unwary minds with fear torment. 
 Concurring to produce the dire event. 
 
 Laocoon, Neptune’s priest by lot that year. 
 
 With solemn pomp then sacrificed a steer ; 
 
 When (dreadful to behold !) from sea we spied 
 270 Two serpents, ranked abreast, the seas divide. 
 
 And smoothly sweep along the swelling tide. 
 
 Their flaming crests above the waves they shew ; 
 Their bellies seem to burn the seas below ; 
 
 Their speckled tails advance to steer their course, 
 275 And on the sounding shore the flying billows force. 
 And now the strand, and now the plain, they held : 
 Their ardent eyes with bloody streaks were filled ; 
 Their nimble tongues they brandished as they came. 
 And licked their hissing jaws, that sputtered flame. 
 280 We fled amazed ; their destined way they take, 
 
 And to Laocoon and his children make : 
 
 And first around the tender boys they wind. 
 
 Then with their sharpened fangs their limbs and bodies 
 The wretched father, running to their aid [grind. 
 285 With pious haste, but vain, they next invade : 
 
 Twice round his waist their winding volumes rolled ; 
 And twice about his gasping throat they fold. 
 
 The priest thus doubly choked — their crests divide. 
 And towering o’er his head in triumph ride. 
 
 290 With both his hands he labours at the knots ; 
 
 His holy fillets the blue venom blots ; 
 
 His roaring fills the flitting air around. 
 
 Thus, when an ox receives a glancing wound. 
 
 He breaks his bands, the fatal altar flies, 
 
 295 And with loud bellowings breaks the yielding skies. 
 Their tasks performed, the serpents quit their prey. 
 And to the tower of Pallas make their way : 
 
BOOK II.] 
 
 VIRGirs AiNEIS, 
 
 37 
 
 Couched at her feet they lie, protected there 
 By her large buckler, and protended spear. 
 
 Amazement seizes all : the general cry 
 Proclaims Laocoon justly doomed to die. 
 
 Whose hand the will of Pallas had withstood. 
 
 And dared to violate the sacred wood. 
 
 All vote to admit the steed ; that vows be paid. 
 
 And incense offered, to the offended maid. 
 
 A spacious breach is made : the town lies bare : 
 Some hoisting-levers, some the wheels prepare. 
 
 And fasten to the horse’s feet : the rest 
 With cables haul along the unwieldy beast. 
 
 Each on his fellow for assistance calls : 
 
 At length, the fatal fabric mounts the walls. 
 
 Big with destruction. Boys with chaplets crowned. 
 And choirs of virgins, sing and dance around. 
 
 Thus raised aloft, and then descending down. 
 
 It enters o’er our heads, and threats the town. 
 
 O sacred city, built by hands divine ! 
 
 O valiant heroes of the Trojan line ! 
 
 Four times he struck : as oft the clashing sound 
 Of arms was heard, and inward groans rebound. 
 
 Yet mad with zeal, and blinded with our fate, 
 
 We haul along the horse in solemn state ; 
 
 Then place the dire portent within the tower. 
 Cassandra cried, and cursed the unhappy hour ; 
 h'oretold our fate ; but, by the god’s decree, 
 
 All heard, and none believed the prophecy. 
 
 With branches we the fanes adorn, and waste 
 In jollity the day ordained to be the last. 
 
 Meantime the rapid heavens rolled down the light. 
 And on the shaded ocean rushed the night : 
 
 Our men, secure, nor guards nor sentries held ; 
 
 But easy sleep their weary limbs compelled. 
 
 The Grecians had embarked their naval powers 
 From Tenedos, and sought our well-known shores. 
 Safe under covert of the silent night. 
 
 And guided by the imperial galley’s light ; 
 
 When Sinon, favoured by the partial gods. 
 
 Unlocked the horse, and oped his dark abodes ; 
 
 300 
 
 305 
 
 310 
 
 315 
 
 320* 
 
 325 
 
 330 
 
 335 
 
38 
 
 VIRGIL'S MNEIS. 
 
 [book II. 
 
 Restored to vital air our hidden foes, 
 
 Who joyful from their long confinement rose. 
 
 340 Thessander bold, and Sthenelus their guide, 
 
 And dire Ulysses, down the cable slide : 
 
 Then Thoas, Athamas, and Pyrrhus, haste ; 
 
 Nor was the Podalirian hero last. 
 
 Nor injured Menelaiis, nor the famed 
 345 Epeus, who the fatal engine framed. 
 
 A nameless crowd succeed ; their forces join 
 To invade the town, oppressed with sleep and wine. 
 Those few they find awake, first meet their fate ; 
 Then to their fellows they unbar the gate. 
 
 350 ^Twas in the dead of night, when sleep repairs 
 Our bodies, worn with toils, our minds, with cares, 
 When Hector’s ghost before my sight appears: 
 
 A bloody shroud he seemed, and bathed in tears ; 
 Such as he was, when, by Pelides slain, 
 
 355 Thessalian coursers dragged him o’er the plain. 
 
 Swoln were his feet, as when the thongs were thrust 
 Through the bored holes : his body black with dust : 
 Unlike that Hector who returned from toils 
 Of war, triumphant in yEacian spoils ; 
 
 360 Or him, who made the fainting Greeks retire. 
 
 And launched against their navy Phrygian fire. 
 
 His hair and beard stood stiffened with his gore ; 
 And all the wounds he for his country bore 
 Now streamed afresh, and with new purple ran. 
 
 365 I wept to see the visionary man. 
 
 And, while my trance continued, thus began : 
 
 ‘ O light of Trojans, and support of Troy, 
 
 Thy father’s champion, and thy country’s joy ! 
 
 O, long expected by thy friends ! from whence 
 370 Art thou so late returned for our defence 1 
 Do we behold thee, wearied as we are 
 With length of labours, and with toils of war.^ 
 
 After so many funerals of thy own. 
 
 Art thou restored to thy declining town 1 
 375 But say, what wounds are these? what new disgrace 
 Deforms the manly features of thy face?’ 
 
 To this, the spectre no reply did frame. 
 
BOOK II.] 
 
 VIRGIL'S ^NEIS. 
 
 39 
 
 But answered to the cause for which he came ; 
 And, groaning from the bottom of his breast, 
 
 This warning, in these mournful words, expressed : 
 ‘ O goddess-born ! escape, by timely flight. 
 
 The flames and horrors of this fatal night. 
 
 The foes already have possessed the wall : 
 
 Troy nods from high, and totters to her fall. 
 Enough is paid to Prianfls royal name. 
 
 More than enough to duty and to fame. 
 
 If by a mortal hand my father’s throne 
 Could be defended, ’twas by mine alone. 
 
 Now Troy to thee commends her future state. 
 
 And gives her gods companions of thy fate ; 
 
 From their assistance, happier walls expect. 
 
 Which, wand’ring long, at last thou shalt erect.’ 
 
 He said, and brought me, from their blest abodes. 
 The venerable statues of the gods ; 
 
 With ancient Vesta from the sacred choir, 
 
 The wreaths and relics of the immortal fire. 
 
 Now peals of shouts came thundering from afar, 
 Cries, threats, and loud laments, and mingled war : 
 The noise approaches, though our palace stood 
 Aloof from streets, encompassed with a wood. 
 Louder, and yet more loud, I hear the alarms 
 Of human cries, distinct, and clashing arms. 
 
 Fear broke my slumbers ; I no longer stay, 
 
 But mount the terrace, thence the town survey. 
 
 And hearken, what the frightful sounds convey. 
 Thus, when a flood of fire by wind is borne, 
 Crackling it rolls, and mows the standing corn ; 
 
 Or deluges, descending on the plains. 
 
 Sweep o’er the yellow year, destroy the pains 
 Of lab’ring oxen, and the peasant’s gains ; 
 
 Unroot the forest oaks, and bear away 
 Flocks, folds, and trees, an undistinguished prey : 
 The shepherd climbs the cliff, and sees from far 
 The wasteful ravage of the watery war. 
 
 Then Hector’s faith was manifestly cleared ; 
 
 And Grecian frauds in open light appeared. 
 
 The palace of Deiphobus ascends 
 
 380 
 
 385 
 
 390 
 
 395 
 
 400 
 
 405 
 
 410 
 
 415 
 
40 
 
 VIRGIVS ^NEIS. 
 
 [book II. 
 
 In smoky flames, and catches on his friends.’ 
 Ucalegon’s burns next : the seas are bright 
 420 With splendour not their own, and shine with Trojan 
 New clamours and new clangours now arise, [light. 
 The sound of trumpets mixed with fighting-cries. 
 With frenzy seized, I run to meet the alarms, 
 Resolved on death, resolved to die in arms, 
 
 425 But first to gather friends, with them to oppose 
 (If fortune favoured) and repel the foes : 
 
 Spurred by my courage, by my country fired 
 With sense of honour, and revenge inspired. 
 
 Panthus, Apollo’s priest, a sacred name, 
 
 430 Had ’scaped the Grecian swords and passed the flame : 
 With relics laden, to my doors he fled. 
 
 And by the hand his tender grandson led. 
 
 ‘ What hope, O Panthus ! whither can we run ? 
 Where make a stand and what may yet be done ?’ 
 435 Scarce had I said, when Panthus, with a groan : 
 
 ‘ Troy is no more, and Ilium was a town ! 
 
 The fatal day, the appointed hour is come. 
 
 When wrathful Jove’s irrevocable doom 
 Transfers the Trojan state to Grecian hands. 
 
 440 The fire consumes the town, the foe commands ; 
 
 And armed hosts, an unexpected force. 
 
 Break from the bowels of the fatal horse. 
 
 Within the gates, proud Sinon throws about 
 The flames ; and foes, for entrance press without, 
 
 445 With thousand others, whom I fear to name. 
 
 More than from Argos or Mycenae came. 
 
 To several posts their parties they divide : 
 
 Some block the narrow streets, some scour the wide : 
 The bold they kill, the unwary they surprise ; 
 
 450 Who fights finds death, and death finds him who flies. 
 The warders of the gate but scarce maintain 
 The unequal combat, and resist in vain.’ 
 
 I heard ; and heaven, that well-born souls inspires. 
 Prompts me, through lifted swords and rising fires 
 455 To run, where clashing arms and clamour calls. 
 
 And rush undaunted to defend the walls. 
 
 Ripheus and Iphitus by my side engage ; 
 
BOOK 11.] 
 
 VIRGIVS JENEIS. 
 
 41 
 
 For valour one renowned, and one for age. 
 
 Dymas and Hypanis by moonlight knew 
 My motions and my mien, and to my party drew ; 
 With young Choroebus, who by love was led 
 To win renown, and fair Cassandra’s bed; 
 
 And lately brought his troops to Priam’s aid. 
 Forewarned in vain by the prophetic maid; 
 
 Whom when I saw resolved in arms to fall, 
 
 And that one spirit animated all, 
 
 ^ Brave souls ! (said I) but brave, alas ! in vain ; 
 Come, finish what our cruel fates ordain : 
 
 You see the desperate state of our affairs ; 
 
 And Heaven’s protecting powers are deaf to prayers. 
 The passive gods behold the Greeks defile 
 Their temples, and abandon to the spoil 
 Their own abodes : we, feeble few, conspire 
 To save a sinking town, involved in fire. 
 
 Then let us fall, but fall amidst our foes : 
 
 Despair of life the means of living shows.’ 
 
 So bold a speech encouraged their desire 
 Of death, and added fuel to their fire. 
 
 As hungry wolves, with raging appetite, 
 
 Scour through the fields, nor fear the stormy night : 
 Their whelps at home expect the promised food. 
 And long to temper their dry chaps in blood : 
 
 So rushed we forth at once : resolved to die, 
 Resolved, in death, the last extremes to try. 
 
 We leave the narrow lanes behind, and dare 
 The unequal combat in the public square : 
 
 Night was our friend; our leader was despair. 
 
 What tongue can tell the slaughter of that night? 
 What eyes can weep the sorrows and affright? 
 
 An ancient and imperial city falls ; 
 
 The streets are filled with frequent funerals ; 
 
 Houses and holy temples float in blood ; 
 
 And hostile nations make a common flood. 
 
 Not only Trojans fall; but, in their turn. 
 
 The vanquished triumph, and the victors mourn. 
 Ours take new courage from despair and night : 
 Confused the fortune is, confused the fight. 
 
 460 
 
 465 
 
 470 
 
 475 
 
 480 
 
 485 
 
 490 
 
 495 
 
42 
 
 VIRGirS yENEIS. 
 
 [book II. 
 
 All parts resound with tumults, plaints, and fears ; 
 And grisly death in sundry shapes appears. 
 
 500 Androgeos fell among us, with his band. 
 
 Who thought us Grecians newly come to land. 
 
 ^ From whence (said he), my friends, this long delay? 
 You loiter, while the spoils are borne away: 
 
 Our ships are laden with the Trojan store; 
 
 505 And you, like truants, come too late ashore.’ 
 
 He said, but soon corrected his mistake. 
 
 Found by the doubtful answers which we make. 
 Amazed, he would have shunned the unequal fight ; 
 But we, more numerous, intercept his flight. 
 
 510 As when some peasant in a bushy brake 
 Has with unwary footing pressed a snake. 
 
 He starts aside, astonished, when he spies 
 His rising crest, blue neck, and rolling eyes : 
 
 So, from our arms, surprised Androgeos flies 
 515 In vain; for him and his we compass round. 
 Possessed with fear, unknowing of the ground, 
 
 And of their lives an easy conquest found. 
 
 Thus fortune on our first endeavour smiled. 
 Choroebus then, with youthful hopes beguiled, 
 
 520 Swoln with success, and of a daring mind. 
 
 This new invention fatally designed : 
 
 ‘ My friends (said he), since fortune shews the way, 
 ’Tis fit we should the auspicious guide obey; 
 
 For what has she these Grecian arms bestowed, 
 
 525 But their destruction, and the Trojans’ good ? 
 
 Then change we shields, and their devices bear : 
 
 Let fraud supply the want of force in war. 
 
 They find us arms.’ This said, himself he dressed 
 In dead Androgeos’ spoils, his upper vest, 
 
 530 His painted buckler, and his plumy crest. 
 
 Thus Ripheus, Dymas, all the Trojan train. 
 
 Lay down their own attire, and strip the slain. 
 Mixed with the Greeks, we go with ill presage. 
 Flattered with hopes to glut our greedy rage ; 
 
 535 Unknown, assaulting whom we blindly meet. 
 
 And strew with Grecian carcases, the street. 
 
 Thus while their straggling parties we defeat, 
 
BOOK II.] 
 
 VIRGirS ^NEIS. 
 
 Some to the shore and safer ships retreat ; 
 
 And some, oppressed with more ignoble fear, 
 Remount the hollow horse, and pant in secret there. 
 
 But ah ! what use of valour can be made. 
 
 When heaven’s propitious powers refuse their aid? 
 Behold the royal prophetess, the fair 
 Cassandra, dragged by her dishevelled hair; 
 
 Whom not Minerva’s shrine, nor sacred bands. 
 
 In safety could protect from sacrilegious hands. 
 
 On heaven she cast her eyes, she sighed, she cried — 
 ’Twas all she could — her tender arms were tied. 
 
 So sad a sight Choroebus could not bear; 
 
 But, fired with rage, distracted with despair. 
 
 Amid the barbarous ravishers he flew ; 
 
 Our leader’s rash example we pursue. 
 
 But storms of stones, from the proud temple’s height 
 Pour down, and on our battered helms alight : 
 
 We from our friends received this fatal blow. 
 
 Who thought us Grecians, as we seemed in show. 
 They aim at the mistaken crests, from high ; 
 
 And ours beneath the ponderous ruin lie. 
 
 Then, moved with anger and disdain, to see 
 Their troops dispersed, the royal virgin free, 
 
 The Grecians rally, and their powers unite. 
 
 With fury charge us, and renew the fight. 
 
 The brother-kings with Ajax join their force. 
 
 And the whole squadron of Thessalian horse. 
 
 Thus, when the rival winds their quarrel try. 
 Contending for the empire of the sky. 
 
 South, East, and West, on airy coursers borne: 
 
 The whirlwind gathers, and the woods are torn : 
 Then Nereus strikes the deep: the billows rise. 
 
 And, mixed with ooze and sand, pollute the skies. 
 
 The troops we squandered first, again appear 
 From several quarters, and inclose the rear. 
 
 They first observe, and to the rest betray 
 Our different speech : our borrowed arms survey. 
 Oppressed with odds, we fall; Choroebus first, 
 
 At Pallas’ altar, by Peneleus pierced. 
 
 Then Ripheus followed, in the unequal fight ; 
 
44 VIRGirS ^NEIS. [book ii. 
 
 Just of his word, observant of the right: 
 
 Heaven thought not so. Dymas their fate attends, 
 580 With Hypanis, mistaken by their friends. 
 
 Nor, Panthus, thee, thy mitre nor the bands 
 Of awful Phoebus, saved from impious hands. 
 
 Ye Trojan flames ! your testimony bear, 
 
 What I performed and what 1 suffered there ; 
 
 585 No sword avoiding in the fatal strife. 
 
 Exposed to death, and prodigal of life. 
 
 Witness ye heavens ! I live not by my fault : 
 
 I strove to have deserved the death I sought. 
 
 But when I could not fight, and would have died ; 
 590 Borne off to distance by the growing tide. 
 
 Old Iphitus and I were hurried thence, 
 
 With Pelias, wounded, and without defence. 
 
 New clamours from the invested palace ring: 
 
 We run to die, or disengage the king. 
 
 595 So hot the assault, so high the tumult rose. 
 
 While ours defend, and while the Greeks oppose. 
 
 As all the Dardan and Argolic race 
 Has been contracted in that narrow space ; 
 
 Or, as all Ilium else were void of fear, 
 
 600 And tumult, war, and slaughter, only there. 
 
 Their targets in a tortoise cast, the foes. 
 
 Secure advancing, to the turrets rose : 
 
 Some mount the scaling ladders ; some, more bold, 
 Swerve upwards, and by posts and pillars hold : 
 
 605 Their left hand gripes their bucklers in the ascent. 
 While with the right they seize the battlement. 
 
 From the dem.olished towers, the Trojans throw 
 Pluge heaps of stones, that, falling, crush the foe : 
 And heavy beams and rafters from the sides 
 610 (Such arms their last necessity provides !) 
 
 And gilded roofs, come tumbling from on high, 
 
 The marks of state and ancient royalty. 
 
 The guards below, fixed in the pass, attend , 
 
 The charge, undaunted, and the gate defend. 
 
 615 Renewed in courage with recovered breath, 
 
 A second time we ran to tempt our death. 
 
 To clear the palace from the foe, succeed 
 
BOOK II.] 
 
 VIRGJrS JENEIS. 
 
 45 
 
 The weary living, and revenge the dead. 
 
 A postern-door, yet unobserved and free. 
 
 Joined by the length of a blind gallery, 620 
 
 To the king^s closet led (a way well-known 
 To Hector’s wife, while Priam held the throne — 
 
 Through which she brought Astyanax, unseen. 
 
 To cheer his grandsire, and his grandsire’s queen). 
 Through this we pass, and mount the tower, from whence 
 With unavailing arms the Trojans make defence. 626 
 From this the trembling king had oft descried 
 The Grecian camp, and saw their navy ride. 
 
 Beams from its lofty height with swords we hew. 
 
 Then, wrenching with our hands, the assault renew; 630 
 And where the rafters on the columns meet, 
 
 We push them headlong with our arms and feet. 
 
 The lightning flies not swifter than the fall ; 
 
 Nor thunder louder than the ruined wall : 
 
 Down goes the top at once : the Greeks beneath 635 
 Are piecemeal torn, or pounded into death. 
 
 Yet more succeed, and more to death are sent : 
 
 We cease not from above, nor they below relent. 
 
 Before the gate stood Pyrrhus, threatening loud, 
 
 With glittering arms conspicuous in the crowd. 640 
 
 So shines, renewed in youth, the crested snake 
 Who slept the winter in a thorny brake. 
 
 And casting off his slough when spring returns, 
 
 Now looks aloft, and with new glory burns. 
 
 Restored with poisonous herbs ; his ardent sides 645 
 Reflect the sun ; and, raised on spires, he rides 
 High o’er the grass : hissing he rolls along, 
 
 And brandishes by fits his forky tongue. 
 
 Proud Periphas, and fierce Automedon, 
 
 His father’s charioteer, together run 650 
 
 To force the gate : the Scyrian infantry 
 
 Rush on in crowds, and the barred passage free. 
 
 Entering the court, with shouts the skies they rend ; 
 
 And flaming firebrands to the roofs ascend. 
 
 Himself, among the foremost, deals his blows, 655 
 
 And with his axe repeated strokes bestows 
 On the strong doors : then all their shoulders ply. 
 
46 
 
 VIRGWS MNEIS. 
 
 [book II. 
 
 Till from the posts the brazen hinges fly. 
 
 He hews apace ; the double bars at length 
 660 Yield to his axe, and unresisted strength. 
 
 A mighty breach is made ; the rooms concealed, 
 Appear, and all the palace is revealed : 
 
 The halls of audience, and of public state. 
 
 And where the lonely queen in secret sat. 
 
 665 Armed soldiers now by trembling maids are seen, 
 With not a door, and scarce a space between. 
 
 The house is filled with loud laments and cries ; 
 And shrieks of women rend the vaulted skies. 
 
 The fearful matrons run from place to place, 
 
 670 And kiss the thresholds, and the posts embrace. 
 The fatal work inhuman Pyrrhus plies ; 
 
 And all his father sparkles in his eyes. 
 
 No bars nor fighting guards his force sustain : 
 
 The bars are broken, and the guards are slain. 
 
 675 In rush the Greeks, and all the apartments fill ; 
 Those few defendants whom they find, they kill. 
 
 Not with so fierce a rage, the foaming flood 
 Roars when he finds his rapid course withstood, 
 Bears down the dams with unresisted sway, 
 
 680 And sweeps the cattle and the cots away. 
 
 These eyes beheld him when he marched between 
 The brother-kings : I saw the unhappy queen. 
 
 The hundred wives, and where old Priam stood. 
 
 To stain his hallowed altar with his blood. 
 
 685 The fifty nuptial beds (such hopes had he. 
 
 So large a promise of a progeny). 
 
 The posts of plated gold, and hung with spoils. 
 
 Fell the reward of the proud victor’s toils. 
 
 Where’er the raging fire had left a space, 
 
 690 The Grecians enter, and possess the place. 
 
 Perhaps you may of Priam’s fate inquire. 
 
 He, when he saw his regal town on fire. 
 
 His ruined palace, and his entering foes. 
 
 On every side, inevitable woes : 
 
 695 In arms disused invests his limbs, decayed 
 Like them with age : a late and useless aid. 
 
 His feeble shoulders scarce the weight sustain : 
 
BOOK IT.] 
 
 VIRGIL S MNEIS, 
 
 47 
 
 Loaded, not armed, he creeps along with pain. 
 
 Despairing of success, ambitious to be slain ! 
 
 Uncovered but by heaven, there stood in view 700 
 
 An altar : hear the hearth a laurel grew. 
 
 Doddered with age, whose boughs encompass round 
 The household gods, and shade the holy ground. 
 
 Here Hecuba, with all her helpless train 
 
 Of dames, for shelter sought, but sought in vain. 705 
 
 Driven like a flock of doves along the sky. 
 
 Their images they hug, and to their altars fly. 
 
 The queen, when she beheld her trembling lord. 
 
 And hanging by his side a heavy sword : 
 
 ‘ What rage (she cried) has seized my husband’s mind ? 
 What arms are these, and to what use designed? 71 1 
 These times want other aids! Were Hector here. 
 
 E’en Hector now in vain, like Priam, would appear. 
 
 With us, one common shelter thou shalt find. 
 
 Or in one common fate with us be joined.’ 715 
 
 She said, and with a last salute embraced 
 The poor old man, and by the laurel placed. 
 
 Behold ! Polites, one of Priam’s sons. 
 
 Pursued by Pyrrhus, there for safety runs. 
 
 Through swords and foes, amazed and hurt, he flies 720 
 Through empty courts, and open galleries. 
 
 Him Pyrrhus, urging with his lance, pursues. 
 
 And often reaches, and his thrusts renews. 
 
 The youth, transfixed, with lamentable cries 
 
 Expires before his wretched parents’ eyes : 725 
 
 Whom gasping at his feet when Priam saw, 
 
 The fear of death gave place to Nature’s law; 
 
 And, shaking more with anger than with age : 
 
 ‘ The gods (said he) requite thy brutal rage ! 
 
 (As sure they will, barbarian, sure they must, 730 
 
 If there be gods in heaven, and gods be just) 
 
 Who takest in wrongs an insolent delight ; 
 
 With a son’s death to infect a father’s sight. 
 
 Not he, whom thou and lying fame conspire 
 
 To call thee his — not he, thy vaunted sire 735 
 
 Thus used my wretched age : the gods he feared. 
 
 The laws of nature and of nations heard. 
 
48 
 
 VIRGIL'S AiNEIS. 
 
 [book II. 
 
 He cheered my sorrows, and, for sums of gold. 
 
 The bloodless carcase of my Hector sold; 
 
 740 Pitied the woes a parent underwent. 
 
 And sent me back in safety from his tent.’ 
 
 This said, his feeble hand a javelin threw. 
 
 Which, fluttering, seemed to loiter as it flew : 
 
 Just, and but barely, to the mark it held, 
 
 745 And faintly tinkled on the brazen shield. 
 
 Then Pyrrhus thus : ‘ Go thou from me to fate. 
 And to my father my foul deeds relate. 
 
 N ow die ! ’ With that he dragged the trembling sire, 
 Sliddering through clottered blood and holy mire 
 750 (The mingled paste his murdered son had made), 
 Hauled from beneath the violated shade, 
 j And on the sacred pile the royal victim laid. 
 
 His right hand held his bloody falchion bare; 
 
 \ His left he twisted in his hoary hair; 
 
 755^ Then, with a speeding thrust his heart he found : 
 
 The lukewarm blood came rushing through the wound , 
 And sanguine streams distained the sacred ground. 
 Thus Priam fell, and shared one common fate 
 With Troy in ashes, and his ruined state: 
 
 760 He, who the sceptre of all Asia swayed. 
 
 Whom monarchs like domestic slaves obeyed ! 
 
 On the bleak shore now lies the abandoned king, 
 
 A headless carcase, and a nameless thing ! 
 
 Then, not before, I felt my curdled blood 
 765 Congealed with fear ; my hair with horror stood : 
 
 My father’s image filled my pious mind. 
 
 Lest equal years might equal fortune find. 
 
 Again I thought on my forsaken wife. 
 
 And trembled for my son’s abandoned life. 
 
 770 I looked about, but found myself alone. 
 
 Deserted at my need ! My friends were gone 1 
 Some spent with toil, some with despair oppressed 
 Leaped headlongfromtheheights; the flames consumed 
 Thus, wandering in my way without a guide, [the rest. 
 775 The graceless Helen in the porch I spied 
 Of Vesta’s temple ; there she lurked alone; 
 
 Muffled she sat, and what she could, unknown : 
 
BOOK II.] 
 
 VIRGinS MNEIS, 
 
 49 
 
 But by the flames that cast their blaze around, 
 
 That common bane of Greece and Troy I found: 
 
 For Ilium burnt, she dreads the Trojan sword; 780 
 More dreads the vengeance of her injured lord : 
 
 E^en by those gods who refuged her, abhorred. 
 
 Trembling with rage, the strumpet I regard. 
 
 Resolved to give her guilt the due reward. 
 
 ‘ Shall she triumphant sail before the wind, 785 
 
 And leave in flames unhappy Troy behind.^ 
 
 Shall she her kingdom and her friends review, 
 
 In state attended with a captive crew. 
 
 While unrevenged the good old Priam falls. 
 
 And Grecian fires consume the Trojan walls? 790 
 
 For this the Phrygian fields and Xanthian flood 
 Were swelled with bodies, and were drunk with blood ! 
 ’Tis true, a soldier can small honour gain. 
 
 And boast no conquest from a woman slain ; 
 
 Yet shall the fact not pass without applause, 795 
 
 Of vengeance taken in so just a cause. 
 
 The punished crime shall set my soul at ease. 
 
 And murmuring manes of my friends appease.’ 
 
 Thus while I rave, a gleam of pleasing light 
 Spread o’er the place ; and, shining heavenly bright, 800 
 My mother stood revealed before my sight 
 (Never so radiant did her eyes appear ; 
 
 Not her own star confessed a light so clear) : 
 
 Great in her charms, as when on gods above 
 
 She looks, and breathes herself into their love. 805 
 
 She held my hand, the destined blow to break ; 
 
 Then from her rosy lips began to speak : 
 
 ‘ My son ! from whence this madness, this neglect 
 Of my commands, and those whom I protect? 
 
 Why this unmanly rage? Recall to mind 810 
 
 Whom you forsake, what pledges leave behind. 
 
 Look if your helpless father yet survive. 
 
 Or if Ascanius or Crelisa live. 
 
 Around your house the greedy Grecians err; 
 
 And these had perished in the nightly war 815 
 
 But for my presence, and protecting care. 
 
 Not Helen’s face, nor Paris, was in fault; 
 
 D 
 
50 
 
 VIRGirS MNEIS. 
 
 [book II. 
 
 But by the gods was this destruction brought. 
 
 Now cast your eyes around, while I dissolve 
 820 The mists and films that mortal eyes involve, 
 
 Purge from your sight the dross, and make you see 
 The shape of each avenging deity. 
 
 Enlightened thus, my just commands fulfil. 
 
 Nor fear obedience to your mother’s will. 
 
 825 Where yon disordered heap of ruin lies. 
 
 Stones rent from stones — where clouds of dust arise, — 
 Amid that smother, Neptune holds his place, 
 
 Below the walFs foundation drives his mace. 
 
 And heaves the building from the solid base. 
 
 830 Look! where in arms, imperial Juno stands. 
 
 Full in the Scaean gate, with loud commands 
 Urging on shore the tardy Grecian bands. 
 
 See 1 Pallas, of her snaky buckler proud. 
 
 Bestrides the tower, refulgent through the cloud : 
 
 835 See! Jove new courage to the foe supplies. 
 
 And arms against the town the partial deities. 
 
 Haste hence, my son ! this fruitless labour end : 
 Haste ! where your trembling spouse and sire attend : 
 Haste ! and amotheFs care your passage shallbefriend.^ 
 840 She said, and swiftly vanished from my sight. 
 Obscure in clouds, and gloomy shades of night. 
 
 I looked, I listened ! dreadful sounds 1 hear ; 
 
 And the dire forms of hostile gods appear, 
 
 Troy sunk in flames 1 saw (nor could prevent), 
 
 845 And Ilium from its old foundations rent — 
 
 Rent like a mountain-ash, which dared the winds. 
 And stood the sturdy strokes of labouring hinds. 
 About the roots the cruel axe resounds ; 
 
 The stumps are pierced with oft-repeated wounds : 
 850 The war is felt on high; the nodding crown 
 
 Now threats a fall, and throws the leafy honours down. 
 To their united force it yields, though late. 
 
 And mourns with mortal groans the approaching fate : 
 The roots no more their upper load sustain ; 
 
 855 But down she falls, and spreads a ruin through the plain. 
 Descending thence, I ’scape through foes and fire : 
 Before the goddess, foes and flames retire. 
 
BOOK II.] V/RGirs ^NEIS, 
 
 Arrived at home, he, for whose only sake. 
 
 Or most for his, such toils I undertake — 
 
 The good Anchises — whom, by timely flight, 
 
 I purposed to secure on Ida’s height — 
 
 Refused the journey, resolute to die, 
 
 And add his funerals to the fate of Troy, 
 
 Rather than exile and old age sustain. 
 
 ^ Go you, whose blood runs warm in every vein. 
 
 Had heaven decreed that I should life enjoy. 
 Heaven had decreed to save unhappy Troy. 
 
 ’Tis, sure, enough, if not too much, for one, 
 
 Twice to have seen our Ilium overthrown. 
 
 Make haste to save the poor remaining crew ; 
 
 And give this useless corpse a long adieu. 
 
 These weak old hands suffice to stop my breath : 
 
 At least the pitying foes will aid my death. 
 
 To take my spoils, and leave my body bare : 
 
 As for my sepulchre, let Heaven take care. 
 
 ’Tis long since I, for my celestial wife 
 
 Loathed by the gods, have dragged a lingering life ; 
 
 Since every hour and moment I expire, 
 
 Blasted from heaven by Jove’s avenging fire.’ 
 
 This oft repeated, he stood fixed to die : 
 
 Myself, my wife, my son, my family. 
 
 Intreat, pray, beg, and raise a doleful cry — 
 
 ‘ What ! will he still persist, on death resolve, 
 
 And in his ruin all his house involve ?’ 
 
 He still persists his reasons to maintain ; 
 
 Our prayers, our tears, our loud laments are vain. 
 
 Urged by despair, again I go to try 
 The fate of arms, resolved in flght to die. 
 
 What hope remains, but what my death must give ? 
 
 ‘ Can I without so dear a father, live 1 
 
 You term it prudence, what I baseness call : 
 
 Could such a word from such a parent fall ? 
 
 If fortune please, and so the gods ordain. 
 
 That nothing should of ruined Troy remain. 
 
 And you conspire with fortune to be slain ; 
 
 '/rhe way to death is wide, the approaches near ; 
 
 For soon relentless Pyrrhus will appear, 
 
 860 
 
 865 
 
 870 
 
 875 
 
 880 
 
 885 
 
 890 
 
 895 
 
52 
 
 VIRGirS MNEIS. 
 
 [book II. 
 
 Reeking with Priam^s blood — the wretch who slew 
 The son (inhuman) in the father’s view ; 
 
 900 And then the sire himself to the dire altar drew. 
 
 0 goddess mother ! give me back to fate ; 
 
 Your gift was undesired, and came too late. 
 
 Did you, for this, unhappy me convey 
 Through foes and fires, to see my house a prey ! 
 
 905 Shall I my father, wife, and son, behold 
 
 Weltering in blood, each other’s arms infold ? 
 
 Haste! gird my sword, though spent and overcome: 
 ’Tis the last summons to receive our doom. 
 
 1 hear thee, fate I and I obey thy call ! 
 
 910 Not unrevenged the foe shall see my fall. 
 
 Rekore me to the yet unfinished fight : 
 
 My death is wanting to conclude the night’ 
 
 Armed once again, my glittering sword I wield. 
 While the other hand sustains my weighty shield ; 
 
 915 And forth I rush to seek the abandoned field. 
 
 I went ; but sad Creiisa stopped my way, 
 
 And ’cross the threshold in my passage lay. 
 Embraced my knees, and, when I would have gone, 
 Shewed me my feeble sire, and tender son. 
 
 920 ‘ If death be your design — at least (said she) 
 
 Take us along, to share your destiny. 
 
 If any farther hopes in arms remain. 
 
 This place, these pledges of your love, maintain. 
 
 To whom do you expose your father’s life, 
 
 925 Your son’s, and mine, your now forgotten wife?’ 
 
 While thus she fills the house with clamorous cries. 
 Our hearing is diverted by our eyes : 
 
 For, while I held my son, in the short space 
 Betwixt our kisses and our last embrace, ^ 
 
 930 (Strange to relate!) from young lulus’ head 
 
 A lambent flame arose, which gently spread ^ 
 
 Around his brows, and on his temples fed. \ 
 
 Amazed, with running water we prepare . '' 
 
 To quench the sacred fire, and slake his hair ; 
 
 935 But old Anchises, versed in omens, reared t 
 
 His hands to heaven, and this request preferred : \ 
 
 ‘ If any vows, almighty Jove, can bend ' 
 
BOOK II.] 
 
 VIRGirS MNEIS. 
 
 53 
 
 Thy will, if piety can prayers commend ; 
 
 Confirm the glad presage which thou art pleased to send.’ 
 Scarce had he said, when on our left we hear 940 
 
 A peal of rattling thunder roll in air : 
 
 There shot a streaming lamp along the sky. 
 
 Which on the winged lightning seemed to fly ; 
 
 From o’er the roof the blaze began to move. 
 
 And, trailing, vanished in the Idean grove. 945 
 
 It swept a path in heaven, and shone a guide. 
 
 Then in a steaming stench of sulphur died. 
 
 The good old man with suppliant hands implored 
 The gods’ protection, and their star adored. 
 
 ‘ Now, now, (said he,) my son, no more delay ! 950 
 
 I yield, I follow where heaven shows the way. 
 
 Keep (O my country gods!) our dwelling-place, 
 
 And guard the relic of this Trojan race. 
 
 This tender child ! — These omens are your own ; 
 
 And you can yet restore the ruined town. 955 
 
 At least accomplish what your signs foreshow : 
 
 I stand resigned, and am prepared to go.’ 
 
 He said ; the crackling flames appear on high, 
 
 And driving sparkles dance along the sky ; 
 
 With Vulcan’s rage the rising winds conspire, 960 
 
 And near our palace roll the flood of fire. 
 
 ‘ Haste, my dear father ! (’tis no time to wait) 
 
 And load my shoulders with a willing freight. 
 
 Whate’er befalls, your life shall be my care ; 
 
 One death, or one deliverance we will share. 965 
 
 My hand shall lead our little son ; and you. 
 
 My faithful consort, shall our steps pursue. 
 
 Next, you my servants, heed my strict commands : 
 Without the walls a ruined temple stands, 
 
 To Ceres hallowed once : a cypress nigh 970 
 
 Shoots up her venerable head on high. 
 
 By long religion kept : there bend your feet ; 
 
 And in divided parties let us meet. 
 
 Our country gods, the relics, and the bands, 
 
 Hold you, my father, in your guiltless hands : 975 
 
 In me ’tis impious, holy things to bear. 
 
 Red as I am with slaughter, new from war. 
 
[book II. 
 
 54 VIRGirS ^NEIS. 
 
 Till in some living stream I cleanse the guilt 
 Of dire debate, and blood in battle spilt.’ 
 
 980 Thus, ordering all that prudence could provide, 
 
 I clothe my shoulders with a lion’s hide 
 And yellow spoils ; then, on my bending back, 
 
 The welcome load of my dear father take ; 
 
 While on my better hand Ascanius hung, 
 
 985 And with unequal paces tript along. 
 
 Creiisa kept behind : by choice we stray 
 Through every dark and every devious way. 
 
 I, who so bold and dauntless, just before. 
 
 The Grecian darts and shock of lances bore, 
 
 990 At every shadow now, am seized with fear. 
 
 Not for myself, but for the charge I bear ; 
 
 Till, near the ruined gate arrived at last. 
 
 Secure, and deeming all the danger past, 
 
 A frightful noise of trampling feet we hear. 
 
 995 My father, looking through the shades with fear. 
 Cried out, ‘ Haste, haste, my son ! the foes are nigh ; 
 Their swords and shining armour I descry.’ 
 
 Some hostile god, for some unknown offence. 
 
 Had sure bereft my mind of better sense ; 
 
 1000 For, while through winding ways I took my flight, 
 
 , And sought the shelter of the gloomy night, 
 
 Alas ! I lost Creiisa : hard to tell 
 If by her fatal destiny she fell. 
 
 Or weary sat, or wandered with affright ; 
 
 1005 But she was lost for ever to my sight. 
 
 I knew not, or reflected, till I meet 
 My friends at Ceres’ now-deserted seat. 
 
 We met : not one was wanting ; only she 
 Deceived her friends, her son, and wretched me. 
 1010 What mad expressions did my tongue refuse ? 
 Whom did I not of gods or men accuse 
 This was the fatal blow, that pained me more 
 Than all I felt from ruined Troy before. 
 
 Stung with my loss, and raving with despair, 
 1015 Abandoning my now-forgotten care. 
 
 Of counsel, comfort, and of hope bereft. 
 
 My sire, my son, my country gods, I left. 
 
BOOK II.] 
 
 VIRGirS ^NEIS. 
 
 55 
 
 In shining armour once again I sheath 
 My limbs, not feeling wounds, nor fearing death ; 
 
 Then headlong to the burning walls I run, 1020 
 
 And seek the danger I was forced to shun. 
 
 I tread my former tracks, through night explore 
 Each passage, every street I crossed before. 
 
 All things were full of horror and affright. 
 
 And dreadful e’en the silence of the night. 1025 
 
 Then to my father’s house I make repair. 
 
 With some small glimpse of hope to find her there. 
 Instead of her, the cruel Greeks I met : 
 
 The house was filled with foes, with flames beset. 
 
 Driven on the wings of winds, whole sheets of fire 1030 
 Through air transported, to the roofs aspire. 
 
 From thence to Priam’s palace I resort. 
 
 And search the citadel, and desert court. 
 
 Then, unobserved, I pass by Juno’s church : 
 
 A guard of Grecians had possessed the porch ; 1035 
 
 There Phoenix and Ulysses watch the prey ; 
 
 And thither all the wealth of Troy convey : 
 
 The spoils which they from ransacked houses brought ; 
 And golden bowls from burning altars caught ; 
 
 The tables of the gods, the purple vests, 1040 
 
 The people’s treasure, and the pomp of priests. 
 
 A rank of wretched youths, with pinioned hands. 
 
 And captive matrons, in long order stands. 
 
 Then, with ungoverned madness, I proclaim 
 
 Through all the silent streets Creiisa’s name : 1045 
 
 Creiisa still I call : at length she hears. 
 
 And sudden, through the shades of night, appears — 
 Appears, no more Creiisa, nor my wife. 
 
 But a pale spectre, larger than the life. 
 
 Aghast, astonished, and struck dumb with fear 1050 
 I stood : like bristles rose my stiffened hair. 
 
 Then thus the ghost began to soothe my grief : 
 
 ‘ Nor tears, nor cries, can give the dead relief. 
 
 Desist, my much-loved lord to indulge your pain ; 
 
 You bear no more than what the gods ordain. 1055 
 
 My fates permit me not from hence to fly ; 
 
 Nor he, the great controller of the sky. 
 
56 
 
 VIRGICS MNEIS. 
 
 [book II. 
 
 Long wandering ways for you the powers decree : 
 
 On land, hard labours, and a length of sea. 
 
 1060 Then, after many painful years are past, 
 
 On Latium’s happy shore you shall be cast ; 
 
 Where gentle Tiber from his bed beholds 
 The flowery meadows, and the feeding folds. 
 
 There, end your toils, and there your fates provide 
 1065 A quiet kingdom, and a royal bride : 
 
 There Fortune shall the Trojan line restore ; 
 
 And you for lost Creiisa weep no more. 
 
 Fear not that I shall watch, with servile shame, 
 The imperious looks of some proud Grecian dame ; 
 1070 Or, stooping to the victoFs lust, disgrace 
 My goddess-mother, or my royal race. 
 
 And now, farewell ! the parent of the gods 
 Restrains my fleeting soul in her abodes. 
 
 I trust our common issue to your care.^ 
 
 1075 She said, and gliding passed unseen in air. 
 
 I strove to speak ; but horror tied my tongue ; 
 
 And thrice about her neck my arms I flung, 
 
 And thrice deceived, on vain embraces hung : 
 
 Light as an empty dream at break of day, 
 
 1080 Or as a blast of wind, she rushed away. 
 
 Thus having passed the night in fruitless pain, 
 
 I to my longing friends return again 
 (Amazed the augmented number to behold. 
 
 Of men and matrons mixed, of young and old) : 
 
 1085 A wretched exiled crew together brought. 
 
 With arms appointed, and with treasure fraught, 
 Resolved, and willing, under my command 
 To run all hazards both of sea and land. 
 
 The Morn begun, from Ida, to display 
 1090 Her rosy cheeks ; and Phosphor led the day : 
 Before the gates the Grecians took their post. 
 
 And all pretence of late relief was lost. 
 
 I yield to Fate, unwillingly retire. 
 
 And, loaded, up the hill convey my sire. 
 
BOOK III. 
 
 THE ARGUMENT. 
 
 .^neas proceeds in his relation : he gives an account of the fleet 
 with which he sailed, and the success of his first voyage to 
 Thrace. From thence he directs his course to Delos, and 
 asks the oracle v/hat place the gods had appointed for his 
 habitation. By a mistake of the oracle’s answer, he settles 
 in Crete. His household gods give him the true sense of the 
 oracle in a dream. He follows their advice, and makes the 
 best of his way for Italy. He is cast on several shores, and 
 meets with very surprising adventures, till at length he lands 
 on Sicily, where his father Anchises dies. This is the place 
 which he was sailing from, when the tempest rose, and 
 threw him upon the Carthaginian coast. 
 
 "X T 7 HEN Heaven had overturned the Trojan state 
 V V And Priam’s throne, by too severe a fate ; 
 
 When ruined Troy became the Grecian’s prey, 
 
 And Ilium’s lofty towers in ashes lay ; 
 
 Warned by celestial omens, we retreat, 5 
 
 To seek in foreign lands a happier seat. 
 
 Near old Antandros, and at Ida’s foot. 
 
 The timber of the sacred groves we cut, 
 
 And build our fleet — uncertain yet to find 
 What place the gods for our repose assigned. lo 
 
 Friends daily flock ; and scarce the kindly spring 
 Began to clothe the ground, and birds to sing, 
 
 When old Anchises summoned all to sea : 
 
 The crew, my father and the Fates olpey. 
 
 With sighs and tears I leave my native shore, 15 
 
 And empty fields, where Ilium stood before. 
 
 My sire, my son, our less and greater gods. 
 
VIRGins .-ENEIS. 
 
 [book III. 
 
 Al] sail at once, and cleave the briny floods. 
 Against our coast appears a spacious land, 
 
 20 Which once the fierce Lycurgus did command 
 (Thracia the name — the people bold in war — 
 Vast are their fields, and tillage is their care), 
 
 A hospitable realm while Fate was kind. 
 
 With Troy in friendship and religion joined. 
 
 25 I land with luckless omens ; then adore 
 
 Their gods, and draw a line along the shore : 
 
 I lay the deep foundations of a wall. 
 
 And ^nos, named from me, the city call. 
 
 To Dionman Venus vows are paid, 
 
 30 And all the powers that rising labours aid ; 
 
 A bull on Jove^s imperial altar laid. 
 
 Not far, a rising hillock stood in view* : 
 
 Sharp myrtles on the sides, and cornels grew. 
 There, while I went to crop the sylvan scenes, 
 
 35 And shade our altar with their leafy greens, 
 
 I pulled a plant (with horror I relate 
 A prodigy so strange, and full of fate). 
 
 The rooted fibres rose, and from the wound. 
 
 Black bloody drops distilled upon the ground. 
 
 40 Mute and amazed, my hair with terror stood ; 
 Fear shrunk my sinews, and congealed my blood. 
 Manned once again, another plant I try ; 
 
 That other gushed with the same sanguine dye. 
 Then fearing guilt for some offence unknown, 
 
 45 With prayers and vows the Dryads I atone. 
 
 With all the sisters of the woods, and most 
 The god of arms, who rules the Thracian coast— 
 That they, or he, these omens would avert. 
 Release our fears, and better signs impart. 
 
 50 Cleared, as I thought, and fully fixed at length 
 To learn the cause, I tugged with all my strength : 
 I bent my knees against the ground : once more 
 The violated myrtle ran with gore. 
 
 Scarce dare I tell the sequel : from the womb 
 55 Of wounded earth, and caverns of the tomb, 
 
 A groan, as. of a troubled ghost, renewed 
 My fright, and then these dreadful words ensued : 
 
BOOK III.] 
 
 VIRGJVS JENEIS, 
 
 59 
 
 ‘ Why dost thou thus my buried body rend.^ 
 
 O ! spare the corpse of thy unhappy friend ! 
 
 Spare to pollute thy pious hands with blood : 6o 
 
 The tears distil not from the wounded wood ; 
 
 But every drop this living tree contains, 
 
 Is kindred blood, and ran in Trojan veins. 
 
 O ! fly from this unhospitable shore, 
 
 Warned by my fate; for I am Polydore! 65 
 
 Here loads of lances, in my blood embrued. 
 
 Again shoot upward, by my blood renewed.^ 
 
 My faltering tongue and shivering limbs declare 
 My horror, and in bristles rose my hair. 
 
 When Troy with Grecian arms was closely pent, 70 
 
 Old Priam, fearful of the waPs event. 
 
 This hapless Polydore to Thracia sent : 
 
 Loaded with gold, he sent his darling far 
 From noise and tumults, and destructive war: 
 
 Committed to the faithless tyranPs care; 75 
 
 Who, when he saw the power of Troy decline. 
 
 Forsook the weaker, with the strong to join : 
 
 Broke every bond of nature and of truth. 
 
 And murdered, for his wealth, the royal youth. 
 
 0 sacred hunger of pernicious gold ! 80 
 
 What bands of faith can impious lucre hold? 
 
 Now, when my soul had shaken off her fears, 
 
 1 call my father, and the Trojan peers — 
 
 Relate the prodigies of heaven — require 
 
 What he commands, and their advice desire. 85 
 
 All vote to leave that execrable shore. 
 
 Polluted with the blood of Polydore ; 
 
 But, ere we sail, his funeral rites prepare ; 
 
 Then to his ghost, a tomb and altars rear. 
 
 In mournful pomp the matrons walk the round, 90 
 
 With baleful cypress and blue fillets crowned. 
 
 With eyes dejected, and with hair unbound. 
 
 Then bowls of tepid milk and blood we pour. 
 
 And thrice invoke the soul of Polydore. 
 
 Now, when the raging storms no longer reign, 95 
 
 But southern gales invite us to the main. 
 
 We launch our vessels, with a prosperous wind. 
 
6o 
 
 VIRGirS ^NEIS. 
 
 [book 
 
 A. e the cities and the shores behind. 
 
 ^ -.1 island in the ^gasan main appears : 
 
 100 Neptune and watery Doris claim it theirs. 
 
 It floated once, till Phoebus fixed the sides 
 To rooted earth; and now it braves the tides. 
 
 Here, borne by friendly winds, we come ashore. 
 With needful ease our weary limbs restore, 
 
 105 And the Sun’s temple and his town adore. 
 
 Anius, the priest and king, with laurel crowned. 
 His hoary locks with purple fillets bound. 
 
 Who saw my sire the Delian shore ascend. 
 
 Came forth with eager haste to meet his friend : 
 no Invites him to his palace ; and in sign 
 
 Of ancient love, their plighted hands they join. 
 
 Then to the temple of the god I went, 
 
 And thus, before the shrine, my vows present : 
 
 ‘ Give, O Thymbrseus ! give a resting-place 
 1 15 To the sad relics of the Trojan race : 
 
 A seat secure, a region of their own, 
 
 A lasting empire, and a happier town. 
 
 Where shall we fix.^ where shall our labours end? 
 Whom shall we follow, and what fate attend? 
 
 120 Let not my prayers a doubtful answer find; 
 
 But in clear auguries unveil thy mind.’ 
 
 Scarce had I said: he shook the holy ground. 
 
 The laurels, and the lofty hills around ; 
 
 And from the tripos rushed a bellowing sound. 
 
 125 Prostrate we fell ; confessed the present god. 
 
 Who gave this answer from his dark abode : 
 
 ‘ Undaunted youths ! go, seek that mother earth 
 From which your ancestors derive their birth. 
 
 The soil that sent you forth, her ancient race, 
 
 130 In her old bosom shall again embrace. 
 
 Through the wide world the ^neian house shall reign 
 And children’s children shall the crown sustain.’ 
 Thus Phoebus did our future fates disclose ; 
 
 A mighty tumult, mixed with joy, arose. 
 
 135 All are concerned to know what place the god 
 Assigned, and where determined our abode. 
 
 My father, long revolving in his mind 
 
BOOK III.] 
 
 VIRGJrS ^NEIS. 
 
 6i 
 
 The race and lineage of the Trojan k’- h 
 Thus answered their demands : ^ Ye princes ! hear 
 Your pleasing fortune, and dispel your fear. 140 
 
 The fruitful isle of Crete, well-known to fame. 
 
 Sacred of old to Jove’s imperial name. 
 
 In the mid ocean lies, with large command ; 
 
 And on its plains a hundred cities stand. 
 
 Another Ida rises there; and we 145 
 
 From thence derive our Trojan ancestry. 
 
 From thence, as ’tis divulged by certain fame. 
 
 To the Rhoetean shores old Teucer came; 
 
 There fixed, and there the seat of empire chose. 
 
 Ere Ilium and the^Trojan towers arose. 150 
 
 In humble vales they built their soft abodes; 
 
 Till Cybele, the mother of the gods. 
 
 With tinkling cymbals charmed the Idean woods. 
 
 She secret rites and ceremonies taught. 
 
 And to the yoke the savage lions brought. 155 
 
 Let us the land which Heaven appoints, explore; 
 
 Appease the winds, and seek the Gnossian shore. 
 
 If Jove assists the passage of our fleet. 
 
 The third propitious dawn discovers Crete.’ 
 
 Thus having said, the sacrifices, laid 160 
 
 On smoking altars, to the gods he paid : 
 
 A bull to Neptune, an oblation due, 
 
 Another bull to bright Apollo, slew : 
 
 A milk-white ewe, the western winds to please. 
 
 And one coal-black, to calm the stormy seas. 165 
 
 Ere this, a flying rumour had been spread. 
 
 That fierce Idomeneus from Crete was fled. 
 
 Expelled and exiled ; that the coast was free 
 From foreign or domestic enemy. 
 
 We leave the Delian ports, and put to sea ; 170 
 
 By Naxos, famed for vintage, make our way ; 
 
 Then green Donysa pass ; and sail in sight 
 Of Paros’ isle, with marble quarries white. 
 
 We pass the scattered isles of Cyclades, 
 
 That, scarce distinguished, seem to stud the seas. 
 
 The shouts of sailors double near the shores ; 
 
 They stretch their canvas, and they ply their oars. 
 
 175 
 
62 
 
 RGirs ^NEIS, 
 
 [book III. 
 
 ‘ All hanc or Crete ! for Crete ! ^ they cry, 
 
 And swifti ’.iuugn the foamy billows fly. 
 i8o Full on the promised land at length we bore, 
 
 With joy descending on the Cretan shore. 
 
 With eager haste a rising town I frame. 
 
 Which from the Trojan Pergamus I name : 
 
 The name itself was grateful : — I exhort 
 185 To found their houses, and erect a fort. 
 
 Our ships are hauled upon the yellow strand : 
 
 The youth begin to till the laboured land ; 
 
 And I myself new marriages promote. 
 
 Give laws ; and dwellings I divide by lot : 
 
 190 When rising vapours choke the wholesome air. 
 
 And blasts of noisome winds corrupt the year : 
 
 The trees, devouring caterpillars burn : 
 
 Parched was the grass, and blighted was the corn : 
 Nor ^scape the beasts; for Sirius, from on high 
 195 With pestilential heat infects the sky : 
 
 My men — some fall, the rest in fevers fry. 
 
 Again my father bids me seek the shore 
 Of sacred Delos, and the god implore, 
 
 To learn what end of woes we might expect, 
 
 200 And to what clime our weary course direct. 
 
 ’Twas night, when every creature void of cares. 
 The common gift of balmy slumber shares : 
 
 / The statues of my gods (for such they seemed — 
 Those gods whom I from flaming Troy redeemed;, 
 205 Before me stood, majestically bright. 
 
 Full in the beams of Phoebe^s entering light. 
 
 Then thus they spoke, and eased my troubled mind : 
 ‘ What from the Delian god thou goest to find. 
 
 He tells thee here, and sends us to relate. 
 
 210 Those powers are we, companions of thy fate. 
 
 Who from the burning town by thee were brought. 
 Thy fortune followed, and thy safety wrought. 
 Through seas and lands as we thy steps attend. 
 
 So shall our care thy glorious race befriend. 
 
 215 An ample realm for thee thy fates ordain, 
 
 A town, that o’er the conquered world shall reign. 
 Thou, mighty walls for mighty nations build ; 
 
feOOK III.] 
 
 VI R Gins AlNEIS, 
 
 63 
 
 N or let thy weary mind to labours yield : 
 
 But change thy seat ; for not the Delian god 
 
 Nor we, have given thee Crete for our abode. 220 
 
 A land there is, Hesperia called of old, 
 
 (The soil is fruitful, and the natives bold — 
 
 The QEnotrians held it once,) by later fame 
 
 Now called Italia, from the leader’s name. 
 
 lasius there, and Dardanus, were born : 225 
 
 From thence we came, and thither must return. 
 
 Rise, and thy sire with these glad tidings greet : 
 
 Search Italy; for Jove denies thee Crete.’ 
 
 Astonished at their voices and their sight, 
 
 (Nor were they dreams but visions of the night ; 230 
 
 I saw, I knew their faces, and descried 
 In perfect view, their hair with fillets tied) 
 
 I started from my couch ; a clammy sweat 
 On all my limbs, and shivering body, sat. 
 
 To heaven I lift my hands with pious haste, 235 
 
 And sacred incense in the flames I cast. 
 
 Thus to the gods their perfect honours done. 
 
 More cheerful to my good old sire I run. 
 
 And tell the pleasing news. In little space 
 
 He found his error of the double race, 240 
 
 Not, as before he deemed, derived from Crete ; 
 
 No more deluded by the doubtful seat ; 
 
 Then said : ^ O son, turmoiled in Trojan fate ! 
 
 Such things as these Cassandra did relate. 
 
 This day revives within my mind, what she 245 
 
 Foretold of Troy renewed in Italy, 
 
 And Latian lands : but who could then have thought 
 That Phrygian gods to Latium should be brought; 
 
 Or who believed what mad Cassandra taught.? 
 
 Now let us go where Phoebus leads the way.’ 250 
 
 He said ; and we with glad consent obey; 
 
 Forsake the seat ; and, leaving few behind, 
 
 ""^e spread our sails before the willing wind. 
 
 Now from the sight of land our galleys move. 
 
 With only seas around, and skies above; 255 
 
 When o’er our heads descends a burst of rain. 
 
 And night with sable clouds involves the main ; 
 
64 
 
 VIRGWS ^NEIS. 
 
 [book III. 
 
 The ruffling winds the foamy billows raise ; 
 
 The scattered fleet is forced to several ways ; 
 
 260 The face of heaven is ravished from our eyes ; 
 
 And in redoubled peals the roaring thunder flies. 
 Cast from our course, we wander in the dark ; 
 
 No stars to guide, no point of land to mark. 
 
 E^en Palinurus no distinction found [around. 
 
 265 Betwixt the night and day; such darkness reigned 
 Three starless nights the doubtful navy strays 
 Without distinction, and three sunless days : 
 
 The fourth renews the light ; and from our shrouds 
 We view a rising land, like distant clouds ; 
 
 270 The mountain-tops confirm the pleasing sight. 
 
 And curling smoke ascending from their height. 
 
 The canvas falls ; their oars the sailors ply ; 
 
 From the rude strokes the whirling waters fly. 
 
 At length I land upon the Strophades, 
 
 275 Safe from the danger of the stormy seas. 
 
 Those isles are compassed by the Ionian main ; 
 
 The dire abode where the foul Harpies reign. 
 
 Forced by the winged warriors to repair 
 To their old homes, and leave their costly fare. 
 
 280 Monsters more fierce, offended Heaven ne’er sent 
 From hell’s abyss, for human punishment : 
 
 With virgin-faces, but with wombs obscene. 
 
 Foul paunches, and with ordure still unclean ; 
 
 With claws for hands, and looks for ever lean. 
 
 285 We landed at the port, and soon beheld 
 F at herds of oxen graze the flowery field ; 
 
 And wanton goats without a keeper strayed. 
 
 With weapons we the welcome prey invade ; 
 
 Then call the gods for partners of our feast, 
 
 290 And Jove himself, the chief invited guest. 
 
 We spread the tables on the greensward ground ; 
 We feed with hunger, and the bowls go round ; 
 When from the mountain-tops, with hideous cry. 
 And clattering wings, the hungry Harpies fly : 
 
 295 They snatch the meat, defiling all they find. 
 
 And parting, leave a loathsome stench behind. 
 
 Close by a hollow rock, again we sit, 
 
BOOK III.] 
 
 V/J^GirS MNEIS. 
 
 6s 
 
 New-dress the dinner, and the beds refit, 
 
 Secure from sight, beneath a pleasing shade, 
 
 Where tufted trees a native arbour made. 300 
 
 Again the holy fires on altars burn ; 
 
 And once again the ravenous birds return. 
 
 Or from the dark recesses where they lie. 
 
 Or from another quarter of the sky ;• 
 
 With filthy claws their odious meal repeat, 305 
 
 And mix their loathsome ordures with their meat. 
 
 I bid my friends for vengeance then prepare. 
 
 And with the hellish nation wage the war. 
 
 They, as commanded, for the fight provide. 
 
 And in the grass their glittering weapons hide ; 310 
 
 Then, when along the crooked shore we hear 
 Their clattering wings, and saw the foes appear, 
 
 Misenus sounds a charge : we take the alarm. 
 
 And our strong hands with swords and bucklers arm. 
 
 In this new kind of combat, all employ 315 
 
 Their utmost force, the monsters to destroy — 
 
 In vain : — the fated skin is proof to wounds ; 
 
 And from their plumes the shining sword rebounds. 
 
 At length rebuffed, they leave their mangled prey. 
 
 And their stretched pinions to the skies display. 320 
 Yet one remained — the messenger of fate: 
 
 High on a craggy cliff Celseno sat. 
 
 And thus her dismal errand did relate : 
 
 ‘ What ! not contented with our oxen slain. 
 
 Dare you with heaven an impious war maintain, 325 
 And drive the Harpies from their native reign ? 
 
 Heed therefore what I say ; and keep in mind 
 What Jove decrees, what Phoebus has designed, 
 
 And I, the Furies’ queen, from both relate — 
 
 You seek the Italian shores : foredoomed by fate, 330 
 The Italian shores are granted you to find. 
 
 And a safe passage to the port assigned. 
 
 But know, that, ere your promised walls you build. 
 
 My curses shall severely be fulfilled. 
 
 Fierce famine is your lot : for this misdeed. 
 
 Reduced to grind the plates on which you feed.’ 
 
 She said, and to the neighbouring forest flew. 
 
 E 
 
 335 
 
66 
 
 VIRGirS ^NEIS, 
 
 [book III. 
 
 Our courage fails us, and our fears renew. 
 
 Hopeless to win by war, to prayers we fall, 
 
 340 And on the offended Harpies hurrjbly call. 
 
 And (whether gods or birds obscene they were) 
 
 Our vows, for pardon and for peace, prefer. 
 
 But old Anchises, offering sacrifice. 
 
 And lifting up to heaven his hands and eyes, 
 
 345 Adored the greater gods — ‘ Avert (said he) 
 
 These omens ! render vain this prophecy. 
 
 And from the impending curse a pious people free.^ 
 Thus having said, he bids us put to sea. 
 
 We loose from shore our halsers, and obey, 
 
 350 And soon with swelling sails pursue our watery way. 
 Amidst our course, Zacynthian woods appear; 
 
 And next by rocky Neritos we steer : 
 
 We fly from Ithaca’s detested shore. 
 
 And curse the land which dire Ulysses bore. 
 
 355 At length Leucate’s cloudy top appears. 
 
 And the Sun’s temple, which the sailor fears. 
 Resolved to breathe awhile from labour past. 
 
 Our crooked anchors from the prow we cast. 
 
 And joyful to the little city haste. 
 
 360 Here, safe beyond our hopes, our vows we pay 
 To Jove, the guide and patron of our way. 
 
 The customs of our country we pursue. 
 
 And Trojan games on Actian shores renew. 
 
 Our youth their naked limbs besmear with oil, 
 
 365 And exercise the wrestlers’ noble toil : 
 
 Pleased to have sailed so long before the wind. 
 
 And left so many Grecian towns behind. 
 
 The sun had now fulfilled his annual course. 
 
 And Boreas on the seas displayed his force : 
 
 370 I fixed upon the temple’s lofty door 
 
 The brazen shield which vanquished Abas bore : 
 
 The verse beneath, my name and action speaks : 
 
 ‘ These arms ^neas took from conquering Greeks.’ 
 Then I command to weigh : the seamen ply 
 375 Their sweeping oars : the smoking billows fly. 
 
 The sight of high Phasacia soon we lost. 
 
 And skimmed along Epirus’ rocky coast. 
 
BOOK III.] 
 
 VIRGIVS AlNEIS. 
 
 67 
 
 Then to Chaonia^s port our course we bend, 
 
 And, landed, to Buthrotus’ heights ascend. 
 
 Here wondrous things were loudly blazed by Fame : 380 
 How Helenas revived the Trojan name. 
 
 And reigned in Greece ; that PrianVs captive son 
 Succeeded Pyrrhus in his bed and throne; 
 
 And fair Andromache, restored by fate. 
 
 Once more was happy in a Trojan mate. 385 
 
 I leave my galleys riding in the port, 
 
 And long to see the new Dardanian court. 
 
 By chance, the mournful queen, before the gate. 
 
 Then solemnized her former husband^s fate. 
 
 Green altars, raised of turf, with gifts she crowned ; 390 
 
 And sacred priests in order stand around. 
 
 And thrice the name of hapless Hector sound. 
 
 The grove itself resembles Ida^s wood ; 
 
 And Simois seemed the well-dissembled flood. 
 
 But when, at nearer distance, she beheld 395 
 
 My shining armour and my Trojan shield. 
 
 Astonished at the sight, the vital heat 
 Forsakes her limbs, her veins no longer beat : 
 
 She faints, she falls, and scarce recovering strength, 
 Thus, with a faltering tongue, she speaks at length : 400 
 
 ‘ Are you alive, O goddess-born ! (she said) 
 
 Or, if a ghost, then where is HectoFs shade?’ 
 
 At this she cast a loud and frightful cry. 
 
 With broken words I made this brief reply : 
 
 ‘ All of me that remains, appears in sight ; 405 
 
 I live ; if living be to loathe the light — 
 
 No phantom ; but I drag a wretched life ; 
 
 My fate resembling that of Hector’s wife. 
 
 What have you suffered since you lost your lord ? 
 
 By what strange blessing are you now restored? 410 
 Still are you Hector’s? or is Hector fled. 
 
 And his remembrance lost in Pyrrhus’ bed ?’ 
 
 With eyes dejected, in a lowly tone. 
 
 After a modest pause, she thus begun : 
 
 ‘ O only happy maid of Priam’s race, 415 
 
 Whom death delivered from the foe’s embrace ! 
 Commanded on Achilles’ tomb to die, 
 
68 VlRGins yENEIS. [BOOK iii. 
 
 Not forced, like us, to hard captivity, 
 
 Or in a haughty master’s arms to lie., 
 
 420 In Grecian ships, unhappy we were borne. 
 
 Endured the victor’s lust, sustained the scorn : 
 
 Thus I submitted to the lawless pride 
 Of Pyrrhus, more a handmaid than a bride. 
 
 Cloyed with possession, he forsook my bed, 
 
 425 And Helen’s lovely daughter sought to wed ; 
 
 Then, me to Trojan Helenas resigned. 
 
 And his two slaves in equal marriage joined ; 
 
 Till young Orestes, pierced with deep despair. 
 
 And longing to redeem the promised fair, 
 
 430 Before Apollo’s altar slew the ravisher. 
 
 By Pyrrhus’ death the kingdom we regained : 
 
 At least one half with Helenas remained. 
 
 Our part, from Chaon, he Chaonia calls ; 
 
 And names, from Pergamus, his rising walls. 
 
 435 But you, what fates have landed on our coast? 
 
 What gods have sent you, or what storms,have tossed ? 
 Does young Ascanius life and health enjoy. 
 
 Saved from the ruins of unhappy Troy ? 
 
 O ! tell me how his mother’s loss he bears, 
 
 440 What hopes are promised from his blooming years. 
 How much of Hector in his face appears?^ 
 
 She spoke ; and mixed her speech with mournful cries ; 
 And fruitless tears came trickling from her eyes. 
 
 At length her lord descends upon the plain, 
 
 445 In pomp, attended with a numerous train ; 
 
 Receives his friends, and to the city leads. 
 
 And tears of joy amidst his welcome sheds. 
 Proceeding on, another Troy I see. 
 
 Or in less compass, Troy’s epitome. 
 
 450 A rivulet by the name of Xanthus ran ; 
 
 And I embrace the Scsean gate again. 
 
 My friends in porticoes were entertained ; 
 
 And feasts and pleasures through the city reigned. 
 The tables filled the spacious hall around ; 
 
 455 And golden bowls with sparkling wine were crowned. 
 Two days we passed in mirth, till friendly gales. 
 Blown from the south, supplied our swelling sails ; 
 
BOOK III.] 
 
 VIRGirS ^NEIS. 
 
 69 
 
 Then to the royal seer I thus began : 
 
 ‘ O thou who knowest beyond the reach of man, 
 
 The laws of heaven, and what the stars decree ; 460 
 
 Whom Phoebus taught unerring prophecy, 
 
 From his own tripod, and his holy tree — 
 
 Skilled in the winged inhabitants of air. 
 
 What auspices their notes and flights declare — 
 
 O ! say — (for all religious rights portend 465 
 
 A happy voyage, and a prosperous end ; 
 
 And every power and omen of the sky • 
 
 Direct my course for destined Italy ; 
 
 But only dire Celasno, from the gods, 
 
 A dismal famine fatally forebodes) — 470 
 
 O ! say, what dangers I am first to shun. 
 
 What toils to vanquish, and what course to run.^ 
 
 The prophet first with sacrifice adores 
 The greater gods ; their pardon then implores ; 
 
 Unbinds the fillet from his holy head ; 475 
 
 To Phoebus, next, my trembling steps he led. 
 
 Full of religious doubts and awful dread. 
 
 Then, with his god possessed, before the shrine 
 These words proceeded from his mouth divine : 
 
 ‘ O goddess-born ! (for heaven’s appointed will, 480 
 
 With greater auspices of good than ill. 
 
 Foreshows thy voyage, and thy course directs ; 
 
 Thy fates conspire, and Jove himself protects,) 
 
 Of many things, some few I shall explain. 
 
 Teach thee to shun the dangers of the main, 485 
 
 And how at length the promised shore to gain. 
 
 The rest, the fates from Helenas conceal. 
 
 And Juno’s angry power forbids to tell. 
 
 First then, that happy shore that seems so nigh, 
 
 Will far from your deluded wishes fly : 490 
 
 Long tracts of seas divide your hopes from Italy. 
 
 For you must cruise along Sicilian shores. 
 
 And stem the currents with your struggling oars ; 
 
 Then round the Italian coast your navy steer ; 
 
 And, after this, to Circe’s island veer ; 495 
 
 And last, before your new foundations rise. 
 
 Must pass the Stygian lake, and view the nether skies. 
 
70 
 
 VIRGirS ^NEIS. 
 
 [book III. 
 
 Now mark the signs of future ease and rest ; 
 
 And bear them safely treasured in thy breast. 
 
 500 When, in the shady shelter of a wood, 
 
 And near the margin of a gentle flood, 
 
 Thou shalt behold a sow upon the ground. 
 
 With thirty sucking young encompassed round 
 (The dam and offspring white as falling snow); 
 
 505 These, on thy city shall their name bestow ; 
 
 And there, shall end thy labours and thy woe. 
 
 Nor let the threatened famine fright thy mind ; 
 
 For Phoebus will assist; and Fate the way will find. 
 Let not thy course to that ill coast be bent, 
 
 510 Which fronts from far the Epirian continent : 
 
 Those parts are all by Grecian foes possessed. 
 
 The savage Locrians here the shores infest : 
 
 There fierce Idomeneus his city builds. 
 
 And guards with arms the Salentinian fields; 
 
 515 And on the mountain’s brow Petilia stands. 
 
 Which Philoctetes with his troops commands. 
 
 E’en when thy fleet is landed on the shore. 
 
 And priests with holy vows the gods adore, 
 
 Then with a purple veil involve your eyes, 
 
 520 Lest hostile faces blast the sacrifice. 
 
 These rites and customs to the rest commend. 
 
 That to your pious race they may descend. 
 
 When, parted hence, the wind that ready waits 
 For Sicily, shall bear you to the straits : 
 
 525 Where proud Pelorus opes a wider way. 
 
 Tack to the larboard, and stand off to sea : 
 
 Veer starboard sea and land. The Italian shore 
 And fair Sicilia’s coast were one, before 
 An earthquake caused the flaw : the roaring tides 
 530 The passage broke, that land from land divides ; 
 
 And, where the lands retired, the rushing ocean rides. 
 Distinguished by the straits, on either hand, 
 
 Now rising cities in long order stand. 
 
 And fruitful fields : — so much can time invade 
 535 The mouldering work, that beauteous Nature made. 
 Far on the right, her dogs foul Scylla hides : 
 Charybdis roaring on the left presides, 
 
BOOK III.] 
 
 VIRGirS MNEIS. 
 
 And in her greedy whirlpool sucks the tides, 
 
 Then spouts them from below ; with fury driven, 
 The waves mount up, and wash the face of heaven. 
 But Scylla from her den, with open jaws. 
 
 The sinking vessel in her eddy draws. 
 
 Then dashes on the rocks. — A human face. 
 
 And virgin bosom, hide her taiPs disgrace : 
 
 Her parts obscene below the waves descend. 
 
 With dogs inclosed, and in a dolphin end. 
 
 ^Tis safer, then, to bear aloof to sea. 
 
 And coast Pachynus, though with more delay. 
 Than once to view mis-shapen Scylla near. 
 
 And the loud yell of watery wolves to hear. 
 
 Besides, if faith to Helenas be due. 
 
 And if prophetic Phoebus tell me true, 
 
 Do not this percept of your friend forget. 
 
 Which therefore more than once I must repeat : 
 Above the rest, great Juno^s name adore ; 
 
 Pay vows to Juno ; Juno^s aid implore. 
 
 Let gifts be to the mighty queen designed ; 
 
 And mollify with prayers her haughty mind. 
 
 Thus, at the length, your passage shall be free. 
 
 And you shall safe descend on Italy. 
 
 Arrived at Cumae, when you view the flood 
 Of black Avernus, and the sounding wood. 
 
 The mad prophetic Sibyl you shall find. 
 
 Dark in a cave, and on a rock reclined. 
 
 She sings the fates, and in her frantic fits. 
 
 The notes and names, inscribed, to leaves commits. 
 What she commits to leaves, in order laid. 
 
 Before the caveriTs entrance are displayed : 
 Unmoved they lie ; but, if a blast of wind 
 Without, or vapours issue from behind. 
 
 The leaves are borne aloft in liquid air. 
 
 And she resumes no more her museful care ; 
 
 Nor gathers from the rocks her scattered verse. 
 
 Nor sets in order what the winds disperse. 
 
 Thus, many not succeeding, most upbraid 
 The madness of the visionary maid. 
 
 And with loud curses leave the mystic shade. 
 
72 
 
 VIRGirs ^NEIS. 
 
 [book III. 
 
 Think it not loss of time awhile to stay, 
 
 Though thy companions chide thy long delay ; 
 
 580 Though summoned to the seas ; though pleasing gales 
 Invite thy course, and stretch thy swelling sails ; 
 
 But beg the sacred priestess to relate 
 With willing words, and not to write, thy fate. 
 
 The fierce Italian people she will show, 
 
 585 And all thy wars, and all thy future woe ; 
 
 And what thou may^st avoid, and what must undergo. 
 She shall direct thy course, instruct thy mind. 
 
 And teach thee how the happy shores to find. 
 
 This is what heaven allows me to relate : 
 
 590 Now part in peace ; pursue thy better fate. 
 
 And raise, by strength of arms, the Trojan state.^ 
 This when the priest with friendly voice declared, 
 He gave me license, and rich gifts prepared : 
 Bounteous of treasure, he supplied my want 
 595 With heavy gold, and polished elephant ; 
 
 Then Dodonaean caldrons put on board ; 
 
 And every ship with sums of silver stored. 
 
 A trusty coat of mail to me he sent. 
 
 Thrice chained with gold, for use and ornament ; 
 
 600 The helm of Pyrrhus added to the rest. 
 
 That flourished with a plume and waving crest. 
 
 Nor was my sire forgotten, nor my friends ; 
 
 And large recruits he to my navy sends : 
 
 Men, horses, captains, arms, and warlike stores ; 
 
 605 Supplies new pilots, and new sweeping oars. 
 Meantime, my sire commands to hoist our sails. 
 
 Lest we should lose the first auspicious gales. 
 
 The prophet blessed the parting crew, and last. 
 
 With words like these, his ancient friend embraced : 
 610 ‘ Old happy man, the care of gods above ! 
 
 Whom heavenly Venus honoured with her love. 
 
 And twice preserved thy life when Troy was lost ; 
 Behold from far the wished Ausonian coast ! 
 
 There land ; but take a larger compass round ; 
 
 615 For that, before, is all forbidden ground. 
 
 The shore that Phoebus has designed for you. 
 
 At farther distance lies, concealed from view. 
 
BOOK III.] 
 
 VIRGirS A£NEIS. 
 
 73 
 
 Go happy hence, and seek your new abodes, 
 
 Blessed in a son, and favoured by the gods ; 
 
 For I with useless words prolong your stay, 620 
 
 When southern gales have summoned you away.' 
 
 Nor less the queen our parting thence deplored. 
 
 Nor was less bounteous than her Trojan lord. 
 
 A noble present to my son she brought, 
 
 A robe with flowers on golden tissue wrought : 625 
 
 A Phrygian vest ; and loads with gifts beside 
 Of precious texture, and of Asian pride. 
 
 ‘ Accept (she said) these monuments of love, 
 
 Which in my youth with happier hands I wove : 
 
 Regard these trifles for the giver's sake : 630 
 
 'Tis the last present Hector’s wife can make. 
 
 Thou call’st my lost Astyanax to mind : 
 
 In thee, his features and his form I find ; 
 
 His eyes so sparkled with a lively flame ; 
 
 Such were his motions ; such was all his frame ; 635 
 
 And ah ! had heaven so pleased, his years had been the same.’ 
 
 With tears I took my last adieu, and said : 
 
 ‘Your fortune, happy pair, already made, 
 
 Leaves you no farther wish. My different state. 
 
 Avoiding one, incurs another fate. 640 
 
 To you a quiet seat the gods allow : 
 
 You have no shores to search, no seas to plough ; 
 
 Nor fields of flying Italy to chase — 
 
 Deluding visions and a vain embrace ! 
 
 You see another Simois, and enjoy 645 
 
 The labours of your hands, another Troy, 
 
 With better auspice than her ancient towers ; 
 
 And less obnoxious to the Grecian powers. 
 
 If e’er the gods, whom I with vows adore. 
 
 Conduct my steps to Tiber’s happy shore : 650 
 
 If ever I ascend the Latian throne. 
 
 And build a city I may call my own : 
 
 As both of us our birth from Troy derive ; 
 
 So let our kindred lines in concord live ; 
 
 And both in acts of equal friendship strive. 655 
 
 Our fortunes, good or bad, shall be the same : 
 
 The double Troy shall differ but in name ; 
 
74 
 
 VIRGirS J^NEIS, 
 
 [book III. 
 
 That what we now begin, may never end, 
 
 But long to late posterity descend.^ 
 
 660 Near the Ceraunian rocks our course we bore — 
 The shortest passage to the Italian shore. 
 
 Now had the sun withdrawn his radiant light, 
 And hills were hid in dusky shades of night : 
 
 We land, and, on the bosom of the ground, 
 
 665 A safe retreat and a bare lodging found. 
 
 Close by the shore we lay ; the sailors keep 
 Their watches, and the rest securely sleep. 
 
 The night, proceeding on with silent pace. 
 
 Stood in her noon, and viewed with equal face 
 670 Her steepy rise, and her declining race. 
 
 Then wakeful Palinurus rose, to spy 
 The face of heaven, and the nocturnal sky ; 
 
 And listened every breath of air to try ; 
 
 Observes the stars, and notes their sliding course, 
 675 The Pleiads, Hyads, and their watery force ; 
 
 And both the Bears is careful to behold. 
 
 And bright Orion, armed with burnished gold. 
 Then, when he saw no threatening tempest nigh. 
 But a sure promise of a settled sky, 
 
 680 He gave the sign to weigh : we break our sleep. 
 Forsake the pleasing shore, and plough the deep. 
 
 And now the rising morn with rosy light 
 Adorns the skies, and puts the stars to flight ; 
 When we from far, like bluish mists, descry 
 685 The hills, and then the plains, of Italy. 
 
 Achates first pronounced the joyful sound; 
 
 Then ‘ Italy the cheerful crew rebound. 
 
 My sire Anchises crowned a cup with wine. 
 
 And, offering, thus implored the powers divine : 
 690 ^ Ye gods, presiding over lands and seas. 
 
 And you, who raging winds and waves appease. 
 Breathe on our swelling sails a prosperous wind. 
 And smooth our passage to the port assigned.' 
 The gentle gales their flagging force renew ; 
 
 695 And now the happy harbour is in view. 
 
 Minerva's temple then salutes our sight. 
 
 Placed, as a landmark, on the mountain’s height. 
 
V/RGirS ^NEIS. 
 
 75 
 
 BOOK III.] 
 
 We furl our sails, and turn the prows to shore ; 
 
 The curling waters round the galleys roar. 
 
 The land lies open to the raging east, 700 
 
 Then, bending like a bow, with rocks compressed, 
 
 Shuts out the storms ; the wind and waves complain. 
 And vent their malice on the cliffs in vain. 
 
 The port lies hid within ; on either side. 
 
 The towering rocks the narrow mouth divide. 705 
 
 The temple, which aloft we viewed before. 
 
 To distance flies, and seems to shun the shore. 
 
 Scarce landed, the first omens I beheld 
 Were four white steeds, that cropped the flowery field. 
 ‘War, war is threatened from this foreign ground 710 
 (My father cried), where warlike steeds are found. 
 
 Yet since reclaimed, to chariots they submit. 
 
 And bend to stubborn yokes, and champ the bit. 
 
 Peace may succeed to war.^ — Our way we bend 
 To Pallas, and the sacred hill ascend ; 715 
 
 There, prostrate, to the fierce virago pray, 
 
 Whose temple was the landmark of our way. 
 
 Each with a Phrygian mantle veiled his head. 
 
 And all commands of Helenas obeyed ; 
 
 And pious rites to Grecian Juno paid. 720 
 
 These dues performed, we stretch our sails and stand 
 To sea, forsaking that suspected land. 
 
 From hence Tarentum’s bay appears in view. 
 
 For Hercules renowned, if fame be true. 
 
 Just opposite, Lacinian Juno stands ; 725 
 
 Caulonian towers, and Scylacaean strands 
 For shipwrecks feared. Mount ^tna thence we spy. 
 Known by the smoky flames which cloud the sky. 
 
 Far off we hear the waves with surly sound 
 Invade the rocks, the rocks their groans rebound. 730 
 ^ The billows break upon the sounding strand. 
 
 And roll the rising tide, impure with sand. 
 
 Then thus, Anchises, in experience old : 
 
 ‘Tis that Charybdis which the seer foretold. 
 
 And those the promised rocks ! Bear off to sea !’ 735 
 
 With haste the frighted mariners obey. 
 
 First Palinurus to the larboard veered ; 
 
76 
 
 VIRGins yENEIS. 
 
 [book III. 
 
 Then all the fleet by his example steered. 
 
 To heaven aloft on ridgy waves we ride, 
 
 740 Then down to hell descend, when they divide ; 
 
 And thrice our galleys knocked the stony ground. 
 And thrice the hollow rocks return the sound. 
 
 And thrice we saw the stars that stood with dews around. 
 The flagging winds forsook us, with the sun ; 
 
 745 And, wearied, on Cyclopean shores we run. 
 
 The port, capacious and secure from wind. 
 
 Is to the foot of thundering ^tna joined. 
 
 By turns a pitchy cloud she rolls on high ; 
 
 By turns hot embers from her entrails fly, 
 
 750 And flakes of mountain flames, that lick the sky. 
 
 Oft from her bowels massy rocks are thrown. 
 
 And shivered by the force, come piece-meal down : 
 Oft liquid lakes of burning sulphur flow. 
 
 Fed from the fiery springs that boil below. 
 
 755 Enceladus, they say, transfixed by Jove, 
 
 With blasted limbs came tumbling from above ; 
 
 And where he fell, the avenging father drew 
 This flaming hill, and on his body threw. 
 
 As often as he turns his weary sides, 
 
 760 He shakes the solid isle, and smoke, the heavens hides. 
 In shady woods we pass the tedious night, 
 
 Where bellowing sounds and groans our souls affright. 
 Of which no cause is offered to the sight ; 
 
 For not one star was kindled in the sky; 
 
 765 Nor could the moon her borrowed light supply ; 
 
 For misty clouds involved the firmament : 
 
 The stars were muffled, and the moon was pent. 
 
 Scarce had the rising sun the day revealed ; 
 
 Scarce had his heat the pearly dews dispelled ; 
 
 770 When from the woods there bolts, before our sight, 
 Somewhat betwixt a mortal and a sprite. 
 
 So thin, so ghastly meagre, and so wan. 
 
 So bare of flesh, he scarce resembled man. 
 
 This thing, all tattered, seemed from far to implore 
 775 Our pious aid, and pointed to the shore. 
 
 We look behind; then view his shaggy beard : 
 
 His clothes were tagged with thorns, and filth his limbs 
 besmeared ; 
 
BOOK III.] VIRGWS ALNEIS. 77 
 
 The rest, in mien, in habit, and in face, 
 
 Appeared a Greek : and such indeed he was. 
 
 He cast on us, from far, a frightful view, 780 
 
 Whom soon for Trojans and for foes he knew : 
 
 Stood still, and paused ; then all at once began 
 To stretch his limbs, and trembled as he ran. 
 
 Soon as approached, upon his knees he falls. 
 
 And thus with tears and sighs for pity calls : 785 
 
 ^Now, by the powers above, and what we share 
 From nature’s common gift, this vital air, 
 
 0 Trojans, take me hence ! I beg no more ; 
 
 But bear me far from this unhappy shore. 
 
 ’Tis true I am a Greek, and farther own, 790 
 
 Among your foes besieged the imperial town. 
 
 For such demerits if my death be due. 
 
 No more for this abandoned life I sue : 
 
 This only favour let my tears obtain. 
 
 To throw me headlong in the rapid main : 795 
 
 Since nothing more than death my crime demands, 
 
 1 die content, to die by human hands.’ 
 
 He said ; and on his knees my knees embraced : 
 
 I bade him boldly tell, his fortune past. 
 
 His present state, his lineage, and his name, 800 
 
 The occasion of his fears, and whence he came. 
 
 The good Anchises raised him with his hand ; 
 
 Who thus encouraged, answered our demand : 
 
 ‘ From Ithaca, my native soil, I came 
 
 To Troy ; and Achaemenides my name. 805 
 
 Me my poor father with Ulysses sent ; 
 
 (O ! had I stayed, with poverty content !) 
 
 But, fearful for themselves, my countrymen 
 Left me forsaken in the Cyclop’s den. 
 
 The cave, though large, was dark ; the dismal floor 810 
 Was paved with mangled limbs and putrid gore. 
 
 Our monstrous host, of more than human size. 
 
 Erects his head and stares within the skies : 
 
 Bellowing, his voice, and horrid is his hue. 
 
 Ye gods, remove this plague from mortal view! 815 
 
 The joints of slaughtered wretches are his food ; 
 
 And for his wine, he quaffs the streaming blood. 
 
78 
 
 VIRGinS ^NEIS. 
 
 [book III. 
 
 These eyes beheld, when with his spacious hand 
 He seized two captives of our Grecian band ; 
 
 820 Stretched on his back, he dashed against the stones 
 Their broken bodies, and their crackling bones : 
 With spouting blood the purple pavement swims. 
 While the dire glutton grinds the trembling limbs. 
 Not unrevenged Ulysses bore their fate, 
 
 825 Nor thoughtless of his own unhappy state; 
 
 For, gorged with flesh, and drunk with human wine. 
 While fast asleep the giant lay supine 
 (Snoring aloud, and belching from his maw 
 His indigested foam, and morsels raw); 
 
 830 We pray, we cast the lots, and then surround 
 The monstrous body stretched along the ground. 
 Each, as he could approach him, lends a hand 
 To bore his eye-ball with a flaming brand. 
 
 Beneath his frowning forehead lay his eye ; 
 
 835 For only one did the vast frame supply — 
 
 But that a globe so large, his front it filled. 
 
 Like the sun’s disk, or like a Grecian shield. 
 
 The stroke succeeds ; and down the pupil bends : 
 This vengeance followed for our slaughtered friends. 
 840 But haste, unhappy wretches ! haste to fly ! 
 
 Your cables cut, and on your oars rely ! 
 
 Such, and so vast as Polypheme appears, 
 
 A hundred more this hated island bears : 
 
 Like him, in caves they shut their woolly sheep ; 
 
 845 Likehim,their herds on tops ofmountainskeep ; [steep. 
 Like him, with mighty strides they stalk from steep to 
 And now three moons their sharpened horns renew, 
 Since thus in woods and wilds, obscure from view, 
 
 I drag my loathsome days with mortal fright, 
 
 850 And in deserted caverns lodge by night. 
 
 Oft from the rocks a dreadful prospect see 
 Of the huge Cyclops, like a walking tree : 
 
 From far I hear his thundering voice resound. 
 
 And trampling feet that shake the solid ground. 
 
 855 Cornels and savage berries of the wood. 
 
 And roots and herbs have been my meagre food. 
 While all around my longing eyes I cast. 
 
BOOK III.] 
 
 VIRGirS JENEIS, 
 
 79 
 
 I saw your happy ships appear at last. 
 
 On those I fixed my hopes, to these I run : 
 
 ’Tis all 1 ask, this cruel race to shun : 860 
 
 What other death you please, yourselves bestow.' 
 
 Scarce had he said, when on the mountain’s brow. 
 
 We saw the giant shepherd stalk before 
 His following flock, and leading to the shore: 
 
 A monstrous bulk, deformed, deprived of sight ; 865 
 
 His staff a trunk of pine, to guide his steps aright. 
 
 His ponderous whistle from his neck descends; 
 
 His woolly care their pensive lord attends: 
 
 This only solace his hard fortune sends. 
 
 Soon as he reached the shore and touched the waves, 870 
 From his bored eye the gutt’ring blood he laves : 
 
 He gnashed his teeth and groaned : through seas he strides; 
 And scarce the topmost billows touched his sides. 
 
 Seized with a sudden fear, we run to sea. 
 
 The cables cut, and silent haste away ; 875 
 
 The well-deserving stranger entertain ; 
 
 Then, buckling to the work, our oars divide the main. 
 
 The giant hearkened to the dashing sound ; 
 
 But, when our vessels out of reach he found. 
 
 He strided onward, and in vain essayed 880 
 
 The Ionian deep, and durst no farther wade. 
 
 With that he roared aloud : the dreadful cry 
 Shakes earth and air and seas ; the billows fly 
 Before the bellowing noise to distant Italy, 
 
 The neighbouring JEtna. trembling all around, 885 
 
 The winding caverns echo to the sound. 
 
 His brother Cyclops hear the yelling roar. 
 
 And rushing down the mountains, crowd the shore. 
 
 We saw their stern distorted looks, from far. 
 
 And one-eyed glance, that vainly threatened war — 890 
 
 A dreadful council ! with their heads on high 
 (The misty clouds about their foreheads fly) 
 
 Not yielding to the towering tree of Jove, 
 
 Or tallest cypress of Diana's grove. 
 
 New pangs of mortal fear our minds assail ; 895 
 
 We tug at every oar, and hoist up every sail. 
 
 And take the advantage of the friendly gale. 
 
8o 
 
 VIRGins ^NEIS. 
 
 [book III. 
 
 Forewarned by Helenus, we strive to shun 
 Charybdis’ gulf, nor dare to Scylla run. 
 
 900 An equal fate on either side appears : 
 
 We, tacking to the left, are free from fears ; 
 
 For, from Pelorus’ point, the north arose, 
 
 And drove us back where swift Pantagias flows. 
 
 His rocky mouth we pass ; and make our way 
 905 By Thapsus, and Megara’s winding bay. 
 
 This passage Achaemenides had shown, 
 
 Tracing the course which he before had run. 
 
 Right o’er against Plemmyrium’s watery strand, 
 There lies an isle, once called the Ortygian land. 
 
 910 Alpheiis, as old fame reports, has found 
 
 From Greece a secret passage under ground ; 
 
 By love to beauteous Arethusa led ; 
 
 And, mingling here, they roll in the same sacred bed. 
 As Helenus enjoined, we next adore 
 915 Diana’s name, protectress of the shore. 
 
 With prosperous gales we pass the quiet sounds 
 Of still Helorus, and his fruitful bounds. 
 
 Then, doubling cape Pachynus, we survey 
 The rocky shore extended to the sea. 
 
 920 The town of Camarine from far we see. 
 
 And fenny lake, undrained by Fate’s decree. 
 
 In sight of the Geloan fields we pass. 
 
 And the large walls, where mighty Gela was ; 
 
 Then Agragas, with lofty summits crowned, 
 
 925 Long for the race of warlike steeds renowned. 
 
 We passed Selinus, and the palmy land ; 
 
 And widely shun the Lilybaean strand. 
 
 Unsafe, for secret rocks and moving sand. 
 
 At length on shore the weary fleet arrived, 
 
 930 Which Drepanum’s unhappy port received. 
 
 Here, after endless labours (often tossed 
 By raging storms, and driven on every coast). 
 
 My dear, dear father, spent with age, I lost — 
 
 Ease of my cares, and solace of my pain, 
 
 935 Saved through a thousand toils, but saved in vain ! 
 The prophet, who my future woes revealed. 
 
 Yet this, the greatest and the worst, concealed ; 
 
VJRGWS MNEIS. 
 
 BOOK III.] 
 
 And dire Celaeno, whose foreboding skill 
 Denounced all else, was silent of this ill. 
 
 This my last labour was. Some friendly god 
 From thence conveyed us to your blest abode.^^ 
 Thus, to the listening queen, the royal guest 
 His wandering course and all his toils expressed ; 
 And here concluding, he retired to rest. 
 
 8i 
 
 940 
 
 F 
 
BOOK IV. 
 
 THE ARGUMENT. 
 
 Dido discovers to her sister her passion for .^neas, and her 
 thoughts of marrying him . She prepares a hunting match 
 for his entertainment. Juno, by Venus’s consent, raises a 
 storm which separates the hunters, and drives ^neas and 
 Dido into the same cave, where their marriage is supposed 
 to be completed. Jupiter dispatches Mercury to ^Dneas, to 
 warn him from Carthage. ^Dneas secretly prepares for his 
 voyage. Dido finds out his design, and, to put a stop to it, 
 makes use of her own and her sister’s entreaties, and dis- 
 covers all the variety of passions that are incident to a 
 neglected lover. When nothing w’ould prevail upon him, 
 she contrives her own death, with which this book con- 
 cludes. 
 
 B ut anxious cares already seized the queen; 
 
 She fed within her veins a flame unseen : 
 
 The hero’s valour, acts, and birth, inspire 
 Her soul with love, and fan the secret fire. 
 
 5 His words, his looks, imprinted in her heart. 
 
 Improve the passion, and increase the smart. 
 
 Now, when the purple morn had chased away 
 The dewy shadows, and restored the day, 
 
 Her sister first with early care she sought, 
 lo And thus in mournful accents eased her thought: 
 
 My dearest Anna ! what new dreams affright 
 My labouring soul ! what visions of the night 
 Disturb my quiet, and distract my breast 
 With strange ideas of our Trojan guest ! 
 
 15 His worth, his actions, and majestic air, 
 
 A man descended from the gods, declare. 
 
 F ear ever argues a degenerate kind : 
 
VlRGinS MNEIS. 
 
 83 
 
 BOOK IV.] 
 
 His birth is well asserted by his mind. 
 
 Then, what he suffered, when by fate betrayed ! 
 
 What brave attempts for falling Troy he made! 20 
 
 Such were his looks, so gracefully he spoke. 
 
 That, were I not resolved against the yoke 
 Of hapless marriage — never to be cursed 
 With second love, so fatal was my first — 
 
 To this one error I might yield again ; 25 
 
 For, since Sichacus was untimely slain, 
 
 This only man is able to subvert 
 
 The fixed foundations of my stubborn heart. 
 
 And, to confess my frailty, to my shame. 
 
 Somewhat I find within, if not the same, 30 
 
 Too like the sparkles of my former flame. 
 
 But first let yawning earth a passage rend. 
 
 And let me through the dark abyss descend — 
 
 First let avenging Jove, with flames from high. 
 
 Drive down this body to the nether sky, 35 
 
 Condemned with ghosts in endless night to lie — 
 
 Before I break the plighted faith I gave 1 
 No 1 he who had my vows, shall ever have ; 
 
 For, whom I loved on earth, I worship in the grave.” 
 
 She said : the tears ran gushing from her eyes, 40 
 And stopped her speech. Her sister thus replies : 
 
 “ O dearer than the vital air I breathe 1 
 
 Will you to grief your blooming years bequeath. 
 
 Condemned to waste in woes your lonely life. 
 
 Without the joys of mother or of wife.^ 45 
 
 Think you these tears, this pompous train of woe. 
 
 Are known or valued by the ghosts below 1 
 I grant, that, while your sorrows yet were green. 
 
 It well became a woman, and a queen. 
 
 The vows of Tyrian princes to neglect ; 50 
 
 To scorn larbas, and his love reject ; 
 
 With all the Libyan lords of mighty name : 
 
 But will you fight against a pleasing flame ? 
 
 This little spot of land, which heaven bestows. 
 
 On every side is hemmed with warlike foes : 55 
 
 Gaetulian cities here are spread around. 
 
 And fierce Numidians there your frontiers bound : 
 
84 
 
 VIRGirS MNEIS, 
 
 [book IV. 
 
 Here lies a barren waste of thirsty land, 
 
 And there the Syrtes raise the moving sand: 
 
 6o Barcaean troops besiege the narrow shore; 
 
 And from the sea Pygmalion threatens more. 
 Propitious heaven, and gracious Juno, lead 
 This wandering navy to your needful aid : 
 
 How will your empire spread, your city rise, 
 
 65 From such a union, and with such allies ! 
 
 Implore the favour of the powers above ; 
 
 And leave the conduct of the rest to love. 
 
 Continue still your hospitable way. 
 
 And still invent occasions of their stay, 
 
 70 Till storms and winter winds shall cease to threat, 
 And planks and oars repair their shattered fleet.^^ 
 These words, which from a friend and sister came 
 With ease resolved the scruples of her fame. 
 
 And added fury to the kindled flame. 
 
 75 Inspired with hope, the project they pursue; 
 
 On every altar sacrifice renew; 
 
 A chosen ewe of two years old they pay 
 To Ceres, Bacchus, and the god of day. 
 
 Preferring Juno’s power (for Juno ties 
 80 The nuptial knot, and makes the marriage joys). 
 
 The beauteous queen before her altar stands. 
 
 And holds the golden goblet in her hands. 
 
 A milk white heifer she with flowers adorns. 
 
 And pours the ruddy wine betwixt her horns ; 
 
 85 And, while the priests with prayer the gods invoke. 
 She feeds their altars with Sabaean smoke ; 
 
 With hourly care the sacrifice renews, 
 
 And anxiously the panting entrails views. 
 
 What priestly rites, alas ! what pious art, 
 
 90 What vows avail to cure a bleeding heart 1 
 A gentle fire she feeds within her veins. 
 
 Where the soft god secure in silence reigns. 
 
 Sick with desire, and seeking him she loves. 
 
 From street to street the raving Dido roves. 
 
 95 So, when the watchful shepherd, from the blind, 
 Wounds with a random shaft the careless hind ; 
 Distracted with her pain she flies the woods. 
 
BOOK IV.] 
 
 VIRGirs ^NEIS. 
 
 85 
 
 Bounds o’er the lawn, and seeks the silent floods — 
 
 With fruitless care ; for still the fatal dart 
 
 Sticks in her side, and rankles in her heart. 100 
 
 And now she leads the Trojan chief along 
 
 The lofty walls, amidst the busy throng; 
 
 Displays her Tyrian wealth, and rising town, 
 
 Which love, without his labour makes his own. 
 
 This pomp she shows, to tempt her wandering guest : 105 
 Her faltering tongue forbids to speak the rest. 
 
 When day declines and feasts renew the night. 
 
 Still on his face she feeds her famished sight ; 
 
 She longs again to hear the prince relate 
 
 His own adventures, and the Trojan fate. no 
 
 He tells it o’er and o’er ; but still in vain ; 
 
 For still she begs to hear it once again. 
 
 The hearer on the speaker’s mouth depends ; 
 
 And thus the tragic story never ends. 
 
 Then, when they part, when Phoebe’s paler light 1 1 5 
 Withdraws, and falling stars to sleep invite. 
 
 She last remains ; when every guest is gone. 
 
 Sits on the bed he pressed, and sighs alone ; 
 
 Absent, her absent hero sees and hears ; 
 
 Or in her bosom young Ascanius bears, 120 
 
 And seeks the father’s image in the child. 
 
 If love by likeness might be so beguiled. 
 
 Meantime the rising towers are at a stand ; ^ 
 
 No labours exercise the youthful band. 
 
 Nor use of arts, nor toils of arms they know: 125 
 
 The mole is left unfinished to the foe ; 
 
 The mounds, the works, the walls neglected lie. 
 
 Short of their promised height, that seemed to threat the sky. 
 
 But when imperial Juno, from above. 
 
 Saw Dido fettered in the chains of Love, 130 
 
 Hot with the venom which her veins inflamed ; 
 
 And by no sense of shame to be reclaimed ; 
 
 With soothing words to Venus she begun : 
 
 High praises, endless honours, you have won. 
 
 And mighty trophies, with your worthy son ! 135 
 
 Two gods a silly woman have undone! 
 
 Nor am I ignorant, you both suspect 
 
86 VIRGIL'S ^NEIS. [BOOK iv. 
 
 This rising city which my hands erect : 
 
 But shall celestial discord never cease ? 
 
 140 ^Tis better ended in a lasting peace. 
 
 You stand possessed of all your soul desired ; 
 
 Poor Dido with consuming love is fired. 
 
 Your Trojan with my Tyrian let us join ; 
 
 So Dido shall be yours, ^Dneas mine — 
 
 145 One common kingdom, one united line. 
 
 Eliza shall a Dardan lord obey, 
 
 And lofty Carthage for a dower convey.^^ 
 
 Then Venus (who her hidden fraud descried. 
 
 Which would the sceptre of the world misguide 
 150 To Libyan shores) thus artfully replied : 
 
 Who, but a fool, would wars with Juno choose, 
 
 And such alliance and such gifts refuse ; 
 
 If fortune with our joint desires comply.^ 
 
 The doubt is all from Jove, and destiny ; 
 
 155 Lest he forbid, with absolute command. 
 
 To mix the people in one common land — 
 
 Or will, the Trojan and the Tyrian line 
 In lasting leagues, and sure succession, join. 
 
 But you, the partner of his bed and throne, 
 
 160 May move his mind: my wishes are your own.^^ 
 “Mine, (said imperial Juno,) be the care: 
 
 Time urges now : — to perfect this affair 
 Attend my counsel, and the secret share. 
 
 When next the sun his rising light displays, 
 
 165 And gilds the world below with purple rays. 
 
 The queen, ^neas, and the Tyrian court. 
 
 Shall to the shady woods, for sylvan game, resort. 
 There, while the huntsmen pitch their toils around, 
 And cheerful horns, from side to side, resound, 
 
 170 A pitchy cloud shall cover all the plain 
 
 With hail, and thunder, and tempestuous rain : 
 
 The fearful train shall take their speedy flight, 
 Dispersed, and all involved in gloomy night : 
 
 One cave a grateful shelter shall afford 
 175 To the fair princess and the Trojan lord. 
 
 I will myself the bridal bed prepare, 
 
 If you, to bless the nuptials, will be there ; 
 
BOOK IV.] 
 
 VIRGirS j^NEIS. 
 
 87 
 
 So shall their loves be crowned with due delights ; 
 
 And Hymen shall be present at the rites/^ 
 
 The queen of love consents, and closely smiles 180 
 
 At her vain project, and discovered wiles. 
 
 The rosy morn was risen from the main ; 
 
 And horns and hounds awake the princely train : 
 
 They issue early through the city gate. 
 
 Where the more wakeful huntsmen ready wait, 185 
 
 With nets, and toils, and darts, beside the force 
 Of Spartan dogs, and swift Massylian horse. 
 
 The Tyrian peers and officers of state. 
 
 For the slow queen, in antechambers wait: 
 
 Her lofty courser, in the court below 190 
 
 (Who his majestic rider seems to know). 
 
 Proud of his purple trappings, paws the ground ; 
 
 And champs the golden bit, and spreads the foam around. 
 The queen at length appears : on either hand, 
 
 The brawny guards in martial order stand. 195 
 
 A flowered cymar with golden fringe she wore. 
 
 And at her back a golden quiver bore ; 
 
 Her flowing hair a golden caul restrains ; 
 
 A golden clasp the Tyrian robe sustains. 
 
 Then young Ascanius, with a sprightly grace 200 
 
 Leads on the Trojan youth to view the chase. 
 
 But far above the rest in beauty shines 
 The great ^neas, when the troop he joins ; 
 
 Like fair Apollo, when he leaves the frost 
 
 Of wintry Xanthus, and the Lycian coast ; 205 
 
 When to his native Delos he resorts. 
 
 Ordains the dances, and renews the sports ; 
 
 Where painted Scythians, mixed with Cretan bands. 
 Before the joyful altars join their hands : 
 
 Himself, on Cynthus walking, sees below 210 
 
 The merry madness of the sacred show. 
 
 Green wreaths of bays his length of hair inclose ; 
 
 A golden fillet binds his awful brows ; 
 
 His quiver sounds. — Not less the prince is seen 
 In manly presence, or in lofty mien. 215 
 
 Now had they reached the hills, and stormed the seat 
 Of savage beasts, in dens, their last retreat. 
 
88 
 
 VIRGinS MNEIS. 
 
 [book IV. 
 
 The cry pursues the mountain-goats ; they bound 
 From rock to rock, and keep the craggy ground: 
 
 220 Quite otherwise the stags, a trembling train 
 In herds unsingled, scour the dusty plain. 
 
 And a long chase, in open view maintain. 
 
 The glad Ascanius, as his courser guides. 
 
 Spurs through the vale, and these and those outrides. 
 225 His horse’s flanks and sides are forced to feel 
 The clanking lash, and goring of the steel. 
 Impatiently he views the feeble prey. 
 
 Wishing some nobler beast to cross his way; 
 
 And rather would the tusky boar attend, 
 
 230 Or see the tawny lion downward bend. 
 
 Meantime, the gathering clouds obscure the skies ; 
 From pole to pole the forky lightning flies; 
 
 The rattling thunders roll ; and Juno pours 
 A wintry deluge down, and sounding showers. 
 
 235 The company, dispersed, to coverts ride. 
 
 And seek the homely cots, or mountain’s hollow side. 
 The rapid rains, descending from the hills. 
 
 To rolling torrents raise the creeping rills. 
 
 The queen and prince, as love or fortune guides, 
 
 240 One common cavern in her bosom hides. 
 
 Then first the trembling earth the signal gave ; 
 
 And flashing fires enlighten all the cave: 
 
 Hell from below, and Juno from above, 
 
 And howling nymphs, were conscious to their love. 
 245 From this ill-omened hour, in time arose 
 Debate and death, and all succeeding woes. 
 
 The queen, whom sense of honour could not move. 
 No longer made a secret of her love. 
 
 But called it marriage ; by that specious name 
 250 To veil the crime, and sanctify the shame. 
 
 The loud report through Libyan cities goes. 
 
 Fame, the great ill, from small beginnings grows — 
 Swift from the first ; and every moment brings 
 New vigour to her flights, new pinions to her wings. 
 255 Soon grows the pigmy to gigantic size ; 
 
 Her feet on earth, her forehead in the skies. 
 
 Enraged against the gods, revengeful Earth 
 
BOOK IV.] VIRGIL'S AINEIS. ' 89 
 
 Produced her, last of the Titanian birth : 
 
 Swift is her walk, more swift her wingM haste: ' 
 
 A monstrous phantom, horrible and vast. 260 
 
 As many plumes as raise her lofty flight ; 
 
 So many piercing eyes enlarge her sight; 
 
 Millions of opening mouths to fame belong. 
 
 And every mouth is furnished with a tongue ; 
 
 And round, with listening ears the flying plague is hung. 
 She fills the peaceful universe with cries : 266 
 
 No slumbers ever close her wakeful eyes : 
 
 By day, from lofty towers her head she shows, 
 
 And spreads through trembling crowds disastrous news ; 
 With court-informers, haunts, and royal spies ; 270 
 
 Things done, relates ; not done, she feigns, and mingles truth 
 Talk is her business; and her chief delight [with lies. 
 To tell of prodigies, and cause affright. 
 
 She fills the people^s ears with Dido’s name. 
 
 Who, lost to honour and the sense of shame, 275 
 
 Admits into her throne and nuptial bed 
 A wandering guest, who from his country fled. 
 
 Whole days with him she passes in delights ; 
 
 And wastes in luxury long winter nights. 
 
 Forgetful of her fame, and royal trust, 280 
 
 Dissolved in ease, abandoned to her lust. 
 
 The goddess widely spreads the loud report. 
 
 And flies at length to king larbas’ court. 
 
 When first possessed with this unwelcome news. 
 
 Whom did he not of men and gods accuse? 285 
 
 This prince, from ravished Garamantis born, 
 
 A hundred temples did with spoils adorn. 
 
 In Ammon’s honour, his celestial sire ; 
 
 A hundred altars fed with wakeful fire ; 
 
 And, through his vast dominions, priests ordained, 290 
 Whose watchful care these holy rites maintained. 
 
 The gates and golumns were with garlands crowned, 
 
 And blood of victim beasts enriched the ground. 
 
 He, when he heard a fugitive could move 
 The Tyrian princess, who disdained his love, 295 
 
 His breast with fury burned, his eyes with fire — 
 
 Mad with despair, impatient with desire — 
 
90 VIRGirS y^NElS. [book iv. 
 
 Then on the sacred altars pouring wine, 
 
 He thus with prayers implored his sire divine : 
 
 300 “ Great Jove ! propitious to the Moorish race, 
 
 Who feast on painted beds, with offerings grace 
 Thy temples, and adore thy power divine 
 With blood of victims, and with sparkling wine ; 
 Seest thou not this ! or do we fear in vain 
 305 Thy boasted thunder, and thy thoughtless reign? 
 
 Do thy broad hands the forky lightnings lance? 
 Thine are the bolts, or the blind work of chance ? 
 
 A wandering woman builds within our state, 
 
 A little town, bought at an easy rate ; 
 
 310 She pays me homage — (and my grants allow 
 A narrow space of Libyan lands to plough) ; 
 
 Yet, scorning me, by passion blindly led, 
 
 Admits a banished Trojan to her bed ! 
 
 And now this other Paris, with his train 
 315 Of conquered cowards, must in Afric reign ! 
 
 (Whom, what they are, their looks and garb confess, 
 Their locks with oil perfumed, their Lydian dress.) 
 He takes the spoil, enjoys the princely dame ; 
 
 And I, rejected I, adore an empty name I” 
 
 320 His vows, in haughty terms, he thus preferred, 
 
 And held his altar’s horns : the mighty Thunderer heard, 
 Then cast his eyes on Carthage, where he found 
 The lustful pair in lawless pleasure drowned. 
 
 Lost in their loves, insensible of shame, 
 
 325 And both forgetful of their better fame. 
 
 He calls Cyllenius; and the god attends ; 
 
 By whom this menacing command he sends : 
 
 Go, mount the western winds, and cleave the sky ; 
 Then, with a swift descent, to Carthage fly : 
 
 330 There find the Trojan chief, who wastes his days 
 In slothful riot and inglorious ease. 
 
 Nor minds the future city, given by fate. 
 
 To him this message from my mouth relate : 
 
 Nor so fair Venus hoped, when twice she won 
 335 Thy life with prayers ; nor promised such a son. 
 Her’s was a hero, destined to command 
 A martial race, and rule the Latian land ; 
 
BOOK IV .] VIRGIVS ^NEIS, 9 1 
 
 Who should his ancient line from Teucer draw; 
 
 And on the conquered world impose the law. 
 
 If glory cannot move a mind so mean, 340 
 
 Nor future praise from fading pleasure wean, 
 
 Yet why should he defraud his son of fame. 
 
 And grudge the Romans their immortal name ? 
 
 What are his vain designs ? what hopes he more 
 From his long lingering on a hostile shore, 345 
 
 Regardless to redeem his honour lost. 
 
 And for his race to gain the Ausonian coast ? 
 
 Bid him with speed the Tyrian court forsqke ; 
 
 With this command the slumbering warrior wake.” 
 
 Hermes obeys ; with golden pinions binds 350 
 
 His flying feet, and mounts the western winds : 
 
 And, whether o’er the seas or earth he flies, 
 
 With rapid force they bear him down the skies. 
 
 But first he grasps within his awful hand 
 
 The mark of sovereign power, his magic wand ; 355 
 
 With this he draws the ghosts from hollow graves ; 
 
 With this he drives them down the Stygian waves ; 
 
 With this he seals in sleep the wakeful sight. 
 
 And eyes, though closed in death, restores to light. 
 
 Thus armed, the god begins his airy race, 360 
 
 And drives the racking clouds along the liquid space ; 
 Now sees the top of Atlas, as he flies. 
 
 Whose brawny back supports the starry skies : 
 
 Atlas, whose head with piny forests crowned. 
 
 Is beaten by the winds, with foggy vapours bound. 365 
 Snows hide his shoulders : from beneath his chin 
 The founts of rolling streams their race begin : 
 
 A beard of ice on his large breast depends : 
 
 Here, poised upon his wings, the god descends. 
 
 Then, rested thus, he from the towering height 370 
 
 Plunged downward with precipitated flight : 
 
 Lights on the seas, and skims along the flood. 
 
 As water-fowl, who seek their fishy food. 
 
 Less, and yet less, to distant prospect show ; 
 
 By turns they dance aloft, and dive below : 375 
 
 Like these, the steerage of his wings he plies. 
 
 And near the surface of the water flies ; 
 
92 VIRGirS ^NEIS. [book IV. 
 
 Till, having passed the seas, and crossed the sands. 
 He closed his wings, and stooped on Libyan lands ; 
 380 Where shepherds once were housed in homely sheds, 
 Now towers, within the clouds advance their heads. 
 
 Arriving there, he found the Trojan prince 
 New ramparts raising for the town’s defence. 
 
 A purple scarf, with gold embroidered o’er 
 385 (Queen Dido’s gift), about his waist he wore ; 
 
 A sword, with glittering gems diversified. 
 
 For ornament, not use, hung idly by his side. 
 
 Then thus, with winged words, the god began 
 (Resuming his own shape) : Degenerate man ! 
 
 390 Thou woman’s property ! what mak’st thou here, 
 These foreign walls and Tyrian towers to rear? — 
 Forgetful of thy own ! All-powerful Jove, 
 
 Who sways the world below and heaven above, 
 
 Has sent me down with this severe command : 
 
 395 What means thy lingering in the Libyan land ? 
 
 If glory cannot move a mind so mean. 
 
 Nor future praise from flitting pleasure wean. 
 
 Regard the fortunes of thy rising heir : 
 
 The promised crown let young Ascanius wear, 
 
 400 To whom the Ausonian sceptre, and the state 
 Of Rome’s imperial name, is owed by fate.” 
 
 So spoke the god ; and, speaking, took his flight 
 Involved in clouds ; and vanished out of sight. 
 
 The pious prince was seized with sudden fear : 
 
 405 Mute was his tongue, and upright stood his hair. 
 Revolving in his mind the stern command. 
 
 He longs to fly, and loathes the charming land. 
 
 What should he say, or how should he begin ? 
 
 What course, alas 1 remains, to steer between 
 410 The offended lover and the powerful queen ? 
 
 This way, and that, he turns his anxious mind ; 
 
 And all expedients tries, and none can find. 
 
 Fixed on the deed, but doubtful of the means ; 
 
 After long thought, to this advice he leans : 
 
 415 Three chiefs he calls, commands them to repair 
 The fleet, and ship their men, with silent care : 
 
 Some plausible pretence he bids them find. 
 
OK IV.] 
 
 VIRG/rS MNEIS, 
 
 93 
 
 o colour what in secret he designed. 
 
 imself, meantime, the softest hours would choose, 
 
 c 
 i 
 
 efore the love-sick lady heard the news, 420 
 
 nd move her tender mind, by slow degrees 
 o suffer what the sovereign power decrees : 
 ove will inspire him, when, and what to say. 
 
 They hear with pleasure, and with haste obey. 
 
 But soon the queen perceives the thin disguise : 425 
 
 (What arts can blind a jealous woman^s eyes T) 
 
 She was the first to find the secret fraud, 
 
 Before the fatal news was blazed abroad : 
 
 Love the first motions of the lover hears, 
 
 Quick to presage, and e’en in safety fears. 430 
 
 Nor impious Fame was wanting, to report 
 The ships repaired, the Trojans’ thick resort. 
 
 And purpose to forsake the Tyrian court. 
 
 Frantic with fear, impatient of the wound. 
 
 And impotent of mind, she roves the city round. 435 
 Less wild the Bacchanalian dames appear. 
 
 When, from afar, their nightly god they hear. 
 
 And howl about the hills, and shake the wreathy spear. 
 
 At lengtli she finds the^dear perfidious man ; 
 
 Prevents his formed excuse, and thus began : 440 
 
 Base and ungrateful ! could you hope to fly. 
 
 And undiscovered ’scape a lover’s eye 1 
 
 Nor could my kindness your compassion move. 
 
 Nor plighted vows, nor dearer bands of love? 
 
 Or is the death of a despairing queen 445 
 
 Not worth preventing, though too well foreseen? 
 
 E’en when the wintry winds command your stay. 
 
 You dare the tempests, and defy the sea. 
 
 False as you are, suppose you were not bound 
 
 To lands unknown, and foreign coasts to sound ; 450 
 
 Were Troy restored, and Priam’s happy reign. 
 
 Now durst you tempt, for Troy, the raging main ? 
 
 See, whom you fly ! am I the foe you shun ? 
 
 Now, by those holy vows, so late begun. 
 
 By this right hand (since I have nothing more 455 
 
 To challenge, but the faith you gave before), 
 
 I beg you by these tears too truly shed. 
 
94 
 
 VIRGIL'S AlNEIS. 
 
 [book IV 
 
 By the new pleasures of our nuptial bed ; 
 
 If ever Dido, when you most were kind, 
 
 460 Were pleasing in your eyes, or touched your mind ; 
 By these my prayers, if prayers may yet have place, 
 Pity the fortunes of a falling race ! 
 
 For you I have provoked a tyrant^s hate. 
 
 Incensed the Libyan and the Tyrian state, 
 
 465 For you alone, I suffer in my fame. 
 
 Bereft of honour, and exposed to shame 1 
 Whom have I now to trust, ungrateful guest? 
 
 (That only name remains of all the rest !) 
 
 What have I left ? or whither can I fly ? 
 
 470 Must I attend Pygmalion’s cruelt}". 
 
 Or, till larbas shall in triumph lead 
 A queen that proudly scorned his proffered bed ? 
 
 Had you deferred, at least, your hasty flight. 
 
 And left behind some pledge of our delight ; 
 
 475 Some babe to bless the mother’s mournful sight ; 
 Some young ^Fneas to supply your place. 
 
 Whose features might express his father’s face ; 
 
 I should not then complain to live bereft 
 Of all my husband, or be wholly left.” 
 
 480 Here paused the queen. Unmoved he holds his eyes. 
 By Jove’s command ; nor suffered love to rise 
 Though heaving in his heart ; and thus at length replies : 
 
 Fair queen, you never can enough repeat 
 Your boundless favours, or I own my debt ; 
 
 485 Nor, can my mind forget Eliza’s name 
 
 While vital breath inspires this mortal frame. 
 
 This only let me speak in my defence — 
 
 1 never hoped a secret flight from hence. 
 
 Much less pretended to the lawful claim 
 490 Of sacred nuptials, or a husband’s name. 
 
 For, if indulgent heaven would leave me free. 
 
 And not submit my life to fate’s decree, 
 
 My choice would lead me to the Trojan shore. 
 
 Those relics to review, their dust adore ; 
 
 495 And Priam’s ruined palace to restore. 
 
 But now the Delphian oracle commands. 
 
 And fate invites me to the Latian lands. 
 
BOOK IV.] VIRGirS AlNETS. 
 
 That is the promised place to which I steer ; 
 
 And all my vows are terminated there. 
 
 If you, a Tyrian and a stranger born, 
 
 With walls and towers a Libyan town adorn, 
 
 Why may not we — like you, a foreign race — 
 
 Like you, seek shelter in a foreign place 1 
 As often as the night obscures the skies 
 With humid shades, or twinkling stars arise, 
 Anchises^ angry ghost in dreams appears, 
 
 Chides my delay, and fills my soul with fears ; 
 
 And young Ascanius justly may complain, 
 Defrauded of his fate and destined reign. 
 
 E^en now the herald of the gods appeared — 
 Waking I saw him, and his message heard. 
 
 From Jove he came commissioned, heavenly bright 
 With radiant beams, and manifest to sight 
 (The sender and the sent I both attest) : 
 
 These walls he entered, and those words expressed. 
 Fair queen, oppose not what the gods command : 
 Forced by my fate, I leave your happy land.^^ 
 
 Thus while he spoke, already she began 
 With sparkling eyes to view the guilty man ; 
 
 From head to foot surveyed his person o’er ; 
 
 Nor longer these outrageous threats forebore : 
 
 False as thou art, and more than false, forsworn ! 
 Not sprung from noble blood, nor goddess born. 
 But hewn from hardened entrails of a rock ! 
 
 And rough Hyrcanian tigers gave thee suck ! 
 
 Why should I fawn ? what have I worse to fear 1 
 Did he once look, or lend a listening ear, 
 
 Sighed when I sobbed, or shed one kindly tear } 
 
 All, symptoms of a base ungrateful mind. 
 
 So foul, that which is worse, ’tis hard to find. 
 
 Of man’s injustice why should I complain 
 The gods, and Jove himself, behold in vain 
 Triumphant treason : yet no thunder flies ; 
 
 Nor Juno views my wrongs with equal eyes : 
 Faithless is earth, and faithless are the skies ! 
 Justice is fled, and truth is now no more ! 
 
 I saved the shipwrecked exile on my shore ; 
 
 95 
 
 500 
 
 505 
 
 510 
 
 515 
 
 520 
 
 525 
 
 530 
 
 535 
 
96 
 
 VIRGirS y^NEIS. 
 
 [book IV. 
 
 With needful food his hungry Trojans fed : 
 
 I took the traitor to my throne and bed. 
 
 540 Fool that I was! kis little to repeat 
 
 The rest : I stored and rigged his ruined fleet. 
 
 I rave, I rave ! A god’s command he pleads, 
 
 And makes heaven accessory to his deeds. 
 
 Now Lycian lots, and now the Delian god, 
 
 545 Now Hermes is employed from Jove’s abode. 
 
 To warn him hence ; as if the peaceful state 
 Of heavenly powers were touched with human fate ! 
 But go ! thy flight no longer I detain — 
 
 Go I seek thy promised kingdom through the main ! 
 550 Yet, if the heavens will hear my pious vow. 
 
 The faithless waves, not half so false as thou, 
 
 Or secret sands, shall sepulchres afford 
 To thy proud vessels, and their perjured lord! 
 
 Then shalt thou call on injured Dido’s name : 
 
 555 Dido shall come in a black sulphury flame. 
 
 When death has once dissolved her mortal frame — 
 Shall smile to see the traitor vainly weep : 
 
 Her angry ghost, arising from the deep. 
 
 Shall haunt thee waking, and disturb thy sleep ! 
 
 560 At least my shade thy punishment shall know ; 
 
 And fame shall spread the pleasing news below.” 
 
 Abruptly here she stops ; then turns away 
 Her loathing eyes, and shuns the sight of day. 
 Amazed he stood, revolving in his mind 
 565 What speech to frame, and what excuse to find. 
 
 Her fearful maids their fainting mistress led, 
 
 And softly laid her on her ivory bed. 
 
 But good ^neas, though he much desired 
 To give that pity which her grief required 
 5 70 (Though much he mourned, and laboured with his love) ; 
 Resolved at length, obeys the will of Jove : 
 
 Reviews his forces : they with early care 
 Unmoor their vessels, and for sea prepare. 
 
 The fleet is soon afloat, in all its pride ; 
 
 575 And well-caulked galleys in the harbour ride. 
 
 Then oaks for oars they felled ; or, as they stood, 
 
 Of its green arms despoiled the growing wood 
 
book IV.] 
 
 VIRGirs AiNEIS. 
 
 97 
 
 Studious of flight. The beach is covered o’er 
 With Trojan bands, that blacken all the shore : 
 
 On every side are seen, descending down, 580 
 
 Thick swarms of soldiers laden, from the town. 
 
 Thus, in battalia, march embodied ants. 
 
 Fearful of winter, and of future wants, 
 
 T’ invade the corn, and to their cells convey 
 
 The plundered forage of their yellow prey. 585 
 
 The sable troops, along the narrow tracks. 
 
 Scarce bear the weighty burden on their backs : 
 
 Some set their shoulders to the ponderous grain ; 
 
 Some guard the spoil ; some lash the lagging train ; 
 
 All ply their several tasks, and equal toil sustain. 590 
 What pangs the tender breast of Dido tore. 
 
 When, from the tower, she saw the covered shore. 
 
 And heard the shouts of sailors from afar. 
 
 Mixed with the murmurs of the watery war ! 
 
 All-powerful Love ! what changes canst thou cause 595 
 In human hearts, subjected to thy laws ! 
 
 Once more her haughty soul the tyrant bends : 
 
 To prayers and mean submissions she descends. 
 
 No female arts or aids she left untried. 
 
 Nor counsels unexplored, before she died. 600 
 
 Look, Anna ! look ! the Trojans crowd to sea; 
 
 They spread their canvas, and their anchors weigh ; 
 
 The shouting crew their ships with garlands bind. 
 
 Invoke the sea-gods, and invite the wind. 
 
 Could I have thought this threatening blow so near, 605 
 My tender soul had been forewarned to bear. 
 
 But do not you my last request deny ; 
 
 With yon perfidious man your interest try ; 
 
 And bring me news, if I mmst live or die. 
 
 You are his favourite ; you alone can find 610 
 
 The dark recesses of his inmost mind ; 
 
 In all his trusted secrets you have part. 
 
 And know the soft approaches to his heart. 
 
 Haste then, and humbly seek my haughty foe ; 
 
 Tell him, I did not with the Grecians go, 615 
 
 Nor did my fleet against his friends employ, 
 i Nor swore the ruin of unhappy Troy, 
 
 G. 
 
98 
 
 VIRGIL'S MNEIS. 
 
 [BOOK IV. 
 
 Nor moved with hands profane his father’s dust : 
 Why should he then reject a suit so Just ? 
 
 620 Whom does he shun ? and whither would he fly ? 
 Can he this last, this only prayer deny ? 
 
 Let him at least his dangerous flight delay, 
 
 Wait better winds, and hope a calmer sea. 
 
 The nuptials he disclaims, I urge no more : 
 
 625 Let him pursue the promised Latian shore. 
 
 A short delay is all I ask him now — 
 
 A pause of grief, an interval from woe ; 
 
 Till my soft soul be tempered to sustain 
 Accustomed sorrows, and inured to pain. 
 
 630 If you in pity grant this one request. 
 
 My death shall glut the hatred of his breast.” 
 
 This mournful message pious Anna bears. 
 
 And seconds with her own, her sister’s tears : 
 
 But all her arts are still employed in vain : 
 
 635 Again she comes, and is refused again. 
 
 His hardened heart nor:prayers northreat’nings move; 
 Fate and the god, had stopped his ears to love. 
 
 As, when the winds their airy quarrel try, 
 
 Justling from every quarter of the sky ; 
 
 640 This way and that the mountain oak they bend ; 
 
 His boughs they shatter, and his branches rend ; 
 With leaves and falling mast they spread the ground ; 
 The hollow valleys echo to the sound ; 
 
 Unmoved, the royal plant their fury mocks, 
 
 645 Or, shaken, clings more closely to the rocks : 
 
 Far as he shoots his towering head on high. 
 
 So deep in earth his fixed foundations lie. 
 
 No less a storm the Trojan hero bears ; 
 
 Thick messages and loud complaints he hears, 
 
 650 And bandied words, still beating on his ears. 
 
 Sighs, groans, and tears, proclaim his inward pains ; 
 But the firm purpose of his heart remains. 
 
 The wretched queen, pursued by cruel Fate, 
 
 Begins at length the light of heaven to hate ; 
 
 655 And loathes to live. Then dire portents she sees, 
 
 To hasten on the death her soul decrees — 
 
 Strange to relate ! for when, before the shrine 
 
BOOK IV.] 
 
 VIRGirS yENEIS. 
 
 99 
 
 She pours in sacrifice the purple wine, 
 
 The purple wine is turned to putrid blood ; 
 
 And the white offered milk, converts to mud. 660 
 
 This dire presage, to her alone revealed, 
 
 From all, and e’en her sister, she concealed. 
 
 A marble temple stood within the grove. 
 
 Sacred to death, and to her murdered love ; 
 
 That honoured chapel she had hung around 665 
 
 With snowy fleeces, and with garlands crowned. 
 
 Oft, when she visited this lonely dome. 
 
 Strange voices issued from her husband’s tomb : 
 
 She thought she heard him summon her away, 
 
 Invite her to his grave, and chide her stay. 670 
 
 Hourly ’tis heard, when with a boding note 
 The solitary skreech-owl strains her throat. 
 
 And on a chimney’s top, or turret’s height, 
 
 With songs obscene, disturbs the silence of the night. 
 Besides, old prophecies augment her fears ; 675 
 
 And stern ^neas in her dreams appears. 
 
 Disdainful as by day : she seems, alone. 
 
 To wander in her sleep, through ways unknown. 
 
 Guideless and dark ; or, in a desert plain 
 To seek her subjects, and to seek in vain— 680 
 
 Like Pentheus, when, distracted with his fear 
 He saw two suns, and double Thebes, appear ; 
 
 Or mad Orestes, when his mother’s ghost 
 Full in his face infernal torches tossed. 
 
 And shook her snaky locks : he shuns the sight, 685 
 Flies o’er the stage, surprised with mortal fright : 
 
 The Furies guard the door, and intercept his flight. 
 
 Now, sinking underneath a load of grief. 
 
 From death alone she seeks her last relief : 
 
 The time and means resolved within her breast, 690 
 She to her mournful sister thus addressed 
 (Dissembling hope, her cloudy front she clears. 
 
 And a false vigour in her eyes appears) : 
 
 Rejoice ! (she said) instructed from above. 
 
 My lover I shall gain, or lose my love. 695 
 
 Nigh rising Atlas, next the falling sun. 
 
 Long- tracts of Ethiopian climates run : 
 
lOO 
 
 VIRGWS ^NEIS. 
 
 [book IV. 
 
 There, a Massylian priestess I have found, 
 Honoured for age, for magic arts renowned. 
 
 700 The Hesperian temple was her trusted care ; 
 
 ’Twas she supplied the wakeful dragon^s fare : 
 
 She, poppy-seeds in honey taught to steep : 
 Reclaimed his rage, and soothed him into sleep: 
 She watched the golden fruit. Her charms unbind 
 705 The chains of love, or fix them on the mind : 
 
 She stops the torrents, leaves the channel dry, 
 Repels the stars, and backward bears the sky. 
 
 The yawning earth rebellows to her call ; 
 
 Pale ghosts ascend ; and mountain ashes fall. 
 
 710 Witness ye gods, and thou, my better part. 
 
 How loth I am to try this impious art ! 
 
 Within the secret court, with silent care. 
 
 Erect a lofty pile, exposed in air : 
 
 Hang on the topmost part, the Trojan vest, 
 
 715 Spoils, arms, and presents, of my faithless guest. 
 Next, under these, the bridal bed he placed. 
 
 Where I my ruin in his arms embraced. 
 
 All relics of the wretch are doomed to fire ; 
 
 For so the priestess and her charms require.” 
 
 720 Thus far she said, and farther speech forbears. 
 
 A mortal paleness in her face appears : 
 
 Yet the mistrustless Anna could not find 
 The secret funeral in these rites designed ; 
 
 Nor thought so dire a rage possessed her mind. 
 
 725 Unknowing of a train concealed so well. 
 
 She feared no worse than when Sichasus fell ; 
 Therefore obeys. The fatal pile they rear 
 Within the secret court, exposed in air. 
 
 The cloven holms and pines are heaped on high ; 
 730 And garlands on the hollow spaces lie : 
 
 Sad cypress, vervain, yew, compose the wreath ; 
 And every baleful green denoting death. 
 
 The queen, determined to the fatal deed. 
 
 The spoils and sword he left, in order spread, 
 
 735 And the man^s image on the nuptial bed. 
 
 And now (the sacred altars placed around) 
 
 The priestess enters, with her hair unbound. 
 
BOOK IV.] 
 
 VJRGirS A£NEIS, 
 
 lOI 
 
 And thrice invokes the powers below the ground. 
 
 Night, Erebus, and Chaos, she proclaims. 
 
 And threefold Hecate, with her hundred names, 740 
 And three Dianas : next, she sprinkles round 
 With feigned Avernian drops, the hallowed ground; 
 
 Culls hoary simples, found by Phoebe^s light, 
 
 With brazen sickles reaped at noon of night ; 
 
 Then mixes baleful juices in the bowl, 745 
 
 And cuts the forehead of a new-born foal. 
 
 Robbing the mother’s love. The destined queen 
 Observes, assisting at the rites obscene : 
 
 A leavened cake in her devoted hands 
 
 She holds; and next the highest altar stands: 750 
 
 One tender foot was shod, her other bare; 
 
 Girt was her gathered gown, and loose her hair. 
 
 Thus dressed, she summoned with her dying breath 
 The heavens and planets conscious of her death, 
 
 And every power, if any rules above, 755 
 
 Who minds or who revenges injured love. 
 
 ^Twas dead of night, when weary bodies close 
 Their eyes in balmy sleep, and soft repose : 
 
 The winds no longer whisper through the woods ; 
 
 Nor murmuring tides disturb the gentle floods. 760 
 
 The stars in silent order moved around ; 
 
 And Peace, with downy wings was brooding on the ground. 
 The flocks and herds, and particoloured fowl 
 Which haunt the woods or swim the weedy pool. 
 Stretched on the quiet earth, securely lay, 765 
 
 Forgetting the past labours of the day. 
 
 All else, of Nature’s common gift partake ; 
 
 Unhappy Dido was alone awake : 
 
 Nor sleep nor ease the furious queen can find : 
 
 Sleep fled her eyes, as quiet fled her mind. 770 
 
 Despair, and rage, and love, divide her heart ; 
 
 Despair and rage had some, but love the greater part. 
 Then thus she said within her secret mind : 
 
 What shall I do what succour can I find 1 
 Become a suppliant to larbas’ pride, 775 
 
 And take my turn to court, and be denied 1 
 Shall I with this ungrateful Trojan go, 
 
102 
 
 VIRGins ^NEIS. 
 
 [book IV. 
 
 Forsake an empire, and attend a foe? 
 
 Himself I refuged, and his train relieved — 
 
 780 ^Tis true — but am I sure to be received ? 
 
 Can gratitude in Trojan souls have place ? 
 
 Laomedon still lives in all his race ! 
 
 Then shall I seek alone the churlish crew. 
 
 Or with my fleet their flying sails pursue ? 
 
 785 What force have I but those, whom scarce before 
 I drew reluctant from their native shore ? 
 
 Will they again embark at my desire, 
 
 Once more sustain the seas, and quit their secondTyre ? 
 Rather with steel thy guilty breast invade, 
 
 790 And take the fortune thou thyself hast made. 
 
 Your pity, sister, first seduced my mind ; 
 
 Or seconded too well what I designed. 
 
 These dear-bought pleasures had I never known : 
 Had I continued free, and still my own 
 795 (Avoiding love), I had not found despair. 
 
 But shared with savage beasts the common air : 
 
 Like them, a lonely life I might have led ; 
 
 Not mourned the living, nor disturbed the dead.’^ 
 These thoughts she brooded in her anxious breast. — 
 800 On board, the Trojan found more easy rest. 
 
 Resolved to sail, in sleep he passed the night ; 
 
 And ordered all things for his early flight. 
 
 To whom, once more the winged god appears : 
 
 His former youthful mien and shape he wears ; 
 
 805 And with this new alarm invades his ears : 
 
 “ Sleep’st thou, O goddess-born? and canst thou drown 
 Thy needful cares, so near a hostile town. 
 
 Beset with foes; nor hear’st the western gales 
 Invite thy passage, and inspire thy sails? 
 
 810 She harbours in her heart a furious hate 
 
 (And thou shalt find the dire effects too late). 
 
 Fixed on revenge, and obstinate to die. — 
 
 Haste swiftly hence, while thou hast power to fly! 
 
 The sea with ships will soon be covered o’er, 
 
 815 And blazing firebrands kindle all the shore. 
 
 Prevent her rage, while night obscures the skies ; 
 
 And sail before the purple morn arise. 
 
VIRGinS ^NEIS, 
 
 BOOK IV.] 
 
 Who knows what hazards thy delay may bring? 
 Woman ^s a various and a changeful thing !” 
 
 Thus, Hermes in the dream; then took his flight 
 Aloft in air, unseen, and mixed with night. 
 
 Twice warned by the celestial messenger, 
 
 The pious prince arose with hasty fear ; 
 
 Then roused his drowsy train without delay : 
 
 “ Haste to your oars ! your crooked anchors weigh, 
 And spread your flying sails, and stand to sea! 
 
 A god commands ! he stood before my sight, 
 
 And urged us once again to speedy flight. 
 
 O sacred power I what power soever thou art, 
 
 To thy blessed orders I resign my heart. 
 
 Lead thou the way; protect thy Trojan bands; 
 
 And prosper the design thy will commands.” 
 
 He said; and, drawing forth his flaming sword. 
 
 His thundering arm divides the many-twisted cord. 
 An emulating zeal inspires his train : 
 
 They run ; they snatch ; they rush into the main. 
 With headlong haste they leave the desert shores. 
 And brush the liquid seas with labouring oars. 
 
 Aurora now had left her saffron bed, 
 
 And beams of early light the heavens overspread ; 
 When, from a tower, the queen, with wakeful eyes. 
 Saw day point upward from the rosy skies. 
 
 She looked to seaward ; but the sea was void, 
 
 And scarce in ken the sailing ships descried. 
 
 Stung with despite, and furious with despair, 
 
 She struck her trembling breast, and tore her hair. 
 
 And shall the ungrateful traitor go (she said), 
 
 My land forsaken, and my love betrayed? 
 
 Shall we not arm? not rush from every street. 
 
 To follow, sink, and burn, his perjured fleet? 
 
 Haste 1 haul my galleys out ! pursue the foe 1 
 Bring flaming brands 1 set sail, and swiftly row ! 
 What have I said? Where am I? Fury turns 
 My brain ; and my distempered bosom burns. 
 
 Then, when I gave my person and my throne. 
 
 This hate, this rage, had been more timely shown. 
 
 53 ee now the promised faith, the vaunted name, 
 
104 VIRGirs ^NEIS. [BOOK iv. 
 
 The pious man, who, rushing through the flame, 
 Preserved his gods, and to the Phrygian shore 
 860 The burden of his feeble father bore ! 
 
 I should have torn him piece-meal — strewed in floods 
 Plis scattered limbs, or left exposed in woods : 
 Destroyed his friends, and son ; and from the fire 
 Have set the reeking boy before the sire ! 
 
 865 Events are doubtful, which on battle wait ; 
 
 Yet whereas the doubt, to souls secure of fate? 
 
 My Tyrians, at their injured queen’s command. 
 
 Had tossed their fires amid the Trojan band : 
 
 At once extinguished all the faithless name; 
 
 870 And I myself, in vengeance of my shame. 
 
 Had falPn upon the pile, to mend the funeral flame. 
 Thou Sun, who view’st at once the world below ! 
 Thou Juno, guardian of the nuptial vow ! 
 
 Thou Hecate, hearken from thy dark abodes ! 
 
 875 Ye Furies, fiends, and violated gods! 
 
 All powers invoked with Dido’s dying breath. 
 
 Attend her curses, and avenge her death ! 
 
 If so the Fates ordain, and Jove commands. 
 
 The ungrateful wretch should find the Latian lands, 
 880 Yet let a race untamed, and haughty foes, 
 
 His peaceful entrance with dire arms oppose: 
 Oppressed with numbers in the unequal field. 
 
 His men discouraged, and himself expelled, 
 
 , Let him for succour sue from place to place, 
 
 885 Torn from his subjects, and his son’s embrace. 
 
 First, let him see his friends in battle slain. 
 
 And their untimely fate lament in vain : 
 
 And when at length, the cruel war will cease. 
 
 On hard conditions m.ay he buy his peace ; 
 
 890 Nor let him then enjoy supreme command; 
 
 But ' fall, untimely, by some hostile hand ; 
 
 And lie unburied on the barren sand 1 
 These are my prayers, and this my dying will ; 
 
 And you, my Tyrians, every curse fulfil : 
 
 895 Perpetual hate and mortal wars proclaim 
 
 Against the prince, the people, and the name. 
 
 These grateful offerings on my grave bestow; 
 
BOOK IV.] 
 
 VIRGinS ^NEIS. 
 
 105 
 
 Nor league, nor love, the hostile nations know ! 
 
 Now, and from hence in every future age, 
 
 When rage excites your arms, and strength supplies the rage. 
 Rise some avenger of our Libyan blood ; 901 
 
 With fire and sword pursue the perjured brood : 
 
 Our arms, our seas, our shores, opposed to theirs ; 
 
 And the same hate descend on all our heirs ! 
 
 This said, within her anxious mind she weighs 905 
 The means of cutting short her odious days. 
 
 Then to Sichaeus’ nurse she briefly said 
 (For, when she left her country, her’s was dead), 
 
 “ Go, Barce, call my sister. Let her care 
 
 The solemn rites of sacrifice prepare ; 910 
 
 The sheep, and all the atoning offerings, bring ; 
 
 Sprinkling her body from the crystal spring 
 
 With living drops : then let her come ; and thou. 
 
 With sacred fillets bind thy hoary brow. 
 
 Thus will I pay my vows to Stygian Jove, 915 
 
 And end the cares of my disastrous love ; 
 
 Then cast the Trojan image on the fire ; 
 
 And, as that burns, my passion shall expire.^^ 
 
 The nurse moves onward with officious care. 
 
 And all the speed her aged limbs can bear. 920 
 
 But furious Dido, with dark thoughts involved, 
 
 Shook at the mighty mischief she resolved. 
 
 With livid spots distinguished was her face ; 
 
 Red were her rolling eyes, and discomposed her pace : 
 Ghastly she gazed ; with pain she drew her breath ; 925 
 
 And nature shivered at approaching death. 
 
 Then swiftly to the fatal place she passed. 
 
 And mounts the funeral pile with furious haste ; 
 Unsheaths the sword the Trojan left behind 
 (Not for so dire an enterprise designed). 930 
 
 But when she viewed the garments loosely spread. 
 
 Which once he wore, and saw the conscious bed. 
 
 She paused, and with a sigh, the robes embraced ; 
 
 Then on the couch her trembling body cast. 
 
 Repressed her ready tears, and spoke her last : 935 
 
 Dear pledges of my love, while heaven so pleased. 
 Receive a soul, of mortal anguish eased. 
 
io6 VIRGIL'S ^NEIS. [book iv. 
 
 My fatal course is finished ; and I go, 
 
 A glorious name, among the ghosts below, 
 
 940 A lofty city by my hands is raised ; 
 
 Pygmalion punished, and my lord appeased. 
 
 What could my fortune have afforded more. 
 
 Had the false Trojan never touched my shore 
 Then kissed the couch ; and “ Must I die (she said), 
 945 And unrevenged ? kis doubly to be dead ! 
 
 Yet e’en this death with pleasure I receive : 
 
 On any terms, ’tis better than to live. 
 
 These flames, from far, may the false Trojan view ; 
 These boding omens his base flight pursue !” 
 
 950 She said, and struck : deep entered in her side 
 The piercing steel, with reeking purple dyed. 
 
 Clogged in the wound the cruel weapon stands ; 
 
 The spouting blood came streaming on her hands. 
 Her sad attendants saw the deadly stroke, 
 
 955 And with loud cries the sounding palace shook. 
 Distracted, from the fatal sight they fled. 
 
 And through the town the dismal rumour spread. 
 First from the frighted court the yell began ; 
 Redoubled, thence from house to house it ran : 
 
 960 The groans of men, with shrieks, laments, and cries 
 Of mixing women, mount the vaulted skies. 
 
 Not less the clamour, than if — ancient Tyre, 
 
 Or the new Carthage, set by foes on fire — 
 
 The rolling ruin, with their loved abodes, 
 
 965 Involved the blazing temple of their gods. 
 
 Her sister hears : and furious with despair. 
 
 She beats her breast, and rends her yellov/ hair ; 
 
 And, calling on Eliza’s name aloud. 
 
 Runs breathless to the place, and breaks the crowd. 
 970 “ Was all that pomp of woe for this prepared. 
 
 These fires, this funeral pile, these altars reared 1 
 Was all this train of plots contrived (said she). 
 
 All, only to deceive unhappy me ? 
 
 Which is the worst ? Didst thou in death pretend 
 975 To scorn thy sister, or delude thy friend.^ 
 
 Thy summoned sister and thy friend had come : 
 
 One sword had served us both, one common tomb : 
 
BOOK IV.] VIRGIL’S ^NEIS. 107 
 
 Was I to raise the pile, the powers invoke, 
 
 Not to be present at the fatal stroke ? 
 
 At once thou hast destroyed thyself and me, 980 
 
 Thy town, thy senate, and thy colony ! 
 
 Bring water ! bathe the wound ; while I in death 
 Lay close my lips to hers, and catch the flying breath.” 
 This said, she mounts the pile with eager haste, 
 
 And in her arms the gasping queen embraced ; 985 
 
 Her temples chafed; and her own garments tore 
 To stanch die streaming blood, and cleanse the gore. 
 Thrice Hido tried to raise lier drooping head. 
 
 And, fainting, thrice fell grovefling on the bed : 
 
 Thrice oped her heavy eyes, and saw the light ; 990 
 
 But, having found it, sickened at the sight, 
 
 And closed her lids at last in endless night. 
 
 Then Juno, grieving that she should sustain 
 A death so lingering, and so full of pain. 
 
 Sent Iris down to free her from the strife 995 
 
 Of labouring nature, and dissolve her life. 
 
 For, since she died not doomed by heaven’s decree. 
 
 Or her own crime, but human casualty. 
 
 And rage of love that plunged her in despair. 
 
 The Sisters had not cut the topmost hair, 1000 
 
 Which Proserpine and they can only know ; 
 
 Nor made her sacred to the shades below. 
 
 Downward the various goddess took her flight. 
 
 And drew a thousand colours from the light. 
 
 Then stood above the dying lover’s head, 1005 
 
 And said : “ I thus devote thee to the dead : 
 
 This offering to the infernal gods I bear.” 
 
 Thus while she spoke, she cut the fatal hair : 
 
 The struggling soul was loosed, and life dissolved in air. 
 
BOOK V. 
 
 THE ARGUMENT. 
 
 ^neas, setting sail from Afric, is driven by a storm on the coasts 
 of Sicily, where he is hospitably received by his friend 
 Acestes, Icing of part of the island, and born of Trojan par- 
 entage. He applies himself to celebrate the memory of his 
 father with divine honours, and accordingly institutes funeral 
 games, and appoints prizes for those who should conquer in 
 them. While these ceremonies were performing, Juno sends 
 Iris to persuade the Trojan women to burn the ships, who 
 upon her instigation, set fire to them ; which burned four, 
 and would have consumed the rest, had not Jupiter by a 
 miraculous shower extinguished it. Upon this, ^neas, by 
 the advice of one of his generals, and a vision of his father, 
 builds a city for the women, old men, and others, who were 
 either unfit for war, or weary of the voyage, and sails for 
 Italy. Venus procures of Neptune a safe voyage for him 
 and all his men, excepting only his pilot Palinurus, who was 
 unfortunately lost. 
 
 M eantime the Trojan cuts his watery way, 
 
 Fixed on his voyage, through the curling sea; 
 Then, casting back his eyes, with dire amaze. 
 
 Sees on the Punic shore the mountain blaze : 
 
 5 The cause unknown ; yet his presaging mind 
 The fate of Dido from the fire divined. 
 
 He knew the stormy souls of womankind ; 
 
 What secret springs their eager passions move. 
 
 How capable of death for injured love, 
 lo Dire auguries from hence the Trojans draw ; 
 
 Till neither fires nor shining shores they saw. 
 
 Now seas and skies their prospects only bound: 
 An empty space above, a floating field around. 
 
 But soon the heavens with shadows were overspread ; 
 15 A swelling cloud hung hovering o’er their head ; 
 Livid it looked — the threatening of a storm ; 
 
 Then night and horror ocean’s face deform. 
 
BOOK V.] 
 
 VIRGIL'S JENEIS. 
 
 The pilot, Palinurus cried aloud: 
 
 ‘‘ What gusts of weather from that gathering cloud 
 My thoughts presage ! Ere yet the tempest roars, 
 Stand to your tackle, mates, and stretch your oars ; 
 Contract your swelling sails, and luff to wind.’^ 
 
 The frighted crew perform the task assigned. 
 
 Then, to his fearless chief, “ not heaven (said he). 
 Though Jove himself should promise Italy, 
 
 Can stem the torrent of this raging sea. 
 
 Mark, how the shifting winds from west arise, 
 
 And what collected night involves the skies ! 
 
 Nor can our shaken vessels live at sea. 
 
 Much less against the tempest force their way : 
 
 ’Tis fate diverts our course, and fate we must obey. 
 Not far from hence, if I observed aright 
 The southing of the stars, and polar light, 
 
 Sicilia lies, whose hospitable shores 
 In safety we may reach, with struggling oars.” 
 yEneas then replied : Too sure 1 find, 
 
 We strive in vain against the seas and wind: 
 
 Now shift your sails : what place can please me more 
 Than what you promise, the Sicilian shore, 
 
 Whose hallowed earth Anchises^ bones contains. 
 
 And where a prince of Trojan lineage reigns.” 
 
 The course resolved, before the western wind 
 They scud amain, and make the port assigned. 
 
 Meantime Acestes, from a lofty stand. 
 
 Beheld the fleet descending on the land ; 
 
 And, not unmindful of his ancient race, 
 
 Down from the cliff he ran, with eager pace, 
 
 And held the hero in a strict embrace. 
 
 Ofe rough Libyan bear, the spoils he wore. 
 
 And either hand a pointed javelin bore. 
 
 His mother was a dame of Dardan blood; 
 
 His sire Crinisus, a Sicilian flood. 
 
 He welcomes his returning friends ashore 
 With plenteous country cates, and homely store. 
 
 Now, when the following morn had chased away 
 The flying stars, and light restored the day, 
 
 ^neas called the Trojan troops around. 
 
110 
 
 VIRGirS yENEIS. 
 
 [book V. 
 
 And thus bespoke them from a rising ground : 
 Offspring of heaven, divine Dardanian race ! 
 
 6o The sun, revolving through the ethereal space, 
 
 The shining circle of the year has filled. 
 
 Since first this isle my father’s ashes held : 
 
 And now the rising day renews the year — 
 
 A day for ever sad, for ever dear. 
 
 65 This would I celebrate with annual games, 
 
 With gifts on altars piled, and holy flames. 
 
 Though banished to Gsetulia’s barren sands, 
 
 Caught on the Grecian seas, or hostile lands : 
 
 But, since this happy storm our fleet has driven 
 70 (Not, as I deem, without the will of heaven) 
 
 Upon these friendly shores and flowery plains, 
 Which hide Anchises and his blest remains ; 
 
 Let us with joy perform his honours due. 
 
 And pray for prosperous winds, our voyage to renew — 
 75 Pray, that in towns and temples of our own, 
 
 The name of great Anchises may be known ; 
 
 And yearly games may spread the god’s renown. 
 
 Our sports, Acestes, of the Trojan race. 
 
 With royal gifts ordained, is pleased to grace : 
 
 80 Two steers on every ship the king bestows : 
 
 His gods and ours shall share your equal vows. 
 Besides, if, nine days hence, the rosy morn 
 Shall with unclouded light the skies adorn. 
 
 That day with solemn sports I mean to grace: 
 
 85 Light galleys on the seas shall run a watery race : 
 Some shall in swiftness for the goal contend. 
 
 And others try the twanging bow to bend : 
 
 The strong, with iron gauntlets armed, shall stand 
 Opposed in combat on the yellow sand. 
 
 90 Let all be present at the games prepared ; 
 
 And joyful victors wait the just reward. 
 
 But now assist the rites with garlands crowned.” 
 
 He said, and first his brows with myrtle bound. 
 
 Then Helymus, by his example led, 
 
 95 And old Acestes, each adorned his head ; 
 
 Thus young Ascanius, with a sprightly grace. 
 
 His temples tied, and all the Trojan race. 
 
BOOK V.] 
 
 VIRGirS ^NEIS, 
 
 III 
 
 ^neas then advanced amidst the train, 
 
 By thousands followed through the flowery plain, 
 
 To great Anchises^ tomb ; which when he found, lOo 
 He poured to Bacchus, on the hallowed ground 
 Two bowls of sparkling wine, of milk two more. 
 
 And two (from offered bulls) of purple gore. 
 
 With roses then the sepulchre he strowed. 
 
 And thus, his father’s ghost bespoke aloud: 105 
 
 Hail, O ye holy manes ! hail again. 
 
 Paternal ashes, now revived in vain ! 
 
 The gods permitted not, that you with me 
 Should reach the promised shores of Italy, 
 
 Or Tiber’s flood — what flood soe’er it be.” no 
 
 Scarce had he finished, when, with speckled pride, 
 
 A serpent from the tomb began to glide ; 
 
 His hugy bulk on seven high volumes rolled ; 
 
 Blue was his breadth of back, but streaked with scaly gold : 
 Thus riding on his curls, he seemed to pass 1 15 
 
 A rolling fire along, and singe the grass. 
 
 More various colours through his body run, 
 
 Than Iris when her bow imbibes the sun. 
 
 Betwixt the rising altars, and around. 
 
 The sacred monster shot along the ground ; 1 20 
 
 With harmless play amidst the bowls he passed. 
 
 And with his lolling tongue assayed the taste : 
 
 Thus fed with holy food, the wondrous guest 
 Within the hollow tomb retired to rest. 
 
 The pious prince, surprised at what he viewed, 125 
 
 The funeral honours with more zeal renewed ; 
 
 Doubtful if this the place’s genius were. 
 
 Or guardian of his father’s sepulchre. 
 
 Five sheep, according to the rites, he slew; 
 
 As many swine, and steers of sable hue ; 130 
 
 New generous wine he from the goblets poured ; 
 
 And called his father’s ghost, from hell restored. 
 
 The glad attendants in long order come. 
 
 Offering their gifts at great Anchises’ tomb : 
 
 Some add more oxen ; some divide the spoil; 135 
 
 Some place the chargers on the grassy soil; 
 
 Some blow the fires, and offered entrails broil. 
 
I 12 
 
 VIRGirS yENEIS. [BOOK v. 
 
 Now came the day desired. The skies were bright 
 With rosy lustre of the rising light : 
 
 140 The bordering people, roused by sounding fame 
 Of Trojan feasts and great Acestes’ name, 
 
 The crowded shore with acclamations fill ; 
 
 Part to behold, and part to prove their skill. 
 
 And first the gifts in public view they place, 
 
 145 Green laurel-wreaths, and palm, the victors’ grace. 
 Within the circle, arms and tripods lie. 
 
 Ingots of gold and silver heaped on high, 
 
 And vests embroidered, of the Tyrian dye. 
 
 The trumpets clangour then the feast proclaims ; 
 
 150 And all prepare for their appointed games. 
 
 Four galleys first, which equal rowers bear. 
 Advancing, in the watery lists appear. 
 
 The speedy Dolphin, that outstrips the wind. 
 
 Bore Mnestheus, author of the Memmian kind : 
 
 155 Gyas the vast Chimsera’s bulk commands^ 
 
 Which rising like a towering city stands : 
 
 Three Trojans tug at every labouring oar ; 
 
 Three banks in three degrees the sailors bore ; 
 Beneath their sturdy strokes the billows roar. 
 
 160 Sergestus, who began the Sergian race 
 
 In the great Centaur, took the leading place : 
 Cloanthus on the sea-green Scylla stood ; 
 
 From whom Cluentius draws his Trojan blood. 
 
 Far in the sea, against the foaming shore, 
 
 165 There stands a rock : the raging billows roar 
 Above his head in storms ; but when ’tis clear. 
 Uncurl their ridgy backs, and at his foot appear. 
 
 In peace, below, the gentle waters run ; 
 
 The cormorants, above, lie basking in the sun. 
 
 170 On this the hero fixed an oak in sight. 
 
 The mark to guide the mariners aright. 
 
 To bear with this, the seamen stretch their oars ; 
 Then round the rock they steer, and seek the former 
 The lots decide their place. Above the rest, [shores. 
 175 Each leader shining in his Tyrian vest; 
 
 The common crew, with wreaths of poplar boughs 
 Their temples crown, and shade their sweaty brows : 
 
V/RGirS yENEIS. 
 
 
 BOOK V.] 
 
 Besmeared with oil, their naked shoulders shine : 
 
 All take their seats, and wait the sounding sign. 
 
 They grip their oars ; and every panting breast 180 
 
 Is raised by turns with hope, by turns with fear depressed. 
 The clangour of the trumpet gives the sign ; 
 
 At once they start, advancing in a line ; 
 
 With shouts the sailors rend the starry skies ; 
 
 Lashed with their oars, the smoky billows rise ; 185 
 
 Sparkles the briny main, and the vexed ocean fries. 
 
 Exact in time, with equal strokes they row : 
 
 At once the brushing oars and brazen prow 
 
 Dash up the sandy waves, and ope the depths below. 
 
 Not fiery x:oursers, in a chariot-race, 190 
 
 Invade the field with half so swift a pace : 
 
 Not the fierce driver with more fury lends 
 The sounding lash, and ere the stroke descends, 
 
 Low to the wheels his pliant body bends. 
 
 The partial crowd their hopes and fears divide, 195 
 
 And aid with eager shouts, the favoured side. 
 
 Cries, murmurs, clamours, with a mixing sound, 
 
 From woods to woods, from hills to hills rebound. 
 
 Amidst the loud applauses of the shore, 
 
 Gyas outstripped the rest, and sprung before : 200 
 
 Cloanthus, better manned, pursued him fast; 
 
 But his o’er-masted galley checked his haste. 
 
 The Centaur and the Dolphin brush the brine 
 With equal oars, advancing in a line : 
 
 And now the mighty Centaur seems to lead, 205 
 
 And now the speedy Dolphin gets a-head : 
 
 Now board to board the rival vessels row; 
 
 The billows lave the skies, and ocean groans below. 
 
 They reached the mark. Proud Gyas and his train 
 In triumph rode, the victors of the main : 210 
 
 But, steering round, he charged his pilot : Stand 
 More close to shore, and skim along the sand ! 
 
 Let others bear to sea.^’ Menoetes heard ; 
 
 But secret shelves too cautiously he feared. 
 
 And, fearing, sought the deep ; and still aloof he steered. 
 With louder cries the captain called again : 216 
 
 “ Bear to the rocky shore, and shun the main 
 H 
 
VIRGinS ALNEIS. 
 
 [book V. 
 
 He spoke, and speaking, at his stern he saw 
 The bold Cloanthus near the shelvings draw. 
 
 220 Betwixt the mark and him the Scylla stood. 
 
 And in a closer compass ploughed the flood. 
 
 He passed the mark; and, wheeling, got before: — 
 Gyas blasphemed the gods, devoutly swore. 
 
 Cried out for anger, and his hair he tore. 
 
 225 Mindless of others^ lives (so high was grown 
 His rising rage), and careless of his own. 
 
 The trembling dotard to the deck he drew. 
 
 And hoisted up, and overboard he threw : 
 
 This done, he seized the helm ; his fellows cheered ; 
 230 Turned short upon the shelves, and madly steered. 
 Hardly his head the plunging pilot rears. 
 
 Clogged with his clothes, and cumbered with his years : 
 Now drooping wet, he climbs the cliff with pain. 
 
 The crowd that saw him fall, and float again, 
 
 235 Shout from the distant shore ; and loudly laughed. 
 To see his heaving breast disgorge the briny draught. 
 The following Centaur, and the Dolphin’s crew, 
 Their vanished hopes of victory renew ; 
 
 While Gyas lags, they kindle in the race, 
 
 240 To reach the mark. Sergestus takes the place; 
 Mnestheus pursues ; and, while around they wind, 
 Comes up, not half his galley’s length behind; 
 
 Then on the deck amidst his mates, appeared. 
 
 And thus their drooping courages he cheered : 
 
 245 “ My friends, and Hector’s followers heretofore, 
 
 Exert your vigour ; tug the labouring oar ; 
 
 Stretch to your strokes, my still-unconquered crew, 
 Whom from the flaming walls of Troy I drew. 
 
 In this our common interest, let me find 
 250 That strength of hand, that courage of the mind, 
 
 As when you stemmed the strong Malean flood ; 
 
 And o’er the Syrtes’ broken billows rowed. 
 
 I seek not now the foremost palm to gain ; 
 
 Though yet — but, ah ! that haughty wish is vain ! 
 
 255 Let those enjoy it whom the gods ordain. 
 
 But to be last, the lags of all the race ! — 
 
 Redeem yourselves and me from that disgrace.^’ 
 
BOOK V .] VIRGIL’S 2LNEIS. 1 1 5 
 
 Now, one and all, they tug amain; they row 
 At the full stretch, and shake the brazen prow. 
 
 The sea beneath them sinks ; their labouring sides 260 
 Are swelled, and sweat runs guttering down in tides. 
 Chance aids their daring with unhoped success : 
 Sergestus, eager, with his beak to press 
 Betwixt the rival galley and the rock. 
 
 Shuts up the unwieldy Centaur in the lock. 265 
 
 The vessel struck ; and, with the dreadful shock 
 Her oars she shivered, and her head she broke. 
 
 The trembling rowers from their banks arise, 
 
 And, anxious for themselves, renounce the prize. 
 
 With iron poles they heave her off the shores; 270 
 
 And gather from the sea their floating oars. 
 
 The crew of Mnestheus, with elated minds, 
 
 Urge their success, and call the willing winds ; 
 
 Then ply their oars, and cut their liquid way 
 
 In larger compass, on the roomy sea. 275 
 
 As, when the dove her rocky hold forsakes. 
 
 Roused in a fright, her sounding wings she shakes ; 
 
 The cavern rings with clattering ; out she flies. 
 
 And leaves her callow care, and cleaves the skies : 
 
 At first she flutters ; but at length she springs 280 
 
 To smoother flight, and shoots upon her wings : 
 
 So Mnestheus in the Dolphin cuts the sea ; 
 
 And, flying with a force, that force assists his way. 
 Sergestus in the Centaur soon he passed. 
 
 Wedged in the rocky shoals, and sticking fast. 285 
 
 In vain the victor he with cries implores. 
 
 And practises to row with shattered oars. 
 
 Then Mnestheus bears with Gyas and outflies : 
 
 The ship, without a pilot, yields the prize. 
 
 Unvanquished Scylla now alone remains : 290 
 
 Her he pursues ; and all his vigour strains. 
 
 Shouts from the favouring multitude arise ; 
 
 Applauding Echo to the shouts replies : 
 
 Shouts, wishes, and applause, run rattling through the skies. 
 These clamours with disdain the Scylla heard ; 295 
 
 Much, grudged the praise, but more, the robbed reward : 
 Resolved to hold their own, they mend their pace ; 
 
VIRGIVS AiNElS. 
 
 [book V. 
 
 1 16 
 
 All obstinate to die, or gain the race. 
 
 Raised with success, the Dolphin swiftly ran; 
 
 300 For they can conquer, who believe they can. 
 
 Both urge their oars ; and fortune both supplies 
 (And‘both perhaps had shared an equal prizej ; 
 When to the seas Cloanthus holds his hands. 
 
 And succour from the watery powers demands : 
 305 “ Gods of the liquid realms on which I row! 
 
 If, given by you, the laurel bind my brow, 
 
 (Assist to make me guilty of my vow 1) 
 
 A snow-white bull shall on your shores be slain ; 
 His offered entrails cast into the main, 
 
 310 And ruddy wine, from golden goblets thrown. 
 Your grateful gift and my return shall own.^^ 
 
 The choir of nymphs, and Phorcus, from below. 
 With virgin Panopea, heard his vow; 
 
 And old Portunus, with his breadth of hand, 
 
 315 Pushed on and sped the galley to the land. 
 
 Swift as a shaft, or winged wind, she flies, 
 
 And, darting to the port, obtains the prize. 
 
 The herald summons all, and then proclaims 
 Cloanthus conqueror of the naval games. 
 
 320 The prince with laurel, crowns the victor’s head ; 
 And three fat steers are to his vessel led 
 (The ship’s reward) ; with generous Avine beside. 
 And sums of silver, which the crew divide. 
 
 The leaders are distinguished from the rest ; 
 
 325 The victor honoured with a nobler vest. 
 
 Where gold and purple strive in equal rows. 
 
 And needlework its happy cost bestows. 
 
 There, Ganymede is wrought with living art. 
 Chasing through Ida’s groves the trembling hart; 
 330 Breathless he seems, yet eager to pursue ; 
 
 When from aloft descends, in open view 
 The bird of Jove, and, sousing on his prey, 
 
 With crooked talons bears the boy away. 
 
 In vain, with lifted hands and gazing eyes, 
 
 335 His guards behold him soaring through the skies; 
 And dogs pursue his flight, with imitated cries. 
 Mnestheus, the second victor was declared ; 
 
BOOK V. ] VIRGirS j^NEIS. 1 1 7 
 
 And, summoned there, the second prize he shared — 
 
 A coat of mail, which brave Demoleus bore. 
 
 More brave JEnesiS from his shoulders tore, 340 
 
 In single combat on the Trojan shore. 
 
 This was ordained for Mnestheus to possess — 
 
 In war for his defence, for ornament in peace. 
 
 Rich was the gift, and glorious to behold. 
 
 But yet so ponderous with its plates of gold, 345 
 
 That scarce two servants could the weight sustain : 
 
 Yet, loaded thus, Demoleus o’er the plain 
 Pursued and lightly seized, the Trojan train. 
 
 The third, succeeding to the last reward. 
 
 Two goodly bowls of massy silver shared, 350 
 
 With figures prominent, and richly wrought, 
 
 And two brass caldrons from Dodona brought. 
 
 Thus all, rewarded by the hero’s hands. 
 
 Their conquering temples bound with purple bands. 
 
 And now Sergestus, clearing from the rock, 355 
 
 Brought back his galley shattered with the shock. 
 
 Forlorn she looked, without an aiding oar. 
 
 And, hooted by the vulgar, made to shore. 
 
 As when a snake, surprised upon the road, 
 
 Is crushed athwart her body by the load 360 
 
 Of heavy wheels ; or with a mortal wound 
 Her belly bruised, and trodden to the ground — 
 
 In vain, with loosened curls, she crawls along ; 
 
 Yet, fierce above, she brandishes her tongue ; 
 
 Glares with her eyes, and bristles with her scales 365 
 But, grovelling in the dust, her parts unsound she trails. 
 
 So slowly to the port the Centaur tends. 
 
 But, what she wants in oars, with sails amends. 
 
 Yet, for his galley saved, the grateful prince 
 
 Is pleased the unhappy chief to recompense : 370 
 
 Pholoe, the Cretan slave, rewards his care. 
 
 Beauteous herself, with lovely twins as fair. 
 
 From thence his way the Trojan hero bent 
 Into the neighbouring plain, with mountains pent. 
 
 Whose sides were shaded with surrounding wood. 375 
 Full in the midst of this fair valley, stood 
 A native theatre, which, rising slow 
 
VIRGirS ^NEIS. 
 
 1 1 8 
 
 [book V. 
 
 By just degrees, overlooked the ground below. 
 High on a sylvan throne the leader sat ; 
 
 380 A numerous train attend in solemn state. 
 
 Here those, that in the rapid course delight. 
 Desire of honour, and the prize, invite. 
 
 The rival runners without order stand ; 
 
 The Trojans, mixed with the Sicilian band. 
 
 385 First Nisus, with Euryali^s, appears — 
 
 Euryalus a boy of blooming years. 
 
 With sprightly grace and equal beauty crowned — 
 Nisus, for friendship to the youth, renowned. 
 Diores next, of PriamVs royal race, 
 
 390 Then Salius, joined with Patron, took their place ; 
 (But Patron in Arcadia had his birth. 
 
 And Salius, his from Acarnanian earth ;) 
 
 Then two Sicilian youths — the names of these 
 Swift Helymus, and lovely Panopes, 
 
 395 (Both jolly huntsmen, both in forests bred. 
 
 And owning old Acestes for their head,) 
 
 With several others of ignobler name. 
 
 Whom time has not delivered o’er to fame. 
 
 To these the hero thus his thoughts explained, 
 400 In words which general approbation gained : 
 
 One common largess is for all designed 
 (The vanquished and the victor shall be joined) : 
 Two darts of polished steel and Gnossian wood, 
 
 A silver-studded axe, alike bestow^ed. 
 
 405 The foremost three have olive-wreaths decreed : 
 The first of these obtains a stately steed 
 Adorned with trappings ; and the next in fame, 
 The quiver of an Amazonian dame. 
 
 With feathered Thracian arrows well supplied : 
 410 A golden belt shall gird his manly side. 
 
 Which with a sparkling diamond shall be tied. 
 
 The third this Grecian helmet shall content.” 
 
 He said. To their appointed base they went ; 
 With beating hearts the expected sign receive, 
 
 415 And, starting all at once, the barrier leave. 
 
 Spread out, as on the winged winds, they flew, 
 And seized the distant goal with greedy view. 
 
BOOK V.] 
 
 VIRGirS ^NEIS. 
 
 119 
 
 Shot from the crowd, swift Nisus all o’er-passed ; 
 
 Nor storms, nor thunder, equal half his haste. 
 
 The next, but, though the next, yet far disjoined, 420 
 Came Salius ; and Euryalus behind ; 
 
 Then Helymus, whom young Diores plied. 
 
 Step after step, and almost side by side. 
 
 His shoulders pressing — and, in longer space. 
 
 Had won, or left at least a dubious race. 425 
 
 Now, spent, the goal they almost reach at last. 
 
 When eager Ni^us, hapless in his haste. 
 
 Slipped first, and, slipping, fell upon the plain, 
 
 Soaked with the blood of oxen newly slain. 
 
 The careless victor had not marked his way ; 430 
 
 But, treading where the treacherous puddle lay. 
 
 His heels flew up ; and on the grassy floor 
 He fell, besmeared with fllth and holy gore. 
 
 Not mindless then, Euryalus, of thee, 
 
 Nor of the sacred bonds of amity, 435 
 
 He strove the immediate rival’s hope to cross. 
 
 And caught the foot of Salius as he rose : 
 
 So Salius lay extended on the plain : 
 
 Euryalus springs out, the prize to gain. 
 
 And leaves the crowd : — applauding peals attend 440 
 The victor to the goal, who vanquished by his friend. 
 
 Next Helymus ; and then Diores came. 
 
 By two misfortunes made the third in fame. 
 
 But Salius enters, and, exclaiming loud 
 For justice, deafens and disturbs the crowd ; 445 
 
 Urges his cause may in the court be heard ; 
 
 And pleads the prize is wrongfully conferred. 
 
 But favour for Euryalus appears ; 
 
 His blooming beauty, with his tender years. 
 
 Had bribed the judges for the promised prize ; 450 
 
 Besides, Diores fills the court with cries. 
 
 Who vainly reaches at the last reward. 
 
 If the first palm on Salius be conferred. 
 
 Then thus the prince : “ Let no disputes arise : 
 
 Where Fortune placed it, I award the prize. 455 
 
 But Fortune’s errors give me leave to mend. 
 
 At least to pity my deserving friend.’’ 
 
[book V. 
 
 1 2 o VlRGins MNEIS. 
 
 He said, and, from among the spoils, he draws 
 (Ponderous with shaggy mane and golden paws) 
 
 460 A lion^s hide : to Salius this he gives : 
 
 Nisus with envy sees the gift, and grieves. 
 
 ‘‘ If such rewards to vanquished men are due 
 (He said), and falling is to rise by you. 
 
 What prize may Nisus from your bounty claim, 
 
 465 Who merited the first rewards and fame ? 
 
 Jn falling, both an equal fortune tried ; 
 
 Would Fortune for my fall so well provide!” 
 
 With this he pointed to his face, and showed 
 His hands and all his habit smeared with blood. 
 
 470 The indulgent father of the people smiled. 
 
 And caused to be produced an ample shield. 
 
 Of wondrous art, by Didymaon wrought. 
 
 Long since from Neptune’s bars in triumph brought. 
 This given to Nisus, he divides the rest, 
 
 475 And equal justice in his gifts expressed. 
 
 The race thus ended, and rewards bestowed. 
 
 Once more the prince bespeaks the attentive crowd : 
 
 If there be here, whose dauntless courage dare 
 In gauntlet fight, with limbs and body bare, 
 
 480 His opposite sustain in open view. 
 
 Stand forth the champion, and the games renew. 
 Two prizes I propose, and thus divide — 
 
 A bull with glided horns, and fillets tied. 
 
 Shall be the portion of the conquering chief : 
 
 485 A sword and helm shall cheer the loser’s grief.” 
 
 Then haughty Dares in the lists appears : 
 
 Stalking he strides, his head erected bears : 
 
 His nervous arms the weighty gauntlet wield ; 
 
 And loud applauses echo through the field. 
 
 490 Dares alone in combat used to stand 
 
 The match of mighty Paris, hand to hand ; 
 
 The same, at Hector’s funerals, undertook 
 Gigantic Butes, of the Amycian stock. 
 
 And, by the stroke of his resistless hand, 
 
 495 Stretched the vast bulk upon the yellow sand. 
 
 Such Dares was ; and such he strode along, 
 
 And drew the wonder of the gazing throng. 
 
BOOK V.] 
 
 VIRGins AlNEIS, 
 
 121 
 
 His brawhy back and ample breast he shows ; 
 
 His lifted arms around his head he throws, 
 
 And deals, in whistling air, his empty blows. 500 
 
 His match is sought ; but, through the trembling band. 
 Not one dares answer to the proud demand. 
 
 Presuming of his force, with sparkling eyes 
 Already he devours the promised prize. 
 
 He claims the bull with awless insolence, 505 
 
 And, having seized his horns, accosts the prince : 
 
 “ If none my matchless valour dares oppose. 
 
 How long shall Dares wait his dastard foes 1 
 Permit me, chief, permit without delay, 
 
 To lead this uncontended gift away.^^ 510 
 
 The crowd assents, and, with redoubled cries. 
 
 For the proud challenger demands the prize. 
 
 Acestes, fired with just disdain, to see 
 The plain usurped without a victory, 
 
 Reproached Entellus thus, who sat beside, 515 
 
 And heard and saw, unmoved, the TrojaiFs pride: 
 
 ‘‘ Once, but in vain, a champion of renown, 
 
 So tamely can you bear the ravished crown, 
 
 A prize in triumph borne before your sight. 
 
 And shun for fear the danger of the fight 1 520 
 
 Where is your Eryx now, the boasted name. 
 
 The god who taught your thundering arm the game 
 Where now your baffled honour 1 where the spoil 
 That filled your house, and fame that filled our isle.^’^ 
 Entellus thus : “My soul is still the same, 525 
 
 Unmoved with fear, and moved with martial fame; 
 
 But my chill blood is curdled in my veins ; 
 
 And scarce the shadow of a man remains. 
 
 Oh ! could I turn to that fair prime again. 
 
 That prime, of which this boaster is so vain, 530 
 
 The brave, who this decrepit age defies. 
 
 Should feel my force, without the promised prize.^’ 
 
 He said ; and, rising at the word, he threw 
 Two ponderous gauntlets down in open view — 
 
 Gauntlets, which Eryx wont in fight to wield, 535 
 
 And sheath his hands with, in the listed field. 
 
 With fear and wonder seized, the crowd beholds 
 
122 
 
 VIJ^Girs .^NEIS. 
 
 [book V. 
 
 The gloves of death, with seven distinguished folds 
 Of tough bull-hides ; the space within is spread 
 540 With iron, or with loads of heavy lead. 
 
 Dares himself was daunted at the sight. 
 
 Renounced his challenge, and refused to fight. 
 Astonished at their weight, the hero stands. 
 
 And poised the ponderous engines in his hands. 
 
 545 What had your wonder (said Entellus) been. 
 
 Had you the gauntlets of Alcides seen. 
 
 Or viewed the stern debate on this unhappy green ! 
 These, which I bear, your brother Eryx bore. 
 
 Still marked with battered brains and mingled gore. 
 550 With these he long sustained the Herculean arm ; 
 And these I wielded while my blood was warm. 
 
 This languished frame while better spirits fed. 
 
 Ere age unstrung my nerves, or time o^ersnowed my 
 But if the challenger these arms refuse, [head, 
 
 555 And cannot wield their weight, or dare not use ; 
 
 If great ^neas and Acestes join 
 In his request, these gauntlets I resign ; 
 
 Let us with equal arms perform the fight ; 
 
 And let him leave to fear, since I resign my right.’’ 
 560 This said, Entellus for the strife prepares; 
 
 Stripped of his quilted coat, his body bares: 
 Composed of mighty bones and brawn, he stands, 
 
 A goodly towering object on the sands. 
 
 Then just ^neas equal arms supplied, 
 
 565 Which round their shoulders to their wrists they tied. 
 Both on the tiptoe stand, at full extent. 
 
 Their arms aloft, their bodies inly bent ; 
 
 Their heads from aiming blows they bear afar ; 
 
 With clashing gauntlets then provoke the war. 
 
 570 One on his youth and pliant limbs relies ; 
 
 One on his sinews, and his giant size. 
 
 The last is stiff with age, his motion slow ; 
 
 He heaves for breath ; he staggers to and fro ; 
 
 And clouds of issuing smoke his nostrils loudly blow. 
 575 Yet equal in success, they ward, they strike ; 
 
 Their ways are different, but their art alike. 
 
 Before, behind, the blows are dealt ; around 
 
BOOK V. ] VIJ^GjrS ALNEIS, 1 2 3 
 
 Their hollow sides the rattling thumps resound. 
 
 A storm of strokes, well meant, with fury flies. 
 
 And errs about their temples, ears, and eyes — 
 
 Nor always errs ; for oft the gauntlet draws 
 A sweeping stroke along the crackling jaws. 
 
 Heavy with age, Entellus stands his ground. 
 
 But with his warping body wards the wound. 
 
 His hand and watchful eye keep even pace ; 585 
 
 While Dares traverses, and shifts his place. 
 
 And, like a captain who beleaguers round 
 Some strong-built castle on a rising ground. 
 
 Views all the approaches with observing eyes ; 
 
 This and that other part in vain he tries, ' 590 
 
 And more on industry than force relies. 
 
 With hands on high, Entellus threats the foe ; 
 
 But Dares watched the motion from below. 
 
 And slipped aside, and shunned the long-descending blow. 
 Entellus wastes his forces on the wind, 595 
 
 And, thus deluded of the stroke designed. 
 
 Headlong and heavy fell : his ample breast. 
 
 And weighty limbs, his ancient mother pressed. 
 
 So falls a hollow pine, that long had stood 
 
 On Ida^s height, or Erymanthus’ wood, 600 
 
 Torn from the roots. The differing nations rise ; 
 
 And shouts and mingled murmurs rend the skies. 
 
 Acestes runs with eager haste, to raise 
 The fallen companion of his youthful days. 
 
 Dauntless he rose, and to the fight returned ; 605 
 
 With shame his glowing cheeks, his eyes with fury, burned. 
 Disdain and conscious virtue fired his breast ; 
 
 And with redoubled force his foe he pressed. 
 
 He lays on load with either hand, amain. 
 
 And headlong drives the Trojan o^er the plain ; 610 
 
 Nor stops, nor stays ; nor rest nor breath allows ; 
 
 But storms of strokes descend about his brows, 
 
 A rattling tempest, and a hail of blows. 
 
 But now the prince, who saw the wild increase 
 Of wounds, commands the combatants to cease, 615 
 And bounds Entellus’ wrath, and bids the peace. 
 
 First to the Trojan, spent with toil, he came. 
 
124 
 
 VIRGWS ^NEIS, 
 
 [book V. 
 
 And soothed his sorrow for the suffered shame. 
 
 ‘‘ What fury seized my friend.^ The gods (said he), 
 620 To him propitious, and averse to thee. 
 
 Have given his arm superior force to thine. 
 
 ^Tis madness to contend with strength divine.” 
 
 The gauntlet-fight thus ended, from the shore 
 His faithful friends unhappy Dares bore : 
 
 625 His mouth and nostrils poured a purple flood ; 
 
 And pounded teeth came rushing with his blood. 
 Faintly he staggered through the hissing throng. 
 
 And hung his head, and trailed his legs along. 
 
 The sword and casque are carried by his tredn ; 
 
 630 But with his foe the palm and ox remain. 
 
 The champion, then, before ^Dneas came, 
 
 Proud of his prize, but prouder of his fame : 
 
 O goddess-born, and you, Dardanian host, 
 
 Mark with attention, and forgive my boast : 
 
 635 Learn what I was, by what remains ! and know. 
 From what impending fate you saved my foe.” 
 Sternly he spoke ; and then confronts the bull ; 
 
 And, on his ample forehead aiming full. 
 
 The deadly stroke, descending, pierced the skull. 
 
 640 Down drops the beast, nor needs a second wound. 
 But sprawls in pangs of death, and spurns the ground. 
 Then thus : “ In Dares’ stead I offer this. 
 
 Eryx ! accept a nobler sacrifice : 
 
 Take the last gift my withered arms can yield : 
 
 645 Thy gauntlets I resign, and here renounce the field.” 
 This done, ^neas orders, for the close. 
 
 The strife of archers, with contending bows. 
 
 The mast, Sergestus’ shattered galley bore. 
 
 With his own hands he raises on the shore. 
 
 650 A fluttering dove upon the top they tie. 
 
 The living mark at which their arrows fly. 
 
 The rival archers in a line advance, 
 
 Their turn of shooting to receive from chance : 
 
 A helmet holds their namps : the lots are drawn ; 
 
 655 On the first scroll was read Hippocoon : 
 
 The. people shout. Upon the next was found 
 Young Mnestheus, late with naval honours crowned. 
 
BOOK V.] 
 
 VIRGinS AlNEIS. 
 
 125 
 
 The third contained Eurytion’s noble name, 
 
 Thy brother, Pandarus, and next in fame. 
 
 Whom Pallas urged the treaty to confound, 660 
 
 And send among the Greeks a feathered wound. 
 
 Acestes, in the bottom, last remained, 
 
 Whom not his age from youthful sports restrained. 
 
 Soon all with vigour bend their trusty bows ; 
 
 And from the quiver each his arrow chose, 665 
 
 Hippocoon’s was the first ; with forceful sway 
 It flew, and, wlyizzing, cut the liquid way. 
 
 Fixed in the mast the feathered weapon stands : 
 
 The fearful pigeon flutters in her bands ; 
 
 And the tree trembled ; and the shouting cries 670 
 
 Of the pleased people rend the vaulted skies. 
 
 Then Mnestheus to the head his arrow drove, 
 
 With lifted eyes, and took his aim above. 
 
 But made a glancing shot, and missed the dove. 
 
 Yet missed so narrow, that he cut the cord 675 
 
 Which fastened by the foot, the flitting bird. 
 
 The captive thus released, away she flies, , 
 
 And beats with clapping wings the yielding skies. 
 
 His bow already bent, Eurytion stood ; 
 
 And, having first invoked his brother-god, 680 
 
 His winged shaft with eager haste he sped. 
 
 The fatal message reached her as she fled : 
 
 She leaves her life aloft ; she strikes the ground. 
 
 And renders back the weapon in the wound. 
 
 Acestes, grudging at his lot, remains 685 
 
 Without a prize to gratify his pains. 
 
 Yet, shooting upward, sends his shaft, to shew 
 An archer’s art, and boast his twanging bow. 
 
 The feathered arrow gave a dire portent. 
 
 And latter augurs judge from this event. 690 
 
 Chafed by the speed, it fired ; and, as it flew, 
 
 A train of following flames, ascending, drew : 
 
 Kindling they mount, and mark the shiny way ; 
 
 Across the skies as falling meteors play. 
 
 And vanish into wind, or in a blaze decay. 695 
 
 The Trojans and Sicilians wildly stare. 
 
 And trembling, turn their wonder into prayer. 
 
126 
 
 VIRGirS MNEIS. 
 
 [book V. 
 
 The Dardan prince put on a smiling face, 
 
 And strained Acestes with a close embrace ; 
 
 700 Then honouring him with gifts above the rest, 
 Turned the bad omen, nor his fears confessed. 
 
 The gods (said he) this miracle have wrought. 
 
 And ordered you the prize without the lot. 
 
 Accept this goblet, rough with figured gold, 
 
 705 Which Thracian Cisseus gave my sire of old : 
 
 This pledge of ancient amity receive, 
 
 Which to my second sire I justly give.’^ 
 
 He said, and, with the trumpet’s cheerful sound. 
 Proclaimed him victor, and with laurel crowned. 
 
 710 Nor good Eurytion envied him the prize. 
 
 Though he transfixed the pigeon in the skies. 
 
 Who cut the line, with second gifts was graced ; 
 
 The third was his whose arrow pierced the mast. 
 
 The chief, before the games were wholly done, 
 
 715 Called Periphantes, tutor to his son. 
 
 And whispered thus : “With speed Ascanius find ; 
 And, if his childish troop be ready joined. 
 
 On horseback let him grace his grandsire’s day. 
 
 And lead his equals armed in just array.” 
 
 720 He said ; and, calling out, the cirque he clears. 
 
 The crowd withdrawn, an open plain appears. 
 
 And now the noble youths, of form divine. 
 
 Advance before their fathers, in a line : 
 
 The riders grace the steeds, the steeds with glory shine. 
 725 Thus marching on in military pride. 
 
 Shouts of applause resound from side to side. 
 
 Their casques adorned with laurel wreaths they wear. 
 Each brandishing aloft a cornel spear. 
 
 Some at their backs their gilded quivers bore ; 
 
 730 Their chains of burnished gold hung down before. 
 Three graceful troops they formed upon the green ; 
 Three graceful leaders at their head were seen ; 
 Twelve followed every chief, and left a space between. 
 The first, young Priam led— a lovely boy, 
 
 735 Whose grandsire was the unhappy king of Troy; 
 (His race in after-times was known to fame. 
 
 New honours adding to the Latian name)— 
 
V/RGirS MNEIS. 
 
 127 
 
 BOOK V.] 
 
 And well the royal boy his Thracian steed became. 
 
 White were the fetlocks of his feet before ; 
 
 And on his front a snowy star he bore. 740 
 
 Then beauteous Atys, with Ililus bred, 
 
 Of equal age, the second squadron led. 
 
 The last in order, but the first in place 
 First in the lovely features of his face, 
 
 Rode fair Ascanius, on a fiery steed, 745 
 
 Queen Didoes gift, and of the Tyrian breed. 
 
 Sure coursers for the rest the king ordains. 
 
 With golden bits adorned, and purple reins. 
 
 The pleased spectators peals of shouts renew. 
 
 And all the parents in the children view ; 750 
 
 Their make, their motions, and their sprightly grace. 
 
 And hopes and fears alternate in their face. 
 
 • The unfledged commanders, and their martial train. 
 First make the circuit of the sandy plain 
 Around their sires ; and at the appointed sign, 755 
 
 Drawn up in beauteous order, form a line. 
 
 The second signal sounds : the troop divides 
 
 In three distinguish’d parts, with three distinguish’d guides. 
 
 Again they close, and once again disjoin : 
 
 In troop to troop opposed, and line to line. 760 
 
 They meet ; they wheel ; they throw their darts afar. 
 With harmless rage, and well-dissembled war. 
 
 Then in a round the mingled bodies run ; 
 
 Flying they follow, and pursuing shun ; 
 
 Broken they break ; and rallying, they renew 765 
 
 In other forms the military show. 
 
 At last, in order undiscerned they join. 
 
 And march together in a friendly line. 
 
 And, as the Cretan labyrinth of old. 
 
 With wandering ways, and many a winding fold, 770 
 Involved the weary feet without redress. 
 
 In a round error which denied recess ; 
 
 So fought the Trojan boys in warlike play. 
 
 Turned and returned, and still a different way. 
 
 Thus, dolphins in the deep each other chase 775 
 
 In circles, when they swim around the watery race. 
 
 This game, these carousals, Ascanius taught ; 
 
128 VIRGirs yENEIS. [book v 
 
 And, building Alba, to the Latins brought, 
 
 Shewed what he learned : the Latin sires impart 
 780 To their succeeding sons the graceful art: 
 
 From these imperial Rome received the game. 
 
 Which Troy, the youths, the Trojan troop, they name. 
 
 Thus far the sacred sports they celebrate ; 
 
 But Fortune soon resumed her ancient hate ; 
 
 785 For, while they pay the dead his annual dues. 
 
 Those envied rites Saturnian Juno views; 
 
 And sends the goddess of the various bow, 
 
 To try new methods of revenge below : 
 
 Supplies the winds to wing her airy way, 
 
 790 Where in the port secure the navy lay. • 
 
 Swiftly fair Iris down her arch descends. 
 
 And undiscerned, her fatal voyage ends. 
 
 She saw the gathering crowd ; and, gliding thence. 
 The desert shore, and fleet without defence. 
 
 795 The Trojan matrons, on the sands alone. 
 
 With sighs and tears Anchises’ death bemoan : 
 
 Then, turning to the sea their weeping eyes. 
 
 Their pity to themselves renews their cries. 
 
 Alas ! (said one) what oceans yet remain 
 800 For us to sail ! what labours to sustain I” 
 
 All take the word, and, with a general groan 
 Implore the gods for peace, and places of their own. 
 The goddess, great in mischief, views their pains. 
 And in a woman’s form her heavenly limbs restrains. 
 805 In face and shape, old Beroe she became, 
 
 Doryclus’ wife, a venerable dame ; 
 
 Once blessed with riches, and a mother’s name. 
 
 Thus changed, amidst the crying crowd she ran. 
 Mixed with the matrons, and these words began : 
 
 810 O wretched we ! whom not the Grecian power 
 Nor flames destroyed, in Troy’s unhappy hour ! 
 
 O wretched we ! reserved by cruel Fate 
 Beyond the ruins of the sinking state ! 
 
 Now, seven revolving years are wholly run, 
 
 815 Since this improsperous voyage we begun ; 
 
 Since, tossed from shores to shores, from lands to lands 
 Inhospitable rocks and barren sands, 
 
BOOK V. ] VIRGirs ^NEIS. 1 2 9 
 
 Wandering in exile, through the stormy sea, 
 
 We search in vain for flying Italy. 
 
 Now cast by Fortune on this kindred land, 820 
 
 What should our rest and rising walls withstand ; 
 
 Or hinder, here, to fix our banished band 1 
 O country lost, and gods redeemed in vain. 
 
 If still in endless exile we remain ! 
 
 Shall we no more the Trojan walls renew. 825 
 
 Or streams of some dissembled Simois view ? 
 
 Haste ! join with me! the unhappy fleet consume ! 
 Cassandra bids ; and I declare her doom. 
 
 In sleep I saw her; she supplied my hands 
 (For this 1 more than dreamt) with flaming brands : 830 
 
 ‘ With these (said she) these wandering ships destroy : 
 These are your fatal seats, and this your Troy.^ 
 
 Time calls you now ; the precious hour employ ; 
 
 Slack not the good presage, while heaven inspires 
 Our minds to dare, and gives the ready fires. 835 
 
 See ! Neptune^s altars minister their brands ; 
 
 The God is pleased ; the god supplies our hands.” 
 
 Then from the pile a flaming fir she drew, 
 
 And, tossed in air, amidst the galleys threw. 
 
 Rapt in amaze, the matrons wildly stare : 840 
 
 Then Pyrgo, reverenced for her hoary hair — 
 
 Pyrgo, the nurse of Priam^s numerous race : 
 
 ‘‘No Beroe this, though she belies her face 1 
 What terrors from her frowning front arise ! 
 
 Behold a goddess in her ardent eyes 1 845 
 
 What rays around her heavenly face are seen ! 
 
 Mark her majestic voice, and more than mortal mien 1 
 Beroe but now I left, whom, pined with pain. 
 
 Her age and anguish from these rites detain.” 
 
 She said. The matrons, seized with new amaze, 850 
 Roll their malignant eyes, and on the navy gaze. 
 
 They fear, and hope, and neither part obey : 
 
 They hope the fated land, but fear the fatal way. 
 
 The goddess, having done her task below. 
 
 Mounts up on equal wings, and bends her painted bow. 855 
 Struck with the sight, and seized with rage divine, 
 
 The matrons prosecute their mad design : 
 
 I 
 
130 VIRGirs ^NEIS. [book v. 
 
 They shriek aloud : they snatch with impious hands 
 The food of altars : firs and flaming brands, 
 
 860 Green boughs and saplings, mingled in their haste. 
 And smoking torches, on the ships they cast. 
 
 The flame, unstopped at first, more fury gains ; 
 
 And Vulcan rides at large with loosened reins : 
 Triumphant to the painted stern he soars, 
 
 865 And seizes in his way the banks and crackling oars. 
 Eumelus was the first the news to bear, 
 
 While yet they crowd the rural theatre. 
 
 Then what they hear is witnessed by their eyes : 
 
 A storm of sparkles and of flames arise. 
 
 870 Ascanius took the alarm, while yet he led 
 His early warriors on his prancing steed ; 
 
 And, spurring on, his equals soon o’erpassed ; 
 
 Nor could his frightened friends reclaim his haste. 
 Soon as the royal youth appeared in view, 
 
 875 He sent his voice before him as he flew : 
 
 What madness moves you, matrons ! to destroy 
 The last remainders of unhappy Troy? 
 
 Not hostile fleets, but your own hopes, you burn. 
 
 And on your friends your fatal fury turn. 
 
 880 Behold your own Ascanius I ” — While he said. 
 
 He drew his glittering helmet from his head. 
 
 In which the youths to sportful arms he led. 
 
 By this, H^neas and his train appear; 
 
 And now the women, seized with shame and fear, 
 
 885 Dispersed, to woods and caverns take their flight ; 
 Abhor their actions, and avoid the light ; 
 
 Their friends acknowledge, and their error find ; 
 
 And shake the goddess from their altered mind. 
 
 Not so the raging fires their fury cease, 
 
 890 But, lurking in the seams, with seeming peace 
 Work on their way amid the smouldering tow ; 
 
 Sure in destruction, but in motion slow. 
 
 The silent plague through the green timber eats. 
 
 And vomits out a tardy flame by fits. 
 
 895 Down to the keels, and upward to the sails. 
 
 The fire descends or mounts, but still prevails ; 
 
 Nor buckets poured, nor strength of human hand. 
 
BOOKV.] VIRGirS ^NEIS. - 131 
 
 Can the victorious element withstand. 
 
 The pious hero rends his robe, and throws 
 To heaven his hands, and, with his hands, his vows. 900 
 O Jove! (he cried) if prayers can yet have place; 
 
 If thou abhorr^st not all the Dardan race ; 
 
 If any spark of pity still remain ; 
 
 If gods are gods, and not invoked in vain ; 
 
 Yet spare the relics of the Trojan train ! 905 
 
 Yet from the flames our burning vessels free ! 
 
 Or let thy fury fall alone on me : 
 
 At this devoted head thy thunder throw. 
 
 And send the willing sacrifice below.^^ 
 
 Scarce had he said, when southern storms arise : 910 
 
 From pole to pole the forky lightning flies : 
 
 Loud rattling shakes the mountains and the plain : 
 Heaven bellies downward, and descends in rain : 
 
 Whole sheets of water from the clouds are sent. 
 
 Which, hissing through the planks, the flames prevent, 9 1 5 
 And stop the fiery pest. Four ships alone 
 Burn to the waist, and for the fleet atone. 
 
 But doubtful thoughts the hero’s heart divide. 
 
 If he should still in Sicily reside, 
 
 Forgetful of his fates, — or tempt the main, 920 
 
 In hope the promised Italy to gain. 
 
 Then Nautes, old and wise — to whom alone 
 The will of Heaven by Pallas was foreshown ; 
 
 Versed in portents, experienced, and inspired 
 
 To tell events, and what the Fates required — 925 
 
 Thus, while he stood to neither part inclined. 
 
 With cheerful words relieved his labouring mind ; 
 
 “ O goddess-born 1 resigned in every state. 
 
 With patience bear, with prudence push your fate. 
 
 By suffering well, our fortune we subdue ; 930 
 
 Fly when she frowns, and when she calls, pursue. 
 
 Your friend Acestes is of Trojan kind; 
 
 To him disclose the secrets of your mind ; 
 
 Trust in his hands your old and useless train. 
 
 Too numerous for the ships which yet remain — 935 
 
 The feeble, old, indulgent of their ease. 
 
 The dames, who dread the dangers of the seas. 
 
VIRGirS AlNEIS'. 
 
 [book V. 
 
 T32 
 
 With all the dastard crew, who dare not stand 
 The shock of battle with your foes by land. 
 
 940 Here you may build a common town for all, 
 
 And, from Acestes’ name, Acesta call.’^ 
 
 The reasons, with his friend’s experience joined, 
 Encouraged much, but more disturbed his mind. 
 ’Twas dead of night ; when, to his slumbering eyes 
 945 His father’s shade, descended from the skies. 
 
 And thus he spoke : O, more than vital breath 
 Loved while I lived, and dear e’en after death ! 
 
 O son, in various toils and troubles tossed ! 
 
 The king of heaven employs my careful ghost 
 950 On his commands— the god who saved from fire 
 Your flaming fleet, and heard your just desire. 
 
 The wholesome counsel of your friend receive. 
 
 And here, the coward train and wom^en, leave. 
 
 The chosen youth, and those who nobly dare, 
 
 955 Transport, to tempt the dangers of the war : 
 
 The stern Italians will their courage try : 
 
 Rough are their manners, and their minds are high. 
 But first to Pluto’s palace you shall go. 
 
 And seek my shade among the blest below ; 
 
 960 For not with impious ghosts my soul remains ; 
 
 Nor suffers, with the damned, perpetual pains ; 
 
 But breathes the living air and soft Elysian plains. 
 The chaste Sibylla shall your steps convey. 
 
 And blood of offered victims free the way. 
 
 965 There shall you know what realms the gods assign, 
 And learn the fates and fortunes of your line. 
 
 But now farewell ! I vanish with the night. 
 
 And feel the blast of heaven’s approaching light.” 
 
 He said, and mixed with shades, and took his airy flight. 
 970 ‘^Whither so fast? (the filial duty cried) 
 
 And why, ah ! why the wished embrace denied?’’ 
 
 He said, and rose : as holy zeal inspires. 
 
 He rakes hot embers, and renews the fires; 
 
 His country gods and Vesta then adores 
 975 With cakes and incense, and their aid implores. 
 Next, for his friends and royal host he sent. 
 
 Revealed his vision, and the god’s intent. 
 
BOOK V.] 
 
 VIRGirS ^NEIS. 
 
 133 
 
 With his own purpose. All, without delay, 
 
 The will of Jove, and his desires, obey. 
 
 They list with women, each degenerate name 980 
 
 Who dares not hazard life for future fame. 
 
 These they cashier. The brave remaining few. 
 
 Oars, banks, and cables, half-consumed, renew. 
 
 The prince designs a city with the plough : 
 
 The lots their several tenements allow. 985 
 
 This part, is named from Ilium, that, from Troy ; 
 
 And the new king ascends the throne with joy; 
 
 A chosen senate from the people draws ; 
 
 Appoints the judges, and ordains the laws. 
 
 Then, on the top of Eryx, they begin 990 
 
 A rising temple to the Paphian queen. 
 
 Anchises, last, is honoured as a god : 
 
 A priest is added ; annual gifts bestowed ; 
 
 And groves are planted round his blest abode. 
 
 Nine days they pass in feasts, their temples crowned ; 995 
 And fumes of incense in the fanes abound. 
 
 Then from the south arose a gentle breeze. 
 
 That curled the smoothness of the glassy seas ; 
 
 The rising winds a ruffling gale afford. 
 
 And call the merry mariners aboard. 
 
 Now loud laments along the shores resound. 
 
 Of parting friends in close embraces bound. 
 
 The trembling women, the degenerate train 
 Who shunned the frightful dangers of the main ; 
 
 E’en those desire to sail, and take their share 
 Of the rough passage, and the promised war : 
 
 Whom good ^Eneas cheers ; and recommends 
 To their new master’s care his fearful friends. 
 
 On Eryx’ altars three fat calves he lays ; 
 
 A lamb, new-fallen, to the stormy seas ; 
 
 Then slips his halsers, and his anchors weighs. 
 
 High on the deck, the godlike hero stands 
 With olive crowned, a charger in his hands ; 
 
 Then cast the reeking entrails in the brine. 
 
 And poured the sacrifice of purple wine. 
 
 Fresh gales arise : with equal strokes they vie. 
 
 And brush the buxom seas, and o’er the billows fly. 
 
 1000 
 
 1005 
 
 1010 
 
 1015 
 
134 
 
 VIRGirs ^NEIS. 
 
 [book V. 
 
 Meantime the mother goddess, full of fears, 
 
 To Neptune thus addressed, with tender tears : 
 
 1020 The pride of Jove’s imperious queen, the rage. 
 The malice, which no sufferings can assuage. 
 Compel me to these prayers ; since neither fate, 
 Nor time, nor pity, can remove her hate. 
 
 E’en Jove is thwarted by his haughty wife : 
 
 1025 Still vanquished, yet she still renews the strife. 
 
 As if ’twere little to consume the town 
 
 Which awed the world, and wore the imperial crown. 
 
 She prosecutes the ghost of Troy with pains. 
 
 And gnaws e’en to the bones the last remains. 
 
 1030 Let her, the causes of her hatred tell ; 
 
 But you, can witness its effects too well. 
 
 You saw the storm she raised on Libyan floods. 
 That mixed the mounting billows with the clouds ; 
 When, bribing ^olus, she shook the main, 
 
 1035 And moved rebellion in your watery reign. 
 
 With fury she possessed the Dardan dames,-^ 
 
 To burn their fleet with execrable flames. 
 
 And forced ^neas, when his ships were lost. 
 
 To leave his followers on a foreign coast. 
 
 1040 For what remains, your godhead I implore; 
 
 And trust my son to your protecting power. 
 
 If neither Jove’s nor Fate’s decree withstand, 
 
 Secure his passage to the Latian land.” 
 
 Then thus, the mighty ruler of the main : 
 
 1045 ‘‘What may not Venus hope from Neptune’s reign? 
 My kingdom claims your birth ; my late defence 
 Of your endangered fleet may claim your confidence. 
 Nor less by land than sea my deeds declare. 
 
 How much your loved ^neas is my care. 
 
 1050 Thee, Xanthus ! and thee, Simois ! I attest — 
 
 Your Trojan troops when proud Achilles pressed. 
 And drove before him headlong on the plain ; 
 
 And dashed against the walls the trembling train ; 
 When floods were filled with bodies of the slain ; 
 1055 When crimson Xanthus, doubtful of his way. 
 
 Stood up on ridges to behold the sea 
 
 (New heaps came tumbling in, and choked his way); 
 
BOOK V.] 
 
 VIRGirS ALNEIS. 
 
 135 
 
 When your ^neas fought, but fought with odds 
 Of force unequal, and unequal gods ; 
 
 I spread a cloud before the victor^s sight, 1060 
 
 Sustained the vanquished, and secured his flight : 
 
 E’en then secured him, when I sought with joy 
 The vowed destruction of ungrateful Troy. 
 
 My will’s the same : fair goddess ! fear no more. 
 
 Your fleet shall safely gain the Latian shore : 1065 
 
 Their lives are given : one destined head alone 
 Shall perish, and for multitudes atone.” 
 
 Thus having armed with hopes her anxious mind. 
 
 His finny team Saturnian Neptune joined ; 
 
 Then adds the foamy bridle to their jaws, 1070 
 
 And to the loosened reins permits the laws. 
 
 High on the waves his azure car he guides ; 
 
 Its axles thunder, and the sea subsides ; 
 
 And the smooth ocean rolls her silent tides. 
 
 The tempests fly before their father’s face ; 1075 
 
 Trains of inferior gods his triumph grace; 
 
 And monster whales before their master play ; 
 
 And choirs of Tritons crowd the watery way. 
 
 The marshalled powers in equal troops divide 
 
 To right and left : the gods his better side 1080 
 
 Inclose ; and, on the worse, the Nymphs and Nereids ride. 
 
 Now smiling hope, with sweet vicissitude. 
 
 Within the hero’s mind his joys renewed. 
 
 He calls to raise the masts, the sheets display ; 
 
 The cheerful crew with diligence obey: 1085 
 
 They scud before the wind, and sail in open sea. 
 
 Ahead of all, the master-pilot steers ; 
 
 And as he leads, the following navy veers. 
 
 The steeds of Night had travelled half the sky; 
 
 The drowsy rowers on their benches lie ; 1090 
 
 When the soft god of sleep, with easy flight 
 Descends, and draws behind a trail of light. 
 
 Thou, Palinurus, art his destined prey ; 
 
 To thee alone he takes his fatal way. 
 
 Dire dreams to thee, and iron sleep, he bears ; 1095 
 
 And, lighting on thy prow, the form of Phorbas wears. 
 Then thus the traitor-god began his tale : 
 
1 3 6 r//? Gins .^NEIS. [BOOK V. 
 
 The winds, my friend, inspire a pleasing gale ; 
 
 The ships, without thy care securely sail, 
 iioo Now steal an hour of sweet repose ; and I 
 Will take the rudder, and thy room supply.’^ 
 
 To whom, the yawning pilot, half asleep : 
 
 Me dost thou bid to trust the treacherous deep. 
 The harlot-smiles of her dissembling face, 
 
 1105 And to her faith commit the Trojan race 1 
 Shall I believe the Siren South again, 
 
 And, oft betrayed, not know the monster main 
 He said : his fastened hands the rudder keep ; 
 
 And, fixed on heaven, his eyes repel invading sleep. 
 1 1 10 The god was wroth, and at his temples threw 
 
 A branch in Lethe dipped,and drunk with Stygian dew : 
 The pilot, vanquished by the power divine, 
 
 Soon closed his swimming eyes, and lay supine. 
 Scarce were his limbs extended at their length ; 
 
 1 1 15 The god, insulting, with superior strength 
 Fell heavy on him, plunged him in the sea ; 
 
 And, with the stern, the rudder tore away. 
 
 Headlong he fell, and, struggling in the main. 
 
 Cried out for helping hands, but cried in vain. 
 
 1120 The victor daemon mounts obscure in air ; 
 
 While the ship sails without the pilot’s care. 
 
 On Neptune’s faith the floating fleet relies ; 
 
 But what the man forsook, the god supplies ; 
 
 And, o’er the dangerous deep, secure the navy flies : 
 1125 Glides by the Sirens’ cliffs, a shelfy coast. 
 
 Long' infamous, for ships and sailors lost ; 
 
 And white with bones. The impetuous ocean roars. 
 And rocks rebellow from the sounding shores. 
 
 The watchful hero felt the knocks, and found 
 1130 The tossing vessel sailed on shoaly ground. 
 
 Sute of his pilot’s loss, he takes himself 
 
 The helm, and steers aloof, and shuns the shelf. 
 
 Inly he grieved, and, groaning from the breast. 
 Deplored his death ; and thus his pain expressed : 
 1135 ‘‘For faith reposed on seas, and on the flattering sky. 
 Thy naked corpse is doom’d on shores unknown to lie.” 
 
BOOK VI. 
 
 THE ARGUMENT. 
 
 The Sibyl foretell:.' Tineas the adventures he should meet with 
 in Italy. She attends him to hell ; describing to him the 
 various scenes of that place, and conducting him to his 
 father Anchises, who instructs him in those sublime my- 
 steries of th’ soul of the world, and the transmigration ; 
 and shows him that glorious race of heroes, which was to 
 descend from him and his posterity. 
 
 H e said, and wept ; then spread his sails before 
 
 The winds, and reached at length the Cuman shore : 
 Their anchors dropped, his crew the vessels moor. 
 
 They turn the, ' heads to sea, their sterns to land ; 
 
 And greet witi. greedy joy the Italian strand. 5 
 
 Some strike from clashing flints their fiery seed ; 
 
 Some gather s'dcks, the kindled flames to feed, 
 
 Or search for ijiollow trees, and fell the woods. 
 
 Or trace throujgh valleys the discovered floods. 
 
 Thus while their several charges they fulfil, lo 
 
 The pious prmjce ascends the sacred hill 
 Where Phoebus is adored ; and seeks the shade 
 Which hides from sight his venerable maid 
 (Deep in a cave the Sibyl makes abode) : 
 
 Thence full of' fate returns ; and of the god. 15 
 
 Through Trivia^s grove they walk ; and now behold. 
 
 And enter now, the temple roofed with gold. 
 
 When Daedalus, to fly the Cretan shore. 
 
 His heavy limbs on jointed pinions bore 
 
 (The first who sailed in air), kis sung by Fame, 20 
 
 To the Cum aean coast at length he came ; 
 
 And here alighting, built this costly frame. 
 
VIRGinS MNEIS. 
 
 138 
 
 [book VI. 
 
 Inscribed to Phoebus, here, he hung on high 
 The steerage of his wings, that cut jthe sky : 
 
 25 Then, o^er the lofty gate, his art embossed 
 Androgeos^ death, and (offerings to jhis ghost) 
 
 Seven youths from Athens yearly sent, to meet 
 The fate appointed by revengeful Crete. 
 
 And next to these the dreadful urn was placed, 
 
 30 In which the destined names by lots' were cast : 
 
 The mournful parents stand around in tears ; 
 
 And rising Crete against their shore appears. 
 
 There too, in living sculpture, might be seen 
 The mad affection of the Cretan queen ; 
 
 35 Then how she cheats her bellowing lovePs eye : 
 
 The rushing leap, the doubtful progeny — 
 
 The lower part a beast, a man above^— 
 
 The monument of their polluted love. 
 
 Not far from thence he graved the wojnderous maze, 
 40 A thousand doors, a thousand winding ways : 
 
 Here dwells the monster, hid from hiiman view ; 
 
 Not to be found but by the faithful cliie ; 
 
 Till the kind artist, moved with pious grief. 
 
 Lent to the loving maid this last reliefj ; 
 
 45 And all those erring paths described slo well. 
 
 That Theseus conquered, and the moijister fell. 
 
 Here, hapless Icarus had found his phirt. 
 
 Had not the father’s grief restrained his art : 
 
 He twice essayed to cast his son in gol|d ; 
 
 50 Twice from his hands he dropped the forming mould. 
 All this, with wondering eyes yLneajs viewed ; 
 Each varying object his delight renewjed. 
 
 Eager to read the rest Achates cailme. 
 
 And by his side the mad divining dan^e, 
 
 55 The priestess of the god, Deiphobe heii* name., 
 
 “ Time suffers not (she said), to feed your eyes 
 With empty pleasures : haste the sacrifice. 
 
 Seven bullocks, yet unyoked, for Phoebuis choose, 
 And for Diana, seven unspotted ewes.” , 
 
 60 This said, the servants urge the sacred rites ; 
 
 While to the temple she the prince invites. 
 
 A spacious cave, within its farmost part, 
 
KOOK VI.] 
 
 VIRGirs AINEIS. 
 
 139 
 
 Was hewed and fashioned by laborious art, 
 
 Through the hilFs hollow sides : before the place, 
 
 A hundred doors a hundred entries grace ; 65 
 
 As many voices issue, and the sound 
 Of SibyFs words as many times rebound. 
 
 Now to the mouth they come. Aloud she cries : 
 
 This is the time ! inquire your destinies ! 
 
 He comes ! behold the god!^^ Thus while she said 70 
 (And shivering at the sacred entry stayed). 
 
 Her colour changed ; her face was not the same ; 
 
 And hollow groans from her deep spirit came. 
 
 Her hair stood up ; convulsive rage possessed 
 
 Her trembling limbs, and heaved her labouring breast. 75 
 
 Greater than human kind she seemed to look ; 
 
 And with an accent more than mortal, spoke : 
 
 Her staring eyes with sparkling fury roll ; 
 
 When all the god came rushing on her soul. 
 
 Swiftly she turned, and, foaming as she spoke : 80 
 
 “ Why this delay (she cried) the powers invoke ! 
 
 Thy prayers alone can open this abode ; 
 
 Else vain are my demands, and dumb the god.’^ 
 
 She said no more. The trembling Trojans hear. 
 Overspread with a damp sweat, and holy fear. 85 
 
 The prince himself, with awful dread possessed. 
 
 His vows to great Apollo thus addressed : 
 
 Indulgent god ! propitious power to Troy, 
 
 Swift to relieve, unwilling to destroy ! 
 
 Directed by whose hand, the Dardan dart 90 
 
 Pierced the proud Grecian's only mortal part ! 
 
 Thus far, by Fatehs decrees and thy commands. 
 
 Through ambient seas and through devouring sands. 
 
 Our exiled crew has sought the Ausonian ground ; 
 
 And now, at length, the flying coast is found. 95 
 
 Thus far the fate of Troy, from place to place. 
 
 With fury has pursued her wandering race. 
 
 Here cease, ye powers, and let your vengeance end : 
 
 Troy is no more, and can no more offend. 
 
 And thou, O sacred maid, inspired to see 
 The event of things in dark futurity ! 
 
 Give me, what heaven has promised to my fate. 
 
 100 
 
140 
 
 VJRGirS MNEIS. 
 
 [book VI. 
 
 To conquer and command the Latian state ; 
 
 To fix my wandering gods, and find a place 
 105 For the long exiles of the Trojan race. 
 
 Then shall my grateful hands a temple rear 
 To the twin gods, with vows and solemn prayer ; 
 And annual rites, and festivals, and games. 
 
 Shall be performed to their auspicious names, 
 no Nor shalt thou want thy honours in my land ; 
 
 For there thy faithful oracles shall stand. 
 
 Preserved in shrines ; and every sacred lay. 
 
 Which by thy mouth, Apollo shall convey ; 
 
 All shall be treasured by a chosen train 
 1 15 Of holy priests, and ever shall remain. 
 
 But, oh ! commit not thy prophetic mind 
 To flitting leaves, the sport of every wind. 
 
 Lest they disperse in air our empty fate : 
 
 Write not, but, what the powers ordain, relate.” 
 
 120 Struggling in vain, impatient of her load, 
 
 And labouring underneath the ponderous god, 
 
 The more she strove to shake him from her breast, 
 With more, and far superior force he pressed ; 
 Commands his entrance, and, without control, 
 
 125 Usurps her organs, and inspires her soul. 
 
 Now, with a furious blast, the hundred doors 
 Ope of themselves ; a rushing whirlwind roars 
 Within the cave, and Sibybs voice restores: 
 Escaped the dangers of the watery reign, 
 
 130 Yet more and greater ills by land remain. 
 
 The coast so long desired (nor doubt the event). 
 Thy troops shall reach, but, having reached, repent. 
 Wars ! horrid wars, I view ! — a field of blood. 
 
 And Tiber rolling with a purple flood. 
 
 135 Simois nor Xanthus shall be wanting there: 
 
 A new Achilles shall in arms appear ; 
 
 And he too, goddess-born. Fierce Juno’s hate 
 Added to hostile force, shall urge thy fate. 
 
 To what strange nations shalt not thou resort ; 
 
 140 Driven to solicit aid at every court ! 
 
 The cause, the same which Ilium once oppressed : 
 
 A foreign mistress, and a foreign guest. 
 
BOOK VI.] 
 
 VIRGirs ^NEIS. 
 
 141 
 
 But thou, secure of soul, unbent with woes, 
 
 The more thy fortune frowns, the more oppose. 
 
 The dawnings of thy safety shall be shown, 145 
 
 From whence thou least shalt hope — a Grecian town.’^ 
 Thus, from the dark recess, the Sibyl spoke ; 
 
 And the resisting air the thunder broke ; 
 
 The cave rebellowed, and the temple shook. 
 
 The ambiguous god, who ruled her labouring breast, 150 
 In these mysterious words his mind expressed : 
 
 Some truth revealed, in terms involved the rest. 
 
 At length her fury fell : her foaming ceased. 
 
 And, ebbing in her soul, the god decreased. 
 
 Then thus the chief : No terror to my view, 155 
 
 No frightful face of danger, can be new. 
 
 Inured to suffer, and resolved to dare. 
 
 The Fates, without my power, shall be without my care. 
 This let me crave — since near your grove the road 
 To hell lies open, and the dark abode 160 
 
 Which Acheron surrounds, the innavigable flood — 
 Conduct me through the regions void of light. 
 
 And lead me longing to my father’s sight. 
 
 For him, a thousand dangers I have sought, 
 
 And, rushing where the thickest Grecians fought, 165 
 Safe on my back the sacred burden brought. 
 
 He, for my sake, the raging ocean tried. 
 
 And wrath of heaven (my still auspicious guide). 
 
 And bore, beyond the strength decrepit age supplied. 
 
 Oft, since he breathed his last, in dead of night, 170 
 His reverend image stood before my sight ; 
 
 Enjoined to seek, below, his holy shade — 
 
 Conducted there by your unerring aid. 
 
 But you, if pious minds by prayers are won. 
 
 Oblige the father, and protect the son. 175 
 
 Yours is the power ; nor Proserpine in vain 
 Has made you priestess of her nightly reign. 
 
 If Orpheus, armed with his enchanting lyre. 
 
 The ruthless king with pity could inspire. 
 
 And from the shades below redeem his wife ; 180 
 
 If Pollux, offering his alternate life. 
 
 Could free his brother, and can daily go 
 
142 
 
 VlRGinS ^NEIS. 
 
 [book VI. 
 
 By turns aloft, by turns descend below ; — 
 
 Why name I Theseus, or his greater friend, 
 
 1 85 Who trod the downward path, and upward could ascend? 
 Not less than theirs, from Jove my lineage came ; 
 
 My mother greater, my descent the same.’^ 
 
 So prayed the Trojan prince, and, while he prayed. 
 His hand upon the holy altar laid. 
 
 190 Then, thus replied the prophetess divine : 
 
 O goddess-born, of great Anchises’ line ! 
 
 The gates of hell are open night and day ; 
 
 Smooth the descent, and easy is the i^ay : 
 
 But to return, and view the cheerful skies, 
 
 195 In this, the task and mighty labour lies. 
 
 To few, great Jupiter imparts this grace. 
 
 And those of shining worth, and heavenly race. 
 Betwixt those regions and our upper light. 
 
 Deep forests and impenetrable night 
 200 Possess the middle space : the infernal bounds, 
 Cocytus, with his sable waves surrounds. 
 
 But, if so dire a love your soul invades. 
 
 As twice below to view the trembling shades ; 
 
 If you so hard a toil will undertake, 
 
 205 As twice to pass the innavigable lake ; 
 
 Receive my counsel. In the neighbouring grove 
 There stands a tree : the queen of Stygian Jove 
 Claims it her own ; thick woods and gloomy night 
 Conceal the happy plant from human sight. 
 
 210 One bough it bears ; but (wondrous to behold !) 
 
 The ductile rind and leaves of radiant gold : 
 
 This, from the vulgar branches must be torn, 
 
 And to fair Proserpine, the present borne. 
 
 Ere leave be given to tempt the nether skies. 
 
 215 The first thus rent, a second will arise ; 
 
 And the same metal the same room supplies. 
 
 Look round the wood, with lifted eyes, to see 
 The lurking gold upon the fatal tree ; 
 
 Then rend it off, as holy rites command : 
 
 220 The willing metal will obey thy hand. 
 
 Following with ease, if, favoured by thy fate 
 Thou art foredoomed to view the Stygian state : 
 
BOOK VI.] 
 
 VIRGirS ^NEIS. 
 
 143 
 
 If not, no labour can the tree constrain ; 
 
 And strength of stubborn arms and steel, are vain. 
 Besides, you know not, while you here attend, 225 
 
 The unworthy fate of your unhappy friend : 
 
 Breathless he lies ; and his unburied ghost, 
 
 Deprived of funeral rites, pollutes your host. 
 
 Pay first his pious dues ; and, for the dead. 
 
 Two sable sheep around his hearse be led ; 230 
 
 Then, living turfs upon his body lay : 
 
 This done, securely take the destined way. 
 
 To find the regions destitute of day/’ 
 
 She said, and held her peace. — ^neas went 
 Sad from the cave, and full of discontent, 235 
 
 Unknowing whom the sacred Sibyl meant. 
 
 Achates, the companion of his breast. 
 
 Goes grieving by his side, with equal cares oppressed. 
 Walking they talked, and fruitlessly divined. 
 
 What friend the priestess by those words designed. 240 
 But soon they found an object to deplore : 
 
 Misenus lay extended on the shore — • 
 
 Son of the god of winds : — none so renowned. 
 
 The warrior-trumpet in the field to sound. 
 
 With breathing brass to kindle fierce alarms, 245 
 
 And rouse to dare their fate in honourable arms. 
 
 He served great Hector, and was ever near. 
 
 Not with his trumpet only, but his spear. 
 
 But, by Pelides’ arms when Hector fell. 
 
 He chose ^Eneas ; and he chose as well. 250 
 
 Swoln with applause, and aiming still at more. 
 
 He now provokes the sea-gods from the shore. 
 
 With envy, Triton heard the martial sound, 
 
 And the bold champion, for his challenge, drowned ; 
 
 Then cast his mangled carcase on the strand: 255 
 
 The gazing crowd around the body stand. 
 
 All weep ; but most ^neas mourns his fate ; 
 
 And hastens to perform the funeral state. 
 
 In altar- wise, a stately pile they rear ; 
 
 The basis broad below, and top advanced in air. 260 
 An ancient wood, fit for the work designed 
 (The shady covert of the savage kind). 
 
144 
 
 VIRGWS yENEIS. 
 
 [book VI. 
 
 The Trojans found : the sounding axe is plied : 
 
 Firs, pines, and pitch-trees, and the towering pride 
 265 Of forest ashes, feel the fatal stroke ; 
 
 And piercing wedges cleave the stubborn oak. 
 
 Huge trunks of trees, felled from the steepy crown 
 Of the bare mountains, roll with ruin down. 
 
 Armed like the rest the Trojan prince appears, 
 
 270 And, by his pious labour, urges theirs. 
 
 Thus while he wrought, involving in his mind 
 The ways to compass what his wish designed. 
 
 He cast his eyes upon the gloomy grove. 
 
 And then with vows implored the queen of love : 
 
 275 O ! may thy power, propitious still to me, 
 
 Conduct my steps to find the fatal tree. 
 
 In this deep forest ; since the Sibyhs breath 
 Foretold, alas ! too true, Misenus’ death.” 
 
 Scarce had he said, when, full before his sight, 
 
 280 Two doves, descending from their airy flight, 
 
 Secure upon the grassy plain alight. 
 
 He knew his mother’s birds ; and thus he prayed : 
 
 “ Be you my guides, with your auspicious aid. 
 
 And lead my footsteps, till the branch be found, 
 
 285 Whose glittering shadow gilds the sacred ground. 
 And thou, great parent ! with celestial care. 
 
 In this distress, be present to my prayer.” 
 
 Thus having said, he stopped, with watchful sight 
 Observing still the motions of their flight, 
 
 290 What course they took, what happy signs they show. 
 They fed, and, fluttering, by degrees withdrew 
 Still farther from the place, but still in view : 
 Hopping and flying, thus they led him on 
 To the slow lake, whose baleful stench to shun, 
 
 295 They winged their flight aloft then, stooping low. 
 Perched on the doubletree that bears the golden bough. 
 Through the green leaves the glittering shadows glow ; 
 As, on the sacred oak, the wintry misletoe. 
 
 Where the proud mother views her precious brood, 
 300 And happier branches, which she never sowed. 
 
 Such was the glittering ; such the ruddy rind. 
 
 And dancing leaves, that wantoned in the wind. 
 
BOOK VI.] 
 
 VIRGWS ^NEIS. 
 
 145 
 
 He seized the shining bough with griping hold, 
 
 And rent away with ease, the lingering gold ; 
 
 Then to the Sibyhs palace bore the prize. 305 
 
 Meantime, the Trojan troops, with weeping eyes. 
 
 To dead Misenus pay his obsequies. 
 
 First, from the ground, a lofty pile they rear. 
 
 Of pitch-trees, oaks, and pines, and unctuous fir : 
 
 The fabric^s front with cypress twigs they strew, 310 
 And stick the sides with boughs of baleful yew. 
 
 The topmost part his glittering arms adorn ; 
 
 Warm waters, then, in brazen caldrons borne. 
 
 Are poured to wash his body, joint by joint ; 
 
 And fragrant oils the stiffened limbs anoint. 315 
 
 With groans and cries Misenus they deplore ; 
 
 Then on a bier, with purple covered o’er. 
 
 The breathless body, thus bewailed, they lay. 
 
 And fire the pile, their faces turned away : 
 
 Such reverent rites their fathers used to pay. ^20 
 
 Pure oil and incense on the fire they throw. 
 
 And fat of victims, which his friends bestow. 
 
 These gifts the greedy flames to dust devour ; 
 
 Then, on the living coals, red wine they pour ; 
 
 And, last, the relics by themselves dispose, 325 
 
 Which in a brazen urn the priests inclose. 
 
 Old Corynaeus compassed thrice the crew. 
 
 And dipped an olive-branch in holy dew, 
 
 Which thrice he sprinkled round ; and thrice aloud 
 Invoked the dead, and then dismissed the crowd. 330 
 But good JEnesiS ordered on the shore 
 A stately tomb, whose top a trumpet bore, 
 
 A soldier’s falchion, and a seaman’s oar. 
 
 Thus was his friend interred ; and deathless fame 
 Still to the lofty cape consigns his name. 335 
 
 These rites performed, the prince, without delay. 
 
 Hastes to the nether world, his destined way. 
 
 Deep was the cave ; and, downward as it went 
 From the wide mouth, a rocky, rough descent ; 
 
 And here the access a gloomy grove defends ; 340 
 
 And here the innavigable lake extends. 
 
 O’er whose unhappy waters, void of light, 
 
 K 
 
146 
 
 VIRGIVS yENElS. 
 
 [book vr. 
 
 No bird presumes to steer his airy flight : 
 
 Such deadly stenches from the depth arise, 
 
 345 And steaming sulphur, that infects the skies. 
 
 From hence, the Grecian bards their legends make, 
 And give the name Avernus, to the lake. 
 
 Four sable bullocks, in the yoke untaught. 
 
 For sacrifice the pious hero brought. 
 
 350 The priestess pours the wine betwixt their horns ; 
 Then cuts the curling hair^; that first oblation burns. 
 Invoking Hecate hither to repair — 
 
 A powerful name in hell and upper air. 
 
 The sacred priests, with ready knives bereave 
 355 The beasts of life, and in full bowls receive 
 
 The streaming blood ; a lamb to Hell and Night 
 (The sable wool without a streak of white,) 
 
 ^neas offers ; and, by Fatehs decree, 
 
 A barren heifer, Proserpine, to thee ! 
 
 360 With holocausts he Pluto’s altar fills ; 
 
 Seven brawny bulls with his own hand he kills ; 
 Then, on the broiling entrails, oil he pours : 
 
 Which, ointed thus, the raging flame devours. 
 
 Late the nocturnal sacrifice begun, 
 
 365 Nor ended till the next returning sun. 
 
 Then earth began to bellow, trees to dance. 
 
 And howling dogs in glimmering light advance. 
 
 Ere Hecate came : ‘‘ Far hence be souls profane ! 
 (The Sibyl cried) and from the grove abstain ! 
 
 370 Now, Trojan, take the way thy fates afford ; 
 
 Assume thy courage, and unsheath thy sword,” 
 
 She said, and passed along the gloomy space ; 
 
 The prince pursued her steps with equal pace. 
 
 Ye realms yet unrevealed to human sight ! 
 
 375 gods who rule the regions of the night ! 
 
 Ye gliding ghosts ! permit me to relate 
 The mystic wonders of your silent state. 
 
 Obscure they went through dreary shades, that led 
 Along the waste dominions of the dead. 
 
 380 Thus wander travellers in woods by night, 
 
 By the moon’s doubtful and malignant light. 
 
 When Jove in dusky clouds involves the skies. 
 
VIRGWS MNEIS. 
 
 147 
 
 BOOK VI.] 
 
 And the faint crescent shoots by fits before their eyes. 
 
 Just in the gate, and in the jaws of hell, 
 
 Revengeful Cares and sullen Sorrows dwell ; 385 
 
 And pale Diseases, and repining Age, 
 
 Want, Fear, and Famine’s unresisted rage; 
 
 Here Toils, and Death, and Death’s half-brother Sleep 
 (Forms terrible to view), their sentry keep ; 
 
 With anxious Pleasures of a guilty mind ; 390 
 
 Deep Frauds before, and open Force behind ; 
 
 The Furies’ iron beds ; and Strife, that shakes 
 Her hissing tresses, and unfolds her snakes. 
 
 Full in the midst of this infernal road, 
 
 An elm displays her dusky arms abroad : 395 
 
 The god of sleep there hides his heavy head, 
 
 And empty dreams on every leaf are spread. 
 
 Of various forms unnumbered spectres more, 
 
 Centaurs, and double shapes, besiege the door. 
 
 Before the passage, horrid Hydra stands, 400 
 
 And Briareus with all his hundred hands ; 
 
 Gorgons, Geryon with his triple frame. 
 
 And vain Chimaera vomits empty flame. 
 
 The chief unsheathed his shining steel, prepared. 
 
 Though seized with sudden fear, to force the guard, 405 
 Offering his brandished weapon at their face. 
 
 Had not the Sibyl stopped his eager pace. 
 
 And told him what those empty phantoms were — 
 
 Forms without bodies, and impassive air. 
 
 Hence to deep Acheron they take their way, 410 
 
 Whose troubled eddies, thick with ooze and clay. 
 
 Are whirled aloft, and in Cocytus lost : 
 
 There, Charon stands, who rules the dreary coast — 
 
 A sordid god : down from his hoary chin 
 A length of beard descends, uncombed, unclean : 415 
 
 His eyes, like hollow furnaces on fire ; 
 
 A girdle foul with grease, binds his obscene attire. 
 
 He spreads his canvas ; with his pole he steers ; 
 
 The freights of flitting ghosts in his thin bottom bears. 
 He looked in years ; yet, in his years were seen 420 
 A youthful vigour, and autumnal green. 
 
 An airy crowd came rushing where he stood. 
 
148 VIRGIL'S MNEIS. [BOOK VI. 
 
 Which filled the margin of the fatal flood : 
 
 Husbands and wives, boys and unmarried maids, 
 
 425 And mighty heroes’ more majestic shades ; 
 
 And youths, intombed before their fathers’ eyes. 
 With hollow groans, and shrieks, and feeble cries. 
 Thick as the leaves in autumn strew the woods, 
 
 Or fowls by winter forced, forsake the floods, 
 
 430 And wing their hasty flight to happier lands — 
 
 Such, and so thick, the shivering army stands, 
 
 And press for passage, with extended hands. 
 
 Now these, now those, the surly boatman bore : 
 The rest he drove to distance from the shore. 
 
 435 The hero, who beheld with wondering eyes, 
 
 ^ The tumult mixed with shrieks, laments, and cries, 
 Asked of his guide, what the rude concourse meant? 
 Why to the shore the thronging people bent? 
 
 What forms of law among the ghosts were used? 
 
 44.0 Why some were ferried o’er, and some refused ? 
 
 Son of Anchises ! offspring of the gods ! 
 
 (The Sibyl said) you see the Stygian floods ! 
 
 The sacred streams which heaven’s imperial state 
 Attests in oaths, and fears to violate. 
 
 445 The ghosts rejected are the unhappy crew 
 Deprived of sepulchres and funeral due : 
 
 The boatman, Charon : those, the buried host. 
 
 He ferries over to the farther coast ; 
 
 Nor dares his transport vessel cross the waves 
 450 With stch whose bones are not composed in graves. 
 A hundred years they wander on the shore ; 
 
 At length, their penance done, are wafted o’er.” 
 
 The Trojan chief his forward pace repressed, 
 Revolving anxious thoughts within his breast. 
 
 455 He saw his friends, who, whelmed beneath the waves. 
 Their funeral honours claimed, and asked their quiet 
 The lost Leucaspis in the crowd he knew, [graves. 
 And the brave leader of the Lycian crew. 
 
 Whom, on the Tyrrhene seas, the tempests met ; 
 
 460 The sailors mastered, and the ship o’erset. 
 
 Amidst the spirits, Palinurus pressed, 
 
 Yet fresh from life, a new-admitted guest, 
 
VJRGirS MNEIS. 
 
 149 
 
 ROOK VI.] 
 
 Who, while he steering viewed the stars, and bore 
 His course from Afric to the Latian shore. 
 
 Fell headlong down. The Trojan fixed his view, 465 
 And scarcely through the gloom the sullen shadow knew. 
 Then thus the prince: ‘^What envious power, O friend! 
 Brought your loved life to this disastrous end.^ 
 
 For Phoebus, ever true in all he said. 
 
 Has in your fate alone, my faith betrayed. 470 
 
 The god foretold you should not die before 
 
 You reached, secure from seas, the Italian shore.^’ 
 
 Is this the unerring power V* The ghost replied : 
 
 “ Nor Phoebus flattered, nor his answers lied; 
 
 Nor envious gods have sent me to the deep ; 475 
 
 But, while the stars and course of heaven I keep. 
 
 My wearied eyes were seized with fatal sleep. 
 
 I fell ; and with my weight the helm, constrained. 
 
 Was drawn along, which yet my gripe retained. 
 
 Now by the winds and raging waves I swear, 480 
 
 Your safety, more than mine, was then my care; 
 
 Lest, of the guide bereft, the rudder lost. 
 
 Your ship should run against the rocky coast. 
 
 Three blustering nights, borne by the southern blast, 
 
 I floated, and discovered land at last : 485 
 
 High on a mounting wave my head I bore. 
 
 Forcing my strength, and gathering to the shore : 
 Panting, but past the danger, now I seized 
 The craggy cliffs, and my tired members eased. 
 
 While, cumbered with my dropping clothes I lay, 490 
 The cruel nation, covetous of prey. 
 
 Stained with my blood the unhospitable coast ; 
 
 And now, by winds and wayes, my lifeless limbs are tossed ; 
 Which, O ! avert, by yon ethereal light. 
 
 Which I have lost for this eternal night. 495 
 
 Or, if by dearer ties you may be won. 
 
 By your dead sire, and by your living son. 
 
 Redeem from this reproach my wandering ghost. 
 
 Or with your navy seek the Velin coast. 
 
 And in a peaceful grave my corpse compose; 500 
 
 Or, if a nearer way your mother shows 
 (Without whose aid, you durst not undertake 
 
VIRGirS ^NEIS. 
 
 [book VI. 
 
 150 
 
 This frightful passage o’er the Stygian lake), 
 
 Lend to this wretch your hand, and waft him o’er 
 505 To the sweet banks of yon forbidden shore.” 
 
 Scarce had he said ; the prophetess began : 
 
 What hopes delude thee, miserable man? 
 
 Thinkest thou, thus unintombed to cross the floods, 
 To view the Furies and infernal gods, 
 
 5 10 And visit without leave, the dark abodes ? 
 
 Attend the term of long revolving years ; 
 
 Fate, and the dooming gods, are deaf to tears. 
 
 This comfort of thy dire misfortune take — 
 
 The wrath of heaven, inflicted for thy sake, 
 
 515 With vengeance shall pursue the inhuman coast. 
 
 Till they propitiate thy offended ghost; 
 
 And raise a tomb, with vows and solemn prayer ; 
 And Palinurus’ name the place shall bear.” 
 
 This calmed his cares — soothed with his future fame, 
 520 And pleased to hear his propagated name. 
 
 Now nearer to the Stygian lake they draw : 
 
 Whom, from the shore the surly boatman saw; 
 Observed this passage through the shady wood. 
 
 And marked their near approaches to the flood : 
 
 525 Then thus he called aloud, inflamed with wrath : 
 
 “ Mortal, whate’er, who this forbidden path 
 In arms presum’st to tread ! I charge thee, stand. 
 And tell thy name, and business in the land ! 
 
 Know, this the realm of night — the Stygian shore : 
 530 My boat conveys no living bodies o’er: 
 
 Nor was I pleased great Theseus once to bear 
 (Who forced a passage with his pointed spear). 
 
 Nor strong Alcides — men of mighty fame; 
 
 And from the immortal gods their lineage came. 
 
 535 In fetters, one, the barking porter tied. 
 
 And took him trembling from his sovereign’s side : 
 Two, sought by force to seize his beauteous bride.” 
 To whom the Sibyl thus : “ Compose thy mind : 
 
 Nor frauds are here contrived, nor force designed. 
 540 Still may the dog the wandering troops constrain 
 Of airy ghosts, and vex the guilty train ; 
 
 And with her grisly lord his lovely queen remain. 
 
BOOK VI .] VIJ^GWS MNEIS, 1 5 1 
 
 The Trojan chief, whose lineage is from Jove, 
 
 Much famed for arms, and more for filial love. 
 
 Is sent to seek his sire in your Elysian grove. 545 
 
 If neither piety, nor heaven’s command. 
 
 Can gain his passage to thy Stygian strand. 
 
 This fatal present shall prevail at least 
 Then showed the shining bough, concealed within her vest. 
 No more was needful ; for the gloomy god 550 
 
 Stood mute with awe, to see the golden rod ; 
 
 Admired the destined offering to his queen — 
 
 A venerable gift, so rarely seen. 
 
 His fury thus appeased, he puts to land : 
 
 The ghosts forsake their seats at his command : 555 
 
 He clears the deck, receives the mighty freight; 
 
 The leaky vessel groans beneath the weight. 
 
 Slowly she sails, and scarcely stems the tides ; 
 
 The pressing water pours within her sides. 
 
 His passengers at length are wafted o’er, 560 
 
 Exposed, in muddy weeds upon the miry shore. 
 
 No sooner landed, in his den they found 
 The triple porter of the Stygian sound. 
 
 Grim Cerberus ; who soon began to rear 
 
 His crested snakes, and armed his bristling hair. 565 
 
 The prudent Sibyl had before prepared 
 
 A sop, in honey steeped, to charm the guard ; 
 
 Which, mixed with powerful drugs, she cast before 
 His greedy grinning jaws, just oped to roar. 
 
 With three enormous mouths he gapes, and straight, 570 
 With hunger pressed, devours the pleasing bait. 
 
 Long draughts of sleep his monstrous limbs enslave ; 
 
 He reels, and falling, fills the spacious cave. 
 
 The keeper charmed, the chief without delay 
 
 Passed on, and took the irremeable way. 575 
 
 Before the gates, the cries of babes new-born. 
 
 Whom Fate had from their tender mothers torn. 
 
 Assault his ears : then, those whom form of laws 
 Condemned to die, when traitors judged their cause. 
 
 Nor want they lots, nor judges to review 580 
 
 The wrongful sentence, and award a new. 
 
 Minos, the strict inquisitor, appears ; 
 
VIRGirS AlNEIS. 
 
 [book VI. 
 
 152 
 
 And lives and crimes, with his assessors, hears. 
 Round, in his urn, the blended balls he rolls, 
 
 585 Absolves the just, and dooms the guilty souls. 
 
 The next, in place and punishment, are they 
 Who prodigally threw their souls away : 
 
 Fools, who, repining at their wretched state, 
 
 And loathing anxious life, suborned their fate. 
 
 590 With late repentance, now they would retrieve 
 The bodies they forsook, and wish to live ; 
 
 Their pains and poverty desire to bear. 
 
 To view the light of heaven, and breathe the vital air : 
 But Fate forbids; the Stygian floods oppose, [close. 
 595 And, with nine circling streams, the captive souls in- 
 Not far from thence, the Mournful Fields appear. 
 So called from lovers that inhabit there. 
 
 The souls whom that unhappy flame invades. 
 
 In secret solitude and m.yrtle shades 
 600 Make endless moans, and, pining with desire. 
 Lament too late their unextinguished fire. 
 
 Here Procris, Eriphyle here he found 
 Baring her breast, yet bleeding with the wound 
 Made by her son. He saw Pasiphae there, 
 
 605 With Phasdra^s ghost; a foul incestuous pair. 
 
 There Laodamia, with Evadne, moves : 
 
 Unhappy both, but loyal in their loves : 
 
 Cceneus, a woman once, and once a man. 
 
 But ending in the sex she first began. 
 
 610 Not far from these Phoenician Dido stood. 
 
 Fresh from her wound, her bosom bathed in blood; 
 Whom when the Trojan hero hardly knew. 
 
 Obscure in shades, and with a doubtful view 
 (Doubtful as he who sees, through dusky night, 
 
 615 Or thinks he sees, the moon’s uncertain light). 
 
 With tears he first approached the sullen shade ; 
 And as his love inspired him, thus he said : 
 
 Unhappy queen ! then is the common breath 
 Of rumour true, in your reported death, 
 
 620 And I, alas ! the cause? — By Heaven, I vow, 
 
 And all the powers that rule the realms below. 
 Unwilling I forsook your friendly state. 
 
BOOK VI. J VJJy!G/rs MNEIS. I 5 3 
 
 Commanded by the gods, and forced by Fate ! 
 
 Those gods, that Fate, whose unresisted might 
 
 Have sent me to these regions void of light, 625 
 
 Through the vast empire of eternal night ! 
 
 Nor dared I to presume, that, pressed with grief. 
 
 My flight should urge you to this dire relief. 
 
 Stay, stay your steps, and listen to my vows ! 
 
 ^Tis the last interview that Fate allows V’ 630 
 
 In vain he thus attempts her mind to move 
 With tears and prayers, and late repenting love. 
 Disdainfully she looked ; then turning round. 
 
 She fixed her eyes unmoved upon the ground ; 
 
 And, what he says and swears, regards no more 635 
 Than the deaf rocks, when the loud billows roar : 
 
 But whirled away, to shun his hateful sight. 
 
 Hid in the forest, and the shades of night : 
 
 Then sought Sichseus through the shady grove. 
 
 Who answered all her cares, and equalled all her love. 640 
 Some pious tears the pitying hero paid. 
 
 And followed with his eyes the flitting shade ; 
 
 Then took the forward way, by Fate ordained. 
 
 And, with his guide, the farther fields attained. 
 
 Where, severed from the rest, the warrior souls remained. 
 Tydeus he met, with MeleageFs race, 646 
 
 The pride of armies, and the soldiers^ grace ; 
 
 And pale Adrastus with his ghastly face. 
 
 Of Trojan chiefs he viewed a numerous train. 
 
 All much lamented, all in battle slain : 650 
 
 Glaucus and Medon, high above the rest, 
 
 AntenoFs sons and Ceres’ sacred priest. 
 
 And proud Idaeus, Priam’s charioteer. 
 
 Who shakes his empty reins, and aims his airy spear. 
 
 The gladsome ghosts, in circling troops, attend, 655 
 And with unwearied eyes behold their friend ; 
 
 Delight to hover near, and long to know 
 What business brought him to the realms below. 
 
 But Argive chiefs, and Agamemnon’s train. 
 
 When his refulgent arms flashed through the shady plain. 
 Fled from his well-known face with wonted fear ; 661 
 
 As when his thundering sword and pointed spear 
 
154 
 
 VIRGirS .^NEIS. 
 
 [book VI. 
 
 Drove headlong to their ships, and gleaned the routed 
 They raised a feeble cry, with trembling notes, [rear. 
 665 But the weak voice deceived their gasping throats. 
 Here Priam^s son, Deiphobus, he found. 
 
 Whose face and limbs were one continued wound ; 
 Dishonest, with lopped arms, the youth appears. 
 Spoiled of his nose, and shortened of his ear. 
 
 670 He scarcely new him, striving to disown 
 
 His blotted form, and blushing to be known ; 
 
 And therefore first began : O Teucer’s race ! 
 
 Who durst thy faultless figure thus deface? [grace? 
 What heart could wish, what hand inflict this dire dis- 
 675 ^Twas famed, that in our last and fatal night. 
 
 Your single prowess long sustained the fight ; 
 
 Till tired, not forced, a glorious fate you chose. 
 
 And fell upon a heap of slaughtered foes. 
 
 But, in remembrance of so brave a deed, 
 
 680 A tomb and funeral honours I decreed ; 
 
 Thrice called your manes on the Trojan plains : 
 
 The place your armour and your name retains. 
 
 Your body too I sought, and, had I found. 
 
 Designed for burial in your native ground.” 
 
 685 The ghost replied : “ Your piety has paid ' 
 
 All needful rites to rest my wandering shade ; 
 
 But cruel Fate, and my more cruel wife. 
 
 To Grecian swords betrayed my sleeping life. 
 
 These are the monuments of Helenas love : 
 
 690 The shame I bear below, the marks I bore above. 
 You know in what deluding joys, we past 
 The night that was by heaven decreed our last. 
 
 For, when the fatal horse, descending down 
 Pregnant with arms o’erwhelmed the unhappy town, 
 695 She feigned nocturnal orgies ; left my bed ; 
 
 And, mixed with Trojan dames, the dances led ; 
 Then, waving high her torch, the signal made. 
 
 Which roused the Grecians from their ambuscade. 
 With watching over-worn, with cares oppressed, 
 
 700 Unhappy I had laid me down to rest ; 
 
 And heavy sleep my weary limbs possessed. 
 Meantime my worthy wife our arms mislaid. 
 
BOOK VI .] VIRGWS ^NEIS. 
 
 And, from beneath my head, my sword conveyed ; 
 The door unlatched, and, with repeated calls 
 Invites her former lord within my walls. 
 
 Thus, in her crime her confidence she placed. 
 
 And with new treasons would redeem the past. 
 What need I more 1 Into the room they ran. 
 
 And meanly murdered a defenceless man. 
 
 Ulysses, basely born, first led the way. — 
 
 Avenging powers ! with justice if I pray. 
 
 That fortune be their own another day ! 
 
 But answer you ; and in your turn relate 
 What brought you, living, to the Stygian state : 
 Driven by the winds and errors of the sea, 
 
 Or did you heaven^s superior doom obey 
 Or tell what other chance conducts your way. 
 
 To view with mortal eyes, our dark retreats. 
 Tumults and torments of the infernal seats.’^ 
 
 While thus, in talk the flying hours they pass. 
 The sun had finished more than half his race ; 
 
 And they, perhaps, in words and tears had spent 
 The little time of stay which heaven had lent : 
 
 But thus the Sibyl chides their long delay: 
 
 Night rushes down, and headlong drives the day : 
 ^Tis here, in different paths, the way divides ; 
 
 The right to Pluto’s golden palace guides ; ' 
 
 The left to that unhappy region tends. 
 
 Which to the depth of Tartarus descends : 
 
 The seat of night profound, and punished fiends.” 
 Then thus Deiphobus : O sacred maid ! 
 
 Forbear to chide ; and be your will obeyed. 
 
 Lo ! to the secret shadows I retire. 
 
 To pay my penance till my years expire. 
 
 Proceed auspicious prince, with glory crowned. 
 
 And born to better fates than I have found.” 
 
 He said ; and, while he said, his steps he turned 
 To secret shadows, and in silence mourned. 
 
 The hero, looking on the left, espied 
 A lofty tower, and strong on every side 
 With treble walls, which Phlegethon surrounds. 
 Whose fiery flood the burning empire bounds \ 
 
 155 
 
 705 
 
 710 
 
 715 
 
 720 
 
 725 
 
 730 
 
 735 
 
 740 
 
156 
 
 VIRGirS ^NEIS. 
 
 [book VI. 
 
 And, pressed betwixt the rocks, the bellowing noise re- 
 Wideis the fronting gate, and raised onhigh [sounds. 
 745 With adamantine columns, threats the sky. 
 
 Vain is the force of man, and heaven^s as vain, 
 
 To crush the pillars which the pile sustain. 
 
 Sublime on these, a tower of steel is reared ; 
 
 And dire Tisiphone there keeps the ward, 
 
 750 Girt in her sanguine gown, by night and day 
 
 Observant of the souls that pass the downward way. 
 From hence are heard the groans of ghosts, the pains 
 Of sounding lashes, and of dragging chains. 
 
 The Trojan stood astonished at their cries ; 
 
 755 And asked his guide, from whence those yells arise. 
 And what the crimes, and what the tortures were. 
 And loud laments that rent the liquid air ? 
 
 She thus replied : The chaste and holy race 
 Are all forbidden this polluted place. 
 
 760 But Hecate, when she gave to rule the woods. 
 
 Then led me trembling through these dire abodes, 
 And taught the tortures of the avenging gods. 
 
 These are the realms of unrelenting Fate ; 
 
 And awful Rhadamanthus rules the state : 
 
 765 He hears and judges each committed crime ; 
 
 Inquires into the manner, place, and time. 
 
 The conscious wretch must all his acts reveal 
 (Loth to confess, unable to conceal). 
 
 From the first moment of his vital breath, 
 
 770 To his last hour of unrepenting death. • 
 
 Straight o’er the guilty ghost, the Fury shakes 
 The sounding whip, and brandishes her snakes. 
 
 And the pale sinner, with her sisters, takes.” 
 
 Then, of itself, unfolds the eternal door ; 
 
 775 With dreadful sounds the brazen hinges roar. 
 
 ‘Wou see, before the gate, what stalking ghost 
 Commands the guard, what sentries keep the post. 
 More formidable Hydra stands within. 
 
 Whose jaws with iron teeth severely grin. 
 
 780 The gaping gulf low to the centre lies. 
 
 And twice as deep, as earth is distant from the skies. 
 The rivals of the gods, the Titan race. 
 
BOOK VI.] 
 
 VIRGWS ALNEIS. 
 
 T57 
 
 Here, singed with lightning, roll within the unfathomed 
 Here lie the Aloean twins (I saw them both): [space. 
 
 Enormous bodies, of gigantic growth, 785 
 
 Who dared in fight the Thunderer to defy, 
 
 Affect his heaven, and force him from the sky. 
 
 Salmoneus, suffering cruel pains, I found. 
 
 For emulating Jove, the rattling sound 
 
 Of mimic thunder, and the glittering blaze 790 
 
 Of pointed lightnings, and their forky rays. 
 
 Through Elis, and the Grecian towns, he flew : 
 
 The audacious wretch four fiery coursers drew : 
 
 He waved a torch aloft, and, madly vain. 
 
 Sought godlike worship from a servile train. 795 
 
 Ambitious fool ! with horny hoofs to pass 
 O’er hollow arches of resounding brass ; 
 
 To rival thunder in its rapid course. 
 
 And imitate inimitable force ! 
 
 But he, the king of heaven, obscure on high, 800 
 
 Bared his red arm, and launching from the sky 
 His writhen bolt, not shaking empty smoke, 
 
 Down to the deep abyss the flaming felon struck. 
 
 There Tityus was to see, who took his birth 
 From heaven, his nursing from the foodful earth. 805 
 Here his gigantic limbs, with large embrace. 
 
 Infold nine acres of infernal space. 
 
 A ravenous vulture, in his opened side. 
 
 Her crooked beak and cruel talons tried ; 
 
 Still for the growing liver digged his breast : 810 
 
 The growing liver still supplied the feast ; 
 
 Still are his entrails fruitful to their pains : 
 
 The immortal hunger lasts, the immortal food remains. 
 
 Ixion and Pirithoiis I could name. 
 
 And more Thessalian chiefs of mighty fame. 815 
 
 High o’er their heads a mouldering rock is placed. 
 
 That promises a fall, and shakes at every blast. 
 
 They lie below, on golden beds displayed ; 
 
 And genial feasts with regal pomp are made. 
 
 The queen of Furies by their sides is set, 820 
 
 And snatches from their mouths the untasted meat ; 
 Which if they touch, her hissing snakes she rears. 
 
VIRGirS MNEIS. 
 
 [book VI. 
 
 158 
 
 Tossing her torch, and thundering in their ears. 
 Then they, who brothers^ better claim disown, 
 
 825 Expel their parents, and usurp the throne ; 
 
 Defraud their clients, and, to lucre sold. 
 
 Sit brooding on unprofitable gold — 
 
 Who dare not give, and e’en refuse to lend. 
 
 To their poor kindred, or a wanting friend. 
 
 830 Vast is the throng of these; nor less the train 
 Of lustful youths, for foul adultery slain : 
 
 Hosts of deserters, who their honour sold. 
 
 And basely broke their faith for bribes of gold. 
 
 All these within the dungeon’s depth remain, 
 
 835 Despairing pardon, and expecting pain. 
 
 Ask not what pains ; nor farther seek to know 
 Their process, or the forms of law below. 
 
 Some roll a mighty stone ; some, laid along [hung. 
 And bound with burning wires, on spokes of wheels are 
 840 Unhappy Theseus doomed for ever, there 
 Is fixed by Fate, on his eternal chair ; 
 
 And wretched Phlegyas warns the world with cries 
 (Could warning make the world more just or wise): 
 
 ‘ Learn righteousness, and dread the avenging deities.’ 
 845 To tyrants others have their country sold,^ 
 
 Imposing foreign lords for foreign gold : 
 
 Some have old laws repealed, new statutes made ; . 
 Not as the people pleased, but as they paid. 
 
 With incest some their daughters’ bed profaned: 
 
 850 All dared the worst of ills, and, what they dared, attained . 
 Had I a hundred mouths, a hundred tongues. 
 
 And throats of brass, inspired with iron lungs, 
 
 I could not half those horrid crimes repeat, 
 
 Nor half the punishments those crimes have met. 
 
 855 But let us haste our voyage to pursue : 
 
 The walls of Pluto’s palace are in view ; 
 
 The gate, and iron arch above it, stands. 
 
 On anvils laboured by the Cyclops’ hands. 
 
 Before our farther way the Fates allow, 
 
 860 Here must we fix on high the golden bough.” 
 
 She said : and through the gloomy shades they past. 
 And chose the middle path. — Arrived at last, 
 
BOOK VI.] 
 
 VII^G/rS yENEIS. 
 
 159 
 
 The prince, with living water sprinkled o’er 
 His limbs and body ; then approached the door, 
 Possessed the porch, and on the front above 865 
 
 He fixed the fatal bough, required by Pluto’s love. 
 
 These holy rites performed, they took their way, 
 
 Where long extended plains of pleasure lay. 
 
 The verdant fields with those of heaven may vie, 
 
 With ether vested, and a purple sky — 870 
 
 The blissful seats of happy souls below: 
 
 Stars of their own, and theii^ own suns, they know. 
 
 Their airy limbs in sports they exercise, 
 
 And, on the green, contend the wrestler’s prize. 
 
 Some, in heroic verse, divinely sing ; 875 
 
 Others in artful measures lead the ring. 
 
 The Thracian bard, surrounded by the rest. 
 
 There stands conspicuous in his flowing vest. 
 
 His flying fingers, and harmonious quill. 
 
 Strike seven distinguished notes, and seven at once they fill. 
 Here found they Teucer’s old heroic race, 881 
 
 Born better times and happier years to grace. 
 
 Assaracus and Ilus here enjoy 
 
 Perpetual fame, with him who founded Troy. 
 
 The chief beheld their chariots from afar, 885 
 
 Their shining arms, and coursers trained to war. 
 
 Their lances fixed in earth, their steeds around. 
 
 Free from their harness, graze the flowery ground. 
 
 The love of horses which they had, alive. 
 
 And care of chariots, after death survive. 890 
 
 Some cheerful souls were feasting on the plain ; 
 
 Some did the song, and some the choir, maintain. 
 Beneath a laurel shade, where mighty Po 
 Mounts up to woods above, and hides his head below. 
 Here patriots live, who, for their country’s good, 895 
 In fighting fields, were prodigal of blood : 
 
 Priests of unblemished lives here make abode. 
 
 And poets worthy their inspiring god ; 
 
 And searching wits, of more mechanic parts. 
 
 Who graced their age with new invented arts ; 900 
 
 Those who, to worth their bounty did extend. 
 
 And those who knew that bounty to commend. 
 
i6o 
 
 VIRGirs ^NEIS. 
 
 [book VI. 
 
 The heads of these with holy fillets bound, 
 
 And all their temples were with garlands crowned. 
 905 To these the Sibyl thus her speech addressed, 
 
 And first to him surrounded by the rest 
 (Towering his height, and ample was his breast) : 
 
 “ Say, happy souls ! divine Musaeus ! say 
 Where lives Anchises, and where lies our way 
 910 To find the hero, for whose only sake 
 
 We sought the dark abodes, and crossed the bitter 
 To this the sacred poet thus replied : [lake?^^ 
 
 “ In no fixed place the happy souls reside: 
 
 In groves we live, and lie on mossy beds, 
 
 915 By crystal streams, that murmur through the meads. 
 But pass yon easy hill, and thence descend ; 
 
 The path conducts you to your journey’s end.” 
 
 This said, he led them up the mountain’s brow, 
 
 And shows them all the shining fields below : 
 
 920 They wind the hill, and through the blissful meadows 
 But old Anchises, in a flowery vale, [go. 
 
 Reviewed his mustered race, and took the tale — 
 Those happy spirits, which, ordained by Fate, 
 
 For future being and new bodies wait : 
 
 925 With studious thought observed the illustrious throng. 
 In nature’s order, as they passed along : 
 
 Their names, their fates, their conduct, and their care. 
 In peaceful senates, and successful war. 
 
 He, when ^neas on the plain appears, 
 
 930 Meets him with open arms, and falling tears : 
 
 Welcome, (he said) the gods, undoubted race 1 
 O long expected, to my dear embrace ! 
 
 Once more ’tis given me to behpld your face ! 
 
 The love and pious duty which you pay, 
 
 935 Have passed the perils of so hard a way. 
 
 ’Tis true, computing times, I now believed 
 The happy day approached, noraremy hopes deceived. 
 What length of lands, what oceans have you passed. 
 What storms sustained, and on what shores been cast ! 
 940 How have I feared your fate ! but feared it most. 
 When love assailed you on the Libyan coast.” 
 
 To this, the filial duty thus replies : 
 
BOOK VI. ] VIRGirS MNEIS. 1 6 1 
 
 “ Your sacred ghost, before my sleeping eyes 
 Appeared, and often urged this painful enterprise. 
 
 After long tossing on the Tyrrhene sea, 945 
 
 My navy rides at anchor in the bay. 
 
 But reach your hand, oh parent shade ! nor shun 
 The dear embraces of your longing son ! ” 
 
 He said ; and falling tears his face bedew ; 
 
 Then thrice, around his neck, his arms he threw ; 950 
 
 And thrice the flitting shadow slipped away, 
 
 Like winds, or empty dreams, that fly the day. 
 
 Now, in a secret vale, the Trojan sees 
 A separate grove, through which a gentle breeze 
 Plays with a passing breath, and whispers through the trees ; 
 And, just before the confines of the wood, 956 
 
 The gliding Lethe leads her silent flood. 
 
 About the boughs an airy nation flew, 
 
 Thick as the humming bees, that hunt the golden dew 
 In summer’s heat; on tops of lilies feed, 960 
 
 And creep within their bells, to suck the balmy seed : 
 
 The winged army roams the field around ; 
 
 The rivers and the rocks remurmur to the sound. 
 
 ^neas wondering stood, then asked the cause 
 Which to the stream the crowding people draws. 965 
 Then thus the sire : The souls that throng the flood. 
 Are those to whom, by Fate, are other bodies owed ; 
 
 In Lethe’s lake they long oblivion taste. 
 
 Of future life secure, forgetful of the past. 
 
 Long has my soul desired this time and place, 970 
 
 To set before your sight your glorious race ; 
 
 That this presaging joy may fire your mind. 
 
 To seek the shores by destiny designed.” 
 
 O father ! can it be, that souls sublime 
 Return, to visit our terrestrial clime ; 975 
 
 And that the generous mind, released by death. 
 
 Can covet lazy limbs, and mortal breath ?” 
 
 Anchises, then, in order, thus begun 
 To clear those wonders to his godlike son : 
 
 “ Know, first, that heaven and earth’s compacted frame, 980 
 And flowing waters, and the starry flame. 
 
 And both the radiant lights, one common soul 
 L 
 
i 62 
 
 VIRGirs ^NEIS. 
 
 [book VI. 
 
 Inspires and feeds, and animates the whole. 
 
 This active mind, infused through all the space, 
 
 985 Unites and mingles with the mighty mass. 
 
 Hence men and beasts the breath of life obtain. 
 And birds of air, and monsters of the main. 
 
 The ethereal vigour is in all the same ; 
 
 And every soul is filled with equal flame : 
 
 990 As much as earthly limbs, and gross allay 
 Of mortal members, subject to decay. 
 
 Blunt not the beams of heaven and edge of day. 
 From this coarse mixture of terrestrial parts. 
 
 Desire and fear by turns possess their hearts, 
 
 995 And grief, and joy ! nor can the grovelling mind. 
 
 In the dark dungeon of the limbs confined. 
 
 Assert the native skies, or own its heavenly kind: 
 Nor death itself can wholly wash their stains ; 
 
 But long-contracted filth e^en in the soul remains. 
 1000 The relics of inveterate vice they wear ; 
 
 And spots of sin obscene in every face appear. 
 
 For this are various penances enjoined ; 
 
 And some are hung to bleach upon the wind ; 
 
 Some plunged in waters, others purged in fires, 
 
 1005 Till all the dregs are drained, and all the rust expires. 
 All have their manes, and those manes bear : 
 
 The few, so cleansed, to these abodes repair. 
 
 And breathe, in ample fields, the soft Elysian air. 
 Then are they happy, when by length of time 
 1010 The scurf is worn away, of each committed crime ; 
 No speck is left of their habitual stains ; 
 
 But the pure ether of the soul remains. 
 
 But, when a thousand rolling years are past 
 (So long their punishments and penance last), 
 
 1015 Whole droves of minds, are by the driving god 
 Compelled to drink the deep Lethsean flood ; 
 
 In large forgetful draughts to steep the cares 
 Of their past labours, and their irksome years ; 
 That, unremembering of its former pain, 
 
 1020 The soul may suffer mortal flesh again.’^ 
 
 Thus having said, the father-spirit leads 
 The priestess and his son through swarms of shades, 
 
BOOK VI.] 
 
 VIRGirS A£NEIS. 
 
 163 
 
 And takes a rising ground, from thence to see 
 The long procession of his progeny. 
 
 ‘‘ Survey (pursued the sire) this airy throng, 1025 
 
 As, offered to the view, they pass along. 
 
 These are the Italian names, which Fate will join 
 With ours, and graff upon the Trojan line. 
 
 Observe, the youth who first appears in sight. 
 
 And holds the nearest station to the light, 1030 
 
 Already seems to snuff the vital air. 
 
 And leans just forward on a shining spear : 
 
 Silvius is he, thy last-begotten race. 
 
 But first in order sent, to fill thy place — 
 
 An Alban name, but mixed with Dardan blood ; 1035 
 
 Born in the covert of a shady wood. 
 
 Him fair Lavinia, thy surviving wife, 
 
 Shall breed in groves, to lead a solitary life. 
 
 In Alba he shall fix his royal seat. 
 
 And, born a king, a race of kings beget ; 1040 
 
 Then Procas, honour of the Trojan name, 
 
 Capys, and Numitor, of endless fame. 
 
 A second Silvius after these appears 
 (Silvius ^neas, for thy name he bears); 
 
 For arms and justice equally renowned ; 1045 
 
 Who, late restored, in Alba shall be crowned. 
 
 How great they look ! how vigorously they wield 
 Their weighty lances, and sustain the shield ! 
 
 But they, who crowned with oaken wreaths appear. 
 
 Shall Gabian walls and strong Fidenae rear ; 1050 
 
 Nomentum, Bola, with Pometia, found ; 
 
 And raise Collatian towers on rocky ground. 
 
 All these shall then be towns of mighty fame. 
 
 Though now they lie obscure, and lands without a name. 
 
 See Romulus the great ! born to restore 1055 
 
 The crown that once his injured grandsire wore, 
 j This prince, a priestess of our blood shall bear ; 
 
 And like his sire in arms he shall appear. 
 
 Two rising crests his royal head adorn : 
 
 Born from a god, himself to godhead born ; 1060 
 
 His sire already signs him for the skies. 
 
 And marks his seat amidst the deities. 
 
164 
 
 VIRGirS yRNEIS. 
 
 [book VI. 
 
 Auspicious chief ! thy race, in times to come, 
 
 Shall spread the conquests of imperial Rome — 
 
 1065 Rome, whose ascending towers shall heaven invade 
 Involving earth and ocean in her shade ; 
 
 High as the mother of the gods in place. 
 
 And proud, like her, of an immortal race. 
 
 Then, when in pomp she makes the Phrygian round, 
 1070 With golden turrets on her temples crowned : 
 
 A hundred gods her sweeping train supply. 
 
 Her offspring all ; and all command the sky. 
 
 Now fix your sight, and stand intent, to see 
 Your Roman race, and Julian progeny ! 
 
 1075 There mighty Cassar waits his vital hour, 
 
 I mpatient for the world,and grasps his promised power. 
 But next behold the youth of form divine — 
 
 Cassar himself, exalted in his line — 
 
 Augustus, promised oft, and long foretold, 
 
 1080 Sent to the realm that Saturn ruled of old ; 
 
 Born to restore a better age of gold. 
 
 Afric and India shall his power obey ; 
 
 He shall extend his propagated sway 
 Beyond the solar year ; without the starry way, 
 
 1085 Where Atlas turns the rolling heavens around. 
 
 And his broad shoulders with their lights are crowned. 
 At his foreseen approach, already quake 
 The Caspian kingdoms and Maeotian lake. 
 
 Their seers behold the tempest from afar ; 
 
 1090 And threatening oracles denounce the war. 
 
 Nile hears him knocking at his seven-fold gates. 
 And seeks his hidden spring, and fears his nephew^s 
 Nor Hercules more lands or labours knew, [fates. 
 Not though the brazen-footed hind he slew, 
 
 1095 Freed Erymanthus from the foaming boar. 
 
 And dipped his arrows in Lernaean gore ; 
 
 Nor Bacchus, turning from his Indian war. 
 
 By tigers drawn triumphant in his car. 
 
 From Nysa’s top descending on the plains, 
 
 1100 With curling vines around his purple reins. 
 
 And doubt we, yet through dangers to pursue 
 The paths of honour, and a crown in view 1 
 
BOOK VI.] 
 
 VIRGirS TENETS. 
 
 165 
 
 But what’s the man who from afar appears, 
 
 His head with olive crowned, his hand a censer bears? 
 His hoary beard and holy vestments bring , 1105 
 
 His lost idea back : I know the Roman king. 
 
 He shall to peaceful Rome new laws ordain, 
 
 Called from his mean abode, a sceptre to sustain. 
 
 Him, Tullus next in dignity succeeds ; 
 
 An active prince, and prone to martial deeds. mo 
 
 He shall his troops for fighting-fields prepare. 
 
 Disused to toils, and triumphs of the war. 
 
 By dint of sword his crown he shall increase. 
 
 And scour his armour from the rust of peace. 
 
 Whom Ancus follows, with a fawning air, 1115 
 
 But vain within, and proudly popular. 
 
 Next view the Tarquin kings, the avenging sword 
 Of Brutus, justly drawn, and Rome restored. 
 
 He first renews the rods and axe severe. 
 
 And gives the consuls royal robes to wear. 1120 
 
 His sons, who seek the tyrant to sustain. 
 
 And long for arbitrary lords again. 
 
 With ignominy scourged in open sight. 
 
 He dooms to death deserved, asserting public right. 
 Unhappy man ! to break the pious laws 1125 
 
 Of nature, pleading in his children’s cause I 
 Howe’er the doubtful fact is understood, 
 
 ’Tis love of honour, and his country’s good : 
 
 The consul, not the father, sheds the blood. 
 
 Behold Torquatus the same tract pursue; 1130 
 
 And, next, the two devoted Decii view : 
 
 The Drusian line, Camillus loaded home 
 
 With standards well redeemed, and foreign foes o’ercome. 
 
 The pair you see in equal armour shine. 
 
 Now, friends below, in close embraces join; 1135 
 
 But, when they leave the shady realms of night. 
 
 And, clothed in bodies, breathe your upper light, 
 
 With mortal hate each other shall pursue : 
 
 What wars, what wounds, what slaughter, shall ensue ! 
 From Alpine heights the father first descends ; 1140 
 
 His daughter’s husband in the plain attends : 
 
 His daughter’s husband arms his eastern friends. 
 
i66 
 
 VIRGirS ^NEIS. 
 
 [BOOK VI. 
 
 Embrace again, my sons ! be foes no more ; 
 
 Nor stain your country with her children’s gore! 
 1145 And thou, the first, lay down thy lawless claim, 
 Thou, of my blood, who bear’st the Julian name ! 
 Another comes, who shall in triumph ride, 
 
 And to the Capitol his chariot guide. 
 
 From conquered Corinth, rich with Grecian spoils. 
 1150 And yet another, famed for warlike toils. 
 
 On Argos shall impose the Roman laws. 
 
 And on the Greeks, revenge the Trojan cause; 
 Shall drag in chains their Achillean race ; 
 
 Shall vindicate his ancestors’ disgrace, 
 
 1155 And Pallas, for her violated place. 
 
 Great Cato there, for gravity renowned ; 
 
 And conquering Cossus goes with laurels crowned. 
 Who can omit the Gracchi 1 who declare 
 The Scipios’ worth, those thunderbolts of war, 
 
 1160 The double bane of Carthage? Who can see. 
 Without esteem for virtuous poverty. 
 
 Severe Fabricius; or can cease to admire 
 The ploughman consul in his coarse attire? 
 
 Tired as I am, my praise the Fabii claim; 
 
 1165 And thou, great hero, greatest of thy name. 
 Ordained in war to save the sinking state. 
 
 And, by delays, to put a stop to fate ! 
 
 Let others better mould the running mass 
 Of metals, and inform the breathing brass, 
 
 T170 And soften into flesh a marble face; 
 
 Plead better at the bar ; describe the skies. 
 
 And when the stars descend, and when they rise. 
 But, Rome! kis thine alone, with awful sway, 
 
 To rule mankind, and make the world obey : 
 
 1175 Disposing peace and war thy own majestic way. 
 
 To tame the proud, the fettered slave to free, 
 
 These are imperial arts, and worthy thee.” [viewed 
 He paused — and, while with wondering eyes they 
 The passing spirits, thus his speech renewed : 
 
 1180 “ See great Marcellus ! how, untired in toils, [spoils! 
 He moves with manly grace, how rich with regal 
 He, when his country (threatened with alarms) 
 
BOOK VI -] 
 
 VIRGirS MNEIS. 
 
 167 
 
 Requires his courage and his conquering arms, 
 
 Shall more than once the Punic bands affright ; 
 
 Shall kili the Gaulish king in single fight; 1185 
 
 Then to the Capitol in triumph move; 
 
 And the third spoils shall grace Feretrian Jove.’^ 
 
 -dEneas here beheld, of form divine, 
 
 A godlike youth in glittering armour shine; 
 
 With great Marcellus keeping equal pace ; 1190 
 
 But gloomy were his eyes, dejected was his face. 
 
 He saw, and, wondering, asked his airy guide. 
 
 What, and of whence, was he who pressed the hero’s side.^ 
 His son, or one of his illustrious name? 
 
 How like the former, and almost the same ! 1195 
 
 Observe the crowds that compass him around : 
 
 All gaze and all admire, and raise a shouting sound : 
 
 But hovering mists around his brows are spread ; 
 
 And night, with sable shades, involves his head.” 
 
 Seek not to know (the ghost replied with tears) 1200 
 The sorrows of thy sons in future years. 
 
 This youth, the blissful vision of a day. 
 
 Shall just be shewn on earth, and snatched away. 
 
 The gods, too high had raised the Roman state : 
 
 Were but their gifts as permanent as great ! 1205 
 
 What groans of men shall fill the Martian field ! 
 
 How fierce a blaze his flaming pile shall yield! 
 
 What funeral pomp shall floating Tiber see. 
 
 When, rising from his bed, he views the sad solemnity ! 
 No youth shall equal hopes of glory give ; 1210 
 
 No youth afford so great a cause to grieve. 
 
 The Trojan honour, and the Roman boast; 
 
 Admired when living, and adored when lost ! 
 
 Mirror of ancient faith in early youth 1 
 
 Undaunted worth, inviolable truth ! 1215 
 
 No foe, unpunished, in the fighting field 
 
 Shall dare thee, foot to foot, with sword and shield ; 
 
 Much less in arms oppose thy matchless force, 
 
 When thy sharp spurs shall urge thy foaming horse. 
 
 Ah I couldst thou break through Fate’s severe decree, 1220 
 A new Marcellus shall arise in thee 1 
 Full canisters of fragrant lilies bring. 
 
i68 VIRGIL'S ^NEIS. [BOOK vi. 
 
 Mixed with the purple roses of the spring : 
 
 Let me with funeral flowers his body strow ; 
 
 1225 This gift which parents to their children owe, 
 
 This unavailing gift, at least, I may bestow 
 Thus having said, he led the hero round 
 The confines of the blest Elysian ground ; 
 
 Which when Anchises to his son had shown, 
 
 1230 And fired his mind to mount the promised throne. 
 He tells the future wars, ordained by Fate ; 
 
 The strength and customs of the Latian state ; 
 
 The prince and people ; and fore-arms his care 
 With rules, to push his fortune, or to bear. 
 
 1235 Two gates the silent house of Sleep adorn ; 
 
 Of polished ivory this, that of transparent horn : 
 True visions through transparent horn arise ; 
 Through polished ivory pass deluding lies. 
 
 Of various things discoursing as he passed, 
 
 1240 Anchises hither bends his steps at last ; 
 
 Then, through the gate of ivory, he dismissed 
 His valiant offspring, and divining guest. 
 
 Straight to the ships ^neas took his way. 
 Embarked his men, and skimmed along the sea ; 
 1245 Still coasting, till he gained Caieta^s bay. 
 
 At length on oozy ground his galleys moor : 
 
 Their heads are turned to sea, their sterns to shore. 
 
BOOK VIL 
 
 THE ARGUMENT. 
 
 King Latinus entertains ^neas, and promises him his only daugh- 
 ter Lavinia, the heiress of his crown. Turnus, being in love 
 with her, favoured by her mother, and stirred up by Juno 
 and Alecto, breaks the treaty which was made, and engages 
 in his quarrel Mezentius, Camilla, Messapus, and many other 
 of the neighbouring princes ; whose forces, and the names 
 of their commanders, are particularly related. 
 
 A nd thou, O matron of immortal fame ! 
 
 Here dying, to the shore hast left thy name : 
 
 Caieta still the place is called from thee, 
 
 The nurse of great zEneas^ infancy. 
 
 Here rest thy bones in rich Hesperia’s plains : 5 
 
 Thy name (’tis all a ghost can have) remains. 
 
 Now, when the prince her funeral rites had paid. 
 
 He ploughed the Tyrrhene seas with sails displayed. 
 From land a gentle breeze arose by night ; 
 
 Serenely shone the stars ; the moon was bright, lo 
 
 And the sea trembled with her silver light. 
 
 Now near the shelves of Circe’s shores they run 
 (Circe the rich, the daughter of the sun) : 
 
 A dangerous coast ! — The goddess wastes her days 
 In joyous songs ; the rocks resound her lay. 15 
 
 In spinning, or the loom, she spends the night ; 
 
 And cedar-brands supply her father’s light. 
 
 From hence were heard, rebellowing to the main. 
 
 The roars of lions that refuse the chain ; 
 
 The grunts of bristled boars, and groans of bears, 20 
 And herds of howling wolves that stun the sailors’ ears. 
 These from their caverns, at the close of night. 
 
VIRGirs ^NEIS. 
 
 [book vit. 
 
 170 
 
 Fill the sad isle with horror and affright. 
 
 Darkling they mourn their fate, whom Circe's power 
 25 (That watched the moon, and planetary hour). 
 
 With words and wicked herbs, from human kind 
 Had altered, and in brutal shapes confined. 
 
 Which monsters, lest the Trojans’ pious host 
 Should hear, or touch upon the enchanted coast, 
 
 30 Propitious Neptune steered their course by night. 
 With rising gales, that sped their happy flight. 
 Supplied with these, they skim the sounding shore. 
 And hear the swelling surges vainly roar. 
 
 Now, when the rosy morn began to rise, 
 
 35 And waved her saffron streamer through the skies ; 
 When Thetis blushed in purple, not her own. 
 
 And from her face the breathing winds were blown, 
 A sudden silence sate upon the sea, 
 
 And sweeping oars, with struggling, urge their way. 
 40 The Trojan, from the main, beheld a wood. 
 
 Which thick with shades, and a brown horror, stood : 
 Betwixt the trees the Tiber took his course. 
 
 With whirlpools dimpled ; and with downward force 
 That drove the sand along, he took his way, 
 
 45 And rolled his yellow billows to the sea. 
 
 About him, and above, and round the wood. 
 
 The birds that haunt the borders of his flood. 
 
 That bathed within, or basked upon his side. 
 
 To tuneful songs their narrow throats applied. 
 
 50 The captain gives command ; the joyful train 
 
 Glide through the gloomy shade, and leave the main. 
 
 Now, Erato ! thy poet’s mind inspire. 
 
 And fill his soul with thy celestial fire. 
 
 Relate what Latium was ; her ancient kings : 
 
 55 Declare the past and present state of things ; 
 
 When first the Trojan fleet Ausonia sought. 
 
 And how the ris^als loved, and how they fought. 
 These are my theme ; and how the war began. 
 
 And how concluded by the godlike man ; 
 
 60 For I shall sing of battles, blood, and rage. 
 
 Which princes and their people did engage ; 
 
 And haughty souls, that, moved with mutual hate. 
 
BOOK VII.] 
 
 VIRGWS MNEIS. 
 
 171 
 
 In fighting fields pursued and found their fate ; 
 
 That roused the Tyrrhene realm with loud alarms, 
 
 And peaceful Italy involved in arms. 65 
 
 A larger scene of action is displayed ; 
 
 And, rising hence, a greater work is weighed. 
 
 Latinus, old and mild, had long possessed 
 The Latian sceptre, and his people blessed : 
 
 His father Faunus : a Laurentian dame 70 
 
 His mother; fair Marica was her name. 
 
 But Faunus came from Picus : Picus drew 
 His birth from Saturn, if records be true. 
 
 Thus king Lantinus, in the third degree. 
 
 Had Saturn author of his family. 75 
 
 But this old peaceful prince, as heaven decreed. 
 
 Was blessed with no male issue to succeed : 
 
 His sons in blooming youth were snatched by fate ; 
 
 One only daughter heired the royal state. 
 
 Fired with her love, and with ambition led, 80 
 
 The neighbouring princes court her nuptial bed. 
 
 Among the crowd, but far above the rest. 
 
 Young Turnus too the beauteous maid addressed. 
 
 Turnus, for high descent and graceful mein 
 
 Was first, and favoured by the Latian queen : 85 
 
 With him she strove to join Lavinia’s hand ; 
 
 But dire portents the purposed match withstand. 
 
 Deep in the palace, of long growth there stood 
 A laurel’s trunk, a venerable wood ; 
 
 Where rites divine were paid ; whose holy hair 90 
 
 Was kept and cut with superstitious care. 
 
 This plant, Latinus, when his town he walled 
 Then found, and from the tree Laurentum called ; 
 
 And last, in honour of his new abode, 
 
 He vowed the laurel to the laurel’s god. 95 
 
 It happened once, (a boding prodigy !) 
 
 A swarm of bees, that cut the liquid sky 
 (Unknown from whence they took their airy flight), 
 
 Upon the topmost branch in clouds alight ; 
 
 There, with their clasping feet, together clung, 100 
 
 And a long cluster from the laurel hung. 
 
 An ancient augur prophesied from hence : 
 
172 
 
 VIRGirS JSNEIS. 
 
 [book vii. 
 
 Behold ! on Latian shores a foreign prince ; 
 
 From the same parts of heaven his navy stands, 
 
 105 To the same parts on earth : his army lands; 
 
 The town he conquers, and the tower commands/^ 
 Yet more ; when fair Lavinia fed the fire 
 Before the gods, and stood beside her sire, 
 
 (Strange to relate !) the flames, involved in smoke 
 1 10 Of incense, from the sacred altar broke. 
 
 Caught her dishevelled hair, and rich attire ; 
 
 Her crown and jewels crackled in the fire : 
 
 From thence the fuming trail began to spread. 
 
 And lambent glories danced about her head. 
 
 1 15 This new portent the seer with wonder views. 
 
 Then pausing, thus his prophecy renews : 
 
 The nymph who scatters flaming fires around. 
 Shall shine with honour, shall herself be crowned ; 
 But, caused by her irrevocable fate, 
 
 120 War shall the country waste, and change the state.^’ 
 Latinus, frightened with this dire ostent. 
 
 For counsel to his father Faunus went ; 
 
 And sought the shades renowned for prophecy. 
 Which near Albunea’s sulphurous fountain lie. 
 
 125 To those, the Latian and the Sabine land 
 
 Fly when distressed ; and thence relief demand. 
 The priest on skins of offerings takes his ease. 
 
 And nightly visions in his slumber sees ; 
 
 A swarm of thin aerial shapes appears, 
 
 130 And, fluttering round his temples, deafs his ears. 
 These he consults, the future fates to know. 
 
 From powers above, and from the fiends below. 
 Here, for the god’s advice, Latinus flies. 
 
 Offering a hundred sheep for sacrifice : 
 
 135 Their woolly fleeces, as the rites required. 
 
 He laid beneath him,, and to rest retired. 
 
 No sooner were his eyes in slumber bound. 
 
 When, from above, a more than mortal sound 
 Invades his ears ; and thus the vision spoke : 
 
 140 Seek not, my seed, in Latian bands to yoke 
 Our fair Lavinia, nor the gods provoke. 
 
 A foreign son upon the shore descends, 
 
BOOK VIT.] 
 
 VJRGirS A£NEIS. 
 
 173 
 
 Whose martial fame from pole to pole extends. 
 
 His race, in arms and arts of peace renowned, 
 
 Not Latium shall contain, nor Europe bound : 145 
 
 ^Tis theirs, whate’er the sun surveys around.’^ 
 
 These answers, in the silent night received. 
 
 The king himself divulged, the land believed : 
 
 The fame through all the neighbouring nations flew, 
 When now the Trojan navy was in view. 150 
 
 Beneath a shady tree, the hero spread 
 His table on the turf, with cakes of bread; 
 
 And, with his chiefs, on forest fruits he fed. 
 
 They sat ; and (not without the god^s command), 
 
 Their homely fare dispatched ; the hungry band 155 
 Invade their trenchers next, and soon devour. 
 
 To mend the scanty meal — their cakes of flour. 
 
 Ascanius this observed, and, smiling, said : 
 
 See ! we devour the plates on which we fed.” 
 
 The speech had omen, that the Trojan race 160 
 
 Should find repose ; and this the time and place. 
 
 ^neas took the word, and thus replies 
 (Confessing fate with wonder in his eyes): 
 
 All hail, O earth ! all hail, my household gods ! 
 
 Behold the destined place of your abodes ! 165 
 
 For thus Anchises prophesied of old, 
 
 And this our fatal place of rest foretold : 
 
 ‘ When, on a foreign shore, instead of meat. 
 
 By famine forced, your trenchers you shall eat. 
 
 Then ease your weary Trojans will attend, 170 
 
 And the long labours of your voyage end. 
 
 Remember on that happy coast to build ; 
 
 And with a trench inclose the fruitful field.^ 
 
 This, was that famine, this the fatal place ; 
 
 Which ends the wandering of our exiled race. 175 
 
 Then, on to-morrow^s dawn, your care employ 
 To search the land, and where the cities lie. 
 
 And what the men ; but give this day to joy. 
 
 Now pour to Jove ; and after Jove is blest. 
 
 Call great Anchises to the genial feast : 180 
 
 Crown high the goblets with a cheerful draught ; 
 
 Enjoy the present hour; adjourn the future thought.” 
 
174 
 
 VIRGirS ^NEIS. 
 
 [book VII. 
 
 Thus having said, the hero bound his brows 
 With leafy branches, then performed his vows : 
 
 185 Adoring first the genius of the place ; 
 
 Then Earth, the mother of the heavenly race ; 
 
 The nymphs, and native godheads yet unknown ; 
 And Night, and all the stars that gild her sable throne. 
 And ancient Cybel, and Idsean Jove ; 
 
 190 And last his sire below, and mother-queen above. 
 
 Then heaven^s high monarch thundered thrice aloud ; 
 And thrice he shook aloft a golden cloud. 
 
 Soon through the joyful camp a rumour flew. 
 
 The time was come their city to renew : 
 
 195 Then every brow with cheerful green is crowned ; 
 The feasts are doubled, and the bowls go round. 
 
 When next the rosy morn disclosed the day. 
 
 The scouts to several parts divide their way, 
 
 To learn the natives^ names, their towns explore, 
 
 200 The coasts, and trendings of the crooked shore : 
 
 Here Tiber flows, and here Numicus stands ; 
 
 Here warlike Latins hold the happy lands. 
 
 The pious chief, who sought by peaceful ways 
 To found his empire, and his town to raise, 
 
 205 A hundred youths from all his train selects. 
 
 And to the Latian court their course directs 
 (The spacious palace where their prince resides). 
 
 And all their heads with wreaths of olive hides. 
 
 They go, commissioned to require a peace ; 
 
 210 And carry presents, to procure access. 
 
 Thus while they speed their pace, the prince designs 
 The new-elected seat, and draws the lines : 
 
 The Trojans round the place a rampire cast. 
 
 And palisades about the trenches placed. 
 
 215 Meantime, the train, proceeding on their way. 
 From far the town and lofty towers, survey ; 
 
 At length approach the walls. Without the gate. 
 They see the boys and Latian youth, debate 
 The martial prizes on the dusty plain : 
 
 220 Some drive the cars, and some the coursers rein ; 
 Some bend the stubborn bow for victory ; 
 
 And some with darts their active sinews try. 
 
BOOK VII.] 
 
 VIRGJVS ALNEIS. 
 
 175 
 
 A posting messenger, despatched from hence, 
 
 Of this fair troop, advised their aged prince 
 
 That foreign men of mighty stature, came ; 225 
 
 Uncouth their habit, and unknown their name. 
 
 The king ordains their entrance, and ascends 
 His regal seat, surrounded by his friends. 
 
 The palace, built by Picus, vast and proud, 
 
 Supported by a hundred pillars stood, 230 
 
 And round encompassed with a rising wood. 
 
 The pile overlooked the town, and drew the sight, 
 Surprised at once with reverence and delight. 
 
 There, kings received the marks of sovereign power : 
 
 In state the monarchs marched ; the lictors bore 235 
 Their awful axes, and the rods, before. 
 
 Here the tribunal stood, the house of prayer ; 
 
 And here the sacred senators repair ; 
 
 All at large tables, in long order set, 
 
 A ram their offering, and a ram their meat. 240 
 
 Above the portal, carved in cedar wood. 
 
 Placed in their ranks, their godlike grandsires stood : 
 
 Old Saturn, with his crooked scythe, on high ; 
 
 And Italus, that led the colony ; 
 
 And ancient Janus, with his double face, 245 
 
 And bunch of keys, the porter of the place. 
 
 There stood Sabinus, planter of the vines ; 
 
 On a short pruning-hook his head reclines. 
 
 And studiously surveys his generous wines : 
 
 Then warlike kings, who for their country fought, 250 
 And honourable wounds from battle brought. 
 
 Around the posts, hung helmets, darts, and spears. 
 
 And captive chariots, axes, shields, and bars. 
 
 And broken beaks of ships, the trophies of their wars. 
 Above the rest, as chief of all the band, 255 
 
 Was Picus placed, a buckler in his hand. 
 
 His other waved a long divining wand. 
 
 Girt in his Gabine gown the hero sat. 
 
 Yet could not with his art avoid his fate ; 
 
 For Circe, long had loved the youth in vain, 260 
 
 Till love, refused, converted to disdain : 
 
 Then, mixing powerful herbs, with magic art ; 
 
176 
 
 VIRGirS J^NEIS. 
 
 [book VII. 
 
 She changed his form, who could not change his heart : 
 Constrained him in a bird, and made him fly, 
 
 265 With particoloured plumes, a chattering pie. 
 
 In this high temple, on a chair of state, 
 
 The seat of audience, old Latinus sat ; 
 
 Then gave admission to the Trojan train ; 
 
 And thus with pleasing accents he began : 
 
 270 Tell me, ye Trojans — for that name you own ; 
 
 Nor is your course upon our coasts unknown — 
 
 Say what you seek, and whither were you bound ; 
 Were you by stress of weather cast aground? 
 
 (Such dangers of the sea are often seen, 
 
 275 And oft befall to miserable men,) 
 
 Or come your shipping in our ports to lay, 
 
 Spent and disabled in so long a way ? 
 
 Say what you want? the Latians you shall find 
 Not forced to goodness, but by will inclined ; 
 
 280 For, since the time of Saturn’s holy reign. 
 
 His hospitable customs we retain. 
 
 I call to mind (but time the tale has worn) 
 
 The Aurunci told that Dardanus, though born 
 On Latian plains, yet sought the Phrygian shore, 
 
 285 And Samothracia, Samos called, before. 
 
 From Tuscan Corythum he claimed his birth; 
 
 But after, when exempt from mortal earth. 
 
 From thence ascended to his kindred skies, 
 
 A god, and, as a god, augments their sacrifice.” 
 
 290 He said. — Ilioneus made this reply : 
 
 “ O king, of Faunus’ royal family ! 
 
 Nor wintry winds to Latium forced our way. 
 
 Nor did the stars our wandering course betray. 
 Willing we sought your shores ; and, hither bound, 
 295 The port, so long desired, at length we found ; 
 
 From our sweet homes and ancient realms expelled — 
 Great as the greatest that the sun beheld. 
 
 The god began our line, who rules above ; 
 
 And, as our race, our king descends from Jove : 
 
 300 And hither are we come, by his command. 
 
 To crave admission in your happy land. 
 
 How dire a tempest, from Mycenae poured, 
 
BOOK VII.] 
 
 VIRGinS ^NEIS. 
 
 177 
 
 Our plains, our temples, and our town, devoured ; 
 What was the waste of war, what fierce alarms 
 Shook Asia’s crown with European arms ; 
 
 E’en such have heard, if any such there be. 
 
 Whose earth is bounded by the frozen sea ; 
 
 And such as, born beneath the burning sky 
 And sultry sun, betwixt the tropics lie. 
 
 From that dire deluge, through the watery waste 
 (Such length of years, such various perils, past). 
 
 At last escaped, to Latium we repair. 
 
 To beg what you without your want may spare — 
 The common water, and the common air ; 
 
 Sheds which ourselves will build, and mean abodes. 
 Fit to receive and serve our banished gods. 
 
 Nor our admission shall your realm disgrace. 
 
 Nor length of time our gratitude efface ; 
 
 Besides what endless honour you shall gain. 
 
 To save and shelter Troy’s unhappy train. 
 
 Now, by my sovereign, and his fate, I swear 
 (Renowned for faith in peace, for force iiqi war). 
 
 Oft our alliance other lands desired. 
 
 And, what we seek of you, of us required. 
 
 Despise not then, that in our hands we bear 
 These holy boughs, and sue with words of prayer. 
 Fate and the gods, by their supreme command. 
 Have doomed our ships to seek the Latian land. 
 
 To these abodes our fleet Apollo sends ; 
 
 Here Dardanus was born, and hither tends ; 
 
 Where Tuscan Tiber rolls with rapid force, 
 
 And where Numicus opes his holy source. 
 
 Besides, our prince presents with his request. 
 
 Some small remains of what his sire possessed : 
 
 This golden charger, snatched from burning Troy, 
 Anchises did in sacrifice employ : 
 
 This royal robe and this tiara wore 
 Old Priam, and this golden sceptre bore 
 In full assemblies, and in solemn games : 
 
 These purple vests were weaved by Dardan dames.” 
 
 Thus while he spoke, Latinus rolled around 
 His eyes, and fixed awhile upon the ground : 
 
 M 
 
 305 
 
 310 
 
 315 
 
 320 
 
 325 
 
 330 
 
 335 
 
 340 
 
178 
 
 VIRGirS ^NEIS. 
 
 [book VII. 
 
 Intent he seemed, and anxious in his breast ; 
 
 Not by the sceptre moved, or kingly vest, 
 
 345 But pondering future things of wondrous weight — 
 Succession, empire, and his daughters fate. 
 
 On these he mused within his thoughtful mind ; 
 
 And then revolved what Faunus had divined. 
 
 This was the foreign prince, by fate decreed 
 350 To share his sceptre, and Lavinia^s bed ; 
 
 This was the race that sure portents foreshow 
 To sway the world, and land and sea subdue. 
 
 At length he raised his cheerful head, and spoke : 
 The powers (said he) the powers we both invoke, 
 355 To you, and yours, and mine, propitious be. 
 
 And firm our purpose with their augury ! 
 
 Have what you ask : your presents I receive : 
 
 Land, where and when you please, with ample leave : 
 Partake and use my kingdom as your own : 
 
 360 All shall be yours, while I command the crown. 
 
 And, if my wished alliance please your king, 
 
 Tell him he should not send the peace, but bring : 
 Then let him not a friend^s embraces fear ; 
 
 The peace is made when I behold him here. 
 
 365 Besides this answer, tell my royal guest 
 I add to his commands my own request : 
 
 Only one daughter heirs my crown and state. 
 
 Whom not our oracles, nor heaven, nor fate. 
 
 Nor frequent prodigies, permit to join 
 370 With any native of the Ausonian line. 
 
 A foreign son-in-law shall come from far 
 (Such is our doom), a chief renowned in war. 
 
 Whose race shall bear aloft the Latian name. 
 
 And through the conquered world diffuse our fame. 
 375 Himself to be the man the fates require, 
 
 I firmly judge, and what I judge, desire.^^ 
 
 He said ; and then on each bestowed a steed. 
 
 Three hundred horses, in high stables fed. 
 
 Stood ready, shining all, and smoothly dressed : 
 
 380 Of these, he chose the fairest and the best 
 
 To mount the Trojan troop. At his command. 
 
 The steeds caparisoned with purple stand. 
 
BOOK VII.] 
 
 VIRGirS MNEIS. 
 
 179 
 
 With golden trappings, glorious to behold, 
 
 And champ betwixt their teeth the foaming gold. 
 
 Then to his absent guest the king decreed 385 
 
 A pair of coursers born of heavenly breed ; 
 
 Who from their nostrils breathed ethereal fire ; 
 
 Whom Circe stole from her celestial sire. 
 
 By substituting mares produced on earth, 
 
 Whose wombs conceived a more than mortal birth. 390 
 These draw the chariot which Latinus sends. 
 
 And the rich present to the prince commends. 
 
 Sublime on stately ^steeds the Trojans borne. 
 
 To their expecting lord with peace return. 
 
 But jealous Juno, from Pachynus^ height, 395 
 
 As she from Argos took her airy flight. 
 
 Beheld, with envious eyes this hateful sight. 
 
 She saw the Trojan and his joyful train 
 Descend upon the shore ; desert the main ; 
 
 Design a town ; and, with unhoped success, 400 
 
 The ambassadors return with promised peace. 
 
 Then, pierced with pain, she shook her haughty head. 
 Sighed from her inward soul, and thus she said : 
 
 O hated offspring of my Phrygian foes ! 
 
 0 fates of Troy, which Juno^s fates oppose ! 405 
 
 Could they not fall unpitied on the plain 1 
 
 But, slain, revive, and, taken, ^scape again ! 
 
 When execrable Troy in ashes lay. 
 
 Through fires and swords and seas they forced their way ! 
 Then vanquished Juno must in vain contend ; 410 
 
 Her rage disarmed, her empire at an end ! 
 
 Breathless and tired, is all my fury spent ? 
 
 Or does my glutted spleen at length relent 
 As if kwere little from their town to chase, 
 
 1 through the seas pursued their exiled race ; 415 
 
 Engaged the heavens, opposed the stormy main ; 
 
 But billows roared and tempests raged in vain. 
 
 What have my Scyllas and my Syrtes done. 
 
 When these they overpass, and those they shun 1 
 On Tiber’s shores they land, secure of fate, 420 
 
 Triumphant o’er the storms and Juno’s hate ! 
 
 Mars could in mutual blood the Centaurs bathe ; 
 
i8o 
 
 VIRGirS ^NEIS. 
 
 [book VII. 
 
 And Jove himself gave way to Cynthia’s wrath, 
 Who sent the tusky boar to Calydon ; 
 
 425 (What great offence had either people done?) 
 
 But I, the consort of the Thunderer, 
 
 Have waged a long and unsuccessful war ; 
 
 With various arts and arms in vain have toiled ; 
 And by a mortal man at length am foiled ! 
 
 430 If native power prevail not, shall I doubt 
 To seek for needful succour from without? 
 
 If Jove and heaven my just desires deny. 
 
 Hell shall the power of heaven and Jove supply ! 
 Grant that the Fates have firmed, by their decree, 
 435 The Trojan race to reign in Italy: 
 
 At least I can defer the nuptial day. 
 
 And, with protracted wars, the peace delay : 
 
 With blood the dear alliance shall be bought. 
 
 And both the people near destruction brought. 
 
 440 So shall the son-in-law and father join. 
 
 With ruin, war, and waste of either line. 
 
 O fatal maid ! thy marriage is endowed 
 With Phrygian, Latian, and Rutulian blood. 
 Bellona leads thee to thy lover’s hand : 
 
 445 Another queen brings forth another brand. 
 
 To burn with foreign fires another land: 
 
 A second Paris, differing but in name. 
 
 Shall fire his country with a second flame.” 
 
 Thus having said, she sinks beneath the ground 
 450 With furious haste, and shoots the Stygian sound. 
 To rouse Alecto from the infernal seat 
 Of her dire sisters, and their dark retreat. 
 
 This Fury, fit for her intent, she chose ; 
 
 One who delights in wars, and human woes. 
 
 455 E’en Pluto hates his own mis-shapen race ; 
 
 Her sister Furies fly her hideous face ; 
 
 So frightful are the forms the monster takes. 
 
 So fierce the hissings of her speckled snakes. 
 
 Her, Juno finds, and thus inflames her spite: 
 
 460 “ O virgin daughter of eternal Night! 
 
 Give me this once thy labour, to sustain 
 My right, and execute my just disdain. 
 
V/RGirs MNEIS. 
 
 BOOK VII.] 
 
 i8i 
 
 Let not the Trojans with a feigned pretence 
 Of proffered peace, delude the Latian prince : 
 
 Expel from Italy that odious name, 465 
 
 And let not Juno suffer in her fame. 
 
 ^Tis thine to ruin realms, overturn a state. 
 
 Betwixt the dearest friends to raise debate. 
 
 And kindle kindred blood to mutual hate. 
 
 Thy hand o’er towns the funeral torch displays, 470 
 And forms a thousand ills ten thousand ways. 
 
 Now, shake from out thy fruitful breast, the seeds 
 Of envy, discord, and of cruel deeds : 
 
 Confound the peace established, and prepare 
 Their souls to hatred, and their hands to war.” 475 
 
 Smeared as she was with black Gorgonean blood. 
 
 The Fury sprang above the Stygian flood; 
 
 And on her wicker wings, sublime, through night. 
 
 She to the Latian palace took her flight; 
 
 There sought the queen’s apartment, stood before 480 
 The peaceful threshold, and besieged the door. 
 
 Restless Amata lay, her swelling breast 
 Fired with disdain for Turnus dispossessed. 
 
 And the new nuptials of the Trojan guest. 
 
 From her black bloody locks, the Fury shakes 485 
 
 Her darling plague, the favourite of her snakes. 
 
 With her full force she threw the poisonous dart. 
 
 And fixed it deep within Amata’s heart ; 
 
 That, thus envenomed, she might kindle rage. 
 
 And sacrifice to strife her house and husband’s age. 490 
 Unseen, unfelt, the fiery serpent skims 
 Betwixt her linen and her naked limbs ; 
 
 His baneful breath inspiring as he glides : 
 
 Now like a chain around her neck he rides ; 
 
 Now like a fillet to her head repairs, 495 
 
 And with his circling volumes folds her hairs. 
 
 At first the silent venom slid with ease. 
 
 And seized her cooler senses by degrees ; 
 
 Then, ere the infected mass was fired too far. 
 
 In plaintive accents she began the war, 500 
 
 And thus bespoke her husband : Shall (she said) 
 
 A wandering prince enjoy Lavinia’s bed.^ 
 
i82 
 
 VIRGirs ^NEIS. 
 
 [book VII. 
 
 If nature plead not in a parent’s heart, 
 
 Pity my tears, and pity her desert. 
 
 505 I know, my dearest lord, the time will come. 
 
 You would, in vain, reverse your cruel doom : 
 
 The faithless pirate soon will set to sea. 
 
 And bear the royal virgin far away ! 
 
 A guest like him (a Trojan guest) before, 
 
 510 In show of friendship sought the Spartan shore. 
 
 And ravished Helen from her husband bore. 
 
 Think on a king’s inviolable word ; 
 
 And think on Turnus, her once plighted lord. 
 
 To this false foreigner you give your throne, 
 
 515 And wrong a friend, a kinsman, and a son. 
 
 Resume your ancient care ; and, if the god 
 Your sire, and you, resolve on foreign blood, 
 
 Know all are foreign, in a larger sense. 
 
 Not born your subjects, or derived from hence. 
 
 520 Then, if the line of Turnus you retrace. 
 
 He springs from Inachus of Argive race.” 
 
 But, when she saw her reasons idly spent. 
 
 And could not move him from his fixed intent. 
 
 She flew to rage ; for now the snake possessed 
 525 Her vital parts, and poisoned all her breast. 
 
 She raves, she runs with a distracted pace. 
 
 And fills with horrid howls, the public place. 
 
 And, as young striplings whip the top for sport. 
 
 On the smooth pavement of an empty court ; 
 
 530 The wooden engine flies and whirls about. 
 
 Admired with clamours, of the beardless rout : 
 
 They lash aloud; each other they provoke. 
 
 And lend their little souls at every stroke : 
 
 Thus fares the queen ; and thus her fury blows 
 535 Amidst the crowd, and kindles as she goes. 
 
 Not yet content, she strains her malice more. 
 
 And adds new ills to those contrived before : 
 
 She flies the town, and, mixing with the throng 
 Of madding matrons, bears the bride along ; 
 
 540 W andering through woods and wilds, and devious ways. 
 And with these arts the Trojan match delays. 
 
 She feigned the rites of Bacchus, cried aloud. 
 
BOOK VII.] 
 
 VIRGIL’S AlNEIS. 
 
 183 
 
 And to the buxom god the virgin vowed. 
 
 Evoe ! O Bacchus I” thus began the song; 
 
 And Evoe I” answered all the female throng. 545 
 
 ‘‘ O virgin worthy thee alone ! ” she cried; 
 
 ‘‘ O worthy thee alone ! the crew replied. 
 
 For thee she feeds her hair, she leads thy dance, 
 
 And with thy winding ivy wreaths her lance.^^ 
 
 Like fury seized the rest : the progress known, 550 
 
 All seek the mountains, and forsake the town ; 
 
 All, clad in skins of beasts, the javelin bear. 
 
 Give to the wanton winds their flowing hair ; 
 
 And shrieks and shoutings rend the suffering air. 
 
 The queen herself, inspired with rage divine, 555 
 
 Shook high above her head a flaming pine ; 
 
 Then rolled her haggard eyes around the throng, 
 
 And sung in Turnus^ name the nuptial song: 
 
 “ lo ! ye Latian dames, if any here 
 
 Hold your unhappy queen, Amata, dear ; 560 
 
 If there be here (she said), who dare maintain 
 My right, nor think the name of mother vain ; 
 
 Unbind your fillets, loose your flowing hair. 
 
 And orgies and nocturnal rites prepare.^^ 
 
 Amata’s breast the Fury thus invades, 565 
 
 And fires with rage, amid the sylvan shades. 
 
 Then, when she found her venom spread so far. 
 
 The royal house embroiled in civil war. 
 
 Raised on her dusky wings, she cleaves the skies. 
 
 And seeks the palace where young Turnus lies. 570 
 
 His town (as fame reports) was built of old 
 By Danae, pregnant with almighty gold ; 
 
 Who fled her fathers rage, and, with a train 
 Of following Argives, through the stormy main 
 Driven by the southern blasts, was fated here to reign. 575 
 ’Twas Ardua once ; now Ardea’s name it bears ; 
 
 Once a fair city, now consumed with years. 
 
 Here, in his lofty palace, Turnus lay. 
 
 Betwixt the confines of the night and day. 
 
 Secure in sleep. — The Fury laid aside 
 Her looks and limbs, and with new methods tried 
 The foulness of the infernal form to hide. 
 
 580 
 
184 
 
 VIRGWS yENEIS. 
 
 [book VII. 
 
 Propped on a staff, she takes a trembling mien ; 
 
 Her face is furrowed, and her front obsence ; 
 
 585 Deep-dinted wrinkles on her cheek she draws ; 
 
 Sunk are her eyes, and toothless are her jaws ; 
 
 Her hoary hair with holy fillets bound ; 
 
 Her temples with an olive wreath are crowned. 
 
 Old Chalybe, who kept the secret fane 
 590 Of Juno, now she seemed, and thus began 
 
 (Appearing in a dream) to rouse the careless man : 
 
 Shall Turnus then such endless toil sustain 
 In fighting- fields, and conquer towns in vain ? 
 
 Win, for a Trojan head to wear the prize, 
 
 595 Usurp thy crown, enjoy thy victories ? 
 
 The bride and sceptre, which thy blood has bought, 
 The king transfers ; and foreign heirs are sought ! 
 Go now, deluded man, and seek again 
 New toils, new dangers, on the dusty plain ! 
 
 600 Repel. the Tuscan foes, their city seize : 
 
 Protect the Latians in luxurious ease ! 
 
 This dream all-powerful Juno sends : 1 bear 
 Her mighty mandates, and her words you hear. 
 Haste ! arm your Ardeans ; issue to the plain ; 
 
 605 With faith to friend, assault the Trojan train : 
 
 Their thoughtless chiefs ; their painted ships that lie 
 In Tiber’s mouth, with fire and sword destroy. 
 
 The Latian king, unless he shall submit, 
 
 Own his old promise, and his new forget — 
 
 610 Let him, in arms the power of Turnus prove ; 
 
 And learn to fear whom he disdains to love. 
 
 F or such is heaven’s command.^^ The youthful prince 
 With scorn replied, and made this bold defence : 
 
 You tell me, mother, what I knew before, 
 
 615 The Phrygian fleet is landed on the shore. 
 
 I neither fear nor will provoke the war ; 
 
 My fate is Juno’s most peculiar care. 
 
 But time has made you dote, and vainly tell 
 Of arms imagined in your lonely cell. 
 
 620 Go ! be the temple and the gods your care : 
 
 Permit to men the thought of peace and war.” 
 
 These haughty words Alecto’s rage provoke 1 
 
BOOK VII.] VIRGirS MNEIS. 185 
 
 And frightened Turnus trembled as she spoke. 
 
 Her eyes grow stiffened, and with sulphur burn ; 
 
 Her hideous looks and hellish form return ; 625 
 
 Her curling snakes with hissings fill the place, 
 
 And open all the furies of her face : 
 
 Then, darting fire from her malignant eyes. 
 
 She cast him backward as he strove to rise. 
 
 And lingering sought to frame some new replies. 630 
 High on her head she rears two twisted snakes ; 
 
 Her chains she rattles, and her whip she shakes ; 
 
 And churning bloody foam, thus loudly speaks : 
 
 Behold whom time has made to dote and tell 
 Of arms imagined in her lonely cell ! 635 
 
 Behold the Fates^ infernal minister ! 
 
 War, death, destruction, in my hand I bear.” 
 
 Thus having said, her smouldering torch, impressed 
 With her full force, she plunged into his breast. 
 
 Aghast he waked ; and starting from his bed, 640 
 
 Cold sweat, in clammy drops, his limbs overspread. 
 
 Arms ! arms ! (he cries) : my sword and shield prepare ! ” 
 He breathes defiance, blood, and mortal war. 
 
 So, when with crackling flames a caldron fries. 
 
 The bubbling waters from the bottom rise ; 645 
 
 Above the brims they force their fiery way ; 
 
 Black vapours climb aloft, and cloud the day. 
 
 The peace polluted thus, a chosen band 
 He first commissions to the Latian land. 
 
 In threatening embassy ; then raised the rest 650 
 
 To meet in arms the intruding Trojan guest ; 
 
 To force the foes from the Lavinian shore. 
 
 And Italy^s endangered peace restore. 
 
 Himself alone an equal match he boasts, 
 
 To fight the Phrygian and Ausonian hosts. 655 
 
 The gods invoked, the Rutuli prepare 
 
 Their arms, and warm each other to the war. 
 
 His beauty these, and those his blooming age. 
 
 The rest, his house and his own fame engage. 
 
 While Turnus urges thus his enterprise, 660 
 
 The Stygian Fury to the Trojans flies ; 
 
 New frauds invents, and takes a steepy stand. 
 
i86 
 
 VIRGins .'ENEIS. 
 
 [book VII. 
 
 Which overlooks the vale with wide command ; 
 Where fair Ascanius and his youthful train, 
 
 665 With horns and hounds a hunting match ordain, 
 And pitch their toils around the shady plain. 
 
 The F ury hres the pack ; they snuff, they vent. 
 
 And feed their hungry nostrils with the scent. 
 
 ’Twas of a well-grown stag, whose antlers rise 
 670 High o’er his front, his beams invade the skies. 
 
 From this light cause, the infernal maid prepares 
 The country churls to mischief, hate, and wars. 
 
 The stately beast the two Tyrrhidas bred. 
 
 Snatched from his dam, and the tame youngling fed. 
 675 Their father, Tyrrheus, did his fodder bring — 
 Tyrrheus chief ranger to the Latian king : 
 
 Their sister Silvia, cherished with her care 
 The little wanton, and did wreaths prepare 
 To hang his budding horns ; with ribbons tied 
 680 His tender neck, and combed his silken hide. 
 
 And bathed his body. Patient of command 
 In time he grew, and, growing used to hand, 
 
 He waited at his master’s board for food ; 
 
 Then sought his savage kindred in the wood, 
 
 685 Where grazing all the day ; at night he came 
 To his known lodgings, and his country dame. 
 
 This household beast, that used the woodland grounds. 
 Was viewed at first by the young hero’s hounds, 
 
 As down the stream he swam, to seek retreat 
 690 In the cool waters, and to quench his heat. 
 
 Ascanius, young and eager of his game. 
 
 Soon bent his bow, uncertain in his aim ; 
 
 But the dire fiend the fatal arrow guides. 
 
 Which pierced his bowels through his panting sides. 
 695 The bleeding creature issues from the floods. 
 
 Possessed with fear, and seeks his known abodes. 
 His old familiar hearth, and household gods. 
 
 He falls ; he fills the house with heavy groans ; 
 Implores their pity, and his pain bemoans. 
 
 700 Young Silvia beats her breast, and cries aloud 
 For succour from the clownish neighbourhood. 
 
 The churls assemble ; for the fiend who lay 
 
BOOK VII.] 
 
 VIRGins ^NEIS. 
 
 187 
 
 In the close woody covert, urged their way. 
 
 One with a brand yet burning from the flame ; 
 Armed with a knotty club another came : 
 
 Whatever they catch or find, without their care. 
 Their fury makes an instrument of war. 
 
 Tyrrheus, the foster-father of the beast, 
 
 Then clenched a hatchet in his horny fist. 
 
 But held his hand from the descending stroke. 
 
 And left his wedge within the cloven oak. 
 
 To whet their courage, and their rage provoke. 
 
 And now the goddess, exercised in ill. 
 
 Who watched an hour to work her impious will. 
 Ascends the roof, and to her crooked horn. 
 
 Such as was then by Latian shepherds borne. 
 
 Adds all her breath. The rocks and woods around. 
 And mountains, tremble at the infernal sound. 
 
 The sacred lake of Travia from afar ; 
 
 The Veline fountains, and sulphureous Nar, 
 
 Shake at the baleful blast, the signal of the war. 
 Young mothers wildly stare, with fear possessed. 
 And strain their helpless infants to their breast. 
 
 The clowns, a boisterous, rude, ungoverned crew. 
 With furious haste to the loud summons flew. 
 
 The powers of Troy, then issuing on the plain. 
 
 With fresh recruits their youthful chief sustain : 
 
 Nor theirs a raw and unexperienced train. 
 
 But a firm body of embattled men. 
 
 At first, while fortune favoured neither side. 
 
 The fight with clubs and burning brands was tried ; 
 But now, both parties I'einforced, the fields 
 Are bright with flaming swords and brazen shields. 
 A shining harvest either host displays. 
 
 And shoots against the sun with equal rays. 
 
 Thus, when a black-browed gust begins to rise. 
 White foam at first on the curled ocean fries ; 
 
 Then roars the main, the billows mount the skies ; 
 Till, by the fury of the storm full blown. 
 
 The muddy bottom o’er the clouds is thrown. 
 
 First Almon falls, old Tyrrheus’ eldest care. 
 Pierced with an arrow from the distant war ; 
 
 705 
 
 710 
 
 715 
 
 720 
 
 725 
 
 730 
 
 735 
 
 740 
 
i88 
 
 VIRGirS MNEIS, 
 
 [book VII. 
 
 Fixed in his throat the flying weapon stood, 
 
 And stopped his breath, and drank his vital blood. 
 745 Huge heaps of slain around the body rise ; 
 
 Among the rest, the rich Galesus lies — 
 
 A good old man, while peace he preached in vain. 
 Amidst the madness of the unruly train : 
 
 Five herds, five bleating flocks, his pastures filled ; 
 750 His lands a hundred yoke of oxen tilled. 
 
 Thus, while in equal scales their fortune stood, 
 
 The F ury bathed them in each otheFs blood ; 
 
 Then, having fixed the fight, exulting flies. 
 
 And bears fulfilled her promise to the skies. 
 
 755 To Juno thus she speaks : Behold ! kis done. 
 
 The blood already drawn, the war begun ; 
 
 The discord is complete ; nor can they cease 
 The dire debate, nor you command the peace. 
 
 Now, since the Latian and the Trojan brood ; 
 
 760 Have tasted vengeance, and the sweets of blood ; 
 Speak, and my power shall add this office more : 
 
 The neighbouring nations of the Ausonian shore 
 Shall hear the ‘dreadful rumour from afar. 
 
 Of armed invasion, and em^brace the war.” 
 
 765 Then Juno thus : The grateful work is done. 
 
 The seeds of discord sowed, the war begun : 
 
 Frauds, fears, and fury, have possessed the state. 
 
 And fixed the causes of a lasting hate. 
 
 A bloody Hymen shall the alliance join 
 770 Betwixt the Trojan and Ausonian line: 
 
 But thou with speed to night and hell repair ; 
 
 F or not the gods, nor angry J ove, will bear 
 Thy lawless wandering walks in upper air. 
 
 Leave what remains to me.” Saturnia said : 
 
 775 The sullen fiend her sounding wings displayed. 
 
 Unwilling left the light, and sought the nether shade.' 
 
 In midst of Italy, well known to fame. 
 
 There lies a lake (Amsanctus is the name). 
 
 Below the lofty mounts ; on either side 
 780 Thick forests the forbidden entrance hide. 
 
 Full in the centre of the sacred wood 
 An arm arises of the Stygian flood. 
 
BOOK VII.] 
 
 VIRGirS AlNEIS. 
 
 189 
 
 Which, breaking from beneath with bellowing sound, 
 Whirls the black waves and rattling stones around. 
 
 Here Pluto pants for breath from out his cell ; 785 
 
 And opens wide the grinning jaws of hell. 
 
 To this infernal lake the Fury flies ; 
 
 Here hides her hated head, and frees the labouring skies. 
 
 Saturnian Juno, now, with double care. 
 
 Attends the fatal process of the war. 790 
 
 The clowns, returned from battle, bear the slain ; 
 
 Implore the gods, and to their king complain. 
 
 The corpse of Almon, and the rest, are shown : 
 
 Shrieks, clamours, murmurs, fill the frighted town. 
 Ambitious Turnus in the press appears, 795 
 
 And, aggravating crimes, augments their fears ; 
 
 Proclaims his private injuries aloud — 
 
 A solemn promise made, and disavowed; 
 
 A foreign son is sought, and a mixed mongrel brood. 
 Then they, whose mothers, frantic with their fear, 800 
 In woods and wilds the flags of Bacchus bear. 
 
 And lead his dances with dishevelled hair, 
 
 Increase the clamour, and the war demand 
 (Such was Amata’s interest in the land). 
 
 Against the public sanctions of the peace,. 805 
 
 Against all omens of their ill success. 
 
 With fates averse, the rout in arms resort 
 To force their monarch, and insult the court. 
 
 But, like a rock unmoved, a rock that braves 
 The raging tempest and the rising waves, 810 
 
 Propped on himself he stands : his solid sides 
 Wash off the sea-weeds, and the sounding tides — 
 
 So stood the pious prince unmoved ; and long 
 Sustained the madness of the noisy throng. 
 
 But, when he found that Juno’s power prevailed, 815 
 And all the methods of cool counsel failed. 
 
 He calls the gods to witness their offence ; 
 
 Disclaims the war, asserts his innocence. 
 
 ‘‘ Hurried by fate (he cries), and borne before 
 A furious wind, we leave the faithful shore ! 820 
 
 O more than madmen ! you yourselves shall bear 
 The guilt of blood and sacrilegious war : 
 
1 90 VIRGirs ALNEIS. [book vii. 
 
 Thou, Turnus, shall atone it by thy fate, 
 
 And pray to Heaven for peace, but pray too late. 
 
 825 For me, my stormy voyage at an end, 
 
 I to the port of death securely tend. 
 
 The funeral pomp which to your kings you pay. 
 
 Is all I want, and all you take away.^^ 
 
 He said no more, but, in his walls confined, 
 
 830 Shut out the woes which he too well divined ; 
 
 Nor with the rising storm would vainly strive. 
 
 But left the helm, and let the vessel drive. 
 
 A solemn custom was observed of old. 
 
 Which Latium held, and now the Romans hold ; 
 
 835 Their standard when in fighting-fields they rear 
 Against the fierce Hyrcanians, or declare 
 The Scythian, Indian, or Arabian war; 
 
 Or from the boasting Parthians would regain 
 Their eagles, lost in Carrae’s bloody plain. 
 
 840 Two gates of steel (the name of Mars they bear. 
 
 And still are worshipped with religious fear) 
 
 Before his temple stand : the dire abode. 
 
 And the feared issues of the furious god. 
 
 Are fenced with brazen bolts ; without the gates, 
 
 845 The wary guardian Janus doubly waits. 
 
 Then, when the sacred senate votes the wars. 
 
 The Roman consul their decree declares. 
 
 And in his robes the sounding gates unbars. 
 
 The youth in military shouts arise, 
 
 850 And the loud trumpets break the yielding skies. 
 These rites, of old by sovereign princes used. 
 
 Were the king’s office: but the king refused. 
 
 Deaf to their cries ; nor would the gates unbar 
 Of sacred peace, or loose the imprisoned war ; 
 
 855 But hid his head, and, safe from loud alarms. 
 Abhorred the wicked ministry of arms. 
 
 Then, heaven’s imperious queen shot down from high ; 
 At her approach the brazen hinges fly ; 
 
 The gates are forced, and every falling bar ; 
 
 860 And like a tempest, issues out the war. 
 
 The peaceful cities of the Ausonian shore. 
 
 Lulled in their ease, and undisturbed before. 
 
BOOK VII.] 
 
 VIRGWS .'RISfElS. 
 
 Are all on fire ; and some, with studious care, 
 
 Their restive steeds in sandy plains prepare ; 
 
 Some their soft limbs in painful marches try ; 
 
 And war is all their wish, and arms the general cry. 
 Part scour their rusty shields with seam ; and part 
 New-grind the blunted axe, and point the dart ; 
 With joy they view the waving ensigns fly. 
 
 And hear the trumpefs clangour pierce the sky. 
 
 Five cities forge their arms — the Atinian powers, 
 Antemnae, Tibur with her lofty towers, 
 
 Ardea the proud, the Crustumerian town : 
 
 All these of old were places of renown. 
 
 Some hammer helmets for the fighting field ; 
 
 Some twine young sallows to support the shield ; 
 
 The corselet some, and some the cuishes mould. 
 With silver plated, and with ductile gold. 
 
 The rustic honours of the scythe and share, 
 
 Give place to swords and plumes, the pride of war. 
 Old falchions are new-tempered in the fires : 
 
 The sounding trumpet every soul inspires. 
 
 The word is given ; with eager speed they lace 
 The shining head-piece, and the shield embrace. 
 
 The neighing steeds are to the chariots tied ; 
 
 The trusty weapon sits on every side. 
 
 And now the mighty labour is begun : 
 
 Ye muses, open all your Helicon! 
 
 Sing you the chiefs that swayed the Ausonian land. 
 Their arms, and armies under their command ; 
 
 What warriors in our ancient clime were bred ; 
 
 What soldiers followed, and what heroes led. 
 
 P'or well you know, and can record alone. 
 
 What fame to future times conveys but darkly down. 
 
 Mezentius first appeared upon the plain : 
 
 Scorn sat upon his brows, and sour disdain. 
 
 Defying earth and heaven. Etruria lost. 
 
 He brings to Turnus^ aid his baffled host. 
 
 The charming Lausus, full of youthful fire. 
 
 Rode in the rank, and next his sullen sire \ 
 
 To Turnus only second in the grace 
 Of manly mien, and features of the face. 
 
192 
 
 VIRGirS ^NEIS, 
 
 [book VII. 
 
 A skilful horseman, and a huntsman bred ; 
 
 With fates averse, a thousand men he led : 
 
 905 His sire unworthy of so brave a son ; 
 
 Himself well worthy of a happier throne. 
 
 Next Aventinus drives his chariot round 
 The Latian plains, with palms and laurels crowned. 
 Proud of his steeds, he smokes along the field ; 
 
 910 His father’s hydra fills his ample shield ; 
 
 A hundred serpents hiss about the brims ; 
 
 The son of Hercules he justly seems. 
 
 By his broad shoulders and gigantic limbs — 
 
 Of heavenly, part, and part, of earthly blood, 
 
 915 A mortal woman mixing with a god. 
 
 For strong Alcides, after he had slain 
 
 The triple Geryon, drove from conquered Spain 
 
 His captive herds ; and, thence in triumph led. 
 
 On Tuscan Tiber’s flowery banks they fed. 
 
 920 Then, on mount Aventine, the son of Jove 
 The priestess Rhea found, and forced to love. 
 
 For arms, his men long piles and javelins bore. 
 And poles with pointed steel their foes in battle gore. 
 Like Hercules himself, his son appears 
 925 In savage pomp ; a lion’s hide he wears ; 
 
 About his shoulders hangs the shaggy skin; 
 
 The teeth and gaping jaws severely grin. 
 
 Thus, like the god his father, homely drest, 
 
 He strides into the hall, a horrid guest. 
 
 930 Then two twin-brothers from fair Tibur came 
 (Which from their brother Tiburs took the name), 
 Fierce Coras and Catillus,'void of fear: 
 
 Armed Argive horse they led, and in the front appear. 
 Like cloud-born Centaurs, from the mountain’s height 
 935 With rapid course descending to the fight 
 
 They rush along ; the rattling woods give way ; 
 
 The branches bend before their sweepy sway. 
 
 Nor was Praeneste’s founder wanting there. 
 
 Whom fame reports the son of Mulciber : 
 
 940 Found in the fire, and fostered in the plains, 
 
 A shepherd and a king at once he reigns ; 
 
 And leads to Turnus’ aid his country swains. 
 
VIRGinS AINEIS. 
 
 BOOK VII.] 
 
 His own Prosneste sends a chosen band, 
 
 With those who plough Saturnia’s Gabine land ; 
 Besides the succour which cold Anien yields, 
 
 The rocks of Hernicus, and dewy fields, 
 
 Anagnia fat, and father Amasene — 
 
 A numerous rout, but all of naked men : 
 
 Nor arms they wear, nor swords and bucklers wield. 
 Nor drive the chariot through the dusty field ; 
 
 But whirl from leathern slings huge balls of lead ; 
 And spoils of yellow wolves adorn their head : 
 
 The left foot naked, when they march to fight ; 
 
 But in a bull’s raw hide they sheath the right. 
 
 Messapus next (great Neptune was his sire). 
 Secure of steel, and fated from the fire, 
 
 In pomp appears ; and with his ardour warms 
 A heartless train, unexercised in arms : 
 
 The just Faliscans he to battle brings ; 
 
 And those who live where lake Ciminius springs ; 
 And where Feronia’s grove and temple stands. 
 
 Who till Fescennian or Flavinian lands: 
 
 All these in order march, and marching, sing 
 The warlike actions of their sea-born king : 
 
 Like a long team of snowy swans on high. 
 
 Which clap their wings, and cleave the liquid sky. 
 When, homeward from their watery pastures borne. 
 They sing, and Asia’s lakes their notes return. 
 
 Not one who heard their music from afar. 
 
 Would think these troops an army trained to war, 
 But flocks of fowl, that, when the tempests roar. 
 With their hoarse gabbling seek the silent shore. 
 
 Then Clausus came, who led a numerous band 
 Of troops embodied from the Sabine land ; 
 
 And, in himself alone, an army brought. 
 
 ’Twas he the noble Claudian race begot — 
 
 The Claudian race, ordained, in times to come. 
 
 To share the greatness of imperial Rome. 
 
 He led the Cures forth of old renown, 
 
 Mutuscans from their olive-bearing town, 
 
 And all the Eretian powers ; besides a band 
 That followed from Velinum’s dewy land; 
 
194 
 
 VIRGirs ^NEIS. 
 
 [book VII. 
 
 And Amiternian troops, of mighty fame, 
 
 And mountaineers, that from Severus came, 
 
 985 And from the craggy cliffs of Tetrica ; 
 
 And those where yellow Tiber takes his way. 
 
 And where Himella^s wanton waters play. 
 
 Casperia sends her arms, with those that lie 
 By Fabaris, and fruitful Foruli : 
 
 990 The warlike aids of Horta next appear; 
 
 And the cold Nursians come to close the rear. 
 Mixed with the natives born of Latine blood; 
 Whom Allia washes with her fatal flood. 
 
 Not thicker billows beat the Libyan main, 
 
 995 When pale Orion sets in wintry rain ; 
 
 Nor thicker harvests on rich Hermus rise. 
 
 Or Lycian fields, when Phoebus burns the skies. 
 Than stand these troops : their bucklers ring around : 
 Their trampling turns the turf, and shakes the solid 
 1000 High in his chariot then Haiesus came, [ground- 
 A foe by birth to Troy’s unhappy name : 
 
 From Agamemnon born: to Turnus’ aid, 
 
 A thousand men the youthful hero led. 
 
 Who till the Massic soil, for wine renowned ; 
 
 1005 And fierce Auruncans from their hilly ground ; 
 
 And those who live by Sidicinian shores ; 
 
 And where with shoaly fords Vulturnus roars ; 
 
 Gales’ and Osca’s old inhabitants ; 
 
 And rough Saticulans, inured to wants. 
 
 1010 Light demi-lances from afar they throw. 
 
 Fastened with leathern thongs, to gall the foe : 
 
 Short crooked swords in closer fight they wear ; 
 
 And on their warding arm light bucklers bear. 
 
 Nor, (Ebalus, shalt thou be left unsung ; 
 
 1015 From nymph Sebethis and old Telon sprung, 
 
 Who then in Teleboan Capri reigned ; 
 
 But that short isle the ambitious youth disdained. 
 And o’er Campania stretched his ample sway. 
 Where swelling Sarnus seeks the Tyrrhene sea — 
 1020 O’er Batulum, and where Abella sees 
 
 From her high towers, the harvest of her trees. 
 
 And these (as was the Teuton use of old) 
 
BOOK VII.] 
 
 VIRGirS ^NEIS. 
 
 195 
 
 Wield brazen swords, and brazen bucklers hold ; 
 
 Sling weighty stones when from afar they fight — 
 
 Their casques are cork, a covering thick and light. 1025 
 Next these in rank, the warlike Ufens went. 
 
 And led the mountain troops that Nursia sent. 
 
 The rude ^quiculas his rule obeyed ; 
 
 Hunting their sport, and plundering was their trade. 
 
 In arms they ploughed, to battle still prepared ; 1030 
 
 Their soil was barren, and their hearts were hard. 
 
 Umbro the priest the proud Marrubians led, 
 
 By king Archippus sent to Turnus’ aid; 
 
 And peaceful olives crowned his hoary head. 
 
 His wand and holy words, the viper’s rage 1035 
 
 And venomed wounds of serpents, could assuage. 
 
 He, when he pleased with powerful juice to steep 
 Their temples, shut their eyes in pleasing sleep. 
 
 But vain were Marsian herbs, and magic art. 
 
 To cure the wound given by the Dardan dart. 1040 
 
 Yet his untim.ely fate, the Angitian woods 
 In sighs remurmured to the Fucine floods. 
 
 The son of famed Hippolytus was there. 
 
 Famed as his sire, and, as his mother, fair; 
 
 Whom in Egerian groves Aricia bore, 1045 
 
 And nursed his youth along the marshy shore. 
 
 Where great Diana’s peaceful altars flame. 
 
 In fruitful fields; and Virbius was his name. 
 
 Hippolytus, as old records have said. 
 
 Was by his stepdame sought to share her bed; 1050 
 But, when no female arts his mind could move. 
 
 She turned to furious hate her impious love. 
 
 Torn by wild horses on the sandy shore. 
 
 Another’s crimes the unhappy hunter bore. 
 
 Glutting his father’s eyes with guiltless gore. 1055 
 
 But chaste Diana, who his death deplored. 
 
 With ^sculapian herbs his life restored : 
 
 When Jove, who saw from high, with just disdain. 
 
 The dead inspired with vital breath again. 
 
 Struck to the centre, with his flaming dart, 1060 
 
 The unhappy founder of the godlike art. 
 
 But Trivia kept in secret shades alone 
 
196 VIRGIL'S ALNEIS, [book vil. 
 
 Her care, Hippolytus, to fate unknown ; 
 
 And called him Virbius in the Egerian grove 
 1065 Where then he lived obscure, but safe from Jove. 
 For this, from Trivia’s temple and her wood. 
 
 Are coursers driven who shed their master’s blood — 
 Affrighted by the monsters of the flood. 
 
 His son, the second Virbius, yet retained 
 1070 His father’s art ; and warrior steeds he reined. 
 Amid the troops, and like the leading god. 
 
 High o’er the rest in arms, the graceful Turnus rode ; 
 A triple pile of plumes his crest adorned. 
 
 On which with belching flames Chimaera burned : 
 1075 The more the kindled combat rises higher. 
 
 The more with fury burns the blazing fire. 
 
 Fair lo graced his shield ; but lo now 
 With horns exalted stands, and seems to low — 
 
 A noble charge ! Her keeper by her side, 
 
 1080 To watch her, walks, his hundred eyes applied; 
 
 And on the brims her sire, the watery god. 
 
 Rolled from his silver urn his crystal flood. 
 
 A cloud of foot succeeds, and fills the fields 
 With swords, and pointed spears, and clattering 
 1085 Of Argive, and of old Sicanian bands, [shields ; 
 And those who plough the rich Rutulian lands ; 
 Auruncan youth, and those Sacrana yields ; 
 
 And the proud Labicans, with painted shields ; 
 
 And those who near Numician streams reside ; 
 
 1090 And those whom Tiber’s holy forests hide. 
 
 Or Circe’s hills from the main land divide; 
 
 Where Ufens glides along the lowly lands. 
 
 Or the black water of Pomptina stands. 
 
 Last, from the Volscians fair Camilla came, 
 
 1095 And led her warlike troops — a warrior dame; 
 Unbred to spinning, in the loom unskilled ; 
 
 She chose the nobler Pallas of the field. 
 
 Mixed with the first, the fierce virago fought ; 
 Sustained the toils of arms, the danger sought ; 
 1100 Outstripped the winds in speed upon the plain. 
 Flew o’er the field, nor hurt the bearded grain : 
 
 She swept the seas, and, as she skimmed along. 
 
BOOK VII.] 
 
 VIRGirS ^NEIS. 
 
 197 
 
 Her flying feet unbathed on billows hung. 
 
 Men, boys, and women, stupid with surprise, 
 Where’er she passes, fix their wondering eyes : 
 Longing they look, and gaping at the sight, 
 Devour her o’er and o’er with vast delight. 
 
 Her purple habits sits with such a grace 
 On her smooth shoulders, and so suits her face ; 
 Her head with ringlets of her hair is crowned ; 
 And in a golden caul the curls are bound. 
 
 She shakes her myrtle javelin ; and, behind. 
 
 Her Lycian quiver dances in the wind. 
 
 1 105 
 
 1 1 10 
 
BOOK VIII. 
 
 THE ARGUMENT. 
 
 • 
 
 The war being now begun, both the generals make all possible 
 preparations. Turniis sends to Diomedes. yT^neas goes in 
 person to beg succours from Evander and the Tuscans. 
 Evander receives him kindly, furnishes him with men, and 
 sends his son Pallas with him. Vulcan, at the request of 
 Venus, makes arms for her son ^neas, and draws on his 
 shield the most memorable actions of his posterity. 
 
 W HEN Turnus had assembled all his powers, 
 His standard planted on Laurentum’s towers, 
 When now the sprightly trumpet, from afar, 
 
 Had given the signal of approaching war, 
 
 5 Had roused the neighing steeds to scour the fields. 
 While the fierce riders clattered on their shields. 
 Trembling with rage, the Latian youth prepare 
 To join the allies, and headlong rush to war. 
 
 Fierce Ufens, and Messapus, led the crowd, 
 lo With bold Mezentius, who blasphemed aloud. 
 
 These through the country took their wasteful course. 
 The fields to forage, and to gather force. 
 
 Then Venulus to Diomede they send. 
 
 To beg his aid, Ausonia to defend, 
 
 15 Declare the common danger, and inform 
 The Grecian leader of the growing storm : 
 
 ‘‘^neis, landed on the Latian coast, 
 
 With banished gods, and with a baffled host, 
 
 Yet now aspired to conquest of the state, 
 
 20 And claimed a title from the gods and fate ; 
 
 What numerous nations in his quarrel came. 
 
 And how they spread his formidable name. 
 
BOOK VIII.] 
 
 VIRGirS ALNEIS. 
 
 199 
 
 What he designed, what mischiefs might arise 
 If fortune favoured his first enterprise, 
 
 Was left for him to weigh, whose equal fears 25 
 
 And common interest was involved in theirs.^^ 
 
 While Turnus and the allies thus urge the war, 
 
 The Trojan, floating in a flood of care. 
 
 Beholds the tempest which his foes prepare. 
 
 This way, and that, he turns his anxious mind ; 30 
 
 Thinks, and rejects the counsels he designed ; 
 
 Explores himself in vain in every part. 
 
 And gives no rest to his distracted heart. 
 
 So, when the sun by day, or moon by night. 
 
 Strike on the polished brass their trembling light, 35 
 The glittering species here and there divide. 
 
 And cast their dubious beams from side to side ; 
 
 Now on the walls, now on the pavement play. 
 
 And to the ceiling flash the glaring day. 
 
 ^Twas night ; and weary nature lulled asleep 40 
 
 The birds of air, and fishes of the deep. 
 
 And beasts, and mortal men. The Trojan chief 
 Was laid on Tiber^s banks, oppressed with grief. 
 
 And found in silent slumber, late relief. 
 
 Then, through the shadows of the poplar wood, 45 
 
 Arose the father of the Roman flood ; 
 
 An azure robe was o’er his body spread, 
 
 A wreath of shady reeds adorned his head : 
 
 Thus, manifest to sight, the god appeared. 
 
 And with these pleasing words his sorrow cheered : 50 
 
 Undoubted offspring of ethereal race, 
 
 O long expected in this promised place ! 
 
 Who, through the foes, hast borne thy banished gods. 
 Restored them to their hearths, and old abodes; 
 
 This is thy happy home, the clime where fate 55 
 
 Ordains thee to restore the Trojan state. 
 
 Fear not ! The war shall end in lasting peace. 
 
 And all the rage of haughty Juno cease. 
 
 And that this nightly vision may not seem 
 The effect of fancy, or an idle dream, 
 
 A sow beneath an oak shall lie along. 
 
 All white herself, and white her thirty young. 
 
 60 
 
200 VIRGirs MNEIS. [book viii. 
 
 When thirty rolling years have run their race, 
 
 Thy son Ascanius, on this empty space, 
 
 65 Shall build a royal town, of lasting fame. 
 
 Which from this omen shall receive the name. 
 
 Time shall approve the truth. — For what remains. 
 And how with sure success to crown thy pains. 
 
 With patience next attend. A banished band, 
 
 70 Driven with Evander from the Arcadian land. 
 
 Have planted here, and placed on high their walls : 
 Their town the founder, Pallanteum calls. 
 
 Derived from Pallas, his great grandsire’s name : 
 
 But the fierce Latians old possession claim, 
 
 75 With war infesting the new colony : 
 
 These make thy friends, and on their aid rely. 
 
 To thy free passage I submit my streams. 
 
 Wake, son of Venus, from thy pleasing dreams ! 
 
 And when the setting stars are lost in day, 
 
 80 To Juno’s power thy just devotion pay ; 
 
 With sacrifice the wrathful queen appease : 
 
 Her pride at length shall fall, her fury cease. 
 
 When thou return’st victorious from the war. 
 
 Perform thy vows to me with grateful care. 
 
 85 The god am I, whose yellow water flows 
 Around these fields, and fattens as it goes : 
 
 Tiber my name — among the rolling floods 
 Renowned on earth, esteemed among the gods. 
 
 This is my certain seat. In times to come, 
 
 90 My waves shall wash the walls of mighty Rome ! 
 
 He said; and plunged below. While yet he spoke. 
 His dream ^Eneas and his sleep forsook. 
 
 He rose, and looking up, beheld the skies 
 With purple blushing, and the day arise. 
 
 95 Then water in his hollow palm he took 
 
 From Tiber’s flood, and thus the powers bespoke : 
 
 . Laurentian nymphs, by whom the streams are fed. 
 And father Tiber, in thy sacred bed 
 Receive ^Eneas, and from danger keep ! 
 
 100 Whatever fount, whatever holy deep. 
 
 Conceals thy watery stores — where’er they rise. 
 
 And, bubbling from below, salute the skies — 
 
BOOK VIII.] ‘ VIRGirS ^NEIS. 201 
 
 Thou, king of horned floods, whose plenteous urn 
 Suffices fatness to the fruitful corn, 
 
 For this, thy kind compassion of our woes, 105 
 
 Shalt share my morning song, and evening vows. 
 
 But, oh ! be present to thy people’s aid. 
 
 And firm the gracious promise thou hast made.” 
 
 Thus having said, two galleys from his stores 
 With care he chooses, mans, and fits with oars. no 
 
 Now on the shore the fatal swine is found — 
 
 Wondrous to tell ! — She lay along the ground : 
 
 Her well-fed offspring at her udders hung ; 
 
 She white herself, and white her thirty young. 
 
 yEneas takes the mother and her brood, 115 
 
 And all on Juno’s altar are bestowed. 
 
 The following night, and the succeeding day. 
 
 Propitious Tiber smoothed his watery way ; 
 
 He rolled his river back, and poised he stood, 
 
 A gentle swelling, and a peaceful flood. 1 20 
 
 The Trojans mount their ships; they put from shore. 
 Borne on the waves, and scarcely dip an oar. 
 
 Shouts from the land give omen to their course ; 
 
 And the pitched vessels glide with easy force. 
 
 The woods and waters wonder at the gleam 125 
 
 Of shields, and painted ships that stem the stream. 
 
 One summer’s night and one whole day they pass 
 Betwixt the green-wood shades, and cut the liquid glass. 
 The fiery sun had finished half his race. 
 
 Looked back and doubted in the middle space, 130 
 
 When they from far beheld the rising towers, 
 
 The tops of sheds, and shepherds’ lowly bowers, 
 
 Thin as they stood, which then of homely clay. 
 
 Now rise in marble, from the Roman sway. 
 
 These cots (Evander’s kingdom, mean and poor) 135 
 The Trojan saw, and turned his ships to shore. 
 
 ’Twas on a solemn day : the Arcadian states, 
 
 The king and prince, without the city gates. 
 
 Then paid their offerings in a sacred grove 
 To Hercules, the warrior son of Jove. 140 
 
 Thick clouds of rolling smoke involve the skies ; 
 
 And fat of entrails on his altar fries. 
 
202 VIRGirS ^NEIS. [BOOK VIII. 
 
 But when they saw the ships that stemmed the flood, 
 And glittered through the covert of the wood, 
 
 145 They rose with fear, and left the unfinished feast, 
 Till dauntless Pallas reassured the rest 
 To pay the rites. Himself without delay 
 A javelin seized, and singly took his way ; 
 
 Then gained a rising ground, and called from far : 
 150 “Resolve me, strangers, whence and what you are; 
 Your business here ; and bring you peace or war ?” 
 High on the stern ^neas took his stand. 
 
 And held a branch of olive in his hand, 
 
 While thus he spoke : “The Phrygians^ arms you see ; 
 155 Expelled from Troy, provoked in Italy 
 By Latian foes, with war unjustly made — 
 
 At first affianced, and at last betrayed. 
 
 This message bear : The Trojans and their chief 
 Bring holy peace, and beg the king’s relief.” 
 
 160 Struck with so great a name, and all on fire. 
 
 The youth replies : “ Whatever you require, 
 
 Your fame exacts. Upon our shores descend 
 A welcome guest, and, what you wish, a friend.” 
 
 He said, and downward hasting to the strand, 
 
 165 Embraced the stranger-prince, and joined his hand. 
 Conducted to the grove, ^neas broke 
 The silence first, and thus the king bespoke : 
 
 “Best of the Greeks ! to whom, by Fate’s command, 
 I bear these peaceful branches in my hand : 
 
 170 Undaunted I approach you, though I know 
 Your birth is Grecian, and your land my foe : 
 
 From Atreus though your ancient lineage came. 
 
 And both the brother-kings your kindred claim ; 
 
 Yet, my self-conscious worth, your high renown, 
 
 175 Your virtue, through the neighbouring nations blown ; 
 Our fathers’ mingled blood, Apollo’s voice. 
 
 Have led me hither ; less by need than choice. 
 
 Our father Dardanus, as fame ha's sung 
 
 And Greeks acknowledge, from Electra sprung : 
 
 180 Electra from the loins of Atlas came — 
 
 Atlas, whose head sustains the starry frame. 
 
 Your sire is Mercury, whom long before 
 
BOOK VIII.] VIRGirS ^NEIS. 203 
 
 On cold Cyllene’s top fair Maia bore. 
 
 Maia the fair, on fame if we rely, 
 
 Was Atlas^ daughter, who sustains the sky. 185 
 
 Thus from one common source our streams divide ; 
 
 Ours is the Trojan, yours the Arcadian side. 
 
 Raised by these hopes, I sent no news before. 
 
 Nor asked your leave, nor did your faith implore ; 
 
 But come without a pledge, my own ambassador. 190 
 The same Rutulians, who with arms pursue 
 The Trojan race, are equal foes to you. 
 
 Our host expelled, what further force can stay 
 The victor troops from universal sway } 
 
 Then will they stretch their power athwart the land, 195 
 And either sea from side to side command. 
 
 Receive our offered faith, and give us thine ; 
 
 Ours is a generous and experienced line : 
 
 We want not hearts nor bodies for the war ; 
 
 In council cautious, and in fields we dare.^^ 200 
 
 He said ; and, while he spoke, with piercing eyes 
 Evander viewed the man with vast surprise — 
 
 Pleased with his action, ravished with his face ; 
 
 Then answered briefly with a royal grace : 
 
 O valiant lead^ of the Trojan line, 205 
 
 In whom the feMures of thy father shine ! 
 
 How I recall ABchises ! how I see 
 
 His motions, mein, and all my friend, in thee ! 
 
 Long though it be, kis fresh within my mind, 
 
 When Priam to his sistePs court designed 210 
 
 A welcome visit, with a friendly stay ; 
 
 And through the Arcadian kingdom took his way. 
 
 Then, past a boy, the callow down began 
 To shade my chin, and call me first a man. 
 
 I saw the shining train with vast delight ; 215 
 
 And Priam^s goodly person pleased my sight ; 
 
 But great Anchises, far above the rest, 
 
 With awful wonder fired my youthful breast. 
 
 I longed to join in friendship’s holy bands 
 Our mutual heeirts, and plight our mutual hands. 
 
 I first accosted him : 1 sued, I sought. 
 
 And with a loving force, to Pheneus brought. 
 
 220 
 
204 
 
 VJ/^G/rS MNEIS. 
 
 [book VIII. 
 
 He gave me, when at length constrained to go, 
 
 A Lycian quiver and a Gnossian bow ; 
 
 225 A vest embroidered, glorious to behold. 
 
 And two rich bridles, with their bits of gold, 
 
 Which my son’s coursers in obedience hold. 
 
 The league you ask, I offer as your right ; 
 
 And, when to-morrow’s sun reveals the light, 
 
 230 With swift supplies you shall be sent away. 
 
 Now celebrate, with us, this solemn day. 
 
 Whose holy rites admit no long delay. 
 
 Honour our annual feast ; and take your seat 
 With friendly welcome, at a homely treat.” 
 
 235 Thus having said, the bowls (removed for fear) 
 
 The youths replaced, and soon restored the cheer. 
 
 On sods of turf he set the soldiers round : 
 
 A maple throne, raised higher from the ground, 
 Received the Trojan chief; and, o’er the bed 
 240 A lion’s shaggy hide, for ornament, they spread. 
 
 The loaves were served in canisters ; the wine 
 In bowls ; the priest renewed the rites divine : 
 Broiled entrails are their food, and beefs continued 
 But, when the rage of hunger was repressed, [chine. 
 245 Thus spoke Evander to his royal g^st : 
 
 These rites, these altars, and th* feast, O king ! 
 From no vain fears or superstition sying ; 
 
 Or blind devotion, or from blinder chance, 
 
 Or heady zeal, or brutal ignorance : 
 
 250 But, saved from danger, with a grateful sense. 
 
 The labours of a god we recompense. 
 
 See, from afar, yon rock that mates the sky ; 
 
 About whose feet such heaps of rubbish lie ; 
 
 Such indigested ruin ; bleak and bare, 
 
 255 How desert now it stands, exposed in air ! 
 
 ’Twas once a robber’s den, enclosed around 
 With living stone, and deep beneath the ground. 
 
 The monster Cacus, more than half a beast. 
 
 This hold, impervious to the sun, possessed. 
 
 260 The pavement ever foul with human gore ; 
 
 Heads, and their mangled members, hung the door. 
 Vulcan this plague begot; and, like his sire. 
 
BOOK VIII.] 
 
 VIRGWS y^NEIS. 
 
 205 
 
 Black clouds he belched, and flakes of livid fire. 
 
 Time, long expected, eased us of our load. 
 
 And brought the needful presence of a god. 265 
 
 The avenging force of Hercules, from Spain 
 Arrived in triumph ; from Geryon slain : — 
 
 Thrice lived the giant, and thrice lived in vain. 
 
 His prize, the lowing herds, Alcides drove 
 
 Near Tiber’s banks, to graze the shady grove. 270 
 
 Allured with hope of plunder, and intent 
 
 By force to rob, by fraud to circumvent. 
 
 The brutal Cacus, as by chance they strayed. 
 
 Four oxen thence, and four fair kine, conveyed. 
 
 And, lest the printed footsteps might be seen, 275 
 
 He dragged them backwards to his rocky den. 
 
 The tracks averse a lying notice gave. 
 
 And led the searcher backward from the cave. 
 
 Meantime the herdsman hero shifts his place. 
 
 To find fresh pasture, and untrodden grass. 280 
 
 The beasts, who missed their mates, filled all around 
 With bellowings ; and the rocks restored the sound. 
 
 One heifer, who had heard her love complain. 
 
 Roared from the cave, and made the project vain. 
 
 Alcides found the fraud ; with rage he shook, 285 
 
 And tossed about his head his knotted oak. 
 
 Swift as the winds, or Scythian arrows’ flight. 
 
 He clomb with eager haste, the aerial height. 
 
 Then first we saw the monster mend his pace ; 
 
 Fear in his eyes, and paleness in his face, 290 
 
 Confessed the god’s approach. Trembling he springs. 
 
 As terror had increased his feet with wings ; 
 
 Nor stayed for stairs; but down the depth he threw 
 His body : on his back the door he drew ; 
 
 (The door, a rib of living rock ; with pains 295 
 
 His father hewed it out, and bound with iron chains :) 
 
 He broke the heavy links ; the mountain closed, 
 
 And bars and levers to his foe opposed. 
 
 The wretch had hardly made his dungeon fast ; 
 
 The fierce avenger came with bounding haste ; 300 
 
 Surveyed the mouth of the forbidden hold ; 
 
 And here and there his raging eyes he rolled. 
 
2o6 VIRGirS MNEIS. [book viii. 
 
 He gnashed his teeth ; and thrice he compassed round 
 With winged speed the circuit of the ground. 
 
 305 Thrice at the cavenVs mouth he pulled in vain ; 
 
 And, panting, thrice desisted from his pain. 
 
 A pointed flinty rock, all bare and black, 
 
 Grew gibbous from behind the mountain's back : 
 Owls, ravens, all ill omens of the night, 
 
 310 Here built their nests, and hither winged their flight. 
 The leaning head hung threatening o’er the flood. 
 And nodded to the left. The hero stood 
 Averse, with planted feet, and from the right 
 Tugged at the solid stone with all his might. 
 
 315 Thus heaved, the fixed foundations of the rock 
 Gave way : heaven echoed at the rattling shock. 
 Tumbling, it choked the flood : on either side 
 The banks leap backward, and the streams divide : 
 The sky shrunk upward with unusual dread ; 
 
 320 And trembling Tiber dived beneath his bed. 
 
 The court of Cacus stands revealed to sight ; 
 
 The cavern glares with new-admitted light. 
 
 So the pent vapours, with a rumbling sound. 
 
 Heave from below, and rend the hollow ground. 
 
 325 A sounding flaw succeeds ; and, from on high. 
 
 The gods with hate behold the nether sky : 
 
 The ghosts repine at violated night, 
 
 And curse the invading sun, and sicken at the sight. 
 The graceless monster, caught in open day, 
 
 330 Enclosed, and in despair to fly away. 
 
 Howls horrible from underneath, and fills 
 His hollow palace with unmanly yells. 
 
 The hero stands above, and from afar 
 
 Plies him with darts, and stones, and distant war. 
 
 335 He, from his nostrils and huge mouth, expires 
 Black clouds of smoke, amidst his father’s fires ; 
 Gathering, with each repeated blast, the night. 
 
 To make uncertain aim, and erring sight. 
 
 The wrathful god then plunges from above, 
 
 340 And, where in thickest waves the sparkles drove, 
 
 There lights ; and wades through fumes ; and gropes his 
 Half singed, half stifled, till he grasps his prey, [way, 
 
iiOOK VIII.] 
 
 VIRGinS ALNEIS. 
 
 207 
 
 The monster, spewing fruitless flames, he found ; 
 
 He squeezed his throat ; he writhed his neck around. 
 
 And in a knot his crippled members bound ; 345 
 
 Then, from their sockets tore his burning eyes : 
 
 Rolled on a heap the breathless robber lies. 
 
 The doors, unbarred, received the rushing day ; 
 
 And thorough lights disclose the ravished prey. 
 
 The bulls, redeemed, breathe open air again 350 
 
 Next, by the feet, they drag him from his den. 
 
 The wondering neighbourhood, with glad surprise, 
 
 Beheld his shagged breast, his giant size. 
 
 His mouth that flames no more, and his extinguished eyes. 
 
 From that auspicious day, with rites divine, 355 
 
 We worship at the heroes holy shrine. 
 
 Potitius first ordained these annual vows : 
 
 As priests, were added the Pinarian house. 
 
 Who raised this altar in the sacred shade. 
 
 Where honours, ever due, for ever shall be paid. 360 
 For these deserts, and this high virtue shown, 
 
 Ye warlike youths, your heads with garlands crown : 
 
 Fill high the goblets with a sparkling flood; 
 
 And with deep draughts invoke our common god.’’ 
 
 This said, a double wreath Evander twined ; 365 
 
 And poplars black and white his temples bind : 
 
 Then brims his ample bowl. With like design 
 The rest invoke the gods, with sprinkled wine. 
 
 Meantime the sun descended from the skies, 
 
 And the bright evening-star began to rise. 370 
 
 And now the priests, Potitius at their head, 
 
 In skins of beasts involved, the long procession led ; 
 
 Held high the flaming tapers in their hands. 
 
 As custom had prescribed their holy bands ; 
 
 Then with a second course the tables load, 375 
 
 And with full chargers, offer to the god. 
 
 The Salii sing, and ’cense his altars round 
 
 With Saban smoke, their heads with poplar bound — 
 
 One choir of old, another of the young. 
 
 To dance, and bear the burden of the song. 380 
 
 The lay records the labours, and the praise, 
 
 And all the immortal acts of Hercules : 
 
2o8 
 
 VIRGirs .'RINEIS. 
 
 [book VIII. 
 
 First, how the mighty babe, when swathed in bands, 
 The serpents strangled with his infant hands ; 
 
 385 Then, as in years and matchless force he grew. 
 
 The CEchalian walls, and Trojan, overthrew. 
 
 Besides, a thousand hazards they relate. 
 
 Procured by Juno^s and Eurystheus^ hate. 
 
 ‘‘ Thy hands, unconquered hero, could subdue 
 390 The cloud-born Centaurs, and the monster-crew : 
 Nor thy resistless arm the bull withstood. 
 
 Nor he, the roaring terror of the wood : 
 
 The triple porter of the Stygian seat. 
 
 With lolling tongue, lay fawning at thy feet ; 
 
 395 And, seized with fear, forgot his mangled meat. 
 
 The infernal waters trembled at thy sight ; 
 
 Thee, god ! no face of danger could affright ; 
 
 No huge Typhoeus, nor the unnumbered pake. 
 Increased with hissing heads, in Lerna’s lake. 
 
 400 Hail, Jove’s undoubted son ! an added gmce 
 To heaven and the great author of thy race ! 
 
 Receive the grateful offerings which we pay, 
 
 And smile propitious on thy solemn day !” 
 
 In numbers thus they sung: above the rest, 
 
 405 The den and death of Cacus crown the feast. 
 
 The woods to hollow vales convey the sound ; 
 
 The vales to hills ; and hills the notes rebound. 
 
 The rites performed, the cheerful train retire. 
 Betwixt young Pallas and his aged sire, 
 
 410 The Trojan passed, the city to survey ; 
 
 And pleasing talk beguiled the tedious way. 
 
 The stranger cast around his curious eyes. 
 
 New objects viewing still with new surprise; 
 
 With greedy joy inquires of various things, 
 
 415 And acts and monuments of ancient kings. 
 
 Then thus the founder of the Roman towers : 
 
 ‘‘ These woods were first the seat of sylvan powers. 
 Of nymphs and fauns, and savage men who took 
 Their birth from trunks of trees and stubborn oak. 
 420 Nor laws they knew, nor manners, nor the care 
 Of labouring oxen, nor the shining share. 
 
 Nor arts of gain, nor what they gained to spare. 
 
BOOK VIII.] 
 
 VI R Gins VENEIS. 
 
 209 
 
 Their exercise the chase : the running flood 
 Supplied their thirst ; the trees supplied their food. 
 
 Then Saturn came, who fled the power of Jove, 425 
 
 Robbed of his realms, and banished from above. 
 
 The men dispersed on hills, to towns he brought ; 
 
 And laws ordained, and civil customs taught; 
 
 And Latium called the land where safe he lay 
 
 From his unduteous son, and his usurping sway. 430 
 
 With his mild empire, peace and plenty came ; 
 
 And hence the golden times derived their name. 
 
 A more degenerate and discoloured age 
 Succeeded this, with avarice and rage. 
 
 The Ausonians then, and bold Sicanians, came; 435 
 And Saturn^s empire often changed the name. 
 
 Then kings (gigantic Tibris, and the rest) 
 
 With arbitrary sway the land oppressed : 
 
 For TibeFs flood was Albula before. 
 
 Till, from the tyrant’s fate, his name it bore. 440 
 
 I last arrived, driven, from my native home 
 By fortune’s power, and fate’s resistless doom. 
 
 Long tossed on seas, I sought this happy land, [mand.” 
 Warned by my mother-nymph, and called by heaven’s com- 
 Thus, walking on, he spoke, and showed the gate, 445 
 Since called Carmental by the Roman state; 
 
 Where stood an altar, sacred to the naine 
 Of old Carmenta ; the prophetic dame 
 Who to her son foretold the ^nean race. 
 
 Sublime in fame, and Rome’s imperial place.* 450 
 
 Then shows the forests, which, in after-times. 
 
 Fierce Romulus, for perpetrated crimes, 
 
 A sacred refuge made : — with this, the shrine 
 Where Pan below the rock had rites divine. 
 
 Then tells of Argus’ death, his murdered guest, 455 
 
 Whose grave and tomb his innocence attest. 
 
 Thence, to the steep Tarpeian rock he leads — 
 
 Now roofed with gold, then thatched with homely reeds. 
 
 A reverent fear (such superstition reigns 
 
 Among the rude) e’en then possessed the swains : 460 
 
 Some god, they knew (what god, they could not tell) 
 
 Did there amidst the sacred horror dwell. 
 
 O 
 
210 
 
 VIRGirS ALNEIS. 
 
 [book VIII. 
 
 The Arcadians thought him Jove ; and said they saw 
 The mighty Thunderer with majestic awe; 
 
 465 Who shook his shield, and dealt his bolts around, 
 And scattered tempests on the teeming ground. 
 
 Then saw two heaps of ruins (once they stood 
 Two stately towns, on either side the flood), 
 Saturnia^s and Janiculum^s remains; 
 
 470 And either place the founder’s name retains. 
 Discoursing thus together, they resort 
 Where poor Evander kept his country court. 
 
 They viewed the ground of Rome’s litigious hall : 
 (Once oxen lowed, where now the lawyers bawl,) 
 
 475 Then, stooping, through the narrow gate they pressed. 
 When thus the king bespoke his Trojan guest: 
 
 Mean as it is, this palace, and this door. 
 
 Received Alcides, then a conqueror. 
 
 Dare to be poor : accept our homely food, 
 
 480 Which feasted him ; and emulate a god.” 
 
 Then underneath a lowly roof he led 
 The weary prince, and laid him on a bed ; 
 
 The stuffing leaves with hides of bears o’erspread. 
 Now night had shed her silver dews around, 
 
 485 And with her sable wings embraced the ground. 
 When love’s fair goddess, anxious for her son 
 (New tumults rising, and new wars begun). 
 
 Couched with her husband in his golden bed. 
 
 With these alluring words invokes his aid — 
 
 490 And, that her pleasing speech his mind may move. 
 Inspires each accent with the charms of love : 
 
 While cruel fate conspired with Grecian powers, 
 
 To level with the ground the Trojan towers, 
 
 I asked not aid the unhappy to restore ; 
 
 495 Nor did the succour of thy skill implore ; 
 
 Nor urged the labours of my lord in vain, 
 
 A sinking empire longer to sustain : 
 
 Though much I owed to Priam’s house, and more 
 The danger of ^neas did deplore. 
 
 500 But now by Jove’s command, and fate’s decree. 
 
 His race is doomed to reign in Italy; 
 
 With humble suit I beg thy needful art, 
 
BOOK VIII.] VIRGirS MNEIS. 
 
 O still propitious power, that ruFst my heart ! 
 
 A mother kneels a suppliant for her son. 
 
 By Thetis and Aurora thou wert won 
 To forge impenetrable shields, and grace 
 With fated arms a less illustrious race. 
 
 Behold, what haughty nations are combined 
 Against the relics of the Phrygian kind ! 
 
 With fire and sword my people to destroy. 
 
 And conquer Venus twice, in conquering Troy.’^ 
 She said ; and straight, her arms of snowy hue 
 About her unresolving husband threw. 
 
 Her soft embraces soon infuse desire; 
 
 His bones and marrow sudden warmth inspire ; 
 And all the godhead feels the wonted fire. 
 
 Not half so swift the rattling thunder flies. 
 
 Or forky lightnings flash along the skies. 
 
 The goddess, proud of her successful wiles. 
 
 And conscious of her form, in secret smiles. 
 
 Then thus the power, obnoxious to her charms. 
 Panting, and half dissolving in her arms : 
 
 Why seek you reasons for a cause so just; 
 
 Or your own beauties or my love distrust? 
 
 Long since, had you required my helpful hand. 
 The artificer, and art, you might command. 
 
 To labour arms for Troy: nor Jove, nor Fate, 
 Confined their empire to so short a date. 
 
 And, if you now desire new wars to wage, 
 
 My skill I promise, and my pains engage : 
 Whatever melting metals can conspire. 
 
 Or breathing bellows, or the forming fire. 
 
 Is freely yours: your anxious fears remove. 
 
 And think no task is difflcult to love.^^ 
 
 Trembling he spoke ; and, eager of her charms. 
 He snatched the willing goddess to his arms ; 
 Till, in her lap infused, he lay possessed 
 Of full desire, and sunk to pleasing rest. 
 
 Now when the night her middle race had rode. 
 And his first slumber had refreshed the god — 
 The time when early housewives leave the bed ; 
 When living embers on the hearth they spread ; 
 
 21 I 
 
 505 
 
 510 
 
 515 
 
 520 
 
 525 
 
 530 
 
 535 
 
 540 
 
212 
 
 VIRGWS yRNEIS. 
 
 [book VIII. 
 
 Supply the lamp, and call the maids to rise ; 
 
 With yawning mouths, and with half-opened eyes, 
 545 They ply the distaff by the winking light. 
 
 And to their daily labour add the night : 
 
 Thus frugally they earn their children’s bread. 
 
 And uncorrupted keep their nuptial bed : 
 
 Not less concerned, nor at a later hour, 
 
 550 Rose from his downy couch the forging Power. 
 Sacred to Vulcan’s name, an isle there lay. 
 Betwixt Sicilia’s coasts and Lipare, 
 
 Raised high on smoking rocks ; and, deep below, 
 
 In hollow caves the fires of ^tna glow. 
 
 555 The Cyclops here their heavy hammers deal: 
 
 Loud strokes, and hissing of tormented steel. 
 
 Are heard around : the boiling waters roar ; 
 
 And smoky flames through fuming tunnels soar. 
 Hither the father of the fire, by night, 
 
 560 Through the brown air precipitates his flight. 
 
 On their eternal anvils here he found 
 
 The brethren beating, and the blows go round ; 
 
 A load of pointless thunder now there lies 
 Before their hands, to ripen for the skies : 
 
 565 These darts, for angry Jove, they daily cast — 
 Consumed on mortals with prodigious waste. 
 
 Three rays of writhen rain, of fire three more ; 
 
 Of winged southern winds and cloudy store 
 As many parts, the dreadful mixture frame ; 
 
 570 And fears are added, and avenging flame. 
 
 Inferior ministers, for Mars, repair 
 His broken axle-trees, and blunted war; 
 
 And send him forth again with furbished arms. 
 
 To wake the lazy war, with trumpet’s loud alarms. 
 575 The rest refresh the scaly snakes that fold 
 The shield of Pallas, and renew their gold : 
 
 Full on the crest the Gorgon’s head they place. 
 
 With eyes that roll in death, and with distorted face. 
 “ My sons! (said Vulcan), set your tasks aside; 
 580 Your strength and master-skill must now be tried. 
 Arms for a hero forge — arms that require 
 Your force, your speed, and all your forming fire.” 
 
BOOK VIII.] VIRGIVS /ENEIS. 213 
 
 He said. They set their former work aside, 
 
 And their new toils with eager haste divide. 
 
 A flood of molten silver, brass, and gold, 585 
 
 And deadly steel, in the large furnace rolled: 
 
 Of this, their artful hands a shield prepare. 
 
 Alone sufficient to sustain the war. 
 
 Seven orbs within a spacious round they close. 
 
 One stirs the fire, and one the bellows blows. 590 
 
 The hissing steel is in the smithy drowned ; 
 
 The grot with beaten anvils groans around. 
 
 By turns, their arms advance in equal time ; 
 
 By turns, their hands descend, and hammers chime. 
 
 They turn the glowing mass with crooked tongs ; 595 
 
 The fiery work proceeds with rustic songs. 
 
 While, at the Lemnian god’s command they urge 
 Their labours thus, and ply the .Tlolian forge, ^ 
 
 The cheerful morn salutes Evander’s eyes ; 
 
 And songs of chirping birds invite to rise. 600 
 
 He leaves his lowly bed : his buskins meet 
 Above his ankles ; sandals sheath his feet : 
 
 He sets his trusty sword upon his side. 
 
 And o’er his shoulder throws a panther’s hide. 
 
 Two menial dogs before their master pressed. 605 
 
 Thus clad, and guarded thus, he seeks his kingly guest. 
 Mindful of promised aid, he mends his pace. 
 
 But meets ^neas in the middle space. 
 
 Young Pallas did his father’s steps attend ; 
 
 And true Achates waited on his friend. 610 
 
 They join their hands : a secret seat they choose ; 
 
 The Arcadian flrst their former talk renews : 
 
 Undaunted prince ! I never can believe 
 The Trojan empire lost, while you survive. 
 
 Command the assistance of a faithful friend : 615 
 
 But feeble are the succours I can send. 
 
 Our narrow kingdom here the Tiber bounds: 
 
 That other side the Latian state surrounds. 
 
 Insults our walls, and wastes our fruitful grounds. 
 
 But mighty nations I prepare, to join 620 
 
 Their arms with yours, and aid your just design. 
 
 You come, as by your better genius sent ; 
 
214 
 
 VIRGirS y^NElS. 
 
 [book VIII. 
 
 And Fortune seems to favour your intent. 
 
 Not far from hence there stands a hilly town, 
 
 625 Of ancient building, and of high renown, 
 
 Torn from the Tuscans by the Lydian race, 
 
 Who gave the name of Caere to the place — 
 
 Once Agyllina called. It flourished long. 
 
 In pride of wealth and warlike people strong ; 
 
 630 Till cursed Mezentius, in a fatal hour 
 
 Assumed the crown, with arbitrary power. 
 
 What words can paint those execrable times. 
 
 The subjects’ sufferings, and the tyrant’s crimes ? 
 That blood, those murders, O ye gods ! replace 
 635 On his own head, and on his impious race ! 
 
 The living and the dead, at his command 
 Were coupled face to face, and hand to hand ; 
 
 Till, choked with stench, in loathed embraces tied. 
 The lingering wretches pined away and died. 
 
 640 Thus plunged in ills, and meditating more — 
 
 The people’s patience, tried, no longer bore 
 The raging monster ; but with arms beset 
 His house, and vengeance and destruction threat. 
 They fire his palace : while the flame ascends, 
 
 645 They force his guards and execute his friends. 
 
 He cleaves the crowd, and, favoured by the night. 
 To Turnus’ friendly court directs his flight. 
 
 By just revenge the Tuscans set on fire. 
 
 With arms, their king to punishment require: 
 
 650 Their numerous troops, now mustered on the strand, 
 My counsel shall submit to your command. 
 
 Their navy swarms upon the coasts ; they cry 
 To hoist their anchors ; but the gods deny. 
 
 An ancient augur, skilled in future fate, 
 
 655 With these foreboding words restrains their hate : 
 
 ‘ Ye brave in arms, ye Lydian blood, the flower 
 Of Tuscan youth, and choice of all their power. 
 Whom just revenge against Mezentius arms. 
 
 To seek your tyrant’s death by lawful arms ! 
 
 660 Know this : no native of our land may lead 
 This powerful people : seek a foreign head.’ 
 
 Awed with these words, in camps they still abide ; 
 
VIRGinS ^NEIS. 
 
 215 
 
 BOOK VIII.] 
 
 And wait with longing looks their promised guide. 
 Tarchon, the Tuscan chief, to me has sent 
 Their crown, and every regal ornament : 665 
 
 The people join their own with his desire ; 
 
 And all, my conduct as their king, require. 
 
 But the chill blood that creeps within my veins. 
 
 And age, and listless limbs unfit for pains ; 
 
 And a soul conscious of its own decay, 670 
 
 Have forced me to refuse imperial sway. 
 
 My Pallas were more fit to mount the throne 
 And should ; but he’s a Sabine mother’s son. 
 
 And half a native : but, in you combine 
 A manly vigour, and a foreign line. 675 
 
 Where Fate and smiling Fortune show the way, 
 
 Pursue the ready path to sovereign sway. 
 
 The staff of my declining days, my son, 
 
 Shall make your good or ill success his own ; 
 
 In fighting-fields, from you shall learn to dare, 680 
 
 And serve the hard apprenticeship of war ; 
 
 Your matchless courage and your conduct view ; 
 
 And early shall begin t’ admire and copy you. 
 
 Besides, two hundred horse he shall command — 
 
 Though few, a warlike and well-chosen band. 685 
 
 These in my name are listed ; and my son 
 As many more has added in his own.” 
 
 Scarce had he said ; Achates and his guest. 
 
 With downcast eyes, their silent grief expressed ; 
 
 Who, short of succours, and in deep despair, 690 
 
 Shook at the dismal prospect of the war. 
 
 But his bright mother, from a breaking cloud. 
 
 To cheer her issue, thundered thrice aloud : 
 
 Thrice forky lightning flashed along the sky; 
 
 And Tyrrhene trumpets thrice were heard on high. 695 
 Then, gazing up, repeated peals they hear; 
 
 And, in a heaven serene, refulgent arms appear : 
 Reddening the skies, and glittering all around. 
 
 The tempered metals clash, and yield a silver sound. 
 
 The rest stood trembling : struck with awe divine ; 700 
 
 ^neas only, conscious to the sign. 
 
 Presaged the event, and joyful viewed, above, 
 
2i6 
 
 VIRGWS MNEIS. 
 
 [book VIII. 
 
 The accomplished promise of the queen of love. 
 
 Then to the Arcadian king : This prodigy 
 705 (Dismiss your fear) belongs alone to me. 
 
 Heaven calls me to the war: the expected sign 
 Is given of promised aid, and arms divine. 
 
 My goddess-mother, whose indulgent care 
 Foresaw the dangers of the growing war, 
 
 710 This omen gave ; when bright Vulcanian arms, 
 
 Fated from force of steel by Stygian charms. 
 Suspended, shone on high : she then foreshowed 
 Approaching fights, and fields to float in blood. 
 Turnus shall dearly pay for faith forsworn: 
 
 715 And corpse, and swords, and shields on Tiber borne. 
 Shall choke his flood : now sound the loud alarms ; 
 And, Latian troops, prepare your perjured arms!’^ 
 He said, and, rising from his homely throne. 
 
 The solemn rites of Hercules begun ; 
 
 720 And on his altars waked the sleeping fires; 
 
 Then cheerful to his household gods retires : 
 
 There offers, chosen sheep. The Arcadian king 
 And Trojan youth the same oblations bring. 
 
 Next, of his men and ships he makes review ; 
 
 725 Draws out the best and ablest of the crew. 
 
 Down with the falling stream the refuse run. 
 
 To raise with joyful news his drooping son. 
 
 Steeds are prepared to mount the Trojan band. 
 
 Who wait their leader to the Tyrrhene land. 
 
 730 A sprightly courser, fairer than the rest. 
 
 The king himself presents his royal guest. 
 
 A Hoffs hide his back and limbs infold. 
 
 Precious with studded work, and paws of gold. 
 
 Fame through the little city spreads aloud 
 735 The intended march : amid the fearful crowd. 
 
 The matrons beat their breasts, dissolve in tears. 
 And double their devotion in their fears. 
 
 The war at hand appears with more affright. 
 
 And rises every moment to the sight. 
 
 740 Then old Evander, with a close embrace. 
 
 Strained his departing friend ; and tears overflow his face. 
 ‘‘Would heaven (said he) my strength and youth recall. 
 
VJRGirS ^NEIS. 
 
 217 
 
 BOOK VIII.] 
 
 Such as I was beneath Praeneste’s wall — 
 
 Then when I made the foremost foes retire, 
 
 And set whole heaps of conquered shields on fire ; 745 
 
 When Herilus in single fight I slew, 
 
 Whom with three lives Feronia did endue ; 
 
 And thrice I sent him to the Stygian shore. 
 
 Till the last ebbing soul returned no more — 
 
 Such if I stood renewed ; not these alarms 750 
 
 Nor death, should rend me from my Pallas^ arms ; 
 
 Nor proud Mezentius thus, unpunished, boast 
 Flis rapes and murders on the Tuscan coast. 
 
 Ye gods ! and mighty Jove ! in pity bring 
 
 Relief, and hear a father and a king ! 755 
 
 If fate and you reserve these eyes, to see 
 
 My son returned with peace and victory ; 
 
 If the loved boy shall bless his father’s sight ; 
 
 If we shall meet again with more delight ; 
 
 Then draw my life in length ; let me sustain, 760 
 
 In hopes of his embrace, the worst of pain. 
 
 But, if your hard decrees — which, O ! I dread — 
 
 Have doomed to death his undeserving head ; 
 
 This, O ! this very moment let me die, 
 
 While hopes and fears in equal balance lie ; 765 
 
 While, yet possessed of ah his youthful charms, 
 
 I strain him close within these aged arms : 
 
 Before that fatal news my soul shall wound ! ” 
 
 He said; and swooning, sunk upon the ground. 
 
 His servants bore him off, and softly laid 770 
 
 His languished limbs upon his homely bed. 
 
 The horsemen march; the gates are opened wide; 
 ^neas at their head, Achates by his side. 
 
 Next these the Trojan leaders rode along : . 
 
 Last, follows in the rear the Arcadian throng. 775 
 
 Young Pallas shone conspicuous o’er the rest : 
 
 Gilded his arms, embroidered was his vest. 
 
 So, from the seas, exerts his radiant head 
 The star by whom the lights of heaven are led ; 
 
 Shakes from his rosy locks the pearly dews ; 780 
 
 Dispels the darkness, and the day renews. 
 
 The trembling wives, the walls and turrets crowd. 
 
2i8 
 
 Vn^GirS ALNEIS. 
 
 [book VIII. 
 
 And follow with their eyes the dusty cloud, 
 
 Which winds disperse by fits, and shew from far 
 785 The blaze of arms, and shields, and shining war. 
 
 The troops, drawn up in beautiful array. 
 
 O’er heathy plains pursue the ready way. 
 
 Repeated peals of shouts are heard around ; 
 
 The neighing coursers answer to the sound ; 
 
 790 And shake with horny hoofs the solid ground. 
 
 A green-wood shade, long for religion known. 
 Stands by the streams that wash the Tuscan town; 
 Encompassed round with gloomy hills above. 
 
 Which add a holy horror to the grove. 
 
 795 The first inhabitants, of Grecian blood. 
 
 That sacred forest to SMvanus vowed 
 
 (The guardian of their flocks and fields), and pay 
 
 Their due devotions on his annual day. 
 
 Not far from hence, along the river side 
 800 In tents secure, the Tuscan troops abide. 
 
 By Tarchon led. Now, from a rising ground, 
 
 ^neas cast his wondering eyes around. 
 
 And all the Tyrrhene army had in sight. 
 
 Stretched on the spacious plain from left to right. 
 
 805 Thither his warlike train the Trojan led. 
 
 Refreshed his men, and wearied horses fed. 
 
 Meantime the mother-goddess,crowned with charms, 
 Breaks through the clouds, and brings the fated arms. 
 Within a winding vale she finds her son, 
 
 810 On the cool river’s banks retired, alone. 
 
 She shews her heavenly form without disguise. 
 
 And gives herself to his desiring eyes. 
 
 ‘^Behold! (she said) performed in every part, 
 
 My promise made, and Vulcan’s laboured art. 
 
 815 Now seek, secure, the Latian enemy; 
 
 And haughty Turnus to the field defy.” 
 
 She said : and, having first her son embraced. 
 
 The radiant arms beneath an oak she placed. 
 
 Proud of the gift, he rolled his greedy sight 
 820 Around the work, and gazed with vast delight. 
 
 He lifts, he turns, he poises, and admires 
 The crested helm, that vomits radiant fires: 
 
BOOK VIII.] 
 
 VIRGinS j^NEIS, 
 
 219 
 
 His hands the fatal sword and corslet hold — 
 
 One keen with tempered steel, one stiff with gold-- 
 Both ample, flaming both, and beamy bright : 825 
 
 So shines a cloud, when edged with adverse light. 
 
 He shakes the pointed spear; and longs to try 
 The plaited cuishes on his manly thigh ; 
 
 But most admires the shield’s mysterious mould, 
 
 And Roman triumphs rising on the gold : 830 
 
 For there, embossed, the heavenly smith had wrought 
 (Not in the rolls of future fate untaught) 
 
 The wars in order ; and the race divine 
 Of warriors issuing from the Julian line. 
 
 The cave of Mars was dressed with mossy greens: 835 
 
 There, by the wolf, were laid the martial twins. 
 
 Intrepid on her swelling dugs they hung : 
 
 The foster dam lolled out her fawning tongue : 
 
 They sucked secure, while, bending back her head, 839 
 She licked their tender limbs, and formed them as they fed. 
 Not far from thence new Rome appears; with games 
 Projected for the rape of Sabine dames. 
 
 The pit resounds with shrieks ; a war succeeds. 
 
 For breach of public faith, and unexampled deeds. 
 
 Here, for revenge the Sabine troops contend ; 845 
 
 The Romans there, with arms the prey defend : 
 
 Wearied with tedious war, at length they cease; 
 
 And both the kings and kingdoms plight the peace. 
 
 The friendly chiefs before Jove’s altar stand. 
 
 Both armed, with each a charger in his hand : 850 
 
 A fatted sow for sacrifice is led. 
 
 With imprecations on the perjured head. 
 
 Near this, the traitor Metius, stretched between 
 Four fiery steeds, is dragged along the green. 
 
 By Tullus’ doom : the brambles drink his blood; 855 
 And his torn limbs are left, the vulture’s food. 
 
 There, Porsena to Rome, proud Tarquin brings; 
 
 And would by force restore the banished kings : 
 
 One tyrant for his fellow-tyrant fights : 
 
 The Roman youth assert their native rights. 860 
 
 Before the town the Tuscan army lies, 
 
 To win by famine, or by fraud surprise. 
 
220 
 
 VIRGirS ^NEIS, 
 
 [book VIII 
 
 Their king, half threatening, half disdaining, stood. 
 While Codes broke the bridge, and stemmed the flood. 
 865 The captive maids there tempt the raging tide ; 
 
 ^Scaped from their chains, with Cloelia for their guide. 
 
 High on a rock, heroic Manlius stood 
 To guard the temple, and the temple’s god. 
 
 Then Rome was poor ; and there you might be^iold 
 870 The palace thatched with straw, now roofed with gold. 
 The silver goose before the shining gate 
 There flew, and by her cackle saved the state. 
 
 She told the GauFs approach : the approaching Gauls, 
 Obscure in night, ascend and seize the walls. 
 
 875 The gold dissembled well their yellow hair ; 
 
 And golden chains on their white necks they wear. 
 Gold are their vests ; long Alpine spears they wield ; 
 And their left arm sustains a length of shield. 
 
 Hard by, the leaping Salian priests advance ; 
 
 880 And naked through the streets the mad Luperci dance, 
 In caps of wool : the targets drop from heaven. 
 
 Here modest matrons, in soft litters driven, 
 
 To pay their vows in solemn pomp appear ; 
 
 And odorous gums in their chaste hands they bear. 
 885 Far hence removed, the Stygian seats are seen; 
 Pains of the damned ; and punished Cataline 
 Hung on a rock — the traitor ; and, around. 
 
 The Furies hissing from the nether ground. 
 
 Apart from these, the happy souls he draws ; 
 
 890 And Cato’s holy ghost dispensing laws. 
 
 Betwixt the quarters, flows a golden sea ; 
 
 But foaming surges there in silver play. 
 
 The dancing dolphins with their tails divide 
 The glittering waves, and cut the precious tide. 
 
 895 Amid the main, two mighty fleets engage : 
 
 Their brazen beaks opposed with equal rage. 
 
 Actium surveys the well-disputed prize : 
 
 Leucate’s watery plain with foamy billows fries. 
 Young Caesar, on the stern in armour bright, 
 
 900 Here leads the Romans and their gods to flght: 
 
 His beamy temples shoot their flames afar; 
 
 And o’er his head is hung the J ulian star. 
 
BOOK VIII.] 
 
 VlRGinS AlNEIS. 
 
 221 
 
 Agrippa seconds him, with prosperous gales, 
 
 And, with propitious gods, his foes assails. 
 
 A naval crown, that binds his manly brows, 
 
 The happy fortune of the fight foreshows. 
 
 Ranged on the line opposed, Antonius brings 
 Barbarian aids, and troops of eastern kings. 
 
 The Arabians near, and Bactrians from afar, 
 
 Of tongues discordant, and a mingled war : 
 
 And, rich in gaudy robes, amidst the strife, 
 
 His ill fate follows him — the Egyptian wife. 
 Moving they fight : with oars and forky prows 
 The froth is gathered and the water glows. 
 
 It seems as if the Cyclades again 
 Were rooted up, and justled in the main ; 
 
 Or floating mountains floating rnountains meet ; 
 Such is the fierce encounter of the fleet. 
 
 Fire-balls are thrown, and pointed javelins fly; 
 
 The fields of Neptune take a purple dye. 
 
 The queen herself, amidst the loud alarms. 
 
 With cymbal tossed, her fainting soldiers warms — 
 Fool as she was ! who had not yet divined 
 Her cruel fate ; nor saw the snakes behind. 
 
 Her country gods, the monsters of the sky. 
 
 Great Neptune, Pallas, and love’s queen, defy. 
 
 The dog Anubis barks, but barks in vain. 
 
 Nor longer dares oppose the ethereal train. 
 
 Mars, in the middle of the shining shield 
 Is graved, and strides along the liquid field. 
 
 The Dirae souse from heaven with swift descent ; 
 And Discord, dyed in blood, with garments rent. 
 Divides the press : her steps Bellona treads, 
 
 And shakes her iron rod above their heads. 
 
 This seen, Apollo, from his Actian height 
 Pours down his arrows ; at whose winged flight 
 The trembling Indians and Egyptians yield. 
 
 And soft Sabaeans quit the watery field. 
 
 The fatal mistress hoists her silken sails. 
 
 And shrinking from the fight, invokes the gales. 
 Aghast she looks, and heaves her breast for breath. 
 Panting, and pale with fear of future death. 
 
 905 
 
 910 
 
 915 
 
 920 
 
 925 
 
 930 
 
 935 
 
 940 
 
222 
 
 VIRGirS ^NEIS, 
 
 [book VIII. 
 
 The god had figured her, as driven along 
 By winds and waves, and scudding through the throng. 
 945 Just opposite, sad Nilus opens wide 
 His arms and ample bosom to the tide. 
 
 And spreads his mantle o’er the winding coast ; 
 
 In which, he wraps his queen and hides the flying host. 
 The victor to the gods his thanks expressed ; 
 
 950 And Rome triumphant with his presence blessed. 
 Three hundred temples in the town he placed ; 
 
 With spoils and altars every temple graced. 
 
 Three shining nights, and three succeeding days. 
 The fields resound with shouts, the streets with praise, 
 955 The domes with songs, the theatres with plays. 
 
 All altars flame : before each altar lies. 
 
 Drenched in his gore, the destined sacrifice. 
 
 Great Caesar sits sublime upon his throne. 
 
 Before Apollo’s porch of Parian §tone ; 
 
 960 Accepts the presents vowed for victory; 
 
 And hangs the monumental crowns on high. 
 
 Vast crowds of vanquished nations march along, 
 Various in arms, in habit, and in tongue. 
 
 Here, Mulciber assigns the proper place 
 965 For Carians, and the ungirt Numidian race; 
 
 Then ranks the Thracians in the second row, 
 
 With Scythians, expert in the dart and bow. 
 
 And here the tamed Euphrates humbly glides ; 
 
 And there the Rhine submits her swelling tides ; 
 
 970 And proud Araxes, whom no bridge could bind. 
 
 The Danes’ unconquered offspring march behind; 
 And Morini, the last of human kind. 
 
 These figures, on the shield divinely wrought, 
 
 By Vulcan laboured, and by Venus brought, 
 
 975 With joy and wonder fill the hero’s thought. 
 Unknown the names, he yet admires the grace; 
 
 And bears aloft the fame and fortune of his race. 
 
BOOK IX. 
 
 THE ARGUMENT. 
 
 Turnus takes advantage of Eneas’ absence, fires some of his 
 ships (which are transformed into sea-nymphs), and assaults 
 his camp. The Trojans, reduced to the last extremities, send 
 Nisus and Euryalus to recall ^Eneas ; which furnishes the 
 poet with that admirable episode of their friendship, gene- 
 rosity, and the conclusion of their adventures. 
 
 W HILE these affairs in distant places passed, 
 
 The various Iris Juno sends with haste ' 
 
 To find bold Turnus ; who, with anxious thought. 
 
 The secret shade of his great grandsire sought. 
 
 Retired alone she found the daring man, 5 
 
 And oped her rosy lips, and thus began : 
 
 “ What none of all the gods, could grant thy vows — 
 That, Turnus, this auspicious day bestows. 
 
 ^neas, gone to seek the Arcadian prince. 
 
 Has left the Trojan camp without defence; 10 
 
 And, short of succours there, employs his pains 
 In parts remote, to raise the Tuscan swains. 
 
 Now snatch an hour that favours thy designs; 
 
 Unite thy forces, and attack their lines.^^ 
 
 This said, on equal wings she poised her weight, 15 
 
 And formed a radiant rainbow in her flight. 
 
 The Daunian hero lifts his hands and eyes. 
 
 And thus invokes the goddess as she flies : 
 
 “ Iris, the grace of heaven ! what power divine 
 
 Has sent thee down, through dusky clouds to shine ? 20 
 
 See, they divide : immortal day appears. 
 
 And glittering planets dancing in their spheres ! 
 
224 
 
 VIRGirS JSNEIS. 
 
 [book IX. 
 
 With joy these happy omens I obey, 
 
 And follow, to the war the god that leads the way.’’ 
 25 Thus having said, as by the brook he stood. 
 
 He scooped the water from the crystal flood; 
 
 Then with his hands the drops to heaven he throws. 
 And loads the powers above with offered vows. 
 
 Now march the bold confederates through the plain. 
 30 Well horsed, well clad, a rich and shining train. 
 Messapus leads the van ; and, in the rear. 
 
 The sons of Tyrrheus in bright arms appear. 
 
 In the main battle, with his flaming crest, 
 
 The mighty Turnus towers above the rest. 
 
 35 Silent they move, majestically slow. 
 
 Like ebbing Nile, or Ganges in his flow. 
 
 The Trojans view the dusty cloud from far. 
 
 And the dark menace of the distant war. 
 
 Caicus from the rampire saw it rise, 
 
 40 Black’ning the fields, and thick’ning through the skies : 
 Then to his fellows thus aloud he calls : 
 
 ‘‘What rolling clouds, my friends, approach the walls 
 Arm! arm 1 and man the works 1 prepare your spears. 
 And pointed darts ! the Latian host appears.” 
 
 45 Thus warned,they shut their gates ; with shouts ascend 
 
 The bulwarks, and, secure, their foes attend: 
 
 For their wise general, with foreseeing care. 
 
 Had charged them not to tempt the doubtful war. 
 Nor, though provoked, in open fields advance, 
 
 50 But close within their lines attend their chance. 
 Unwilling, yet they keep the strict command. 
 
 And sourly wait in arms the hostile band. 
 
 The fiery Turnus flew before the rest: 
 
 A piebald steed of Thracian strain he pressed ; 
 
 55 His helm of massy gold ; and crimson was his crest. 
 With twenty horse to second his designs. 
 
 An unexpected foe, he faced the lines. 
 
 “ Is there (he said), in arms who bravely dare 
 His leader’s honour and his danger share?” 
 
 60 Then spurring on, his brandished dart he threw 
 In sign of war: applauding shouts ensue. 
 
 Amazed to find a dastard race that run 
 
BOOK IX.] 
 
 VIRGIVS JENEIS. 
 
 225 
 
 Behind the rampires, and the battle shun, 
 
 He rides around the camp, with rolling eyes. 
 
 And stops at every post, and every passage tries. 65 
 So roams the nightly wolf about the fold : 
 
 Wet with descending showers, and stiff with cold. 
 
 He howls for hunger, and he grins for pain 
 (His gnashing teeth are exercised in vain); 
 
 And, impotent of anger, finds no way 70 
 
 In his distended paws to grasp the prey. 
 
 The mothers listen ; but the bleating lambs 
 Securely swig the dug, beneath the dams. 
 
 Thus ranges eager Turnus o’er the plain. 
 
 Sharp with desire, and furious with disdain ; 75 
 
 Surveys each passage with a piercing sight. 
 
 To force his foes in equal field to fight. 
 
 Thus while he gazes round, at length he spies. 
 
 Where, fenced with strong redoubts, their navy lies 
 Close underneath the walls : the washing tide 80 
 
 Secures from all approach this weaker side. 
 
 He takes the wished occasion, fills his hand 
 With ready fires, and shakes a flaming brand. 
 
 Urged by his presence, every soul is warmed. 
 
 And every hand with kindled fires is armed ; ' 85 
 
 From the fired pines the scattering sparkles fly ; 
 
 Fat vapours, mixed with flames, involve the sky. 
 
 What power, O Muses ! could avert the flame. 
 
 Which threatened, in the fleet, the Trojan name.^ 
 
 Tell : for the fact, through length of time obscure, 90 
 Is hard to faith ; yet shall the fame endure. 
 
 ’Tis said, that when the chief prepared his flight, 
 
 And felled his timber from mount Ida’s height. 
 
 The grandame goddess then approached her son. 
 
 And with a mother’s majesty begun : 9^ 
 
 Grant me (she said) the sole request I bring. 
 
 Since conquered heaven has owned you for its king. 
 
 On Ida’s brows, for ages past, there stood. 
 
 With firs and maples filled, a shady wood ; 
 
 And on the summit rose a sacred grove, 100 
 
 Where I was worshipped with religious love. 
 
 These woods, that holy grove, my long delight, 
 
 P 
 
226 
 
 VIRGinS MNEIS. 
 
 [book IX. 
 
 I gave the Trojan prince, to speed his flight. 
 
 Now, filled with fear, on their behalf I come; 
 
 105 Let neither winds overset, nor waves entomb. 
 
 The floating forests of the sacred pine ; 
 
 But let it be their safety to be mine.” 
 
 Then thus replied her awful son, who rolls 
 The radiant stars, and heaven and earth controls : 
 no ‘‘How dare you, mother, endless date demand 
 For vessels moulded by a mortal hand? 
 
 What then is fate ? Shall bold .^neas ride. 
 
 Of safety certain, on the uncertain tide? 
 
 Yet, what I can, I grant : when, wafted o’er, 
 
 1 15 The chief is landed on the Latian shore. 
 
 Whatever ships escape the raging storms. 
 
 At my command shall change their fading forms 
 To nymphs divine, and plough the watery way. 
 
 Like Doto and the daughters of the sea.” 
 
 120 To seal his sacred vow, by Styx he swore. 
 
 The lake of liquid pitch, the dreary shore. 
 
 And Phlegethon’s innavigable flood, 
 
 And the black regions of his brother-god. 
 
 He said ; and shook the skies with his imperial nod. 
 125 And now at length the numbered hours were come. 
 Prefixed by fate’s irrevocable doom. 
 
 When the great mother of the gods was free 
 To save her ships, and finish Jove’s decree. 
 
 First, from the quarter of the morn, there sprung 
 130 A light that signed the heavens, and shot along; 
 Then from a cloud, fringed round with golden fires, 
 Were timbrels heard, and Berecynthian choirs; 
 
 And, last, a voice with more than mortal sounds. 
 Both hosts, in arms opposed, with equal horror wounds : 
 135 “ O Trojan race ! your needless aid forbear; 
 
 And know, my ships are my peculiar care. 
 
 With greater ease, the bold Rutulian may 
 With hissing brands attempt to burn the sea. 
 
 Than singe my sacred pines. But you, my charge, 
 140 Loosed from your crooked anchors, launch at large, 
 Exalted each a nymph : forsake the sand, 
 
 And swim the seas, at Cybele’s command.” 
 
BOOK IX.] 
 
 VIRGIVS AINEIS. 
 
 227 
 
 No sooner had the goddess ceased to speak, 
 
 When, lo ! the obedient ships their halsers break ; 
 
 And strange to tell, like dolphins, in the main 145 
 
 They plunge their prows, and dive, and spring again : 
 
 As many beauteous maids the billows sweep. 
 
 As rode before tall vessels on the deep. 
 
 The foes, surprised with wonder, stood aghast ; 
 
 Messapus curbed his fiery courser^s haste; 150 
 
 Old Tiber roared, and, raising up his head. 
 
 Called back his waters to their oozy bed. 
 
 Turnus alone, undaunted, bore the shock. 
 
 And with these words his trembling troops bespoke : 
 
 These monsters for the Trojans^ fate are meant, 155 
 And are by Jove for black presages sent. 
 
 He takes the cowards’ last relief away ; 
 
 For fly they cannot, and, constrained to stay. 
 
 Must yield unfought, a base inglorious prey. 
 
 The liquid half of all the globe is lost ; 160 
 
 Heaven shuts the seas, and we secure the coast. 
 
 Theirs is no more than that small spot of ground, 
 
 Which myriads of our martial men surround. 
 
 Their fates I fear not, or vain oracles. 
 
 ’Twas given to Venus, they should cross the seas, 165 
 And land secure upon the Latian plains : 
 
 Their promised hour is passed, and mine remains. 
 
 ’Tis in the fate of Turnus, to destroy 
 
 With sword and fire, the faithless race of Troy. 
 
 Shall such affronts as these, alone, inflame 170 
 
 The Grecian brothers, and the Grecian name.^ 
 
 My cause and theirs is one ; a fatal strife. 
 
 And final ruin, for a ravished wife. 
 
 Was’t not enough, that, punished for the crime, 
 
 They fell — but will they fall a second time? 175 
 
 One would have thought they paid enough before. 
 
 To curse the costly sex, and durst offend no more. 
 
 Can they securely trust their feeble wall, 
 
 A slight partition, a thin interval 
 
 Betwixt their fate and them ; when Troy, though built 1 80 
 By hands divine, yet perished by their guilt? 
 
 Lend me for once, my friends, your valiant hands. 
 
228 
 
 VIRGinS yRNEIS. 
 
 [book IX. 
 
 To force from out their lines these dastard bands. 
 Less than a thousand ships will end this war; 
 
 185 Nor Vulcan needs his fated arms prepare. 
 
 Let all the Tuscans, all the Arcadians, join ; 
 
 Nor these, nor those, shall frustrate my design. 
 
 Let them not fear the treasons of the night. 
 
 The robbed Palladium, the pretended flight : 
 
 190 Our onset shall be made in open light. 
 
 No wooden engine shall their town betray : 
 
 Fires they shall have around, but fires by day. 
 
 No Grecian babes before their camp appear. 
 
 Whom Hector’s arms detained to the tenth tardy year. 
 195 Now, since the sun is rolling to the west. 
 
 Give we the silent night to needful rest; 
 
 Refresh your bodies, and your arms prepare : 
 
 The morn shall end the small remains of war.” 
 
 The post of honour to Messapus falls, 
 
 200 To keep the nightly guard, to watch the walls. 
 
 To pitch the fires at distances around. 
 
 And close the Trojans in their scanty ground. 
 
 Twice seven Rutulian captains ready stand ; 
 
 And twice seven hundred horse these chiefs command; 
 205 All clad in shining arms the works invest, 
 
 Each with a radiant helm, and waving crest. 
 Stretched at their length, they press the grassy ground; 
 They laugh ; they sing (the jolly bowls go round) ; 
 With lights and cheerful fires renew the day ; 
 
 210 And pass the wakeful night in feasts and play. 
 
 The Trojans, from above, their foes beheld. 
 
 And with armed legions all the rampires filled. 
 
 Seized with affright, their gates they first explore; 
 Join works to works with bridges, tower to tower : 
 
 215 Thus all things needful for defence abound : 
 Mnestheus and brave Serestus walk the round, 
 Commissioned by their absent prince to share 
 The common danger, and divide the care. 
 
 The soldiers draw their lots, and, as they fall, 
 
 220 By turns relieve each other on the wall. 
 
 Nigh where the foes their utmost guards advance. 
 To watch the gate was warlike Nisus’ chance. 
 
BOOK IX.] 
 
 VI R Gins lENEIS. 
 
 His father Hyrtacus, of noble blood; 
 
 His mother was a huntress of the wood, 
 
 And sent him to the wars. Well could he bear 
 His lance in fight, and dart the flying spear ; 
 
 But better skilled unerring shafts to send. 
 
 Beside him stood Euryalus, his friend — 
 Euryalus, than whom, the Trojan host 
 No fairer face, or sweeter air, could boast : 
 Scarce had the down to shade his cheeks begun. 
 One was their care, and their delight was one : 
 One common hazard in the war they shared ; 
 And now were both by choice upon the guard. 
 
 Then Nisus thus : Or do the gods inspire 
 This warmth, or make we gods of our desire.^ 
 
 A generous ardour boils within my breast. 
 
 Eager of action, enemy to rest : 
 
 This urges me to fight, and fires my mind 
 To leave a memorable name behind. 
 
 Thou seest the foe secure : how faintly shine 
 Their scattered fires : the most, in sleep supine 
 Along the ground, an easy conquest lie : 
 
 The wakeful few the fuming flagon ply : 
 
 All hushed around. Now hear what I revolve — 
 A thought unripe — and scarcely yet resolve. 
 
 Our absent prince both camp and council mourn 
 By message both would hasten his return : 
 
 If they confer what I demand, on thee 
 (For fame is recompense enough for me), 
 Methinks, beneath yon hill, I have espied 
 A way that safely will my passage guide.^^ 
 Euryalus stood listening while he spoke ; 
 
 With love of praise and noble envy struck ; 
 
 Then to his ardent friend exposed his mind : 
 
 “ All this, alone, and leaving me behind ! 
 
 Am I unworthy, Nisus, to be joined.^ 
 
 Think’st thou I can my share of glory yield, 
 
 Or send thee, unassisted, to the field ? 
 
 Not so my father taught my childhood arms — 
 Born in a siege, and bred among alarms. 
 
 Nor is my youth unworthy of my friend, 
 
230 
 
 V/J^Girs MNEIS. 
 
 [book IX. 
 
 Nor of the heaven-born hero I attend. 
 
 The thing called life with ease I can disclaim, 
 
 265 And think it over-sold to purchase fame.^^ 
 
 Then Nisus thus : Alas ! thy tender years 
 Would minister new matter to my fears. 
 
 So may the gods who view this friendly strife, 
 Restore me to thy loved embrace with life, 
 
 270 Condemned to pay my vows (as sure I trust). 
 
 This thy request is cruel and unjust. 
 
 But if some chance — as many chances are. 
 
 And doubtful hazards, in the deeds of war — 
 
 If one should reach my head, there let it fall, 
 
 275 And spare thy life : I would not perish all. 
 
 Thy blooming youth deserves a longer date : 
 
 Live thou to mourn thy love’s unhappy fate. 
 
 To bear my mangled body from the foe. 
 
 Or buy it back, and funeral rites bestow. 
 
 280 Or, if hard fortune shall those dues deny. 
 
 Thou canst at least an empty tomb supply. 
 
 O ! let not me the widow’s tears renew ; 
 
 Nor let a mother’s curse my name pursue — 
 
 Thy pious parent, who, for love of thee, 
 
 285 Forsook the coasts of friendly Sicily ; 
 
 Her age committing to the seas and wind, 
 
 When every weary matron stayed behind.” 
 
 To this, Euryalus : ‘Wou plead in vain. 
 
 And but protract the cause you cannot gain. 
 
 290 No more delays ! but haste !” With that, he wakes 
 The nodding watch : each to his office takes. 
 
 The guard relieved, the generous couple went 
 To find the council at the royal tent. 
 
 All creatures else forgot their daily care, 
 
 295 And sleep, the common gift of nature, share ; 
 Except the Trojan peers, who wakeful sat 
 In nightly council for the endangered state. 
 
 They vote a message to their absent chief. 
 
 Shew their distress, and beg a swift relief. 
 
 300 Amid the camp a silent seat they chose. 
 
 Remote from clamour, and secure from foes. 
 
 On their left arms their ample shields they bear. 
 
BOOK IX.] 
 
 VIRGirS ^NEIS, 
 
 23T 
 
 Their right reclined upon the bending spear. 
 
 Now Nisus and his friend approach the guard, 
 And beg admission, eager to be heard — 
 
 The affair important, not to be deferred. 
 
 Ascanius bids them be conducted in. 
 
 Ordering the more experienced to begin. 
 
 Then Nisus thus : “ Ye fathers, lend your ears; 
 Nor judge our bold attempt beyond our years. 
 The foe, securely drenched in sleep and wine. 
 Neglect their watch; the fires but thinly shine; 
 And where the smoke in cloudy vapours flies. 
 Covering the plain, and curling to the skies. 
 Betwixt two paths which at the gate divide. 
 
 Close by the sea, a passage we have spied. 
 
 Which will our way to great ^neas guide. 
 
 Expect each hour to see him safe again, 
 
 Loaded with spoils of foes in battle slain. 
 
 Snatch we the lucky minute while we may; 
 
 Nor can we be mistaken in the way; 
 
 For, hunting in the vales, we both have seen 
 The rising turrets, and the stream between ; 
 
 And know the winding course, with every ford.’^ 
 He ceased ; and old Aletes took the word: 
 
 “ Our country gods, in whom our trust we place. 
 Will yet from ruin save the Trojan race. 
 
 While we behold such dauntless worth appear 
 In dawning youth, and souls so void of fear.^^ 
 Then into tears of joy the father broke : 
 
 Each in his longing arms by turns he took ; 
 Panted and paused ; and thus again he spoke : 
 
 Ye brave young men, what equal gifts can we, 
 
 ' In recompense of such desert, decree ? 
 
 The greatest, sure, and best you can receive, 
 
 The gods and your own conscious worth will give. 
 The rest our grateful general will bestow. 
 
 And young Ascanius, till his manhood, owe.’’ 
 
 “ And I, whose welfare in my father lies, 
 
 (Ascanius adds) by the great deities. 
 
 By my dear country, by my household gods. 
 
 By hoary Vesta’s rites and dark abodes, 
 
 305 
 
 310 
 
 315 
 
 320 
 
 325 
 
 330 
 
 335 
 
 340 
 
232 
 
 VIRGirS ^NEIS, 
 
 [book IX. 
 
 Adjure you both (on you my fortune stands : 
 
 That and my faith I plight into your hands): 
 
 345 Make me but happy in his safe return, 
 
 Whose wanted presence I can only mourn ; 
 
 Your common gift shall two large goblets be 
 Of silver, wrought with curious imagery. 
 
 And high embossed, which, when old Priam reigned, 
 350 My conquering sire at sacked Arisba gained ; 
 
 And, more, two tripods cast in antique mould, 
 
 With two great talents of the finest gold ; 
 
 Beside a costly bowl, engraved with art. 
 
 Which Dido gave, when first she gave her heart. 
 
 355 But, if in conquered Italy we reign. 
 
 When spoils by lot the victor shall obtain — 
 
 Thou saw^st the courser by proud Turnus pressed, 
 That, Nisus ! and his arms, and nodding crest. 
 
 And shield, from chance exempt, shall be thy share ; 
 360 Twelve labouring slaves, twelve handmaids young and 
 All clad m rich attire, and trained with care; [fair. 
 And, last, a Latian field with fruitful plains. 
 
 And a large portion of the king’s domains. 
 
 But thou, whose years are more to mine allied, 
 
 ' 365 No fate my vowed affection shall divide 
 
 From thee, heroic youth ! Be wholly mine: 
 
 Take full possession: all my soul is thine. 
 
 One faith, one fame, one fate, shall both attend : 
 
 My life’s companion, and my bosom friend — 
 
 370 My peace shall be committed to thy care ; 
 
 And, to thy conduct, my concerns in war.” 
 
 Then thus the young Euryalus replied : 
 
 “ Whatever fortune, good or bad, betide. 
 
 The same shall be my age, as now my youth ; 
 
 375 No time shall find me wanting to my truth, 
 
 This only from your goodness let me gain 
 (And, this ungranted, all rewards are vain): 
 
 Of Priam’s royal race my mother came — 
 
 And sure the best that ever bore the name — 
 
 380 Whom neither Troy nor Sicily could hold 
 From me departing, but, o’erspent and old, 
 
 My fate she followed. Ignorant of this 
 
VIRGIVS AiNEIS. 
 
 233 
 
 BOOK IX.] 
 
 (Whatever) danger, neither parting kiss 
 Nor pious blessing taken, her I leave. 
 
 And in this only act of all my life deceive. 385 
 
 By this right hand, and conscious night, I swear. 
 
 My soul so sad a farewell could not bear. 
 
 Be you her comfort ; fill my vacant place 
 (Permit me to presume so great a grace) ; 
 
 Support her age, forsaken and distressed. 390 
 
 That hope alone will fortify my breast 
 Against the worst of fortunes and of fears.^^ 
 
 He said. The moved assistants melt in tears. 
 
 Then thus Ascanius, wonder-struck to see 
 That image of his filial piety : 395 
 
 So great beginnings, in so green an age. 
 
 Exact the faith which I again engage. 
 
 Thy mother all the dues shall justly claim, 
 
 Creiisa had, and only want the name. 
 
 Whatever event thy bold attempt shall have, 400 
 
 ^Tis merit to have borne a son so brave. 
 
 Now by my head, a sacred oath, I swear 
 (My father used it), wdiat, returning here 
 Crowned with success, I for thyself prepare ; 
 
 That, if thou fail, shall thy loved mother share.’^ 405 
 He said, and, weeping while he spoke the word, 
 
 From his broad belt he drew a shining sword. 
 
 Magnificent with gold. Lycaon made, 
 
 And in an ivory scabbard sheathed the blade. 
 
 This was his gift. Great Mnestheus gave his friend 410 
 A lion’s hide, his body to defend ; 
 
 And good Aletes furnished him, beside. 
 
 With his own trusty helm, of temper tried. 
 
 Thus armed they went. The noble Trojans wait 
 Their issuing forth, and follow to the gate 41 5 
 
 With prayers and vows. Above the rest appears 
 Ascanius, manly far beyond his years. 
 
 And messages committed to their care. 
 
 Which all in winds were lost, and flitting air. 
 
 The trenches first they passed ; then took their way 420 
 Where their proud foes in pitched pavilions lay : 
 
 To many fatal, ere themselves were slain. 
 
234 
 
 VIRGirS ^I^ETS, 
 
 [book IX. 
 
 They found the careless host dispersed upon the plain, 
 Who, gorged, and drunk with wine, supinely snore. 
 425 Unharnessed chariots stand along the shore : 
 
 Amidst the wheels and reins, the goblet by, 
 
 A medley of debauch and war, they lie. 
 
 Observing Nisus showed his friend the sight : 
 
 “ Behold a conquest gained without a fight. 
 
 430 Occasion offers ; and I stand prepared : 
 
 There lies our way : be thou upon the guard. 
 
 And look around, while I securely go. 
 
 And hew a passage through the sleeping foe.^’ 
 
 Softly he spoke ; then, striding took his way, 
 
 435 With his drawn sword, where haughty Rhamneslay ; 
 His head raised high on tapestry beneath. 
 
 And heaving from his breast, he drew his breath — 
 
 A king and prophet, by king Turnus loved ; 
 
 But fate by prescience cannot be removed. 
 
 440 Him and his sleeping slaves he slew ; then spies 
 Where Remus, with his rich retinue, lies. 
 
 His armour-bearer first, and next he kills 
 His charioteer, intrenched betwixt the wheels 
 And his loved horses : last invades their lord ; 
 
 445 Full on his neck he drives the fatal sword ; 
 
 The gasping head flies off ; a purple flood 
 Flows from the trunk, that welters in the blood. 
 Which, by the spurning heels dispersed around. 
 
 The bed besprinkles, and bedews the ground. 
 
 450 Lamus the bold and Lamyrus the strong. 
 
 He slew, and then Sarranus fair and young. 
 
 From dice and wine the youth retired to rest. 
 
 And puffed the fumy god from out his breast : 
 
 E’en then he dreamt of drink and lucky play — 
 
 455 More lucky, had it lasted till the day. 
 
 The famished lion thus, with hunger bold, 
 
 O’erleaps the fences of the nightly fold. 
 
 And tears the peaceful flocks : with silent awe 
 Trembling they lie, and pant beneath his paw. 
 
 460 Nor with less rage Euryalus employs 
 
 The wrathful sword, or fewer foes destroys : 
 
 But on the ignoble crowd his fury flew : 
 
BOOK IX.] VIRGirS yENEIS. 
 
 He Fadus, Hebesus, and Rhoetus, slew. 
 
 Oppressed with heavy sleep the former fall, 
 
 But Rhoetus wakeful, and observing all : 
 
 Behind a spacious jar he slinked for fear: 
 
 The fatal iron found and reached him there ; 
 
 For, as he rose, it pierced his naked side. 
 
 And, reeking, thence returned in crimson dyed. 
 The wound pours out a stream of wine and blood; 
 The purple soul comes floating in the flood. 
 
 Now, where Messapus quartered, they arrive. 
 The fires were fainting there, and just alive ; 
 
 The warrior-horses, tied in order, fed : 
 
 Nisus observed the discipline, and said: 
 
 “ Our eager thirst of blood may both betray : 
 
 And see, the scattered streaks of dawning day. 
 
 Foe to nocturnal thefts ! No more, my friend: 
 Here let our glutted execution end. 
 
 A lane through slaughtered bodies we have made.^’ 
 The bold Euryalus, though loth, obeyed. 
 
 Of arms, and arras, and of plate, they find 
 A precious load ; but these they leave behind. 
 
 Yet, fond of gaudy spoils, the boy would stay 
 To make the rich caparison his prey. 
 
 Which on the steed of conquered Rhamnes lay. 
 
 Nor did his eyes less longingly behold 
 
 The girdle-belt, with nails of burnished gold. 
 
 This present Caedicus the rich bestowed 
 On Remulus, when friendship first they vowed, 
 And, absent, joined in hospitable ties ; 
 
 He, dying, to his heir bequeathed the prize ; 
 
 Till, by the conquering Ardean troops oppressed. 
 He fell; and they the glorious gift possessed. 
 
 These glittering spoils (now made the victoFs gain) 
 He to his body suits, but suits in vain. 
 
 Messapus’ helm he finds among the rest. 
 
 And laces on, and wears the waving crest. 
 
 Proud of their conquest, prouder of their prey. 
 
 They leave the camp, and take the ready way. 
 
 But far they had not passed, before they spied 
 Three hundred horse, with Volscens for their guide. 
 
 235 
 
 465 
 
 470 
 
 475 
 
 480 
 
 485 
 
 490 
 
 495 
 
 500 
 
236 
 
 VIRGIL'S ^NEIS. 
 
 [book IX. 
 
 The queen a legion to king Turnus sent ; 
 
 But the swift horse the slower foot prevent, 
 
 505 And now, advancing, sought the leader’s tent. 
 
 They saw the pair ; for, through the doubtful shade, 
 His shining helm Euryalus betrayed. 
 
 On which the moon with full reflection played. 
 
 ’Tis not for nought (cried Volscens from the crowd), 
 510 These men go there (then raised his voice aloud) : 
 Stand! stand! why thus in arms? and whither bent? 
 From whence, to whom, and on what errand sent?” 
 Silent they scud away, and haste their flight 
 To neighbouring woods, and trust themselves to night. 
 515 The speedy horse all passages belay. 
 
 And spur their smoking steeds to cross their way. 
 And watch each entrance of the winding wood. 
 
 Black was the forest : thick with beech it stood. 
 Horrid with fern, and intricate with thorn : 
 
 520 Few paths of human feet, or tracks of beasts, were worn. 
 The darkness of the shades, his heavy prey. 
 
 And fear, misled the younger from his way. 
 
 But Nisus hit the turns with happier haste. 
 
 And thoughtless of his friend, the forest passed, 
 
 525 And Alban plains (from Alba’s name so called) 
 Where king Latinus then his oxen stalled ; 
 
 Till, turning at the length, he stood his ground. 
 
 And missed his friend, and cast his eyes around. 
 
 ^‘Ah wretch! (he cried) where have I left behind 
 530 The unhappy youth? where shall I hope to find? 
 
 Or what way take?” Again he ventures back. 
 
 And treads the mazes of his former track. 
 
 He winds the wood, and, listening, hears the noise 
 Of trampling coursers, and the riders’ voice. 
 
 535 The sound approached; and suddenly he viewed 
 The foes inclosing, and his friend pursued, 
 
 Forelaid and taken, while he strove in vain 
 The shelter of the friendly shades to gain. 
 
 What should he next attempt? what arms employ, 
 540 What fruitless force, to free the captive boy? 
 
 Or desperate should he rush and lose his life. 
 
 With odds oppressed, in such unequal strife? 
 
BOOK IX.] 
 
 VIRGIVS yENEIS. 
 
 237 
 
 Resolved at length, his pointed spear he shook; 
 
 And, casting on the moon a mournful look : 
 
 “ Guardian of groves, and goddess of the night ! 545 
 
 Fair queen ! (he said) direct my dart aright. 
 
 If e^er my pious father, for my sake. 
 
 Did grateful offerings on thy altars make. 
 
 Or I increased them with my sylvan toils. 
 
 And hung thy holy roofs with savage spoils, 550 
 
 Give me to scatter these.’^ Then from his ear 
 He poised, and aimed, and launched the trembling spear. 
 The deadl}^ weapon, hissing from the grove. 
 
 Impetuous on the back of Sulmo drove; 
 
 Pierced his thin armour, drank his vital blood, 555 
 
 And in his body left the broken wood. 
 
 He staggers round; his eyeballs roll in death; 
 
 And with short sobs he gasps away his breath. 
 
 All stand amazed : — a second javelin flies 
 
 With equal strength, and quivers through the skies. 560 
 
 This through thy temples, Tagus, forced the way, 
 
 And in the brain-pan warmly buried lay. 
 
 Fierce Volscens foams with rage, and gazing round. 
 Descried not him who gave the deadly wound. 
 
 Nor knew to fix revenge: But thou (he cries), 565 
 
 Shalt pay for both,^^ and at the prisoner flies 
 With his drawn sword. Then, struck with deep despair. 
 That cruel sight the lover could not bear; 
 
 But from his covert rushed in open view. 
 
 And sent his voice before him as he flew: 570 
 
 “ Me ! me ! (he cried) turn all your swords alone 
 On me — the fact confessed, the fault my own. 
 
 He neither could nor durst, the guiltless youth — 
 
 Ye moon and stars, bear witness to the truth ! 
 
 His only crime (if friendship can offend) 575 
 
 Is too much love to his unhappy friend.^^ 
 
 Too late he speaks: the sword, which fury guides. 
 
 Driven with full force, had pierced his tender sides. 
 
 Down fell the beauteous youth : the yawning wound 
 Gushed out a purple stream, and stained the ground. 580 
 His snowy neck reclines upon his breast. 
 
 Like a fair flower by the keen share oppressed — 
 
238 
 
 VIRGIL'S MNEIS. 
 
 [book IX 
 
 Like a white poppy sinking on the plain, 
 
 Whose heavy head is overcharged with rain. 
 
 585 Despair, and rage, and vengeance justly vowed. 
 Drove Nisus headlong on the hostile crowd. 
 
 Volscens he seeks ; on him alone he bends : 
 
 Borne back and bored by his surrounding friends. 
 Onward he pressed, and kept him still in sight, 
 
 590 Then whirled aloft his sword with all his might : 
 
 The unerring steel descended while he spoke, 
 
 Pierced his wide mouth, and through hisweazon broke. 
 Dying, he slew ; and staggering on the plain. 
 
 With swimming eyes he sought his lover slain ; 
 
 595 Then quiet on his bleeding bosom fell. 
 
 Content, in death, to be revenged so well. 
 
 O happy friends ! for, if my verse can give • 
 Immortal life, your fame shall ever live. 
 
 Fixed as the CapitoFs foundation lies, 
 
 600 And spread, where’er the Roman eagle flies ! 
 
 The conquering party first divide the prey. 
 
 Then their slain leader to the camp convey. 
 
 With wonder, as they went, the troops were filled. 
 
 To see such numbers whom so few had killed. 
 
 605 Sarranus, Rhamnes, and the rest, they found : 
 
 Vast crowds the dying and the dead surround ; 
 
 And the yet reeking blood overflows the ground. 
 
 All knew the helmet which Messapus lost. 
 
 But mourned a purchase that so dear had cost. 
 
 610 Now rose the ruddy morn from Tithon’s bed. 
 
 And with the dawn of day the skies o’erspread ; 
 
 Nor long the sun his daily course withheld. 
 
 But added colours to the world revealed ; 
 
 When, early, Turnus, wakening with the light, 
 
 615 All clad in armour, calls his troops to fight. 
 
 His martial men with fierce harangues he fired. 
 
 And his own ardour in their souls inspired. 
 
 This done — to give new terror to his foes. 
 
 The heads of Nisus and his friend he shows, 
 
 620 Raised high on pointed spears — a ghastly sight ! 
 Loud peals of shouts ensue, and barbarous delight. 
 Meantime the Trojans run where danger calls ; 
 
BOOK IX.] 
 
 VIRGirs ALNEIS. 
 
 239 
 
 They line their trenches, and they man their walls. 
 
 In front extended to the left they stood : 
 
 Safe was the right, surrounded by the flood. 625 
 
 But, casting from their towers a frightful view. 
 
 They saw the faces, which too well they knew. 
 
 Though then disguised in death, and smeared all o’er 
 With filth obscene, and dropping putrid gore. 
 
 Soon, hasty fame through the sad city bears 530 
 
 The mournful message to the mother’s ears. 
 
 An icy cold benumbs her limbs ; she shakes ; 
 
 Her cheeks the blood, her hand the web, forsakes. 
 
 She runs the rampires round, amidst the war. 
 
 Nor fears the flying darts : she rends her hair, 635 
 
 And fills with loud laments the liquid air. 
 
 “ Thus, then, my loved Euryalus appears ! 
 
 Thus looks the prop of my declining years ! 
 
 Was’t on this face my famished eyes I fed ? 
 
 Ah ! how unlike the living is the dead ! 640 
 
 And couldst thou leave me, cruel, thus alone ! 
 
 Not one kind kiss from a departing son ! 
 
 No look, no last adieu, before he went. 
 
 In an ill-boding hour to slaughter sent ! 
 
 Cold on the ground, and pressing foreign clay, 645 
 
 To Latian dogs and fowls he lies a prey ! 
 
 Nor was I near to close his dying eyes. 
 
 To wash his wounds, to weep his obsequies. 
 
 To call about his corpse his crying friends. 
 
 Or spread the mantle (made for other ends) 650 
 
 On his dear body, which I wove with care. 
 
 Nor did my daily pains or nightly labour spare. 
 
 Where shall I find his corpse ? what earth sustains 
 His trunk dismembered, and his cold remains 1 
 For this, alas ! I left my needful ease, 655 
 
 Exposed my life to winds, and winter seas ! 
 
 If any pity touch Rutulian hearts. 
 
 Here empty all your quivers, all your darts : 
 
 Or, if they fail, thou, Jove, conclude my woe. 
 
 And send me thunder-struck to shades below?” 660 
 
 Her shrieks and clamours pierce the Trojans’ ears. 
 Unman their courage, and augment their fears : 
 
240 
 
 VIRGirS MNEIS, 
 
 [book IX. 
 
 Nor young Ascanius could the sight sustain, 
 
 Nor old Ilioneus his tears restrain, 
 
 665 But Actor and Idaeus jointly sent, 
 
 To bear the madding mother to her tent. 
 
 And now the trumpets terribly, from far. 
 
 With rattling clangour, rouse the sleepy war. 
 
 The soldiers^ shouts succeed the brazen sounds ; 
 670 And heaven, from pole to pole, the noise rebounds. 
 The Volscians bear their shields upon their head, 
 And, rushing forward, form a moving shed. 
 
 These fill the ditch ; those pull the bulwarks down ; 
 Some raise the ladders ; others scale the town. 
 
 675 But, where void spaces on the walls appear. 
 
 Or thin defence, they pour their forces there. 
 
 With poles and missive weapons, from afar. 
 
 The Trojans keep aloof the rising war. 
 
 Taught, by their ten years’ siege, defensive fight, 
 
 680 They roll down ribs of rocks, an unresisted weight. 
 To break the penthouse with the ponderous blow. 
 Which yet the patient Volscians undergo — 
 
 But could not bear the unequal combat long ; 
 
 For, where the Trojans find the thickest throng, 
 
 685 The ruin falls : their shattered shields give way. 
 And their crushed heads become an easy prey. 
 
 They shrink for fear, abated of their rage. 
 
 Nor longer dare in a blind fight engage — 
 
 Contented now to gall them from below 
 690 With darts and slings, and with the distant bow. 
 Elsewhere Mezentius, terrible to view, 
 
 A blazing pine within the trenches threw. 
 
 But brave Messapus, Neptune’s warlike son. 
 
 Broke down the palisades, the trenches won, 
 
 695 And loud for ladders calls, to scale the town. 
 Calliope, begin ! Ye sacred Nine, 
 
 Inspire your poet in his high design. 
 
 To sing what slaughter manly Turnus made. 
 
 What souls he sent below the Stygian shade, 
 
 700 What fame the soldiers with their captain share, 
 
 And the vast circuit of the fatal war : 
 
 For you, in singing martial facts, excel ; 
 
BOOK IX.] VJRGinS ^NEIS. 241 
 
 You best remember, and alone can tell. 
 
 There stood a tower, amazing to the sight, 
 
 Built up of beams, and of stupendous height : 705 
 
 Art, and the nature of the place, conspired 
 To furnish all the strength that war required. 
 
 To level this, the bold Italians join : 
 
 The wary Trojans obviate their design ; 
 
 With weighty stones overwhelm their troops below, 710 
 Shoot through the loop-holes, and sharp javelins throw. 
 Turnus, the chief, tossed from his thundering hand. 
 Against the wooden walls, a flaming brand : 
 
 It stuck, the fiery plague; the winds were high; 
 
 The planks were seasoned, and the timber dry. 715 
 
 Contagion caught the posts ; it spread along. 
 
 Scorched, and to distance drove, the scattered throng. 
 The Trojans fled ; the fire pursued amain. 
 
 Still gathering fast upon the trembling train ; 
 
 Till, crowding to the corners of the wall, 720 
 
 Down, the defence and the defenders fall. 
 
 The mighty flaw makes heaven itself resound : 
 
 The dead and dying Trojans strew the ground. 
 
 The tower, that followed on the falling crew. 
 
 Whelmed o’er their heads, and buried whom it slew: 725 
 Some stuck upon the darts themselves had sent ; 
 
 All the same equal ruin underwent. 
 
 Young Lycus and Helenor only ’scape ; 
 
 Saved — how, they know not — from the steepy leap. 
 Helenor, elder of the two ; by birth, 730 
 
 On one side royal, one a son of earth. 
 
 Whom, to the Lydian king, Licymnia bare. 
 
 And sent her boasted bastard to the war 
 (A privilege which none but freemen share). 
 
 Slight were his arms, a sword and silver shield; 735 
 No marks of honour charged its empty field. 
 
 Light as he fell, so light the youth arose. 
 
 And, rising, found himself amidst his foes ; 
 
 Nor flight was left, nor hopes to force his way. 
 Emboldened by despair, he stood at bay ; 740 
 
 And, like a stag, whom all the troops surrounds 
 Of eager huntsmen and invading hounds — 
 
 Q 
 
242 
 
 VIRGinS AiNEIS. 
 
 [book IX. 
 
 Resolved on death, he dissipates his fears, 
 
 And bounds aloft against the pointed spears : 
 
 745 So dares the youth, secure of death; and throws 
 His dying body on his thickest foes. 
 
 But Lycus, swifter of his feet by far, 
 
 Runs, doubles, winds, and turns, amidst the war ; 
 Springs to the walls, and leaves his foes behind, 
 
 750 And snatches at the beam he first can find ; 
 
 Looks up, and leaps aloft at all the stretch, 
 
 In hopes the helping hand of some kind friend to reach. 
 But Turnus followed hard his hunted prey — 
 
 His spear had almost reached him in the way, 
 
 755 Short of his reins, and scarce a span behind : 
 
 Fool (said the chief) though fleeter than the wind, 
 Could’st thou presume to ^scape when I pursue?” 
 
 He said, and downward by the feet he drew 
 The trembling dastard : at the tug he falls : 
 
 760 Vast ruins come along, rent from the smoking walls. 
 Thus on some silver swan, or timorous hare, 
 
 Jove’s bird comes sousing down from upper air ; 
 
 Her crooked talons truss the fearful prey ; 
 
 Then out of sight she soars, and wings her way. 
 
 765 So seizes the grim wolf the tender lamb, 
 
 In vain lamented by the bleating dam. 
 
 Then rushing onward with a barbarous cry. 
 
 The troops of Turnus to the combat fly. 
 
 The ditch with faggots filled, the daring foe 
 770 Tossed firebrands to the steepy turrets throw. 
 Ilioneus, as bold Lucetius came 
 To force the gate, and feed the kindling flame. 
 
 Rolled down the fragment of a rock so right. 
 
 It crushed him double underneath the weight. 
 
 775 Two more, young Liger and Asylas slew: 
 
 . To bend the bow young Liger better knew ; 
 
 Asylas best the pointed javelin threw. 
 
 Brave Caeneus laid Ortygius on the plain ; 
 
 The victor Caeneus was by Turnus slain. 
 
 780 By the same hand, Clonius and Itys fall, 
 
 Sagar, and Idas standing on the wall. 
 
 From Capys’ arms his fate Privernus found: 
 
BOOK IX.] 
 
 VIRGWS ^NEIS, 
 
 243 
 
 Hurt by Temilla first — but slight the wound — 
 
 His shield thrown by, to mitigate the smart, 
 
 He clapped his hand upon the wounded part : 785 
 
 The second shaft came swift and unespied, 
 
 And pierced his hand, and nailed it to his side. 
 
 Transfixed his breathing lungs, and beating heart : 
 
 The soul came issuing out, and hissed against the dart. 
 
 The son of Arcens shone amid the rest, 790 
 
 In glittering armour and a purple vest: 
 
 Fair was his face, his eyes inspiring love — 
 
 Bred by his father in the Martian grove. 
 
 Where the fat altars of Palicus flame, 
 
 And sent in arms to purchase early fame. 795 
 
 Him when he spied from far, the Tuscan king 
 Laid by the lance, and took him to the sling ; 
 
 Thrice whirled the thong around his head, and threw ; 
 The heated lead half melted as it flew : 
 
 It pierced his hollow temples and his brain ; 800 
 
 The youth came tumbling down, and spurned the plain. 
 
 Then young Ascanius, who, before this day. 
 
 Was wont in woods to shoot the savage prey. 
 
 First bent in martial strife the twanging bow. 
 
 And exercised against a human foe — 805 
 
 With this bereft Numanus of his life. 
 
 Who Turnus^ younger sister took to wife. 
 
 Proud of his realm, and of his royal bride. 
 
 Vaunting before his troops, and lengthened with a stride. 
 In these insulting terms the Trojans he defied : 810 
 
 “ Twice-conquered cowards ! now your shame is shown — 
 Cooped up a second time within your town ! 
 
 Who dare not issue forth in open field, 
 
 But hold your walls before you for a shield. 
 
 Thus threat you war? thus our alliance force? 815 
 
 What gods, what madness, hither steered your course ? 
 You shall not find the sons of Atreus here, 
 
 Nor need the frauds of sly Ulysses fear. 
 
 Strong from the cradle, of a sturdy brood, 
 
 We bear our new-born infants to the flood ; 820 
 
 There bathed amid the stream, our boys we hold, 
 
 With winter hardened, and inured to cold. 
 
244 
 
 VIRGirS ^NEIS. 
 
 [book IX. 
 
 They wake before the day to range the wood. 
 
 Kill ere they eat, nor taste unconquered food. 
 
 825 No sports, but what belong to war, they know — 
 
 To break the stubborn colt, to bend the bow. 
 
 Our youth, of labour patient, earn their bread ; 
 Hardly they work, with frugal diet fed. 
 
 From ploughs and harrows sent to seek renown, 
 
 830 They fight in fields, and storm the shaken town. 
 
 No part of life from toils of war is free. 
 
 No change in age, or difference in degree. 
 
 We plough and till in arms : our oxen feel. 
 
 Instead of goads, the spur and pointed steel: 
 
 835 The inverted lance makes furrows in the plain. 
 
 E^en time, that changes all, yet changes us in vain — 
 The body, not the mind — nor can control 
 The immortal vigour, or abate the soul. 
 
 Our helms defend the young, disguise the gray; 
 
 840 We live by plunder, and delight in prey. 
 
 Your vests embroidered with rich purple shine ; 
 
 In sloth you glory, and in dances join. 
 
 Your vests have sweeping sleeves : with female pride, 
 Your turbans underneath your chins are tied. 
 
 845 Go, Phrygians, to your Dindymus again ! 
 
 Go, less than women, in the shapes of men ! 
 
 Go ! mixed with eunuchs in the mother’s rites 
 (Where with unequal sound the flute invites). 
 
 Sing, dance, and howl, by turns, in Ida’s shade : 
 
 850 Resign the war to men, who know the martial trade.” 
 This foul reproach Ascanius could not hear 
 With patience, or a vowed revenge forbear. 
 
 At the full stretch of both his hands, he drew 
 And almost joined, the horns of the tough yew. 
 
 855 But, first, before the throne of Jove he stood. 
 
 And thus with lifted hands invoked the god : 
 
 “ My first attempt, great Jupiter, succeed ! 
 
 An annual offering in thy grove shall bleed, 
 
 A snow-white steer, before thy altar led, 
 
 860 Who, like his mother, bears aloft his head. 
 
 Butts with his threatening brows, and bellowing stands,^ 
 And dares the fight, and spurns the yellow sands.” 
 
BOOK IX.] 
 
 VIRGins MNEIS. 
 
 245 
 
 Jove bowed the heavens, and lent a gracious ear, 
 
 And thundered on the left, amidst the clear. 
 
 Sounded at once the bow ; and swiftly flies 865 
 
 The feathered death, and hisses through the skies. 
 
 The steel through both his temples forced the way : 
 Extended on the ground, Numanus lay. 
 
 Go now, vain boaster ! and true valour scorn ! 
 
 The Phrygians, twice subdued, yet make this third return.^^ 
 Ascanius said no more. The Trojans shake 871 
 
 The heavens with shouting, and new vigour take. 
 
 Apollo then bestrode a golden cloud. 
 
 To view the feats of arms, and fighting crowd ; 
 
 And thus the beardless victor he bespoke aloud: 875 
 
 Advance, illustrious youth 1 increase in fame. 
 
 And wide from east to west extend thy name — 
 
 Offspring of gods thyself ; and Rome shall owe 
 To thee a race of demigods below. 
 
 This is the way to heaven : the powers divine 880 
 
 From this beginning date the Julian line. 
 
 To thee, to them, and their victorious heirs. 
 
 The conquered war is due, and the vast world is theirs. 
 Troy is too narrow for thy name.^^ He said, 
 
 And plunging downward shot his radiant head ; 885 
 
 Dispelled the breathing air, that broke his flight : 
 
 Shorn of his beams, a man to mortal sight : 
 
 Old Butes’ form he took, Anchises’ squire, 
 
 Now left, to rule Ascanius, by his sire : 
 
 His wrinkled visage, and his hoary hairs, 890 
 
 His mien, his habit, and his arms, he wears, 
 
 And thus salutes the boy, too forward for his years : 
 
 “ Suffice it thee, thy father’s worthy son. 
 
 The warlike prize thou hast already won. 
 
 The god of archers gives thy youth a part 895 
 
 Of his own praise, nor envies equal art. 
 
 Now tempt the war no more.” He said, and flew 
 Obscure in air, and vanished from their view. 
 
 The Trojans, by his arms, their patron know, 
 
 And hear the twanging of his heavenly bow. 900 
 
 Then duteous force they use, and Phoebus’ name, 
 
 To keep from fight the youth too fond of fame. 
 
246 VIRGinS ^NEIS. [BOOK IX. 
 
 Undaunted, they themselves no danger shun : 
 
 From wall to wall the shouts and clamours run: 
 
 905 They bend their bows ; they whirl their slings around : 
 Heaps of spent arrows fall, and strew the ground ; 
 And helms, and shields, and rattling arms, resound. 
 The combat thickens, like the storm that flies 
 From westward, when the showery Kids arise; 
 
 910 Or pattering hail comes pouring on the main, 
 
 When Jupiter descends in hardened rain; 
 
 Or bellowing clouds burst with a stormy sound. 
 
 And with an armed winter strew the ground. 
 Pandarus and Bitias, thunderbolts of war, 
 
 915 Whom Hiera to bold Alcanor bare 
 
 On Ida’s top (two youths of height and size 
 Like firs that on their mother-mountain rise) : 
 Presuming on their force, the gates unbar. 
 
 And of their own accord invite the war, 
 
 920 With fates averse, against their king’s command. 
 Armed, on the right and on the left they stand. 
 
 And flank the passage : shining steel they wear. 
 
 And waving crests above their heads appear. 
 
 Thus two tall oaks, that Padus’ banks adorn, 
 
 925 Lift up to heaven their leafy heads unshorn. 
 
 And overpressed with nature’s heavy load, 
 
 Dance to the whistling winds, and at each other nod. 
 
 In flows a tide of Latians, when they see 
 The gate set open and the passage free : 
 
 930 Bold Quercens, with rash Tmarus, rushing on, 
 Aquicolus, that in bright armour shone. 
 
 And Haemon first : but soon repulsed they fly. 
 
 Or in the well-defended pass they die. 
 
 These with success are fired, and those with rage; 
 
 935 And each on equal terms at length engage. 
 
 Drawn from their lines, and issuing from the plain. 
 The Trojans hand to hand the fight maintain. 
 
 Fierce Turnus in another quarter fought. 
 
 When suddenly the unhoped-for news was brought, 
 940 The foes had left the fastness of their place. 
 Prevailed in fight, and had his men in chase. 
 
 He quits the attack, and, to prevent their fate, 
 
BOOK IX.] 
 
 VIRG/rS MNEIS. 
 
 247 
 
 Runs, where the giant brothers guard the gate. 
 
 The first he met, Antiphates the brave 
 
 (But base-begotten on a Theban slave — 945 
 
 Sarpedon’s son), he slew : the deadly dart 
 
 Found passage through his breast, and pierced his heart. 
 
 Fixed in the wound the Italian cornel stood. 
 
 Warmed in his lungs, and in his vital blood. 
 
 Aphidnus next, and Erymanthus dies, 950 
 
 And Meropes, and the gigantic size 
 Of Bitias, threatening with his ardent eyes. 
 
 Not by the feeble dart he fell oppressed 
 (A dart were lost within that roomy breast). 
 
 But from a knotted lance, large, heavy, strong, 955 
 
 Which roared like thunder as it whirled along : 
 
 Not two bull-hides the impetuous force withhold. 
 
 Nor coat of double mail, with scales of gold. 
 
 Down sunk the monster-bulk, and pressed the ground 
 (His arms and clattering shield on the vast body sound). 
 Not with less ruin than the Baian mole, 961 
 
 Raised on the seas^ the surges to control — 
 
 At once comes tumbling down the rocky wall ; 
 
 Prone to the deep, the stones disjointed fall 
 Of the vast pile ; the scattered ocean flies ; 965 
 
 Black sands, discoloured froth, and mingled mud, arise: 
 The frighted billows roll, and seek the shores : 
 
 Then trembles Prochyta, then Ischia roars: 
 
 Typhoeus, thrown beneath by Jove’s command. 
 Astonished at the flaw that shakes the land, 970 
 
 Soon shifts his weary side, and scarce awake. 
 
 With wonder feels the weight press lighter on his back. 
 
 The warrior-god the Latian troops inspired. 
 
 New strung their sinews, and their courage fired. 
 
 But chills the Trojan hearts with cold affright : 975 
 
 Then black despair precipitates their flight. 
 
 When Pandarus beheld his brother killed. 
 
 The town with fear and wild confusion filled. 
 
 He turns the hinges of the heavy gate 
 With both his hands, and adds his shoulders to the weight ; 
 Some happier friends within the walls inclosed ; 981 
 
 The rest shut out, to certain death exposed : 
 
248 VIRGinS ^NEIS. [BOOK IX. 
 
 Fool as he was, and frantic in his care, 
 
 To admit young Turnus, and include the war! 
 
 985 He thrust amid the crowd, securely bold. 
 
 Like a fierce tiger pent amid the fold. 
 
 Too late his blazing buckler they descry. 
 
 And sparkling fires that shot from either eye. 
 
 His mighty members, and his ample breast, 
 
 990 His rattling armour, and his crimson crest. 
 
 Far from that hated face the Trojans fly. 
 
 All but the fool who sought his destiny. 
 
 Mad Pandarus steps forth, with vengeance vowed 
 For Bitias’ death, and threatens thus aloud: 
 
 995 These are not Ardea^s walls, nor this the town 
 Amata proffers with Lavinia^s crown : 
 
 ^Tis hostile earth you tread. Of hope bereft. 
 
 No means of safe return by flight are left.^’ 
 
 To whom, with countenance calm, and soul sedate, 
 1000 Thus Turnus : “ Then begin, and try thy fate : 
 
 My message to the ghost of Priam bear ; 
 
 Tell him a new Achilles sent thee there.^^ 
 
 A lance of tough ground-ash the Trojan threw. 
 Rough in the rind, and knotted as it grew : 
 
 1005 With his full force he whirled it first around ; 
 
 But the soft yielding air received the wound: 
 Imperial Juno turned the course before. 
 
 And fixed the wandering weapon in the door. 
 
 But hope not thou (said Turnus), when I strike, 
 1010 To shun thy fate : our force is not alike. 
 
 Nor thy steel tempered by the Lemnian god.^^ 
 
 Then rising, on his utmost stretch he stood. 
 
 And aimed from high : the full descending blow 
 Cleaves the broad front and beardless cheeks in two. 
 1015 Down sinks the giant with a thundering sound : 
 
 His ponderous limbs oppress the trembling ground; 
 Blood, brains, and foam, gush from the gaping wound. 
 Scalp, face, and shoulders, the keen steel divides; 
 And the shared visage hangs on equal sides. 
 
 1020 The Trojans fly from their approaching fate : 
 
 And, had the victor then secured the gate. 
 
 And to his troops without, unclosed the bars. 
 
V/RGirS ALNEIS. 
 
 249 
 
 BOOK IX.] 
 
 One lucky day had ended all his wars. 
 
 But boiling youth, and blind desire of blood, 
 
 Push on his fury, to pursue the crowd. 1025 
 
 Hamstringed behind, unhappy Gyges died ; 
 
 Then Phalaris is added to his side. 
 
 The pointed javelins from the dead he drew, 
 
 And their friend’s arms against their fellows threw. 
 Strong Halys stands in vain ; weak Phegeus flies; 1030 
 Saturnia, still at hand, new force and fire supplies. 
 
 Then H alius, Prytanis, Alcander fall — 
 
 Engaged against the foes who scaled the wall : 
 
 But, whom they feared without, they found within. 
 
 At last, though late, by Lynceus he was seen. 1035 
 
 He calls new succours, and assaults the prince : 
 
 But weak his force, and vain is their defence. 
 
 Turned to the right, his sword the hero drew. 
 
 And at one blow the bold aggressor slew — 
 
 Disjoints the neck, and, with a stroke so strong, 1040 
 The helm flies off, and bears the head along. 
 
 Next him, the huntsman Amycus he killed. 
 
 In darts envenomed, and in poison, skilled. 
 
 Then Clytius fell beneath his fatal spear. 
 
 And Cretheus, whom the Muses held so dear: 1045 
 
 He fought with courage, and he sung the fight : 
 
 Arms were his business, verses his delight. 
 
 The Trojan chiefs behold, with rage and grief, 
 
 Their slaughtered friends, and hasten their relief. 
 
 Bold Mnestheus rallies first the broken train, 1050 
 
 Whom brave Serestus and his troop sustain. 
 
 To save the living, and revenge the dead. 
 
 Against one warrior’s arms all Troy they led. 
 
 O, void of sense and courage ! (Mnestheus cried) 
 
 Where can you hope your coward heads to hide.^ 1055 
 Ah ! where beyond these rampires can you run? 
 
 One man, and in your camp inclosed, you shun ! 
 
 Shall then a single sword such slaughter boast, 
 
 And pass unpunished from a numerous host? 
 
 Forsaking honour, and renouncing fame, 1060 
 
 Your gods, your country, and your king, you shame !” 
 This just reproach their virtue does excite : 
 
2S0 
 
 VIRGirs ^NEIS. 
 
 [book IX. 
 
 They stand, they join, they thicken to the fight. 
 
 Now Turnus doubts, and yet disdains to yield, 
 1065 But with slow paces measures back the field. 
 
 And inches to the walls, where Tiber’s tide. 
 Washing the camp, defends the weaker side. 
 
 The more he loses, they advance the more, 
 
 And tread in every step he trod before. 
 
 1070 Theyshout; they bear him back; and, whom by might 
 They cannot conquer, they oppress with weight. 
 
 As, compassed with a wood of spears around, 
 
 The lordly lion still maintains his ground ; 
 
 Grins horrible, retires, and turns again ; 
 
 1075 Threats his distended paws, and shakes his mane ; 
 He loses while in vain he presses on. 
 
 Nor will his courage let him dare to run : 
 
 So Turnus fares, and unresolved of flight. 
 
 Moves tardy back, and just recedes from fight. 
 
 1080 Yet twice, enraged, the combat he renews, 
 
 Twice breaks, and twice his broken foes pursues. 
 But now they swarm, and with fresh troops supplied 
 Come rolling on, and rush from every side : 
 
 Nor Juno, who sustained his arms before, 
 
 1085 Dares with new strength suffice the exhausted store; 
 For Jove, with sour commands, sent Iris down, 
 
 To force the invader from the frighted town. 
 
 With labour spent, no longer can he wield 
 The heavy falchion, or sustain the shield ; 
 
 1090 O’erwhelmed with darts, which from afar they fling ; 
 The weapons round his hollow temples ring : 
 
 His golden helm gives way, with stony blows 
 Battered, and flat, and beaten to his brows. 
 
 His crest is rashed away ; his ample shield 
 1095 Is falsified, and round with javelins filled. 
 
 The foe, now faint, the Trojans overwhelm ; 
 
 And Mnestheus lays hard load upon his helm. 
 
 Sick sweat succeeds ; he drops at every pore ; 
 
 With driving dust his cheeks are pasted o’er ; 
 
 1 100 Shorter and shorter every gasp he takes ; 
 
 And vain efforts and hurtless blows he makes. 
 Armed as he was, at length he leaped from high, 
 
BOOK IX.] ' 
 
 VIJ^GirS AlNEIS. 
 
 251 
 
 Plunged in the flood, and made the waters fly. 
 The yellow god the welcome burden bore, 
 
 And wiped the sweat, and washed away the gore ; 
 Then gently wafts him to the farther coast. 
 
 And sends him safe to cheer his anxious host. 
 
 1105 
 
BOOK X. 
 
 THE ARGUMENT. 
 
 Jupiter, calling a council of the gods, forbids thena to engage in 
 either party. At ^Eneas’ return there is a bloody battle ; 
 Turnus killing Pallas ; ^neas, Lausus and Mezentius. Me- 
 zentius is described as an atheist ; Lausus as a pious and 
 virtuous youth. The different actions and death of these 
 two are the subject of a noble episode. 
 
 T he gates of heaven unfold: Jove summons all 
 The gods to council in the common hall. 
 Sublimely seated, he surveys from far 
 The fields, the camp, the fortune of the war, 
 
 5 And all the inferior world. From first to last. 
 
 The sovereign senate in degrees are placed. 
 
 Then thus the almighty sire began : Ye gods, 
 Natives or denizens of blest abodes ! 
 
 From whence these murmurs, and this change of mind, 
 10 This backward fate from what was first designed.^ 
 Why this protracted war, when my commands 
 Pronounced a peace, and gave the Latian lands 
 What fear or hope on either part divides 
 Our heavens, and arms our powers on different sides 
 15 A lawfiu time of war at length will come 
 (Nor need your haste anticipate the doom). 
 
 When Carthage shall contend the world with Rome ; 
 Shall force the rigid rocks and Alpine chains, • 
 
 And, like a flood, come pouring on the plains. 
 
 20 Then is your time for faction and debate. 
 
 For partial favour, and permitted hate. 
 
 Let now your immature dissension cease ; 
 
BOOK X.] VIJ^Girs yENEIS. 
 
 Sit quiet, and compose your souls to peace.’^ 
 Thus Jupiter in few unfolds the charge; 
 
 But lovely Venus thus replies at large: 
 
 ‘‘ O power immense ! eternal energy ! 
 
 (For to what else protection can we fly ?j 
 Seest thou the proud Rutulians, how they dare 
 In fields, unpunished, and insult my care ? 
 
 How lofty Turnus vaunts amidst his train. 
 
 In shining arms triumphant on the plain? 
 
 E’en in their lines and trenches they contend ; 
 And scarce their walls the Trojan troops defend ; 
 The town is filled with slaughter, and o’erfloats. 
 With a red deluge, their increasing moats, 
 -^neas, ignorant, and far from thence. 
 
 Has left a camp exposed, without defence. > 
 This endless outrage shall they still sustain? 
 Shall Troy renewed be forced and fired again ? 
 
 A second siege my banished issue fears; 
 
 And a new Diomede in arms appears. 
 
 One more audacious mortal will be found ; 
 
 And I, thy daughter, wait another wound. 
 
 Yet if, with fates averse, without thy leave. 
 
 The Latian lands my progeny receive. 
 
 Bear they the pains of violated law. 
 
 And thy protection from their aid withdraw. 
 
 But, if the gods their sure success foretell — 
 
 If those of heaven consent with those of hell. 
 
 To promise Italy ; who dare debate 
 The power of J ove, or fix another fate ? 
 
 What should I tell of tempests on the main, 
 
 Of Hollis usurping Neptune’s reign? 
 
 Of Iris sent, with Bacchanalian heat 
 T’ inspire the matrons and destroy the fleet ? 
 
 Now Juno to the Stygian sky descends, 
 
 Solicts hell for aid, and arms the fiends. 
 
 That new example wanted yet above — 
 
 An act that well became the wife of Jove ! 
 
 Alecto, raised by her, with rage inflames 
 The peaceful bosoms of the Latian dames. 
 Imperial sway no more exalts my mind ; 
 
 253 
 
 25 
 
 30 
 
 35 
 
 40 
 
 45 
 
 50 
 
 55 
 
 60 
 
254 
 
 VIRGIVS yENEIS, 
 
 [book X. 
 
 Such hopes 1 had indeed, while heaven was kind, 
 Now let my happier foes possess my place, 
 
 65 Whom Jove prefers before the Trojan race ; 
 
 And conquer they, whom you with conquest grace. 
 Since you can spare from all your wide command. 
 No spot of earth, no hospitable land. 
 
 Which may my wandering fugitives receive 
 70 (Since haughty Juno will not give you leave); 
 
 Then, father (if I still may use that name). 
 
 By ruined Troy, yet smoking from the flame, 
 
 I beg you, let Ascanius, by my care. 
 
 Be freed from danger, and dismissed the war: 
 
 75 Inglorious let him live, without a crown : 
 
 The father may be cast on coasts unknown. 
 Struggling with fate ; but let me save the son. 
 
 Mine is Cythera, mine the Cyprian towers : 
 
 In. those recesses, and those sacred bowers, 
 
 80 Obscurely let him rest ; his right resign 
 To promised empire, and his Julian line. 
 
 Then Carthage may the Ausonian towns destroy, 
 
 Nor fear the race of a rejected boy. 
 
 What profits it my son, to ^scape the Are, 
 
 85 Armed with his gods, and loaded with his sire ; 
 
 To pass the perils of the seas and wind; 
 
 Evade the Greeks, and leave the war behind ; 
 
 To reach the Italian shores ; if, after all, 
 
 Our second Pergamus is doomed to fall.^ 
 
 90 Much better had he curbed his high desires, 
 
 And hovered o’er his ill-extinguished fires. 
 
 To SimoiV banks the fugitives restore. 
 
 And give them back to war, and all the woes before.” 
 Deep indignation swelled Saturnia’s heart : 
 
 95 “And must I own (she said) my secret smart — 
 
 What with more decence were in silence kept. 
 
 And, but for this unjust reproach, had slept 
 Did god or man your favourite son advise. 
 
 With war unhoped the Latians to surprise.^ 
 
 100 By fate, you boast, and by the gods’ decree, 
 
 He left his native land for Italy ! 
 
 Confess the truth ; by mad Cassandra, more 
 
BOOK X.] 
 
 VIRGirS MNEIS. 
 
 255 
 
 Than heaven, inspired, he sought a foreign shore. 
 
 Did I persuade to trust his second Troy 
 
 To the raw conduct of a beardless boy, 105 
 
 With walls unfinished, which himself forsakes. 
 
 And through the waves a wandering voyage takes ? 
 
 When have I urged him meanly to demand 
 The Tuscan aid, and arm a quiet land? 
 
 Did I or Iris give this mad advice? no 
 
 Or made the fool himself the fatal choice? 
 
 You think it hard, the Latians should destroy 
 
 With swords your Trojans, and with fires your Troy! 
 
 Hard and unjust indeed, for men to draw 
 
 Their native air, nor take a foreign law ! 1 15 
 
 That Turnus is permitted still to live. 
 
 To whom his birth a god and goddess give ! 
 
 But yet kis just and lawful for your line 
 To drive their fields, and force, with fraud to join ; 
 Realms, not your own, among your clans divide, 120 
 And from the bridegroom tear the promised bride; 
 Petition, while you public arms prepare; 
 
 Pretend a peace, and yet provoke a war I 
 ^Twas given to you, your darling son to shroud, 
 
 To draw the dastard from the fighting crowd, 125 
 
 And, for a man, obtend an empty cloud. 
 
 From flaming fleets you turned the fire away, 
 
 And changed the ships to daughters of the sea. 
 
 But kis my crime — the queen of heaven offends. 
 
 If she presume to save her suffering friends 1 130 
 
 Your son, not knowing what his foes decree. 
 
 You say, is absent: absent let him be. 
 
 Yours is Cythera, yours the Cyprian towers. 
 
 The soft recesses, and the sacred bowers. 
 
 Why do you then these needless arms prepare, 135 
 
 And thus provoke a people prone to war? 
 
 Did I with fire the Trojan town deface. 
 
 Or hinder from return your exiled race? 
 
 Was I the cause of mischief, or the man 
 
 Whose lawless lust the fatal war began ? 140 
 
 Think on whose faith the adulterous youth relied ; 
 
 Who promised, who procured, the Spartan bride? 
 
256 
 
 VIRGinS ^NEIS. 
 
 [book X. 
 
 When the united states of Greece combined, 
 
 To purge the world of the perfidious kind, 
 
 145 Then was your time to fear the Trojan fate : — 
 
 Your quarrels and complaints are now too late/^ 
 Thus Juno. Murmurs rise with mixed applause. 
 Just as they favour or dislike the cause. 
 
 So winds, when yet unfledged in woods they lie, 
 
 150 In whispers first their tender voices try. 
 
 Then issue on the main with bellowing rage. 
 
 And storms to trembling mariners presage. 
 
 Then thus to both replied the imperial god. 
 
 Who shakes heaven’s axles with his awful nod. 
 
 155 (When he begins, the silent senate stand, 
 
 With reverence listening to the dread command : 
 The clouds dispel; the winds their breath restrain; 
 And the hushed waves lie flatted on the main.) 
 Celestials ! your attentive ears incline ! 
 
 160 Since (said the god) the Trojans must not join 
 In wished alliance with the Latian line — 
 
 Since endless jarrings, and immortal hate. 
 
 Tend but to discompose our happy state — • 
 
 The war henceforward be resigned to fate : 
 
 165 Each to his proper fortune stand or fall ; 
 
 Equal and unconcerned I look on all. 
 
 Rutulians, Trojans, are the same to me ; 
 
 And both shall draw the lots their fates decree. 
 
 Let these assault, if Fortune be their friend ; 
 
 170 And, if she favours those, let those defend: 
 
 The fates will find their way.” The Thunderer said ; 
 And shook the sacred honours of his head, 
 
 Attesting Styx, the inviolable flood, 
 
 And the black regions of his brother-god. [nod. 
 
 175 Trembled the poles of heaven ; and earth confessed the 
 This end the sessions had : the senate rise. 
 
 And to his palace wait their sovereign through the skies. 
 
 Meantime, intent upon their siege, the foes 
 Within their walls the Trojan host inclose : 
 
 180 They wound, they kill, they watch at every gate; 
 Renew the fires, and urge their happy fate. 
 
 The ^neans wish in vain their wanted chief. 
 
BOOK X.] 
 
 VIRGins ALNEIS, 
 
 257 
 
 Hopeless of flight, more hopeless of relief. 
 
 Thin on the towers they stand ; and e’en those few, 
 
 A feeble, fainting, and dejected crew. 185 
 
 Yet in the face of danger some there stood : 
 
 The two bold brothers of Sarpedon’s blood, 
 
 Asius, Acmon : both the Assaraci ; 
 
 Young Haemon, and, though young, resolved to die. 
 
 With these were Clarus and Thymoetes joined ; 190 
 
 Thymbris and Castor, both of Lycian kind. 
 
 From Acmon’s hands a rolling stone there came. 
 
 So large, it half deserved a mountain’s name ! 
 Strong-sinewed was the youth, and big of bone : 
 
 His brother Mnestheus could not more have done, 195 
 Or the great father of the intrepid son. 
 
 Some firebrands throw, some flights of arrows send ; 
 
 And some with darts, and some with stones, defend. 
 
 Amid the press appears the beauteous boy. 
 
 The care of Venus, and the hope of Troy. 200 
 
 His lovely face unarmed, his head was bare ; 
 
 In ringlets o’er his shoulders hung his hair. 
 
 His forehead circled with a diadem ; 
 
 Distinguished from the crowd, he shines a gem, 
 
 Enchased in gold, or polished ivory set, 205 
 
 Amidst the meaner foil of sable jet. 
 
 Nor Ismarus was wanting to the war. 
 
 Directing ointed arrows from afar. 
 
 And death with poison armed — in Lydia born, 
 
 Where plenteous harvests the fat fields adorn ; 210 
 
 Where proud Pactolus floats the fruitful lands, 
 
 And leaves a rich manure of golden sands. 
 
 There Capys, author of the Capuan name. 
 
 And there was Mnestheus too, increased in fame, 
 
 Since Turnus from the camp he cast with shame. 215 
 Thus mortal war was waged on either side. 
 
 Meantime the hero cuts the nightly tide ; 
 
 For, anxious, from Evander when he went. 
 
 He sought the Tyrrhene camp, and Tarchon’s tent ; 
 Exposed the cause of coming to the chief ; 220 
 
 His name and country told, and asked relief ; 
 
 Proposed the terms ; his own small strength declared ; 
 
 R 
 
VIRGIL'S .'RNEIS. 
 
 258 
 
 [book X. 
 
 What vengeance proud Mezentius had prepared ; 
 What Turnus, bold and violent, designed ; 
 
 225 Then showed the slippery state of human kind, 
 
 And fickle fortune ; warned him to beware. 
 
 And to his wholesome counsel added prayer. 
 Tarchon, without delay, the treaty signs. 
 
 And to the Trojan troops the Tuscan joins. 
 
 230 They soon set sail ; nor now the Fates withstand ; 
 Their forces trusted with a foreign hand. 
 
 ^neas leads ; upon his stern appear 
 Two lions carved, which rising Ida bear — 
 
 Ida, to wandering Trojans ever dear. 
 
 235 Under their grateful shade ^neas sat. 
 
 Revolving war’s events, and various fate. 
 
 His left young Pallas kept, fixed to his side, 
 
 And oft of winds inquired, and of the tide ; 
 
 Oft of the stars, and of their watery way ; 
 
 240 And what he suffered both by land and sea. 
 
 Now, sacred sisters, open all your spring ! 
 
 The Tuscan leaders, and their army, sing. 
 
 Which followed great ^neas to the war : 
 
 Their arms, their numbers, and their names, declare. 
 245 A thousand youths brave Massicus obey. 
 
 Borne in the Tiger through the foaming sea ; 
 
 From Clusium brought, and Cosa, by his care: 
 
 For arms, light quivers, bows and shafts, they bear. 
 Fierce Abas next : his men bright armour wore: 
 
 250 His stern Apollo’s golden statue bore. 
 
 Six hundred, Populonia sent along. 
 
 All skilled in martial exercise, and strong. 
 
 Three hundred more, for battle, Ilva joins. 
 
 An isle renowned for steel, and unexhausted mines. 
 255 Asylas on his prow the third appears. 
 
 Who heaven interprets, and the wandering stars ; 
 From offered entrails, prodigies expounds. 
 
 And peals of thunder, with presaging sounds. 
 
 A thousand spears in warlike order stand, 
 
 260 Sent by the Pisans under his command. 
 
 Fair Astur follows in the watery field. 
 
 Proud of his managed horse and painted shield. 
 
VIRGWS ^NEIS. 
 
 259 
 
 BOOK X.] 
 
 Gravisca, noisome from the neighbouring fen, 
 
 And his own Caere, sent three hundred men. 
 
 With those which Minio’s fields, and Pyrgi gave; 265 
 All bred in arms, unanimous and brave. 
 
 Thou, muse, the name of Cinyras renew. 
 
 And brave Cupavo followed but by few ; 
 
 Whose helm confessed the lineage of the man. 
 
 And bore, with wings displayed, a silver swan. 270 
 
 Love was the fault of his famed ancestry. 
 
 Whose forms and fortunes in his ensign fly. 
 
 For Cycnus loved unhappy Phaethon, 
 
 And sung his loss in poplar groves, alone. 
 
 Beneath the sister-shades, to soothe his grief. 275 
 
 Heaven heard his song, and hastened his relief. 
 
 And changed to snowy plumes his hoary hair. 
 
 And winged his flight, to chant aloft in air. 
 
 His son Cupavo brushed the briny flood ; 
 
 Upon his stern a brawny Centaur stood, 280 
 
 Who heaved a rock, and, threatening still to throw. 
 
 With lifted hands alarmed the seas below : 
 
 They seemed to fear the formidable sight. 
 
 And rolled their billows on, to speed his flight. 
 
 Ocnus was next, who led his native train 285 
 
 Of hardy warriors through the watery plain — 
 
 The son of Manto, by the Tuscan stream. 
 
 From whence the Mantuan town derives the name — 
 
 An ancient city, but of mixed descent ; 
 
 Three several tribes compose the government ; 290 
 
 Four towns are under each ; but all obey 
 The Mantuan laws, and own the Tuscan sway. 
 
 Hate to Mezentius armed five hundred more. 
 
 Whom Mincius from his sire Benacus bore — 
 Mincius,with wreaths of reeds his forehead covered o^er. 295 
 These grave Aulestes leads : a hundred sweep 
 With stretching oars at once the glassy deep. 
 
 Him, and his martial train, the Triton bears ; 
 
 High on his poop the sea-green god appears : 
 
 Frowning he seems his crooked shell to sound, 300 
 
 And at the blast the billows dance around. 
 
 A hairy man above the waist he shows ; 
 
26o 
 
 VIRGirs ^NEIS. 
 
 [book X. 
 
 A porpoise-tail beneath his belly grows ; 
 
 And ends a fish : his breast the waves divides, 
 
 305 And froth and foam augment the murmuring tides. 
 Full thirty ships transport the chosen train, 
 
 For Troy’s relief, and scour the briny main. 
 
 Now was the world forsaken by the sun. 
 
 And Phoebe half her nightly race had run. 
 
 310 The careful chief, who never closed his eyes, 
 
 Flimself the rudder holds, the sails supplies. 
 
 A choir of Nereids meet him on the flood, 
 
 Once his own galleys, hewn from Ida’s wood ; 
 
 But now, as many nymphs, the sea they sweep, 
 
 315 As rode, before, tall vessels on the deep. 
 
 They know him from afar ; and in a ring 
 Inclose the ship that bore the Trojan king. 
 Cymodoce, whose voice excelled the rest. 
 
 Above the waves advanced her snowy breast ; 
 
 320 Her right hand stops the stern; her left divides 
 The curling ocean, and corrects the tides. 
 
 She spoke for all the choir; and thus began 
 With pleasing words to warn the unknowing man : 
 Sleeps our loved lord.^ O goddess-born! awake! 
 325 Spread every sail, pursue your watery track. 
 
 And haste your course. Your navy once were we. 
 From Ida’s height descending to the sea ; 
 
 Till Turnus — as at anchor fixed we stood. 
 
 Presumed to violate our holy wood. 
 
 330 Then, loosed from shore, we fled his fires profane 
 (Unwillingly we broke our master’s chain). 
 
 And since have sought you through the Tuscan main. 
 The mighty Mother changed our forms to these. 
 
 And gave us life immortal in the seas. 
 
 335 But young Ascanius, in his camp distressed. 
 
 By your insulting foes is hardly pressed. 
 
 The Arcadian horsemen, and Etrurian host. 
 
 Advance in order on the Latian coast : 
 
 To cut their way the Daunian chief designs, 
 
 340 Before their troops can reach the Trojan lines. 
 
 Thou, when the rosy morn restores the light. 
 
 First arm thy soldiers for the ensuing right ; 
 
BOOK X .] VIRGirS y^NEIS. 2 6 I 
 
 Thyself the fated sword of Vulcan wield, 
 
 And bear aloft the impenetrable shield. 
 
 To-morrow’s sun, unless my skill be vain, 345 
 
 Shall see huge heaps of foes in battle slain.” 
 
 Parting, she spoke ; and with immortal force 
 Pushed on the vessel in her watery course ; 
 
 For well she knew the way. Impelled behind, 
 
 The ship flew forward, and outstrip! the wind. 350 
 
 The rest make up. Unknowing of the cause. 
 
 The chief admires their speed, and happy omens draws. 
 
 Then thus he prayed, and flxed on heaven his eyes : 
 
 “ Hear thou, great Mother of the deities. 
 
 With turrets crowned! (on Ida’s holy hill, ' 355 
 
 Fierce tigers, reined and curbed, obey thy will.) 
 
 Firm thy own omens; lead us on to fight; 
 
 And let thy Phrygians conquer in thy right.” 
 
 He said no more. And now renewing day 
 Had chased the shadows of the night away. 360 
 
 He charged the soldiers, with preventing care. 
 
 Their flags to follow, and their arms prepare ; 
 
 Warned of the ensuing fight, and bade them hope the war. 
 
 Now, from his lofty poop, he viewed below 
 His camp encompassed, and the inclosing foe. 365 
 
 His blazing shield, embraced, he held on high ; 
 
 The camp receive the sign, and with loud shouts reply. 
 Hope arms their courage : from their towers they throw 
 Their darts with double force, and drive the foe. 
 
 Thus, at the signal given, the cranes arise 370 
 
 Before the stormy south, and blacken all the skies. 
 
 King Turnus wondered at the fight renewed. 
 
 Till, looking back, the Trojan fleet he viewed. 
 
 The seas with swelling canvas covered o’er. 
 
 And the swift ships descending on the shore. 375 
 
 The Latians saw from far, with dazzled eyes. 
 
 The radiant crest that seemed in flames to rise. 
 
 And dart diffusive fires around the field. 
 
 And the keen glittering of the golden shield. 
 
 Thus threatening comets, when by night they rise, 380 
 Shoot sanguine streams, and sadden all the skies : 
 
 So Sirius, flashing forth sinister lights. 
 
262 
 
 VIRGirS MNEIS. 
 
 [BOOK X. 
 
 Pale human kind with plagues and with dry famine 
 Yet Turnus, with undaunted mind, is bent [frights. 
 385 To man the shores, and hinder their descent, 
 
 And thus awakes the courage of his friends : 
 
 What you so long have wished, kind F ortune sends — 
 In ardent arms to meet the invading foe: 
 
 You find, and find him at advantage now. 
 
 390 Yours is the day : you need but only dare; 
 
 Your swords will make you masters of the war. 
 
 Your sires, your sons, your houses, and your lands. 
 And dearest wives, are all within your hands : 
 
 Be mindful of the race from whence you came, 
 
 395 And emulate in arms your fathers’ fame. 
 
 Now take the time, while staggering yet they stand 
 With feet unfirm, and prepossess the strand : 
 
 Fortune befriends the bold.” No more he said. 
 
 But balanced, whom to leave, and whom to lead ; 
 
 400 Then these elects, the landing to prevent; 
 
 And those he leaves, to keep the city pent. 
 
 Meantime the Trojan sends his troops ashore : 
 Some are by boats exposed, by bridges more. 
 
 With labouring oars they bear along the strand, 
 
 405 Where the tide languishes, and leap a-land. 
 
 Tarchon observes the coast with careful eyes. 
 
 And, where no ford he finds, no water fries, 
 
 Nor billows with unequal murmurs roar. 
 
 But smoothly slide along, and swell the shore, 
 
 410 That course he steered, and thus he gave command : 
 ‘‘ Here ply your oars, and at all hazard land : 
 
 Force on the vessel, that her keel may wound 
 This hated soil, and furrow hostile ground. ^ 
 
 Let me securely land — I ask no more ; 
 
 415 Then sink my ships, or shatter on the shore.” 
 
 This fiery speech inflames his fearful friends : 
 
 They tug at every oar, and every stretcher bends : 
 They run their ships aground ; the vessels knock 
 (Thus forced ashore), and tremble with the shock. 
 
 420 Tarchon’s alone was lost, and stranded stood ; 
 
 Stuck on a bank, and beaten by the flood. 
 
 She breaks her back ; the loosened sides give way, 
 
BOOK X.] 
 
 VIRGWS ^NEIS. 
 
 263 
 
 And plunge the Tuscan soldiers in the sea. 
 
 Their broken oars and floating planks withstand 
 Their passage, while they labour to the land ; 425 
 
 And ebbing tides bear back upon the uncertain sand. 
 
 Now Turnus leads his troops without delay, 
 
 Advancing to the margin of the sea. 
 
 The trumpets sound : ^neas first assailed 
 
 The clowns new-raised and raw, and soon prevailed. 430 
 
 Great Theron fell, an omen of the fight — 
 
 Great Theron, large of limbs, of giant height. 
 
 He first in open fields defied the prince : 
 
 But armour scaled with gold was no defence 
 
 Against the fated sword, which opened wide 435 
 
 His plated shield, and pierced his naked side. 
 
 Next Lichas fell, who, not like others born. 
 
 Was from his wretched mother ripped and torn ; 
 
 Sacred, O Phoebus ! from his birth to thee ; 
 
 For his beginning life from biting steel was free. 440 
 Not far from him was Gyas laid along. 
 
 Of monstrous bulk ; with Cisseus fierce and strong : 
 
 Vain bulk and strength ! for, when the chief assailed, 
 
 Nor valour nor Herculean arms availed. 
 
 Nor their famed father, wont in war to go 445 
 
 With great Alcides, while he toiled below. 
 
 The noisy Pharos next received his death : 
 
 ^neas writhed his dart, and stopped his bawling breath. 
 Then wretched Cydon had received his doom. 
 
 Who courted Clytius in his beardless bloom, 450 
 
 And sought with lust obscene polluted joys — 
 
 The Trojan sword had cured his love of boys. 
 
 Had not his seven bold brethren stopped the course 
 Of the fierce champion, with united force. 
 
 Seven darts were thrown at once; and some rebound 455 
 From his bright shield, some on his helmet sound : 
 
 The rest had reached him ; but his mother’s care 
 Prevented those, and turned aside in air. 
 
 The prince then called Achates, to supply 
 The spears, that knew the way to victory : 460 
 
 Those fatal weapons, which, inured to blood. 
 
 In Grecian bodies under Ilium stood: 
 
264 VIRGirs ALNEIS. [book x. 
 
 Not one of those my hand shall toss in vain 
 Against our foes, on this contended plain.” 
 
 465 He said ; then seized a mighty spear, and threw; 
 Which, winged with fate, through Maeon^s buckler flew, 
 Pierced all the brazen plates, and reached his heart : 
 He staggered with intolerable smart. 
 
 Alcanor saw ; and reached, but reached in vain, 
 
 470 His helping hand, his brother to sustain. 
 
 A second spear, which kept the former course. 
 
 From the same hand, and sent with equal force. 
 
 His right arm pierced, and, holding on, bereft 
 His use of both, and pinioned down his left. 
 
 475 Then Numitor from his dead brother drew 
 
 The ill-omened spear, and at the Trojan threw: 
 Preventing fate directs the lance awry. 
 
 Which, glancing, only marked Achates’ thigh. 
 
 In pride of youth the Sabine Clausus came, 
 
 480 And, from afar, at Dryops took his aim. 
 
 The spear flew hissing through the middle space. 
 And pierced his throat, directed at his face : 
 
 It stopped at once the passage of his wind. 
 
 And the free soul to flitting air resigned : 
 
 485 His forehead was the first that struck the ground ; 
 Life-blood and life rushed mingled through the wound. 
 He slew three brothers of the Borean race. 
 
 And three, whom Ismarus, their native place. 
 
 Had sent to war, but all the sons of Thrace. 
 
 490 Halesus, next, the bold Aurunci leads : 
 
 The son of Neptune to his aid succeeds. 
 
 Conspicuous on his horse. On either hand. 
 
 These fight to keep, and those to win, the land. 
 
 With mutual blood the Ausonian soil is dyed, 
 
 495 While on its borders each their claim decide. 
 
 As wintry winds, contending in the sky. 
 
 With equal force of lungs their titles try : 
 
 They rage, they roar; the doubtful rack of heaven 
 Stands without motion, and the tide undriven : 
 
 500 Each bent to conquer, neither side to yield. 
 
 They long suspend the fortune of the field. 
 
 Both armies thus perform what courage can ; 
 
BOOK X.] 
 
 VIRGins ^NEIS. 
 
 265 
 
 Foot set to foot, and mingled, man to man. 
 
 But, in another part, the Arcadian horse 
 With ill success engage the Latian force : 505 
 
 For, where the impetuous torrent, rushing down, 
 
 Huge craggy stones and rooted trees had thrown. 
 
 They left their coursers, and, unused to fight 
 On foot, were scattered in a shameful flight. 
 
 Pallas, who, with disdain and grief, had viewed 510 
 
 His foes pursuing and his friends pursued, 
 
 Used threatenings mixed with prayers, his last resource, 
 With these to move their minds, with those to fire their force. 
 “ Which way, companions, whither would you run ? 
 
 By you yourselves, and mighty battles won, 515 
 
 By my great sire, by his established name. 
 
 And early promise of my future fame; 
 
 By my youth, emulous of equal right 
 To share his honours — shun ignoble flight ! 
 
 Trust not your feet : your hands must hew your way 520 
 Through yon black body, and that thick array : 
 
 ^Tis through that forward path that we must come; 
 
 There lies our way, and that our passage home. 
 
 Nor powers above, nor destinies below. 
 
 Oppress our arms : with equal strength we go, 525 
 
 With mortal hands to meet a mortal foe. 
 
 See on what foot we stand ! a scanty shore — 
 
 The sea behind, our enemies before : 
 
 No passage left, unless we swim the main; 
 
 Or, forcing these, the Trojan trenches gain.” 530 
 
 This said, he strode with eager haste along. 
 
 And bore amidst the thickest of the throng. 
 
 Lagus, the first he met, with fate to foe. 
 
 Had heaved a stone of mighty weight, to throw : 
 Stooping, the spear descended on his chine, 535 
 
 Just where the bone distinguished either loin; 
 
 It'^stuck so fast, so deeply buried lay. 
 
 That scarce the victor forced the steel away. 
 
 Hisbo came on; but, while he moved too slow 
 To wished revenge, the prince prevents his blow; 540 
 For, warding his at once, at once he pressed. 
 
 And plunged the fatal weapon in his breast. 
 
266 
 
 VIRGIVS ^NEIS, 
 
 [book X. 
 
 Then lewd Anchemolus he laid in dust, 
 
 Who stained his stepdame^s bed with impious lust. 
 545 And, after him, the Daunian twins were slain. 
 
 Laris and Thymbrus, on the Latian plain ; 
 
 So wondrous like in feature, shape, and size. 
 
 As caused an error in their parents^ eyes — 
 
 Grateful mistake ! but soon the sword decides 
 550 The nice distinction, and their fate divides: 
 
 For Thymbrus’ head was lopped; and Laris’ hand. 
 Dismembered, sought its owner on the strand : 
 
 The trembling fingers yet the falchion strain. 
 
 And threaten still the extended stroke in vain. 
 
 555 Now, to renew the charge, the Arcadians came : 
 Sight of such acts, and sense of honest shame. 
 
 And grief, with anger mixed, their minds inflame. 
 Then, with a causal blow was Rhoeteus slain. 
 
 Who chanced, as Pallas threw, to cross the plain : 
 560 The flying spear was after Ilus sent ; 
 
 But Rhoeteus happened on a death unmeant : 
 
 From Teuthras and from Tyres while he fled. 
 
 The lance, athwart his body, laid him dead : 
 
 Rolled from his chariot with a mortal wound, 
 
 565 And intercepted fate, he spurned the ground. 
 
 As when, in summer, welcome winds arise. 
 
 The watchful shepherd to the forest flies. 
 
 And fires the midmost plants ; contagion spreads. 
 And catching flames infect the neighbouring heads ; 
 570 Around the forest flies the furious blast. 
 
 And all the leafy nation sinks at last ; 
 
 And Vulcan rides in triumph o’er the waste ; 
 
 The pastor, pleased with his dire victory. 
 
 Beholds the satiate flames in sheets ascend the sky : 
 575 So Pallas’ troops their scattered strength unite. 
 
 And, pouring on their foes, their prince delight. 
 
 Halesus came, fierce with desire of blood ; 
 
 But first collected in his arms he stood : 
 
 Advancing then, he plied the spear so well, 
 
 580 Ladon, Demodocus, and Pheres, fell. 
 
 Around his head he tossed his glittering brand. 
 
 And from Strymonius hewed his better hand. 
 
VIRGWS ^NEIS. 
 
 267 
 
 BOOK X.] 
 
 Held up to guard his throat ; then hurled a stone 
 At Thoas^ ample front, and pierced the bone : 
 
 It struck beneath the space of either eye ; 5^5 
 
 And blood, and mingled brains, together fly. 
 
 Deep skilled in future fates, Halesus’ sire 
 Did with the youth to lonely groves retire ; 
 
 But, when the father^s mortal race was run. 
 
 Dire destiny laid hold upon the son, 590 
 
 And hauled him to the war, to find, beneath 
 The Evandrian spear, a memorable death. 
 
 Pallas the encounter seeks, but, ere he throws. 
 
 To Tuscan Tiber thus addressed his vows : 
 
 O sacred stream 1 direct my flying dart, 595 
 
 And give to pass the proud Halesus^ heart : 
 
 His arms and spoils thy holy oak shall bear.^^ 
 
 Pleased with the bribe, the god received his prayer : 
 
 For, while his shield protects a friend distressed. 
 
 The dart came driving on, and pierced his breast. 600 
 But Lausus, no small portion of the war. 
 
 Permits not panic fear to reign too far. 
 
 Caused by the death of so renowned a knight ; 
 
 But by his own example cheers the fight. 
 
 Fierce Abas first he slew — Abas, the stay 605 
 
 Of Trojan hopes, and hindrance of the day. 
 
 The Phrygian troops escaped the Greeks in vain : 
 
 They, and their mixed allies, now load the plain. 
 
 To the rude shock of war both armies came ; 
 
 Their leaders equal, and their strength the same. 610 
 The rear so pressed the front, they could not wield 
 Their angry w^eapons, to dispute the field. 
 
 Here Pallas urges on, and Lausus there : 
 
 Of equal youth and beauty both appear. 
 
 But both by fate forbid to breathe their native air. 615 
 Their congress in the field great Jove withstands — 
 
 Both doomed to fall, but fall by greater hands. 
 
 Meantime Juturna warns the Daunian chief 
 Of Lausus’ danger, urging swift relief. 
 
 With his driven chariot he divides the crowd, 620 
 
 And, making to his friends, thus calls aloud : 
 
 ‘‘ Let none presume his needless aid to join : 
 
268 
 
 VIRGirs ^NEIS. 
 
 [book X. 
 
 Retire, and clear the field ; the fight is mine : 
 
 To this right hand is Pallas only due : 
 
 625 Oh ! were his father here, my just revenge to view !” 
 From the forbidden space his men retired. 
 
 Pallas their awe, and his stern words, admired ; 
 Surveyed him o’er and o’er with wondering sight. 
 Struck with his haughty mien and towering height. 
 630 Then to the king : Your empty vaunts forbear : 
 Success I hope and fate I cannot fear. 
 
 Alive, or dead, I shall deserve a name: 
 
 Jove is impartial, and to both the same.^’ 
 
 He said, and to the void advanced his pace : 
 
 635 Pale horror sat on each Arcadian face. 
 
 Then Turnus, from his chariot leaping light. 
 Addressed himself on foot to single fight. 
 
 And, as a lion — when he spies from far 
 A bull that seems to meditate the war, 
 
 640 Bending his neck, and spurning back the sand — 
 Runs roaring downward from his hilly stand : 
 Imagine eager Turnus not more slow 
 To rush from high on his unequal foe. 
 
 Young Pallas, when he saw the chief advance 
 645 Within due distance of his. flying lance. 
 
 Prepares to charge him first — resolved to try 
 If Fortune would his want of force supply ; 
 
 And thus to heaven and Hercules addressed : 
 
 Alcides, once on earth Evander’s guest ! 
 
 650 His son adjures thee by those holy rites, 
 
 That hospitable board, those genial nights ; 
 
 Assist my great attempt to gain this prize. 
 
 And let proud Turnus view, with dying eyes. 
 
 His ravished spoils.” ’Twas heard, the vain request ; 
 655 Alcides mourned, and stifled sighs within his breast. 
 Then Jove, to soothe his sorrow, thus began : 
 
 Short bounds of life are set to mortal man : 
 
 ^Tis virtue’s work alone to stretch the narrow span. 
 
 So many sons of gods, in bloody fight 
 660 Around the walls of Troy, have lost the light: 
 
 My own Sarpedon fell beneath his foe ; 
 
 Nor I, his mighty sire, could ward the blow. 
 
BOOK X.] 
 
 VIRGWS MNEIS, 
 
 269 
 
 E’en Turnus shortly shall resign his breath, 
 
 And stands already on the verge of death.” 
 
 This said, the god permits the fatal fight, 665 
 
 But from the Latian fields averts his sight. 
 
 Now with full force his spear young Pallas threw ; 
 
 And, having thrown, his shining falchion drew. 
 
 The steel just grazed along the shoulder-joint. 
 
 And marked it slightly with the glancing point. 670 
 
 Fierce Turnus first to nearer distance drew. 
 
 And poised his pointed spear, before he threw : 
 
 Then, as the winged weapon whizzed along, 
 
 “ See now, (said he) whose arm is better strung.” 
 
 The spear kept on the fatal course unstayed 675 
 
 By plates of iron, which o’er the shield were laid : 
 Through folded brass, and tough bull-hides, it passed. 
 
 His corselet pierced, and reached his heart at last. 
 
 In vain the youth tugs at the broken wood; 
 
 The soul comes issuing with the vital blood : 680 
 
 He falls ; his arms upon his body sound ; 
 
 And with his bloody teeth he bites the ground. 
 
 Turnus bestrode the corpse : ‘‘Arcadians, hear, 
 
 (Said he) my message to your master bear : 
 
 Such as the sire deserved, the son I send ; 685 
 
 It costs him dear to be the Phrygian’s friend. 
 
 The lifeless body, tell him, I bestow 
 'Unasked, to rest his wandering ghost below.” 
 
 He said, and trampled down, with all the force 
 
 Of his left foot, and spurned the wretched corpse ; 690 
 
 Then snatched the shining belt, with gold inlaid — 
 
 The belt Eurytion’s artful hands had made. 
 
 Where fifty fatal brides, expressed to sight. 
 
 All, in the compass of one mournful night. 
 
 Deprived their bridegrooms of returning light. 695 
 
 In an ill hour insulting Turnus tore 
 Those golden spoils, and in a worse he wore. 
 
 O mortals ! blind in fate, who never know 
 To bear high fortune, or endure the low ! 
 
 The time shall come, when Turnus, but in vain, 700 
 Shall wish untouched the trophies of the slain — 
 
 Shall wish the fatal belt were far away. 
 
270 
 
 VIRGirS AlNEIS. 
 
 [book X. 
 
 And curse the dire remembrance of the day. 
 
 The sad Arcadians, from the unhappy field, 
 
 705 Bear back the breathless body on a shield. 
 
 O grace and grief of war ! at once restored, 
 
 With praises, to thy sire, at once deplored. 
 
 One day first sent thee to the fighting-field. 
 
 Beheld whole heaps of foes in battle killed ; 
 
 710 One day behold thee dead, and borne upon thy shield. 
 This dismal news, not from uncertain fame. 
 
 But sad spectators, to the hero came : 
 
 His friends upon the brink of ruin stand. 
 
 Unless relieved by his victorious hand. 
 
 715 He whirls his sword around, without delay. 
 
 And hews through adverse foes an ample way. 
 
 To find fierce Turnus, of his conquest proud. 
 Evander, Pallas, all that friendship owed 
 To large deserts, are present to his eyes — 
 
 720 His plighted hand, and hospitable ties. 
 
 Four sons of Sulmo, four whom Ufens bred, 
 
 He took in fight, and living victims led. 
 
 To please the ghost of Pallas, and expire. 
 
 In sacrifice, before his funeral fire. 
 
 725 At Magus next he threw : he stooped below 
 
 The flying spear, and shunned the promised blow. 
 Then, creeping, clasped the heroes knees, and prayed : 
 
 By young lulus, by thy father’s shade, 
 
 P ! spare my life, and send me back to see 
 730 My longing sire, and tender progeny, 
 
 A lofty house I have, and wealth untold. 
 
 In silver ingots, and in bars of gold : 
 
 All these, and sums besides, which see no day. 
 
 The ransom of this one poor life shall pay. 
 
 735 If I survive, will Troy the less prevail.^ 
 
 A single soul’s too light to turn the scale.” 
 
 He said. The hero sternly thus replied : 
 
 “Thy bars and ingots, and the sums beside. 
 
 Leave for thy children’s lot. Thy Turnus broke 
 740 All rules of war by one relentless stroke. 
 
 When Pallas fell : so deems, nor deems alone. 
 
 My father’s shadow, but my living son.” 
 
BOOK X.] 
 
 VIRGirS ^NEIS, 
 
 271 
 
 Thus having said, of kind remorse bereft, 
 
 He seized his helm, and dragged him with his left , 
 Then with his right hand, while his neck he wreathed. 
 Up to the hilts his shining falchion sheathed. 
 
 Apollons priest, Haemonides, was near ; 
 
 His holy fillets on his front appear ; 
 
 Glittering in arms, he shone amidst the crowd, 
 
 Much of his god, more of his purple, proud. 
 
 Him the fierce Trojan followed through the field : 
 The holy coward fell ; and, forced to yield. 
 
 The prince stood o’er the priest, and, at one blow. 
 Sent him an offering to the shades below. 
 
 His arms Serestus on his shoulders bears. 
 
 Designed a trophy to the god of wars. 
 
 Vulcanian Caeculus renews the fight. 
 
 And Umbro born upon the mountain’s height. 
 
 The champion cheers his troops t’ encounter those. 
 And seeks revenge himself on other foes. 
 
 At Anxur’s shield he drove ; and, at the blow. 
 
 Both shield and arm to ground together go. 
 
 Anxur had boasted much of magic charms. 
 
 And thought he wore impenetrable arms. 
 
 So made by muttered spells ; and, from the spheres. 
 Had life secured, in vain, for length of years. 
 
 Then Tarquitus the field in triumph trod ; 
 
 A nymph his mother, and his sire a god. 
 
 Exulting in bright arms, he braves the prince : 
 
 With his protended lance he makes defence ; 
 
 Bears back his feeble foe ; then, pressing on. 
 
 Arrests his better hand, and drags him down ; 
 Stands o’er the prostrate wretch, and (as he lay. 
 Vain tales inventing, and prepared to pray) 
 
 Mows off his head : the trunk a moment stood. 
 
 Then sunk, and rolled along the sand in blood. 
 
 The vengeful victor thus upbraids the slain : 
 
 Lie there, proud man, unpitied on the plain : 
 
 Lie there, inglorious, and without a tomb. 
 
 Far from thy mother and thy native home ; 
 
 Exposed to savage beasts, and birds of prey. 
 
 Or thrown for food to monsters of the sea.” 
 
 745 
 
 750 
 
 755 
 
 760 
 
 765 
 
 770 
 
 775 
 
 780 
 
272 
 
 VIRGirS MNEIS. 
 
 [book X. 
 
 On Lucas and Ant^us next he ran, 
 
 Two chiefs of Turnus, and who led his van. 
 
 785 They fled for fear ; with these, he chased along 
 Garners the yellow-locked, and Numa strong ; 
 
 Both great in arms, and both were fair and young. 
 Gamers was son to Volscens lately slain. 
 
 In wealth surpassing all the Latian train. 
 
 790 And in Amyclae flxed his silent easy reign. 
 
 And, as ^gaeon, when with heaven he strove. 
 Stood opposite in arms to mighty Jove ; 
 
 Moved all his hundred hands, provoked the war, 
 Defied the forky lightning from afar ; 
 
 795 At fifty mouths his flaming breath expires. 
 
 And flash for flash returns, and fires for fires ; 
 
 In his right hand as many swords he wields. 
 
 And takes the thunder on as many shields : 
 
 With strength like this, the Trojan hero stood ; 
 
 800 And soon the fields with falling corpse were strewed. 
 When once his falchion found the taste of blood. 
 
 With fury scarce to be conceived, he flew 
 Against Niphasus, whom four coursers drew. 
 
 They, when they see the fiery chief advance, 
 
 805 And pushing at their chests his pointed lance. 
 Wheeled with so swift a motion, mad with fear. 
 
 They threw their master headlong from the chair. 
 They stare, they start, nor stop their course, before, 
 They bear the bounding chariot to the shore. 
 
 810 Now Lucagus and Liger scour the plains. 
 
 With two white steeds; but Liger holds the reins, 
 And Lucagus the lofty seat maintains — 
 
 Bold brethren both. The former waved in air 
 His flaming sword : ^neas couched his spear, 
 
 815 Unused to threats, and more unused to fear. 
 
 Then Liger thus : Thy confidence is vain 
 To ^scape from hence, as from the Trojan plain: 
 
 Nor these the steeds which Diomede bestrode. 
 
 Nor this the chariot where Achilles rode: 
 
 820 Nor Venus’ veil is here, nor Neptune’s shield ; 
 
 Thy fatal hour is come ; and this the field.” 
 
 Thus Liger vainly vaunts : the Trojan peer 
 
BOOK X.] 
 
 VIRGinS MNEIS. 
 
 273 
 
 Returned his answer with his flying spear. 
 
 As Liicagus, to lash his horses, bends, 
 
 Prone to the wheels, and his left foot protends, 825 
 
 Prepared for fight : the fatal dart arrives. 
 
 And through the border of his buckler drives ; 
 
 Passed through, and pierced his groin. The deadly wound, 
 Cast from his chariot, rolled him on the ground ; 
 
 Whom thus the chief upbraids with scornful spite : 830 
 
 Blame not the slowness of your steeds in flight : 
 
 Vain shadows did not force their swift retreat ; 
 
 But you yourself forsake your empty seat.’^ 
 
 He said, and seized at once the loosened rein ; 
 
 For Liger lay already on the plain 835 
 
 By the same shock ; then, stretching out his hands. 
 
 The recreant thus his wretched life demands : 
 
 Now, by thyself, O more than mortal man ! 
 
 By her and him from whom thy breath began, 
 
 Who formed thee thus divine, I beg thee, spare 840 
 
 This forfeit life, and hear thy suppliant’s prayer.” 
 
 Thus much he spoke, and more he would have said; 
 
 But the stern hero turned aside his head. 
 
 And cut him short : I hear another man : 
 
 You talked not thus before the fight began. 845 
 
 Now take your turn ; and, as a brother should. 
 
 Attend your brother to the Stygian flood.” 
 
 Then through his breast his fatal sword he sent ; 
 
 And the soul issued at the gaping vent. 
 
 As storms the skies, and torrents tear the ground, 850 
 Thus raged the prince, and scattered deaths around. 
 
 At length, Ascanius and the Trojan train 
 Broke from the camp, so long besieged in vain. 
 
 Meantime the king of gods and mortal man 
 Held conference with his queen, and thus began : 855 
 
 My sister-goddess, and well-pleasing wife. 
 
 Still think you Venus’ aid supports the strife — 
 
 Sustains her Trojans — or themselves, alone, 
 
 With inborn valour force their fortune on.^ 
 
 How fierce in fight, with courage undecayed ! 860 
 
 Judge if such warriors want immortal aid.” 
 
 To whom the goddess with the charming eyes, 
 
 S 
 
274 VIRGirS AlNEIS. [book x. 
 
 Soft in her tone, submissively replies : 
 
 ‘‘Why, O my sovereign lord, whose frown I fear, 
 
 865 And cannot, unconcerned, your anger bear — 
 
 Why urge you thus my grief? when, if I still 
 (As once I was) were mistress of your will. 
 
 From your almighty power your pleasing wife 
 Might gain the grace of lengthening Turnus^ life, 
 
 870 Securely snatch him from the fatal fight, 
 
 And give him to his aged father’s sight. 
 
 Now let him perish, since you hold it good. 
 
 And glut the Trojans with his pious blood! 
 
 Yet, from our lineage he derives his name, 
 
 875 And, in the fourth degree, from god Pilumnus came ; 
 Yet he devoutly pays you rites divine. 
 
 And offers daily incense at your shrine.” 
 
 Then shortly thus the sovereign god replied : 
 
 “ Since in my power and goodness you confide, 
 
 880 If, for a little space, a lengthened span. 
 
 You beg reprieve for this expiring man, 
 
 I grant you leave to take your Turnus hence 
 From instant fate, and can so far dispense. 
 
 But, if some secret meaning lies beneath, 
 
 885 To save the short-lived youth from destined death; 
 Or, if a farther thought you entertain. 
 
 To change the fates ; you feed your hopes in vain.” 
 
 To whom the goddess thus, with weeping eyes : 
 
 “ And what if that request your tongue denies, 
 
 890 Your heart should grant — and not a short reprieve. 
 
 But length of certain life, to Turnus give ? 
 
 Now speedy death attends the guiltless youth, 
 
 If my presaging soul divines with truth; 
 
 Which, O ! I wish might err, through causeless fears, 
 895 And you (for you have power) prolong his years!” 
 Thus having said, involved in clouds, she flies, 
 
 And drives a storm before her through the skies. 
 
 Swift she descends, alighting on the plain. 
 
 Where the fierce foes a dubious fight maintain. 
 
 900 Of air condensed, a spectre soon she made ; 
 
 And, what yEneas was, such seemed the shade. 
 Adorned with Dardan arms, the phantom bore 
 
BOOK X.] VJRGWS JENEIS, 
 
 His head aloft ; a plumy crest he wore : 
 
 This hand appeared a shining sword to wield, 
 
 And that sustained an imitated shield. 
 
 With manly mien he stalked along the ground, 
 
 Nor wanted voice belied, nor vaunting sound. 
 
 (Thus haunting ghosts appear to waking sight, 
 
 Or dreadful visions in our dreams by night.) 
 
 The spectre seems the Daunian chief to dare. 
 
 And flourishes his empty sword in air. 
 
 At this, advancing, Turnus hurled his spear: 
 
 The phantom wheeled, and seemed to fly for fear. 
 Deluded Turnus thought the Trojan fled. 
 
 And with vain hopes his haughty fancy fed. 
 
 “ Whither, O coward.^ (thus he calls aloud, 
 
 Nor found he spoke to wind, and chased a cloud,) 
 Why thus forsake your bride ! Receive from me 
 The fated land you sought so long by sea.’^ 
 
 He said, and, brandishing at once his blade. 
 
 With eager pace pursued the flying shade. 
 
 By chance a ship was fastened to the shore. 
 
 Which from old Clusium king Osinius bore : 
 
 The plank was ready laid for safe ascent ; 
 
 For shelter there the trembling shadow bent, 
 
 And skipped and skulked, and under hatches went. 
 Exulting Turnus, with regardless haste, 
 
 Ascends the plank, and to the galley passed. 
 
 Scarce had he reached the prow ; Saturnia’s hand 
 The halsers cuts, and shoots the ship from land. 
 With wind in poop, the vessel ploughs the sea. 
 
 And measures back with speed her former way. 
 Meantime ^Eneas seeks his absent foe. 
 
 And sends his slaughtered troops to shades below. 
 
 The guileful phantom now forsook the shroud. 
 And flew sublime, and vanished in a cloud. 
 
 Too late young Turnus the delusion found. 
 
 Far on the sea, still making from the ground. 
 
 Then, thankless for a life redeemed by shame. 
 
 With sense of honour stung, and forfeit fame. 
 Fearful besides of what in fight had passed. 
 
 His hands and haggard eyes to heaven he cast : 
 
 275 
 
 905 
 
 910 
 
 915 
 
 920 
 
 925 
 
 930 
 
 935 
 
 940 
 
276 
 
 viRGirs ^:neis. 
 
 [book X. 
 
 O Jove ! (he cried) for what offence have I 
 Deserved to bear this endless infamy? 
 
 945 Whence am I forced, and whither am I borne ? 
 How, and with what reproach, shall I return ? 
 
 Shall ever I behold the Latian plain. 
 
 Or see Laurentum’s lofty towers again ? 
 
 What will they say of their deserting chief? 
 
 950 The war was mine : I fly from their relief! 
 
 I led to slaughter, and in slaughter leave ; 
 
 And e’en from hence their dying groans receive. 
 Here, over-matched in fight, in heaps they lie ; 
 There, scattered o’er the fields, ignobly fly. 
 
 955 Gape wide, O earth, and draw me down alive ! 
 
 Or, oh 1 ye pitying winds, a wretch relieve ! 
 
 On sands or shelves the splitting vessel drive ; 
 
 Or set me shipwrecked on some desert shore. 
 
 Where no Rutulian eyes may see me more — 
 
 960 Unknown to friends, or foes, or conscious fame. 
 
 Lest she should follow, and my flight proclaim.” 
 
 Thus Turnus raved, and various fates revolved : 
 The choice w^as doubtful, but the death resolved. 
 
 And now the sword, and now the sea, took place — 
 965 That to revenge, and this to purge disgrace. 
 
 Sometimes he thought to swim the stormy main. 
 
 By stretch of arms the distant shore to gain. 
 
 Thrice he the sword essayed, and thrice the flood ; 
 But Juno, moved with pity, both withstood, 
 
 970 And thrice repressed his rage ; strong gales supplied, 
 And pushed the vessel o’er the swelling tide. 
 
 At length she lands him on his native shores. 
 
 And to his father’s longing arms restores. 
 
 Meantime, by Jove’s impulse, Mezentius armed, 
 975 Succeeding Turnus, with his ardour warmed 
 
 His fainting friends, reproached their shameful flight, 
 Repelled the victors, and renewed the fight. 
 
 Against their king the Tuscan troops conspire ; 
 
 Such is their hate, and such their fierce desire 
 980 Of wished revenge — on him, and him alone. 
 
 All hands employed, and all their darts are thrown. 
 He, like a solid rock by seas inclosed, 
 
BOOK X.] 
 
 VJRGIVS AlNEIS. 
 
 277 
 
 To raging winds and roaring waves opposed, 
 
 From his proud summit looking down, disdains 
 Their empty menace, and unmoved remains. 985 
 
 Beneath his feet fell haughty Hebrus dead, 
 
 Then Latagus, and Palmus as he fled. 
 
 At Latagus a weighty stone he flung : 
 
 His face. was flatted, and his helmet rung. 
 
 But Palmus from behind receives his wound : 990 
 
 Hamstringed he falls, and grovels on the ground: 
 
 His crest and armour, from his body torn. 
 
 Thy shoulders, Lausus, and thy head, adorn. 
 
 Evas and Mimas, both of Troy, he slew. 
 
 Mimas his birth from fair Theano drew — 995 
 
 Born on that fatal night, when, big with fire. 
 
 The queen produced young Paris to his sire. 
 
 But Paris in the Phrygian fields was slain. 
 
 Unthinking Mimas on the Latian plain. 
 
 And, as a savage boar, on mountains bred, 1000 
 
 With forest mast and fattening marshes fed. 
 
 When once he sees himself in toils inclosed. 
 
 By huntsmen and their eager hounds opposed, 
 
 He whets his tusks, and turns, and dares the war : 
 
 The invaders dart their javelins from afar: 1005 
 
 All keep aloof, and safely shout around; 
 
 But none presumes to give a nearer wound; 
 
 He frets and froths, erects his bristled hide. 
 
 And shakes a grove of lances from his side: 
 
 Not otherwise the troops, with hate inspired, 1010 
 
 And just revenge against the tyrant fired, 
 
 Their darts with clamour at a distance drive. 
 
 And only keep the languished war alive. 
 
 From Corythus came Acron to the fight, 1014 
 
 Who left his spouse betrothed, and unconsummate night. 
 Mezentius sees him through the squadron ride. 
 
 Proud of the purple favours of his bride. 
 
 Then, as a hungry lion, who beholds 
 A gamesome goat, who frisks about the folds. 
 
 Or beamy stag, that grazes on the plain — 
 
 He runs, he roars, he shakes his rising mane; 
 
 He grins, and opens wide his greedy jaws : 
 
 1020 
 
278 
 
 VIRGinS A£NEIS. 
 
 [BOOK X. 
 
 The prey lies panting underneath his paws: 
 
 He fills his famished maw ; his mouth runs o’er 
 1025 With unchewed morsels, while he churns the gore: 
 So proud Mezentius rushes on his foes, 
 
 And first unhappy Acron overthrows : 
 
 Stretched at his length, he spurns the swarthy ground ; 
 The lance, besmeared with blood, lies broken in the 
 1030 Then with disdain thehaughty victor viewed [wound. 
 Orodes flying, nor the wretch pursued, 
 
 Nor thought the dastard’s back deserved a wound, 
 But, running, gained the advantage of the ground : 
 Then turning short, he met him face to face, 
 
 1035 To give his victory the better grace. 
 
 Orodes falls, in equal fight oppressed : 
 
 Mezentius fixed his foot upon his breast. 
 
 And rested lance ; and thus aloud he cries : 
 
 “ Lo ! here the champion of my rebels lies !” 
 
 1040 The fields around with lo Paean !” ring; 
 
 And peals of shouts applaud the conquering king. 
 
 At this the vanquished, with his dying breath, 
 
 Thus faintly spoke, and prophesied in death : 
 
 Nor thou, proud man, unpunished shalt remain; 
 1045 Like death attends thee on this fatal plain.” 
 
 Then, sourly smiling, thus the king replied: 
 
 ‘‘For what belongs to me, let Jove provide; 
 
 But die thou first, whatever chance ensue.” 
 
 He said, and from the wound the weapon drew. 
 
 1050 A hovering mist came swimming o’er his sight. 
 
 And sealed his eyes in everlasting night. 
 
 By Caedicus, Alcathous was slain: 
 
 Sacrator laid Hydaspes on the plain: 
 
 Orses the strong to greater strength must yield ; 
 
 1055 He, with Parthenius, were by Rapo killed. 
 
 Then brave Messapus Ericetes slew. 
 
 Who from Lycaon’s blood his lineage drew; 
 
 But from his headstrong horse his fate he found, 
 Who threw his master, as he made a bound : 
 
 1060 The chief, alighting, stuck him to the ground; 
 
 Then Clonius, hand to hand, on foot assails : 
 
 The Trojan sinks, and Neptune’s son prevails. 
 
BOOK X.] 
 
 VIRGinS yENEIS. 
 
 279 
 
 Agis the Lycian, stepping forth with pride, 
 
 To single fight the boldest foe defied; 
 
 Whom Tuscan Valerus by force o’ercame, 1065 
 
 And not belied his mighty father’s fame. 
 
 Salius to death the great Authronius sent : 
 
 But the same fate the victor underwent, 
 
 Slain by Nealces’ hand, well skilled to throw 
 The flying dart, and draw the far-deceiving bow. 1070 
 Thus equal deaths are dealt with equal chance : 
 
 By turns they quit their ground, by turns advance, 
 Victors and vanquished in the various field, 
 
 Nor wholly overcome, nor wholly yield. 
 
 The gods from heaven survey the fatal strife, 1075 
 
 And mourn the miseries of human life. 
 
 Above the rest, two goddesses appear 
 Concerned for each : here Venus, Juno there. 
 
 Amidst the crowd, infernal Ate shakes 
 Her scourge aloft, and crest of hissing snakes. 1080 
 
 Once more the proud Mezentius, with disdain. 
 Brandished his spear, and rushed into the plain. 
 
 Where towering in the midmost ranks he stood, 
 
 Like tall Orion stalking o’er the flood ; 
 
 (When with his brawny breast he cuts the waves, 1085 
 His shoulders scarce the topmost billow laves,) 
 
 Or like a mountain-ash, whose roots are spread. 
 
 Deep fixed in earth — in clouds he hides his head. 
 
 The Trojan prince beheld him from afar. 
 
 And dauntless undertook the doubtful war. 1090 
 
 Collected in his strength, and like a rock 
 Poised on his base, Mezentius stood the shock. 
 
 He stood, and, measuring first with careful eyes 
 The space his spear could reach, aloud he cries : 
 
 ‘‘My strong right hand, and sword, assist my stroke! 1095 
 (Those only gods Mezentius will invoke,) 
 
 His armour from the Trojan pirate torn. 
 
 By my triumphant Lausus shall be worn.” 
 
 He said ; and with his utmost force he threw 
 The massy spear, which, hissing as it flew, 1100 
 
 Reached the celestial shield : that stopped the course ; 
 But, glancing thence, the yet unbroken force 
 
28o 
 
 VIRGWS MNEIS. 
 
 [book X. 
 
 Took a new bent obliquely, and, betwixt 
 The side and bowels, famed Antores fixed. 
 
 1105 Antores had from Argos travelled far, 
 
 Alcides’ friend, and brother of the war; 
 
 Till, tired with toils, fair Italy he chose. 
 
 And in Evander’s palace sought repose. 
 
 Now falling by another's wound, his eyes 
 mo He casts to heaven, on Argos thinks, and dies. 
 
 The pious Trojan then his javelin sent : 
 
 The shield gave way : through triple plates it went 
 Of solid brass, of linen triply rolled. 
 
 And three bull hides which round the buckler rolled. 
 1 1 15 All these it passed, resistless in the course, 
 
 Transpierced his thigh, and spent its dying force. 
 The gaping wound gushed out a crimson flood. 
 
 The Trojan, glad with sight of hostile blood. 
 
 His falchion drew, to closer fight addressed, 
 
 1120 And with new force his fainting foe oppressed. 
 
 His father’s peril Lausus viewed with grief ; 
 
 He sighed, he wept, he ran to his relief. 
 
 And here, heroic youth, ’tis here I must 
 To thy immortal memory be just, 
 
 1125 And sing an act so noble and so new, 
 
 Posterity will scarce believe ’tis true. 
 
 Pained with his wound, and useless for the fight, 
 The father sought to save himself by flight : 
 Encumbered, slow he dragged the spear along, 
 
 1130 Which pierced his thigh, and in his buckler hung. 
 The pious youth, resolved on death, below 
 The lifted sword, springs forth to face the foe; 
 Protects his parent, and prevents the blow. 
 
 Shouts of applause ran ringing through the field, 
 1135 To see the son the vanquished father shield. 
 
 All, fired with generous indignation, strive. 
 
 And, with a storm of darts, to distance drive 
 The Trojan chief, who, held at bay from far. 
 
 On his Vulcanian orb sustained the war. 
 
 1 140 As, when thick hail comes rattling in the wind. 
 The ploughman, passenger, and labouring hind. 
 
 For shelter to the neighbouring covert fly. 
 
BOOK X.] 
 
 VIRGirS MNEIS, 
 
 281 
 
 Or housed, or safe in hollow caverns, lie ; 
 
 But that o’erblown, when heaven above them smiles, 
 Return to travail, and renew their toils : 1145 
 
 ^neas thus, o’erwhelmed on every side, 
 
 The storm of darts, undaunted, did abide ; 
 
 And thus to Lausus, loud, with friendly threatening cried: 
 “ Why wilt thou rush to certain death, and rage 
 In rash attempts, beyond thy tender age, 1150 
 
 Betrayed by pious love?^^ — Nor, thus forborne. 
 
 The youth desists, but with insulting scorn 
 Provokes the lingering prince, whose patience, tired. 
 
 Gave place ; and all his breast with fury fired. 
 
 For now the Fates prepared their sharpened shears ; 1 155 
 And lifted high the flaming sw'ord appears. 
 
 Which, full descending with a frightful sway. 
 
 Through shield and corselet forced the impetuous way. 
 And buried deep in his fair bosom lay. 
 
 The purple streams through the thin armour strove, 1160 
 And drenched the embroidered coat his mother wove ; 
 And life at length forsook his heaving heart, 
 
 Loth from so sweet a mansion to depart. 
 
 But when, with blood and paleness all overspread. 
 
 The pious prince beheld young Lausus dead, 1165 
 
 He grieved ; he wept, (the sight an image brought 
 Of his own filial love — a sadly-pleasing thought,) 
 
 Then stretched his hand to hold him up, and said : 
 
 Poor hapless youth ! what praises can be paid 
 To love so great, to such transcendent store 1170 
 
 Of early worth, and sure presage of more ? 
 
 Accept whate’er /Eneas can afford : 
 
 Untouched thy arms, untaken be thy sword ; 
 
 And all that pleased thee living, still remain 
 Inviolate, and sacred to the slain. 1175 
 
 Thy body on thy parents I bestow. 
 
 To rest thy soul, at least, if shadows know. 
 
 Or have a sense of human things below. 
 
 There to thy fellow-ghosts with glory tell, 
 
 ^Twas by the great Eneas’ hand 1 fell.^ 1180 
 
 With this, his distant friends he beckons near, 
 
 Provokes their duty, and prevents their fear : 
 
282 
 
 VIRGins J^NEIS. 
 
 [book X. 
 
 Himself assists to lift him from the ground, [wound. 
 With clotted locks, and blood that welled from out the 
 1185 Meantime, his father (now no father,) stood. 
 
 And washed his wounds, by Tiber’s yellow flood : 
 Oppressed with anguish, panting, and o’erspent, 
 
 His fainting limbs against an oak he leant. 
 
 A bough his brazen helmet did sustain ; 
 
 1190 His heavier arms lay scattered on the plain : 
 
 A chosen train of youth around him stand ; 
 
 His drooping head was rested on his hand ; 
 
 His grisly beard his pensive bosom sought; 
 
 And all on Lausus ran his restless thought. 
 
 1195 Careful, concerned his danger to prevent. 
 
 He much inquired, and many a message sent 
 To warn him from the field — alas ! in vain ! 
 
 Behold ! his mournful followers bear him slain: 
 
 O’er his broad shield still gushed the yawning wound, 
 1200 And drew a bloody trail along the ground. 
 
 Far off he heard their cries, far off divined 
 The diie event with a foreboding mind. 
 
 With dust he sprinkled first his hoary head ; 
 
 Then both his lifted hands to heaven he spread ; 
 1205 Last, the dear corpse embracing, thus he said : 
 
 What joys, alas ! could this frail being give, 
 
 That I have been so covetous to live ? 
 
 To see my son, and such a son, resign 
 His life a ransom for preserving mine 
 1210 And am I then preserved, and art thou lost? 
 
 How much too dear has that redemption cost ! 
 
 ’Tis now my bitter banishment I feel : 
 
 This is a wound too deep for time to heal. 
 
 My guilt thy growing virtues did defame : 
 
 1215 My blackness blotted thy unblemished name. 
 Chased from a throne, abandoned, and exiled 
 For foul misdeeds, were punishments too mild : 
 
 I owed my people these, and, from their hate. 
 
 With less resentment could have borne my fate. 
 
 1220 And yet I live, and yet sustain the sight 
 Of hated men, and of more hated light — 
 
 But will not long.” With that he raised from ground 
 
VIRGIL'S AiNElS. 
 
 283 
 
 BOOK X.] 
 
 His fainting limbs that staggered with his wound ; 
 
 Yet, with a mind resolved, and unappalled 
 With pains or perils, for his courser called — 1225 
 
 Well-mouthed, well-managed, whom himself did dress 
 With daily care, and mounted with success — 
 
 His aid in arms, his ornament in peace. 
 
 Soothing his courage with a gentle stroke. 
 
 The steed seemed sensible, while thus he spoke : 1230 
 
 O Rhoebus 1 we have lived too long for me — 
 
 If life and long were terms that could agree. 
 
 This day thou either shalt bring back the head 
 And bloody trophies of the Trojan dead — 
 
 This day thou either shalt revenge my woe, 1235 
 
 For murdered Lausus, on his cruel foe ; 
 
 Or, if inexorable Fate deny 
 
 Our conquest, with thy conquered master die : 
 
 For, after such a lord, I rest secure, 
 
 Thou wilt no foreign reins, or Trojan load, endure.” 1240 
 He said ; and straight the officious courser kneels. 
 
 To take his wonted weight. His hands he fills 
 
 With pointed javelins ; on his head he laced 
 
 His glittering helm, which terribly was graced 
 
 With waving horse-hair, nodding from afar ; 1245 
 
 Then spurred his thundering steed amidst the war. 
 
 Love, anguish, wrath, and grief, to madness wrought. 
 Despair, and secret shame, and conscious thought 
 Of inborn worth, his labouring soul oppressed. 
 
 Rolled in his eyes, and raged within his breast. 1250 
 Then loud he called ^neas thrice by name : 
 
 The loud repeated voice to glad ^neas came. 
 
 Great Jove (he said), and the far-shooting god, 
 
 Inspire thy mind to make thy challenge good ! ” 
 
 He spoke no more, but hastened, void of fear, 1255 
 
 And threatened with his long protended spear. 
 
 To whom Mezentius thus : “Thy vaunts are vain. 
 
 My Lausus lies extended on the plain : 
 
 He ’s lost ! thy conquest is already won ; 
 
 The wretched sire is murdered in the son. 1260 
 
 Nor fate I fear, but all the gods defy. 
 
 Forbear thy threats : my business is to die ; 
 
284 VIRGIL’S JENEIS. [book x. 
 
 But first receive this parting legacy/^ 
 
 He said; and straight a whirling dart he sent; 
 
 1265 Another after, and another, went. 
 
 Round in a spacious ring he rides the field, 
 
 And vainly plies the impenetrable shield. 
 
 Thrice rode he round ; and thrice Hi^neas wheeled, 
 Turned as he turned: the golden orb withstood 
 1 270 The strokes, and bore about an iron wood. 
 Impatient of delay, and weary grown, 
 
 Still to defend, and to defend alone. 
 
 To wrench the darts which in his buckler light. 
 Urged and overlaboured in unequal fight — 
 
 1275 At length resolved, he throws, with all his force. 
 Full at the temples of the warrior-horse. 
 
 J List where the stroke was aimed, the unerring spear 
 Made way, and stood transfixed through either ear. 
 Seized with unwonted pain, surprised with fright, 
 1280 The wounded steed curvets, and raised upright. 
 Lights on his feet before; his hoofs behind 
 Spring up in air aloft, and lash the wind. 
 
 Down comes the rider headlong from his height; 
 His horse came after with unwieldy weight, 
 
 1285 And, floundering forward, pitching on his head. 
 
 His lord’s encumbered shoulder overlaid. 
 
 From either host, the mingled shouts and cries 
 Of Trojans and Rutulians rend the skies: 
 
 ^neas, hastening, waved his fatal sword 
 1290 High o’er his head, with this reproachful word : 
 
 “ Now ! where are now thy vaunts, the fierce disdain 
 Of proud Mezentius, and the lofty strain?” 
 
 Struggling, and wildly staring on the skies 
 With scarce recovered sight, he thus replies : 
 
 1295 ^^Why these insulting words, this waste of breath. 
 To souls undaunted, and secure of death? 
 
 ’Tis no dishonour for the brave to die ! 
 
 Nor came I here with hopes of victory; 
 
 Nor ask I life, nor fought with that design : 
 
 1300 As I had used my fortune, use thou thine. 
 
 My dying son contracted no such band ; 
 
 The gift is hateful from his murderer’s hand. 
 
BOOK X.] 
 
 V/T^GJrs MNEIS. 
 
 285 
 
 For this, this only favour, let me sue; 
 
 If pity can to conquered foes be due. 
 
 Refuse it not; but let my body have 1305 
 
 The last retreat of human-kind, a grave. 
 
 Too well I know the insulting people^s hate: 
 
 Protect me from their vengeance after fate: 
 
 This refuge for my poor remains provide; 
 
 And lay my much-loved Lausus by my side.” 1310 
 
 He said, and to the sword his throat applied : 
 
 The crimson stream distained his arms around. 
 
 And the disdainful soul came rushing through the wound. 
 
BOOK XI. 
 
 THE ARGUMENT. 
 
 i^neas erects a trophy of the spoils of Mezentius, grants a truce 
 for burying the dead, and sends home the body of Pallas with 
 great solemnity. Latinus calls a council, to propose offers 
 of peace to ^^neas ; which occasions great animosity be- 
 twixt Turnus and Drances. In the meantime there is a 
 sharp engagement of the horse, wherein Camilla signalizes 
 herself, is killed ; and the Latin troops are entirely defeated. 
 
 S CARCE had the rosy morning raised her head 
 Above the waves, and left her watery bed : 
 
 The pious chief, whom double cares attend 
 For his unburied soldiers and his friend, 
 
 5 Yet first to heaven performed a victor’s vows: 
 
 He bared an ancient oak of all her boughs ; 
 
 Then on a rising ground the trunk he placed, 
 
 Which with the spoils of his dead foe he graced. 
 
 The coat of arms by proud Mezentius worn, 
 lo Now on a naked snag in triumph borne. 
 
 Was hung on high, and glittered from afar, 
 
 A trophy sacred to the god of war. 
 
 Above his arms, fixed on the leafless wood. 
 
 Appeared his plumy crest, besmeared with blood. 
 
 15 His brazen buckler on the left was seen: 
 
 Truncheons of shivered lances hung between ; 
 
 And on the right was placed his corselet, bored ; 
 
 And to the neck was tied his unavailing sword. 
 
 A crowd of chiefs inclose the godlike man, 
 
 20 Who thus, conspicuous in the midst, began : 
 
 Our toils, my friends, are crowned with sure success : 
 The greater part performed, achieve the less. 
 
BOOK XI.] 
 
 VIRGWS MNEIS. 
 
 287 
 
 Now follow cheerful to the trembling town : 
 
 Press but an entrance, and presume it won. 
 
 Fear is no more : for fierce Mezentius lies, 25 
 
 As the firstfruits of war, a sacrifice. 
 
 Turnus shall fall extended on the plain, 
 
 And, in this omen, is already slain. 
 
 Prepared in arms, pursue your happy chance ; 
 
 That none unwarned may plead his ignorance, 30 
 
 And I, at heaven’s appointed hour, may find 
 Yoc.r warlike ensigns waving in the wind. 
 
 Meantime the rites and funeral pomps prepare. 
 
 Due to your dead Companions of the war — 
 
 The last respect the living can bestow, 35 
 
 To shield their shadows from conteript below. 
 
 That conquered earth be theirs, for which they fought. 
 And which for us with their own blood they bought. 
 
 But first the corpse of our unhappy friend, 
 
 To the sad city of Evander send, 40 
 
 Who, not inglorious, in his age’s bloom 
 Was hurried hence by too severe a doom.” 
 
 Thus, weeping while he spoke, he took his way. 
 
 Where, new in death, lamented Pallas lay. 
 
 Acoetes watched the corpse ; whose youth deserved 45 
 The father’s trust ; and now the son he served 
 With equal faith, but less auspicious care. 
 
 The attendants of the slain his sorrow share. 
 
 A troop of Trojans mixed with these appear. 
 
 And mourning matrons with dishevelled hair. 50 
 
 Soon as the prince appears, they raise a cry ; 
 
 All beat their breasts, and echoes rend the sky. 
 
 They rear his drooping forehead from the ground : 
 
 But, when ^neas viewed the grisly wound 
 Which Pallas in his manly bosom bore, 55 
 
 And the fair flesh distained with purple gore. 
 
 First, melting into tears, the pious man 
 Deplored so sad a sight, then thus began : 
 
 “ Unhappy youth ! when Fortune gave the rest 
 Of my full wishes, she refused the best ! 
 
 She came ; but brought not thee along, to bless 
 My longing eyes, and share in my success : 
 
 60 
 
288 
 
 VIRGinS MNEIS. 
 
 [book XI. 
 
 She grudged thy safe return, the triumphs due 
 To prosperous valour, in the public view. 
 
 65 Not thus I promised, when thy father lent 
 Thy needless succour with a sad consent ; 
 Embraced me, parting for the Etrurian land, 
 
 And sent me to possess a large command. 
 
 He warned, and from his own experience told, 
 
 70 Our foes were warlike, disciplined, and bold. 
 
 And now, perhaps, in hopes of thy return. 
 
 Rich odours on his loaded altars burn, 
 
 While we, with vain officious pomp, piepare 
 To send him back his portion oi the war, 
 
 75 A bloody breathless body, which can owe 
 No farther debt, but to the powers below. 
 
 The wretched father, ere his race is run, 
 
 Shall view the funeral honours of his son ! 
 
 These are my triumphs of the Latian war, 
 
 80 Fruits of my plighted faith and boasted care ! 
 
 And yet, unhappy sire, thou shalt not see 
 A son, whose death disgraced his ancestry : 
 
 Thou shalt not blush, old man, however grieved : 
 Thy Pallas no dishonest wound received. 
 
 85 He died no death to make thee wish, too late. 
 
 Thou hadst not lived to see his shameful fate. ' 
 
 But what a champion has the Ausonian coast. 
 
 And what a friend hast thou, Ascanius, lost I” 
 
 Thus having mourned, he gave the word around, 
 90 To raise the breathless body from the ground ; 
 
 And chose a thousand horse, the flower of all 
 His warlike troops, to wait the funeral. 
 
 To bear him back, and share EvandePs grief — 
 
 A well-becoming, but a weak relief. 
 
 95 Of oaken twigs they twist an easy bier. 
 
 Then on their shoulders the sad burden rear. 
 
 The body on this rural hearse is borne : 
 
 Strewed leaves and funeral greens the bier adorn. 
 All pale he lies, and looks a lovely flower, 
 
 100 New cropt by virgin hands, to dress the bower : 
 Unfaded yet, but yet, unfed below. 
 
 No more to mother earth or the green stem shall owe. 
 
BOOK XL] 
 
 VIRGIVS MNEIS. 
 
 289 
 
 Then two fair vests, of wondrous work and cost, 
 
 Of purple woven, and with gold embossed. 
 
 For ornament the Trojan hero brought, 105 
 
 Which with her hands Sidonian Dido wrought. 
 
 One vest arrayed the corpse ; and one they spread 
 O’er his closed eyes, and wrapped around his head. 
 
 That, when the yellow hair in flame should fall. 
 
 The catching fire might burn the golden caul. 1 10 
 
 Besides, the spoils of foes in battle slain. 
 
 When he descended on the Latian plain — 
 
 Arms, trappings, horses, by the hearse are led 
 In long array — the achievements of the dead. 
 
 Then, pinioned with their hands behind, appear 1 15 
 The unhappy captives, marching in the rear. 
 
 Appointed offerings in the victor’s name. 
 
 To sprinkle with their blood the funeral flame. 
 
 Inferior trophies by the chiefs are borne: 
 
 Gauntlets and helms their loaded hands adorn ; 1 20 
 
 And fair inscriptions fixed, and titles read 
 Of Latian leaders conquered by the dead. 
 
 Acoetes on his pupil’s corpse attends. 
 
 With feeble steps, supported by his friends; 
 
 Pausing at every pace, in sorrow drowned, 125 
 
 Betwixt their arms he sinks upon the ground ; 
 
 Where grovelling while he lies in deep despair. 
 
 He beats his breast, and rends his hoary hair. 
 
 The champion’s chariot next is seen to roll, 
 
 Besmeared with hostile blood, and honourably foul. 130 
 To close the pomp, ^thon, the steed of state. 
 
 Is led, the funerals of his lord to wait. 
 
 Stripped of his trappings, with a sullen pace 
 He walks ; and the big tears run rolling down his face. 
 The lance of Pallas, and the crimson crest, 135 
 
 Are borne behind : the victor seized the rest. 
 
 The march begins : the trumpets hoarsely sound : 
 
 The pikes and lances trail along the ground. 
 
 Thus while the Trojan and Arcadian horse 
 To Palantean towers direct their course, 140 
 
 In long procession ranked ; the pious chief 
 Stopped in the rear, and gave a vent to grief. 
 
 T 
 
290 
 
 VIRGIL'S MNEIS. 
 
 [book XI. 
 
 The public care (he said) which war attends, 
 Diverts our present woes, at least suspends. 
 
 145 Peace with the manes of great Pallas dwell ! 
 
 Hail, holy relics ! and a last farewell I” 
 
 He said no more, but, inly though he mourned. 
 Restrained his tears, and to the camp returned. 
 Now suppliants, from Laurentum sent, demand 
 1 50 A truce, with olive-branches in their hand ; 
 
 Obtest his clemency, and from the plain 
 Beg leave to draw the bodies of their slain. 
 
 They plead, that none those common rites deny 
 To conquered foes, that in fair battle die. 
 
 155 All cause of hate was ended in their death ; 
 
 Nor could he war with bodies void of breath. 
 
 A king, they hoped, would hear a king^s request. 
 Whose son he once was called, and once his guest. 
 Their suit, which was too just to be denied, 
 
 160 The hero grants, and farther thus replied: 
 
 O Latian princes ! how severe a fate 
 In causeless quarrels has involved your state, 
 
 And armed against an unoffending man. 
 
 Who sought your friendship ere the war began ! 
 
 165 You beg a truce, which I would gladly give. 
 
 Not only for the slain, but those who live. 
 
 I came not hither but by heaven^s command. 
 
 And sent by fate to share the Latian land. 
 
 Nor wage I wars unjust : your king denied 
 170 My proffered friendship and my promised bride : 
 Left me for Turnus. Turnus then should try 
 His cause in arms, to conquer or to die. 
 
 My right and his are in dispute : the slain 
 Fell without fault, our quarrel to maintain. 
 
 175 In equal arms let us alone contend ; 
 
 And let him vanquish, whom his fates befriend. 
 This is the way (so tell him) to possess 
 The royal virgin, and restore the peace. 
 
 Bear this my message back — with ample leave 
 180 That your slain friends may funeral rites recdve.” 
 Thus having said — the ambassadors, amazed. 
 Stood mute awhile, and on each other gazed. 
 
BOOK XI.] 
 
 VIRGWS yENEIS. 
 
 291 
 
 Drances, their chief, who harboured in his breast 
 Long hate to Turnus, as his foe professed, 
 
 Broke silence first, and to the godlike man, 185 
 
 With graceful action bowing, thus began : 
 
 Auspicious prince, in arms a mighty name. 
 
 But yet whose actions far transcend your fame ! 
 
 Would I your justice or your force express. 
 
 Thought can but equal ; and all words are less. 190 
 
 Your answer we shall thankfully relate, 
 
 And favours granted to the Latian state. 
 
 If wished success our labours shall attend. 
 
 Think peace concluded, and the king yoiir friend ; 
 
 Let Turnus leave the realm to your command ; 195 
 
 And seek alliance in some other land : 
 
 Build you the city which your fates assign ; 
 
 We shall be proud in the great work to join.’^ 
 
 Thus Drances ; and his words so well persuade 
 
 The rest empowered, that soon a truce is made. 200 
 
 Twelve days the term allowed ; and, during those, 
 
 Latians and Trojans, now no longer foes, 
 
 Mixed in the woods, for funeral piles prepare 
 To fell the timber, and forget the war. 
 
 Loud axes through the groaning groves resound : 205 
 
 Oak, mountain-ash, and poplar, spread the ground ; 
 
 Firs fall from high ; and some the trunks receive 
 In laden wains ; with wedges some they cleave. 
 
 And now the fatal news by Fame is blown 
 Through the short circuit of the Arcadian town, 210 
 Of Pallas slain — by Fame, which just before 
 His triumph on distended pinions bore. 
 
 Rushing from out the gate, the people stand. 
 
 Each with a funeral flambeau in his hand. 
 
 Wildly they stare, distracted with amaze: 215 
 
 The fields are lightened with a fiery blaze, 
 
 That casts a sullen splendour on their friends — 
 
 The marching troop which their dead prince attends. 
 
 Both parties meet: they raise a doleful cry: 
 
 The matrons from the walls with shrieks reply ; 220 
 
 And their mixed mourning rends the vaulted sky. 
 
 The town is filled with tumult and with tears, 
 
292 
 
 VIRGirS ^ENEIS. 
 
 [book XI. 
 
 Till -the loud clamours reach Evander’s ears: 
 
 i 
 
 Forgetful of his state, he runs along, 
 
 225 With a disordered pace, and cleaves the throng ; 
 Falls on the corpse ; and groaning there he lies. 
 With silent grief, that speaks but at his eyes. 
 Short sighs and sobs succeed ; till sorrow breaks 
 A passage, and at once he weeps and speaks : 
 
 230 O Pallas ! thou hast failed thy plighted word ! 
 To fight with caution, not to tempt the sword, 
 
 I warned thee, but in vain ; for well I knew 
 What perils youthful ardour would pursue — 
 
 That boiling blood would carry thee too far, 
 
 235 Young as thou wert in dangers, raw to war ! 
 
 O curst essay of arms ! disastrous doom^ ! 
 
 Prelude of bloody fields, and fights to come ! 
 
 Hard elements of inauspicious war ! 
 
 Vain vows to heaven, and unavailing care ! 
 
 240 Thrice happy thou, dear partner of my bed ! 
 Whose holy soul the stroke of Fortune fled — 
 Prescious of ills, and leaving me behind. 
 
 To drink the dregs of life by fate assigned. 
 
 Beyond the goal of nature I have gone : 
 
 245 My Pallas late set out, but reached too soon. 
 
 If, for my league against the Ausonian state. 
 Amidst their weapons I had found my fate 
 (Deserved from them), then I had been returned 
 A breathless victor, and my son had mourned. 
 
 250 Yet will I not my Trojan friend upbraid. 
 
 Nor grudge the alliance I so gladly made. 
 
 ^Twas not his fault, my Pallas fell so young. 
 
 But my own crime for having lived too long. 
 
 Yet, since the gods had destined him to die, 
 
 255 At least, he led the way to victory: 
 
 First for his friends he won the fatal shore, 
 
 And sent whole herds of slaughtered foes before — 
 A death too great, too glorious to deplore. 
 
 Nor will I add new honours to thy grave, 
 
 260 Content with those the Trojan hero gave — 
 
 That funeral pomp thy Phrygian friends designed. 
 In which the Tuscan chiefs and army joined. 
 
BOOK XT.] 
 
 VIRGWS ALNEIS. 
 
 293 
 
 Great spoils and trophies, gained by thee, they bear : 
 Then let thy own achievements be thy share. 
 
 E^en thou, O Turnus, hadst a trophy stood, 265 
 
 Whose mighty trunk had better graced the wood. 
 
 If Pallas had arrived, with equal length 
 Of years, to match thy bulk with equal strength. 
 
 But why, unhappy man ! dost thou detain 
 
 These troops, to view the tears thou shedd’st in vain ? 270 
 
 Go, friends ! this message to your lord relate : 
 
 Tell him, that, if I bear my bitter fate. 
 
 And, after Pallas’ death, live lingering on, 
 
 ’Tis to behold his vengeance for my son. 
 
 I stay for Turnus, whose devoted head 275 
 
 Is owing to the living and the dead. 
 
 My son and I expect it from his hand ; 
 
 ’Tis all that he can give, or ^ye demand. 
 
 Joy is no more : but I would gladly go. 
 
 To greet my Pallas with such news below.” 280 
 
 The morn had now dispelled the shades of night. 
 Restoring toils, when she restored the light. 
 
 The Trojan king, and Tuscan chief, command 
 To raise the piles along the winding strand. 
 
 Their friends convey the dead to funeral fires ; 285 
 
 Black smouldering smoke from the green wood expires ; 
 The light of heaven is choked, and the new day retires. 
 Then thrice around the kindled piles they go 
 (For ancient custom had ordained it so): 
 
 Thrice horse and foot about the fires are led ; 290 
 
 And thrice with loud laments they hail the dead. 
 
 Tears, trickling down their breasts, bedew the ground; 
 And drums and trumpets mix their mournful sound. 
 
 Amid the blaze, their pious brethren throw 
 
 The spoils, in battle taken from the foe — 295 
 
 Helms, bits embossed, and swords of shining steel; 
 
 One casts a target, one a chariot wheel; 
 
 Some to their fellows their own arms restore — 
 
 The falchions which in luckless fight they bore. 
 
 Their bucklers pierced, their darts bestowed in vain, 300 
 And shivered lances gathered from the plain. 
 
 Whole herds of offered bulls, about the fire, 
 
2 94 VIRGirs yENEIS. [book xi. 
 
 And bristled boars, and woolly sheep, expire. 
 
 Around the piles a careful troop attends, 
 
 305 To watch the wasting flames, and weep their burning 
 Lingering along the shore, till dewy night [friends — 
 New decks the face of heaven with starry light. 
 
 The conquered Latians, with like pious care, 
 
 Piles without number for their dead prepare. 
 
 310 Part, in the places where they fell, are laid; 
 
 And part are to the neighbouring fields conveyed. 
 The corpse of kings, and captains of renown. 
 
 Borne off in state, are buried in the town ; 
 
 The rest, unhonoured, and without a name, 
 
 315 Are cast a common heap to feed the flame. 
 
 Trojans and Latians vie with like desires 
 To make the field of battle shine with fires; 
 
 And the promiscuous blaze to heaven aspires. 
 
 Now had the morning thrice renewed the light, 
 
 320 And thrice dispelled the shadows of the night. 
 
 When those who round the wasted fires remain. 
 Perform the last sad office to the slain. 
 
 They rake the yet warm ashes from below; 
 
 These, and the bones unburned, in earth bestow : 
 
 325 These relics with their country rites they grace. 
 
 And raise a mount of turf to mark the place. 
 
 But, in the palace of the king, appears 
 A scene more solemn, and a pomp of tears. 
 
 Maids, matrons, widows, mix their common moans : 
 330 Orphans their sires, and sires lament their sons. 
 
 All in that universal sorrow share. 
 
 And curse the cause of this unhappy war — 
 
 A broken league, a bride unjustly sought, 
 
 A crown usurped, which with their blood is bought. 
 335 These are the crimes, with which they load the name 
 Of Turnus, and on him alone exclaim : 
 
 Let him, who lords it o’er the Ausonian land. 
 Engage the Trojan hero hand to hand: 
 
 His is the gain ; our lot is but to serve : 
 
 340 ’Tis just, the sway he seeks, he should deserve.” 
 
 This Drances aggravates ; and adds, with spite. 
 
 His foe expects, and dares him to the fight.” 
 
BOOK XI.] 
 
 VIRGIIJS ^NEIS. 
 
 295 
 
 Nor Turnus wants a party, to support 
 His cause and credit in the Latian court. 
 
 His former acts secure his present fame; 345 
 
 And the queen shades him with her mighty name. 
 
 While thus their factious minds with fury burn, 
 
 The legates from the .^tolian prince return : 
 
 Sad news they bring, that, after all the cost 
 
 And care employed, their embassy is lost ; 350 
 
 That Diomede refused his aid in war. 
 
 Unmoved with presents, and as deaf to prayer. 
 
 Some new alliance must elsewhere be sought. 
 
 Or peace with Troy on hard conditions bought. 
 
 Latinus, sunk in sorrow, finds too late, 355 
 
 A foreign son is pointed out by fate ; 
 
 And, till ^neas shall Lavinia wed. 
 
 The wrath of heaven is hovering o’er his head. 
 
 The gods, he saw, espoused the juster side. 
 
 When late their titles in the field were tried : 360 
 
 Witness the fresh laments, and funeral tears undried. 
 
 Thus full of anxious thought, he summons all 
 The Latian senate to the council-hall. 
 
 The princes come, commanded by their head. 
 
 And crowd the paths that to the palace. lead. 365 
 
 Supreme in power, and reverenced for his years. 
 
 He takes the throne, and in the midst appears. 
 Majestically sad, he sits in state. 
 
 And bids his envoys their success relate. 
 
 When Venulus began, the murmuring sound 370 
 
 Was hushed, and sacred silence reigned around. 
 
 ‘‘We have (said he) performed your high command. 
 
 And passed with peril a long tract of land : 
 
 We reached the place desired ; with wonder filled. 
 
 The Grecian tents and rising towers beheld. 375 
 
 Great Diomede has compassed round with walls 
 The city, which Argyripa he calls. 
 
 From his own Argos named. We touched, with joy. 
 
 The royal hand that razed unhappy Troy. 
 
 When introduced, our presents first we bring, 380 
 
 Then crave an instant audience from the king. 
 
 His leave obtained, our native soil we name. 
 
296 
 
 VIRGinS ^NEIS. 
 
 [book XI. 
 
 And tell the important cause for which we came. 
 Attentively he heard us, while we spoke ; 
 
 385 Then, with soft accents, and a pleasing look. 
 
 Made this return : ‘Ausonian race, of old 
 Renowned for peace, and for an age of gold. 
 
 What madness has your altered minds possessed. 
 To change for war hereditary rest, 
 
 390 Solicit arms unknown, and tempt the sword — 
 
 A needless ill, your ancestors abhorred.^ 
 
 We — for myself I speak, and all the name 
 Of Grecians, who to Troy’s destruction came 
 (Omitting those who were in battle slain, 
 
 395 Or borne by rolling Simois to the main) — 
 
 Not one but suffered, and too dearly bought 
 The prize of honour which in arms he sought. 
 Some doomed to death, and some in exile driven. 
 Outcasts, abandoned by the care of Heaven — 
 
 400 So worn, so wretched, so despised a crew, 
 
 As e’en old Priam might with pity view. 
 
 Witness the vessels by Minerva tossed 
 In storms — the vengeful Capharean coast — 
 
 The Euboean rocks — the prince, whose brother led 
 405 Our armies to revenge his injured bed. 
 
 In Egypt lost. Ulysses, with his men. 
 
 Have seen Charybdis, and the Cyclop’s den. 
 
 Why should I name Idomeneus, in vain 
 Restored to sceptres, and expelled again. ^ 
 
 410 Or young Achilles, by his rival slain 
 
 E’en he, the king of men, the foremost name 
 Of all the Greeks, and most renowned by fame. 
 The proud revenger of another’s wife. 
 
 Yet by his own adulteress lost his life — 
 
 415 Fell at his threshold : and the spoils of Troy 
 The foul polluters of his bed enjoy. 
 
 The gods have envied me the sweets of life, 
 
 My much-loved country, and my more loved wife : 
 Banished from both, 1 mourn ; while in the sky, 
 420 Transformed to birds, my lost companions fly; 
 Hovering about the coasts they make their moan. 
 And cuff the cliffs with pinions not their own. 
 
BOOK XI.] 
 
 VIRGirS y^NEIS, 
 
 297 
 
 What squalid spectres, in the dead of night, 
 
 Break my short sleep, and skim before my sight ! 
 
 I might have promised to myself those harms. 
 
 Mad as I was, when I, with mortal arms, 
 
 Presumed against immortal powers to move. 
 
 And violate with wounds the queen of love. 
 
 Such arms this hand shall never more employ. 
 
 No hate remains with me to ruined Troy. 
 
 I war not with its dust ^ nor am I glad 
 To think of past events, or good or bad. 
 
 Your presents I return ; whatever you bring 
 To buy my friendship, send the Trojan king. 
 
 We met in fight ; I know him, to my cost : 
 
 With what a whirling force his lance he tossed ! 
 Heavens ! what a spring was in his arm, to throw ! 
 How high he held his shield, and rose at every blow ! 
 Had Troy produced two more his match in might. 
 They would have changed the fortune of the fight : 
 The invasion of the Greeks had been returned. 
 
 Our empire wasted, and our cities burned. 
 
 The long defence the Trojan people made, 
 
 The war protracted, and the siege delayed. 
 
 Were due to HectoTs and this hero’s hand : 
 
 Both brave alike, and equal in command ; 
 
 -dEneas, not inferior in the field. 
 
 In pious reverence to the gods, excelled. 
 
 Make peace, ye Latians, and avoid with care 
 The impending dangers of a fatal war.’ 
 
 He said no more ; but with this cold excuse. 
 
 Refused the alliance, and advised a truce.” 
 
 Thus Venulus concluded his report. 
 
 A jarring murmur filled the factious court : 
 
 As, when a torrent rolls with rapid force, 
 
 And dashes o’er the stones that stop the course. 
 
 The flood, constrained within a scanty space. 
 
 Roars horrible along the uneasy race ; 
 
 White foam in gathering eddies floats around ; 
 
 The rocky shores rebellow to the sound. 
 
 The murmur ceased : then from his lofty throne 
 The king invoked the gods, and thus begun ; 
 
 425 
 
 430 
 
 435 
 
 440 
 
 445 
 
 450 
 
 455 
 
 460 
 
298 VIRGirs AlNEIS, [book 
 
 I wish, ye Latians, what ye now debate 
 Had been resolved before it was too late. 
 
 465 Much better had it been for you and me, 
 
 Unforced by this our last necessity. 
 
 To have been earlier wise, than now to call 
 A council, when the foe surrounds the wall. 
 
 O citizens ! we wage unequal war, 
 
 470 With men, not only Heaven^s peculiar care. 
 
 But Heaven’s own race — unconquered in the field. 
 Or, conquered, yet unknowing how to yield. 
 
 What hopes you had in Diomede, lay down ; 
 
 Our hopes must centre on ourselves alone. 
 
 475 Yet those how feeble, and, indeed, how vain. 
 
 You see too well ; nor need my words explain — 
 Vanquished without resource — laid flat by fate — 
 Factions within, a foe without the gate ! 
 
 Not but I grant that all performed their parts 
 480 With manly force, and with undaunted hearts : 
 With our united strength the war we waged ; 
 
 With equal numbers, equal arms, engaged : 
 
 You see the event. — Now hear what I propose. 
 
 To save our friends, and satisfy our foes. 
 
 485 A tract of land the Latians have possessed 
 Along the Tiber, stretching to the west. 
 
 Which now Rutulians and Auruncans till ; 
 
 And their mixed cattle graze the fruitful hill. 
 
 Those mountains filled with firs, that lower land, 
 490 If you consent, the Trojans shall command. 
 
 Called into part of what is ours ; and there. 
 
 On terms agreed, the common country share. 
 There let them build and settle, if they please ; 
 Unless they choose once more to cross the seas, 
 495 In search of seats remote from Italy, 
 
 And from unwelcome inmates set us free. 
 
 Then twice ten galleys let us build with speed. 
 
 Or twice as many more, if more they need. 
 Materials are at hand : a well-grown wood 
 500 Runs equal with the margin of the flood : 
 
 Let them the number and the form assign : 
 
 The care and cost of all the stores be mine. 
 
BOOK XI.] 
 
 VIRGIL'S ^NEIS. 
 
 299 
 
 To treat the peace, a hundred senators 
 
 Shall be commissioned hence with ample powers, 
 
 With olive crowned : the presents they shall bear, 505 
 A purple robe, a royal ivory chair. 
 
 And all the marks of sway that Latian monarchs wear. 
 And sums of gold. Among yourselves debate 
 This great affair, and save the sinking state.^’ 
 
 Then Drances took the word, who grudged long since. 
 The rising glories of the Daunian prince. 5 ^ ^ 
 
 Factious and rich, bold at the council board. 
 
 But cautious in the field, he shunned the sword — 
 
 A close caballer, and tongue-valiant lord. 
 
 Noble his mother was, and near the throne : 515 
 
 But, whaf his father’s parentage, unknown. 
 
 He rose, and took the advantage of the times. 
 
 To load young Turnus with invidious crimes. 
 
 Such truths, O king (said he), your words contain. 
 
 As strike the sense, and all replies are vain ; 520 
 
 Nor are your loyal subjects now to seek 
 What common needs require, but fear to speak. 
 
 Let him give leave of speech, that haughty man, 
 
 Whose pride this inauspicious war began ; 
 
 For whose ambition (let me dare to say, 525 
 
 Fear set apart, though death is in my way). 
 
 The plains of Latium run with blood around ; 
 
 So many valiant heroes bite the ground ; 
 
 Dejected grief in every face appears ; 
 
 A town in mourning, and a land in tears ; 530 
 
 While he, the undoubted author of our harms. 
 
 The man who menaces the gods with arms. 
 
 Yet, after all his boasts, forsook the fight, 
 
 And sought his safety in ignoble flight. 
 
 Now, best of kings, since you propose to send 535 
 
 Such bounteous presents to your Trojan friend ; 
 
 Add yet a greater at our joint request. 
 
 One which he values more than all the rest : 
 
 Give him the fair Lavinia for his bride : 
 
 With that alliance let the league be tied, 540 
 
 And for the bleeding land a lasting peace provide. 
 
 Let insolence no longer awe the throne ; 
 
300 
 
 VIRGIL'S ^NEIS, 
 
 [book XI. 
 
 But, with a father’s right, bestow your own. 
 
 For this maligner of the general good, 
 
 545 If still we fear his force, he must be wooed: 
 
 His haughty godhead we with prayers implore, 
 Your sceptre to release, and your just rites restore. 
 
 0 cursed cause of all our ills ! must we 
 Wage wars unjust, and fall in fight, for thee? 
 
 550 What right hast thou to rule the Latian state, 
 
 And send us out to meet our certain fate ? 
 
 ’Tis a destructive war : from Turnus’ hand 
 Our peace and public safety we demand. 
 
 Let the fair bride to the brave chief remain : 
 
 555 If not, the peace, without the pledge, is vain. 
 Turnus, I know you think me not your friend. 
 
 Nor will I much with your belief contend: 
 
 1 beg your greatness not to give the law 
 In other realms, but, beaten, to withdraw. 
 
 560 Pity your own, or pity our estate ; 
 
 Nor twist our fortunes with your sinking fate. 
 
 Your interest is, the war should never cease ; 
 
 But we have felt enough, to wish the peace — 
 
 A land exhausted to the last remains, 
 
 565 Depopulated towns, and driven plains. 
 
 Yet, if desire of fame, and thirst of power, 
 
 A beauteous princess, with a crown in dower. 
 
 So fire your mind, in arms assert your right. 
 
 And meet your foe, who dares you to the fight. 
 
 570 Mankind, it seems, is made for you alone ! 
 
 We, but the slaves who mount you to the throne — 
 A base ignoble crowd, without a name, 
 
 Unwxpt, unworthy of the funeral flame. 
 
 By duty bound to forfeit each his life, 
 
 575 That Turnus may possess a royal wife ! 
 
 Permit not, mighty man, so mean a crew 
 Should share such triumphs, and detain from you 
 The post of honour, your undoubted due. 
 
 Rather alone your matchless force employ, 
 
 580 To merit what alone you must enjoy.” 
 
 These words, so full of malice mixed with art. 
 Inflamed with rage the youthful hero’s heart. 
 
BOOK XI.] 
 
 VIRGirS AiNEIS. 
 
 301 
 
 Then groaning from the bottom of his breast, 
 
 He heaved for wind, and thus his wrath expressed : 
 
 “ You, Drances, never want a stream of words, 585 
 
 Then, when the public need requires our swords. 
 
 First in the council-hall to steer the state. 
 
 And ever foremost in a tongue-debate. 
 
 While our strong walls secure us from the foe. 
 
 Ere yet with blood our ditclT.es overflow : 590 
 
 But let the potent orator declaim. 
 
 And with the brand of coward blot my name ; 
 
 Free leave is given him, when his fatal hand 
 Has covered with more corpse the sanguine strand. 
 
 And high as mine his towering trophies stand. 595 
 
 If any doubt remains who dares the most. 
 
 Let us decide it at the Trojans’ cost. 
 
 And issue both abreast, where honour calls — 
 
 (Foes are not far to seek without the walls,) 
 
 Unless his noisy tongue can only fight, 600 
 
 And feet were given him but to speed his flight. 
 
 I beaten from the field ! I forced away ! 
 
 Who, but so known a dastard, dares to say.? 
 
 Had he but e’en beheld the fight, his eyes 
 
 Had witnessed for me what his tongue denies — 605 
 
 What heaps of Trojans by this hand were slain. 
 
 And how the bloody Tiber swelled the main. 
 
 All saw, but he, the Arcadian troops retire 
 In scattered squadrons, and their prince expire. 
 
 The giant brothers, in their camp, have found 610 
 
 I was not forced with ease to quit my ground. 
 
 Not such the Trojans tried me, when, inclosed, 
 
 I singly their united arms opposed — 
 
 First forced an entrance through their thick array. 
 
 Then, glutted with their slaughter, freed my way. 615 
 ’Tis a destructive war ! So let it be. 
 
 But to the Phrygian pirate, and to thee! 
 
 Meantime proceed to fill the people’s ears 
 With false reports, their minds with panic fears : 
 
 Extol the strength of a twice-conquered race ; 620 
 
 Our foes encourage, and our friends debase. 
 
 Believe thy fables, and the Trojan town 
 
302 
 
 VIRGinS ALNEIS. 
 
 [book XI. 
 
 Triumphant stands; the Grecians are o’erthrown; 
 Suppliant at Hector’s feet Achilles lies; 
 
 625 And Diomede from fierce vDneas flies ! 
 
 Say, rapid Aufidus with awful dread 
 
 Runs backward from the sea, and hides his head. 
 
 When the great Trojan on his bank appears; 
 
 For that’s as true as thy dissembled fears 
 630 Of my revenge : dismiss that vanity : 
 
 Thou, Drances, art below a death from me. 
 
 Let that vile soul in that vile body rest. 
 
 The lodging is well worthy of the guest. 
 
 Now, royal father, to the present state 
 635 Of our affairs, and of this high debate — 
 
 If in your arms thus early you diffide. 
 
 And think your fortune is already tried ; 
 
 If one defeat has brought us down so low, 
 
 As never more in fields to meet the foe; 
 
 640 Then I conclude for peace : ’tis time to treat, 
 
 And lie like vassals at the victor’s feet. 
 
 But, oh ! if any ancient blood remains. 
 
 One drop of all our father’s, in our veins. 
 
 That man would I prefer before the rest, 
 
 645 Who dared his death with an undaunted breast ; 
 Who comely fell by no dishonest wound. 
 
 To shun that sight, and, dying, gnawed the ground. 
 But, if we still have fresh recruits in store. 
 
 If our confederates can afford us more; 
 
 650 If the contended field we bravely fought. 
 
 And not a bloodless victory was bought ; 
 
 Their losses equalled ours ; and, for their slain. 
 With equal fires they filled the shining plain ; 
 
 Why thus, unforced, should we so tamely yield, 
 
 655 And, ere the trumpet sounds, resign the field 
 Good unexpected, evils unforeseen. 
 
 Appear by turns, as Fortune shifts the scene. 
 
 Some, raised aloft, come tumbling down amain ; 
 Then fall so hard, they bound and rise again. 
 
 660 If Diomede refuse his aid to lend. 
 
 The great Messapus yet remains our friend : 
 Tolumnius, who foretells events, is ours; 
 
BOOK XI.] VIRGWS .^NEIS. 303 
 
 The Italian chiefs, and princes, join their powers ; 
 
 Nor least in number, nor in name the last. 
 
 Your own brave subjects have our cause embraced. 665 
 Above the rest, the Volscian Amazon 
 Contains an army in herself alone, 
 
 And heads a squadron, terrible to sight, 
 
 With glittering shields, in brazen armour bright. 
 
 Yet, if the foe a single fight demand, 670 
 
 And I alone the public peace withstand ; 
 
 If you consent, he shall not be refused. 
 
 Nor find a hand to victory unused. 
 
 This new Achilles, let him take the field. 
 
 With fated armour, and Vulcanian shield ! 675 
 
 For you, my royal father, and my fame, 
 
 I, Turnus, not the least of all my name. 
 
 Devote my soul. He calls me hand to hand ; 
 
 And I alone will answer his demand. ! 
 
 Drances shall rest secure, and neither share 680 
 
 The danger, nor divide the prize, of war.^^ 
 
 While they debate, nor these nor those will yield, 
 ^neas draws his forces to the field. 
 
 And moves his camp. The scouts with flying speed 
 Return, and through the frighted city spread 685 
 
 The unpleasing news : “The Trojans are described. 
 
 In battle marching by the river-side. 
 
 And bending to the town.^^ They take the alarm : 
 
 Some tremble ; some are bold ; all in confusion arm. 
 
 The impetuous youth press forward to the field ; 690 
 
 They clash the sword, and clatter on the shield : 
 
 The fearful matrons raise a screaming cry ; 
 
 Old feeble men with fainter groans reply ; 
 
 A jarring sound results, and mingles in the sky. 
 
 Like that of swans remurmuring to the floods, 695 
 
 Or birds of differing kinds in hollow woods. 
 
 Turnus the occasion takes, and cries aloud : 
 
 “ Talk on, ye quaint haranguers of the crowd ; 
 
 Declaim in praise of peace, when danger calls. 
 
 And the fierce foes in arms approach the walls.^^ 700 
 He said, and, turning short with speedy pace. 
 
 Casts back a scornful glance, and quits the place. 
 
304 
 
 VIRGins .^NEIS. 
 
 [book XI. 
 
 “ Thou, Volusus, the Volscian troops command 
 To mount ; and lead thyself our Ardean band. 
 
 705 Messapus, and Catillus, post your force 
 
 Along the fields, to charge the Trojan horse. 
 
 Some guard the passes ; others man the wall ; 
 
 Drawn up in arms, the rest attend my call.^^ 
 
 They swarm from every quarter of the town, 
 
 710 And with disordered haste the rampires crown. 
 
 Good old Latinus, when he saw, too late. 
 
 The gathering storm just breaking on the state, 
 Dismissed the council till a fitter time. 
 
 And owned his easy temper as his crime, 
 
 715 Who, forced against his reason, had complied 
 To break the treaty for the promised bride. 
 
 Some help to sink new trenches ; others aid 
 To ram the stones, or raise the palisade. 
 
 Hoarse trumpets sound the alarm : around the walls 
 720 Runs a distracted crew, whom their last labour calls. 
 A sad procession in the streets is seen. 
 
 Of matrons, that attend the mother queen : 
 
 High in her chair she sits, and, at her side. 
 
 With downcast eyes, appears the fatal bride. 
 
 725 They mount the clifif, where Pallas^ temple stands ; 
 Prayers in their mouths, and presents in their hands. 
 With censers first they fume the sacred shrine, 
 
 Then in this common supplication join : 
 
 ‘‘ O patroness of arms ! unspotted maid ! 
 
 730 Propitious hear, and lend thy Latins aid ! 
 
 Break short the pirate’s lance ; pronounce his fate. 
 And lay the Phrygian low before the gate.” 
 
 Now Turnus arms for fight. His back and breast 
 Well-tempered steel and scaly brass invest : 
 
 735 The cuishes, which his brawny thighs infold. 
 
 Are mingled metal damasked o’er with gold. 
 
 His faithful falchion sits upon his side ; 
 
 Nor casque, nor crest, his manly features hide 
 But, bare to view, amid surrounding friends, 
 
 740 With godlike grace, he from the tower descends. 
 Exulting in his strength, he seems to dare 
 His absent rival, and to promise war. 
 
BOOK XI.] 
 
 VIRGWS jENEIS, 
 
 305 
 
 Freed from his keepers, thus, with broken reins. 
 
 The wanton courser prances o’er the plains. 
 
 Or in the pride of youth o’erleaps the mounds, 745 
 
 And snuffs the females in forbidden grounds ; 
 
 Or seeks his watering in the well-known flood. 
 
 To quench his thirst, and cool his fiery blood : 
 
 He swims luxuriant in the liquid plain. 
 
 And o’er his shoulder flows his weaving mane : 750 
 
 He neighs, he snorts, he bears his head on high ; 
 
 Before his ample chest the frothy waters fly. 
 
 Soon as the prince appears without the gate. 
 
 The Volscians, and their virgin leader, wait 
 
 His last commands. Then, with a graceful mien, 755 
 
 Lights from her lofty steed the warrior-queen : 
 
 Her squadron imitates, and each descends ; 
 
 Whose common suit Camilla thus commends : 
 
 If sense of honour, if a soul secure 
 Of inborn worth, that can all tests endure, 760, 
 
 Can promise aught, or on itself rely. 
 
 Greatly to dare to conquer or to die ; 
 
 Then, I alone, sustained by these, will meet 
 The Tyrrhene troops, and promise their defeat. 
 
 Ours be the danger, ours the sole renown : 765 
 
 You, general, stay behind, and guard the town.” 
 
 Turnus awhile stood mute with glad surprise. 
 
 And on the fierce virago fixed his eyes. 
 
 Then thus returned: O grace of Italy! 
 
 With what becoming thanks can I reply? 770 
 
 Not only words lie labouring in my breast. 
 
 But thought itself is by thy praise oppressed. 
 
 Yet rob me not of all; but let me join 
 My toils, my hazard, and my fame, with thine. 
 
 The Trojan, not in stratagem unskilled, 775 
 
 Sends his light horse before to scour the field: 
 
 Himself, through steep ascents and thorny brakes, 
 
 A larger compass to the city takes. 
 
 This news my scouts confirm : and I prepare 
 To foil his cunning, and his force to dare; 
 
 With chosen foot his passage to forelay, 
 
 And place an ambush in the winding way. 
 
 u 
 
 780 
 
3o6 
 
 VIRGIL'S ALNEIS. 
 
 [book XI. 
 
 Thou, with thy Volscians, face the Tuscan horse: 
 The brave Messapus shall my troops inforce 
 785 With those of Tibur, and the Latian band, 
 
 Subjected all to thy supreme command.’^ 
 
 This said, he warns Messapus to the war. 
 
 Then every chief exhorts with equal care. 
 
 All thus encouraged, his own troop he joins, 
 
 790 And hastes to prosecute his deep designs. 
 
 Inclosed with hills, a winding valley lies. 
 
 By nature formed for fraud, and fitted for surprise. 
 
 A narrow track, by human steps untrode, 
 Leads,through perplexing thorns, to this obscure abode. 
 795 High o’er the vale a steepy mountain stands. 
 
 Whence the surveying sight the nether ground com- 
 The top is level — an offensive seat [mands. 
 
 Of war ; and from the war a safe retreat : 
 
 For, on the right and left, is room to press 
 800 The foes at hand, or from afar distress ; 
 
 To drive them headlong downward ; and to pour. 
 
 On their descending backs, a stony shower. 
 
 Thither young Turnus took the well-known way. 
 Possessed the pass, and in blind ambush lay. 
 
 805 Meantime, Latonian Phoebe, from the skies. 
 
 Beheld the approaching war with hateful eyes, 
 
 And called the light-foot Opis to her aid. 
 
 Her most beloved and ever-trusty maid; 
 
 Then with a sigh began : “ Camilla goes 
 810 To meet her death amidst her fatal foes — 
 
 The nymph I loved of all my mortal train, 
 
 Invested with Diana’s arms, in vain. 
 
 Nor is my kindness for the virgin new: 
 
 ’Twas born with her; and with her years it grew. 
 
 815 Her father Metabus, when forced away 
 From old Privernum for tyrannic sway. 
 
 Snatched up, and saved from his prevailing foes, 
 
 This tender babe, companion of his woes. 
 
 Casmilla was her mother ; but he drowned 
 820 One hissing letter in a softer sound. 
 
 And called Camilla. Through the woods he flies ; 
 Wrapped in his robe the royal infant lies. 
 
BOOK XI.] 
 
 VIRGWS MNEIS. 
 
 307 
 
 His foes in sight, he mends his weary pace; 
 
 With shouts and clamours they pursue the chase. 
 
 The banks of Amasene at length he gains ; 825 
 
 The raging flood his farther flight restrains, 
 
 Raised o’er the borders with unusual rains. 
 
 Prepared to plunge into the stream, he fears, 
 
 Not for himself, but for the charge he bears. 
 
 Anxious, he stops awhile, and thinks in haste, 830 
 
 Then, desperate in distress, resolves at last. 
 
 A knotty lance of well-boiled oak he bore ; 
 
 The middle part with cork he covered o’er : 
 
 He closed the child within the hollow space ; 
 
 With twigs of bending osier bound the case, 835 
 
 Then poised the spear, heavy with human weight, 
 
 And thus invoked my favour for the freight : 
 
 “Accept, great goddess of the woods (he said). 
 
 Sent by her sire, this dedicated maid ! 
 
 Through air she flies a suppliant to thy shrine ; 840 
 
 And the first weapons that she knows, are thine.” 
 
 He said ; and with full force the spear he threw : 
 
 Above the sounding waves Camilla flew. 
 
 Then, pressed by foes, he stemmed the stormy tide. 
 
 And gained, by stress of arms, the farther side. 845 
 
 His fastened spear he pulled from out the ground. 
 
 And, victor of his vows, his infant nymph unbound ; 
 
 Nor, after that, in towns which walls inclose, 
 
 Would trust his hunted life amidst his foes ; 
 
 But, rough, in'open air he chose to lie ; 850 
 
 Earth was his couch, his covering was the sky. 
 
 On hills unshorn, or in a desert den, 
 
 He shunned the dire society of men. 
 
 A shepherd’s solitary life he led ; 
 
 His daughter with the milk of mares he fed. 855 
 
 The dugs of bears, and every savage beast. 
 
 He drew, and through her lips the liquor pressed. 
 
 The little Amazon could scarcely go — 
 
 He loads her with a quiver and a bow ; 
 
 And, that she might her staggering steps command, 860 
 He with a slender javelin fills her hand. 
 
 Her flowing hair no golden fillet bound ; 
 
3o8 
 
 VIRGinS RENEIS. 
 
 [book XI. 
 
 Nor swept her trailing robe the dusty ground. 
 Instead of these, a tiger^s hide o’erspread 
 865 Her back and shoulders, fastened to her head. 
 
 The flying dart she first attempts to fling. 
 
 And round her tender temples tossed the sling ; 
 Then, as her strength with years increased, began 
 To pierce aloft in air the soaring swan, 
 
 870 And from the clouds to fetch the heron and the crane. 
 The Tuscan matrons with each other vied. 
 
 To bless their rival sons with such a bride : 
 
 But she disdains their love, to share with me 
 The sylvan shades, and vowed virginity. 
 
 875 And, oh ! I wish, contented with my cares 
 
 Of savage spoils, she had not sought the wars : 
 
 Then had she been of my celestial train. 
 
 And shunned the fate that dooms her to be slain. 
 
 But since, opposing heaven’s decree, she goes 
 880 To find her death among forbidden foes. 
 
 Haste with these arms, and take thy steepy flight, 
 Where, with the gods averse, the Latins fight. 
 
 This bow to thee, this quiver, I bequeath. 
 
 This chosen arrow, to revenge her death : 
 
 885 By whatever hand Camilla shall be slain. 
 
 Or of the Trojan or Italian train. 
 
 Let him not pass unpunished from the plain. 
 
 Then, in a hollow cloud, myself will aid 
 To bear the breathless body of my maid : 
 
 890 Unspoiled shall be her arms, and unprofaned 
 Her holy limbs with any human hand. 
 
 And in a marble tomb laid in her native land.” 
 
 She said. The faithful nymph descends from high 
 With rapid flight, and cuts the sounding sky : 
 
 895 Black clouds and stormy winds around her body fly. 
 By this, the Trojan and the Tuscan horse. 
 
 Drawn up in squadrons, with united force 
 Approach the walls : the sprightly coursers bound. 
 Press forward on their bits, and shift their ground. 
 900 Shields, arms, and spears, flash horribly from far ; 
 And the fields glitter with a waving war. 
 
 Opposed to these, come on with furious force 
 
VlRGinS AlNEIS. 
 
 BOOK XI. ] 
 
 309 
 
 Messapus, Coras, and the Latian horse; 
 
 These in the body placed, on either hand 
 
 Sustained and closed by fair Camilla’s band. 905 
 
 Advancing in a line, they couch their spears ; 
 
 And less and less the middle space appears. 
 
 Thick smoke obscures the field ; and scarce are seen 
 The neighing coursers, and the shouting men. 
 
 In distance of their darts they stop their course ; 910 
 
 Then man to man they rush, and horse to horse. 
 
 The face of heaven their flying javelins hide. 
 
 And deaths unseen are dealt on either side. 
 
 Tyrrhenus, and Aconteus void of fear. 
 
 By mettled coursers borne in full career, 915 
 
 Meet first opposed ; and, with a mighty shock. 
 
 Their horses’ heads against each other knock. 
 
 Far from his steed is fierce Aconteus cast. 
 
 As with an engine’s force, or lightning’s blast : 
 
 He rolls along in blood, and breathes his last. 920 
 
 The Latian squadrons take a sudden fright, 
 
 And sling their shields behind, to save their backs in flight. 
 Spurring at speed, to their own walls they drew ; 
 
 Close in the rear the Tuscan troops pursue. 
 
 And urge their flight : Asylas leads the chase ; 925 
 
 Till, seized with shame, they wheel about, and face, 
 Receive their foes, and raise a threatening cry. 
 
 The Tuscans take their turn to fear and fly. 
 
 So swelling surges, with a thundering roar. 
 
 Driven on each other’s backs, insult the shore, 930 
 
 Bound o’er the rocks, encroach upon the land. 
 
 And far upon the beach eject the sand ; 
 
 Then backward, with a swing, they take their way. 
 Repulsed from upper ground, and seek their mother sea ; 
 With equal hurry quit the invaded shore, 935 
 
 And swallow back the sand and stones they spewed before. 
 Twice were the Tuscans masters of the field. 
 
 Twice by the Latins, in their tup, repelled. 
 
 Ashamed at length, to the third charge they ran — 
 
 Both hosts resolved, and mingled man to man. 940 
 
 Now dying groans are heard ; the fields are strewed 
 With falling bodies, and are drunk with blood. 
 
310 
 
 VIRGirS MNEIS, 
 
 [book XI. 
 
 Arms, horses, men, on heaps together lie; 
 
 Confused the fight, and more confused the cry. 
 
 945 Orsilochus, who durst not press too near 
 Strong Remulus, at distance drove his spear, 
 
 And stuck the steel beneath his horse’s ear. 
 
 The fiery steed, impatient of the wound, 
 
 Curvets, and, springing upward with a bound, 
 
 950 His helpless lord cast backward on the ground. 
 Catillus pierced lolas first; then drew 
 His reeking lance, and at Herminius threw. 
 
 The mighty champion of the Tuscan crew. 
 
 His neck and throat unarmed, his head was bare, 
 
 955 But shaded with a length of yellow hair: 
 
 Secure, he fought, exposed on every part, 
 
 A spacious mark for swords, and for the flying dart. 
 Across the shoulders came the feathered wound ; 
 Transfixed, he fell, and doubled to the ground. 
 
 960 The sands with streaming blood are sanguine dyed, 
 And death, with honour, sought on either side. 
 
 Resistless, through the war Camilla rode. 
 
 In danger unappalled, and pleased with blood. 
 
 One side was bare for her exerted breast ; 
 
 965 One shoulder with her painted quiver pressed. 
 
 Now from afar her fatal javelins play ; 
 
 Now with her axe’s edge, she hews her way: 
 
 Diana’s arms upon her shoulder sound ; 
 
 And when, too closely pressed, she quits the ground, 
 970 From her bent bow^ she sends a backward wound. 
 Her maids, in martial pomp, on either side, 
 
 Larina, Tulla, fierce Tarpeia, ride — 
 
 Italians all — in peace their queen’s delight ; 
 
 In war, the bold companions of the fight. 
 
 975 So marched the Thracian Amazons of old, 
 
 When Thermoden with bloody billows rolled : 
 
 Such troops as these in shining arms were seen, 
 When Theseus met in fight their maiden queen : 
 
 Such to the field Penthesilea led, 
 
 980 From the fierce virgin when the Grecians fled ; 
 
 With such returned triumphant from the war. 
 
 Her maids with cries attend the lofty car; 
 
VJRGins AtNEIS. 
 
 BOOK XI.] 
 
 
 They clash with manly force their moony shields ; 
 
 With female shouts resound the Phrygian fields. 
 
 Who foremost, and who last, heroic maid, 985 
 
 On the cold earth were by thy courage laid 1 
 Thy spear, of mountain-ash, Eunceus first. 
 
 With fury driven, from side to side transpierced: 
 
 A purple stream came spouting from the wound ; 
 
 Bathed in his blood he lies, and bites the ground. 990 
 Liris and Pegasus at once she slew : 
 
 The former, as the slackened reins he drew. 
 
 Of his faint steed — the latter, as he stretched 
 His arm to prop his friend — the javelin reached. 
 
 By the same weapon, sent from the same hand, 995 
 
 Both fall together, and both spurn the sand. 
 
 Amastrus next is added to the slain : 
 
 The rest in rout she follows o’er the plain : 
 
 Tereus, Harpalycus, Demophoon, 
 
 And Chromis, at full speed her fury shun. 1000 
 
 Of all her deadly darts, not one she lost ; 
 
 Each was attended with a Trojan ghost. 
 
 Young Ornytus bestrode a hunter steed. 
 
 Swift for the chase, and of Apulian breed. 
 
 Him, from afar, she spied in arms unknown : 1005 
 
 O’er his broad back an ox’s hide was thrown ; 
 
 His helm a wolf, whose gaping jaws were spread 
 A covering for his cheeks, and grinned around his head. 
 He clenched within his hand an iron prong. 
 
 And towered above the rest, conspicuous in the throng. 1010 
 Him soon she singled from the flying train. 
 
 And slew with ease ; then thus insults the slain : 
 
 ‘Wain hunter! didst thou think through woods to chase 
 The savage herd, a vile and trembling race 
 Here cease thy vaunts, and own my victory: 1015 
 
 A woman warrior was too strong for thee. 
 
 Yet, if the ghosts demand the conqueror’s name. 
 Confessing great Camilla, save thy shame.” 
 
 Then Butes and Orsilochus she slew, 
 
 The bulkiest bodies of the Trojan crew — io2ja 
 
 But Butes breast to breast: the spear descends 
 Above the gorget, where his helmet ends, 
 
312 
 
 VIRGWS MNEIS. 
 
 [book XI. 
 
 And o’er the shield which his left side defends. 
 Orsilochus, and she, their coursers ply : 
 
 1025 seems to follow, and she seems to fly. 
 
 But in a narrower ring she makes the race ; 
 
 And then he flies, and she pursues the chase. 
 Gathering at length on her deluded foe, 
 
 She swings her axe, and rises to the blow ; 
 
 1030 Full on the helm behind, with such a sway 
 The weapon falls, the riven steel gives way : 
 
 He groans, he roars, he sues in vain for grace : 
 Brains, mingled with his blood, besmear his face. 
 Astonished Aunus just arrives by chance, 
 
 1035 To see his fall, nor farther dares advance ; 
 
 But, fixing on the horrid maid his eye. 
 
 He stares, and shakes, and finds it vain to fly ; 
 Yet, like a true Ligurian, born to cheat, 
 
 (At least while Fortune favoured his deceit,) 
 
 1040 Cries out aloud: “ What courage have you shown, 
 Who trust your courser’s strength, and not your own 
 Forego the ’vantage of your horse, alight. 
 
 And then on equal terms begin the fight : 
 
 It shall be seen, weak woman, what you can, 
 
 1045 When foot to foot, you combat with a man.” 
 
 He said. She glows with anger and disdain. 
 Dismounts with speed to dare him on the plain. 
 And leaves her horse at large among her train ; 
 With her drawn sword defies him to the field, 
 
 1050 And, marching, lifts aloft her maiden shield. 
 
 The youth, who thought his cunning did succeed, 
 Reins round his horse, and urges all his speed : 
 Adds the remembrance of the spur, and hides 
 The goring rowels in his bleeding sides. 
 
 1055 Vain fool, and coward ! (said the lofty maid). 
 Caught in the train which thou thyself hast laid ! 
 On others practise thy Ligurian arts : 
 
 Thin stratagems, and tricks of little hearts, 
 
 Are lost on me ; nor shalt thou safe retire, 
 
 1060 With vaunting lies, to thy fallacious sire.” 
 
 At this, so fast her flying feet she sped. 
 
 That soon she strained beyond his horse’s head ; 
 
BOOK XI.] 
 
 VIRGinS MNEIS. 
 
 3^3 
 
 Then turning short, at once she seized the rein, 
 
 And laid the boaster grovelling on the plain. 
 
 Not with more ease the falcon, from above, 1065 
 
 Trusses, in middle air, the trembling dove, 
 
 Then plumes the prey, in her strong pounces bound : 
 
 The feathers, foul with blood, come tumbling to the ground. 
 
 Now mighty Jove, from his superior height, 
 
 With his broad eye surveys the unequal fight. 1070 
 
 He fires the breast of Tarchon with disdain. 
 
 And sends him to redeem the abandoned plain. 
 
 Between the broken ranks the Tuscan rides. 
 
 And these encourages, and those he chides ; 
 
 Recalls each leader, by his name, from flight ; 1075 
 
 Renews their ardour, and restores the fight. 
 
 What panic fear has seized your souls ? O shame, 
 
 O brand perpetual of the Etrurian name ! 
 
 Cowards incurable ! a woman’s hand 
 
 Drives, breaks, and scatters, your ignoble band ! loSo 
 
 Now cast away the sword, and quit the shield ! 
 
 What use of weapons which you dare not wield ? 
 
 Not thus you fly your female foes by night. 
 
 Nor shun the feast, when the full bowls invite; 
 
 When to fat offerings the glad augur calls, 1085 
 
 And the shrill horn-pipe sounds to bacchanals. 
 
 These are your studied cares, your lewd delight — 
 
 Swift to debauch, but slow to manly fight.” 
 
 Thus having said, he spurs amidst the foes, 
 
 Not managing the life he meant to lose. 1090 
 
 The first he found he seized, with headlong haste. 
 
 In his strong gripe, and clasped around the waist: 
 
 ’Twas Venulus, whom from his horse he tore. 
 
 And (laid athwart his own) in triumph bore. 
 
 Loud shouts ensue; the Latins turn their eyes, 1095 
 And view the unusual sight with vast surprise. 
 
 The fiery Tarchon, flying o’er the plains. 
 
 Pressed in his arms the ponderous prey sustains. 
 
 Then, with his shortened spear, explores around 
 
 His jointed arms, to fix a deadly wound. 1 100 
 
 Nor less the captive struggles for his life: 
 
 He writhes his body to prolong the strife. 
 
314 VIRGinS AiNEIS, [book xi. 
 
 And, fencing for his naked throat, exerts 
 His utmost vigour, and the point averts. 
 
 1105 So stoops the yellow eagle from on high, 
 
 And bears a speckled serpent through the sky. 
 Fastening his crooked talons on the prey : 
 
 The prisoner hisses through the liquid way; 
 
 Resists the royal hawk ; and, though oppressed, 
 
 1 no She fight in volumes, and erects her crest: 
 
 Turned to her foe, she stiffens every scale. 
 
 And shoots her forky tongue, and whisks her threaten- 
 Against the victor, all defence is weak : [ing tail. 
 
 The imperial bird still plies her with his beak; 
 
 1115 He tears her bowels, and her breast he gores. 
 
 Then claps his pinions, and securely soars. 
 
 Thus, through the midst of circling enemies. 
 Strong Tarchon snatched and bore away his prize. 
 The Tyrrhene troops, that shrunk before, now press 
 1120 The Latins, and presume the like success. 
 
 Then Arruns, doomed to death, his arts essayed 
 To murder, unespied, the Volscian maid: 
 
 This way and that his winding course he bends. 
 And wheresoe’er she turns, her steps attends. 
 
 1125 When she retires victorious from the chase. 
 
 He wheels about with care, and shifts his place : 
 When, rushing on, she seeks her foes in fight, 
 
 He keeps aloof, but keeps her still in sight ; 
 
 He threats, and trembles, trying every way, 
 
 1130 Unseen to kill, and safely to betray. 
 
 Chloreus, the priest of Cybele, from far. 
 
 Glittering in Phrygian arms amidst the war. 
 
 Was by the virgin viewed. The steed he pressed 
 Was proud with trappings ; and his brawny chest 
 1135 With scales of gilded brass was covered o’er : 
 
 A robe of Tyrian dye the rider wore. 
 
 With deadly wounds he galled the distant foe; 
 Gnossian his shafts, and Lycian was his bow : 
 
 A golden helm his front and head surrounds ; 
 
 1140 A gilded quiver from his shoulder sounds. 
 
 Gold, weaved with linen, on his thighs he wore, 
 With flowers of needle-work distinguished o’er, 
 
BOOK XL] VIRGirS MNEIS. 3 1 5 
 
 With golden buckles bound, and gathered up before. 
 
 Him the fierce maid beheld with ardent eyes, 
 
 Fond and ambitious of so rich a prize, 1 145 
 
 Or that the temple might his trophies hold, 
 
 Or else to shine herself in Trojan gold. 
 
 Blind in her haste, she chases him alone, 
 
 And seeks his life, regardless of her own. 
 
 This lucky moment the sly traitor chose ; 1150 
 
 Then, starting from his ambush, up he rose. 
 
 And threw, but first to heaven addressed his vows : 
 
 “ O patron of Soracte’s high abodes ! 
 
 Phoebus, the ruling power among the gods ! 
 
 Whom first we serve ; whole woods of unctuous pine 1155 
 Are felled for thee, and to thy glory shine ; 
 
 By thee protected, with our naked soles, [coals. 
 
 Through flames unsinged we march, and tread the kindled 
 Give me, propitious power, to wash away 
 The stains of this dishonourable day : 1160 
 
 Nor spoils, nor triumph, from the fact I claim. 
 
 But with my future actions trust my fame. 
 
 Let me, by stealth, this female plague o’ercome, 
 
 And from the field return inglorious home.” 
 
 Apollo heard, and, granting half his prayer. 
 
 Shuffled in winds the rest, and tossed in empty air. 1 165 
 He gives the death desired : his safe return 
 By southern tempests to the seas is borne. 
 
 Now, when the javelin whizzed along the skies. 
 
 Both armies on Camilla turned their eyes, 1170 
 
 Directed by the sound. Of either host. 
 
 The unhappy virgin, though concerned the most, 
 
 Was only deaf ; so greedy was she bent 
 On golden spoils, and on her prey intent ; 
 
 Till in her pap the winged weapon stood 1175 
 
 Infixed, and deeply drunk the purple blood. 
 
 Her sad attendants hasten to sustain 
 Their dying lady drooping on the plain. 
 
 Far from their sight the trembling Arruns flies. 
 
 With beating heart, and fear confused with joys; 1180 
 Nor dares he farther to pursue his blow. 
 
 Or e’en to bear the sight of his expiring foe. 
 
3i6 VIRGIL'S AiNElS. [book xi. 
 
 As, when the wolf has torn a bullock^s hide 
 At unawares, or ranched a shepherd’s side, 
 
 1 185 Conscious of his audacious deed, he flies. 
 
 And claps his quivering tail between his thighs : 
 
 So, speeding once, the wretch no more attends. 
 
 But, spurring forward, herds among his friends. 
 
 She wrenched the javelin with her dying hands, 
 1190 But wedged within her breast the weapon stands; 
 The wood she draws, the steely point remains : 
 
 She staggers in her seat with agonizing pains 
 fA gatheriiig mist o’erclouds her cheerful eyes; 
 
 And from her cheeks the rosy colour flies) : 
 
 1 195 Then turns to her, whom* of her female train 
 
 She trusted most, and thus she speaks with pain : 
 
 Acca, ’tis past! he swims before my sight. 
 Inexorable Death; and claims his right. 
 
 Bear my last words to Turnus : fly with speed, 
 
 1200 And bid him timely to my charge succeed. 
 
 Repel the Trojans, and the town relieve: 
 
 Farewell 1 and in this kiss my parting breath receive.” 
 She said, and, sliding, sunk upon the plain : 
 
 Dying, her opened hand forsakes the rein: 
 
 1 205 Short, and more short, she pants : by slow degrees 
 Her mind the passage from her body frees. 
 
 She drops her sword ; she nods her plumy crest. 
 Her drooping head declining on her breast; 
 
 In the last sigh her struggling soul expires, [tires. 
 1210 And, murmuring with disdain, to Stygian sounds re- 
 A shout, that struck the golden stars ensued ; 
 Despair and rage, and languished fight renewed. 
 The Trojan troops and Tuscans, in a line. 
 
 Advance to charge ; the mixed Arcadians join. 
 
 1215 But Cynthia’s maid, high seated, from afar 
 Surveys the field, and fortune of the war. 
 
 Unmoved a while, till, prostrate on the plain. 
 Weltering in blood, she sees Camilla slain, [train. 
 And, round her corpse, of friends and foes a fighting 
 1220 Then, from the bottom of her breast, she drew 
 A mournful sigh, and these sad words ensue: 
 
 Too dear a fine, ah, much lamented maid I 
 
BOOK XI. ] VIRGWS MNEIS. 3 1 7 
 
 For warring with the Trojans thou hast paid : 
 
 Nor aught availed, in this unhappy strife, 
 
 Diana’s sacred arms, to save thy life. 1225 
 
 Yet unrevenged thy goddess will not leave 
 Her votary’s death, nor with vain sorrow grieve. 
 
 Branded the wretch, and be his name abhorred ; 
 
 But, after ages shall thy praise record. 
 
 The inglorious coward soon shall press the plain: 1230 
 
 Thus vows thy queen, and thus the Fates ordain.” 
 
 High o’er the field, there stood a hilly mound — 
 
 Sacred the place, and spread with oaks around — 
 
 Where, in a marble tomb, Dercennus lay, 
 
 A king that once in Latium bore the sway. 1235 
 
 The beauteous Opis thither bent her flight. 
 
 To mark the traitor Arruns from the height. 
 
 Him in refulgent arms she soon espied, 
 
 Swoln with success ; and loudly thus she cried : 
 
 “ Thy backward steps, vain boaster, are too late ; 1 240 
 
 Turn, like a man, at length, and meet thy fate. 
 
 Charged with my message, to Camilla go. 
 
 And say I sent thee to the shades below — 
 
 An honour undeserved from Cynthia’s bow.” 
 
 She said, and from her quiver chose with speed 1245 
 The winged shaft, predestined for the deed ; 
 
 Then to the stubborn yew her strength applied. 
 
 Till the far-distant horns approached on either side. 
 
 The bow-string touched her breast, so strong she drew ; 
 Whizzing in air the fatal arrow flew. 1250 
 
 At once the twanging bow and sounding dart 
 The traitor heard, and felt the point within his heart. 
 Him, beating with his heels in pangs of death. 
 
 His flying friends to foreign fields bequeath. 
 
 The conquering damsel, with expanded wings, 1255 
 
 The welcome message to her mistress brings. 
 
 Their leader lost, the Volscians quit the field ; 
 
 And, unsustained, the chiefs of Turnus yield. 
 
 The frighted soldiers, when their captains fly, ‘ 
 
 More on their speed than on their strength rely. 1260 
 Confused in flight, they bear each other down, 
 
 And spur their horses headlong to the town. 
 
3-8 
 
 VIRGIL'S ^NEIS. 
 
 [book XI. 
 
 Driven by their foes, and to their fears resigned, 
 Not once they turn, but take their wounds behind. 
 1265 These drop the shield, and those the lance forego, 
 Or on their shoulders bear the slackened bow. 
 
 The hoofs of horses, with a rattling sound. 
 
 Beat short and thick, and shake the rotten ground. 
 Black clouds of dust come rolling in the sky, 
 
 1270 And o’er the darkened walls and rampires fly. 
 
 The trembling matrons, from their lofty stands. 
 Rend heaven with female shrieks, and wring their 
 All pressing on, pursuers and pursued, [hands. 
 Are crushed in crowds, aaiiingled multitude. 
 
 1275 Some happy few escape: the throng too late 
 Rush on for entrance, till they choke the gate. 
 
 E’en in the sight of home, the wretched sire 
 Looks on, and sees his helpless son expire. 
 
 Then, in a fright, the folding gates they close, 
 
 1280 But leave their friends excluded with their foes. 
 
 The vanquished cry ; the victors loudly shout : 
 
 ’Tis terror all within, and slaughter all without. 
 Blind in their fear, they bounce against the wall, 
 
 Or, to the moats pursued, precipitate their fall. 
 
 1285 The Latian virgins, valiant with despair. 
 
 Armed on the towers, the common danger share : 
 
 So much of zeal their country’s cause inspired ; 
 
 So much Camilla’s great example fired. 
 
 Poles, sharpened in the flames, from high they throw, 
 1290 With imitated darts to gall the foe. 
 
 Their lives for godlike freedom they bequeath, 
 
 And crowd each other to be first in death. 
 
 Meantime to Turnus, ambushed in the shade. 
 
 With heavy tidings came the unhappy maid : 
 
 1295 The Volscians overthrown — Camilla killed — 
 
 The foes entirely masters of the field. 
 
 Like a resistless flood, come rolling on : 
 
 The cry goes off the plain, and thickens to the town.” 
 Inflamed with rage (for so the Furies fire 
 1300 The Daunian’s breast, and so the Fates require). 
 
 He leaves the hilly pass, the woods in vain 
 Possessed, and downward issues on the plain. 
 
BOOK XL] VIRGWS AiJVETS. 
 
 Scarce was he gone, when to the straits, now freed 
 From secret foes, the Trojan troops succeed. 
 Through the black forest and the ferny brake, 
 Unknowingly secure, their way they take ; 
 
 From the rough mountains to the plain descend, 
 And there, in order drawn, their line extend. 
 
 Both armies now in open fields are seen ; 
 
 Not far the distance of the space between. 
 
 Both to the city bend, ^neas sees. 
 
 Through smoking fields, his hastening enemies ; 
 And Turnus views the Trojans in array. 
 
 And hears the approaching horses proudly neigh. 
 Soon had their hosts in bloody battle joined ; 
 
 But westward to the sea the sun declined. 
 Intrenched before the town, both armies lie. 
 
 While night with sable wings involves the sky. 
 
 319 
 
 1305 
 
 1310 
 
 1315 
 
BOOK XIL 
 
 THE ARGUMENT. 
 
 Turnus challenges ^neas to a single combat : articles are agreed 
 on, but broken by the Rutuli, who wound -dEneas. He is 
 miraculously cured by Venus, forces Turnus to a duel, and 
 concludes the poem with his death. 
 
 W HEN Turnus saw the Latins leave the field, 
 Their armies broken, and their courage quelled 
 Himself become the mark of public spite, 
 
 His honour questioned for the promised fight — 
 
 5 The more he was with vulgar hate oppressed. 
 
 The more his fury boiled within his breast : 
 
 He roused his vigour for the last debate. 
 
 And raised his haughty soul, to meet his fate. 
 
 As, when the swains the Libyan lion chase, 
 lo He makes a sour retreat, nor mends his pace ; 
 
 But, if the pointed javelin pierce his side. 
 
 The lordly beast returns with double pride : 
 
 He wrenches out the steel ; he roars for pain ; 
 
 His sides he lashes, and erects his mane : 
 
 15 So Turnus fares : his eye-balls flash with fire ; 
 Through his wide nostrils clouds of smoke expire. 
 
 Trembling with rage, around the court he ran ; 
 
 At length approached the king, and thus began : 
 
 “ No more excuses or delays : I stand 
 20 In arms prepared to combat, hand to hand, 
 
 This base deserter of his native land. 
 
 The Trojan, by his word, is bound to take 
 
BOOK XII.] 
 
 VIRGirs MNEIS. 
 
 321 
 
 The same conditions which himself did make. 
 
 Renew the truce ; the. solemn rites prepare, 
 
 And to my single virtue trust the .war. 25 
 
 The Latians unconcerned shall see the fight : 
 
 This arm unaided shall assert your, right : 
 
 Then, if my prostrate body press the plain, 
 
 To him the crown and beauteous bride remain.” 
 
 To whom the king sedately thus replied : 30 
 
 Brave youth ! the more your valour has been tried, 
 
 The more becomes it, us, with due respect. 
 
 To weigh the chance of war, which you neglect. 
 
 You want not wealth, or a successive throne. 
 
 Or cities which your arms have made your own : 35 
 
 My towns and treasures are at your command ; 
 
 And stored with blooming beauties is my land : 
 Laurentum more than one Lavinia sees. 
 
 Unmarried, fair, of noble families. 
 
 Now let me speak, and you with patience hear, 40 
 
 Things which perhaps may grate a lover’s ear. 
 
 But sound advice, proceeding from a heart 
 Sincerely yours, and free from fraudful art. 
 
 The gods, by signs, have manifestly shown. 
 
 No prince, Italian born, should heir my throne : 45 
 
 Oft have our augurs, in prediction skilled. 
 
 And oft our priests, a foreign son revealed. 
 
 Yet, won by worth that cannot be withstood. 
 
 Bribed by my kindness to my kindred blood. 
 
 Urged by my wife, who would not be denied, 50 
 
 I promised my Lavinia for your bride : 
 
 Her from her plighted lord by force 1 took ; 
 
 All ties of treaties, and of honour, broke : 
 
 On your account I waged an impious war — 
 
 With what success, ’tis needless to declare ; 55 
 
 I and my subjects feel, and you have had your share. 
 Twice vanquished while in bloody fields we strive. 
 
 Scarce in our walls we keep our hopes alive : 
 
 The rolling flood runs warm with human gore ; 
 
 The bones of Latians blanch the neighbouring shore. 60 
 Why put I not an end to this debate. 
 
 Still unresolved, and still a slave to fate ? 
 
322 
 
 VIRGirS ^NEIS, 
 
 [book XII. 
 
 If Turnus’ death a lasting peace can give, 
 
 Why should I not procure it whilst you live ? 
 
 65 Should I to doubtful arms your youth betray, 
 
 What would my kinsmen, the Rutulians, say 1 
 And, should you fall in fight, (which Heaven defend !) 
 How curse the cause, which hastened to his end 
 The daughter’s lover, and the father’s friend } 
 
 70 Weigh in your mind the various chance of war ; 
 
 Pity your parent’s age, and ease his care.” 
 
 Such balmy words he poured, but all in vain : 
 
 The proffered medicine but provoked the pain. 
 
 The wrathful youth, disdaining the relief, 
 
 75 With intermitting sobs thus vents his grief : 
 
 ‘‘ The care, O best of fathers ! which you take 
 For my concerns, at my desire forsake. 
 
 Permit me not to languish out my days. 
 
 But make the best exchange of life for praise. 
 
 80 This arm, this lance, can well dispute the prize ; 
 
 And the blood follows where the weapon flies. 
 
 His goddess-mother is not near, to shroud 
 The flying coward with an empty cloud.” 
 
 But now the queen, who feared for Turnus’ life, 
 
 85 And loathed the hard conditions of the strife. 
 
 Held him by force ; and, dying in his death. 
 
 In these sad accents gave her sorrow breath : 
 
 O Turnus ! I adjure thee by these tears. 
 
 And whate’er prince Amata’s honour bears 
 90 Within thy breast, since thou art all my hope, 
 
 My sickly mind’s repose, my sinking age’s prop — 
 Since on the safety of thy life alone 
 Depends Latinus, and the Latian throne — 
 
 Ref^use me not this one, this only prayer, 
 
 95 To waive the combat, and pursue the war. 
 
 Whatever chance attends this fatal strife, 
 
 Think it includes, in thine, Amata’s life. 
 
 I cannot live a slave, or see my throne 
 Usurped by strangers, or a Trojan son.” 
 
 100 At this, a flood of tears Lavinia shed ; 
 
 A crimson blush her beauteous face overspread, 
 Varying her cheeks by turns with white and red. 
 
BOOK XII.] VIRGirs ^NEIS, 
 
 The driving colours, never at a stay, 
 
 Run here and there, and flush and fade away. 
 
 Delightful change ! Thus Indian ivory shows. 
 
 Which with the bordering paint of purple glows ; 
 
 Or lilies damasked by the neighbouring rose. 
 
 The lover gazed, and, burning with desire, 
 
 The more he looked, the more he fed the fire : 
 
 Revenge, and jealous rage, and secret spite. 
 
 Roll in his breast, and rouse him to the fight. 
 
 Then fixing on the queen his ardent eyes. 
 
 Firm to his first intent, he thus replies : 
 
 “ O mother ! do not by your tears prepare 
 Such boding omens, and prejudge the war : 
 
 Resolved on fight, I am no longer free 
 To shun my death, if heaven my death decree.” 
 
 Then turning to the herald, thus pursues : 
 
 Go, greet the Trojan with ungrateful news ; 
 
 Denounce from me, that, when to-morrow^s light 
 Shall gild the heavens, he need not urge the fight : 
 
 The Trojan and Rutulian troops no more 
 Shall dye, with mutual blood, the Latian shore : 
 
 Our single swords the quarrel shall decide. 
 
 And to the victor be the beauteous bride.” 125 
 
 He said, and striding on, with speedy pace. 
 
 He sought his coursers of the Thracian race. 
 
 At his approach, they toss their heads on high. 
 
 And, proudly neighing, promise victory. 
 
 The sires of these Orithyia sent from far, 130 
 
 To grace Pilumnus, when he went to war. 
 
 The drifts of Thracian snows were scarce so white. 
 
 Nor northern winds in fleetness matched their flight. 
 Officious grooms stand ready by his side ; 
 
 And some with combs their flowing manes divide, 135 
 And others stroke their chests, and gently soothe their pride. 
 
 He sheathed his limbs in arms ; a tempered mass 
 Of golden metal those, and mountain-brass. 
 
 Then to his head his glittering helm he tied, 
 
 And girt his faithful falchion to his side. 140 
 
 In his JEtrisesin forge, the god of fire 
 That falchion laboured for the heroes sire, 
 
 323 
 
 105 
 
 1 10 
 
 120 
 
324 
 
 VIRGirS MNEIS, 
 
 [book xik 
 
 Immortal keenness on the blade bestowed, 
 
 And plunged it hissing in the Stygian flood. 
 
 145 Propped on a pillar, which the ceiling bore. 
 
 Was placed the lance Auruncan Actor wore ; 
 
 Which with such force he brandished in his hand, 
 The tough ash trembled like an osier wand : 
 
 Then cried : O ponderous spoil of Actor slain, 
 
 150 And never yet by Turnus tossed in vain ! 
 
 Fail not this day thy wonted force ; but go. 
 
 Sent by this hand, to pierce the Trojan foe : 
 
 Give me to tear his corselet from his breast. 
 
 And from that eunuch head to rend the crest ; 
 
 155 Dragged in the dust, his frizzled hair to soil, 
 
 H ot from the vexing iron, and smeared with fragrant oil.” 
 
 Thus while he raves, from his wide nostrils flies 
 A fiery steam, and sparkles from his eyes. 
 
 So fares the bull in his loved female’s sight : 
 
 160 Proudly he bellows, and preludes the fight : 
 
 He tries his goring horns against a tree, 
 
 And meditates his absent enemy : 
 
 He pushes at the winds ; he digs the strand 
 With his black hoofs, and spurns the yellow sand. 
 
 165 Nor less the Trojan, in his Lemnian arms, 
 
 To future fight his manly courage warms: 
 
 He whets his fury, and with joy prepares 
 To terminate at once the lingering wars ; 
 
 To cheer his chiefs and tender son, relates 
 170 What heaven had promised, and expounds the fates. 
 Then to the Latian king he sends, to cease 
 The rage of arms, and ratify the peace. 
 
 The morn ensuing, from the mountain’s height, 
 Had scarcely spread the skies with rosy light ; 
 
 175 The ethereal coursers, bounding from the sea. 
 
 From out their flaming nostrils breathed the day ; 
 When now the Trojan and Rutulian guard. 
 
 In friendly labour joined, the list prepared. 
 
 Beneath the walls, they measure out the space ; 
 
 180 Then sacred altars rear, on sods of grass, [place. 
 Where, with religious rites, their common gods they 
 In purest white, the priests their heads attire. 
 
BOOK XII.] 
 
 VIRGIVS AiNEIS. 
 
 325 
 
 And living waters bear, and holy fire ; 
 
 And, o’er their linen hoods and shaded hair. 
 
 Long twisted wreaths of sacred vervain wear. 185 
 
 In order issuing from the town, appears 
 The Latian legion, armed with pointed spears ; 
 
 And from the fields, advancing on a line. 
 
 The Trojan and the Tuscan forces join : 
 
 Their various arms afford a pleasing sight : 190 
 
 A peaceful train they seem, in peace prepared for fight. 
 
 Betwixt the ranks the proud commanders ride. 
 Glittering with gold, and vests in purple dyed — 
 
 Here Mnestheus, author of the Memmian line. 
 
 And there Messapus, born of seed divine. 195 
 
 The sign is given ; and round the listed space. 
 
 Each man in order fills his proper place. 
 
 Reclining on their ample shields, they stand. 
 
 And fix their pointed lances in the sand. 
 
 Now, studious of the sight, a numerous throng 200 
 
 Of either sex promiscuous, old and young. 
 
 Swarm from the town : by those who rest behind. 
 
 The gates and walls, and houses’ tops, are lined. 
 
 Meantime the queen of heaven beheld the sight. 
 
 With eyes unpleased, from mount Albano’s height : 205 
 
 (Since called Albano by succeeding fame. 
 
 But then an empty hill, without a name.) 
 
 She thence surveyed the field, the Trojan powers. 
 
 The Latian squadrons, and Laurentine towers. 
 
 Then thus the goddess of the skies bespake, 210 
 
 With sighs and tears, the goddess of the lake, 
 
 King Turnus’ sister, once a lovely maid. 
 
 Ere to the lust of lawless Jove betrayed — 
 
 Compressed by force, but, by the grateful god. 
 
 Now made the Nais of the neighbouring flood. 215 
 
 O nymph, the pride of living lakes ! (said she) 
 
 O most renowned, and most beloved by me ! 
 
 Long hast thou known, nor need I to record. 
 
 The wanton sallies of my wandering lord. 
 
 Of every Latian fair, whom Jove misled 220 
 
 To mount by stealth my violated bed. 
 
 To thee alone I grudged not his embrace, 
 
326 
 
 VIRGIL'S ^NEIS. 
 
 [book xii. 
 
 But gave a part of heaven, and an unenvied place. 
 Now learn from me thy near-approaching grief, 
 
 225 Nor think my wishes want to thy relief. 
 
 While Fortune favoured, nor heaven^s king denied 
 To lend my succour to the Latian side, 
 
 I saved thy brother, and the sinking state ; 
 
 But now he struggles with unequal fate, 
 
 230 And goes, with gods averse, o’ermatched in might. 
 To meet inevitable death in fight ; 
 
 Nor must I break the truce, nor can sustain the sight. 
 Thou, if thou dar’st, thy present aid supply : 
 
 It well becomes a sister’s care to try.” 
 
 235 At this the lovely nymph, with grief oppressed, 
 Thrice tore her hair, and beat her comely breast. 
 
 To whom Saturnia thus : “ Thy tears are late : 
 Haste, snatch him, if he can be snatched, from fate : 
 New tumults kindle ; violate the truce. 
 
 240 Who knows what changeful Fortune may produce? 
 ’Tis not a crime to attempt what I decree ; 
 
 Or, if it were, discharge the crime on me.” 
 
 She said, and sailing on the winged wind. 
 
 Left the sad nymph suspended in her mind. 
 
 245 And now in pomp the peaceful kings appear: 
 
 Four steeds the chariot of Latinus bear: 
 
 Twelve golden beams around his temples play, 
 
 To mark his lineage from the god of day. 
 
 Two snowy coursers Turnus’ chariot yoke, 
 
 250 And in his hand two massy spears he shook. 
 
 Then, issued from the camp, in arms divine, 
 
 ^neas, author of the Roman line ; 
 
 And by his side Ascanius took his place, 
 
 The second hope of Rome’s immortal race. 
 
 255 Adorned in white, a reverend priest appears. 
 
 And offerings to the flaming altars bears — 
 
 A porket, and a lamb that never suffered shears. 
 Then to the rising sun he turns his eyes. 
 
 And strews the beasts, designed for sacrifice, 
 
 260 With salt and meal : with like officious care 
 
 He marks their foreheads, and he clips their hair. 
 Betwixt their horns the purple wine he sheds ; 
 
BOOK XII.] 
 
 VIRGirS yENEIS. 
 
 327 
 
 With the same generous juice the flame he feeds. 
 yEneas then unsheathed his shining sword, 
 
 And thus with pious prayers the gods adored : 265 
 
 All-seeing sun ! and thou, Ausonian soil. 
 
 For which I have sustained so long a toil. 
 
 Thou, king of heaven! and thou, the queen of air. 
 Propitious now, and reconciled by prayer; 
 
 Thou, god of war, whose unresisted sway 270 
 
 The labours and events of arms obey 1 
 
 Ye living fountains, and ye running floods 1 
 
 All powers of ocean, all ethereal gods 1 
 
 Hear, and bear record : if I fall in field, 
 
 Or, recreant in the fight, to Turnus yield, 275 
 
 My Trojans shall increase Evander’s town; 
 
 Ascanius shall renounce the Ausonian crown : 
 
 All claims, all questions of debate, shall cease ; 
 
 Nor he, nor they, with force infringe the peace. 
 
 But, if my juster arms prevail in fight 280 
 
 (As sure they shall, if I divine aright), 
 
 My Trojans shall not o’er the Italians reign ; 
 
 Both equal, both unconquered, shall remain. 
 
 Joined in their laws, their lands, and their abodes : 
 
 I ask but altars for my weary gods. 285 
 
 The care of those religious rites be mine: 
 
 The crown to king Latinus I resign : 
 
 His be the sovereign sway. Nor will I share 
 His power in peace, or his command in war. 
 
 For me, my friends another town shall frame, 290 
 
 And bless the rising towers with fair Lavinia’s name.” 
 
 Thus he. Then, with erected eyes and hands. 
 
 The Latian king before his altar stands. 
 
 ‘‘ By the same heaven (said he), and earth, and main, 
 
 And all the powers that all the three contain ; 295 
 
 By hell below, and by that upper god. 
 
 Whose thunder signs the peace, who seals it with his nod ; 
 So let Latona’s double offspring hear. 
 
 And double-fronted Janus, what I swear: 
 
 1 touch the sacred altars, touch the flames, 300 
 
 And all those powers attest, and all their names : 
 Whatever chance befal on either side. 
 
328 
 
 VIRGIL'S ^NEIS. 
 
 [book XII. 
 
 No term of time this union shall divide: 
 
 No force, no fortune, shall my vows. unbind, 
 
 305 Or shake the steadfast tenor of my mind; 
 
 Not, though the circling seas should breaktheir bound. 
 Overflow the shores, and sap the solid ground ; 
 
 Not, though the lamps of heaven their spheres forsake. 
 Hurled down, and hissing in the nether lake : 
 
 310 E^en as this royal sceptre (for he bore 
 A sceptre in his hand) shall never more 
 Shoot out in branches, or renew the birth — 
 
 An orphan now, cut from the mother earth 
 By the keen axe, dishonoured of its hair, 
 
 315 And cased in brass, for Latian kings to bear.’^ 
 
 When thus in public view the peace was tied 
 With solemn vows, and sworn on either side. 
 
 Air dues performed which holy rites require, 
 
 The victim beasts are slain before the fire, 
 
 320 The trembling entrails from their bodies torn. 
 
 And to the fattened flames in chargers borne. 
 
 Already the Rutulians deemed their man 
 Overmatched in arms, before the fight began. 
 
 First rising fears are whispered through the crowd ; 
 325 Then, gathering sound, they murmur more aloud. 
 Now, side to side, they measure with their eyes 
 The championsV bulk, their sinews, and their size: 
 The nearer they approach, the more is known 
 The apparent disadvantage of their own. 
 
 330 Turnus himself appears in public sight 
 Conscious of fate, desponding of the fight. 
 
 Slowly he moves, and at his altar stands 
 With eyes dejected, and with trembling hands : 
 
 And, while he mutters undistinguished prayers, 
 
 335 A livid deadness in his cheeks appears. 
 
 With anxious pleasure when Juturna viewed 
 The increasing fright of the mad multitude. 
 
 When their short sighs and thickening sobs she heard, 
 And found their ready minds for change prepared ; 
 340 Dissembling her immortal form, she took 
 CamertesV mien, his habit, and his look — 
 
 A chief of ancient blood : — in arms well known 
 
BOOK XII.] 
 
 vn^Girs ^NEis. 
 
 329 
 
 Was his great sire, and he his greater son. 
 
 His shape assumed, amid the ranks she ran. 
 
 And humouring their first motions, thus began : 
 
 For shame, Rutulians ! can you bear the sight 
 Of one exposed for all, in single fight 
 Can we, before the face of Heaven, confess 
 Our courage colder, or our numbers less 1 
 View all the Trojan host, the Arcadian band. 
 
 And Tuscan army; count them as they stand: 
 Undaunted to the battle if we go. 
 
 Scarce every second man will share a foe. 
 
 Turnus, ^tis true, in this unequal strife. 
 
 Shall lose, with honour, his devoted life. 
 
 Or change it rather for immortal fame. 
 
 Succeeding to the gods, from whence he came : 
 But you, a servde and inglorious band. 
 
 For foreign lords shall sow your native land. 
 Those fruitful fields your fighting fathers gained. 
 Which have so long their lazy sons sustained.” 
 
 With words like these, she carried her design. 
 
 A rising murmur runs along the line. 
 
 Then e’en the city troops, and Latians, tired 
 With tedious war, seem with new souls inspired : 
 Their champion’s fate with pity they lament. 
 
 And of the league, so lately sworn, repent. 
 
 Nor fails the goddess to foment the rage 
 With lying wonders, and a false presage; 
 
 But adds a sign, which, present to their eyes. 
 Inspires new courage, and a glad surprise. 
 
 For, sudden, in the fiery tracts above. 
 
 Appears in pomp the imperial bird of Jove : 
 
 A plump of fowl he spies, that swim the lakes. 
 And o’er their heads his sounding pinions shakes ; 
 Then, stooping on the fairest of the train, 
 
 In his strong talons trussed a silver swan. 
 
 The Italians wonder at the unusual sight : 
 
 But while he lags, and labours in his flight. 
 
 Behold the dastard fowl return anew, 
 
 And with united force the foe pursue : 
 
 Clamorous around the royal hawk they fly, 
 
 345 
 
 350 
 
 355 
 
 360 
 
 365 
 
 370 
 
 375 
 
 380 
 
330 VIRGinS AlNEIS. [book xii. 
 
 And, thickening in a cloud, overshade the sky. 
 
 They cuff, they scratch, they cross his airy course ; 
 385 Nor can the encumbered bird sustain their force ; 
 But, vexed, not vanquished, drops the ponderous prey, 
 And, lightened of his burden, wings his way. 
 
 The Ausonian bands with shouts salute the sight, 
 Eager of action, and demand the fight. 
 
 390 Then king Tolumnius, versed in augurs^ arts, 
 
 Cries out, and thus his boasted skill imparts : 
 
 “ At length kis granted, what I long desired ! 
 
 This, this is what my frequent vows required. 
 
 Ye gods ! I take your omen, and obey. — 
 
 395 Advance, my friends, and charge ! I lead the way. 
 These are the foreign foes, whose impious band. 
 
 Like that rapacious bird, infest our land : 
 
 But soon, like him, they shall be forced to sea 
 By strength united, and forego the prey. 
 
 400 Your timely succour to your country bring ; 
 
 Haste to the rescue, and redeem your king.^^ 
 
 He said : and pressing onward through the crew, 
 Poised in his lifted arm, his lance he threw. 
 
 The wingM weapon, whistling in the wind, 
 
 405 Came driving on, nor missed the mark designed. 
 
 At once the cornel rattled in the skies ; 
 
 At once tumultuous shouts and clamours rise. 
 
 Nine brothers in a goodly band there stood. 
 
 Born of Arcadian mixed with Tuscan blood, 
 
 410 Gylippus’ sons : the fatal javelin flew. 
 
 Aimed at the midmost of the friendly crew. 
 
 A passage through the jointed arms it found. 
 
 Just where the belt was to the body bound. 
 
 And struck the gentle youth extended on the ground. 
 415 Then, fired with pious rage, the generous train 
 Run madly forward to revenge the slain. 
 
 And some with eager haste their javelins throw; 
 
 And some with sword in hand assault the foe. 
 
 The wished insult the Latine troops embrace, 
 
 420 And meet their ardour in the middle space. 
 
 The Trojans, Tuscans, and Arcadian line. 
 
 With equal courage obviate their design. 
 
BOOK XII.] VIRGirS MNEIS. 33 1 
 
 Peace leaves the violated fields ; and hate 
 Both armies urges to their mutual fate : 
 
 With impious haste their altars are o’erturned, 425 
 
 The sacrifice half broiled, and half unburned. 
 
 Thick storms of steel from either army fly, 
 
 And clouds of clashing darts obscure the sky : 
 
 Brands from the fire are missive weapons made. 
 
 With chargers, bowls, and all the priestly trade. 430 
 Latinus, frighted, hastens from the fray, 
 
 And bears his unregarded gods away. 
 
 These on their horses vault ; those yoke the car ; 
 
 The rest, with swords on high, run headlong to the war. 
 
 Messapus, eager to confound the peace, 435 
 
 Spurred his hot courser through the fighting press. 
 
 At king Aulestes, by his purple known 
 A Tuscan prince, and by his regal crown ; 
 
 And, with a shock encountering, bore him down. 
 Backward he fell ; and, as his fate designed, 440 
 
 The ruins of an altar were behind : 
 
 There pitching on his shoulders and his head. 
 
 Amid the scattering fires he lay supinely spread. 
 
 The beamy spear, descending from above. 
 
 His cuirass pierced, and through his body drove. 445 
 Then, with a scornful smile, the victor cries : 
 
 ‘‘ The gods have found a fitter sacrifice.^^ 
 
 Greedy of spoils, the Italians strip the dead 
 Of his rich armour, and uncrown his head. 
 
 Priest Corynaeus armed his better hand, 450 
 
 From his own altar, with a blazing brand ; 
 
 And, as Ebusus with a thundering pace 
 Advanced to battle, dashed it on his face : 
 
 His bristly beard shines out with sudden fires ; 
 
 The crackling crop a noisome scent expires. 455 
 
 Following the blow, he seized his curling crown 
 With his left hand ; his other cast him down. 
 
 The prostrate body with his knees he pressed. 
 
 And plunged his holy poinard in his breast. 
 
 While Podalirius, with his sword, pursued 460 
 
 The shepherd Alsus through the flying crowd. 
 
 Swiftly he turns, and aims a deadly blow 
 
332 
 
 VIRGIL'S AlNEIS. 
 
 [book XII. 
 
 Full on the front of his unwary foe. 
 
 The broad axe enters with a crashing sound, 
 
 465 And cleaves the chin with one continued wound ; 
 Warm blood, and mingled brains, besmear his arms 
 And iron sleep his stupid eyes oppressed, [around : 
 And sealed their heavy lids in endless rest. 
 
 But good yFlneas rushed amid the bands : 
 
 470 Bare was his head, and naked were his hands. 
 
 In sign of truce : then thus he cries aloud : 
 
 What sudden rage, what new desire of blood. 
 Inflames your altered minds O Trojans ! cease 
 From impious arms, nor violate the peace. 
 
 475 By human sanctions, and by laws divine, 
 
 The terms are all agreed ; the war is mine. 
 
 Dismiss your fears, and let the fight ensue ; 
 
 This hand alone shall right the gods and you : 
 
 Our injured altars, and their broken vow, 
 
 480 To this avenging sword the faithless Turnus owe.^' 
 Thus while he spoke, unmindful of defence, 
 
 A winged arrow struck the pious prince. 
 
 But, whether from some human hand it came, 
 
 Or hostile god, is left unknown by fame : 
 
 485 No human hand, or hostile god, was found. 
 
 To boast the triumph of so base a wound. 
 
 When Turnus saw the Trojan quit the plain. 
 
 His chiefs dismayed, his troops a fainting train. 
 
 The unhoped event his heightened soul inspires : 
 
 490 At once his arms and coursers he requires ; 
 
 Then, with a leap, his lofty chariot gains. 
 
 And with a ready hand assumes the reins. 
 
 He drives impetuous, and, wherever he goes. 
 
 He leaves behind a lane of slaughtered foes. 
 
 495 These his lance reaches ; over those he rolls 
 His rapid car, and crushes out their souls. 
 
 In vain the vanquished fly : the victor sends 
 The dead men^s weapons at their living friends. 
 
 Thus, on the banks of Hebrus^ freezing flood, 
 
 500 The god of battles, in his angry mood. 
 
 Clashing his sword against his brazen shield. 
 
 Lets loose the reins, and scours along the field : 
 
BOOK XII.] 
 
 VIRGirS JENEIS, 
 
 333 
 
 Before the wind his fiery coursers fly ; 
 
 Groans the sad earth, resounds the rattling sky. 
 
 Wrath, Terror, Treason, Tumult, and Despair 505 
 
 (Dire faces, and deformed), surround the car — 
 
 Friends of the god, and followers of the war. 
 
 With fury not unlike, nor less disdain. 
 
 Exulting Turnus flies along the plain ; 
 
 His smoking horses, at their utmost speed, 510 
 
 He lashes on ; and urges o’er the dead. 
 
 Their fetlocks run with blood ; and, when they bound, 
 The gore and gathering dust are dashed around. 
 Thamyris and Pholus, masters of the war. 
 
 He killed at hand; but Sthenelus afar : 515 
 
 From far the sons of Imbrasus he slew, 
 
 Glaucus and Lades, of the Lycian crew — 
 
 Both taught to fight on foot, in battle joined. 
 
 Or mount the courser that outstrips the wind. 
 
 Meantime Eumedes, vaunting in the field, 520 
 
 New fired the Trojans, and their foes repelled. 
 
 This son of Dolon bore his grandsire’s name. 
 
 But emulated more his father’s fame — 
 
 His guileful father, sent a nightly spy. 
 
 The Grecian camp and order to descry — 525 
 
 Hard enterprise ! and well he might require 
 Achilles’ car and horses for his hire : 
 
 But, met upon the scout, the ^tolian prince 
 In death bestowed a juster recompense. 
 
 Fierce Turnus viewed the Trojan from afar, 530 
 
 And launched his javelin from his lofty car. 
 
 Then lightly leaping down, pursued the blow. 
 
 And, pressing with his foot his prostrate foe. 
 
 Wrenched from his feeble hold the shining sword, 
 
 And plunged it in the bosom of its lord. 535 
 
 Possess (said he) the fruit of all thy pains. 
 
 And measure, at thy length, our Latian plains. 
 
 Thus are my foes rewarded by my hand ; 
 
 Thus may they build their town, and thus enjoy the land !” 
 
 Then Dares, Butes, Sybaris, he slew, 540 
 
 Whom o’er his neck the floundering courser threw. 
 
 As when loud Boreas, with his blustering train. 
 
334 
 
 V 7 RGWS ^NEIS. 
 
 [book XII. 
 
 Stoops from above, incumbent on the main ; 
 Where’er he flies, he drives the rack before, 
 
 545 And rolls the billows on the JEgQ 3 .n shore: 
 
 So, where resistless Turnus takes his course. 
 
 The scattered squadrons bend before his force : 
 
 His crest of horse’s hair is blown behind 
 By adverse air, and rustles in the wind. 
 
 550 This haughty Phegeus saw with high disdain. 
 And, as the chariot rolled along the plain. 
 
 Light from the ground he leapt, and seized the rein. 
 Thus hung in air, he still ‘retained his hold. 
 
 The coursers frighted, and their force controlled. 
 
 555 The lance of Turnus reached him as he hung, 
 
 And pierced his plated arms, but passed along, 
 
 And only razed the skin. He turned, and held 
 Against his threatening foe his ample shield. 
 
 Then called for aid : but, while he cried in vain, 
 
 560 The chariot bore him backward on the plain. 
 
 He lies reversed; the victor king descends, 
 
 And strikes so justly where his helmet ends. 
 
 He lops the head. The Latian fields are drunk 
 With streams that issue from his bleeding trunk. 
 565 While he triumphs, and while the Trojans yield, 
 The wounded prince is forced to leave the field : 
 Strong Mnestheus, and Achates often tried. 
 
 And young Ascanius, weeping by his side. 
 
 Conduct him to his tent. Scarce can he rear 
 570 His limbs from earth, supported on his spear. 
 Resolved in mind, regardless of the smart. 
 
 He tugs with both his hands, and breaks the dart. 
 The steel remains. No readier way he found 
 To draw the weapon, than t’ enlarge the wound. 
 
 575 Eager of fight, impatient of delay. 
 
 He begs; and his unwilling friends obey. 
 
 lapis was at hand to prove his art, 
 
 Whose blooming youth so fired Apollo’s heart, 
 That, for his love, he proffered to bestow 
 580 His tuneful harp, and his unerring bow, 
 
 The pious youth, more studious how to save 
 His aged sire, now sinking to the grave, 
 
BOOK XII.] 
 
 VIRGirS ALNEIS. 
 
 335 
 
 Preferred the power of plants, and silent praise 
 Of healing arts, before Phoebean bays. 
 
 Propped on his lance the pensive hero stood, 585 
 
 And heard and saw, unmoved, the mourning crowd. 
 
 The famed physician tucks his robes around 
 With ready hands, and hastens to the wound. 
 
 With gentle touches he performs his part. 
 
 This way and that, soliciting the dart, 590 
 
 And exercises all his heavenly art. 
 
 All softening simples, known of sovereign use. 
 
 He presses out, and pours their noble juice. 
 
 These first infused, to lenify the pain — 
 
 He tugs with pincers, but he tugs in vain. 595 
 
 Then to the patron of his art he prayed : 
 
 The patron of his art refused his aid. 
 
 Meantime the war approaches to the tents : 
 
 The alarm grows hotter, and the noise augments : 
 
 The driving dust proclaims the danger near ; 600 
 
 And first their friends and then their foes appear ; 
 
 Their friends retreat ; their foes pursue the rear. 
 
 The camp is filled with terror and affright : 
 
 The hissing shafts within the trench alight ; 
 
 An undistinguished noise ascends the sky — 605 
 
 The shouts of those who kill, and groans of those who die. 
 
 But now the goddess-mother, moved with grief. 
 
 And pierced with pity, hastens for relief. 
 
 A branch of healing dittany she brought, 
 
 Which in the Cretan fields with care she sought, 610 
 (Rough is the stem, which woolly leaves surround ; 
 
 The leaves with flowers, the flowers with purple crowned,) 
 Well known to wounded goats ; a sure relief 
 To draw the pointed steel, and ease the grief. 
 
 This Venus brings, in clouds involved, and brews 615 
 The extracted liquor with ambrosian dews. 
 
 And odorous panacee. Unseen she stands, 
 
 Tempering the mixture with her heavenly hands. 
 
 And pours it in a bowl, already crowned 619 
 
 With juice of medic’nal herbs, prepared to bathe the wound. 
 The leech, unknowing of superior art 
 Which aids the cure, with this foments the part ; 
 
33 6 VIRGJrs y^NEIS. [book xii. 
 
 And in a moment ceased, the raging smart. 
 
 Stanched is the blood, and in the bottom stands : 
 
 625 The steel, but scarcely touched with tender hands. 
 Moves up, and follows of its own accord. 
 
 And health and vigour are at once restored, 
 lapis first perceived the closing wound. 
 
 And first the footsteps of a god he found. 
 
 630 Arms ! arms ! (he cries) the sword and shield prepare^ 
 And send the willing chief, renewed, to war. 
 
 This is no mortal work, no cure of mine. 
 
 Nor art’s effect, but done by hands divine. 
 
 Some god our general to the battle sends ; 
 
 635 Some god preserves his life for greater ends.” 
 
 The hero arms in haste : his hands infold 
 His thighs with cuishes of refulgent gold : 
 
 Inflamed to fight, and rushing to the field, 
 
 That hand sustaining the celestial shield, 
 
 640 This gripes the lance, and with such vigour shakes, 
 That to the rest the beamy weapon quakes. 
 
 Then with a close embrace he strained his son. 
 
 And, kissing through his helmet, thus begun : 
 
 My son ! from my example learn the war, 
 
 645 In camps to suffer, and in fields to dare ; 
 
 But happier chance than mine attend thy care ! 
 
 This day my hand thy tender age shall shield. 
 
 And crown with honours of the conquered field : 
 Thou, when thy riper years shall send thee forth 
 650 To toils of war, be mindful of my worth : 
 
 Assert thy birthright ; and in arms be known 
 For Hector’s nephew, and Eneas’ son.” 
 
 He said ; and, striding, issued on the plain. 
 Antheus and Mnestheus, and a numerous train, 
 
 655 Attend his steps : the rest their weapons take. 
 
 And, crowding to the field, the camp forsake. 
 
 A cloud of blinding dust is raised around; 
 
 Labours beneath their feet the trembling ground. 
 Now Turnus, posted on a hill, from far 
 660 Beheld the progress of the moving war : 
 
 With him the Latins viewed the covered plains ; 
 
 And the chill blood ran backward in their veins. 
 
BOOK XII.] 
 
 VlRGinS JENEIS, 
 
 337 
 
 Juturna saw the advancing troops appear, 
 
 And heard the hostile sound, and fled for fear. 
 
 ^neas leads ; and draws a sweeping train, 665 
 
 Closed in their ranks, and pouring on the plain. 
 
 As when a whirlwind, rushing to the shore 
 From the mid ocean, drives the waves before; 
 
 The painful hind with heavy heart foresees 
 
 The flatted fields, and slaughter of the trees : 670 
 
 With such impetuous rage the prince appears. 
 
 Before his doubled front ; nor less destruction bears. 
 
 And now both armies shock in open field : 
 
 Osiris, is by strong ThymbrcCus killed. 
 
 Archetius, Ufens, Epulon, are slain, 675 
 
 (All famed in arms, and of the Latian train,) 
 
 By Gyas^, Mnestheus^ and Achates^ hand. 
 
 The fatal augur falls, by whose command 
 The truce was broken, and whose lance, embrued 
 With Trojan blood, the unhappy fight renewed. 680 
 
 Loud shouts and clamours rend the liquid sky ; 
 
 And o’er the field the frighted Latins fly. 
 
 The prince disdains the dastards to pursue, 
 
 Nor moves to meet in arms the fighting few. 
 
 Turnus alone, amid the dusky plain, 685 
 
 He seeks, and to the combat calls in vain. 
 
 Juturna heard, and, seized with mortal fear. 
 
 Forced from the beam her brother’s charioteer; 
 
 Assumes his shape, his armour, and his mien. 
 
 And, like Metiscus, in his seat is seen. 690 
 
 As the black swallow near the palace plies ; 
 
 O’er empty courts, and under arches, flies ; 
 
 Now hawks aloft, now skims along the flood. 
 
 To furnish her loquacious nest with food : 
 
 So drives the rapid goddess o’er the plains ; 695 
 
 The smoking horses run with loosened reins. 
 
 She steers a various course among the foes ; 
 
 Now here, now there, her conquering brother shows ; 
 Now with a straight, now with a wheeling flight. 
 
 She turns and bends, but shuns the single fight. 700 
 ^neas, fired with fury, breaks the crowd. 
 
 And seeks his foe, and calls by name aloud : 
 
 Y 
 
33 ^ VIRGIL'S yRNEIS. [book xii. 
 
 He runs within a narrower ring, and tries 
 To stop the chariot; but the chariot flies. 
 
 705 If he but gain a glimpse, Juturna fears. 
 
 And far away the Daunian hero bears. 
 
 What should he do ? Nor arts nor arms avail ; 
 And various cares in vain his mind assail. 
 
 The great Messapus, thundering through the field, 
 710 In his left hand two pointed javelins held; 
 
 Encountering on the prince, one dart he drew. 
 
 And with unerring aim, and utmost vigour, threw, 
 ^neas saw it come, and stooping low 
 Beneath his buckler, shunned the threatening blow. 
 715 The weapon hissed above his head, and tore 
 The waving plume, which on his helm he wore. 
 Forced by this hostile act, and fired with spite. 
 
 That flying Turnus still declined the fight. 
 
 The prince, whose piety had long repelled 
 720 His inborn ardour, now invades the field ; 
 
 Invokes the powers of violated peace, 
 
 Their rites and injured altars to redress ; 
 
 Then, to his rage abandoning the rein. 
 
 With blood and slaughtered bodies fills the plain. 
 
 725 What god can tell, what numbers can display. 
 
 The various labours of that fatal day? 
 
 What chiefs and champions fell on either side. 
 
 In combat slain, or by what deaths they died? 
 
 Whom Turnus, whom the Trojan hero killed? 
 
 730 Who shared the fame and fortune of the field ? 
 
 Jove ! could^st thou view, and not avert thy sight. 
 Two jarring nations joined in cruel fight. 
 
 Whom leagues of lasting love so shortly shall unite ? 
 ^neas first Rutulian Sucro found, 
 
 735 Whose valour made the Trojans quit their ground; 
 Betwixt his ribs the javelin drove so just. 
 
 It reached his heart, nor needs a second thrust. 
 
 Now Turnus, at two blows, two brethren slew: 
 
 First from his horse fierce Amycus he threw ; 
 
 740 Then, leaping on the ground, on foot assailed 
 Diores, and in equal fight prevailed. 
 
 Their lifeless trunks he leaves upon the place ; 
 
BOOK XII.] 
 
 VlRGinS AlNEIS, 
 
 339 
 
 Their heads, distilling gore, his chariot grace. 
 
 Three cold on earth the Trojan hero threw. 
 
 Whom without respite at one charge he slew : 745 
 
 Cethegus, Tanais, Talus, fell oppressed, 
 
 And sad Onytes, added to the rest — 
 
 Of Theban blood, whom Peridia bore. 
 
 Turnus two brothers from the Lycian shore. 
 
 And from Apollo’s fane to battle sent, 75 ^ 
 
 Overthrew ; nor Phoebus could their fate prevent. 
 
 Peaceful Menoetes after these he killed. 
 
 Who long had shunned the dangers of the field : 
 
 On Lerna’s lake a silent life he led, 
 
 And with his nets and angle earned his bread. 755 
 
 Nor pompous cares, nor palaces, he knew. 
 
 But wisely from the infectious world withdrew. 
 
 Poor was his house : his father’s painful hand 
 Discharged his rent, and ploughed another’s land. 
 
 As flames among the lofty woods are thrown 760 
 
 On different sides, and both by winds are blown ; 
 
 The laurels crackle in the sputtering fire ; 
 
 The frighted sylvans from their shades retire : 
 
 Or as two neighbouring torrents fall from high. 
 
 Rapid they run ; the foamy waters fry ; 765 
 
 They roll to sea with unresisted force. 
 
 And down the rocks precipitate their course : 
 
 Not with less rage the rival heroes take 
 Their different ways ; nor less destruction make. 
 
 With spears afar, with swords at hand, they strike ; 770 
 And zeal of slaughter fires their souls alike. 
 
 Like them, their dauntless men maintain the field ; 
 
 And hearts are pierced, unknowing how to yield : 
 
 They blow for blow return, and wound for wound ; 
 
 And heaps of bodies raise the level ground. 775 
 
 Murrhanus, boasting of his blood, that springs 
 From a long royal race of Latian kings. 
 
 Is by the Trojan from his chariot thrown, 
 
 Crushed with the weight of an unwieldy stone : 
 
 Betwixt the wheels he fell ; the wheels, that bore 780 
 His living load, his dying body tore. 
 
 His starting steeds, to shun the glittering sword, 
 
340 
 
 VIRGirs ^NEIS. 
 
 [book XII. 
 
 Paw down his trampled limbs, forgetful of their lord. 
 Fierce Hyllus threatened high, and, face to face, 
 785 Affronted Turnus in the middle space: 
 
 The prince encountered him in full career, 
 
 And at his temples aimed the deadly spear ; 
 
 So fatally the flying weapon sped, 
 
 That through his brazen helm it pierced his head. 
 790 Nor, Cisseus, could^st thou ^scape from Turnus’ hand, 
 In vain the strongest of the Arcadian band : 
 
 Nor to Cupencus could his gods afford 
 Availing aid against the ^F^nean sword. 
 
 Which to his naked heart pursued the course ; 
 
 795 Nor could his plated shield sustain the force, 
 lolas fell, whom not the Grecian powers, 
 
 Nor great subvert er of the Trojan towers. 
 
 Were doomed tokill, while Heaven prolonged his date : 
 But who can pass the bounds prefixed by Fate 
 800 In high Lyrnessus, and in Troy, he held 
 Two palaces, and was from each expelled : 
 
 Of all the mighty man, the last remains 
 A little spot of foreign earth contains. 
 
 And now both hosts their broken troops unite 
 805 In equal ranks, and mix in mortal fight. 
 
 Serestus and undaunted Mnestheus join 
 The Trojan, Tuscan, and Arcadian line : 
 
 Sea-born Messapus, with Atinas, heads 
 The Latin squadrons, and to battle leads. 
 
 810 They strike, they push, they throng the scanty space. 
 Resolved on death, impatient of disgrace; 
 
 And where one falls, another fills his place. 
 
 The Cyprian goddess now inspires her son 
 To leave the unfinished fight, and storm the town; 
 815 For, while he rolls his eyes around the plain 
 In quest of Turnus, whom he seeks in vain. 
 
 He views the unguarded city from afar, 
 
 In careless quiet, and secure of war. 
 
 Occasion offers, and excites his mind 
 820 To dare beyond the task he first designed. 
 
 Resolved, he calls his chiefs ; they leave the fight : 
 Attended thus, he takes a neighbouring height : 
 
BOOK XII.] VlRGinS ^NEIS. 341 
 
 The crowding troops about their general stand, 
 
 All under arms, and wait his high command. 
 
 Then thus the lofty prince : Hear and obey, 825 
 
 Ye Trojan bands, without the least delay. 
 
 Jove is with us ; and what I have decreed. 
 
 Requires our utmost vigour, and our speed. 
 
 Your instant arms against the town prepare, 
 
 The source of mischief, and the seat of war. 830 
 
 This day the Latian towers, that mate the sky, 
 
 Shall, level with the plain, in ashes lie : 
 
 The people shall be slaves, unless in time 
 They kneel for pardon, and repent their crime. 
 
 Twice have our foes been vanquished on the plain : 835 
 
 Then shall I wait till Turnus will be slain? 
 
 Your force against the perjured city bend ; 
 
 There it began, and there the war shall end. 
 
 The peace profaned our rightful arms requires : 
 
 Cleanse the polluted place with purging fires.” 840 
 
 He finished ; and — one soul inspiring all — 
 
 Formed in a wedge, the foot approach the wall. 
 
 Without the town, an unprovided train 
 Of gaping gazing citizens are slain. 
 
 Some firebrands, others scaling-ladders, bear ; 845 
 
 And those they toss aloft, and these they rear : 
 
 The flames now launched, the feathered arrows fly ; 
 
 And clouds of missive arms obscure the sky. 
 
 Advancing to the front, the hero stands. 
 
 And, stretching out to heaven his pious hands, 850 
 
 Attests the gods, asserts his innocence. 
 
 Upbraids with breach of faith the Ausonian prince ; 
 Declares the royal honour doubly stained. 
 
 And twice the rites of holy peace profaned. 
 
 Dissenting clamours in the town arise ; 855 
 
 Each will be heard, and all at once advise. 
 
 One part for peace, and one for war, contends : 
 
 Some would exclude their foes, and some admit their friends. 
 The helpless king is hurried in the throng. 
 
 And (whatever tide prevails) is borne along. 860 
 
 Thus, when the swain, within a hollow rock. 
 
 Invades the bees with suffocating smoke. 
 
342 
 
 VIRGirS AlNEIS. 
 
 [book XII. 
 
 They run around, or labour on their wings, 
 
 Disused to flight, and shoot their sleepy stings ; 
 
 865 To shun the bitter fumes, in vain they try: 
 
 Black vapours, issuing from the vent, involve the sky. 
 
 But Fate and envious Fortune now prepare 
 To plunge the Latins in the last despair. 
 
 The queen, who saw the foes invade the town, 
 
 870 And brands on tops of burning houses thrown, 
 
 Cast round her eyes, distracted with her fear : — 
 
 No troops of Turnus in the field appear. 
 
 Once more she stares abroad, but still in vain. 
 
 And then concludes the royal youth is slain. 
 
 875 Mad with her anguish, impotent to bear 
 The mighty grief, she loathes the vital air. 
 
 She calls herself the cause of all this ill. 
 
 And owns the dire effects of her ungoverned will : 
 She raves against the gods ; she beats her breast ; 
 880 She tears with both her hands her purple vest : 
 
 Then round a beam a running noose she tied. 
 
 And, fastened by the neck, obscenely died. 
 
 Soon as the fatal news by fame was blown. 
 
 And to her dames and to her daughter known, 
 
 885 The sad Lavinia rends her yellow hair. 
 
 And rosy cheeks : the rest her sorrow share : 
 
 With shrieks the palace rings, and madness of despair. 
 The spreading rumour fills the public place: 
 Confusion, fear, distraction, and disgrace, 
 
 890 And silent shame, are seen in every face. 
 
 Latinus tears his garments as he goes. 
 
 Both for his public and his private woes ; 
 
 With filth his venerable beard besmears. 
 
 And sordid dust deforms his silver hairs. 
 
 895 And much he blames the softness of his mind. 
 Obnoxious to the charms of woman-kind, 
 
 Andsoon reduced to change what he so well designed — 
 To break the solemn league so long desired. 
 
 Nor finish what his fates, and those of Troy, required. 
 900 Now Turnus rolls aloof, o^er empty plains. 
 
 And here and there some straggling foes he gleans. 
 His flying coursers please him less and less. 
 
VJI^GirS ^NEIS. 
 
 343 
 
 BOOK XII.] 
 
 Ashamed of easy fight, and cheap success. 
 
 Thus half contented, anxious in his mind. 
 
 The distant cries come driving in the wind — 905 
 
 Shouts from the walls, but shouts in murmurs drowned ; 
 A jarring mixture, and a boding sound. 
 
 ‘‘ Alas ! (said he) what mean these dismal cries 
 
 What doleful clamours from the town arise 
 
 Confused, he stops, and backward pulls the reins. 910 
 
 She, who the driver’s office now sustains. 
 
 Replies, Neglect, my lord, these new alarms : 
 
 Here fight, and urge the fortune of your arms : 
 
 There want not others to defend the wall. 
 
 If by your rival’s hand the Italians fall, 915 
 
 So shall your fatal sword his friends oppress. 
 
 In honour equal, equal in success.” 
 
 To this, the prince : O sister ! — for I knew, 
 
 The peace infringed proceeded first from you : 
 
 I knew you, when you mingled first in fight : 920 
 
 And now in vain you would deceive my sight — 
 
 Why, goddess, this unprofitable care 1 
 
 Who sent you down from heaven, involved in air. 
 
 Your share of mortal sorrows to sustain, 
 
 And see your brother bleeding on the plain ? 925 
 
 For to what power can Turnus have recourse. 
 
 Or how resist his fate’s prevailing force 1 
 These eyes beheld Murrhanus bite the ground — 
 
 Mighty the man, and mighty was the wound. 
 
 I heard my dearest friend, with dying breath, 930 
 
 My name invoking to revenge his death. 
 
 Brave Ufens fell with honour on the place. 
 
 To shun the shameful sight of my disgrace. 
 
 On earth supine, a manly corpse he lies ; 
 
 His vest and armour are the victor’s prize. 935 
 
 Then, shall I see Laurentum in a flame. 
 
 Which only wanted, to complete my shame 1 
 How will the Latins hoot their champion’s flight ! 
 
 How Drances will insult, and point them to the sight ! 
 
 Is death so hard to bear.^ — Ye gods below ! 940 
 
 (Since those above so small compassion show,) 
 
 Receive a soul unsullied yet with shame. 
 
344 
 
 VIRGirS ^^NEIS. 
 
 [book XII. 
 
 Which not belies my great forefathers’ name.” 
 
 He said : and while he spoke, with flying speed 
 945 Came Saces urging on his foamy steed : 
 
 Fixed on his wounded face a shaft he bore, 
 
 And, seeking Turrus, sent his voice before : 
 
 Turnus ! on you, on you alone, depends 
 Our last lelief ; — compassionate your friends ! 
 
 950 Like lightning, fierce ^neas, rolling on. 
 
 With arms invests, with flames invades, the town ; 
 The brands are tossed on high ; the winds conspire 
 To drive along the deluge of the fire. 
 
 All eyes are fixed on you: your foes rejoice ; 
 
 955 E’en the king staggers, and suspends his choice — 
 Doubts to deliver or defend the town. 
 
 Whom to reject, or whom to call his son. 
 
 The queen, on whom your utmost hopes were placed. 
 Herself suborning death, has breathed her last. 
 
 960 ’Tis true, Messapus, fearless of his fate, 
 
 With fierce Atinas’ aid, defends the gate : 
 
 On every side surrounded by the foe. 
 
 The more they kill, the greater numbers grow ; 
 
 An iron harvest mounts, and still remains to mow. 
 965 You, far aloof from your forsaken bands, 
 
 Your rolling chariot drive o’er empty sands.” 
 
 Stupid he sat, his eyes on earth declined, 
 
 And various cares revolving in his mind : 
 
 Rage, boiling from the bottom of his breast, 
 
 970 And sorrow mixed with shame, his soul oppressed ; 
 And conscious worth lay labouring in his thought, 
 And love by jealousy to madness wrought. 
 
 By slow degrees his reason drove away 
 The mists of passion, and resumed her sway. 
 
 975 Then, rising on his car, he turned his look. 
 
 And saw the town involved in fire and smoke. 
 
 A wooden tower with flames already blazed. 
 
 Which his own hands on beams and rafters raised. 
 And bridges laid above to join the space, 
 
 980 And wheels below to roll from place to place. 
 
 Sister ! the Fates have vanquished; let us go 
 The way which heaven and my hard fortune show. 
 
BOOK XII.] 
 
 VIRGirS ^NEIS. 
 
 345 
 
 The fight is fixed ; nor shall the branded name 
 Of a base coward blot your brother's fame. 
 
 Death is my choice ; but suffer me to try 985 
 
 My force, and vent my rage before I die.^’ 
 
 He said : and leaping down without delay, 
 
 Through crowds of scattered foes he freed his way. 
 Striding he passed, impetuous as the wind. 
 
 And left the grieving goddess far behind. 990 
 
 As, when a fragment, from a mountain torn 
 By raging tempests, or by torrents borne. 
 
 Or sapped by time, or loosened from the roots — 
 
 Prone through the void the rocky ruin shoots. 
 
 Rolling from crag to crag, from steep to steep ; 995 
 
 Down sink, at once, the shepherds and their sheep. 
 Involved alike, they rushed to nether ground ; 
 
 Stunned with the shock they fall, and stunned from earth 
 So Turnus, hasting headlong to the town, [rebound : 
 Shouldering and shoving, bore the squadrons down. 1000 
 Still pressing onward, to the walls he drew. 
 
 Where shafts and spears and darts promiscuous flew. 
 
 And sanguine streams the slippery ground embrue. 
 
 First stretching out his arm, in sign of peace. 
 
 He cries aloud, to make the combat cease: 1005 
 
 Rutulians, hold ! and, Latin troops, retire ! 
 
 The fight is mine ; and me the gods require. 
 
 ^Tis just that I should vindicate alone 
 The broken truce, or for the breach atone. 
 
 This day shall free from war the Ausonian state, 1010 
 Or finish my misfortunes in my fate.^^ 
 
 Both armies from their bloody work desist. 
 
 And, bearing backward, form a spacious list. 
 
 The Trojan hero, who received from fame 
 
 The welcome sound, and heard the champion’s name, loi 5 
 
 Soon leaves the taken works and mounted walls : 
 
 Greedy of war where greater glory calls. 
 
 He springs to fight, exulting in his force; 
 
 His jointed armour rattles in the course. 
 
 Like Eryx, or like Athos, great he shows, 1020 
 
 Or father Apennine, when, white with snows. 
 
 His head divine obscure in clouds he hides. 
 
346 VIRGIL'S ^NEIS. [book xii. 
 
 And shakes the sounding forests on his sides. 
 
 The nations, overawed, surcease the fight ; 
 
 1025 Immoveable their bodies, fixed their sight; 
 
 E’en death stands still ; nor from above they throw 
 Their darts, nor drive their battering-rams below. 
 
 In silent order either army stands. 
 
 And drop their swords, unknowing, from their hands. 
 1030 The Ausonian king beholds, with wondering sight, 
 Two mighty champions matched in single fight, 
 Born under climes remote, and brought by fate. 
 With swords to try their titles to the state. 
 
 Now, in closed field, each other from afar 
 1035 They view ; and, rushing on, begin the war. 
 
 They launch their spears ; then hand to hand they meet : 
 The trembling soil resounds beneath their feet; 
 
 Their bucklers clash ; thick blows descend from high, 
 And flakes of fire from their hard helmets fly. 
 
 1040 Courage conspires with chance; and both engage 
 With equal fortune yet, and mutual rage. 
 
 As, when two bulls for their fair female fight 
 In Sila’s shades, or on Taburnus’ height. 
 
 With horns adverse they meet; the keeper flies ; 
 1045 Mute stands the herd ; the heifers roll their eyes. 
 And wait the event — which victor they shall bear. 
 And who shall be the lord, to rule the lusty year : 
 With rage of love the jealous rivals burn. 
 
 And push for push, and wound for wound, return ; 
 1050 Their dewlaps gored, their sides are laved in blood; 
 Loud cries and roaring sounds rebellow through the 
 Such was the combat in the listed ground ; [wood : 
 So clash their swords, and so their shields resound. 
 Jove sets the beam : in either scale he lays 
 1055 The champion’s fate, and each exactly weighs. 
 
 On this side, life, and lucky chance, ascends ; 
 Loaded with death, that other scale descends. 
 Raised on the stretch, young Turnus aims a blow 
 Full on the helm of his unguarded foe : 
 
 1060 Shrill shouts and clamours ring on either side. 
 
 As hopes and fears their panting hearts divide. 
 
 But all in pieces flies the traitor sword. 
 
BOOK XII.] 
 
 VIRGirs yENEIS. 
 
 347 
 
 And, in the middle stroke, deserts his lord. 
 
 Now kis but death or flight : disarmed he flies. 
 
 When in his hand an unknown hilt he spies. 1065 
 
 Fame says that Turnus, when his steeds he joined. 
 Hurrying to war, disordered in his mind. 
 
 Snatched the first weapon which his haste could find. 
 ^Twas not the fated sword his father bore. 
 
 But that his charioteer Metiscus wore. 1070 
 
 This, while the Trojans fled, the toughness held ; 
 
 But, vain against the great Vulcanian shield. 
 
 The mortal-tempered steel deceived his hand : 
 
 The shivered fragments shone amid the sand. 
 
 Surprised with fear, he fled along the field, 1075 
 
 And now forthright, and now in orbits wheeled : 
 
 For here the Trojan troops the list surround. 
 
 And there the pass is closed with pools and marshy ground, 
 ^neas hastens, though with heavier pace — 
 
 His wound, so newly knit, retards the chase, 1080 
 
 And oft his trembling knees their aid refuse — 
 
 Yet, pressing foot by foot, his foe pursues. 
 
 Thus, when a fearful stag is closed around 
 With crimson toils, or in a river found. 
 
 High on the bank the deep-mouthed hound appears, 1085 
 Still opening, following still, where’er he steers : 
 
 The persecuted creature, to and fro. 
 
 Turns here and there, to escape his Umbrian foe : 
 
 Steep is the ascent, and, if he gains the land. 
 
 The purple death is pitched along the strand : 1090 
 
 His eager foe, determined to the chase. 
 
 Stretched at his length, gains ground at every pace : 
 
 Now to his beamy head he makes his way, 
 
 And now he holds, or thinks he holds, his prey ; 
 
 Just at the pinch, the stag springs out with fear, 1095 
 He bites the wind, and fills his sounding jaws with air : 
 The rocks, the lakes, the meadows, ring with cries ; 
 
 The mortal tumult mounts, and thunders in the skies. 
 
 Thus flies the Daunian prince, and, flying, blames 
 His tardy troops, and, calling by their names, 1100 
 
 Demands his trusty sword. The Trojan threats 
 The realm with ruin, and their ancient seats 
 
34^ VIRGirs ^NEIS. [book xii. 
 
 To lay in ashes, if they dare supply, 
 
 With arms or aid, his vanquished enemy : 
 
 1105 Thus menacing, he still pursues the course 
 With vigour, though diminished of his force. 
 
 Ten times already, round the listed place, 
 
 One chief had fled, and Mother given the chase : 
 
 No trivial prize is played ; for, on the life 
 1 1 10 Or death of Turnus, now depends the strife. 
 
 Within the space, an olive tree had stood, 
 
 A sacred shade, a venerable wood. 
 
 For vows to Faunus paid, the Latins’ guardian god. 
 Here hung the vests, and tablets were engraved, 
 
 1 1 15 Of sinking mariners from shipwreck saved. 
 
 With heedless hands the Trojans felled the tree. 
 
 To make the ground inclosed for combat, free. 
 
 Deep in the root, whether by fate, or chance. 
 
 Or erring haste, the Trojan drove his lance ; 
 
 1 1 20 Then stooped, and tugged with force immense, to free 
 The encumbered spear from the tenacious tree ; 
 That, whom his fainting limbs pursued in vain, 
 
 His flying weapon might from far attain. 
 
 Confused with fear, bereft of human aid, 
 
 1125 Then Turnus to the gods, and first to Faunus, prayed : 
 O Faunus ! pity ! and thou, mother Earth, 
 
 Where I thy foster-son received my birth. 
 
 Hold fast the steel ! If my religious hand 
 Your plant has honoured, which your foes profaned, 
 1130 Propitious hear my pious prayer !” He said, 
 
 Nor with successless vows invoked their aid. 
 
 The incumbent hero wrenched and pulled and strained ; 
 But still the stubborn earth the steel detained. 
 Juturna took her time ; and, while in vain 
 1135 He strove, assumed Metiscus’ form again, 
 
 And, in that imitated shape, restored 
 To the despairing prince his Daunian sword. 
 
 The queen of love — who, with disdain and grief. 
 
 Saw the bold nymph afford this prompt relief — 
 
 1140 To assert her offspring with a greater deed. 
 
 From the tough root the lingering weapon freed. 
 Once more erect, the rival chiefs advance : 
 
BOOK XII.] 
 
 VIRGIVS JENEIS. 
 
 349 
 
 One trusts the sword, and one the pointed lance ; 
 
 And both resolved alike, to try their fatal chance. 
 
 Meantime imperial Jove to Juno spoke, 1145 
 
 Who from a shining cloud beheld the shock : 
 
 What new arrest, O queen of heaven ! is sent 
 To stop the Fates now labouring in the event? 
 
 What further hopes are left thee to pursue ? 
 
 Divine ^neas (and thou know^st it too,) 1150 
 
 Foredoomed, to these celestial seats is due. 
 
 What more attempts for Turnus can be made. 
 
 That thus thou lingerest in this lonely shade ? 
 
 Is it becoming of the due respect 
 
 And awful honour of a god elect, 1155 
 
 A wound unworthy of our state to feel. 
 
 Patient of human hands, and earthly steel ? 
 
 Or seems it just, the sister should restore 
 A second sword, when one was lost before, 
 
 And arm a conquered wretch against his conqueror ? 1160 
 
 For what, without thy knowledge and avow, 
 
 Nay more, thy dictate, durst Juturna do ? 
 
 At last, in deference to my love, forbear 
 To lodge within thy soul this anxious care : 
 
 Reclined upon my breast, thy grief unload : 1165 
 
 Who should relieve the goddess, but the god ? 
 
 Now all things to their utmost issue tend. 
 
 Pushed by the Fates to their appointed end. 
 
 While leave was given thee, and a lawful hour 
 
 For vengeance, wrath, and unresisted power, 1170 
 
 Tossed on the seas thou could^st thy foes distress. 
 
 And, driven ashore, with hostile arms oppress ; 
 
 Deform the royal house ; and, from the side 
 Of the just bridegroom, tear the plighted bride : — 
 
 Now cease at my command.^^ The thunderer said; 1175 
 And, with dejected eyes, this answer Juno made : 
 
 Because your dread decree too well I knew. 
 
 From Turnus and from earth unwilling I withdrew. 
 
 Else should you not behold me here, alone. 
 
 Involved in empty clouds, my friends bemoan, 1180 
 But, girt with vengeful flames, in open sight, 
 
 Engaged against my foes in mortal fight. 
 
350 VI R Gins MNEIS. [book xii. 
 
 ^Tis true, Juturna mingled in the strife 
 By my command, to save her brother’s life, 
 
 1185 At least to try ; but (by the Stygian lake — 
 
 The most religious oath the gods can take) 
 
 With this restriction, not to bend the bow, 
 
 Or toss the spear, or trembling dart to throw. 
 
 And now, resigned to your superior might, 
 
 1190 And tired with fruitless toils, I loathe the fight. 
 
 This let me beg (and this no fates withstand) 
 
 Both for myself and for your father’s land. 
 
 That, when the nuptial bed shall bind the peace 
 (Which I, since you ordain, consent to bless), 
 
 1195 The laws of either nation be the same ; 
 
 But let the Latins still retain their name. 
 
 Speak the same language which they spoke before. 
 Wear the same habits which their grandsires wore. 
 Call them not Trojans : perish the renown 
 1200 And name of Troy, with that detested town. 
 
 Latium be Latium still ; let Alba reign. 
 
 And Rome’s immortal majesty remain.” 
 
 Then thus the founder of mankind replies 
 (Unruffled was his front, serene his eyes): 
 
 1205 ‘^Can Saturn’s issue, and heaven’s other heir. 
 
 Such endless anger in her bosom bear ? 
 
 Be mistress, and your full desires obtain ; 
 
 But quench the choler you foment in vain. 
 
 From ancient blood, the Ausonian people sprung, 
 1210 Shall keep their name, their habit, and their tongue : 
 The Trojans to their customs shall be tied : 
 
 I will, myself, their common rites provide : 
 
 The natives shall command, the foreigners subside. 
 All shall be Latium ; Troy without a name ; 
 
 1215 And her lost sons forget from whence they came. 
 
 F rom blood so mixed, a pious race shall flow. 
 
 Equal to gods, excelling all below. 
 
 N o nation more respect to you shall pay, 
 
 Or greater offerings on your altars lay.” 
 
 1220 Juno consents, well pleased that her desires 
 Had found success, and from the cloud retires. 
 
 The peace thus made, the thunderer next prepares 
 
VIRGirS ^NEIS. 
 
 351 
 
 BOOK XII.] 
 
 To force the watery goddess from the wars. 
 
 Deep in the dismal regions void of light, 
 
 Three daughters, at a birth, were born to Night : 1225 
 
 These their brown mother, brooding on her care. 
 
 Indued with windy wings, to flit in air, 
 
 With serpents girt alike, and crowned with hissing hair. 
 In heaven the Dirae called, and still at hand. 
 
 Before the throne of angry Jove they stand, 1230 
 
 His ministers of wrath, and ready still 
 The minds of mortal men with fears to fill. 
 
 Whene’er the moody sire, to wreak his hate 
 On realms or towns deserving of their fate. 
 
 Hurls down diseases, death, and deadly care, 1235 
 
 And terrifies the guilty world with war. 
 
 One sister plague of these, from heaven he sent. 
 
 To fright Juturna with a dire portent. 
 
 The pest comes whirling down : by far more slow 
 Springs the swift arrow from the Parthian bow, 1240 
 Or Cydon yew, when, traversing the skies. 
 
 And drenched in poisonous juice, the sure destruction flies. 
 With such a sudden, and unseen a flight. 
 
 Shot through the clouds the daughter of the Night. 
 
 Soon as the field inclosed she had in view, 1245 
 
 And from afar her destined quarry knew — 
 
 Contracted, to the boding bird she turns. 
 
 Which haunts the ruined piles and hallowed urns. 
 
 And beats about the tombs with nightly wings. 
 
 Where songs obscene on sepulchres she sings. 1250 
 
 Thus lessened in her form, with frightful cries 
 The Fury round unhappy Turnus flies, 
 
 Flaps on his shield, and flutters o’er his eyes. 
 
 A lazy chillness crept along his blood ; 
 
 Choked was his voice ; his hair with horror stood. 1255 
 Juturna from afar beheld her fly. 
 
 And knew the ill omen, by her screaming cry. 
 
 And stridor of her wings. Amazed with fear. 
 
 Her beauteous breast she beat, and rent her flowing hair. 
 “ Ah me ! (she cries) in this unequal strife, 1260 
 
 What can thy sister more, to save thy life ? 
 
 Weak as I am, can I, alas ! contend 
 
352 VIRGirs ^NEIS. [BOOK xii. 
 
 In arms with that inexorable fiend ? 
 
 Now, now, I quit the field ! forbear to fright 
 1265 My tender soul, ye baleful birds of night ! 
 
 The lashing of your wings I know too well, 
 
 The sounding flight, and funeral screams of hell ! 
 These are the gifts you bring from haughty Jove, 
 The worthy recompense of ravished love ! 
 
 1270 Did he for this, exempt my life from fate? 
 
 O hard conditions of immortal state ! 
 
 Though born to death, not privileged to die. 
 
 But forced to bear imposed eternity ! 
 
 Take back your envious bribes, and let me go 
 1275 Companion to my brother’s ghost below ! 
 
 The joys are vanished : nothing now remains 
 Of life immortal, but immortal pains. 
 
 What earth will open her devouring womb, 
 
 To rest a weary goddess in the tomb ?” 
 
 1280 She drew a length of sighs ; nor more she said. 
 
 But in her azure mantle wrapped her head. 
 
 Then plunged into her stream, with deep despair, 
 And her last sobs came bubbling up in air. 
 
 Now stern vDneas waves his weighty spear 
 1285 Against his foe, and thus upbraids his fear: 
 
 What farther subterfuge can Turnus find? 
 
 What empty hopes are harboured in his mind ? 
 
 ’Tis not thy swiftness can secure thy flight ,* 
 
 Not with their feet, but hands, the valiant fight. 
 
 1290 Vary thy shape in thousand forms, and dare 
 What skill and courage can attempt in war : 
 
 Wish for the wings of winds, to mount the sky ; 
 
 Or hid within the hollow earth to lie [reply : 
 
 The champion shook his head, and made this short 
 1295 “No threats of thine my manly mind can move ; 
 ^Tis hostile heaven I dread, and partial Jove.” 
 
 He said no more, but, with a sigh, repressed 
 The mighty sorrow in his swelling breast. 
 
 Then, as he rolled his troubled eyes around, 
 
 1300 An antique stone he saw, the common bound 
 
 Of neighbouring fields, and barrier of the ground — 
 So vast, that twelve strong men of modern days 
 
BOOK XII.] 
 
 VIRGIL'S AlNEIS, 
 
 353 
 
 The enormous weight from earth could hardly raise. 
 
 He heaved it at a lift, and, poised on high, 
 
 Ran staggering on against his enemy ; 1305 
 
 But so disordered, that he scarcely knew 
 His way, or what unwieldy weight he threw. 
 
 His knocking knees are bent beneath the load ; 
 
 And shivering cold congeals his vital blood. 
 
 The stone drops from his arms, and, falling short 1310 
 For want of vigour, mocks his vain effort. 
 
 And as, when heavy sleep has closed the sight. 
 
 The sickly fancy labours in the night ; 
 
 We seem to run ; and, destitute of force. 
 
 Our sinking limbs forsake us in the course: 1315 
 
 In vain we heave for breath; in vain we cry: 
 
 The nerves, unbraced, their usual strength deny ; 
 
 And on the tongue the faltering accents die : 
 
 So Turnus fared : whatever means he tried. 
 
 All force of arms, and points of art employed, 1320 
 
 The Fury flew athwart, and made the endeavour void. 
 
 A thousand various thoughts his soul confound: 
 
 He stared about, nor aid nor issue found : 
 
 His own men stop the pass, and his own walls surround. 
 Once more he pauses, and looks out again, 1325 
 
 And seeks the goddess charioteer in vain. 
 
 Trembling he views the thundering chief advance. 
 
 And brandishing aloft the deadly lance : 
 
 Amazed he cowers beneath his conquering foe. 
 
 Forgets to ward, and waits the coming blow. 1330 
 
 Astonished while he stands, and fixed with fear. 
 
 Aimed at his shield he sees the impending spear. 
 
 The hero measured first, with narrow view. 
 
 The destined mark ; and, rising as he threw, 
 
 With its full swing the fatal weapon flew. 1335 
 
 Not with less rage the rattling thunder falls. 
 
 Or stones from battering engines break the wails : 
 
 Swift as a whirlwind, from an arm so strong. 
 
 The lance drove on, and bore the death along. 
 
 Nought could his sevenfold shield the prince avail, 1340 
 Nor aught, beneath his arms, the coat of mail ; 
 
 It pierced through all, and with a grisly wound 
 z 
 
354 
 
 VIRGJrS MNEIS. 
 
 [book XII. 
 
 Transfixed his thigh, and doubled him to ground. 
 With groans the Latins rend the vaulted sky : 
 
 1345 Woods, hills, and valleys, to the voice reply. 
 
 Now low on earth the lofty chief is laid. 
 
 With eyes cast upwards, and with arms displayed, 
 And, recreant, thus to the proud victor prayed : 
 
 I know my death deserved, nor hope to live : 
 
 1350 Use what the gods and thy good fortune give. 
 
 Yet think, oh think ! if mercy may be shown, 
 
 (Thou hadst a father once, and hast a son,) 
 
 Pity my sire, now sinking to the grave ; 
 
 And, for Anchises’ sake, old Daunus save ! 
 
 1355 Or, if thy vowed revenge pursue my death. 
 
 Give to my friends my body void of breath ! 
 
 The Latian chiefs have seen me beg my life : 
 
 Thine is the conquest, thine the royal wife : 
 
 Against a yielded man, 'tis mean ignoble strife.^^ 
 1360 In deep suspense the Trojan seemed to stand. 
 And, just prepared to strike, repressed his hand. 
 
 He rolled his eyes, and every moment felt 
 His manly soul with more compassion melt ; 
 
 When, casting down a casual glance, he spied 
 1365 The golden belt that glittered on his side, 
 
 The fatal spoil which haughty Turnus tore 
 From dying Pallas, and in triumph wore. 
 
 Then, roused anew to wrath, he loudly cries 
 (Flames, while he spoke, came flashing from his eyes), 
 1370 “ Traitor ! dost thou, dost thou to grace pretend, 
 Clad, as thou art, in trophies of my friend 
 To his sad soul a grateful offering go ! 
 
 ’Tis Pallas, Pallas gives this deadly blow.^^ 
 
 He raised his arm aloft, and, at the word, 
 
 1375 Deep in his bosom drove the shining sword. 
 
 The streaming blood distained his arms around ; 
 And the disdainful soul came rushing through the 
 wound. 
 
GEORGICS 
 
BOOK 1. 
 
 THE ARGUMENT. 
 
 The poet, in the beginning of this book, propounds the general 
 design of each Georgia : and, after a solemn invocation of 
 all the gods who are any way related to his subject, he ad- 
 dresses himself, in particular, to Augustus, whom he com- 
 pliments with divinity ; and after strikes into his business. 
 He shews the different kinds of tillage proper to different 
 soils ; traces out the original of agriculture ; gives a cata- 
 logue of the husbandman’s tools ; specifies the employments 
 peculiar to each season; describes the changes of the 
 weather, with the signs in heaven and earth that forbode 
 them ; instances many of the prodigies that happened near 
 the time of Julius Cciesar’s death ; and shuts up all with a 
 supplication to the gods for the safety of Augustus, and the 
 preservation of Rome. 
 
 W HAT makes a plenteous harvest, when to turn 
 The fruitful soil, and when to sow the corn ; 
 
 The care of sheep, of oxen, and of kine ; 
 
 And how to raise on elms the teeming vine ; 
 
 The birth and genius of the frugal bee, 5 
 
 I sing, Maecenas, and I sing to thee. 
 
 Ye deities ! who fields and plains protect. 
 
 Who rule the seasons, and the year direct, 
 
 Bacchus and fostering Ceres, powers divine. 
 
 Who gave us corn for mast, for water, wine : 10 
 
 Ye Fauns, propitious to the rural swains. 
 
 Ye Nymphs that haunt the mountains and the plains, 
 
 J oin in my work, and to my numbers bring 
 Your needful succour; for your gifts I sing. 
 
 And thou, whose trident struck the teeming earth, 15 
 And made a passage for the courser’s birth ; 
 
 And thou, for whom the Cean shore sustains 
 
35 ^ VIRGIL'S GEORGICS. [book i. 
 
 The milky herds that graze the flowery plains ; 
 
 And thou, the shepherds’ tutelary god, 
 
 20 Leave, for awhile, O Pan ! thy loved abode ; 
 
 And, if Arcadian fleeces be thy care. 
 
 From fields and mountains to my song repair. 
 Inventor, Pallas, of the fattening oil. 
 
 Thou founder of the plough, and ploughman’s toil ; 
 
 25 And thou, whose hands the shroud-like cypress rear : 
 Come, all ye gods and goddesses, that wear 
 The rural honours, and increase the year ; 
 
 You, who supply the ground with seeds of grain ; 
 And you, who swell those seeds with kindly rain ; 
 
 30 And chiefly thou, whose undetermined state 
 Is yet the business of the gods’ debate. 
 
 Whether in after-times to be declared 
 
 The patron of the world, and Rome’s peculiar guard, 
 
 Or o’er the fruits and seasons to preside, 
 
 35 And the round circuit of the year to guide — 
 
 Powerful of blessings, which thou strew’st around, 
 And with thy goddess-mother’s myrtle crowned. 
 
 Or wilt thou, Caesar, choose the watery reign, 
 
 To smooth the surges, and correct the main.^ 
 
 40 Then mariners, in storms, to thee shall pray; 
 
 E’en utmost Thule shall thy power obey ; 
 
 And Neptune shall resign the fasces of the sea. 
 
 The watery virgins for thy bed shall strive. 
 
 And Tethys all her waves in dowry give. 
 
 45 Or wilt thou bless our summers with thy rays. 
 
 And, seated near the Balance, poise the days, 
 Where, in the void of heaven, a space is free, 
 
 Betwixt the Scorpion and the Maid, for thee.^ 
 
 The Scorpion, ready to receive thy laws, 
 
 50 Yields half his region, and contracts his claws. 
 Whatever part of heaven thou shalt obtain, 
 
 (For let not hell presume of such a reign ; 
 
 Nor let so dire a thirst of empire move 
 Thy mind, to leave thy kindred gods above ; 
 
 55 Though Greece admires Elysium’s blest retreat, 
 Though Proserpine affects her silent seat, 
 
 And, importuned by Ceres to remove, 
 
BOOK I.] 
 
 VIRGWS GEORGICS. 
 
 359 
 
 Prefers the fields below to those above,) 
 
 Be thou propitious, Cassar ! guide my course. 
 
 And to my bold endeavours add thy force ; 6o 
 
 Pity the poet’s and the ploughman’s cares ; 
 
 Interest thy greatness in our mean affairs, 
 
 And use thyself betimes to hear and grant our prayers. 
 
 While yet the spring is young, while earth unbinds 
 Her frozen bosom to the western winds ; 65 
 
 While mountain snows dissolve against the sun, 
 
 And streams yet new, from precipices run ; 
 
 E’en in this early dawning of the year. 
 
 Produce the plough, and yoke the sturdy steer. 
 
 And goad him till he groans beneath his toil, 70 
 
 Till the bright share is buried in the soil. 
 
 That crop rewards the greedy peasant’s pains. 
 
 Which twice the sun, and twice the cold sustains, [gains. 
 And bursts the crowded barns with more than promised 
 But, ere we stir the yet unbroken ground, 75 
 
 The various course of seasons must be found ; 
 
 The weather, and the setting of the winds. 
 
 The culture suiting to the several kinds 
 
 Of seeds and plants, and what will thrive and rise. 
 
 And what the genius of the soil denies. 80 
 
 This ground with Bacchus, that with Ceres, suits : 
 
 That other loads the trees with happy fruits : 
 
 A fourth, with grass unbidden, decks the ground. 
 
 Thus Tmolus is with yellow saffron crowned: 
 
 India black ebon and white ivory bears ; 85 
 
 And soft Idume weeps her od’rous tears. 
 
 Thus Pontus sends her beaver-stones from far ; 
 
 And naked Spaniards temper steel for war : 
 
 Epirus, for the Elean chariot, breeds 
 (In hopes of palms) a race of running steeds. 90 
 
 This is the original contract ; these the laws 
 Imposed by Nature, and by Nature’s cause. 
 
 On sundry places, when Deucalion hurled 
 His mother’s entrails on the desert world ; 
 
 Whence men, a hard laborious kind, were born. 95 
 
 Then borrow part of winter for thy corn. 
 
 And early, with thy team, the glebe in furrows turn ; 
 
36 o 
 
 VIRGIL'S GEORGICS. 
 
 [book I. 
 
 That, while the turf lies open and unbound, 
 Succeeding suns may bake the mellow ground, 
 loo But, if the soil be barren, only scar 
 
 The surface, and but lightly print the share. 
 
 When cold Arcturus rises with the sun ; 
 
 Lest wicked weeds the corn should overrun 
 In watery soils ; or lest the barren sand 
 105 Should suck the moisture from the thirsty land. 
 
 Both these unhappy soils the swain forbears, 
 
 And keeps a sabbath of alternate years. 
 
 That the spent earth may gather heart again. 
 
 And, bettered by cessation, bear the grain, 
 no At least where vetches, pulse, and tares, have stood. 
 And stalks of lupines grew (a stubborn wood). 
 
 The ensuing season, in return, may bear 
 The bearded product of the golden year : 
 
 For flax and oats will burn the tender field, 
 
 1 15 And sleepy poppies harmful harvests yield. 
 
 But sweet vicissitudes of rest and toil 
 Make easy labour, and renew the soil. 
 
 Yet sprinkle sordid ashes all around. 
 
 And load with fattening dung thy fallow ground. 
 
 120 Thus change of seeds for meagre soils is best; 
 
 And earth manured, not idle, though at rest. 
 
 Long practice has a sure improvement found. 
 With kindled fires to burn the barren ground. 
 
 When the light stubble, to the flames resigned, 
 
 125 Is driven along, and crackles in the wind. 
 
 Whether from hence the hollow womb of earth 
 Is warmed with secret strength for better birth; 
 
 Or, when the latent vice is cured by fire. 
 
 Redundant humours through the pores expire ; 
 
 130 Or that the warmth distends the chinks, and makes 
 New breathings, whence new nourishment she takes ; 
 Or that the heat the gaping ground constrains. 
 
 New knits the surface, and new strings the veins; 
 Lest soaking showers should pierce her secret seat, 
 135 Or freezing Boreas chill her genial heat. 
 
 Or scorching suns too violently beat. 
 
 Nor is the profit small the peasant makes, 
 
BOOK I.] VlRGinS GEORGICS. 3^1 
 
 Who smooths with harrows, or who pounds with rakes, 
 The crumbling clods ; nor Ceres from on high 
 Regards his labours with a grudging eye ; 140 
 
 Nor his, who ploughs across the furrowed grounds. 
 
 And on the back of earth inflicts new wounds; 
 
 For he, with frequent exercise, commands 
 The unwilling soil, and tames the stubborn lands. 
 
 Ye swains, invoke the powers who rule the sky, 145 
 For a moist summer, and a winter dry; 
 
 For winter drought rewards the peasant’s pain. 
 
 And broods indulgent on the buried grain. 
 
 Hence Mysia boasts her harvests, and the tops 
 Of Gargarus admire their happy crops. 
 
 When first the soil receives the fruitful seed. 
 
 Make no delay, but cover it with speed : 
 
 So fenced from cold, the pliant furrows break. 
 
 Before the surly clod resists the rake ; 
 
 And calls the floods from high, to rush amain 155 
 
 With pregnant streams, to swell the teeming grain. 
 
 Then, when the fiery suns too fiercely play. 
 
 And shrivelled herbs on withering stems decay. 
 
 The wary ploughman, on the mountain’s brow. 
 
 Undams his watery stores — huge torrents flow, 160 
 
 And, rattling down the rocks, large moisture yield, 
 Tempering the thirsty fever of the field ; 
 
 And, lest the stem, too feeble for the freight. 
 
 Should scarce sustain the head’s unwieldly weight, 
 
 Sends in his feeding flocks betimes, to invade 165 
 
 The rising bulk of the luxuriant blade. 
 
 Ere yet the aspiring offspring of the grain 
 O’ertops the ridges of the furrowed plain ; 
 
 And drains the standing waters, when they yield 
 
 Too large a beverage to the drunken field : 170 
 
 But most in autumn, and the showery spring. 
 
 When dubious months uncertain weather bring ; 
 
 When fountains open, when impetuous rain 
 Swells hasty brooks, and pours upon the plain ; 
 
 When earth with slime and mud is covered o’er, 175 
 Or hollow places spew their watery store. 
 
 Nor yet the ploughman, nor the labouring steer. 
 
3^2 VIRGIVS GEORGICS. [book i. 
 
 Sustain alone the hazards of the year : 
 
 But glutton geese, and the Strymonian crane, 
 i8o With foreign troops invade the tender grain; 
 
 And towering weeds malignant shadows yield ; 
 
 And spreading succory chokes the rising field. 
 
 The sire of gods and men, with hard decrees. 
 Forbids our plenty to be bought with ease, 
 
 185 And wills that mortal men, inured to toil, 
 
 Should exercise with pains, the grudging soil; 
 Himself invented first the shining share. 
 
 And whetted human industry by care; 
 
 Himself did handicrafts and arts ordain, 
 
 190 Nor suffered sloth to rust his active reign. 
 
 Ere this, no peasant vexed the peaceful ground, 
 Which only turfs and greens for altars, found : 
 
 No fences parted fields, nor marks nor bounds 
 Distinguished acres of litigious grounds; 
 
 195 But all was common, and the fruitful earth 
 Was free to give her unexacted birth. 
 
 Jove added venom to the viper’s brood. 
 
 And swelled, with raging storms, the peaceful flood ; 
 Commissioned hungry wolves to infest the fold, 
 
 200 And shook from oaken leaves the liquid gold ; 
 Removed from human reach the cheerful fire. 
 
 And from the rivers bade the wine retire ; 
 
 That studious need might useful arts explore; 
 
 From furrowed fields to reap the foodful store, 
 
 205 And force the veins of clashing flints to expire 
 The lurking seeds of their celestial fire. 
 
 Then first on seas the hollowed alder swam; 
 
 Then sailors quartered heaven, and found a name 
 For every fixed and every wandering star — 
 
 210 The Pleiads, Fly ads, and the Northern Car. 
 
 Then toils for beasts, and lime for birds, were found. 
 And deep-mouthed dogs did forest walks surround ; 
 And casting-nets were spread in shallow brooks. 
 Drags in the deep, and baits were hung on hooks. 
 215 Then saws were toothed, and sounding axes made ; 
 (For wedges first did yielding wood invade ;) 
 
 And various arts in order did succeed, 
 
KOOK I.] 
 
 VIRGIIJS GEORGICS, 
 
 363 
 
 (What cannot endless labour, urged by need ?) 
 
 First Ceres taught, the ground with grain to sow. 
 
 And armed with iron shares the crooked plough ; 220 
 
 When now Dodonian oaks no more supplied 
 Their mast, and trees their forest-fruit denied. 
 
 Soon was his labour doubled to the swain, 
 
 And blasting mildews blackened all his grain ; 
 
 Tough thistles choked the fields, and killed the corn, 225 
 And an unthrifty crop of weeds was born : 
 
 Then burs and brambles, an unbidden crew 
 Of graceless guests, the unhappy field subdue ; 
 
 And oats unblest, and darnel domineers 
 
 And shoots its head above the shining ears ; 230 
 
 So that, unless the land with daily care 
 
 Is exercised, and, with an iron war 
 
 Of rakes and harrows, the proud foes expelled. 
 
 And birds with clamours frighted from the field — 
 
 Unless the boughs are lopped that shade the plain, 235 
 And heaven invoked with vows for fruitful rain — 
 
 On others’ crops you may with envy look. 
 
 And shake for food the long-abandoned oak. 
 
 Nor must we pass untold what arms they wield. 
 
 Who labour tillage and the furrowed field ; 240 
 
 Without whose aid the ground her corn denies. 
 
 And nothing can be sown, and nothing rise — - 
 The crooked plough, the share, the towering height 
 Of waggons, and the cart’s unwieldy weight. 
 
 The sled, the tumbril, hurdles, and the flail, 245 
 
 The fan of Bacchus, with the flying sail — 
 
 These all must be prepared, if ploughmen hope 
 The promised blessing of a bounteous crop. 
 
 Young elms, with early force, in copses bow. 
 
 Fit for the figure of the crooked plough. 250 
 
 Of eight feet long a fastened beam prepare : 
 
 On either side the head, produce an ear ; 
 
 And sink a socket for the shining share. 
 
 Of beech the plough-tail, and the bending yoke. 
 
 Or softer linden hardened in the smoke. 255 
 
 I could be long in precepts, but I fear 
 So mean a subject might offend your ear. 
 
364 
 
 VIRGIL’S GEORGICS. 
 
 [book I. 
 
 Delve of convenient depth your thrashing-floor : 
 With tempered clay then fill and face it o^er ; 
 
 260 And let the weighty roller run the round, 
 
 To smooth the surface of the unequal ground ; 
 
 Lest, cracked with summer heats, the flooring flies. 
 Or sinks, and through the crannies weeds arise : 
 
 For sundry foes the rural realm surround : 
 
 265 The field-mouse builds her garner under ground 
 For gathered grain : the blind laborious mole 
 In winding mazes works her hidden hole : 
 
 In hollow caverns vermin make abode — 
 
 The hissing serpent, and the swelling toad : 
 
 270 The corn-devouring weasel here abides. 
 
 And the wise ant her wintry store provides. 
 
 Mark well the flowering almonds in the wood ; 
 
 If odorous blooms the bearing branches load. 
 
 The glebe will answer to the sylvan reign ; 
 
 275 Great heats will follow, and large crops of grain. 
 
 But, if a wood of leaves o’ershade the tree. 
 
 Such and so barren will thy harvest be : 
 
 In vain the hind shall vex the thrashing-floor ; 
 
 For empty chaff and straw will be thy store. 
 
 ■ Some steep their seed, and some in cauldrons boil, 
 280 With vigorous nitre and with lees of oil, 
 
 O^er gentle fires, the exuberant juice to drain. 
 
 And swell the flattering husks with fruitful grain. 
 
 Yet is not the success for years assured, 
 
 285 Though chosen is the seed, and fully cured. 
 
 Unless the peasant, with his annual pain, 
 
 Renews his choice, and culls the largest grain. 
 
 Thus all below, whether by Nature’s curse. 
 
 Or Fate’s decree, degenerate still to worse. 
 
 290 So the boat’s brawny crew the current stem. 
 
 And, slow advancing, struggle with the stream : 
 
 But if they slack their hands, or cease to strive. 
 
 Then down the flood with headlong haste they drive. 
 Nor must the ploughman less observe the skies, 
 295 When the Kids, Dragon, and Arcturus, rise. 
 
 Than sailors homeward bent, who cut their way 
 Through H elle’s stormy straits, and oyster-breeding sea. 
 
BOOK I.] 
 
 VIRGins GEORGICS. 
 
 365 
 
 But, when Astaea’s Balance hung on high, 
 
 Betwixt the nights and days divides the sky. 
 
 Then yoke your oxen, sow your winter-grain. 
 
 Till cold December comes with driving rain. 
 
 Linseed and fruitful poppy bury warm, 
 
 In a dry season, and prevent the storm. 
 
 Sow beans and clover in a rotten soil, 
 
 And millet rising from your annual toil. 
 
 When with his golden horns, iryMl career, 
 
 The Bull beats down the barrie^B^he year. 
 
 And Argo and the Dog forsake ffl^^^hern sphere. 
 
 But, if your care to wheat alone 
 Let Maia with her sisters first descen(i|^^ 
 
 And the bright Gnossian diadem down^Bfc bend, 
 Before you trust in earth your future hope ; 
 
 Or else expect a listless lazy crop. 
 
 Some swains have sown before ; but most have found 
 A husky harvest from the grudging ground. 
 
 Vile vetches would you sow, or lentils lean 1 
 The growth of Egypt, or the kidney-bean. 
 
 Begin when the slow Waggoner descends ; 
 
 Nor cease your sowing till mid-winter ends. 
 
 For this, through twelve bright signs Apollo guides 
 The year, and earth in several climes divides. 
 
 Five girdles bind the skies : the torrid zone 
 Glows with the passing and repassing sun : 
 
 F ar on the right and left, the extremes of heaven 
 To frosts and snows and bitter blasts are given ; 
 Betwixt the midst and these, the gods assigned 
 Two habitable seats for human kind. 
 
 And, ’cross their limits, cut a sloping way. 
 
 Which the twelve signs in beauteous order sway. 
 
 Two poles turn round the globe ; one seen to rise 
 O’er Scythian hills, and one in Libyan skies ; 
 
 The first sublime in heaven, the last is whirled 
 Below the regions of the nether world. 
 
 Around our pole the spiry Dragon glides. 
 
 And, like a winding stream, the Bears divides — 
 
 The less and greater, who by Fate’s decree. 
 
 Abhor to dive beneath the northern sea. 
 
 300 
 
 305 
 
 310 
 
 315 
 
 320 
 
 325 
 
 330 
 
 335 
 
366 VIRGIL'S GEORGICS. [book i. 
 
 There, as they say, perpetual night is found 
 In silence brooding on the unhappy ground : 
 
 340 Or, when Aurora leaves our northern sphere. 
 
 She lights the downward heaven, and rises there ; 
 And, when on us she breathes the living light. 
 
 Red Vesper kindles there the tapers of the night. 
 From hence uncertain seasons we may know, 
 
 345 And when to reap the grain, and when to sow ; 
 
 Or when to fell the furzes ; when ^tis meet 
 To spread the fl)^^«anvas for the fleet. 
 
 Observe what s^^WPrise or disappear ; 
 
 And the four jB^rs of the rolling year. 
 
 350 But, when ^^Rveather and continued rain 
 The labou.|Hfhusband in his house restrain. 
 
 Let him forecast his work with timely care. 
 
 Which else is huddled, when the skies are fair : 
 
 Then let him mark the sheep, or whet the shining share, 
 355 Or hollow trees for boats, or number o’er 
 His sacks, or measure his increasing store. 
 
 Or sharpen stakes, or head the forks, or twine 
 The sallow twigs to tie the straggling vine ; 
 
 Or wicker baskets weave, or air the corn, 
 
 360 Or grinded grain betwixt two marbles turn. 
 
 No laws, divine or human, can restrain 
 From necessary works the labouring swain. 
 
 E’en holidays and feasts permission yield 
 To float the meadows, or to fence the field, 
 
 365 To fire the brambles, snare the birds, and steep 
 In wholesome water- falls the woolly sheep. 
 
 And oft the drudging ass is driven with toil, 
 
 To neighbouring towns with apples and with oil; 
 Returning, late and laden, home with gain 
 370 Of bartered pitch, and hand-mills for the grain. 
 
 The lucky days, in each revolving moon. 
 
 For labour chcose ; the fifth be sure to shun ; 
 
 That gave the Furies and pale Pluto birth. 
 
 And armed, against the skies, the sons of earth. 
 
 375 With mountains piled on mountains, thrice they strove 
 To scale the steepy battlements of Jove; 
 
 And thrice his lightning and red thunder played, 
 
VIRGIL'S GEORGICS. 
 
 367 
 
 BOOK I.] 
 
 And their demolished works in ruin laid. 
 
 The seventh is, next the tenth, the best to join 
 
 Young oxen to the yoke, and plant the vine. 380 
 
 Then, weavers, stretch your stays upon the weft : 
 
 The ninth is good for travel, bad for theft. 
 
 Some works in dead of night are better done, 
 
 Or when the morning dew prevents the sun. 
 
 Parched meads and stubble, mow by Phoebe’s light, 385 
 Which both require the coolness of the night ; 
 
 For moisture then abounds, and pearly rains 
 Descend in silence to refresh the plains. 
 
 The wife and husband equally conspire 
 
 To work by night," and rake the winter fire : 390 
 
 He sharpens torches in the glimmering rof^n ; 
 
 She shoots the flying shuttle through the lobm ; 
 
 Or boils in kettles must of wine, and skims. 
 
 With leaves, the dregs that overflow the brims : 
 
 And till the watchful cock awakes the day, 395 
 
 She sings, to drive the tedious hours away. 
 
 But, in warm weather, when the skies are clear, 
 
 By daylight reap the product of the year ; 
 
 And in the sun your golden grain display. 
 
 And thrash it out, and winnow it by day. 400 
 
 Plough naked, swain, and naked sow the land ; 
 
 For lazy winter numbs the labouring hand. 
 
 In genial winter, swains enjoy their store. 
 
 Forget their hardships and recruit for more. 
 
 The farmer to full bowls invites his friends, 405 
 
 And, what he got with pains, with pleasure spends. 
 
 So sailors, when escaped from stormy seas. 
 
 First crown their vessels, then indulge their ease. 
 
 Yet that ’s the proper time to thrash the wood 
 
 For mast of oak, your fathers’ homely food ; 410 
 
 To gather laurel-berries, and the spoil 
 
 Of bloody myrtles, and to press your oil ; 
 
 For stalking cranes to set the guileful snare ; 
 
 To inclose the stags in toils, and hunt the hare ; 
 
 With Balearic slings, or Gnossian bow, 415 
 
 To persecute from far the flying doe. 
 
 Then, when the fleecy skies nevv-clothe the wood, 
 
VIRGirS GEORGICS. 
 
 [book I. 
 
 368 
 
 And cakes of rustling ice come rolling down the flood. 
 Now sing we stormy stars, when autumn weighs 
 420 The year, and adds to nights, and shortens days, 
 And suns declining shine with feeble rays ; 
 
 What cares must then attend the toiling swain ; 
 
 Or when the lowering spring, with lavish rain. 
 
 Beats down the slender stem and bearded grain, 
 
 425 While yet the head is green, or, lightly swelled 
 With milky moisture, overlooks the field. 
 
 E’en when the farmer, now secure of fear. 
 
 Sends in the swains to spoil the finished year. 
 
 E’en while the reaper fills his greedy hands, 
 
 430 And binds the golden sheaves in brittle bands. 
 
 Oft have I seen a sudden storm arise. 
 
 From all the warring winds that sweep the skies : 
 
 The heavy harvest from the root is torn. 
 
 And whirled aloft, the lighter stubble borne: 
 
 435 With such a force the flying rack is driven. 
 
 And such a winter wears the face of heaven : 
 
 And oft whole sheets descend of sluicy rain. 
 
 Sucked by the spongy clouds from off the main : 
 
 The lofty skies at once come pouring down, 
 
 440 The promised crop and golden labours drown. 
 
 The dikes are filled ; and, with a roaring sound. 
 
 The rising rivers float the nether ground ; 
 
 And rocks the bellowing voice of boiling seas rebound. 
 The father of the gods his glory shrouds, 
 
 445 Involved in tempests, and a night of clouds ; 
 
 And from the middle darkness flashing out. 
 
 By fits he deals his fiery bolts about. 
 
 Earth feels the motions of her angry god : 
 
 Her entrails tremble, and her mountains nod, 
 
 450 And flying beasts in forests seek abode : 
 
 Deep horror seizes every human breast ; 
 
 Their pride is humbled and their fear confessed. 
 While he from high his rolling thunder throws. 
 
 And fires the mountains with repeated blows : 
 
 455 The rocks are from their old foundation rent; 
 
 The winds redouble, and the rains augment : 
 
 The waves on heaps are dashed against the shore ; 
 
BOOK I.] 
 
 VIRGIL'S GEORGICS. 
 
 369 
 
 And now the woods, and now the billows, roar. 
 
 In fear of this, observe the starry signs, 
 
 Where Saturn houses, and where Hermes joins. 460 
 But first to heaven thy due devotions pay. 
 
 And annual gifts on Ceres’ altars lay. 
 
 When winter’s rage abates, when cheerful hours 
 Awake the spring, the spring awakes the flowers. 
 
 On the green turf thy careless limbs display, 465 
 
 And celebrate the mighty Mother’s day ; 
 
 For then the hills with pleasing shades are crowned. 
 
 And sleeps are sweeter on the silken ground : 
 
 With milder beams the sun securely shines ; 
 
 Fat are the lambs, and luscious are the wines. 470 
 
 Let every swain adore her power divine. 
 
 And milk and honey mix with sparkling wine ; 
 
 Let all the choir of clowns attend the show, 
 
 In long procession, shouting as they 
 
 Invoking her to bless their yearly stores, 475 
 
 Inviting plenty to their crowded floors. 
 
 Thus in the spring, and thus in summer’s heat, 
 
 Before the sickles touch the ripening wheat, 
 
 On Ceres call ; and let the labouring hind 
 
 With oaken wreaths his hollow temples bind : 480 
 
 On Ceres let him call, and Ceres praise. 
 
 With uncouth dances, and with country lays. 
 
 And that by certain signs we may presage 
 Of heats and rains, and winds’ impetuous rage. 
 
 The sovereign of the heavens has set on high 485 
 
 The moon to mark the changes of the sky ; 
 
 When southern blasts should cease, and when the swain 
 Should near their folds his feeding flocks restrain. 
 
 For, ere the rising winds begin to roar. 
 
 The working seas advance to wash the shore ; 490 
 
 Soft whispers run along the leafy woods. 
 
 And mountains whistle to the murmuring floods. 
 
 E’en then the doubtful billows scare abstain 
 From the tossed vessel on the troubled main; 
 
 When crying cormorants forsake the sea, 49c; 
 
 And, stretching to the covert, wing their way; 
 
 When sportful coots run skimming o’er the strand, 
 
 2 A 
 
370 
 
 VIRGirS GEORGICS. 
 
 [book I. 
 
 When watchful herons leave their watery stand, 
 And, mounting upward with erected flight, 
 
 500 Gain on the skies, and soar above the sight. 
 
 And oft, before tempestuous winds arise. 
 
 The seeming stars fall headlong from the skies, 
 And, shooting through the darkness, gild the night 
 With sweeping glories, and long trails of light ; 
 
 505 And chaff with eddy winds is whirled around, 
 
 And dancing leaves are lifted from the ground ; 
 
 And floating feathers on the waters play. 
 
 But when the winged thunder takes his way 
 From the cold north, and east and west engage, 
 
 510 And at their frontiers meet with equal rage. 
 
 The clouds are crushed ; a glut of gathered rain 
 The hollow ditches fills, and floats the plain ; 
 
 And sailors furl their dropping sheets amain. 
 
 Wet weather seldom hurts the most unwise; 
 
 515 So plain the signs, such prophets are the skies. 
 
 The wary crane foresees it first, and sails 
 Above the storm, and leaves the lowly vales ; 
 
 The cow looks up, and from afar can find 
 The change of heaven, and snuffs it in the wind ; 
 
 520 The swallow skims the riveFs watery face ; 
 
 The frogs renew the croaks of their loquacious race ; 
 The careful ant her secret cell forsakes. 
 
 And drags her eggs along the narrow tracks : 
 
 At either horn the rainbow drinks the flood.; 
 
 525 Huge flocks of rising rooks forsake their food, 
 
 And, crying, seek the shelter of the wood. 
 
 Besides, the several sorts of watery fowls. 
 
 That swim the seas, or haunt the standing pools. 
 The swans that sail along the silver flood, 
 
 530 And dive with stretching necks to search their food. 
 Then lave their backs with sprinkling dews in vain, 
 And stem the stream to meet the promised rain. 
 
 The crow with clamorous cries the shower demands, 
 And single stalks along the desert sands. 
 
 535 The nightly virgin, while her wheel she plies. 
 Foresees the storm impending in the skies, 
 
 When sparkling lamps their sputtering light advance. 
 
BOOK I.] 
 
 VIRGins GEORGICS. 
 
 37i 
 
 And in the sockets oily bubbles dance. 
 
 Then, after showers, ^tis easy to descry 
 Returning suns, and a serener sky: 540 
 
 The stars shine smarter; and the moon adorns. 
 
 As with unborrowed beams, her sharpened horns. 
 
 The filmy gossamer now flits no more. 
 
 Nor halcyons bask on the short sunny shore; 
 
 Their litter is not tossed by sows unclean ; 545 
 
 But a blue droughty mist descends upon the plain ; 
 
 And owls, that mark the setting sun, declare 
 A star-light evening, and a morning fair. 
 
 Towering aloft, avenging Nisus flies. 
 
 While, dared, below the guilty Scylla lies. 550 
 
 Wherever frighted Scylla flies away. 
 
 Swift Nisus follows and pursues his prey : 
 
 Where injured Nisus takes his airy course, 
 
 Thence trembling Scylla flies, and shuns his force : 
 
 This punishment pursues the unhappy maid, 555 
 
 And thus the purple hair is dearly paid. 
 
 Then, thrice the ravens rend the liquid air. 
 
 And croaking notes proclaim the settled fair. 
 
 Then round their airy palaces they fly. 
 
 To greet the sun ; and seized with secret joy, 560 
 
 When storms are overblown, with food repair 
 To their forsaken nests and callow care. 
 
 Not that I think their breasts with heavenly souls 
 Inspired, as man, who destiny controls : 
 
 But, with the changeful temper of the skies, 565 
 
 As rains condense, and sunshine rarefies. 
 
 So turn the species in their altered minds. 
 
 Composed by calms, and discomposed by winds. 
 
 From hence proceeds the birds’ harmonious voice ; 
 
 From hence the cows exult, and frisking lambs rejoice. 570 
 Observe the daily circle of the sun. 
 
 And the short year of each revolving moon : 
 
 By them thou shalt foresee the following day. 
 
 Nor shall a starry night thy hopes betray. 
 
 When first the moon appears, if then she shrouds 575 
 Her silver crescent tipped with sable clouds. 
 
 Conclude she bodes a tempest on the main. 
 
372 
 
 VIRGWS GEORGICS. 
 
 [book I 
 
 And brews for fields impetuous floods of rain. 
 
 Or, if her face with fiery flushing glow, 
 
 580 Expect the rattling winds aloft to blow. 
 
 But, four nights old (for that^s the surest sign). 
 
 With sharpened horns if glorious then she shine, 
 Next day, not only that, but all the moon. 
 
 Till her revolving race be wholly run, 
 
 585 Are void of tempests, both by land and sea ; 
 
 And sailors in the port their promised vow shall pay 
 Above the rest, the sun, who never lies, 
 
 Foretells the change of weather in the skies : 
 
 For, if he rise unwilling to his race, 
 
 590 Clouds on his brow, and spots upon his face: 
 
 Or if through mists he shoots his sullen beams. 
 Frugal of light, in loose and straggling streams ; 
 Suspect a drizzling day, with southern rain, 
 
 Fatal to fruits, and flocks, and promised grain. 
 
 595 Or if Aurora, with half-opened eyes. 
 
 And a pale sickly cheek, salute the skies ; 
 
 How shall the vine, with tender leaves, defend 
 Her teeming clusters, when the storms descend, 
 When ridgy roofs and tiles can scarce avail 
 600 To bar the ruin of the rattling hail ? 
 
 But, more than all, the setting sun survey. 
 
 When down the steep of heaven he drives the day : 
 For oft we find him finishing his race. 
 
 With various colours erring on his face. 
 
 605 If fiery red his glowing globe descends. 
 
 High winds and furious tempests he portends : 
 
 But, if his cheeks are swoln with livid blue. 
 
 He bodes wet weather by his watery hue : 
 
 If dusky spots are varied on his brow, 
 
 610 And, streaked with red, a troubled colour show ; 
 
 That sullen mixture shall at once declare 
 Winds, rain, and storms, and elemental war. 
 
 What desperate madman then would venture o^er 
 The frith, or haul his cables from the shore ? 
 
 615 But, if with purple rays he brings the light. 
 
 And a pure heaven resigns to quiet night. 
 
 No rising winds, or falling storms are nigh ; 
 
BOOK I.] 
 
 VIRGirS GEORGICS, 
 
 373 
 
 But northern breezes through the forests fly, 
 
 And drive the rack, and purge the ruffled sky. 
 
 The unerring sun by certain signs declares, 620 
 
 What the late e^en or early morn prepares. 
 
 And when the south projects a stormy day. 
 
 And when the clearing north will puff the clouds away. 
 
 The sun reveals the secrets of the sky ; 
 
 And who dares give the source of light the lie : 625 
 
 The change of empires often he declares, 
 
 Fierce tumults, hidden treasons, open wars. 
 
 He first the fate of Caesar did foretell, 
 
 And pitied Rome, when Rome in Caesar fell ; 
 
 In iron clouds concealed the public light ; 630 
 
 And impious mortals feared eternal night. 
 
 Nor was the fact foretold by him alone : 
 
 Nature herself stood forth, and seconded the sun. 
 
 Earth, air-, and seas, with prodigies were signed ; 
 
 And birds obscene, and howling dogs, divined. 635 
 
 What rocks did Etna’s bellowing mouth expire 
 From her torn entrails ! and what floods of fire ! 
 
 What clanks were heard, in German skies afar. 
 
 Of arms, and armies, rushing to the war ! 
 
 Dire earthquakes rent the solid Alps below, 640 
 
 And from their summits shook the eternal snow ; 
 
 Pale spectres in the close of night were seen. 
 
 And voices heard, of more than mortal men. 
 
 In silent groves : dumb sheep and oxen spoke ; 
 
 And streams ran backward, and their beds forsook ; 645 
 
 The yawning earth disclosed the abyss of hell : 
 
 The weeping statues did the wars foretell ; 
 
 And holy sweat from brazen idols fell. 
 
 Then, rising in his might, the king of floods 
 
 Rushed through the forests, tore the lofty woods, 650 
 
 And, rolling onward, with a sweepy sway. 
 
 Bore houses, herds, and labouring hinds away. 
 
 Blood sprang from wells; wolves howled in towns by night. 
 And boding victims did the priests affright. 
 
 Such peals of thunder never poured from high, 655 
 
 Nor forky lightnings flashed from such a sullen sky. 
 
 Red meteors ran across the ethereal space ; 
 
374 
 
 VIRGinS GEORGICS. 
 
 [book I. 
 
 Stars disappeared, and comets took their place. 
 
 For this, the Emathian plains once more were strewed 
 660 With Roman bodies, and just heaven thought good 
 To fatten twice those fields with Roman blood. 
 
 Then, after length of time, the labouring swains 
 Who turn the turfs of those unhappy plains. 
 
 Shall rusty piles from the ploughed furrows take, 
 
 665 And over empty helmets pass the rake — 
 
 Amazed at antique titles on the stones. 
 
 And mighty relics of gigantic bones. 
 
 Ye home-born deities, of mortal birth ! 
 
 Thou father Romulus, and mother Earth, 
 
 670 Goddess unmoved ! whose guardian arms extend 
 
 O’er Tuscan Tiber’s course, and Roman towers defend; 
 With youthful Caesar your joint powers engage, 
 
 Nor hinder him to save the sinking age. 
 
 O ! let the blood, already spilt, atone 
 675 For the past crimes of cursed Laomedon ! 
 
 Heaven wants thee there; and long the gods, we know, 
 Have grudged thee, Caesar, to the world below. 
 Where fraud and rapine right and wrong confound, 
 Where impious arms from every part resound, 
 
 680 And monstrous crimes in every shape are crowned. 
 The peaceful peasant to the wars is pressed ; 
 
 The fields lie fallow in inglorious rest ; 
 
 The plain no pasture to the flock affords ; 
 
 The crooked scythes are straightened into swords : 
 685 And there Euphrates her soft offspring arms. 
 
 And here the Rhine rebellows with alarms ; 
 
 The neighbouring cities range on several sides ; 
 Perfidious Mars long-plighted leagues divides. 
 
 And o’er the wasted world in triumph rides. 
 
 690 So four fierce coursers, starting to the race. 
 
 Scour through the plain, and lengthen every pace ; 
 Nor reins, nor curbs, nor threatening cries, they fear, 
 But force along the trembling charioteer. 
 
BOOK 11. 
 
 THE ARGUMENT. 
 
 The subject of the following book is planting : in handling of 
 which argument, the poet shews all the different methods of 
 raising trees, describes their variety, and gives rules for the 
 management of each in particular. He then points out the 
 soils in which the several plants thrive best, and thence takes 
 occasion to run out into the praises of Italy ; after which, he 
 gives some directions for discovering the nature of every soil, 
 prescribes rules for dressing of vines, olives, &c., and con- 
 cludes the Georgic with a panegyric on a country life. 
 
 T hus far of tillage, and of heavenly signs: 
 
 Now sing, my muse, the growth of generous vines. 
 The shady groves, the woodland progeny. 
 
 And the slow product of Minerva’s tree. 
 
 Great father Bacchus ! to my song repair ; 5 
 
 For clustering grapes are thy peculiar care : 
 
 For thee, large bunches load the bending vine ; 
 
 And the last blessings of the year are thine. 
 
 To thee his joys the jolly Autumn owes. 
 
 When the fermenting juice the vat o’erflows. 10 
 
 Come, strip with me, my god ! come drench all o’er 
 Thy limbs in must of wine, and drink at every pore. 
 
 Some trees their birth to bounteous Nature owe ; 
 
 For some, without the pains of planting, grow. 
 
 With osiers thus the banks of brooks abound, 15 
 
 Sprung from the watery genius of the ground. 
 
 From the same principles gray willows come, 
 
 Herculean poplar, and the tender broom. 
 
 But some, from seeds inclosed in earth, arise ; 
 
 For thus the mastful chestnut mates the skies. 20 
 
 Hence rise the branching beech and vocal oak. 
 
 Where Jove of old oraculously spoke. 
 
376 
 
 VIRGIL'S GEORGICS. 
 
 [book II. 
 
 Some from the root a rising wood disclose : 
 
 Thus elms, and thus the savage cherry grows : 
 
 25 Thus the green bay, that binds the poet’s brows. 
 Shoots, and is sheltered by the mother’s boughs. 
 
 These ways of planting. Nature did ordain 
 For trees and shrubs, and all the sylvan reign. 
 Others there are, by late experience found : 
 
 30 Some cut the shoots, and plant in furrowed ground ; 
 Some cover rooted stalks in deeper mould; 
 
 Some, cloven stakes ; and (wondrous to behold !) 
 Their sharpened ends in earth their footing place; 
 And the dry poles produce a living race. 
 
 35 Some bow their vines, which buried in the plain. 
 Their tops in distant arches rise again. 
 
 Others no root require ; the labourer cuts 
 Young slips, and in the soil securely puts. 
 
 E’en stumps of olives, bared of leaves, and dead, 
 
 40 Revive, and oft redeem their withered head. 
 
 ’Tis usual now an inmate graff to see 
 With insolence invade a foreign tree : 
 
 Thus pears and quinces from the crab-tree come. 
 And thus the ruddy cornel bears the plum. 
 
 45 Then let the learned gardener mark with care 
 The kinds of stocks, and what those kinds will bear; 
 Explore the nature of each several tree. 
 
 And, known, improve with artful industry : 
 
 And let no spot of idle earth be found, 
 
 50 But cultivate the genius of the ground : 
 
 For open Ismarus will Bacchus please ; 
 
 Taburnus loves the shade of olive-trees. 
 
 The virtues of the several soils I sing. — 
 
 Maecenas, now thy needful succour bring ! 
 
 55 O thou ! the better part of my renown. 
 
 Inspire thy poet, and thy poem crown : 
 
 Embark with me, while I new tracts explore. 
 
 With flying sails and breezes from the shore : 
 
 Not that my song, in such a scanty space, 
 
 60 So large a subject fully can embrace — 
 
 Not though I were supplied with iron lungs, 
 
 A hundred mouths, filled with as many tongues : 
 
BOOK II.] 
 
 VIRGirS GEORGICS, 
 
 377 
 
 But steer my vessel with a steady hand, 
 
 And coast along the shore in sight of land. 
 
 Nor will I tire thy patience with a train 65 
 
 Of preface, or what ancient poets feign. 
 
 The trees, which of themselves advance in air. 
 
 Are barren kinds, but strongly built and fair. 
 
 Because the vigour of the native earth 
 
 Maintains the plant, and makes a manly birth. 70 
 
 Yet these, receiving graffs of other kind, 
 
 Or thence transplanted, change their savage mind, 
 
 Their wildness lose, and, quitting nature’s part. 
 
 Obey the rules and discipline of art. 
 
 The same do trees, that, sprung from barren roots, 75 
 In open fields transplanted bear their fruits. 
 
 For, where they grow, the native energy 
 Turns all into the substance of the tree. 
 
 Starves and destroys the fruit, is only made 
 
 For brawny bulk, and for a barren shade. 80 
 
 The plant that shoots from seed, a sullen tree. 
 
 At leisure grows, for late posterity ; 
 
 The generous flavour lost, the fruits decay. 
 
 And savage grapes are made the birds’ ignoble prey. 
 
 Much labour is required in trees, to tame 85 
 
 Their wild disorder, and in ranks reclaim. 
 
 Well must the ground be digged, and better dressed, 
 
 New soil to make, and meliorate the rest. 
 
 Old stakes of olive trees in plants revive ; 
 
 By the same method Paphian myrtles live ; 90 
 
 But nobler vines by propagation thrive. 
 
 From roots hard hazels, and, from scions, rise 
 Tall ash, and taller oak that mates the skies; 
 
 Palm, poplar, fir, descending from the steep 
 Of hills, to try the dangers of the deep. 95 
 
 The thin-leaved arbute, hazel-graffs receives ; 
 
 And planes huge apples bear, that bore but leaves. 
 
 Thus mastful beech the bristly chestnut bears. 
 
 And the wild ash is white with blooming pears. 
 
 And greedy swine, from grafted elms are fed 
 With falling acorns, that on oaks are bred. 
 
 But various are the ways to change the state 
 
 100 
 
378 
 
 VIRGIL'S GEORGICS. 
 
 [book II. 
 
 Of plants, to bud, to graff, to inoculate. 
 
 For, where the tender rinds of trees disclose 
 105 Their shooting gems, a swelling knot there grows : 
 Just in that space a narrow slit we make. 
 
 Then other buds from bearing trees we take ; 
 Inserted thus, the wounded rind we close, 
 
 In whose moist womb the admitted infant grows, 
 no But, when the smoother bole from knots is free, 
 
 We make a deep incision in the tree. 
 
 And in the solid wood the slip inclose; 
 
 The battening bastard shoots again and grows ; 
 
 And in short space the laden boughs arise, 
 
 1 15 With happy fruit advancing to the skies. 
 
 The mother plant admires the leaves unknown 
 Of alien trees, and apples not her own. 
 
 Of vegetable woods are various kinds. 
 
 And the same species are of several minds. 
 
 120 Lotes, willows, elms, have different forms allow'ed ; 
 So funeral cypress, rising like a shroud. 
 
 Fat olive-trees of sundry sorts appear. 
 
 Of sundry shapes their unctuous berries bear. 
 
 Radii long olives, Orchites round produce, 
 
 125 And bitter Pausia, pounded for the juice. 
 
 Alcinous’ orchard various apples bears : 
 
 Unlike are bergamots and pounder pears. 
 
 Nor our Italian vines produce the shape. 
 
 Or taste, or flavour, of the Lesbian grape. 
 
 130 The Thasian vines in richer soils abound ; 
 
 The Mareotic grow in barren ground. 
 
 The Psythian grape we dry : Lagean juice 
 
 Will stammering tongues and staggering feet produce. 
 
 Rath ripe are some, and some of later kind ; 
 
 135 Of golden some, and some of purple rind. 
 
 How shall I praise the Rhaetian grape divine. 
 
 Which yet contends not with Falernian wine.^ 
 
 The Aminean many a consulship survives. 
 
 And longer than the Lydian vintage lives, 
 
 140 Or high Phanseus, king of Chian growth : 
 
 But, for large quantities and lasting, both. 
 
 The less Argitis bears the prize away. 
 
ROOK II.] 
 
 VIRGirS GEORGICS, 
 
 379 
 
 The Rhodian, sacred to the solemn day, 
 
 In second services is poured to Jove, 
 
 And best accepted by the gods above. 145 
 
 Nor must Bumastus his old honours lose. 
 
 In length and largeness like the dugs of cows. 
 
 1 pass the rest, whose every race, and name. 
 
 And kinds, are less material to my theme ; 
 
 Which who would learn, as soon may tell the sands, 150 
 Driven by the western wind on Libyan lands. 
 
 Or number, when the blustering Eurus roars. 
 
 The billows beating on Ionian shores. 
 
 Nor every plant on every soil will grow: ^ 
 
 The sallow loves the watery ground, and low ; 155 
 
 The marshes, alders : Nature seems to ordain 
 The rocky cliff for the wild ash’s reign ; 
 
 The baleful yew to northern blasts assigns. 
 
 To shores the myrtles, and to mounts the vines. 
 
 Regard the extremest cultivated coast, 160 
 
 From hot Arabia to the Scythian frost : 
 
 All sorts of trees their several countries know ; 
 
 Black ebon only will in India grow. 
 
 And odorous frankincense on the Sab^an bough. 
 
 Balm slowly trickles through the bleeding veins 165 
 
 Of happy shrubs in Idumaean plains. 
 
 The green Egyptian thorn, for med’cine good. 
 
 With yEthiops’ hoary trees and woolly wood. 
 
 Let others tell ; and how the Seres spin 
 
 Their fleecy forests in a slender twine ; 170 
 
 With mighty trunks of trees on Indian shores. 
 
 Whose height above the feathered arrow soars. 
 
 Shot from the toughest bow, and, by the brawn 
 Of expert archers, with vast vigour drawn. 
 
 Sharp-tasted citrons. Median climes produce, 175 
 
 (Bitter the rind, but generous is the juice,) 
 
 A cordial fruit, a present antidote 
 
 Against the direful stepdame’s deadly draught. 
 
 Who, mixing wicked weeds with words impure. 
 
 The fate of envied orphans would procure. 180 
 
 Large is the plant, and like a laurel grows, 
 
 And, did it not a different scent disclose, 
 
38 o VIRGIL'S GEORGICS. [book ii. 
 
 A laurel were : the fragrant flowers contemn 
 The stormy winds, tenacious of their stem. 
 
 185 With this, the Medes to labouring age bequeath 
 New lungs, and cure the sourness of the breath. 
 
 But neither Median woods, (a plenteous land,) 
 
 Fair Ganges, Hermus rolling golden sand. 
 
 Nor Bactria, nor the richer Indian fields, 
 
 190 Nor all the gummy stores Arabia yields, 
 
 Nor any foreign earth of greater name, 
 
 Can with sweet Italy contend in fame. 
 
 No bulls, whose nostrils breathe a living flame, 
 
 Have turned our turf ; no teeth of serpents here 
 195 Were sown, an armed host and iron crop to bear. 
 
 But fruitful vines, and the fat olive’s freight. 
 
 And harvests heavy with their fruitful weight, 
 
 Adorn our fields ; and on the cheerful green 
 The grazing flocks and lowing herds are seen. 
 
 200 The warrior horse, here bred, is taught to train : 
 There flows Clitumnus through the flowery plain. 
 Whose waves, for triumphs after prosperous war. 
 
 The victim ox and snowy sheep prepare. 
 
 Perpetual spring our happy climate sees : 
 
 205 Twice breed the cattle, and twice bear the trees ; 
 
 And summer suns recede by slow degrees. 
 
 Our land is from the rage of tigers freed. 
 
 Nor nourishes the lion’s angry seed ; 
 
 Nor poisonous aconite is here produced, 
 
 210 Or grows unknown, or is, when known, refused ; 
 
 Nor in so vast a length our serpents glide. 
 
 Or raised on such a spiry volume ride. 
 
 Next add our cities of illustrious name, ^ 
 
 Their costly labour, and stupendous frame ; 
 
 215 Our forts on steepy hills, that far below 
 
 See wanton streams in winding valleys flow ; 
 
 Our twofold seas, that, washing either side, 
 
 A rich recruit of foreign stores provide ; 
 
 Our spacious lakes ; thee, Larius, first ; and next 
 220 Benacus, with tempestuous billows vexed. 
 
 Or shall I praise thy ports, or mention make 
 Of the vast mound that binds the Lucrine lake 
 
BOOK II.] VIRGIL S GEORGICS. 
 
 Or the disdainful sea, that, shut from thence. 
 
 Roars round the structure, and invades the fence. 
 
 There, where secure the Julian waters glide, 225 
 
 Or where Avernus’ jaws admit the Tyrrhene tide 1 
 Our quarries, deep in earth, were famed of old 
 For veins of silver, and for ore of gold. 
 
 The inhabitants themselves their country grace ; 
 
 Hence rose the Marsian and Sabellian race, 230 
 
 Strong-limbed and stout, and to the wars inclined, 
 
 And hard Ligurians a laborious kind, 
 
 And Volscians armed with iron-headed darts.. 
 
 Besides — an offspring of undaunted hearts — 
 
 The Decii, Marii, great Camillus, came 235 
 
 From hence, and greater Scipio’s double name. 
 
 And mighty Ci£sar, whose victorious arms 
 To farthest Asia carry fierce alarms. 
 
 Avert unwarlike Indians from his Rome, 
 
 Triumph abroad, secure our peace at home. 240 
 
 Hail, sweet Saturnian soil ! of fruitful grain 
 Great parent, greater of illustrious men ! 
 
 For thee my tuneful accents will I raise. 
 
 And treat of arts disclosed in ancient days. 
 
 Once more unlocked for thee the sacred spring, 245 
 
 And old Ascraean verse in Roman cities sing. 
 
 The nature of the several soils now see. 
 
 Their strength, their colour, their fertility : 
 
 And first for heath, and barren hilly ground. 
 
 Where meagre clay and flinty stones abound, 250 
 
 Where the poor soil all succour seems to want — 
 
 Yet this suffices the Palladian plant. 
 
 Undoubted signs of such a soil are found ; 
 
 For here wild olive-shoots overspread the ground. 
 
 And heaps of berries strew the fields around. 255 
 
 But, where the soil, with fattening moisture filled. 
 
 Is clothed with grass, and fruitful to be tilled. 
 
 Such as in cheerful vales we view from high. 
 
 Which dripping rocks with rolling streams supply. 
 
 And feed with ooze ; where rising hillocks run 260 
 
 In length, and open to the southern sun ; 
 
 Where fern succeeds, ungrateful to the plough — 
 
382 VIRGinS GEORGICS. [book 11 . 
 
 That gentle ground to generous grapes allow. 
 
 Strong stocks of vines it will in time produce, 
 
 265 And overflow the vats with friendly juice, 
 
 Such as our priests in golden goblets pour 
 To gods, the givers of the cheerful hour. 
 
 Then when the bloated Tuscan blows his horn. 
 
 And reeking entrails are in chargers borne. 
 
 270 If herds or fleecy flocks be more thy care. 
 
 Or goats that graze the field, and burn it bare, 
 
 Then seek Tarentum^s lawns, and farthest coast, 
 
 Or such a field as hapless Mantua lost, 
 
 Where silver swans sail down the watery road, 
 
 275 And graze the floating herbage of the flood. 
 
 There crystal streams perpetual tenor keep. 
 
 Nor food nor springs are wanting to thy sheep ; 
 
 For, what the day devours, the nightly dew 
 Shall to the morn in pearly drops renew. 
 
 280 Fat crumbling earth is fitter for the plough. 
 
 Putrid and loose above, and black below ; 
 
 For ploughing is an imitative toil. 
 
 Resembling nature in an easy soil. 
 
 No land for seed like this ; no fields afford 
 285 So large an income to the village lord : 
 
 No toiling teams from harvest-labour come 
 So late at night, so heavy-laden home. 
 
 The like of forest land is understood. 
 
 From whence the surly ploughman grubs the wood, 
 290 Which had for length of ages idle stood. 
 
 Then birds forsake the ruins of their seat. 
 
 And, flying from their nests, their callow young forget. 
 The coarse lean gravel, on the mountain-sides. 
 
 Scarce dewy beverage for the bees provides ; 
 
 295 Nor chalk, nor crumbling stones, the food of snakes. 
 That work in hollow earth their winding tracks. 
 
 The soil exhaling clouds of subtle dews, 
 
 Imbibing moisture which with ease she spews. 
 
 Which rusts not iron, and whose mould is clean, 
 
 300 Well clothed with cheerful grass, and ever green. 
 
 Is good for olives, and aspiring vines. 
 
 Embracing husband elms in amorous twines ; 
 
BOOK II.] 
 
 VIRGirS GEORGICS. 
 
 383 
 
 Is fit for feeding cattle, fit to sow, 
 
 And equal to the pasture and the plough. 
 
 Such is the soil of fat Campanian fields ; 305 
 
 Such large increase the land that joins Vesuvius yields ; 
 And such a country could Acerrai boast. 
 
 Till Clanius overflowed the unhappy coast. 
 
 I teach thee next the differing soils to know. 
 
 The light for vines, the heavier for the plough. 310 
 
 Choose first a place for such a purpose fit : 
 
 There dig the solid earth, and sink a pit ; 
 
 Next fill the hole with its own earth again, 
 
 And trample with thy feet, and tread it in : 
 
 Then, if it rise not to the former height 315 
 
 Of superfice, conclude that soil is light, 
 
 A proper ground for pasturage and vines. 
 
 But, if the sullen earth, so pressed, repines 
 Within its native mansion to retire. 
 
 And stays without, a heap of heavy mire, 320 
 
 ’Tis good for arable, a glebe that asks 
 Tough teams of oxen, and laborious tasks. 
 
 Salt earth and bitter are not fit to sow. 
 
 Nor will be tamed and mended by the plough. 
 
 Sweet grapes degenerate there; and fruits declined 325 
 From their first flavorous taste, renounce their kind. 
 
 This truth by sure experiment is tried; 
 
 For first an osier colander provide 
 Of twigs thick wrought (such, toiling peasants twine. 
 When through strait passages they strain their wine:) 330 
 In this close vessel place that earth accursed. 
 
 But filled brimful with wholesome water first ; 
 
 Then run it through; the drops will rope around. 
 
 And, by the bitter taste, disclose the ground. 
 
 The fatter earth by handling we may find, ^ 335 
 
 With ease distinguished from the meagre kind : 
 
 Poor soil will crumble into dust ; the rich 
 Will to the fingers cleave like clammy pitch : 
 
 Moist earth produces corn and grass, but both 
 
 Too rank and too luxuriant in their growth. 340 
 
 Let not my land so large a promise boast, 
 
 Lest the lank ears in length of stem be lost. 
 
384 VIRGIL'S GEORGICS. [book ii 
 
 The heavier earth is by her weight betrayed ; 
 
 The lighter in the poising hand is weighed. 
 
 345 ’Tis easy to distinguish by the sight, 
 
 The colour of the soil^ and black from white. 
 
 But the cold ground is difficult to know ; 
 
 Yet this, the plants that prosper there, will show — 
 Black ivy, pitch-trees, and the baleful yew. 
 
 350 These rules considered well, with early care 
 The vineyard destined for thy vines prepare : 
 
 But long before the planting, dig the ground, 
 
 With furrows deep that cast a rising mound. 
 
 The clods, exposed to winter winds, will bake; 
 
 355 For putrid earth will best in vineyards take; 
 
 And hoary frosts, after the painful toil 
 Of delving hinds, will rot the mellow soil. 
 
 Some peasants, not to omit the nicest care. 
 
 Of the same soil their nursery prepare, 
 
 360 With that of their plantation ; lest the tree. 
 Translated, should not with the soil agree. 
 
 Beside, to plant it as it was, they mark 
 The heaveffis four quarters on the tender bark. 
 
 And to the north or south, restore the side, 
 
 365 Which at their birth did heat or cold abide : 
 
 So strong is custom ; such effects can use 
 In tender souls of pliant plants produce. 
 
 Choose next a province for thy vineyard^s reign. 
 On hills above, or in the lowly plain. 
 
 370 If fertile fields or valleys be thy choice. 
 
 Plant thick ; for bounteous Bacchus will rejoice 
 In close plantations there ; but, if the vine 
 On rising ground be placed, or hills supine. 
 
 Extend thy loose battalions largely wide, 
 
 375 Opening thy ranks and files on either side. 
 
 But marshalled all in order as they stand ; 
 
 And let no soldier straggle from his band. 
 
 As legions in the field their front display. 
 
 To try the fortune of some doubtful day, 
 
 380 And move to meet their foes with sober pace. 
 
 Strict to their figure, though in wider space. 
 
 Before the battle joins, while from afar 
 
BOOK II.] 
 
 VIRGINS GEORGICS. 
 
 385 
 
 The field yet glitters with the pomp of war, 
 
 And equal Mars, like an impartial lord, 
 
 Leaves all to fortune, and the dint of sword : 385 
 
 So let thy vines in intervals be set. 
 
 But not their rural discipline forget ; 
 
 Indulge their width, and add a roomy space, 
 
 That their extremest lines may scarce embrace : 
 
 Nor this alone to indulge a vain delight, 390 
 
 And make a pleasing prospect for the sight, 
 
 But for the ground itself ; this only way 
 Can equal vigour to the plants convey. 
 
 Which, crowded, want the room, their branches to display. 
 
 How deep they must be planted, wouldst thou know 
 In shallow furrows vines securely grow. 396 
 
 Not so the rest of plants ; for Jove’s own tree. 
 
 That holds the woods in awful sovereignty. 
 
 Requires a depth of lodging in the ground, 
 
 And, next the lower skies, a bed profound : 400 
 
 High as his topmost boughs to heaven ascend. 
 
 So low his roots to hell’s dominion tend. 
 
 Therefore, nor winds, nor winter’s rage, o’erthrows 
 His bulky body, but unmoved he grows ; 
 
 For length of ages lasts his happy reign, . 405 
 
 And lives of mortal man contend in vain. 
 
 Full in the midst of his own strength he stands. 
 Stretching his brawny arms, and leafy hands : 
 
 His shade protects the plains, his head the hills commands. 
 
 The hurtful hazel in thy vineyard shun ; 410 
 
 Nor plant it to receive the setting sun ; 
 
 Nor break the topmost branches from the tree ; 
 
 Nor prune, with blunted knife, the progeny. 
 
 Root up wild olives from thy laboured lands ; 
 
 For sparkling fire, from hinds’ unwary hands, 415 
 
 Is often scattered o’er their unctuous rinds. 
 
 And after spread abroad by raging winds : 
 
 For first the smouldering flame the trunk receives ; 
 Ascending thence, it crackles in the leaves ; 
 
 At length victorious to the top aspires. 
 
 Involving all the wood in smoky fires ; 
 
 But most, when driven by winds, the flaming storm 
 
 420 
 
386 
 
 VIRGIL'S GEORGICS. 
 
 [book II. 
 
 Of the long files destroys the beauteous form. 
 
 In ashes then the unhappy vineyard lies ; 
 
 425 Nor will the blasted plants from ruin rise ; 
 
 Nor will the withered stock be green again ; [plain. 
 But the wild olive shoots, and shades the ungrateful 
 Be not seduced with wisdom’s empty shows, 
 
 To stir the peaceful ground when Boreas blows. 
 
 430 When winter frosts constrain the field with cold, 
 
 The fainty root can take no steady hold. 
 
 But when the golden spring reveals the year. 
 
 And the white bird returns, whom serpents fear. 
 
 That season deem the best to plant thy vines : 
 
 435 Next that, is when autumnal warmth declines. 
 
 Ere heat is quite decayed, or cold begun. 
 
 Or Capricorn admits the winter sun. 
 
 The spring adorns the woods, renews the leaves ; 
 The womb of earth the genial seed receives : 
 
 440 For then almighty Jove descends, and pours 
 Into his buxom bride his fruitful showers ; 
 
 And, mixing his large limbs with hers, he feeds 
 Her births with kindly juice, and fosters teeming seeds. 
 Then joyous birds frequent the lonely grove, 
 
 445 And beasts, by nature stung, renew their love. 
 
 Then fields the blades of buried corn disclose ; 
 
 And, while the balmy western spirit blows. 
 
 Earth to the breath her bosom dares expose. 
 
 With kindly moisture then the plants abound ; 
 
 450 The grass securely springs above the ground ; 
 
 The tender twig shoots upward to the skies. 
 
 And on the faith of the new sun relies. 
 
 The swerving vines on the tall elms prevail ; 
 
 Unhurt by southern showers, or northern hail, 
 
 455 They spread their gems, the genial warmth to share. 
 And boldly trust their buds in open air. 
 
 In this soft season, (let me dare to sing,) 
 
 The world was hatched by heaven’s imperial king — 
 
 In prime of all the year, and holidays of spring. 
 
 460 Then did the new creation first appear ; 
 
 Nor other was the tenor of the year. 
 
 When laughing heaven did the great birth attend ; 
 
BOOK II.] 
 
 VIRGirS GEORGICS, 
 
 387 
 
 And eastern winds their wintry breath suspend : 
 
 Then sheep first saw the sun in open fields ; 
 
 And savage beasts were sent to stock the wilds ; 465 
 
 And golden stars flew up to light the skies ; 
 
 And man’s relentless race from stony quarries rise. 
 
 Nor could the tender new creation bear 
 The excessive heats or coldness of the year, 
 
 But, chilled by winter, or by summer fired, 
 
 The middle temper of the spring required. 
 
 When warmth and moisture did at once abound. 
 
 And heaven’s indulgence brooded on the ground. 
 
 For what remains, in depth of earth secure 
 Thy covered plants, and dung with hot manure ; 
 
 And shells and gravel in the ground inclose ; 
 
 For through their hollow chinks the water flows. 
 
 Which, thus imbibed, returns in misty dews. 
 
 And, steaming up, the rising plant renews. 
 
 Some husbandmen, of late, have found the way, 
 
 A hilly heap of stones above to lay, 
 
 And press the plants with shards of potters’ clay. 
 
 This fence against immoderate rain they found. 
 
 Or when the dog-star cleaves the thirsty ground. 
 
 Be mindful, when thou hast entombed the shoot ; 485 
 
 With store of earth around to feed the root; 
 
 With iron teeth of rakes and prongs, to move 
 The crusted earth, and loosen it above. 
 
 Then exercise thy sturdy steers to plough 
 
 Betwixt thy vines, and teach the feeble row 490 
 
 To mount on reeds, and wands, and, upward led. 
 
 On ashen poles to raise their forky head. 
 
 On these new crutches let them learn to walk. 
 
 Till, swerving upwards with a stronger stalk. 
 
 They brave the winds, and, clinging to their guide, 495 
 On tops of elms at length triumphant ride. 
 
 But, in their tender nonage, while they spread 
 Their springing leaves, and lift their infant head. 
 
 And upward while they shoot in open air. 
 
 Indulge their childhood, and the nurselings spare; 500 
 Nor exercise thy rage on new-born life ; 
 
 But let thy hand supply the pruning-knife. 
 
 470 
 
 475 
 
 480 
 
388 
 
 VIRGIL’S GEORGICS. 
 
 [book II. 
 
 And crop luxuriant stra^^glers, nor be loth 
 To strip the branches of their leafy growth. 
 
 505 But, when the rooted vines, with steady hold. 
 
 Can clasp their elms, then, husbandman, be bold 
 To lop the disobedient boughs, that strayed 
 Beyond their ranks ; let crooked steel invade 
 The lawless troops, which discipline disclaim, 
 
 510 And their superfluous growth with rigour tame. 
 
 Next, fenced with hedges and deep ditches round, 
 Exclude the encroaching cattle from thy ground, 
 While yet the tender germs but just appear. 
 
 Unable to sustain the uncertain year, 
 
 515 Whose leaves are not alone foul winter’s prey. 
 
 But oft by summer suns are scorched away ; 
 
 And, worse than both, become the unworthy browse 
 Of buffaloes, salt goats, and hungry cows. 
 
 For not December’s frost, that burns the boughs, 
 
 520 Nor dog-days’ parching heat, that splits the rocks, 
 Are half so harmful as the greedy flocks, 
 
 Their venomed bite, and scars indented on the stocks. 
 For this, the malefactor goat was laid 
 On Bacchus’’ altar, and his forfeit paid. 
 
 525 At Athens thus old comedy began, 
 
 When round the streets the reeling actors ran, 
 
 In country villages, and crossing ways. 
 
 Contending for the prizes of their plays ; 
 
 And, glad with Bacchus, on the grassy soil, 
 
 530 Leaped o’er the skins of goats besmeared with oil. 
 Thus Roman youth, derived from ruined Troy, 
 
 In rude Saturnian rhymes express their joy; 
 
 With taunts, and laughter loud, their audience please, 
 Deformed with vizards, cut from barks of trees : 
 
 535 In jolly hymns they praise the god of wine. 
 
 Whose earthen images adorn the pine, 
 
 And there are hung on high, in honour of the vine. 
 
 A madness so devout the vineyard fills ; 
 
 In hollow valleys and on rising hills, 
 
 540 On whate’er side he turns his honest face, 
 
 And dances in the wind, those fields are in his grace. 
 To Bacchus therefore let us tune our lays. 
 
BOOK IT.] 
 
 VIRGins GEORGICS. 
 
 And in our mother-tongue resound his praise. 
 
 Thin cakes in chargers, and a guilty goat, 
 
 Dragged by the horns, be to his altars brought ; 
 
 Whose offered entrails shall his crime reproach, 
 
 And drip their fatness from the hazel broach. 
 
 To dress thy vines, new labour is required ; 
 
 Nor must the painful husbandman be tired : 
 
 For thrice, at least, in compass of the year, 
 
 Thy vineyard must employ the sturdy steer 
 To turn the glebe; besides thy daily pain 
 To break the clods, and make the surface plain. 
 
 To unload the branches, or the leaves to thin. 
 
 That suck the vital moisture of the vine. 
 
 Thus in a circle runs the peasant’s pain. 
 
 And the year rolls within itself again. 
 
 E’en in the lowest months, when storms have shed 
 From vines the hairy honours of their head. 
 
 Not then the drudging hind his labour ends, 560 
 
 But to the coming year his care extends. 
 
 E’en then' the naked vine he persecutes ; 
 
 His pruning-knife at once reforms and cuts. 
 
 Be first to dig the ground ; be first to burn 
 
 The branches lopt ; and first the props return 565 
 
 Into thy house, that bore the burdened vines ; 
 
 But last to reap the vintage of thy wines. 
 
 Twice in the year luxuriant leaves o’ershade 
 The encumbered vine ; rough brambles twice invade. 
 Flard labour both ! Commend the large excess 570 
 
 Of spacious vineyards ; cultivate the less. 
 
 Besides, in woods the shrubs of prickly thorn. 
 
 Sallows and reeds on banks of rivers born, 
 
 Remain to cut ; for vineyards, useful found 
 
 To stay thy vines, and fence thy fruitful ground. 575 
 
 Nor when thy tender trees at length are bound ; 
 
 When peaceful vines from pruning-hooks are free. 
 
 When husbands have surveyed the last degree. 
 
 And utmost files of plants, and ordered every tree ; 
 
 E’en when they sing at ease in full content, 580 
 
 Insulting o’er the toils they underwent ; 
 
 Yet still they find a future task remain. 
 
 3S9 
 
 545 
 
 550 
 
 555 
 
390 VIRGirs GEORGICS. [book ii. 
 
 To turn the soil, and break the clods again ; 
 
 And, after all, their joys are insincere, 
 
 585 While falling rains on ripening grapes they fear. 
 Quite opposite to these are olives found : 
 
 No dressing they require, and dread no wound. 
 
 Nor rakes nor harrows need ; but, fixed below, 
 Rejoice in open air, and unconcernedly grow. 
 
 590 The soil itself due nourishment supplies : • 
 
 Plough but the furrows, and the fruits arise, 
 
 Content with small endeavours, till they spring. 
 
 Soft peace they figure, and sweet plenty bring : 
 
 Then olives plant, and hymns to Pallas sing. 
 
 595 Thus apple-trees, whose trunks are strong to bear 
 Their spreading boughs, exert themselves in air, 
 Want no supply, but stand secure alone. 
 
 Not trusting foreign forces, but their own. 
 
 Till with theruddy freight the bending branches groan. 
 600 Thus trees of nature, and each common bush. 
 Uncultivated thrive, and with red berries blush. 
 
 Vile shrubs are shorn for browse ; the towering height 
 Of unctuous trees are torches for the night. 
 
 And shall we doubt (indulging easy sloth), 
 
 605 To sow, to set, and to reform their growth ? 
 
 To leave the lofty plants — the lowly kind 
 Are for the shepherd or the sheep designed. 
 
 E’en humble broom and osiers have their use. 
 
 And shade for sheep, and food for flocks, produce ; 
 610 Hedges for corn, and honey for the bees. 
 
 Besides the pleasing prospect of the trees. 
 
 How goodly looks Cytorus, ever green 
 With boxen groves ! with what delight are seen 
 Narycian woods of pitch, whose gloomy shade 
 615 Seems for retreat of heavenly muses made; 
 
 But much more pleasing are those fields to see. 
 
 That need not ploughs, nor human industry. 
 
 E’en cold Caucasean rocks with trees are spread. 
 And wear green forests on their hilly head. 
 
 620 Though bending from the blast of eastern storms. 
 Though shent their leaves, and shattered are their arms, 
 Yet heaven their various plants for use designs — 
 
BOOK II.] 
 
 VIRGIVS GEORGICS, 
 
 391 
 
 For houses, cedars — and, for shipping, pines — 
 
 Cypress provides for spokes and wheels of wains. 
 
 And all for keels of ships, that scour the watery plains. 625 
 Willows in twigs are fruitful, elms in leaves ; 
 
 The war, from stubborn myrtle, shafts receives — 
 
 From cornels, javelins ; and the tougher yew 
 Receives the bending figure of a bow. 
 
 Nor box, nor limes, without their use are made, 630 
 
 Smooth-grained, and proper for the turner’s trade 
 Which curious hands may carve, and steel with ease invade. 
 Light alder stems the Po’s impetuous tide, 
 
 And bees in hollow oaks their honey hide. 
 
 Now balance, with these gifts, the fumy joys 635 
 
 Of wine, attended with eternal noise. 
 
 Wine urged to lawless lust the Centaurs’ train ; 
 
 Through wine they quarrelled, and through wine were slain. 
 
 O happy, if he knew his happy state, 
 
 The swain, who, free from business and debate, 640 
 
 Receives his easy food from nature’s hand. 
 
 And just returns of cultivated land ! 
 
 No palace, with a lofty gate, he wants. 
 
 To admit the tides of early visitants. 
 
 With eager eyes devouring, as they pass, 645 
 
 The breathing figures of Corinthian brass. 
 
 No statues threaten, from high pedestals ; 
 
 No Persian arras hides his homely walls, 
 
 With antic vests, which, through their shady fold. 
 
 Betray the streaks of ill-dissembled gold : 650 
 
 He boasts no wool, whose native white is dyed 
 With purple poison of Assyrian pride ; 
 
 No costly drugs of Araby defile. 
 
 With foreign scents, the sweetness of his oil : 
 
 ♦ But easy quiet, a secure retreat, 655 
 
 A harmless life that knows not how to cheat. 
 
 With home-bred plenty, the rich owner bless. 
 
 And rural pleasures crown his happiness. 
 
 Unvexed with quarrels, undisturbed with noise. 
 
 The country king his peaceful realm enjoys — 660 
 
 Cool grots, and living lakes, the flowery pride 
 Of meads, and streams that through the valley glide. 
 
392 VlRGins GEORGICS. [book u. 
 
 And shady groves that easy sleep invite, 
 
 And after toilsome days, a soft repose at night. 
 
 665 Wild beasts of nature in his woods abound ; 
 
 And youth, of labour patient, plough the ground, 
 Inured to hardship, and to homely fare. 
 
 Nor venerable age is wanting there. 
 
 In great examples to the youthful train ; 
 
 670 Nor are the gods adored with rites profane. 
 
 From hence Astrasa took her flight ; and here 
 The prints of her departing steps appear. 
 
 Ye sacred muses ! with whose beauty fired. 
 
 My soul is ravished, and my brain inspired — 
 
 675 Whose priest I am, whose holy fillets wear — 
 
 Would you your poet’s first petition hear ; 
 
 Give me the ways of wandering stars to know, 
 
 The depths of heaven above, and earth below : 
 Teach me the various labours of the moon, 
 
 680 And whence proceed the eclipses of the sun ; 
 
 Why flowing tides prevail upon the main. 
 
 And in what dark recess they shrink again ; 
 
 What shakes the solid ear<h ; what cause delays 
 The summer nights, and shortens winter days. 
 
 685 But, if my heavy blood restrain the flight 
 Of my free soul, aspiring to the height 
 Of nature, and unclouded fields of light — 
 
 My next desire is, void of care and strife, 
 
 To lead a soft, secure, inglorious life — 
 
 690 A country cottage near a crystal flood, 
 
 A winding valley, and a lofty wood. 
 
 Some god conduct me to the sacred shades. 
 
 Where Bacchanals are sung by Spartan maids. 
 
 Or lift me high to Haem us’ hilly crown, 
 
 695 Or in the plains of Tempo lay me down. 
 
 Or lead me to some solitary place. 
 
 And cover my retreat from human race. 
 
 Happy the man, who, studying nature’s laws. 
 Through known effects can trace the secret cause — 
 700 His mind possessing in a quiet state, 
 
 Fearless of Fortune, and resigned to Fate ! 
 
 And happy too is he, who decks the bowers 
 
BOOK II.] 
 
 VIRGIVS GEORGICS, 
 
 393 
 
 Of sylvans, and adores the rural powers — 
 
 Whose mind, unmoved, the bribes of courts can see, 
 Their glittering baits, and purple slavery — 
 
 Nor hopes the people's praise, nor fears their frown, 
 Nor, when contending kindred tear the crown. 
 
 Will set up one, or pull another down. 
 
 Without concern he hears, but hears from far. 
 
 Of tumults, and descents, and distant war ; 
 
 Nor with a superstitious fear is awed. 
 
 For what befalls at home, or what abroad. 
 
 Nor his own peace disturbs with pity for the poor. 
 Nor envies he the rich their happy store. 
 
 He feeds on fruits, which, of their own accord. 
 
 The willing ground and laden trees afford. 
 
 From his loved home no lucre him can draw ; 
 
 The senate’s mad decrees he never saw ; 
 
 Nor heard, at bawling bars, corrupted law. 
 
 Some to the seas, and some to camps, resort. 
 
 And some with impudence invade the court : 
 
 In foreign countries, others seek renown ; 
 
 With wars and taxes, others waste their own. 
 
 And houses burn, and household gods deface. 
 
 To drink in bowls which glittering gems enchase. 
 To loll on couches, rich with citron steds. 
 
 And lay their guilty limbs in Tyrian beds. 
 
 This wretch in earth entombs his golden ore. 
 Hovering and brooding on his buried store. 
 
 Some patriot fools to popular praise aspire 
 Of public speeches, which worse fools admire. 
 While, from both benches, with redoubled sounds, 
 The applause of lords and commoners abounds. 
 Some, through ambition, or through thirst of gold. 
 Have slain their brothers, or their country sold. 
 And, leaving their sweet homes, in exile run 
 To lands that lie beneath another sun. 
 
 The peasant, innocent of all these ills. 
 
 With crooked ploughs the fertile fallows tills. 
 
 And the round year with daily labour fills. 
 
 And hence the country markets are supplied : 
 Enough remains for household charge beside, 
 
 705 
 
 710 
 
 715 
 
 720 
 
 725 
 
 730 
 
 735 
 
 740 
 
394 
 
 VIRGirS GEORGICS. 
 
 [book II. 
 
 His wife and tender children to sustain, 
 
 And gratefully to feed his dumb deserving train. 
 
 745 cease his labours till the yellow field 
 A full return of bearded harvest yield— 
 
 A crop so plenteous, as the land to load, [abroad. 
 Overcome the crowded barns, and lodge on ricks 
 Thus every several season is employed, 
 
 750 Some spent in toil, and some in ease enjoyed. 
 
 The yeaning ewes prevent the springing year; 
 
 The laden boughs their fruits in autumn bear : 
 
 ^Tis then the vine her liquid harvest yields. 
 
 Baked in the sunshine of ascending fields. 
 
 755 The winter comes; and then the falling mast 
 For greedy swine provides a full repast : 
 
 Then olives, ground in mills, their fatness boast, 
 
 And winter fruits are mellowed by the frost. 
 
 His cares are eased with intervals of bliss ; 
 
 760 His little children, climbing for a kiss, 
 
 Welcome their fathers late return at night ; 
 
 His faithful bed is crowned with chaste delight. 
 
 His kine with swelling udders ready stand. 
 
 And, lowing for the pail, invite the milkeFs hand. 
 
 765 His wanton kids, with budding horns prepared. 
 
 Fight harmless battles in his homely yard: 
 
 Himself, in rustic pomp, on holidays, 
 
 To rural powers a just oblation pays. 
 
 And on the green his careless limbs displays. 
 
 770 The hearth is in the midst ; the herdsmen, round 
 The cheerful fire, provoke his health in goblets crowned. 
 He calls on Bacchus, and propounds the prize; 
 
 The groom his fellow-groom at butts defies. 
 
 And bends his bow, and levels with his eyes ; 
 
 775 Or, stript for wrestling, smears his limbs with oil. 
 And watches, with a trip his foe to foil. 
 
 Such was the life the frugal Sabines led; 
 
 So Remus and his brother-god were bred. 
 
 From whom the austere Etrurian virtue rose; 
 
 780 And this rude life our homely fathers chose. 
 
 Old Rome from such a race derived her birth, 
 
 (The seat of empire and the conquered earth,) 
 
BOOK II.] 
 
 V/I^GirS GEORGICS, 
 
 395 
 
 Which now on seven high hills triumphant reigns, 
 
 And in that compass all the world contains. 
 
 Ere Saturn^s rebel son usurped the skies, 785 
 
 When beasts were only slain for sacrifice. 
 
 While peaceful Crete enjoyed her ancient lord. 
 
 Ere sounding hammers forged the inhuman sword. 
 
 Ere hollow drums were beat, before the breath 
 Of brazen trumpets rung the peals of death, 790 
 
 The good old god his hunger did assuage 
 With roots and herbs, and gave the golden age. 
 
 But, over-laboured with so long a course, 
 
 ^Tis time to set at ease the smoking horse. 
 
BOOK III. 
 
 THE ARGUMENT. 
 
 This book begins with the invocation of some rural deities, and 
 a com)')liment to Augustus ; after which Virgil directs him- 
 self to Maecenas, and enters on his subject. He lays down 
 rules for the breeding and management of horses, oxen, sheep, 
 goats, and dogs ; and interweaves several pleasant descrip- 
 tions of a chariot-race, of the battle of the bulls, of the force 
 of love, and of the Scythian winter. In the latter part of 
 the book, he relates the diseases incident to cattle ; and ends 
 with the description of a fatal murrain that formerly raged 
 among the Alps. 
 
 T hy fields, propitious Pales, I rehearse; 
 
 And sing thy pastures in no vulgar verse, 
 Amphrysian shepherd! the Lycasan woods, 
 
 Arcadia’s flowery plains, and pleasing floods. 
 
 5 All other themes, that careless minds invite, 
 
 Are worn with use, unworthy me to write. 
 
 Busiris’ altars, and the dire decrees 
 Of hard Eurystheus, every reader sees : 
 
 Hylas the boy, Latona’s erring isle, 
 lo And Pelops’ ivory shoulder, and his toil 
 For fair Hippodame, with all the rest 
 Of Grecian tales, by poets are expressed. 
 
 New ways I must attempt, my grovelling name 
 To raise aloft, and wing my flight to fame. 
 
 15 I, first of Romans, shall in triumph come 
 
 From conquered Greece, and bring her trophies home, 
 With foreign spoils adorn my native place. 
 
 And with Idume’s palms my Mantua grace. 
 
 Of Parian stone a temple will I raise, 
 
 20 Where the slow Mincius through the valley strays, 
 Where cooling streams invite the flocks to drink, 
 
 And reeds defend the winding water’s brink. 
 
BOOK III.] 
 
 VIRGWS GEORGICS. 
 
 397 
 
 Full in the midst shall mighty Csesar stand, 
 
 Hold the chief honours, and the dome command. 
 
 Then I, conspicuous in my Tyrian gown, 25 
 
 (Submitting to his godhead my renown,) 
 
 A hundred coursers from the goal will drive : 
 
 The rival chariots in the race shall strive. 
 
 All Greece shall flock from far, my games to see; 
 
 The whorlbat, and the rapid race, shall be 30 
 
 Reserved for Caesar, and ordained by me. 
 
 Myself, with olive crowned, the gifts will bear. 
 
 E^en now methinks the public shouts I hear ; 
 
 The passing pageants, and the pomps appear. 
 
 I to the temple will conduct the crew, 35 
 
 The sacrifice and sacrihcers view. 
 
 From thence return, attended with my train. 
 
 Where the proud theatres disclose the scene, 
 
 Which interwoven Britons seem to raise, 
 
 And show the triumph which their shame displays. 4.0 
 High o’er the gate, in elephant and gold. 
 
 The crowd shall Caesar’s Indian war behold: 
 
 The Nile shall flow beneath; and on the sid-c 
 His shattered ships on brazen pillars ride. 
 
 Next him Niphates, with inverted urn, 45 
 
 And drooping sedge, shall his Armenian mourn; 
 
 And Asian cities in our triumph borne. 
 
 With backward bows the Parthians shall be there. 
 
 And, spurring from the fight, confess their fear. 
 
 A double wreath shall crown our Caesar’s brows — 50 
 
 Two differing trophies, from two different foes. 
 
 Europe with Afric in his fame shall join; 
 
 But neither shore his conquest shall confine. 
 
 The Parian marble there shall seem to move 
 In breathing statues, not unworthy Jove, 55 
 
 Resembling heroes, whose ethereal root 
 Is Jove himself, and Caesar is the fruit. 
 
 Tros and his race the sculptor shall employ; 
 
 And he — the god who built the walls of Troy. 
 
 Envy herself at last, grown pale and dumb, 60 
 
 (By C^sar combated and overcome,) 
 
 Shall give her hands, and fear the curling snakes 
 
398 
 
 VIRGIL'S GEORGICS. 
 
 [book III. 
 
 Of lashing Furies, and the burning lakes; 
 
 The pains of famished Tantalus shall feel, 
 
 65 And Sisyphus, that labours up the hill 
 
 The rolling rock in vain ; and curst Ixion^s wheel. 
 
 Meantime we must pursue the sylvan lands, 
 
 (The abode of nymphs,) untouched by former hands : 
 For such, Maecenas, are thy hard commands. 
 
 70 Without thee, nothing lofty can I sing : 
 
 Come then, and, with thyself, thy genius bring. 
 
 With which inspired, I brook no dull delay : 
 
 Cithaeron loudly calls me to my way; 
 
 Thy hounds, Taygetus, open, and pursue their prey. 
 75 High Epidaurus urges on my speed. 
 
 Famed for his hills, and for his horses’ breed : 
 
 From hills and dales the cheerful cries rebound; 
 
 For Echo hunts along, and propagates the sound. 
 
 A time will come, when my maturer muse, 
 
 80 In Caesar’s wars, a nobler theme shall choose. 
 
 And through more ages bear my sovereign’s praise, 
 Than have from Tithon past to Caesar’s days. 
 
 The generous youth, who, studious of the prize, 
 The race of running coursers multiplies, 
 
 85 Or to the plough the sturdy bullock breeds, 
 
 M ay know,that from the dam the worth of each proceeds. 
 The mother-cow must wear a lowering look. 
 Sour-headed, strongly necked, to bear the yoke. 
 
 Her double dewlap from her chin descends, 
 
 90 And at her thighs the ponderous burden ends. 
 
 Long are her sides and large ; her limbs are great ; 
 Rough are her ears, and broad her horny feet. 
 
 Her colour shining black, but flecked with white ; 
 She tosses from the yoke ; provokes the fight : 
 
 95 She rises in her gait, is free from fears. 
 
 And in her face a bull’s resemblance bears : 
 
 Her ample forehead with a star is crowned, 
 
 And with her length of tail she sweeps the ground. 
 The bull’s insult at four she may sustain ; 
 
 100 But, after ten, from nuptial rites refrain. 
 
 Six seasons use ; but then release the cow. 
 
 Unfit for love, and for the labouring plough. 
 
VIRGinS GEORGICS. 
 
 399 
 
 BOOK III.] 
 
 Now, while their youth is filled with kindly fire, 
 
 Submit thy females to the lusty sire : 
 
 Watch the quick motions of the frisking tail ; 105 
 
 Then serve their fury with the rushing male, 
 
 Indulging pleasure, lest the breed should fail. 
 
 In youth alone unhappy mortals live ; 
 
 But ah ! the mighty bliss is fugitive : 
 
 Discoloured sickness, anxious labours, come, i lo 
 
 And age, and death’s inexorable doom. 
 
 Yearly thy herds in vigour will impair. 
 
 Recruit and mend them with thy yearly care : 
 
 Still propagate ; for still they fall away : 
 
 ’Tis prudence to prevent the entire decay. 115 
 
 Like diligence requires the courser’s race, 
 
 In early choice, and for a longer space. 
 
 The colt, that for a stallion is designed. 
 
 By sure presages shows his generous kind : 
 
 Of able body, sound of limb and wind, 120 
 
 Upright he walks, on pasterns firm and straight; 
 
 His motions easy; prancing in his gait; 
 
 The first to lead the way, to tempt the flood. 
 
 To pass the bridge unknown, nor fear the trembling wood ; 
 Dauntless at empty noises ; lofty necked; 125 
 
 Sharp-headed, barrel-bellied, broadly backed : 
 
 Brawny his chest, and deep ; his colour gray ; 
 
 For beauty, dappled, or the brightest bay : 
 
 Faint white and dun will scarce the rearing pay. 
 
 The fiery courser, when he hears from far 130 
 
 The sprightly trumpets, and the shouts of war. 
 
 Pricks up his ears ; and, trembling with delight. 
 
 Shifts place, and paws, and hopes the promised fight. 
 
 On his right shoulder his thick mane reclined. 
 
 Ruffles at speed, and dances in the wind. 135 
 
 His horny hoofs are jetted black and round; 
 
 His chine is double ; starting with a bound 
 He turns the turf, and shakes the solid ground. 
 
 Fire from his eyes, clouds from his nostrils, flow : 
 
 He bears his rider headlong on the foe. 140 
 
 Such was the steed in Grecian poets famed. 
 
 Proud Cyllarus, by Spartan Pollux tamed : 
 
400 VIRGIL'S GEORGICS. [book hi. 
 
 Such coursers bore to fight the god of Thrace ; 
 
 And such, Achilles, was thy warlike race 
 145 In such a shape, grim Saturn did restrain 
 
 His heavenly limbs, and flowed with such a name, 
 When, half-surprised, and fearing to be seen, 
 
 The lecher galloped from his jealous queen ; 
 
 Ran up the ridges of the rocks amain, 
 
 150 And with shrill neigh ings filled tlie neighbouring plain. 
 But, worn with years, when dire diseases come, 
 Then hide his not ignoble age at home. 
 
 In peace to enjoy his former palms and pains; 
 
 And gratefully be kind to his remains. 
 
 155 For, when his blood no youthful spirits move. 
 
 He languishes and labours in his love ; 
 
 And, when the sprightly seed should swiftly come, 
 Dribbling he drudges, and defrauds the womb. 
 
 In vain he burns, like hasty stubble fires, 
 
 160 And in himself his former self requires. 
 
 His age and courage weigh; nor those alone, 
 
 But note his father’s virtues and his own : 
 
 Observe if he disdains to yield the prize, 
 
 Of loss impatient, proud of victories. 
 
 165 Hast thou beheld, when from the goal they start. 
 The youthful charioteers with heaving heart 
 Rush to the race ; and, panting, scarcely bear 
 The extremes of feverish hope and chilling fear : 
 Stoop to the reins, and lash with all their force 
 170 The flying chariot kindles in the course : 
 
 And now alow, and now aloft, they fly. 
 
 As borne through air, and seem to touch the sky. 
 
 No stop, no stay : but clouds of sand arise. 
 
 Spurned and cast backward on the followers’ eyes. 
 175 The hindmost blows the foam upon the first : 
 
 Such is the love of praise, an honourable thirst. 
 
 Bold Erichthonius was the first who joined 
 Four horses for the rapid race designed, 
 
 And o’er the dusty wheels presiding sat : 
 
 180 The Lapithae, to chariots, add the state 
 
 Of bits and bridles ; taught the steed to bound. 
 
 To run the ring, and trace the mazy round ; 
 
VIRGins GEORGICS, 
 
 401 
 
 BOOK III.] 
 
 To stop, to fly, the rules of war to know ; 
 
 To obey the rider, and to dare the foe. 
 
 To choose a youthful steed with courage fired, 185 
 To breed him, break him, back him, are required 
 Experienced masters ; and, in sundry ways, 
 
 Their labours equal, and alike their praise. 
 
 But, once again, the battered horse beware : 
 
 The weak old stallion will deceive thy care, 190 
 
 Though famous in his youth for force and speed, 
 
 Or was of Argos or Epirian breed. 
 
 Or did from Neptune^s race, or from himself, proceed. 
 
 These things premised, when now the nuptial time 
 Approaches for the stately steed to climb, 195 
 
 With food enable him to make his court ; 
 
 Distend his chine, and pamper him for sport : 
 
 Feed him with herbs, whatever thou canst find, 
 
 Of generous warmth, and of salacious kind: 
 
 Then water him, and (drinking what he can) 200 
 
 Encourage him to thirst again, with bran. 
 
 Instructed thus, produce him to the fair. 
 
 And join in wedlock to the longing mare. 
 
 For, if the sire be faint, or out of case. 
 
 He will be copied in his famished race, 205 
 
 And sink beneath the pleasing task assigned : 
 
 (For alFs too little for the craving kind.) 
 
 As for the females, with industrious care 
 Take down their mettle ; keep them lean and bare : 
 
 When conscious of their past delight, and keen 210 
 
 To take the leap, and prove the sport again, 
 
 With scanty measure then supply their food ; 
 
 And, when athirst, restrain them from the flood ; 
 
 Their bodies harass ; sink them when they run ; 
 
 And fry their melting marrow in the sun. 215 
 
 Starve them, when barns beneath their burden groan, 
 
 And winnowed chaff by western winds is blown ; 
 
 For fear the rankness of the swelling womb 
 Should scant the passage, and confine the room ; 
 
 Lest the fat furrows should the sense destroy 
 Of genial lust, and dull the seat of joy. 
 
 But let them suck the seed with greedy force, 
 
 2 C 
 
 220 
 
402 VIRGirS GEORGICS. [book til 
 
 And close involve the vigour of the horse. 
 
 The male has done : thy care must now proceed 
 225 To teeming females, and the promised breed. 
 
 First let them run at large, and never know 
 The taming yoke, or draw the crooked plough. 
 
 Let them not leap the ditch, or swim the flood, 
 
 Or lumber o’er the meads, or cross the wood ; 
 
 230 But range the forest, by the silver side 
 
 Of some cool stream, where nature shall provide 
 Green grass and fattening clover for their fare, 
 
 And mossy caverns for their noontide lair. 
 
 With rocks above, to shield the sharp nocturnal air. 
 235 About the Alburnian groves, with holly green, 
 
 Of winged insects mighty swarms are seen : 
 
 This flying plague (to mark its quality) 
 
 (Estros the Grecians call — Asylus, we — 
 
 A fierce loud-buzzing breeze — their stings draw blood, 
 240 And drive the cattle gadding through the wood. 
 Seized with unusual pains, they loudly cry : 
 
 Tanagrus hastens thence, and leaves his channel dry. 
 This curse the jealous Juno did invent. 
 
 And first employed for Id’s punishment. 
 
 245 To shun this ill, the cunning leech ordains, 
 
 In summer’s sultry heats (for then it reigns) 
 
 To feed the females ere the sun arise. 
 
 Or late at night, when stars adorn the skies. 
 
 When she has calved, then set the dam aside, 
 
 250 And for the tender progeny provide. 
 
 Distinguish all betimes with branding fire, 
 
 'To note the tribe, the lineage and the sire ; 
 
 Whom to reserve for husband of the herd ; 
 
 Or who shall be to sacrifice preferred ; 
 
 255 Or whom thou shalt to turn thy glebe allow. 
 
 To smooth the furrows, and sustain the plough : 
 
 The rest, for whom no lot is yet decreed. 
 
 May run in pastures, and at pleasure feed. 
 
 The calf, by nature and by genius made 
 260 To turn the glebe, breed to the rural trade. 
 
 Set him betimes to school ; and let him be 
 Instructed there in rules of husbandry. 
 
VIRGIL'S GEORGICS. 
 
 403 
 
 BOOK III.] 
 
 While yet his youth is flexible and green, 
 
 Nor bad examples of the world has seen. 
 
 Early begin the stubborn child to break ; 265 
 
 For his soft neck, a supple collar make 
 Of bending osiers ; and (with time and care 
 Inured that easy servitude to bear) 
 
 Thy flattering method on the youth pursue : 
 
 Joined with his schoolfellows by two and two, 270 
 
 Persuade them first to lead an empty wheel. 
 
 That scarce the dust can raise, or they can feel : 
 
 In length of time produce the labouring yoke, 
 
 And shining shares, that make the furrow smoke. 
 
 Ere the licentious youth be thus restrained, 275 
 
 Or moral precepts on their minds have gained, 
 
 Their wanton appetites not only feed 
 With delicates of leaves, and marshy weed, 
 
 But with thy sickle reap the rankest land. 
 
 And minister the blade with bounteous hand : 280 
 
 Nor be with harmful parsimony won 
 To follow what our homely sires have done, 
 
 Who filled the pail with beestings of the cow. 
 
 But all her udder to the calf allow. 
 
 If to the warlike steed thy studies bend, 285 
 
 Or for the prize in chariots to contend. 
 
 Near Pisa’s flood the rapid wheels to guide, 
 
 Or in Olympian groves aloft to ride. 
 
 The generous labours of the courser, first. 
 
 Must be with sight of arms and sounds of trumpets nursed; 290 
 Inured the groaning axle-tree to bear. 
 
 And let him clashing whips in stables hear. 
 
 Soothe him with praise, and make him understand 
 The loud applauses of his master’s hand : 
 
 This, from his weaning, let him well be taught ; 295 
 
 And then betimes in a soft snaffle wrought. 
 
 Before his tender joints with nerves are knit, 
 
 Untried in arms, and trembling at the bit. 
 
 But, when to four full springs his years advance. 
 
 Teach him to run the ground, with pride to prance, 300 
 And (rightly managed) equal time to beat. 
 
 To turn, to bound in measure, and curvet. 
 
404 
 
 VIRGirs GEORGICS. 
 
 [book III. 
 
 Let him to this, with easy pains, be brought, 
 
 And seem to labour, when he labours not. 
 
 305 Thus formed for speed, he challenges the wind. 
 
 And leaves the Scythian arrow far behind : 
 
 He scours along the field, with loosened reins. 
 
 And treads so light, he scarcely prints the plains ; 
 Like Boreas in his race, when, rushing forth, 
 
 310 He sweeps the skies, and clears the cloudy north : 
 The waving harvest bends beneath his blast, 
 
 The forest shakes, the groves their honours cast ; 
 
 He hies aloft, and with impetuous roar 
 Pursues the foaming surges to the shore. 
 
 315 Thus, o’er the Elean plains, thy well-breathed horse 
 Impels the flying car, and wins the course. 
 
 Or, bred to Belgian waggons, leads the way. 
 
 Untired at night, and cheerful all the day. 
 
 When once he’s broken, feed him full and high ; 
 320 Indulge his growth, and his gaunt sides supply. 
 Before his training, keep him poor and low ; 
 
 For his stout stomach with his food will grow : 
 
 The pampered colt will discipline disdain. 
 
 Impatient of the lash, and restive to the rein. 
 
 325 Wouldst thou their courage and their strength im- 
 Too soon they must not feel the stings of love, [prove 
 Whether the bull or courser be thy care. 
 
 Let him not leap the cow, or mount the mare. 
 
 The youthful bull must wander in the wood, 
 
 330 Behind the mountain, or beyond the flood. 
 
 Or in the stall at home his fodder find. 
 
 Far from the charms of that alluring kind. 
 
 With two fair eyes his mistress burns his breast : 
 
 He looks, and languishes, and leaves his rest, 
 
 335 Forsakes his food, and, pining for the lass. 
 
 Is joyless of the grove, and spurns the growing grass. 
 The soft seducer, with enticing looks. 
 
 The bellowing rivals to the fight provokes. 
 
 A beauteous heifer in the wood is bred : 
 
 340 The stooping warriors, aiming head to head, 
 
 Engage their clashing horns : with dreadful sound 
 The forest rattles, and the rocks rebound. 
 
BOOK III.] VIRGirs GEORG ICS. 4^5 
 
 They fence, they push, and, pushing, loudly roar : 
 
 Their dewlaps and their sides are bathed in gore. 
 
 Nor, when the war is over, is it peace ; 345 
 
 Nor will the vanquished bull his claim release ; 
 
 But, feeding in his breast his ancient fires. 
 
 And cursing fate, from his proud foe retires. 
 
 Driven from his native land to foreign grounds, 
 
 He with a generous rage resents his wounds, 350 
 
 His ignominious flight, the victor^s boast, 
 
 And, more than both, the loves which unrevenged he lost. 
 Often he turns his eyes, and, with a groan. 
 
 Surveys the pleasing kingdoms, once his own: 
 
 And therefore to repair his strength he tries, 355 
 
 Hardening his limbs with painful exercise, 
 
 And rough upon the flinty rock he lies. 
 
 On prickly leaves and on sharp herbs he feeds. 
 
 Then to the prelude of a war proceeds. 
 
 His horns, yet sore, he tries against a tree, 360 
 
 And meditates his absent enemy. 
 
 He snuffs the wind ; his heels the sand excite ; 
 
 But, when he stands collected in his might. 
 
 He roars, and promises a more successful fight. 
 
 Then, to redeem his honour at a blow, 365 
 
 He moves his camp, to meet his careless foe. 
 
 Not with more madness, rolling from afar. 
 
 The spumy waves proclaim the watery war. 
 
 And mounting upwards, with a mighty roar, 
 
 March onwards, and insult the rocky shore. . 370 
 
 They mate the middle region with their height. 
 
 And fall no less than with a mountain's weight ; 
 
 The waters boil, and, belching, from below 
 Black sands, as from a forceful engine, throw. 
 
 Thus every creature, and of every kind, 375 
 
 The secret joys of sweet coition find. 
 
 Not only man^s imperial race, but they 
 That wing the liquid air, or swim the sea. 
 
 Or haunt the desert, rush into the flame : 
 
 For Love is lord of all, and is in all the same. 380 
 
 ^Tis with this rage, the mother-lion stung. 
 
 Scours o’er the plain, regardless of her young ; 
 
4o6 
 
 V/J^GirS GEORGICS. 
 
 [BOOK III. 
 
 Demanding rites of love, she sternly stalks, 
 
 And hunts her lover in his lonely walks. 
 
 385 ^Tis then the shapeless bear his den forsakes ; 
 
 In woods and fields, a wild destruction makes : 
 
 Boars with their tusks ; to battle tigers move. 
 Enraged with hunger, more enraged with love. 
 
 Then woe to him, that, in the desert land 
 390 Of Libya, travels o’er the burning sand ! 
 
 The stallion snuffs the well-known scent afar, 
 
 And snorts and trembles for the distant mare; 
 
 Nor bits nor bridles can his rage restrain. 
 
 And rugged rocks are interposed in vain : 
 
 395 He makes his way o’er mountains, and contemns 
 Unruly torrents, and unforded streams. 
 
 The bristled boar, who feels the pleasing wound. 
 New grinds his arming tusks, and digs the ground. 
 The sleepy lecher shuts his little eyes ; 
 
 400 About his churning chaps the frothy bubbles rise : 
 He rubs his sides against a tree ; prepares 
 And hardens both his shoulders for the wars. 
 
 What did the youth, when Love’s unerring dart 
 Transfixed his liver, and inflamed his heart 
 405 Alone, by night, his watery way he took ; 
 
 About him, and above, the billows broke; 
 
 The sluices of the sky were open spread. 
 
 And rolling thunder rattled o’er his head ; 
 
 The raging tempests called him back in vain, 
 
 410 And every boding omen of the main : 
 
 Nor could his kindred, nor the kindly force 
 Of weeping parents, change his fatal course ; 
 
 No, not the dying maid, who must deplore 
 His floating carcase on the Sestian shore. 
 
 415 I pass the wars that spotted lynxes make 
 With their fierce rivals for the female’s sake, 
 
 The howling wolves’, the mastiffs’ amorous rage ; 
 When e’en the fearful stag dares for his hind engage. 
 But, far above the rest, the furious mare, 
 
 420 Barred from the male, is frantic with despair: 
 
 For, when her pouting vent declares her pain, 
 
 She tears the harness, and she rends the rein. 
 
BOOK III.] VIRGIVS GEORGICS. 407 
 
 For this (when Venus gave them rage and power) 
 
 Their master’s mangled members they devour, 
 
 Of love defrauded in their longing hour. 425 
 
 For love, they force through thickets of the wood. 
 
 They climb the steepy hills, and stem the flood. 
 
 When, at the spring’s approach, their marrow burns, 
 (For with the spring their genial warmth returns,) 
 
 The mares to cliffs of rugged rocks repair, 430 
 
 And with wide nostrils snuff the western air : 
 
 When (wondrous to relate !) the parent wind. 
 
 Without the stallion, propagates the kind. 
 
 Then, fired with amorous rage, they take their flight 
 Through plains, and mount the hills’ unequal height ; 435 
 Nor to the north, nor to the rising sun. 
 
 Nor southward to the rainy regions, run, 
 
 But boring to the west, and hovering there. 
 
 With gaping mouths, they draw prolific air ; 
 
 With which impregnate, from their groins they shed, 440 
 A slimy juice, by false conception bred. 
 
 The shepherd knows it well, and calls by name 
 Hippomanes, to note the mother’s flame. 
 
 This, gathered in the planetary hour. 
 
 With noxious weeds, and spelled with words of power, 445 
 Dire stepdames in the magic bowl infuse. 
 
 And mix, for deadly draughts, the poisonous juice. 
 
 But time is lost, which never will renew. 
 
 While we too far the pleasing path pursue. 
 
 Surveying nature with too nice a view. 450 
 
 Let this suffice for herds ; our following care 
 Shall woolly flocks and shaggy goats declare. 
 
 Nor can 1 doubt what toil I must bestow. 
 
 To raise my subject from a ground so low; 
 
 And the mean matter, which my theme affords, 455 
 
 To embellish with magnificence of words. 
 
 But the commanding muse my chariot guides. 
 
 Which o’er the dubious cliff securely rides ; 
 
 And pleased I am, no beaten road to take. 
 
 But first the way to new discoveries make. 460 
 
 Now, sacred Pales ! in a lofty strain 
 I sing the rural honours of thy reign. 
 
4 o 8 VIRGinS GEORGICS. [book hi. 
 
 First, with assiduous care from winter keep. 
 
 Well foddered in the stalls, thy tender sheep : 
 
 465 Then spread with straw the bedding of thy fold, 
 With fern beneath, to Tend the bitter cold ; 
 
 That free from gouts thou niayest preserve thy care, 
 And clear from scabs, produced by freezing air. 
 
 Next let thy goats officiously be nursed, 
 
 470 And led to living streams, to quench their thirst. 
 Feed them with winter-browse ; and, for their lair, 
 
 A cote, that opens to the south, prepare; 
 
 Where basking in the sunshine they may lie, 
 
 And the short remnants of his heat enjoy. 
 
 475 This during winteFs drizzly reign be done. 
 
 Till the new Ram receives the exalted sun. 
 
 For hairy goats of equal profit are 
 With woolly sheep, and ask an equal care. 
 
 ’Tis true, the fleece, when drunk with Tyrian juice, 
 480 Is dearly sold ; but not for needful use : 
 
 For the salacious goat increases more, 
 
 And twice as largely yields her milky store. 
 
 The still-distended udders never fail. 
 
 But, when they seem exhausted, swell the pail. 
 
 485 Meantime the pastor shears their hoary beards. 
 
 And eases of their hair the laden herds. 
 
 Their camelots, warm in tents, the soldier hold. 
 
 And shield the shivering mariner from cold. 
 
 On shrubs they browse, and, on the bleaky top 
 490 Of rugged hills, the thorny bramble crop. 
 
 Attended with their bleating kids, they come 
 At night, unasked, and mindful of their home; 
 
 And scarce their swelling bags the threshold overcome. 
 So much the more thy diligence bestow 
 495 In depth of winter, to defend the snow. 
 
 By how much less the tender helpless kind. 
 
 For their own ills, can fit provision find. 
 
 Then minister the browse with bounteous hand, 
 
 And open let thy sacks all winter stand. 
 
 500 But, when the western winds with vital power 
 Call forth the tender grass and budding flower, 
 
 Then, at the last, produce in open air 
 
VJRGirS GEORGICS. 
 
 BOOK III.] 
 
 409 
 
 Both flocks, and send them to their summer fare. 
 Before the sun while Hesperus appears, 
 
 First let them sip from herbs the pearly tears 
 Of morning dews, and after break their fast 
 On greensward ground — a cool and grateful taste. 
 But, when the day’s fourth hour has drawn the dews. 
 And the sun’s sultry heat their thirst renews ; 
 
 When creaking grasshoppers on shrubs complain. 
 Then lead them to their watering-troughs again. 
 
 In summer’s heat, some bending valley find. 
 
 Closed from the sun, but open to the wind ; 
 
 Or seek some ancient oak, whose arms extend 
 In ample breadth, thy cattle to defend. 
 
 Or solitary grove, or gloomy glade, 
 
 To shield them with its venerable shade. 
 
 Once more to watering lead ; and feed again 
 When the low sun is sinking to .the main. 
 
 When rising Cynthia sheds her silver dews, 
 
 And the cool evening-breeze the meads renews, 
 When linnets fill the woods with tuneful sound, 
 
 And hollow shores the halcyon’s voice rebound. 
 
 Why should my muse enlarge on Libyan swains. 
 Their scattered cottages, and ample plains, 
 
 Where oft the flocks without a leader stray. 
 
 Or through continued deserts take their way, 
 
 And, feeding, add the length of night to day ? 
 
 Whole months they wander, grazing as they go ; 
 
 Nor folds nor hospitable harbour know : 
 
 Such an extent of plains, so vast a space 
 Of wilds unknown, and of untasted grass. 
 
 Allures their eyes : the shepherd last appears, 
 
 And with him all his patrimony bears. 
 
 His house, and household gods, his trade of war, 
 
 His bow and quiver, and his trusty cur. 
 
 Thus, under heavy arms, the youth of Rome 
 Their long laborious marches overcome, 
 
 Cheerly their tedious travels undergo. 
 
 And pitch their sudden camp before the foe. 
 
 Not so the Scythian shepherd tends his fold. 
 
 Nor he who bears in Thrace the bitter cold. 
 
 505 
 
 510 
 
 515 
 
 520 
 
 525 
 
 530 
 
 535 
 
 540 
 
410 VIRGWS GEORGICS. [book hi. 
 
 Nor he who treads the bleak Maeotian strand, 
 
 Or where proud Ister rolls his yellow sand. 
 
 545 Early they stall. their flocks and herds ; for there 
 No grass the fields, no leaves the forests, wear : 
 
 The frozen earth lies buried there, below 
 A hilly heap, seven cubits deep in snow ; 
 
 And all the west allies of stormy Boreas blow. 
 
 550 The sun from far peeps with a sickly face, 
 
 Too weak, the clouds and mighty fogs to chase, 
 When up the skies he shoots his rosy head. 
 
 Or in the ruddy ocean seeks his bed. 
 
 Swift rivers are with sudden ice constrained ; 
 
 555 And studded wheels are on its back sustained ; 
 
 A hostry now for waggons, which before 
 Tall ships of burden on its bosom bore. 
 
 The brazen cauldrons with the frost are flawed ; 
 
 The garment, stiff with ice, at hearths is thawed ; 
 
 560 With axes first they cleave the wine ; and thence, 
 
 By weight, the solid portions they dispense. 
 
 From locks uncombed, and from the frozen beard, 
 Long icicles depend, and crackling sounds are heard. 
 Meantime perpetual sleet, and driving snow, 
 
 565 Obscure the skies, and hang on herds below. 
 
 The starving cattle perish in their stalls ; 
 
 Huge oxen stand inclosed in wintry walls 
 Of snow congealed ; whole herds are buried there 
 Of mighty stags, and scarce their horns appear. 
 
 570 The dexterous huntsman wounds not these afar 
 With shafts or darts, or makes a distant war 
 With dogs, or pitches toils to stop their flight, 
 
 But close engages in unequal fight ; 
 
 And, while they strive in vain to make their way 
 575 Through hills of snow, and pitifully bray. 
 
 Assaults with dint of sword, or pointed spears. 
 
 And homeward, on his back, the joyful burden bears. 
 The men to subterranean caves retire. 
 
 Secure from cold, and crowd the cheerful fire ; 
 
 580 With trunks of elms and oaks the hearth they load. 
 Nor tempt the inclemency of heaven abroad. 
 
 Their jovial nights in frolics and in play 
 
BOOK III.] 
 
 VIRGIVS GEORGICS. 
 
 411 
 
 They pass, to drive the tedious hours away, 
 
 And their cold stomachs with crowned goblets cheer 
 Of windy cider, and of barmy beer. 585 
 
 Such are the cold Rhip^an race, and such 
 The savage Scythian, and unwarlike Dutch, 
 
 Where skins of beasts the rude barbarians wear. 
 
 The spoils of foxes, and the furry bear. 
 
 Is wool thy care.^ let not thy cattle go 590 
 
 Where bushes are, where burs and thistles grow ; 
 
 Nor in too rank a pasture let them feed ; 
 
 Then of the purest white select thy breed. 
 
 E’en though a snowy ram thou shalt behold, 
 
 Prefer him not in haste for husband to thy fold : 595 
 
 But search his mouth ; and if a swarthy tongue 
 Is underneath his humid palate hung, 
 
 Reject him, lest he darken all the flock. 
 
 And substitute another from thy stock. 
 
 ’Twas thus, with fleeces milky-white, (if we 600 
 
 May trust report,) Pan, god of Arcady, 
 
 Did bribe thee, Cynthia ; nor didst thou disdain. 
 
 When called in woody shades, to cure a lover’s pain. 
 
 If milk be thy design, with plenteous hand 
 Bring clover-gi ass; and from the marshy land 605 
 
 Salt herbage for the foddering rack provide. 
 
 To fill their bags, and swell the milky tide. 
 
 These raise their thirst, and to the taste restore 
 The savour of the salt, on which they fed before. 
 
 Some, when the kids their dams too deeply drain, 610 
 With gags and muzzles their soft mouths restrain. 
 
 Their morning milk the peasants press at night ; 
 
 Their evening meal, before the rising light. 
 
 To market bear; or sparingly they steep 
 
 With seasoning salt, and stored for winter keep. 615 
 
 Nor, last, forget thy faithful dogs; but feed 
 With fattening whey the mastiff’s generous breed, 
 
 And Spartan race, who, for the fold’s relief. 
 
 Will persecute with cries the nightly thief. 
 
 Repulse the prowling wolf, and hold at bay 620 
 
 The mountain robbers rushing to the prey. 
 
 With cries of hounds, thou mayst pursue the fear 
 
412 
 
 VIRGIL'S GEORGICS, 
 
 [book III. 
 
 Of flying hares, and chase the fallow deer, 
 
 Rouse from their desert dens the bristled rage 
 625 Of boars, and beamy stags in toils engage. 
 
 With smoke of burning cedar scent thy walls. 
 
 And fume with stinking galbanum thy stalls. 
 
 With that rank odour, from thy dwelling-place 
 To drive the viper’s brood, and all the venomed race : 
 630 For often, under stalls unmoved, they lie. 
 
 Obscure in shades, and shunning heaven’s broad eye : 
 And snakes, familiar, to the hearth succeed. 
 
 Disclose their eggs, and near the chimney breed — 
 Whether to roofy houses they repair, 
 
 635 Or sun themselves abroad in open air. 
 
 In all abodes, of pestilential kind 
 To sheep and oxen, and the painful hind. 
 
 Take, shepherd, take a plant of stubborn oak, 
 
 And labour him with many a sturdy stroke, 
 
 640 Or with hard stones demolish from afar 
 His haughty crest, the seat of all the war; 
 
 Invade his hissing throat, and winding spires ; 
 
 Till, stretched in length, the unfolded foe retires. 
 
 He drags his tail, and for his head provides, 
 
 645 And in some secret cranny slowly glides; 
 
 But leaves exposed to blows his back and battered sides. 
 
 In fair Calabria’s woods a snake is bred. 
 
 With curling crest, and with advancing head : 
 Waving he rolls, and makes a winding track; 
 
 650 His belly spotted, burnished is his back. 
 
 While springs are broken, while the southern air 
 And dropping heavens the moistened earth repair. 
 
 He lives on standing lakes and trembling bogs. 
 
 And fills his maw with fish, or with loquacious frogs : 
 655 But when, in muddy pools, the water sinks. 
 
 And the chapped earth is furrowed o’er with chinks. 
 He leaves the fens, and leaps upon the ground. 
 
 And, hissing, rolls his glaring eyes around. 
 
 With thirst inflamed, impatient of the heats, 
 
 660 He rages in the fields, and wide destruction threats. 
 O ! let not sleep my closing eyes invade 
 In open plains, or in the secret shade, 
 
BOOK III.] VIRGWS GEORGICS. 4^3 
 
 When he, renewed in all the speckled pride 
 Of pompous youth, has cast his slough aside, 
 
 And in his summer livery rolls along, 665 
 
 Erect, and brandishing his forky tongue. 
 
 Leaving his nest, and his imperfect young, 
 
 And, thoughtless of his eggs, forgets to rear 
 The hopes of poison for the following year. 
 
 The causes and the signs shall next be told, 670 
 
 Of every sickness that infects the fold. 
 
 A scabby tetter on their pelts will stick. 
 
 When the raw rain has pierced them to the quick, 
 
 Or searching frosts have eaten through the skin. 
 
 Or burning icicles are lodged within; 675 
 
 Or, when the fleece is shorn, if sweat remains 
 Unwashed, and soaks into their empty veins ; 
 
 When their defenceless limbs the brambles tear. 
 
 Short of their wool, and naked from the shear. 
 
 Good shepherds, after shearing, drench their sheep : 680 
 And their flock’s father (forced from high to leap) 
 
 Swims down the stream, and plunges in the deep. 
 
 They oint their naked limbs with mothered oil ; 
 
 Or, from the founts where living sulphurs boil. 
 
 They mix a med’cine to foment their limbs, 685 
 
 With scum that on the molten silver swims ; 
 
 Fat pitch, and black bitumen, add to these. 
 
 Besides the waxen labour of the bees. 
 
 And hellebore, and squills deep-rooted in the seas. 
 Receipts abound ; but, searching all thy store, 690 
 
 The best is still at hand, to lance the sore. 
 
 And cut the head : for, till the core be found. 
 
 The secret vice is fed, and gathers ground. 
 
 While, making fruitless moan, the shepherd stands. 
 
 And, when the lancing-knife requires his hands, 695 
 Vain help, with idle prayers, from heaven demands. 
 
 Deep in their bones when fevers fix their seat. 
 
 And rack their limbs, and lick the vital heat. 
 
 The ready cure to cool the raging pain 
 
 Is underneath the foot to breathe a vein. 700 
 
 This remedy the Scythian shepherds found : 
 
 The inhabitants of Thracia’s hilly ground, 
 
414 
 
 VIRGWS GEORGICS. 
 
 [book III. 
 
 And Gelons, use it, when for drink and food 
 They mix their curdled milk with horses’ blood. 
 
 705 But, where thou seest a single sheep remain 
 In shades aloof, or couched upon the plain, 
 
 Or listlessly to crop the tender grass, 
 
 Or late to lag behind with truant pace ; 
 
 Revenge the crime, and take the traitor’s head, 
 
 710 Ere in the faultless flock the dire contagion spread. 
 On winter seas we fewer storms behold. 
 
 Than foul diseases that infect the fold. 
 
 Nor do those ills on single bodies prey. 
 
 But oftener bring the nation to decay, 
 
 715 And sweep the present stock and future hope away. 
 A dire example of this truth appears. 
 
 When, after such a length of rolling years. 
 
 We see the naked Alps, and thin remains 
 Of scattered cots, and yet unpeopled plains, [reigns. 
 720 Once filled with grazing flocks, the shepherds’ happy 
 Here, from the vicious air, and sickly skies, 
 
 A plague did on the dumb creation rise : 
 
 During the autumnal heats the infection grew. 
 
 Tame cattle and the beasts of nature slew, 
 
 725 Poisoning the standing lakes, and pools impure; 
 
 Nor was the foodful grass in fields secure. 
 
 Strange death ! for, when the thirsty fire had drunk 
 Their vital blood, and the dry nerves were shrunk, 
 When the contracted limbs were cramped, e’en then 
 730 A waterish humour swelled and oozed again, 
 Converting into bane the kindly juice, 
 
 Ordained by nature for a better use. 
 
 The victim ox, that was for altars prest. 
 
 Trimmed with white ribbons, and with garlands drest, 
 735 Sunk of himself, without the gods’ command. 
 Preventing the slow sacrificer’s hand. 
 
 Or, by the holy butcher if he fell. 
 
 The inspected entrails could no fates foretell ; 
 
 Nor, laid on altars, did pure flames arise; 
 
 740 But clouds of smouldering smoke forbade the sacrifice. 
 Scarcely the knife was reddened with his gore. 
 
 Or the black poison stained the sandy floor. 
 
BOOK III.] 
 
 VIRGirS GEORGICS. 
 
 415 
 
 The thriven calves in meads their food forsake, 
 
 And render their sweet souls before the plenteous rack. 
 
 The fawning dog runs mad; the wheezing swine 745 
 With coughs is choked, and labours from the chine : 
 
 The victor horse, forgetful of his food. 
 
 The palm renounces, and abhors the flood. 
 
 He paws the ground; and on his hanging ears 
 A doubtful sweat in clammy drops appears : 750 
 
 PArched is his hide, and rugged are his hairs. 
 
 Such are the symptoms of the young disease ; 
 
 But, in time’s process, when his pains increase. 
 
 He rolls his mournful eyes ; he deeply groans 
 With patient sobbing, and with manly moans. 755 
 
 He heaves for breath; which, from his lungs supplied. 
 And fetched from far, distends his labouring side. 
 
 To his rough palate his dry tongue succeeds; 
 
 And ropy gore he from his nostrils bleeds. 
 
 A drench of wine has with success been used, 760 
 
 And through a horn the generous juice infused. 
 
 Which, timely taken, oped his closing jaws. 
 
 But, if too late, the patient’s death did cause : 
 
 For the too vigorous dose too fiercely wrought. 
 
 And added fury to the strength it brought. 765 
 
 Recruited into rage, he grinds his teeth 
 In his own flesh, and feeds approaching death. 
 
 Ye gods, to better fate good men dispose. 
 
 And turn that impious error on our foes ! 
 
 The steer, who to the yoke was bred to bow, 770 
 
 (Studious of tillage, and the crooked plough,) 
 
 Falls down and dies ; and, dying, spews a flood 
 Of foamy madness, mixed with clotted blood. 
 
 The clown, who, cursing Providence, repines. 
 
 His mournful fellow from the team disjoins ; 775 
 
 With many a groan forsakes his fruitless care. 
 
 And in the unfinished furrow leaves the share. 
 
 The pining steer nor shades of lofty woods. 
 
 Nor flowery meads can ease, nor crystal floods 
 
 Rolled from the rock: his flabby flanks decrease; 780 
 
 His eyes are settled in a stupid peace; 
 
 His bulk too weighty for his thighs is grown, 
 
VIRGirS GEORGICS. 
 
 416 
 
 [book III. 
 
 And his unwieldy neck hangs drooping down. 
 
 Now what avails his well-deserving toil 
 785 To turn the glebe, or smooth the rugged soil.^ 
 
 And yet he never supped in solemn state, 
 
 (Nor undigested feasts did urge his fate,) 
 
 Nor day to night luxuriously did join. 
 
 Nor surfeited on rich Campanian wine. 
 
 790 Simple his beverage, homely was his food. 
 
 The wholesome herbage, and the running flood : 
 
 No dreadful dreams awaked him with affright ; 
 
 His pains by day, secured his rest by night. 
 
 ^Twas then that buffaloes, ill paired, were seen 
 795 To draw the car of Jove’s imperial queen, 
 
 For want of oxen; and the labouring swain 
 Scratched, with a rake, a furrow for his grain. 
 
 And covered with his hand the shallow seed again. 
 He yokes himself, and up the hilly height, 
 
 800 With his own shoulders, draws the waggon’s weight. 
 The nightly wolf, that round the inclosure prowled. 
 To leap the fence, now plots not on the fold. 
 
 Tamed with a sharper pain. The fearful doe, 
 
 And flying stag, amidst the greyhounds go, 
 
 805 And round the dwellings roam of man, their fiercer foe. 
 The scaly nations of the sea profound. 
 
 Like shipwrecked carcases, are driven aground, 
 
 And mighty phocae, never seen before 
 In shallow streams, are stranded on the shore. 
 
 810 The viper dead within her hole is found: 
 
 Defenceless was the shelter of the ground. 
 
 The water-snake, whom fish and paddocks fed. 
 
 With staring scales lies poisoned in his bed: 
 
 To birds their native heavens contagious prove ; 
 
 815 From clouds they fall, and leave their souls above. 
 Besides, to change their pasture ’tis in vain. 
 
 Or trust to physic ; physic is their bane. 
 
 The learned leeches in despair depart. 
 
 And shake their heads, desponding of their art. 
 
 820 Tisiphone, let loose from under ground, 
 Majestically pale, now treads the round. 
 
 Before her drives diseases and affright. 
 
KOOK III. ] VIRGWS GEORG ICS. 4 ^ 7 
 
 And every moment rises to the sight, 
 
 Aspiring to the skies, encroaching on the light. 
 
 The rivers, and their banks, and hills around, 825 
 
 With lowings and with dying bleats resound. 
 
 At length, she strikes a universal blow ; 
 
 To death at once whole herds of cattle go ; 
 
 Sheep, oxen, horses, fall ; and heaped on high, 
 
 The differing species in confusion lie, 830 
 
 Till, warned by frequent ills, the way they found 
 To lodge their loathsome carrion under ground : 
 
 For useless to the currier were their hides ; 
 
 Nor could their tainted flesh with ocean tides 
 
 Be freed from filth ; nor could Vulcanian flame 835 
 
 The stench abolish, or the savour tame. 
 
 Nor safely could they shear their fleecy store 
 (Made drunk with poisonous juice, and stiff with gore). 
 
 Or touch the web : but, if the vest they wear, 
 
 Red blisters rising on their paps appear, 840 
 
 And flaming carbuncles, and noisome sweat. 
 
 And clammy dews, that loathsome lice beget ; 
 
 Till the slow-creeping evil eats his way. 
 
 Consumes the parching limbs, *and makes the life his prey. 
 
BOOK IV. 
 
 THE ARGUMENT, 
 
 Virgil has taken care to raise the subject of each Georgic. In the 
 first, he deals only with dead matter. In the second, he just 
 steps on the world of life, and describes that of vegetables. 
 In the third, he advances to animals : and in the last, he 
 singles out the bee, the most sagacious of them, for his subject. 
 
 In this Georgic, he shews us what station is most proper 
 for the bees, and when they begin to gather honey ; how to 
 call them home when they swarm, and how to part them 
 when they are engaged in battle. From hence he takes 
 occasion to discover their different kinds ; and, after an 
 excursion, relates their prudent and politic administration of 
 affairs, and the diseases that often rage in their hives, with the 
 proper symptoms and remedies of each. In the last place he 
 lays down a method of repairing their kind, supposing their 
 whole breed lost ; and gives the history of its invention. 
 
 HE gifts of Heaven my following song pursues, 
 
 -L Aerial honey, and ambrosial dews. 
 
 Maecenas, read this other part, that sings 
 Embattled squadrons and adventurous kings — 
 
 5 A mighty pomp, though made of little things. 
 
 Their arms, their arts, their manners, I disclose. 
 And how they war, and whence the people rose. 
 Slight is the subject, but the praise not small. 
 
 If Heaven assist, and Phoebus hear my call, 
 lo First, for thy bees a quiet station find. 
 
 And lodge them under covert of the wind, 
 
 (For winds, when honieward they return, will drive 
 The loaded carriers from their evening hive,) 
 
 Far from the cows’ and goats’ insulting crew, 
 
 15 That trample down the flowers, and brush the dew. 
 The painted lizard, and the birds of prey. 
 
 Foes of the frugal kind, be far away — 
 
BOOK IV.] 
 
 VIRGinS GEORGICS, 
 
 419 
 
 The titmouse, and the pecker’s hungry brood, 
 
 And Procne, with her bosom stained in blood : 
 
 These rob the trading citizens, and bear 
 The trembling captives through the liquid air. 
 
 And for their callow young a cruel feast prepare. 
 
 But near a living stream their mansion place. 
 
 Edged round with moss, and tufts of matted grass : 
 And plant (the winds’ impetuous rage to stop) 
 
 Wild olive trees, or palms, before the busy shop ; 
 That, when the youthful prince, with proud alarm, 
 Calls out the venturous colony to swarm — 
 
 When first their way through yielding air they wing, 
 New to the pleasures of their native spring — 
 
 The banks of brooks may make a cool retreat 
 For the raw soldiers from the scalding heat. 
 
 And neighbouring trees with friendly shade invite 
 The troops, unused to long laborious flight. 
 
 Then o’er the running stream, or standing lake, 
 
 A passage for thy weary people make ; 
 
 With osier floats the standing water strew ; 
 
 Of massy stones make bridges, if it flow ; 
 
 That basking in the sun thy bees may lie. 
 
 And resting there, their flaggy pinions dry. 
 
 When late returning home, the laden host 
 By raging winds is wrecked upon the coast. 
 
 Wild thyme and savory set around their cell. 
 
 Sweet to the taste, and fragrant to the smell : • 
 
 Set rows of rosemary with flowering stem. 
 
 And let the purple violets drink the stream. 
 
 Whether thou build the palace of thy bees 
 With twisted osiers, or with barks of trees. 
 
 Make but a narrow mouth : for, as the cold 
 Congeals into a lump the liquid gold. 
 
 So ’tis again dissolved by summer’s heat ; 
 
 And the sweet labours both extremes defeat. 
 
 And therefore, not in vain, the industrious kind 
 With dauby wax and flowers the chinks have lined. 
 And, v/ith their stores of gathered glue, contrive 
 To stop the vents and crannies of their hive. 
 
 Not bird lime, or Idaean pitch, produce 
 
 20 
 
 25 
 
 30 
 
 35 
 
 40 
 
 45 
 
 50 
 
 55 
 
420 
 
 VIRGirS GEORGICS. 
 
 [book IV. 
 
 A more tenacious mass of clammy juice. 
 
 Nor bees are lodged in hives alone, but found 
 6o In chambers of their own beneath the ground : 
 
 Their vaulted roofs are hung in pumices, 
 
 And in the rotten trunks of hollow trees. 
 
 But plaster thou the chinky hives with clay. 
 
 And leafy branches o’er their lodgings lay : 
 
 65 Nor place them where too deep a water flows, 
 
 Or where the yew, their poisonous neighbour, grows ; 
 N or roast red crabs, to offend the niceness of their nose ; 
 Nor near the steaming stench of muddy ground ; 
 Nor hollow rocks, that render back the sound, 
 
 70 And double images of voice rebound. 
 
 For what remains, when golden suns appear. 
 
 And under earth have driven the winter year. 
 
 The winged nation wanders through the skies. 
 
 And o’er the plains and shady forest flies : 
 
 75 Then, stooping on the meads and leafy bowers. 
 
 They skim the floods, and sip the purple flowers. 
 Exalted hence, and drunk with secret joy. 
 
 Their young succession all their cares employ ; 
 
 They breed, they brood, instruct, and educate, 
 
 80 And make provision for the future state : 
 
 They work their waxen lodgings in their hives, 
 
 And labour honey to sustain their lives. 
 
 But when thou seest a swarming cloud arise. 
 
 That sweeps aloft, and darkens all the skies, 
 
 85 The motions of their hasty flight attend ; 
 
 And know, to floods or woods, their airy march they 
 Then melfoil beat, and honey-suckles pound ; [bend. 
 With these alluring savours strew the ground ; 
 
 And mix with tinkling brass the cymbal’s droning sound. 
 90 Straight to their ancient cells, recalled from air. 
 
 The reconciled deserters will repair. 
 
 But, if intestine broils alarm the hive 
 (For two pretenders oft for empire strive). 
 
 The vulgar in divided factions jar; 
 
 95 And murmuring sounds proclaim the civil war. 
 Inflamed with ire, and trembling with disdain. 
 
 Scarce can their limbs their mighty souls contain. 
 
BOOK IV.] VIRGIVS GEORGICS, 421 
 
 With shouts, the coward’s courage they excite, 
 
 And martial clangours call them out to fight : 
 
 With hoarse alarms the hollow camp rebounds, 100 
 
 That imitate the trumpet’s angry sounds : 
 
 Then to their common standard they repair ; 
 
 The nimble horsemen scour the fields of air; 
 
 In form of battle drawn, they issue forth. 
 
 And every knight is proud to prove his worth. 1 05 
 
 Prest for their country’s honour and their king’s, 
 
 On their sharp beaks they whet their pointed stings. 
 
 And exercise their arms, and tremble with their wings. 
 Full in the midst the haughty monarchs ride ; 
 
 The trusty guards come up, and close the side ; no 
 
 With shouts the daring foe to battle is defied. 
 
 Thus in the season of unclouded spring. 
 
 To war they follow their undaunted king ; 
 
 Crowd through their gates ; and, in the fields of light. 
 
 The shocking squadrons meet in mortal fight. 115 
 
 Headlong they fall from high, and wounded wound; 
 
 And heaps of slaughtered soldiers bite the ground. 
 
 Hard hail-stones lie not thicker on the plain. 
 
 Nor shaken oaks such showers of acorns rain. 
 
 With gorgeous wings, the marks of sovereign sway, 120 
 The two contending princes make their way ; 
 
 Intrepid through the midst of danger go. 
 
 Their friends encourage, and amaze the foe. 
 
 With mighty souls in narrow bodies prest. 
 
 They challenge, and encounter breast to breast ; 125 
 
 So fixed on fame, unknowing how to fly. 
 
 And obstinately bent to win or die, 
 
 That long the doubtful combat they maintain, 
 
 Till one prevails — for only one can reign. 
 
 Yet all these dreadful deeds, this deadly fray, 130 
 
 A cast of scattered dust will soon allay. 
 
 And undecided leave the fortune of the day. 
 
 When both the chiefs are sundered from the fight, 
 
 Then to the lawful king restore his right; 
 
 And let the wasteful prodigal be slain, 135 
 
 That he, who best deserves, alone may reign. 
 
 With ease distinguished is the regal race : 
 
422 
 
 VIRGJVS GEORGICS. 
 
 [book IV. 
 
 One monarch wears an honest open face : 
 
 Shaped to his size, and godlike to behold, 
 
 140 His royal body shines with specks of gold, 
 
 And ruddy scales ; for empire he designed, 
 
 Is better born, and of a nobler kind. 
 
 That other looks like nature in disgrace: 
 
 Gaunt are his sides, and sullen is his face ; 
 
 145 And like their grisly prince appear his gloomy race, 
 Grim, ghastly, rugged, like a thirsty train 
 That long have travelled through a desert plain. 
 
 And spit from their dry chaps the gathered dust again. 
 The better brood, unlike the bastard crew, 
 
 150 Are marked with royal streaks of shining hue; 
 Glittering and ardent, though in body less : 
 
 From these, at ’pointed seasons, hope to press 
 Huge heavy honeycombs, of golden juice. 
 
 Not only sweet, but pure, and fit for use, 
 
 155 To allay the strength and hardness of the wine. 
 
 And with old Bacchus new metheglin join. 
 
 But, when the swarms are eager of their play. 
 
 And loathe their empty hives, and idly stray, 
 Restrain the wanton fugitives, and take 
 160 A timely care to bring the truants back. 
 
 The task is easy — but to clip the wings 
 Of their high-flying arbitrary kings. 
 
 At their command, the people swarm away : 
 
 Confine the tyrant, and the slaves will stay. 
 
 165 Sweet gardens, full of saffron flowers, invite 
 The wandering gluttons, and retard their flight — 
 Besides the god obscene, who frights away, 
 
 With his lath sword, the thieves and birds of prey. 
 With his own hand, the guardian of the bees, 
 
 170 For slips of pines may search the mountain trees, 
 And with wild thyme and savory plant the plain. 
 
 Till his hard horny fingers ache with pain ; 
 
 And deck with fruitful trees the fields around. 
 
 And with refreshing waters drench the ground. 
 
 175 Now, did I not so near my labours end. 
 
 Strike sail, and hastening to the harbour tend, 
 
 My song to flowery gardens might extend — 
 
BOOK IV.] 
 
 VIRGinS GEORGICS. 
 
 423 
 
 To teach the vegetable arts, to sing 
 
 The Psestan roses, and their double spring ; 
 
 How succory drinks the running streams, and how 180 
 Green beds of parsley near the river grow ; 
 
 How cucumbers along the surface creep. 
 
 With crooked bodies, and with bellies deep — 
 
 The late narcissus, and the winding trail 
 
 Of beaPs-foot, myrtles green, and ivy pale: 185 
 
 For, where with stately towers Tarentum stands, 
 
 And deep Galsesus soaks the yellow sands, 
 
 I chanced an old Corycian swain to know, 
 
 Lord of few acres, and those barren too. 
 
 Unfit for sheep or vines, and more unfit to sow; 190 
 Yet, labouring well his little spot of ground. 
 
 Some scattering pot-herbs here and there he found. 
 Which cultivated with his daily care. 
 
 And bruised with vervain, were his frugal fare. 
 
 Sometimes white lilies did their leaves afford, 195 
 
 With wholesome poppy-flowers, to mend his homely board; 
 For, late returning home, he supped at ease. 
 
 And wisely deemed the wealth of monarchs less : 
 
 The little of his own, because his own, did please. 
 
 To quit his care, he gathered, first of all, 200 
 
 In spring the roses, apples in the fall ; 
 
 And, when cold winter split the rocks in twain. 
 
 And ice the running rivers did restrain. 
 
 He stripped the beaFs-foot of its leafy growth. 
 
 And, calling western winds, accused the spring of sloth. 205 
 He therefore first among the swains was found 
 To reap the product of his laboured ground, 
 
 And squeeze the combs with golden liquor crowned. 
 
 His limes were first in flowers ; his lofty pines, 
 
 With friendly shade, secured his tender vines. 210 
 
 For every bloom his trees in spring afford, 
 
 An autumn apple was by tale restored. 
 
 He knew to rank his elms in even rows. 
 
 For fruit the grafted pear-tree to dispose. 
 
 And tame to plums the sourness of the sloes. 215 
 
 With spreading planes he made a cool retreat, 
 
 To shade good fellows from the summeFs heat. 
 
424 
 
 VIRGirS GEORGICS. 
 
 [book rv. 
 
 225 
 
 230 
 
 235 
 
 240 
 
 245 
 
 250 
 
 255 
 
 But, straitened in my space, I must forsake 
 This task, for others afterwards to take. 
 
 Describe we next the nature of the bees. 
 Bestowed by Jove for secret services. 
 
 When, by the tinkling sound of timbrels led. 
 
 The king of heaven in Cretan caves they fed. 
 
 Of all the race of animals, alone 
 
 The bees have common cities of their own. 
 
 And common sons ; beneath one law they live. 
 
 And with one common stock their traffic drive. 
 Each has a certain home, a several stall : 
 
 All is the staters ; the state provides for all. 
 
 Mindful of coming cold, they share the pain. 
 
 And hoard, for winter^s use, the summer’s gain. 
 Some o’er the public magazines preside ; 
 
 And some are sent new forage to provide : 
 
 These drudge in fields abroad ; and those at home 
 Lay deep foundations for the laboured comb, 
 
 With dew, narcissus leaves, and clammy gum. 
 
 To pitch the waxen flooring some contrive ; 
 
 Some nurse the future nation of the hive : 
 
 Sweet honey some condense; some purge the grout ; 
 The rest, in cells apart, the liquid nectar shut : 
 
 All, with united force, combine to drive 
 The lazy drones from the laborious hive : 
 
 With envy stung, they view each other’s deeds : 
 With diligence the fragrant work proceeds. 
 
 As when the Cyclops, at the almighty nod. 
 
 New thunder hasten for their angry god. 
 
 Subdued in fire the stubborn metal lies ; 
 
 One brawny smith the puffing bellows plies, 
 
 And draws and blows reciprocating air : 
 
 Others to quench the hissing mass prepare : 
 
 With lifted arms they order every blow. 
 
 And chime their sounding hammers in a row : 
 
 With laboured anvils ^tna groans below. 
 
 Strongly they strike ; huge flakes of flames expire ; 
 With tongs they turn the steel, and vex it in the fire. 
 If little things with great we may compare. 
 
 Such are the bees, and such their busy care ; 
 
BOOK IV.] VlRGinS GEORGICS. 425 
 
 Studious of honey each in his degree, 
 
 The youthful swain, the grave experienced bee — 
 
 That in the field ; this, in affairs of state 260 
 
 Employed at home, abides within the gate, 
 
 To fortify the combs, to build the wall. 
 
 To prop the ruins, lest the fabric fall : 
 
 But, late at night, with weary pinions come 
 
 The labouring youth, and heavy laden, home. 265 
 
 Plains, meads, and orchards, all the day he plies ; 
 
 The gleans of yellow thyme distend his thighs: 
 
 He spoils the saffron flowers ; he sips the blues 
 Of violets, wilding blooms, and willow dews. 
 
 Their toil is common, common is their sleep ; 270 
 
 They shake their wings when morn begins to peep ; 
 
 Rush through the city gates without delay ; 
 
 Nor ends their work, but with declining day. 
 
 Then, having spent the last remains of light. 
 
 They give their bodies due repose at night, 275 
 
 When hollow murmurs of their evening bells 
 Dismiss the sleepy swains, and toll them to their cells. 
 When once in beds their weary limbs they steep. 
 
 No buzzing sounds disturb their golden sleep. 
 
 ^Tis sacred silence all. Nor dare they stray, 280 
 
 When rain is promised, or a stormy day ; 
 
 But near the city walls their watering take. 
 
 Nor forage far, but short excursions make. 
 
 And as, when empty barks on billows float, 
 
 With sandy ballast sailors trim the boat ; 285 
 
 So bees bear gravel-stones, whose poising weight 
 Steers through the whistling winds their steady flight. 
 
 But (whaPs more strange) their modest appetites. 
 Averse from Venus, fly the nuptial rites. 
 
 No lust enervates their heroic mind, 290 
 
 Nor wastes their strength on wanton womankind ; 
 
 But in their mouths reside their genial powers : 
 
 They gather children from the leaves and flowers. 
 
 Thus make they kings to fill the regal seat, 
 
 And thus their little citizens create, 295 
 
 And waxen cities build, the palaces of state. 
 
 And oft on rocks their tender wings they tear. 
 
426 
 
 VIRGirS GEORGICS. 
 
 [book IV. 
 
 And sink beneath the burdens which they bear : 
 
 Such rage of honey in their bosom beats ; 
 
 300 And such a zeal they have for flowery sweets. 
 
 Thus though the race of life they quickly run, 
 Which in the space of seven short years is done, 
 
 The immortal line in sure succession reigns : 
 
 The fortune of the family remains ; 
 
 305 And grandsires’ grandsires the long list contains. 
 Besides, not Egypt, India, Media, more 
 With servile awe their idol king adore : 
 
 While he survives, in concord and content 
 The commons live, by no divisions rent ; 
 
 310 But the great monarches death dissolves the govern- 
 All goes to ruin ; they themselves contrive [ment. 
 To rob the honey, and subvert the hive. 
 
 The king presides, his subjects’ toil surveys ; 
 
 The servile rout their careful Caesar praise : 
 
 315 Him they extol ; they worship him alone \ 
 
 They crowd his levees, and support his throne : 
 
 They raise him on their shoulders with a shout ; 
 
 And, when their sovereign’s quarrel calls them out. 
 His foes to mortal combat they defy, 
 
 320 And think it honour at his feet to die. 
 
 Induced by such examples, some have taught 
 That bees have portions of ethereal thought — 
 Endued with particles of heavenly fires ; 
 
 For God the whole created mass inspires. 
 
 325 Through heaven, and earth, and ocean’s depth,he throws 
 His influence round, and kindles as he goes. 
 
 H ence flocks, and herds, and m en, and beasts, and fowls. 
 With breath are quickened, and attract their souls ; 
 Hence take the forms his prescience did ordain, 
 
 330 And into him at length resolve again. 
 
 No room is left for death : they mount the sky. 
 
 And to their own congenial planets fly. 
 
 Now, when thou hast decreed to seize their stores. 
 And by prerogative to break their doors, 
 
 335 With sprinkled water first the city choke, 
 
 « And then pursue the citizens with smoke. 
 
 T wo honey harvests fall in every year : 
 
BOOK IV.] VIRGIVS GEORGICS. 427 
 
 First, when the pleasing Pleiades appear, 
 
 And, springing upward, spurn the briny seas : 
 
 Again, when their affrighted choir surveys 340 
 
 The watery Scorpion mend his pace behind. 
 
 With a black train of storms and winter wind. 
 
 They plunge into the deep, and safe protection find. 
 
 Prone to revenge, the bees, a wrathful race. 
 
 When once provoked, assault the aggressors face, 345 
 And through the purple veins a passage find ; 
 
 There fix their stings, and leave their souls behind. 
 
 But, if a pinching winter thou foresee. 
 
 And wouldst preserve thy famished family ; 
 
 With fragrant thyme the city fumigate, 350 
 
 And break the waxen walls to save the state. 
 
 For lurking lizards often lodge, by stealth. 
 
 Within the suburbs, and purloin their wealth ; 
 
 And worms, that shun the light, a dark retreat 
 
 Have found in combs, and undermined the seat; 355 
 
 Or lazy drones, without their share of pain. 
 
 In winter-quarters, free, devour the gain ; 
 
 Or wasps infest the camps with loud alarms. 
 
 And mix in battle with unequal arms ; 
 
 Or secret moths are there in silence fed ; 360 
 
 Or spiders in the vault their snary webs have spread. 
 
 The more oppressed by foes, or famine-pined. 
 
 The more increase thy care to save the sinking kind : 
 With greens and flowers recruit their empty hives. 
 
 And seek fresh forage to sustain their lives. 365 
 
 But, since they share with man one common fate. 
 
 In health and sickness, and in turns of state, — 
 
 Observe the symptoms. When they fall away. 
 
 And languish with insensible decay. 
 
 They change their hue ; with haggard eyes they stare : 370 
 Lean are their looks, and shagged is their hair : 
 
 And crowds of dead, that never must return 
 To their loved hives, in decent pomp are borne : 
 
 Their friends attend the hearse ; the next relations -mourn. 
 The sick, for air, before the portal gasp, 375 
 
 Their feeble legs within each other clasp, 
 
 Or idle in their empty hives remain. 
 
428 VIRGIL’S GEORGICS. [book iv. 
 
 Benumbed with cold, and listless of their gain. 
 
 Soft whispers then, and broken sounds, are heard, 
 380 As when the woods by gentle winds are stirred ; 
 
 Such stifled noise as the close furnace hides. 
 
 Or dying murmurs of departing tides. 
 
 This when thou seest, galbanean odours use. 
 
 And honey in the sickly hive infuse. 
 
 385 Through reeden pipes convey the golden flood. 
 
 To invite the people to their wonted food. 
 
 Mix it with thickened juice of sodden wines. 
 
 And raisins from the grapes of Psythian vines : 
 
 To these add pounded galls, and roses dry, 
 
 390 And, with Cecropian thyme, strong-scented centaury. 
 A flower there is, that grows in meadow ground, 
 Amellus called, and easy to be found ; 
 
 For, from one root, the rising stem bestows 
 A wood of leaves, and violet purple boughs : 
 
 395 The flower itself is glorious to behold. 
 
 And shines on altars like refulgent gold — 
 
 Sharp to the taste — by shepherds near the stream 
 Of Mella found ; and thence they gave the name. 
 Boil this restoring root in generous wine, 
 
 400 And set beside the door, the sickly stock to dine. 
 
 But, if the labouring kind be wholly lost. 
 
 And not to be retrieved with care or cost ; 
 
 ’Tis time to touch the precepts of an art, 
 
 The Arcadian master did of old impart ; 
 
 405 And how he stocked his empty hives again, 
 
 Renewed with putrid gore of oxen slain. 
 
 An ancient legend I prepare to sing. 
 
 And upward follow Fame’s immortal spring: 
 
 For, where with seven-fold horns mysterious Nile 
 410 Surrounds the skirts of Egypt’s fruitful isle. 
 
 And where in pomp the sun-burnt people ride. 
 
 On painted barges, o’er the teeming tide. 
 
 Which, pouring down from Ethiopian lands. 
 
 Makes green the soil with slime,and black prolific sands : 
 415 That length of region, and large tract of ground. 
 
 In this one art a sure relief have found. 
 
 First, in a place by nature close, they build 
 
BOOK IV.] 
 
 VIRGWS . GEORGICS. 
 
 429 
 
 A narrow flooring, guttered, walled, and tiled. 
 
 In this, four windows are contrived, that strike. 
 
 To the four winds opposed, their beams oblique. 420 
 A steer of two years old they take, whose head 
 Now first with burnished horns begins to spread : 
 
 They stop his nostrils, while he strives in vain 
 To breathe free air, and struggles with his pain. 
 
 Knocked down, he dies : his bowep, bruised within, 425 
 Betray no wound on his unbroken skin. 
 
 Extended thus, in this obscene abode 
 
 They leave the beast ; but first sweet flowers are strewed 
 
 Beneath his body, broken boughs and thyme. 
 
 And pleasing cassia, just renewed in prime. 430 
 
 This must be done ere spring makes equal day. 
 
 When western winds on curling waters play ; 
 
 Ere painted meads produce their flowery crops. 
 
 Or swallows twitter on the chimney tops. 
 
 The tainted blood, in this close prison pent, 435 
 
 Begins to boil, and through the bones ferment. 
 
 Then (wondrous to behold) new creatures rise, 
 
 A moving mass at first, and short of thighs ; 
 
 Till, shooting out with legs, and imped with wings. 
 
 The grubs proceed to bees with pointed stings, 440 
 
 And, more and more affecting air, they try 
 Their tender pinions, and begin to fly : 
 
 At length, like summer storms from spreading clouds. 
 That burst at once, and pour impetuous floods — 
 
 Or flights of arrows from the Parthian bows, 445 
 
 When from afar they gall embattled foes — 
 
 With such a tempest through the skies they steer; 
 
 And such a form the winged squadrons bear. 
 
 What god, O Muse 1 this useful science taught ? 
 
 Or by what man’s experience was it brought ? 450 
 
 Sad Aristseus from fair Tempe fled — 
 
 His bees with famine or diseases dead : 
 
 On Peneus’ banks he stood, and near his holy head ; 
 
 And, while his falling tears the stream supplied. 
 
 Thus, mourning, to his mother goddess cried : 455 
 
 “ Mother Cyrene ! mother, whose abode 
 Is in the depth of this immortal flood ! 
 
430 VIRGinS GEORGICS. [book iv . 
 
 What boots it, that from Phoebus’ loins I spring, 
 
 The third, by him and thee, from heaven’s high king ? 
 460 O ! where is all thy boasted pity gone. 
 
 And promise of the skies to thy deluded son ? 
 
 Why didst thou me, unhappy me, create. 
 
 Odious to gods, and born to bitter fate ? 
 
 Whom scarce my sheep, and scarce my painful plough, 
 465 The needful aids ^ human life allow : 
 
 So wretched is thy son, so hard a mother thou ! 
 Proceed, inhuman parent, in thy scorn ; 
 
 Root up my trees ; with blights destroy my corn ; 
 My vineyards ruin, and my sheepfolds burn. 
 
 470 Let loose thy rage ; let all thy spite be shown. 
 
 Since thus thy hate pursues the praises of thy son.” 
 But, from her mossy bower below the ground. 
 
 His careful mother heard the plaintive sound — 
 Encompassed with her sea-green sisters round. 
 
 475 One common work they plied ; their distaffs full 
 With carded locks of blue Milesian wool.. 
 
 Spio, with Drymo brown, and Xantho fair. 
 
 And sweet Phyllodoce with long dishevelled hair ; 
 Cydippe with Lycorias, once a maid, 
 
 480 And one that once had called Lucina’s aid ; 
 
 Clio and Beroe, from one father both ; 
 
 Both girt with gold, and clad in particoloured cloth ; 
 Opis the meek, and Deiopeia proud : 
 
 Nissea lofty, with Ligea loud ; 
 
 485 Thalia joyous, Ephyre the sad. 
 
 And Arethusa, once Diana’s maid. 
 
 But now (her quiver left) to love betrayed. 
 
 To these Clymene the sweet theft declares 
 Of Mars ; and Vulcan’s unavailing cares ; 
 
 490 And all the rapes of gods, and every love. 
 
 From ancient Chaos down to youthful Jove. 
 
 Thus while she sings, the sisters turn the wheel. 
 Empty the woolly rock, and fill the reel. 
 
 A mournful sound again the mother hears ; 
 
 495 Again the mournful sound invades the sisters’ ears. 
 Starting at once from their green seats, they rise — 
 
 F ear in their heart, amazement in their eyes. 
 
BOOK IV.] VlRGinS GEORGICS. 43 ^ 
 
 But Arethusa, leaping from her bed, 
 
 First lifts above the waves her beauteous head, 
 
 And, crying from afar, thus to Cyrene said : 500 
 
 “ O sister, not with causeless fear possest ! 
 
 No stranger voice disturbs thy tender breast. 
 
 ^Tis Aristseus, ^tis thy darling son. 
 
 Who to his careless mother makes his moan. 
 
 Near his paternal stream he sadly stands, 505 
 
 With downcast eyes, wet cheeks, and folded hands. 
 Upbraiding heaven, from whence his lineage came, 
 
 And cruel calls the gods, and cruel thee, by name.^^ 
 Cyrene, moved with love, and seized with fear. 
 
 Cries out, Conduct my son, conduct him here : 510 
 
 ’Tis lawful for the youth, derived from gods, 
 
 To view the secrets of our deep abodes.^^ 
 
 At once she waved her hand on either side ; 
 
 At once the ranks of swelling streams divide. 
 
 Two rising heaps of liquid crystal stand, 515 
 
 And leave a space betwixt of empty sand. 
 
 Thus safe received, the downward track he treads, 
 
 Which to his mother’s watery palace leads. 
 
 With wondering eyes he views the secret store 
 
 Of lakes, that, pent in hollow caverns, roar : 520 
 
 He hears the crackling sounds of coral woods. 
 
 And sees the secret source of subterranean floods ; 
 
 And where, distinguished in their several cells. 
 
 The fount of Phasis, and of Lycus, dwells ; 
 
 Where swift Enipeus in his bed appears, 525 
 
 And Tiber his majestic forehead rears ; 
 
 Whence Anio flows, and Hypanis profound 
 
 Breaks through the opposing rocks with raging sound : 
 
 Where Po first issues from his dark abodes. 
 
 And, awful in his cradle, rules the floods : 530 
 
 Two golden horns on his large front he wears. 
 
 And his grim face a bull’s resemblance bears : 
 
 With rapid course he seeks the sacred main. 
 
 And fattens, as he runs, the fruitful plain. 
 
 Now, to the court arrived, the admiring son 535 
 
 Beholds the vaulted roofs of pory stone. 
 
 Now to his mother goddess tells his grief. 
 
432 VIRGWS GEORGICS. [book iv. 
 
 Which she with pity hears, and promises relief. 
 
 The officious nymphs attending in a ring, 
 
 540 With waters drawn from their perpetual spring, 
 
 From earthly dregs his body purify. 
 
 And rub his temples, with fine towels, dry ; 
 
 Then load the tables with a liberal feast. 
 
 And honour with full bowls their friendly guest. 
 
 545 The sacred altars are involved in smoke ; 
 
 And the bright choir their kindred gods invoke. 
 
 Two bowls the mother fills with Lydian wine ; 
 
 Then thus : Let these be poured with rites divine. 
 To the great authors of our watery line — 
 
 550 To father Ocean, this ; and this (she said) 
 
 Be to the nymphs his sacred sisters paid, [shade.” 
 Who rule the watery plains, and hold the woodland 
 She sprinkled thrice, with wine, the Vestal fire, 
 Thrice to the vaulted roofs the flames aspire. 
 
 555 Raised with so blest an omen, she begun. 
 
 With words like these, to cheer her drooping son ; 
 
 “ In the Carpathian bottom, makes abode 
 The shepherd of the seas, a prophet, and a god. 
 
 High o’er the main in watery pomp he rides, 
 
 560 His azure car and finny coursers guides — 
 
 Proteus his name. — To his Pallenian port 
 I see from far the weary god resort. 
 
 Him, not alone, we river gods adore. 
 
 But aged Nereus hearkens to his lore. 
 
 565 With sure foresight, and with unerring doom. 
 
 He sees what is, and was, and is to come. 
 
 This Neptune gave him, when he gave to keep 
 LI is scaly flocks, that graze the watery deep. 
 
 Implore his aid; for Proteus only knows 
 570 The secret cause, and cure, of all thy woes. 
 
 But first the wily wizard must be caught : 
 
 For, unconstrained, he nothing tells for nought; 
 
 Nor is with prayers or bribes, or flattery bought. 
 Surprise him first, and with hard fetters bind ; 
 
 575 Then all his frauds will vanish into wind. 
 
 I will myself conduct thee on thy way ; 
 
 When next the southing sun inflames the day. 
 
V/RGirS GEORGICS. 
 
 433 
 
 BOOK IV.] 
 
 When the dry herbage thirsts for dews in vain, 
 
 And sheep, in shades, avoid the parching plain ; 
 
 Then will I lead thee to his secret seat, 580 
 
 When, weary with his toil, and scorched with heat. 
 
 The wayward sire frequents his cool retreat. 
 
 His eyes with heavy slumber overcast — 
 
 With force invade his limbs, and bind him fast. 
 
 Thus surely bound, yet be not over bold : 585 
 
 The slippery god will try to loose his hold. 
 
 And various forms assume, to cheat thy sight. 
 
 And with vain images of beasts affright ; 
 
 With foamy tusks will seem a bristly boar. 
 
 Or imitate the lion's angry roar : 590 
 
 Break out in crackling flames to shun thy snare. 
 
 Or hiss a dragon, or a tiger stare ; 
 
 Or, with a wile thy caution to betray. 
 
 In fleeting streams attempt to slide away. 
 
 But thou, the more he varies forms, beware 595 
 
 To strain his fetters with a stricter care. 
 
 Till, tiring all his arts, he turns again 
 
 To his true shape, in which he first was seen.’^ 
 
 This said, with nectar she her son anoints. 
 
 Infusing vigour through his mortal joints ; 600 
 
 Down from his head the liquid odours ran : 
 
 He breathed of heaven, and looked above a man. 
 
 Within a mountain's hollow womb there lies 
 A large recess, concealed from human eyes. 
 
 Where heaps of billows, driven by wind and tide, 605 
 In form of war, their watery ranks divide. 
 
 And there, like sentries set, without the mouth abide : 
 
 A station safe for ships, when tempests roar, 
 
 A silent harbour, and a covered- shore. 
 
 Secure within resides the various god, 610 
 
 And draws a rock upon his dark abode. 
 
 Hither with silent steps, secure from sight. 
 
 The goddess guides her son, and turns him from the light : 
 Herself, involved in clouds, precipitates her flight. 
 
 ’Twas noon; the sultry Dog-star from the sky 615 
 Scorched Indian swains ; the rivelled grass was dry ; 
 
 The sun with flaming arrows pierced the flood. 
 
434 
 
 VIRGirS GEORGICS. 
 
 [book IV. 
 
 And, darting to the bottom, baked the mud ; 
 
 When weary Proteus, from the briny waves, 
 
 620 Retired for shelter to his wonted caves. 
 
 His finny flocks about their shepherd play. 
 
 And, rolling round him, spirt the bitter sea. 
 Unwieldily they wallow first in ooze. 
 
 Then in the shady covert seek repose. 
 
 625 Himself, their herdsman, on the middle mount. 
 Takes of his mustered flocks a just account. 
 
 So, seated on a rock, a shepherd^s groom 
 Surveys his evening flocks returning home. 
 
 When lowing calves and bleating lambs from far, 
 
 630 Provoke the prowling wolf to nightly war. 
 
 ' The occasion offers, and the youth complies : 
 
 For scarce the weary god had closed his eyes. 
 
 When, rushing on with shouts, he binds in chains 
 The drowsy prophet, and his limbs constrains. 
 
 635 He, not unmindful of his usual art. 
 
 First in dissembled fire attempts to part : 
 
 Then roaring beasts, and running streams, he tries. 
 And wearies all his miracles of lies : 
 
 But, having shifted every form to ^scape, 
 
 640 Convinced of conquest, he resumed his shape. 
 
 And, thus, at length, in human accent spoke : 
 
 Audacious youth ! what madness could provoke 
 A mortal man to invade a sleeping god } 
 
 What business brought thee to my dark abode 
 645 To this the audacious youth : Thou knowest full well 
 My name and business, god ; nor need I tell. 
 
 No man can Proteus cheat ; but, Proteus, leave 
 Thy fraudful arts, and do not thou deceive. 
 
 Following the gods’ command, I come to implore 
 650 Thy help, my perished people to restore.” 
 
 The seer, who could not yet his wrath assuage. 
 
 Rolled his green eyes, that sparkled with his rage. 
 And gnashed his teeth, and cried, “No vulgar god 
 Pursues thy crimes, nor with a common rod. 
 
 655 Thy great misdeeds have met a due reward ; 
 
 And Orpheus’ dying prayers at length are heard. 
 
 For crimes not his, the lover lost his life. 
 
BOOK IV.] 
 
 VIRGirS GEORGICS. 
 
 435 
 
 And at thy hands requires his murdered wife : 
 
 Nor (if the Fates assist not) canst thou ’scape 
 
 The just revenge of that intended rape. 660 
 
 To shun thy lawless lust, the dying bride, 
 
 Unwary, took along the river’s side. 
 
 Nor at her heels perceived the deadly snake. 
 
 That kept the bank, in covert of the brake. 
 
 But all her fellow-nymphs the mountains tear 665 
 
 With loud laments, and break the yielding air : 
 
 The realms of Mars remurmur all around, 
 
 And echoes to the Athenian shores rebound. 
 
 The unhappy husband, husband now no more. 
 
 Did on his tuneful harp his loss deplore, 670 
 
 And sought his mournful mind with music to restore. 
 
 On thee, dear wife, in deserts all alone. 
 
 He called, sighed, sung : his griefs with day begun. 
 
 Nor were they finished with the setting sun. 
 
 E’en to the dark dominions of the night 675 
 
 He took his way, through forests void of light. 
 
 And dared amidst the trembling ghosts to sing. 
 
 And stood before the inexorable king. 
 
 The infernal troops like passing shadows glide, 
 
 And, listening, crowd the sweet musician’s side — 680 
 
 (Not flocks of birds, when driven by storms or night. 
 Stretch to the forest with so thick a flight) — 
 
 Men, matrons, children, and the unmarried maid. 
 
 The mighty hero’s more majestic shade. 
 
 And youths, on funeral piles before their parents laid. 685 
 All these Cocytus bounds with squalid reeds. 
 
 With muddy ditches, and with deadly weeds ; 
 
 And baleful Styx encompasses around. 
 
 With nine slow circling streams, the unhappy ground. 
 E’en from the depths of hell the damned advance ; 690 
 
 The infernal mansions, nodding, seem to dance ; 
 
 The gaping three-mouthed dog forgets to snarl ; 
 
 The Furies hearken, and their snakes uncurl ; 
 
 Ixion seems no more his pain to feel. 
 
 But leans attentive on his standing wheel. 695 
 
 All dangers past, at length the lovely bride 
 In safety goes, with her melodious guide. 
 
436 VIRGIL'S GEORGICS. [book iv. 
 
 Longing the common light again to share, 
 
 And draw the vital breath of upper air — 
 
 700 He first ; and close behind him followed she ; 
 
 For such was Proserpine’s severe decree — 
 
 When strong desires the impatient youth invade, 
 
 By little caution and much love betrayed : 
 
 A fault, which easy pardon might receive, 
 
 705 Were lovers judges, or could hell forgive : 
 
 For near the confines of ethereal light. 
 
 And longing for the glimmering of a sight. 
 
 The unwary lover cast his eyes behind. 
 
 Forgetful of the law, nor master of his mind. 
 
 710 Straight all his hopes exhaled in empty smoke ; 
 
 And his long toils were forfeit for a look. 
 
 Three flashes of blue lightning gave the sign 
 Of covenants broke ; three peals of thunder join. 
 Then thus the bride : ‘ What fury seized on thee, 
 
 715 Unhappy man ! to lose thyself and me.^ 
 
 Dragged back again by cruel Destinies, 
 
 An iron slumber shuts my swimming eyes. 
 
 And now farewell ! Involved in shades of night, 
 
 For ever I am ravished from thy sight. 
 
 720 In v^in I reach my feeble hands to join 
 In swoet embraces — ah ! no longer thine !’ 
 
 She said : and from his eyes the fleeting fair 
 Retired like subtle smoke dissolved in air. 
 
 And left her hopeless lover in despair. 
 
 725 In vain, with folding arms, the youth essayed 
 To stop her flight, and strain the flying shade: 
 
 He prays ; he raves ; all means in vain he tries. 
 
 With rage inflamed, astonished with surprise ; 
 
 But she returned no more, to bless his longing eyes. 
 730 Nor would the infernal ferryman once more 
 Be bribed to waft him to the farther shore. 
 
 What should he do, who twice had lost his love.^ 
 What notes invent ? what new petitions move 1 
 Her soul already was consigned to fate, 
 
 735 And shivering in the leaky sculler sat. 
 
 For seven continued months, if fame say true. 
 
 The wretched swain his sorrows did renew : 
 
 By Strymon’s freezing streams he sat alone : 
 
VIRGirS GEORGICS. 
 
 437 
 
 BOOK IV.] 
 
 The rocks were moved to pity with his moan : 
 
 Trees bent their heads to hear him sing his wrongs : 740 
 Fierce tigers couched around, and lolled their fawning 
 So, close in poplar shades, her children gone, [tongues. 
 The mother nightingale laments alone, 
 
 Whose nest some prying churl had found, and thence 
 By stealth, conveyed the unfeathered innocence. 745 
 But she supplies the night with mournful strains ; 
 
 And melancholy music fills the plains. 
 
 Sad Orpheus thus his tedious hours employs, 
 
 Averse from Venus, and from nuptial joys. 
 
 Alone he tempts the frozen floods, alone 750 
 
 The unhappy climes, where spring was never known : 
 
 He mourned his wretched wife, in vain restored. 
 
 And Pluto’s unavailing boon deplored. 
 
 The Thracian matrons — who the youth accused 
 
 Of love disdained, and marriage-rites refused — 755 
 
 With furies and nocturnal orgies fired. 
 
 At length against his sacred life conspired. 
 
 Whom e’en the savage beasts had spared, they killed. 
 
 And strewed the mangled limbs about the field. 
 
 Then, when his head, from his fair shoulders torn, 760 
 Washed by the waters, was on Hebrus borne. 
 
 E’en then his trembling tongue invoked his bride ; 
 
 With his last voice, ‘ Eurydice,’ he cried, 
 
 ^ Eurydice,’ the rocks and river-banks replied.” 
 
 This answer Proteus gave ; nor more he said, 765 
 But in the billows plunged his hoary head ; 
 
 And, where he leaped, the waves in circles widely spread. 
 
 The nymph returned, her drooping son to cheer. 
 
 And bade him banish his superfluous fear : 
 
 For now (said she) the cause is known, from whence 770 
 Thy woe succeeded, and for what offence. 
 
 The nymphs, companions of the unhappy maid. 
 
 This punishment upon thy crimes have laid; 
 
 And sent a plague among thy thriving bees. — 
 
 With vows and suppliant prayers their powers appease : 
 The soft Napaean race will soon relent 776 
 
 Their anger, and remit the punishment. 
 
 The secret in an easy method lies ; 
 
 Select four brawny bulls for sacrifice, 
 
VIRGirs GEORGICS. 
 
 [book IV. 
 
 438 
 
 Which on Lycaeus graze without a guide ; 
 
 781 Add four fair heifers yet in yoke untried. 
 
 For these, four altars in their temple rear, 
 
 And then adore the woodland powers with prayer. 
 From the slain victims pour the streaming blood, 
 785 And leave their bodies in the shady wood : 
 
 Nine mornings thence, Lethaean poppy bring. 
 
 To appease the manes of the poeds king. 
 
 And, to propitiate his offended bride, 
 
 A fatted calf and a black ewe provide : 
 
 790 This finished, to the former woods repair.” 
 
 His mother’s precepts he performs with care ; 
 
 The temple visits, and adores with prayer; 
 
 Four altars raises; from his herd he culls. 
 
 For slaughter, four the fairest of his bulls : 
 
 795 Four heifers from his female store he took. 
 
 All fair, and all unknowing of the yoke. 
 
 Nine mornings thence, with sacrifice and prayefs, 
 The powers atoned, he to the grove repairs. 
 
 Behold a prodigy ! for, from within 
 800 The broken bowels and the bloated skin, 
 
 A buzzing noise of bees his ears alarms ; 
 
 Straight issue through the sides assembling swarms. 
 Dark as a cloud, they make a wheeling flight, 
 
 Then on a neighbouring tree, descending, light : 
 
 805 Like a large cluster of black grapes they shew. 
 
 And make a large dependance from the bough. 
 
 Thus have I sung of fields, of flocks, and trees. 
 And of the waxen work of labouring bees : 
 
 While mighty Caesar, thundering from afar, 
 
 810 Seeks on Euphrates’ banks the spoils of war; 
 
 With conquering arts asserts his country’s cause. 
 With arts of peace the willing people draws ; 
 
 On the glad earth the golden age renews. 
 
 And his great father’s path to heaven pursues ; 
 
 815 While I at Naples pass my peaceful days. 
 
 Affecting studies of less noisy praisq ; 
 
 And, bold through youth, beneath the beechen shade? 
 The lays of shepherds, and their loves, have played. 
 
PASTORALS 
 

 
 I 
 
 
PASTORAL I. 
 
 TITYRUS AND MELIBCEUS. 
 
 The occasion of the first Pastoral was this. When Augustus 
 had settled himself in the Roman empire, that he might re- 
 ward his veteran troops for their past service, he distributed 
 among them all the lands that lay about Cremona and Man- 
 tua, turning out the right owners for having sided with his 
 enemies. Virgil was a sufferer among the rest ; who after- 
 ward recovered his estate by Maecenas’ intercession, and, as 
 an instance of his gratitude, composed the following Pastoral, 
 where he sets out his own good fortune in the person of 
 Tityrus, and the calamities of his Mantuan neighbours in the 
 character of Meliboeus. 
 
 M. Beneath the shade which beechen boughs diffuse, 
 You, Tityrus, entertain your sylvan muse. 
 
 Round the wide world in banishment we roam, 
 
 Forced from our pleasing fields and native home ; 
 
 While, stretched at ease, you sing your happy loves, 5 
 And Amaryllis fills the shady groves. 
 
 T. These blessings, friend, a deity bestowe^d 
 For never can I deem him less than god. 
 
 The tender firstlings of my woolly breed 
 
 Shall on his holy altar often bleed. 10 
 
 He gave my kine to graze the flowery plain. 
 
 And to my pipe renewed the rural strain. 
 
 M, I envy not your fortune, but admire, 
 
 That, while the raging sword and wasteful fire 
 Destroy the wretched neighbourhood around, 15 
 
 No hostile arms approach your happy ground. 
 
 Far different is my fate : my feeble goats 
 
442 VlRGins PASTORALS. [i. 
 
 With pains I drive from their forsaken cotes. 
 
 And this, you see, I scarcely drag along, 
 
 20 Who, yeaning, on the rocks has left her young ; 
 
 The hope and promise of my failing fold. 
 
 My loss, my dire portents, the gods foretold ; 
 
 For, had I not been blind, I might have seen : — 
 
 Yon riven oak, the fairest of the green, 
 
 25 And the hoarse raven, on the blasted bough. 
 
 By croaking from the left, presaged the coming blow. 
 But tell me, Tityrus, what heavenly power 
 Preserved your fortunes in that fatal hour? 
 
 T. Fool that I was, I thought imperial Rome 
 30 Like Mantua, where on market-days we come. 
 
 And thither drive our tender lambs from home. 
 
 So kids and whelps their sires and dams express, 
 And so the great I measured by the less. 
 
 But country towns, compared with her, appear 
 35 Like shrubs, when lofty cypresses are near. 
 
 M. What great occasion called you hence to Rome ? 
 T. Freedom, which came at length, though slow to 
 Nor did my search of liberty begin, [come. 
 
 Till my black hairs were changed upon my chin; 
 
 40 Nor Amaryllis would vouchsafe a look. 
 
 Till Galatea^s meaner bonds I broke. 
 
 Till then a helpless, hopeless, homely swain, 
 
 I sought not freedom, nor aspired to gain : 
 
 Though many a victim from my folds was bought, 
 
 45 And many a cheese to country markets brought. 
 
 Yet all the little that I got, I spent. 
 
 And still returned as empty as I went. 
 
 M. We stood amazed to see your mistress mourn. 
 Unknowing that she pined for your return : 
 
 50 We wondered why she kept her fruit so long. 
 
 For whom so late the ungathered apples hung. 
 
 But now the wonder ceases, since 1 see 
 She kept them only, Tityrus, for thee. 
 
 For thee the bubbling springs appeared to mourn, 
 
 55 And whispering pines made vows for thy return. 
 
 T. What should I do ? — While here I was enchained, 
 No glimpse of godlike liberty remained : 
 
VIRGinS PASTORALS. 
 
 443 
 
 I.] 
 
 Nor could I hope, in any place but there, 
 
 To find a god so present to my prayer. 
 
 There first the youth of heavenly birth I viewed, 6o 
 
 For whom our monthly victims are renewed. 
 
 He heard my vows, and graciously decreed 
 My grounds to be restored, my former flocks to feed. 
 
 M. O fortunate old man ! whose farm remains — 
 
 For you sufficient — and requites your pains ; 65 
 
 Though rushes overspread the neighbouring plains. 
 Though here the marshy grounds approach your fields, 
 And there the soil a stony harvest yields. 
 
 Your teeming ewes shall no strange meadows try. 
 
 Nor fear a rot from tainted company. 70 
 
 Behold ! yon bordering fence of sallow-trees 
 Is fraught with flowers ; the flowers are fraught with bees : 
 The busy bees, with a soft murmuring strain, 
 
 Invite to gentle sleep the labouring swain. 
 
 While from the neighbouring rock, with rural songs, 75 
 The pruneFs voice the pleasing dream prolongs, 
 
 Stock doves and turtles tell their amorous pain. 
 
 And, from the lofty elms, of love complain. 
 
 T. The inhabitants of seas and skies shall change. 
 
 And fish on shore, and stags in air, shall range, 80 
 
 The banished Parthian dwell on AraFs brink. 
 
 And the blue German shall the Tigris drink. 
 
 Ere I, forsaking gratitude and truth. 
 
 Forget the figure of that godlike youth. 
 
 M. But we must beg our bread in climes unknown, 85 
 Beneath the scorching or the freezing zone : 
 
 And some to far Oaxis shall be sold. 
 
 Or try the Libyan heat, or Scythian cold ; 
 
 The rest among the Britons be confined : 
 
 A race of men from all the world disjoined. 90 
 
 O ! must the wretched exiles ever mourn. 
 
 Nor, after length of rolling years, return 
 Are we condemned by fate^s unjust decree. 
 
 No more our houses and our homes to see.^ 
 
 Or shall we mount again the rural throne, 95 
 
 And rule the country kingdoms, once our own.^ 
 
 Did we for these barbarians plant and sow? 
 
444 
 
 VIRGinS PASTORALS. 
 
 [I. 
 
 On these, on these, our happy fields bestow? 
 
 Good heaven ! what dire effects from civil discordflow ! 
 loo Now let me graff my pears, and prune the vine ; 
 
 The fruit is theirs, the labour only, mine. 
 
 Farewell, my pastures, my paternal stock. 
 
 My fruitful fields, and my more fruitful flock ! 
 
 No more, my goats, shall I behold you climb 
 105 The steepy cliffs, or crop the flowery thyme! 
 
 No more, extended in the grot below. 
 
 Shall see you browsing on the mountain’s brow 
 The prickly shrubs, and after on the bare. 
 
 Lean down the deep abyss, and hang in air ! 
 
 1 10 No more my sheep shall sip the morning dew; 
 
 No more my song shall please the rural crew : 
 
 Adieu, my tuneful pipe ! and all the world, adieu ! 
 
 T. This night, at least, with me forget your care ; 
 Chestnuts, and curds, and cream, shall be your fare ; 
 1 15 The carpet-ground shall be with leaves o’erspread ; 
 And boughs shall weave a covering for your head. 
 For, see, yon sunny hill the shade extends ; 
 
 And curling smoke from cottages ascends. 
 
PASTORAL IL 
 
 ALEXIS. 
 
 The commentators can by no means agree on the person of Alexis, 
 but are all of opinion that some beautiful youth is meant by 
 him, to whom Virgil here makes love, in Corydon’s language 
 and simplicity. His way of courtship is wholly pastoral : 
 he complains of the boy’s coyness ; recommends himself for 
 his beauty and skill in piping; invites the youth into the 
 country, where he promises him the diversions of the place, 
 with a suitable present of nuts and apples. But when he 
 finds nothing will prevail, he resolves to quit his troublesome 
 amour, and betake himself again to his former business. 
 
 Young Corydon, the unhappy shepherd swain, 
 
 The fair Alexis loved, but loved in vain ; 
 
 And underneath the beechen shade, alone. 
 
 Thus to the woods and mountains made his moan : 
 
 Is this, unkind Alexis, my reward ? 5 
 
 And must I die unpitied, and unheard ? 
 
 Now the green lizard in the grove is laid ; 
 
 The sheep enjoy the coolness of the shade: 
 
 And Thestylis wild thyme and garlic beats. 
 
 For harvest hinds, overspent with toil and heats ; 10 
 
 While in the scorching sun I trace in vain 
 Thy flying footsteps o’er the burning plain. 
 
 The creaking locusts with my voice conspire. 
 
 They fried with heat, and I with fierce desire. 
 
 How much more easy was it to sustain 15 
 
 Proud Amaryllis, and her haughty reign ; 
 
 The scorns of young Menalcas, once my care. 
 
446 
 
 VIRGIL'S PASTORALS. 
 
 [II. 
 
 Though he was black, and thou art heavenly fair ! 
 Trust not too much to that enchanting face : 
 
 20 Beauty ^s a charm ; but soon the charm will pass. 
 White lilies lie neglected on the plain, 
 
 While dusky hyacinths for use remain. 
 
 My passion is thy scorn ; nor wilt thou know 
 What wealth I have, what gifts I can bestow ; 
 
 25 What stores my dairies and my folds contain — 
 
 A thousand lambs that wander on the plain. 
 
 New milk that, all the winter, never fails. 
 
 And, all the summer, overflows the pails. 
 
 Amphion sung not sweeter to his herd, 
 
 30 When summoned stones the Theban turrets reared. 
 Nor am I so deformed; for late I stood 
 Upon the margin of the briny flood : 
 
 The winds were still ; and, if the glass be true. 
 With Daphnis I may vie, though judged by you. 
 
 35 O leave the noisy town : O come and see 
 Our country cots, and live content with me ! 
 
 To wound the flying deer, and from their cotes 
 With me to drive a-field the browsing goats ; 
 
 To pipe and sing, and, in our country strain, 
 
 40 To copy, or perhaps contend with Pan. 
 
 Pan taught to join with wax unequal reeds ; 
 
 Pan loves the shepherds, and their flocks he feeds. 
 Nor scorn the pipe: Amyntas, to be taught. 
 
 With all his kisses would my skill have bought. 
 
 45 Of seven smooth joints a mellow pipe I have. 
 Which with his dying breath Uamoetas gave. 
 
 And said, This Corydon, I leave to thee ; 
 
 For only thou deserv^st it after nie.^’ 
 
 His eyes Amyntas durst not upward lift ; 
 
 50 For much he grudged the praise, but more the gift. 
 Besides, two kids, that in the valley strayed, 
 
 I found by chance, and to my fold conveyed ; 
 
 They drain two bagging udders every day ; 
 
 And these shall be companions of thy play ; 
 
 55 Both flecked with white, the true Arcadian strain 
 Which Thestylis had often begged in vain : 
 
 And she shall have them, if again she sues. 
 
II.] 
 
 VIRGirS PASTORALS. 
 
 447 
 
 Since you the giver and the gift refuse. 
 
 Come to my longing arms, my lovely care ! 
 
 And take the presents which the nymphs prepare. 6o 
 White lilies in full canisters they bring, 
 
 With all the glories of the purple spring. 
 
 The daughters of the flood have searched the mead 
 For violets pale, and cropped the poppy’s head. 
 
 The short narcissus and fair daffodil, 65 
 
 Pansies to please the sight, and cassia sweet to smell : 
 And set soft hyacinths with iron-blue. 
 
 To shade marsh marigolds of shining hue ; 
 
 Some bound in order, others loosely strewed. 
 
 To dress thy bower, and trim thy new abode. 70 
 
 Myself will search our planted grounds at home, 
 
 For downy peaches and the glossy plum: 
 
 And thrash the chestnuts in the neighbouring grove. 
 
 Such as my Amaryllis used to love. 
 
 The laurel and the myrtle sweets agree ; 75 
 
 And both in nosegays shall be bound for thee. 
 
 Ah, Corydon ! ah, poor unhappy swain ! 
 
 Alexis will thy homely gifts disdain ; 
 
 Nor, shouldst thou offer all thy little store. 
 
 Will rich lolas yield, but offer more. 80 
 
 What have I done, to name that wealthy swain ! 
 
 So powerful are his presents, mine so mean ! 
 
 The boar amidst my crystal streams I bring : 
 
 And southern winds to blast my flowery spring. 
 
 Ah, cruel creature! whom dost thou despise? 85 
 
 The gods, to live in woods, have left the skies : 
 
 And godlike Paris, in the Idaean grove. 
 
 To Priam’s wealth preferred CEnone’s love. 
 
 In cities, which she built, let Pallas reign ; 
 
 Towers are for gods, but forests for the swain. 90 
 
 The greedy lioness the wolf pursues. 
 
 The wolf the kid, the wanton kid the browse ; 
 
 Alexis, thou art chased by Corydon : 
 
 All follow several games, and each his own. 
 
 See, from afar the fields no longer smoke ; 95 
 
 The sweating steers, unharnessed from the yoke. 
 
 Bring, as in triumph, back the crooked plough ; 
 
448 
 
 VIRGIL'S PASTORALS. 
 
 [n. 
 
 The shadows lengthen as the sun goes low ; 
 
 Cool breezes now the raging heats remove ; 
 loo Ah ! cruel heaven, that made no cure for love ! 
 
 I wish for balmy sleep, but wish in vain : 
 
 Love has no bounds in pleasure, or in pain. 
 
 What frenzy, shepherd, has thy soul possessed } 
 Thy vineyard lies half-pruned, and half-undressed. 
 105 Quench, Corydon, thy long-unanswered fire, 
 
 Mind what the common wants of life require : 
 
 On willow twigs employ thy weaving care ; 
 
 And find an easier love, though not so fair. 
 
PASTORAL III. 
 
 PAL^MON. 
 
 Menalcas. Damcetas. Pal^mon. 
 
 Damoetas and Menalcas, after some smart strokes of country 
 raillery, resolve to try who has the most skill at song ; and 
 accordingly make their neighbour Palaemon judge of their 
 performances ; who, after a full hearing of both parties, 
 declares himself unfit for the decision of so weighty a con- 
 troversy, and leaves the victory undetermined. 
 
 M. Ho, swain ! what shepherd owns those ragged sheep 
 D. Agon’s they are : he gave them me to keep. 
 
 M, Unhappy sheep of an unhappy swain ! 
 
 While he Neasra courts, but courts in vain. 
 
 And fears that I the damsel shall obtain, 5 
 
 Thou, varlet, dost thy master^s gains devour ; 
 
 Thou milk’st his ewes, and often twice an hour ; 
 
 Of grass and fodder thou defraud’st the dams, 
 
 And of their mother’s dugs the starving lambs. 
 
 D. Good words, young catamite, at least to men. 10 
 We know who did your business, how, and when; 
 
 And in what chapel too you played your prize. 
 
 And what the goats observed with leering eyes : [lies. 
 
 The nymphs were kind, and laughed ; and there your safety 
 M. Yes, when I cropt the hedges of the leas, 15 
 
 Cut Mi con’s tender vines, and stole the stays ! 
 
 D. Or rather, when beneath yon ancient oak. 
 
 The bow of Daphnis, and the shafts, you broke. 
 
 When the fair boy received the gift of right ; 
 
 And, but for mischief, you had died for spite. 20 
 
 M. What nonsense would the fool thy master prate. 
 When thou, his knave, canst talk at such a rate ! 
 
450 VIRGirs PASTORALS. Iiii. 
 
 Did I not see you, rascal, did I not, 
 
 When you lay snug to snap young Damon’s goat ? 
 
 25 His mongrel barked : I ran to his relief. 
 
 And cried, There, there he goes ! stop, stop the thief ! ” 
 Discovered, and defeated of your prey. 
 
 You skulked behind the fence, and sneaked away. 
 
 D. An honest man may freely take his own : 
 
 30 The goat was mine, by singing fairly won. 
 
 A solemn match was made : he lost the prize. 
 
 Ask Damon, ask, if he the debt denies. 
 
 I think he dares not : if he does, he lies. 
 
 M. Thou sing with him.^ thou booby ! Never pipe 
 35 Was so profaned to touch that blubbered lip. 
 
 Dunce at the best ! in streets but scarce allowed 
 To tickle, on thy straw, the stupid crowd. 
 
 D. To bring it to the trial, will you dare 
 Our pipes, our skill, our voices to compare.^ 
 
 40 My brinded heifer to the stake I lay : 
 
 Two thriving calves she suckles twice a day. 
 
 And twice besides her beestings never fail 
 To store the dairy with a brimming pail. 
 
 Now back your singing with an equal stake. 
 
 45 M. That should be seen, if I had one to make. 
 
 You know too well, I feed my father’s flock : 
 
 What can I wager from the common stock? 
 
 A stepdame too I have, a cursed she. 
 
 Who rules my henpecked sire, and orders me. 
 
 50 Both number twice a day the milky dams ; 
 
 And once she takes the tale of all the lambs. 
 
 But, since you will be mad, and since you may 
 Suspect my courage, if I should not lay ; 
 
 The pawn I proffer shall be full as good : 
 
 55 Two bowls I have, well turned, of beechen wood ; 
 Both by divine Alcimedon were made : 
 
 To neither of them yet the lip is laid. 
 
 The lids are ivy : grapes in clusters lurk 
 Beneath the carving of the curious work. 
 
 60 Two figures on the sides embossed appear — 
 
 Conon, and what’s his name who made the spear, 
 And showed the seasons of the sliding year. 
 
VIRGIL'S PASTORALS. 
 
 III.] 
 
 451 
 
 Instructed in his trade the labouring swain, 
 
 And when to reap, and when to sow the grain ? 
 
 D. And I have two, to match your pair, at home ; 65 
 
 The wood the same ; from the same hand they come, 
 (The kimbo handles seem with bear^s-foot carved,) 
 
 And never yet to table have been served ; 
 
 Where Orpheus on his lyre laments his love. 
 
 With beasts encompassed, and a dancing grove. 70 
 
 But these, nor all the proffers you can make. 
 
 Are worth the heifer which I set to stake. 
 
 M. No more delays, vain boaster, but begin ! 
 
 I prophesy beforehand I shall win. 
 
 Palaemon shall be judge how ill you rhyme : 75 
 
 ril teach you how to brag another time. 
 
 D. Rhymer, come on ! and do the worst you can. 
 
 I fear not you, nor yet a better man. 
 
 With silence, neighbour, and attention, wait : 
 
 For ^tis a business of a high debate. 80 
 
 F. Sing, then: the shade affords a proper place; 
 
 The trees are clothed with leaves, the fields with grass ; 
 The blossoms blow ; the birds on bushes sing ; 
 
 And Nature has accomplished all the spring. 
 
 The challenge to Damoetas shall belong; 85 
 
 Menalcas shall sustain his under-song : 
 
 Each in his turn, your tuneful numbers bring : 
 
 By turns the tuneful Muses love to sing. 
 
 D. From the great father of the gods above 
 My muse begins : for all is full of Jove ; 90 
 
 To Jove the care of heaven and earth belongs ; 
 
 My flocks he blesses, and he loves my songs. 
 
 M. Me Phoebus loves ; for he my muse inspires; 
 
 And, in her songs, the warmth he gave, requires. 
 
 For him, the god of shepherds and their sheep, , 95 
 My blushing hyacinths and my bays I keep. 
 
 D. My Phyllis me with pelted apples plies : 
 
 Then tripping to the woods the wanton hies, 
 
 And wishes to be seen before she flies. 
 
 M. But fair Amyntas comes unasked to me, 100 
 
 And offers love, and sits upon my knee : 
 
 Not Delia to my dogs is known so well as he. 
 
452 
 
 VIRGirS PASTORALS. 
 
 [III. 
 
 D. To the dear mistress of my love-sick mind, 
 Her swain a pretty present has designed : 
 
 105 I saw two stock-doves billing, and ere long 
 
 Will take the nest ; and her^s shall be the young. 
 
 M. Ten ruddy wildings in the wood I found. 
 
 And stood on tip-toes, reaching from the ground: 
 
 I sent Amyntas all my present store ; 
 no And will, to-morrow, send as many more. 
 
 D. The lovely maid lay panting in my arms ; 
 
 And all she said and did was full of charms. 
 
 Winds ! on your wings to heaven her accents'bear ; 
 Such words as heaven alone is fit to hear. 
 
 1 15 M. Ah ! what avails it me, my lovers delight. 
 
 To call you mine, when absent from my sight 
 I hold the nets, while you pursue the prey; 
 
 And must not share the dangers of the day. 
 
 D. I keep my birth-day : send my Phyllis home : 
 120 At shearing-time. Tolas, you may come. 
 
 M. With Phyllis I am more in grace than you : 
 Her sorrow did my parting steps pursue : 
 
 ‘‘Adieu, my dear ! (she said) a long adieu !’^ 
 
 D. The nightly wolf is baneful to the fold, 
 
 125 Storms to the wheat, to buds the bitter cold; 
 
 But, from my frowning fair, more ills 1 find. 
 
 Than from the wolves, and storms, and winter wind. 
 
 M. The kids with pleasure browse the bushy^plain ; 
 The showers are grateful to the swelling grain ; 
 
 130 To teeming ewes the sallow’s tender tree ; 
 
 But, more than all the world, my love to me. 
 
 D. Pollio my rural verse vouchsafes to read : 
 
 A heifer. Muses, for your patron breed. 
 
 M. My Pollio writes himself : a bull be bred, 
 
 135 With spurning heels, and with a butting head. 
 
 D. Who Pollio loves, and who his muse admires, 
 Let Pollio’s fortune crown his full desires. 
 
 Let myrrh instead of thorn his fences fill. 
 
 And showers of honey from his oaks distil. 
 
 140 M. Who hates not living Bavins, let him be 
 
 (Dead Msevius !) damned to love thy works and thee ! 
 The same ill taste of sense would serve to join 
 
III.] 
 
 VIRGirS RASTORALS. 
 
 453 
 
 Dog-foxes in the yoke, and shear the swine. 
 
 D. Ye boys, who pluck the flowers, and spoil the spring, 
 Beware the secret snake that shoots a sting. 145 
 
 M. Graze not too near the banks, my jolly sheep : 
 
 The ground is false; the running streams are deep : 
 
 See, they have caught the father of the flock. 
 
 Who dries his fleece upon the neighbouring rock. 
 
 D. From rivers drive the kids, and sling your hook : 
 Anon ril wash them in the shallow brook. 1 5 1 
 
 M. To fold, my flock ! — when milk is dried with heat. 
 In vain the milk-maid tugs an empty teat. 
 
 D. How lank my bulls from plenteous pasture come ! 
 But love, that drains the herd, destroys the groom. 155 
 M. My flocks are free from love, yet look so thin. 
 
 Their bones are barely covered with their skin. 
 
 What magic has bewitched the woolly dams. 
 
 And what ill eyes beheld the tender lambs? 
 
 D. Say, where the round of heaven, which all contains, 
 To three short ells on earth our sight restrains : 161 
 
 Tell that, and rise a Phoebus for thy pains. 
 
 M. Nay, tell me first, in what new region springs 
 A flower, that bears inscribed the names of kings ; 
 
 And thou shalt gain a present as divine 165 
 
 As Phoebus^ self ; for Phyllis shall be thine. 
 
 P. So nice a difference in your singing lies. 
 
 That both have won, or both deserved, the prize. 
 
 Rest equal happy both ; and all who prove 
 
 The bitter sweets, and pleasing pains, of love. 170 
 
 Now dam the ditches, and the floods restrain ; 
 
 Their moisture has already drenched the plain. 
 
PASTORAL IV. 
 
 POLLIO. 
 
 The poet celebrates the birth-day of Saloninus, the son of Pollio, 
 born in the consulship of his father, after the taking of 
 Salonae, a city in Dalmatia. Many of the verses are trans- 
 lated from one of the Sibyls, who prophesied of our Saviour’s 
 birth. 
 
 Sicilian muse, begin a loftier strain ! 
 
 Though lowly shrubs, and trees that shade the plain. 
 Delight not all ; Sicilian muse, prepare 
 To make the vocal woods deserve a consul’s care. 
 
 5 The last great age, foretold by sacred rhymes, 
 Renews its finished course : Saturnian times 
 Roll round again ; and mighty years, begun 
 From their first orb, in radiant circles run. 
 
 The base degenerate iron offspring ends ; 
 lo A golden progeny from heaven descends. 
 
 O chaste Lucina ! speed the mother’s pains ; 
 
 And haste the glorious birth ! thy own Apollo reigns ! 
 The lovely boy, with his auspicious face. 
 
 Shall Pollio’s consulship and triumph grace : 
 
 15 Majestic months set out with him to their appointed 
 The father banished virtue shall restore ; [race. 
 
 And crimes shall threat the guilty world no more. 
 
 The son shall lead the life of gods, and be 
 By gods and heroes seen, and gods and heroes see. 
 
 20 The jarring nations he in peace shall bind, 
 
 And with paternal virtues rule mankind. 
 
 Unbidden earth shall wreathing ivy bring, 
 
IV.] 
 
 VIRGirS PASTORALS. 
 
 * 455 
 
 And fragrant herbs (the promises of spring), 
 
 As her first offerings to her infant king. 
 
 The goats with strutting dugs shall homeward speed, 25 
 And lowing herds secure from lions, feed. 
 
 His cradle shall with rising flowers be crowned : 
 
 The serpent^s brood shall die ; the sacred ground 
 Shall weeds and poisonous plants refuse to bear; 
 
 Each common bush shall Syrian roses wear. 30 
 
 But when heroic verse his youth shall raise. 
 
 And form it to hereditary praise. 
 
 Unlaboured harvests shall the fields adorn. 
 
 And clustered grapes shall blush on every thorn ; 
 
 The knotted oaks shall showers of honey weep, 35 
 
 And through the matted grass the liquid gold shall creep. 
 Yet, of old fraud some footsteps shall remain : 
 
 The merchant still shall plough the deep for gain ; 
 
 Great cities shall with walls be compassed round; 
 
 And sharpened shares shall vex the fruitful ground ; 40 
 
 Another Tiphys shall new seas explore; 
 
 Another Argo land the chiefs upon the Iberian shore ; 
 Another Helen other wars create, 
 
 And great Achilles urge the Trojan fate. 
 
 But when to ripened manhood he shall grow, 45 
 
 The greedy sailor shall the seas forego : 
 
 No keel shall the cut waves for foreign ware ; 
 
 For every soil shall every product bear. 
 
 The labouring hind his oxen shall disjoin ; 
 
 No plough shall hurt the glebe, nor pruning hook the vine ; 
 Nor wool shall in dissembled colours shine ; 51 
 
 But the luxurious father of the fold. 
 
 With native purple and unborrowed gold. 
 
 Beneath his pompous fleece shall proudly sweat ; 
 
 And under Tyrian robes the lamb shall bleat. 55 
 
 The Fates, when they this happy web have spun. 
 
 Shall bless the sacred clue, and bid it smoothly run. 
 Mature in years, to ready honours move, 
 
 O of celestial seed! O foster-son of Jove! 
 
 See, labouring Nature calls thee to sustain 60 
 
 The nodding frame of heaven, and earth, and main ! 
 
 See to their base restored, earth, seas, and air ; 
 
VIRGIL'S PASTORALS. 
 
 456 
 
 [IV. 
 
 And joyful ages, from behind, in crowding ranks appear. 
 To sing thy praise, would heaven my breath prolong, 
 65 Infusing spirits worthy such a song. 
 
 Not Thracian Orpheus should transcend my lays. 
 Nor Linus crowned with never-fading bays; 
 
 Though each his heavenly parent should inspire ; 
 The muse instruct the voice, and Phoebus tune the lyre. 
 70 Should Pan contend in verse, and thou my theme, 
 Arcadian judges should their god condemn. 
 
 Begin, auspicious boy! to cast about 
 Thy infant eyes, and, with a smile, thy mother single out. 
 Thy mother well deserves that short delight, [requite. 
 75 The nauseous qualms of ten long months and travail to 
 Then smile ! the frowning infant’s doom is read 
 N o god shall crown theboard, nor goddess bless the bed. 
 
PASTORAL V. 
 
 DAPHNIS. 
 
 Menalcas. Mopsus. 
 
 Mopsus and Menalcas, two very expert shepherds at a song, 
 begin one, by consent, to the memory of Daphnis, who is 
 supposed by the best critics to represent Julius Caesar. 
 Mopsus laments his death ; Menalcas proclaims his divinity ; 
 the whole eclogue consisting of an elegy and an apotheosis. 
 
 Men, Since on the downs our flocks together feed, 
 And since my voice can match your tuneful reed, 
 
 Why sit we not beneath the grateful shade, 
 
 Which hazels, intermixed with elms, have made ? 
 
 Mop. Whether you please that sylvan scene to take, 5 
 Where whistling winds uncertain shadows make ; 
 
 Or will you to the cooler cave succeed. 
 
 Whose mouth the curling vines have overspread ? 
 
 Men. Your merit and your years command the choice: 
 Amyntas only rivals you in voice. 10 
 
 Mop. What will not that presuming shepherd dare. 
 Who thinks his voice with Phoebus may compare ? 
 
 Men. Begin you first ; if either Alcon^s praise. 
 
 Or dying Phyllis, have inspired your lays : 
 
 If her you mourn, or Codrus you commend, 15 
 
 Begin ; and Tityrus your flock shall tend. 
 
 Mop. Or shall I rather the sad verse repeat. 
 
 Which on the beech’s bark I lately writ ? 
 
 I writ, and sung betwixt. Now bring the swain 
 Whose voice you boast, and let him try the strain. 20 
 Men. Such as the shrub to the tall olive shows. 
 
 Or the pale sallow to the blushing rose : 
 
 Such is his voice, if I can judge aright. 
 
 Compared to thine, in sweetness and in height. 
 
 Mop. No more, but sit and hear the promised lay : 25 
 
 The gloomy grotto makes a doubtful day. 
 
 The nymphs about the breathless body wait 
 
VIRGirS PASTORALS. 
 
 [V. 
 
 458 
 
 Of Daphnis, and lament his cruel fate. 
 
 The trees and floods were witness to their tears : 
 
 30 At length the rumour reached his mother^s ears. 
 
 The wretched parent, with a pious haste, 
 
 Came running, and his lifeless limbs embraced. 
 
 She sighed, she sobbed ; and, furious with despair, 
 She rent her garments, and she tore her hair, 
 
 35 Accusing all the gods, and every star. 
 
 The swains forgot their sheep, nor near the brink 
 Of running waters brought their herds to drink. 
 
 The thirsty cattle, of themselves, abstained 
 From water, and their grassy fare disdained. 
 
 40 The death of Daphnis, woods and hills deplore ; 
 They cast the sound to Libyans desert shore ; 
 
 The Libyan lions hear, and hearing roar. 
 
 Fierce tigers Daphnis taught the yoke to bear. 
 
 And first Avith curling ivy dressed the spear. 
 
 45 Daphnis did rites to Bacchus first ordain. 
 
 And holy revels for his reeling train. 
 
 As vines the trees, as grapes the vines adorn. 
 
 As bulls the herds, and fields the yellow corn : 
 
 So bright a splendour, so divine a grace, 
 
 50 The glorious Daphnis cast on his illustrious race. 
 When envious Fate the godlike Daphnis took. 
 
 Our guardian gods the fields and plains forsook ; 
 Pales no longer swelled the teeming grain. 
 
 Nor Phoebus fed his oxen on the plain ; 
 
 55 No fruitful crop the sickly fields return ; 
 
 But oats and darnel choke the rising corn. 
 
 And where the vales with violets once were crowned, 
 Now knotty burrs and thorns disgrace the ground. 
 Come, shepherds, come, and strew with leaves the plain : 
 60 Such funeral rites your Daphnis did ordain. 
 
 With cypress boughs the crystal fountains hide. 
 
 And softly let the running waters glide. 
 
 A lasting monument to Daphnis raise. 
 
 With this inscription to record his praise : 
 
 65 ‘‘ Daphnis, the fields^ delight, the shepherds’ love, 
 
 Renowned on earth, and deified above ; 
 
 Whose flock excelled the fairest on the plains, 
 
V.] 
 
 VIRGirS PASTORALS. 
 
 459 
 
 But less than he himself surpassed the swains/^ 
 
 Men. O heavenly poet ! such thy verse appears, 
 
 So sweet, so charming to my ravished ears, 70 
 
 As to the weary swain, with cares opprest. 
 
 Beneath the sylvan shade, refreshing rest ; 
 
 As to the feverish traveller, when first 
 He finds a crystal stream to quench his thirst. 
 
 In singing, as in piping, you excel ; 75 
 
 And scarce your master could perform so well. 
 
 O fortunate young man ! at least your lays 
 Are next to his, and claim the second praise. 
 
 Such as they are, my rural songs I join. 
 
 To raise our Daphnis to the powers divine; 80 
 
 For Daphnis was so good, to love whatever was mine. 
 
 Mop. How is my soul with such a promise raised ; 
 
 For both the boy was worthy to be praised, 
 
 And Stimicon has often made me long 
 To hear, like him, so soft, so sweet a song. 85 
 
 Men. Daphnis, the guest of heaven, with wondering eyes 
 Views, in the milky way, the starry skies. 
 
 And far beneath him, from the shining sphere. 
 
 Beholds the moving clouds, and rolling year. 
 
 For this, with cheerful cries the woods resound ; 90 
 
 The purple spring arrays the various ground ; 
 
 The nymphs and shepherds dance ; and Pan himself is 
 The wolf no longer prowls for nightly spoils, [crowned. 
 Nor birds the springes fear, nor stags the toils ; 
 
 For Daphnis reigns above, and deals from thence 95 
 His mother’s milder beams, and peaceful influence. 
 
 The mountain-tops unshorn, the rocks, rejoice; 
 
 The lowly shrubs partake of human voice. 
 
 Assenting nature, with a gracious nod, 
 
 Proclaims him, and salutes the new-admitted god. 100 
 Be still propitious, ever good to thine ! 
 
 Behold ! four hallowed altars we design ; 
 
 And two to thee, and two to Phoebus rise ; 
 
 On both is offered annual sacrifice. 
 
 The holy priests, at each returning year, 105 
 
 Two bowls of milk, and two of oil, shall bear; 
 
 And I myself the guest with friendly bowls will cheer. 
 
460 
 
 VIRGirS PASTORALS, 
 
 [V. 
 
 Two goblets will I crown with sparkling wine, 
 
 The generous vintage of the Chian vine ; 
 no These will I pour to thee, and make the nectar thine. 
 In winter shall the genial feast be made 
 Before the fire ; by summer, in the shade. 
 
 Damoetas shall perform the rites divine ; 
 
 And Lyctian ^gon in the song shall join. 
 
 I r 5 Alphesiboeus tripping shall advance. 
 
 And mimic satyrs in his antic dance. 
 
 When to the nymphs our annual rites we pay. 
 
 And when our fields with victims we survey : 
 
 While savage boars delight in shady woods, 
 
 120 And finny fish inhabit in the floods : 
 
 While bees on thyme, and locusts feed on dew ; 
 
 Thy grateful swains these honours shall renew. 
 
 Such honours as we pay to powers divine. 
 
 To Bacchus and to Ceres, shall be thine. 
 
 1 25 Such annual honours shall be given ; and thou [vow. 
 Shalt hear, and shalt condemn thy suppliants to their 
 MoJ}. What present, worth thy verse, can Mopsus find.^ 
 Not the soft whispers of the southern wind. 
 
 That play through trembling trees, delight me more ; 
 130 Nor murmuring billows on the sounding shore ; 
 
 Nor winding streams, that through the valley glide. 
 And the scarce-covered pebbles gently chide. 
 
 Men. Receive you first this tuneful pipe, the same 
 That played rny Corydon^s unhappy flame ; 
 
 135 The same that sung Neaera^s conquering eyes, 
 
 And, had the judge been just, had won the prize. 
 
 Mop. Accept from me this sheep-hook in exchange ; 
 The handle brass ; the knobs in equal range. 
 Antigenes, with kisses often tried 
 140 To beg this present in his beauty’s pride. 
 
 When youth and love are hard to be denied. 
 
 But what I could refuse to his request. 
 
 Is yours unasked ; for you deserve it best. 
 
PASTORAL VI. 
 
 SILENUS. 
 
 Two young shepherds, Chromis and Mnasylus, having been often 
 promised a song by Sileniis, chance to catch him asleep in 
 this Pastoral ; where they bind him hand and foot, and then 
 claim his promise. Sileniis, finding they v/ould be put off 
 no longer, begins his song, in which he describes the forma- 
 tion of the universe, and the original of animals, according 
 to the Epicurean philosophy ; and then runs through the 
 most surprising transformations which have happened in 
 Nature since her birth. This Pastoral was designed as a 
 compliment to Syron the Epicurean, who instructed Virgil 
 and Varus in the principles of that philosophy. Silenus acts 
 as tutor, Chromis and Mnasylus as the two pupils. 
 
 I FIRST transferred to Rome Sicilian strains : 
 
 Nor blushed the Doric Muse to dwell on Mantuan plains. 
 But when I tried her tender voice, too young, 
 
 And fighting kings and bloody battles sung, 
 
 Apollo checked my pride, and bade me feed 5 
 
 My fattening flocks, nor dare beyond the reed. 
 Admonished thus, while every pen prepares 
 To write thy praises, Varus, and thy wars. 
 
 My pastoral muse her humble tribute brings ; 
 
 And yet not wholly uninspired she sings ; 10 
 
 For all who read, and, reading, not disdain 
 These rural poems, and their lowly strain. 
 
 The name of Varus oft inscribed shall see 
 In every grove, and every vocal tree; 
 
 And all the sylvan reign shall sing of thee : 15 
 
 Thy name, to Phoebus and the muses known. 
 
 Shall in the front of every page be shown ; 
 
462 
 
 VIRGirS PASTORALS. 
 
 [VI. 
 
 For he who sings thy praise secures his own. 
 Proceed, my muse ! — Two satyrs, on the ground, 
 
 20 Stretched at his ease, their sire Silenus found. 
 Dosed with his fumes, and heavy with his load. 
 They found him snoring in his dark abode. 
 
 And seized with youthful arms the drunken god. 
 
 His rosy wreath was dropt not long before, 
 
 25 Borne by the tide of wine, and floating on the floor. 
 His empty can, with ears half worn away. 
 
 Was hung on high, to boast the triumph of the day. 
 Invaded thus, for want of better bands. 
 
 His garland they unstring, and bind his hands : 
 
 30 F or, by the fraudful god deluded long. 
 
 They now resolve to have their promised song. 
 JEgle came in, to make their party good. 
 
 The fairest Nais of the neighbouring flood; 
 
 And, while he stares around with stupid eyes, 
 
 35 His brows with berries, and his temples, dyes. 
 
 He finds the fraud, and, with a smile, demands 
 On what design the boys had bound his hands. 
 
 Loose me, (he cried :) kwas impudence to find 
 A sleeping god ; kis sacrilege to bind. 
 
 40 To you the promised poem I will pay ; 
 
 The nymph shall be rewarded in her way.” 
 
 He raised his voice ; and soon a numerous throng 
 Of tripping satyrs crowded to the song ; 
 
 And sylvan fauns, and savage beasts, advanced ; 
 
 45 And nodding forests to the numbers danced. 
 
 Not by Haemonian hills the Thracian bard, 
 
 Nor awful Phoebus, was on Pindus heard 
 With deeper silence or with more regard. 
 
 He sung the secret seeds of naturek frame ; 
 
 50 How seas, and earth, and air, and active flame, 
 
 Fell through the mighty void, and, in their fall, 
 Were blindly gathered in this goodly ball. 
 
 The tender soil then, stiffening by degrees, 
 
 Shut from the bounded earth the bounding seas. 
 
 55 Then earth and ocean various forms disclose ; 
 
 And a new sun to the new world arose ; 
 
 And mists, condensed to clouds, obscure the sky ; 
 
VI.] 
 
 VIRGirS PASTORALS. 
 
 463 
 
 And clouds, dissolved, the thirsty ground supply. 
 
 The rising trees the lofty mountains grace : 
 
 The lofty mountains feed the savage race, 60 
 
 Yet few, and strangers, in the unpeopled place. 
 
 From thence the birth of man the song pursued, 
 
 And how the world was lost, and how renewed : 
 
 The reign of Saturn, and the golden age ; 
 
 Prometheus^ theft, and Jove’s avenging rage : 65 
 
 The cries of Argonauts for Hylas drowned. 
 
 With whose repeated name the shores resound ; 
 
 Then mourns the madness of the Cretan queen : 
 
 Happy for her, if herds had never been. 
 
 What fury, wretched woman, seized thy breast ? 70 
 
 The maids of Argos (though with rage possessed. 
 
 Their imitated lowings filled the grove) 
 
 Yet shunned the guilt of thy preposterous love. 
 
 Nor sought the youthful husband of the herd. 
 
 Though labouring yokes on their own necks they feared, 75 
 And felt for budding horns on their smooth foreheads reared. 
 Ah, wretched queen ! you range the pathless wood. 
 
 While on a flowery bank he chews the cud. 
 
 Or sleeps in shades, or through the forest roves, 
 
 And roars with anguish for his absent loves. 80 
 
 ‘‘Ye nymphs, with toils his forest-walk surround, 
 
 And trace his wandering footsteps on the ground. 
 
 But ah ! perhaps my passion he disdains. 
 
 And courts the milky mothers of the plains. 
 
 We search the ungrateful fugitive abroad, 85 
 
 While they at home sustain his happy load.” 
 
 He sung the lover’s fraud ; the longing maid. 
 
 With golden fruit, like all the sex, betrayed ; 
 
 The sisters mourning for their brother’s loss ; 
 
 Their bodies hid in bark, and furred with moss : 90 
 
 How each a rising alder now appears. 
 
 And o’er the Po distils her gummy tears : 
 
 Then sung, how Gallus, by a muse’s hand. 
 
 Was led and welcomed to the sacred strand ; 
 
 The senate rising to salute their guest ; 95 
 
 And Linus thus their gratitude expressed : 
 
 “ Receive this present, by the muses made. 
 
464 
 
 VlRGinS PASTORALS. 
 
 [VI. 
 
 The pipe on which the Ascraean pastor played ; 
 With which of old he charmed the savage train, 
 
 100 And called the mountain ashes to the plain. 
 
 Sing thou, on this, thy Phoebus ; and the wood 
 Where once his fane of Parian marble stood : 
 
 On this his ancient oracles rehearse ; 
 
 And with new numbers grace the god of verse.” 
 
 105 Why should I sing the double Scylla^s fate ? 
 
 The first by love transformed, the last by hate — 
 
 A beauteous maid above ; but magic arts 
 With barking dogs deformed her nether parts; 
 
 What vengeance on the passing fleet she poured, 
 
 1 10 The master frighted and the mates devoured. 
 
 Then ravished Philomel the song exprest ; 
 
 The crime revealed ; the sisters’ cruel feast ; 
 
 And how in fields the lapwing Tereus reigns. 
 
 The warbling nightingale in woods complains ; 
 
 1 1 5 While Procne makes on chimney-tops her moan ; 
 And hovers o’er the palace once her own. 
 
 Whatever songs besides the Delphian god 
 Had taught the laurels, and the Spartan flood, 
 Silenus sung : the vales his voice rebound, 
 
 120 And carry to the skies the sacred sound. 
 
 And now the setting sun had warned the swain 
 To call his counted cattle from the plain ; 
 
 Yet still the unwearied sire pursues the tuneful strain. 
 Till, unperceived, the heavens with stars were hung, 
 125 And sudden night surprised the yet unfinished song. 
 
PASTORAL VII. 
 
 MELIBCEUS. 
 
 Melibceus. Corydon. Thyrsis. 
 
 Meliboeus here gives us the relation of a sharp poetical contest 
 between Thyrsis and Corydon, at which he himself and 
 Daphnis were present ; who both declared for Corydon. 
 
 M. Beneath a holm, repaired two jolly swains 
 (Their sheep and goats together grazed the plains), 
 
 Both young Arcadians, both alike inspired 
 To sing, and answer as the song required. 
 
 Daphnis, as umpire, took the middle seat ; 5 
 
 And fortune thither led my weary feet. 
 
 For, while I fenced my myrtles from the cold, 
 
 The father of my flock had wandered from the fold. 
 
 Of Daphnis I inquired : he smiling said. 
 
 Dismiss your fear,^^ and pointed where he fed : 10 
 
 “ And, if no greater cares disturb your mind. 
 
 Sit here with us, in covert of the wind. 
 
 Your lowing heifers, of their own accord. 
 
 At watering time will seek the neighbouring ford. 
 
 Here wanton Mincius winds along the meads, 15 
 
 And shades his happy banks with bending reeds. 
 
 And see, from yon old oak that mates the skies, 
 
 How black the clouds of swarming bees arise.’^ 
 
 What should I do ? nor was Alcippe nigh, 
 
 Nor absent Phyllis could my care supply, 20 
 
 To house, and feed by hand, my weaning lambs. 
 
 And drain the strutting udders of their dams. 
 
 2 G 
 
466 
 
 VIRGirs PASTORALS. 
 
 [vii. 
 
 Great was the strife betwixt the singing swains : 
 
 And I preferred my pleasure to my gains. 
 
 25 Alternate rhyme the ready champions chose : 
 
 These Corydon rehearsed and Thyrsis those. 
 
 C Ye muses, ever fair, and ever young. 
 
 Assist my numbers, and inspire my song. 
 
 With all my Codrus, O ! inspire my breast ; 
 
 30 For Codrus, after Phoebus, sings the best. 
 
 Or, if my wishes have presumed too high. 
 
 And stretched their bounds beyond mortality, 
 
 The praise of artful numbers I resign. 
 
 And hang my pipe upon the sacred pine. 
 
 35 T. Arcadian swains, your youthful poet crown 
 With ivy-wreaths ; though surly Codrus frown. 
 
 Or, if he blast my muse with envious praise, 
 
 Then fence my brows with amulets of bays. 
 
 Lest his ill arts or his malicious tongue 
 40 Should poison or bewitch my growing song. 
 
 C. These branches of a stag, this tusky boar 
 (The first essay of arms untried before). 
 
 Young Micon offers, Delia, to thy shrine. 
 
 But speed his hunting with thy power divine ; 
 
 45 Thy statue then of Parian stone shall stand ; 
 
 Thy legs in buskins with a purple band. 
 
 T. This bowl of milk, these cakes (our country fare). 
 For thee, Priapus, yearly we prepare, 
 
 Because a little garden is thy care. 
 
 50 But, if the falling lambs increase my fold. 
 
 Thy marble statue shall be turned to gold. 
 
 C. Fair Galatea, with thy silver feet, 
 
 O, whiter than the swan, and more than Hybla sweet ! 
 Tall as a poplar, taper as the bole ! 
 
 55 Come, charm thy shepherd, and restore my soul. > 
 Come, when my lated sheep at night return ; 
 
 And crown the silent hours, and stop the rosy morn. 
 
 T. May I become as abject in thy sight. 
 
 As sea- weed on the shore, and black as night ; 
 
 60 Rough as a burr, deformed like him who chaws 
 Sardinian herbage to contract his jaws ; 
 
 Such and so monstrous let thy swain appear, 
 
VIRGIL'S. PASTORALS. 
 
 467 
 
 VII.] 
 
 If one day’s absence looks not like a year. 
 
 Hence from the field, for shame ! the flock deserves 
 No better feeding, while the shepherd starves. 65 
 
 C. Ye mossy springs, inviting easy sleep. 
 
 Ye trees whose leafy shades those mossy fountains keep, 
 Defend my flock ! The summer heats are near, 
 
 And blossoms on the swelling vines appear. 
 
 Ti With heapy fires our cheerful hearth is crowned; 70 
 And firs for torches in the woods abound : 
 
 We fear not more the winds, and wintry cold. 
 
 Than streams the banks, or wolves the bleating fold. 
 
 C. Our woods with juniper and chestnuts crowned. 
 With falling fruits and berries paint the ground; 75 
 
 And lavish nature laughs, and strews her stores around. 
 But, if Alexis from our mountains fly. 
 
 E’en running rivers leave their channels dry. 
 
 T. Parched are the plains, and frying is the field. 
 
 Nor withering vines their juicy vintage yield. 80 
 
 But, if returning Phyllis bless the plain. 
 
 The grass revives ; the woods are green again ; 
 
 And Jove descends in showers of kindly rain. 
 
 C. The poplar is by great Alcides worn ; 
 
 The brows of Phoebus his own bays adorn ; 85 
 
 The branching vine the jolly Bacchus loves; 
 
 The Cyprian queen delights in myrtle groves ; 
 
 With hazel Phyllis crowns her flowing hair; 
 
 And, while she loves that common wreath to wear, 
 
 Nor bays, nor myrtle boughs, with hazel shall compare. 90 
 T, The towering ash is fairest in the woods; 
 
 In gardens pines, and poplars by the floods; 
 
 But, if my Lycidas will ease my pains. 
 
 And often visit our forsaken plains. 
 
 To him the towering ash shall yield in woods, 95 
 
 In gardens pines, and poplars by the floods. 
 
 M, These rhymes I did to memory commend, 
 
 When vanquished Thyrsis did in vain contend ; 
 
 Since when, ’tis Corydon among the swains ; 
 
 Young Corydon without a rival reigns. 100 
 
PASTORAL VIIL 
 
 PHARMACEUTRIA. 
 
 This Pastoral contains the songs of Damon and Alphesiboeus. 
 The first of them bewails the loss of his mistress, and re- 
 pines at the success of his rival Mopsus. The other repeats 
 the charms of some enchantress, who endeavoured by her 
 spells and magic to make Daphnis in love with her. 
 
 The mournful muse of two despairing swains, 
 
 The love rejected, and the lovePs pains ; 
 
 To which the savage lynxes listening stood ; [flood ; 
 The rivers stood on heaps, and stopped the running 
 5 The hungry herd their needful food refuse — 
 
 Of two despairing swains, I sing the mournful muse. 
 
 Great Pollio ! thou, for whom thy Rome prepares 
 The ready triumph of thy finished wars, 
 
 Whether Timavus or the Illyrian coast, 
 lo Whatever land or sea thy presence boast : 
 
 Is there an hour in fate reserved for me, 
 
 To sing thy deeds in numbers worthy thee.^ 
 
 In numbers like to thine, could I rehearse 
 Thy lofty tragic scenes, thy laboured verse ; 
 
 15 The world another Sophocles in thee. 
 
 Another Homer should behold in me. 
 
 Amidst thy laurels let this ivy twine : 
 
 Thine was my earliest muse ; my latest shall be thine. 
 Scarce from the world the shades of night withdrew, 
 20 Scarce were the flocks refreshed with morning dew, 
 When Damon, stretched beneath an olive shade. 
 
 And wildly staring upwards, thus inveighed 
 
VIRGIVS PASTORALS, 
 
 VIII.] 
 
 469 
 
 Against the conscious gods, and cursed the cruel maid : 
 
 ‘‘ St^ir of the morning, why dost thou delay ? 
 
 Come, Lucifer, drive on the lagging day, 25 
 
 While I my Nisa’s perjured faith deplore — 
 
 Witness, ye powers, by whom she falsely swore ! 
 
 The gods, alas ! are witnesses in vain : 
 
 Yet shall my dying breath to heaven complain. 
 
 Begin with me, my flute, the sweet Maenalian strain. 30 
 The pines of Masnalus, the vocal grove. 
 
 Are ever full of verse, and full of love ; 
 
 They hear the hinds, they hear their god complain, 
 
 Who suffered not the reeds to rise in vain. 
 
 Begin with me, my flute, the sweet Msenalian strain. 35 
 Mopsus triumphs : he weds the willing fair ! 
 
 When such is Nisa^s choice, what lover can despair? 
 
 Now griffons join with mares; another age 
 Shall see the hound and hind their thirst assuage. 
 Promiscuous at the spring. Prepare the lights, 40 
 
 0 Mopsus! and perform the bridal rites. 
 
 Scatter thy nuts among the scrambling boys : 
 
 Thine is the night, and thine the nuptial joys. 
 
 For thee the sun declines : O happy swain 1 
 
 Begin with me, my flute, the sweet Maenalian strain. 45 
 
 0 Nisa 1 justly to thy choice condemned ! 
 
 Whom hast thou taken, whom hast thou contemned ? 
 
 For him thou hast refused my browsing herd. 
 
 Scorned my thick eyebrows and my shaggy beard. 
 Unhappy Damon sighs and sings in vain, 50 
 
 While Nisa thmks no god regards a lovePs pain. 
 
 Begin with me, my flute, the sweet Maenalian strain. 
 
 1 viewed thee first (how fatal was the view !) 
 
 And led thee where the ruddy wildings grew. 
 
 High on the planted hedge, and wet with morning dew. 55 
 Then scarce the bending branches I could win ; 
 
 The callow down began to clothe my chin. 
 
 1 saw ; I perished ; yet indulged my pain. 
 
 Begin with me, my flute, the sweet Maenalian strain. 
 
 I know thee. Love ! in deserts thou wert bred. 
 
 And at the dugs of savage tigers fed ; 
 
 Alien of birth, usurper of the plains ! 
 
 60 
 
470 VIRGJVS PASTORALS. [viii. 
 
 Begin with me, my flute, the sweet Msenalian strains. 
 Relentless Love the cruel mother led 
 65 The blood of her unhappy babes to shed : 
 
 Love lent the sword ; the mother struck the blow ; 
 Inhuman she; but more inhuman thou : 
 
 Alien of birth, usurper of the plains ! 
 
 Begin with me, my flute, the sweet Maenalian strains. 
 70 Old doting nature, change thy course anew ; 
 
 And let the trembling lamb the wolf pursue : 
 
 Let oaks now glitter with Hesperian fruit. 
 
 And purple daffodils from alder shoot ; 
 
 Fat amber let the tamarisk distil, 
 
 75 And hooting owls contend with swans in skill; 
 Hoarse Tityrus strive with Orpheus in the woods, 
 And challenge famed Arion on the floods. 
 
 Or, oh 1 let nature cease, and chaos reign ! 
 
 Begin with me, my flute, the sweet Maenalian strain. 
 80 Let earth be sea ; and let the whelming tide 
 The lifeless limbs of luckless Damon hide : 
 
 Farewell, ye secret woods, and shady groves, 
 
 Haunts of my youth, and conscious of my loves ! 
 From yon high cliff I plunge into the main : 
 
 85 Take the last present of thy dying swain : 
 
 And cease, my silent flute, the sweet Maenalian strain.’^ 
 Now take your turns, ye muses, to rehearse 
 His friend’s complaints, and mighty magic verse. 
 
 “ Bring running water : bind those altars round 
 90 With fillets, and with vervain strew the ground: 
 Make fat with frankincense the sacred fires. 
 
 To reinflame my Daphnis with desires. 
 
 ’Tis done; we want but verse. Restore, my charms. 
 My lingering Daphnis to my longing arms. 
 
 95 Pale Phoebe, drawn by verse, from heaven descends ; 
 And Circe changed with charms Ulysses’ friends. 
 Verse breaks the ground, and penetrates the brake. 
 And in the winding cavern splits the snake. 
 
 Verse fires the frozen veins. Restore, my charms, 
 100 My lingering Daphnis to my longing arms. 
 
 Around his waxen image first I wind 
 Three woollen fillets, of three colours joined ; 
 
VIII.] 
 
 VIRGirs PASTORALS. 
 
 471 
 
 Thrice bind about his thrice-devoted head, 
 
 Which round the sacred altar thrice is led. 
 
 Unequal numbers please the gods. My charms, 105 
 Restore my Daphnis to my longing arms. 
 
 Knit with three knots the fillets : knit them strait : 
 Then say, ‘These knots to Love I consecrate V 
 Haste, Amaryllis, haste ! Restore, my charms. 
 
 My lovely Daphnis to my longing arms. no 
 
 As fire this figure hardens, made of clay. 
 
 And this of wax with fire consumes away; 
 
 Such let the soul of cruel Daphnis be — 
 
 Hard to the rest of women, soft to me. 
 
 Crumble the sacred mole of salt and corn : 1 1 5 
 
 Next in the fire the bays with brimstone burn: 
 
 And, while it crackles in the sulphur, say, 
 
 ‘ This I for Daphnis burn ; thus Daphnis burn away ! 
 This laurel is his fate.^ Restore, my charms. 
 
 My lovely Daphnis to my longing arms. 120 
 
 As when the raging heifer, through the grove. 
 
 Stung with desire, pursues her wandering love; 
 
 Faint at the last, she seeks the weedy pools. 
 
 To quench her thirst, and on the rushes rolls. 
 
 Careless of night, unmindful to return; 125 
 
 Such fruitless fires perfidious Daphnis burn. 
 
 While I so scorn his love ! Restore, my charms. 
 
 My lingering Daphnis to my longing arms. 
 
 These garments once were his, and left to me. 
 
 The pledges of his promised loyalty, 1 30 
 
 Which underneath my threshold I bestow. 
 
 These pawns, O sacred earth ! to me my Daphnis owe. 
 As these were his, so mine is he. My charms. 
 
 Restore their lingering lord to my deluded arms. 
 
 These poisonous plants, for magic use designed 135 
 (The^noblest and the best of all the baneful kind,) 
 
 Old Moeris brought me from the Pontic strand, 
 
 And culled the mischief of a bounteous land. 
 
 Smeared with these powerful juices, on the plain 
 He howls a wolf among the hungry train ; 140 
 
 And oft the mighty necromancer boasts. 
 
 With these to call from tombs the stalking ghosts, 
 
472 
 
 VlRGins PASTORALS. 
 
 [VIII. 
 
 And from the roots to tear the standing corn, 
 
 Which, whirled aloft, to distant fields is borne : 
 
 145 Such is the strength of spells. Restore, my charms, 
 My lingering Daphnis to my longing arms. 
 
 Bear out these ashes ; cast them in the brook ; 
 
 Cast backwards o’er your head ; nor turn your look : 
 Since neither gods nor godlike verse can move, [love. 
 150 Break out, ye smothered fires, and kindle smothered 
 Exert your utmost power, my lingering charms ; 
 
 And force my Daphnis to my longing arms. 
 
 See, while my last endeavours I delay, 
 
 The waking ashes rise, and round our altars play ! 
 
 155 Run to the threshold, Amaryllis — hark! 
 
 Our Hylax opens, and begins to bark. 
 
 Good heaven 1 may lovers what they wish believe? 
 Or dream their wishes, and those dreams deceive ? 
 No more ! my Daphnis comes 1 no more, my charms ! 
 160 He comes, he runs, he leaps to my desiring arms.” 
 
PASTORAL IX. 
 
 LYCIDAS AND MGERIS. 
 
 When Virgil, by the favour of Augustus, had recovered his 
 patrimony near Mantua, and went in hope to take possession, 
 he was in danger to be slain by Arius the centurion, to whom 
 those lands were assigned by the emperor, in reward of his 
 serivce against Brutus and Cassius. This Pastoral therefore 
 is filled with complaints of his hard usage ; and the persons 
 introduced are the bailiff of Virgil, Moeris, and his friend 
 Lycidas. 
 
 Z. Ho, Moeris ! whither on thy way so fast? 
 
 This leads to town. 
 
 M. O Lycidas ! at last 
 The time is come I never thought to see, 
 
 (Strange revolution for my farm and me !) 5 
 
 When the grim captain in a surly tone 
 
 Cries out, “ Pack up, ye rascals, and be gone.^’ 
 
 Kicked out, we set the best face onk we could ; 
 
 And these two kids, to appease his angry mood, 
 
 I bear, — of which the Furies give him good ! lo 
 
 Z. Your country friends were told another tale — 
 
 That, from the sloping mountain to the vale. 
 
 And doddered oak, and all the banks along, 
 
 Menalcas saved his fortune with a song. 
 
 M. Such was the news, indeed ; but songs and rhymes 1 5 
 Prevail as much in these hard iron times. 
 
 As would a plump of trembling fowl, that rise 
 Against an eagle sousing from the skies. 
 
 And, had not Phoebus warned me, by the croak 
 
 Of an old raven from a hollow oak, 20 
 
 To shun debate, Menalcas had been slain. 
 
 And Moeris not survived him, to complain. 
 
474 
 
 VIRGirs PASTORALS. 
 
 [IX. 
 
 L. N ow heaven d efen d ! could barbarous rage induce 
 The brutal son of Mars to insult the sacred muse ? 
 
 25 Who then should sing the nymphs ? or who rehearse 
 The waters gliding in a smoother verse ! 
 
 Or Amaryllis praise that heavenly lay, 
 
 That shortened, as we went, our tedious way — 
 
 O Tityrus ! tend my herd, and see them fed ; 
 
 30 To morning pastures, evening waters, led; 
 
 And Vare the Libyan ridgiFs butting head.” 
 
 M. Or what unfinished he to Varus read — 
 
 “ Thy name, O Varus ! (if the kinder powers 
 Preserve our plains, and shield the Mantuan towers, 
 
 35 Obnoxious by Cremona^s neighbouring crime,) 
 
 The wings of swans, and stronger-pinioned rhyme. 
 Shall raise aloft, and soaring bear above — 
 
 The immortal gift of gratitude to Jove.” 
 
 L. Sing on, sing on : for I can ne’er be cloyed. 
 
 40 So may thy swarms the baleful yew avoid : 
 
 So may thy cows their burdened bags distend. 
 
 And trees to goats their willing branches bend. 
 
 Mean as I am, yet have the muses made 
 Me free, a member of the tuneful trade : 
 
 45 At least the shepherds seem to like my lays. 
 
 But I discern their flattery from their praise : 
 
 I nor to Cinna’s ears, nor Varus’, dare aspire. 
 
 But gabble, like a goose, amidst the swan-like choir. 
 
 M. ’Tis what I have been conning in my mind; 
 
 50 Nor are they verses of a vulgar kind. 
 
 Come, Galatea ! come! the seas forsake 1 [make? 
 What pleasures can the tides with their hoarse murmurs 
 See, on the shore inhabits purple spring ; 
 
 Where nightingales their love-sick ditty sing : 
 
 55 See, meads with purling streams,with flowers the ground 
 The grottoes cool, with shady poplars crowned. 
 
 And creeping vines on arbours weaved around. 
 
 Come then, and leave the waves’ tumultuous roar; 
 Let the wild surges vainly beat the shore.” 
 
 Z. Or that sweet song I heard with such delight ; 
 The same you sung alone one starry night. 
 
 The tune I still retain, but not the words. 
 
 60 
 
IX. ] VIRGirS PASTORALS. 475 
 
 M. Why, Daphnis, dost thou search in old records, 
 To know the seasons when the stars arise ? 
 
 See, Caesar^s lamp is lighted in the skies — 65 
 
 The star, whose rays the blushing grapes adorn. 
 
 And swell the kindly ripening ears of corn. 
 
 Under this influence, graft the tender shoot ; 
 
 Thy children’s children shall enjoy the fruit.” 
 
 The rest I have forgot ; for cares and time 70 
 
 Change all things, and untune my soul to rhyme. 
 
 I could have once sung down a summer’s sun : 
 
 But now the chime of poetry is done : 
 
 My voice grows hoarse ; I feel the notes decay, ' 
 
 As if the wolves had seen me first to-day. 75 
 
 But these, and more than I to mind can bring, 
 
 Menalcas has not yet forgot to sing. 
 
 L. Thy faint excuses but inflame me more : 
 
 And now the waves roll silent to the shore ; 
 
 Hushed winds the topmost branches scarely bend, 80 
 As if thy tuneful song they did attend : 
 
 Already we have half our way o’ercome ; 
 
 Far off I can discern Bianor’s tomb. 
 
 Here, where the labourers’ hands have formed a bower 
 Of wreathing trees, in singing waste an hour. 85 
 
 Rest here thy weary limbs ; thy kids lay down ; 
 
 We’ve day before us yet, to reach the town ; 
 
 Or if, ere night, the gathering clouds we fear, 
 
 A song will help, the beating storm to bear. 
 
 And, that thou may’st not be too late abroad, 90 
 
 Sing, and I’ll ease thy shoulders of thy load. 
 
 M. Cease to request me ; let us mind our way : 
 
 Another song requires another day. 
 
 When good Menalcas comes, if he rejoice. 
 
 And find a friend at court. I’ll find a voice. 
 
 95 
 
PASTORAL X. 
 
 GALLUS. 
 
 Gallus, a^reat patron of Virgil, and an excellent poet, was very 
 deeply in love with one Cytheris, w’hom he calls Lycoris, 
 and who had forsaken him for the company of a soldier. 
 The poet therefore supposes his friend Gallus retired, in his 
 height of melancholy, into the solitudes of Arcadia (the 
 celebrated scene of pastorals), where he represents him in a 
 very languishing condition, with all the rural deities about 
 him, pitying his hard usage, and condoling his misfortune. 
 
 Thy sacred succour, Arethusa, bring, 
 
 To crown my labour (his the last I sing). 
 
 Which proud Lycoris may with pity view : 
 
 The muse is mournful, though the numbers few. 
 
 5 Refuse me not a verse, to grief and Gallus due. 
 
 So may thy silver streams beneath the tide. 
 
 Unmixed with briny seas, securely glide. 
 
 Sing then my Gallus, and his hopeless vows ; 
 
 Sing while my cattle crop the tender browse, 
 lo The vocal grove shall answer to the sound, 
 
 And echo, from the vales, the tuneful voice rebound. 
 
 What lawns or woods withheld you from his aid. 
 Ye nymphs, when Gallus was to love betrayed, 
 
 To love, unpitied by the cruel maid? 
 
 15 Not steepy Pindus could retard your course. 
 
 Nor cleft Parnassus, nor the Aonian source : 
 
 Nothing that owns the muses, could suspend 
 Your aid to Gallus : — Gallus is their friend. 
 
 For him the lofty laurel stands in tears, 
 
 20 And hung with humid pearls the lowly shrub appears. 
 Maenalian pines the god-like swain bemoan. 
 
 When, spread beneath a rock, he sighed alone ; 
 
X.] 
 
 VJRGirS PASTORALS. 
 
 477 
 
 And cold Lycaeus wept from every dropping stone. 
 
 The sheep surround their shepherd as he lies : 
 
 Blush not, sweet poet, nor the name despise : 25 
 
 Along the streams, his flock Adonis fed ; 
 
 And yet the queen of beauty blest his bed. 
 
 The swains and tardy neat-herds came, and last 
 Menalcas, wet with beating winter mast. 
 
 Wondering, they asked from whence arose thy flame. 30 
 Yet more amazed, thy own Apollo came. 
 
 Flushed were his cheeks, and glowing were his eyes : 
 
 ‘‘Is she thy care? Is she thy care? (he cries) 
 
 Thy false Lycoris flies thy love and thee. 
 
 And for thy rival, tempts the raging sea, 35 
 
 The forms of horrid war, and heaven’s inclemency.” 
 Silvanus came : his brows a country crown 
 Of fennel, and of nodding lilies, drown. 
 
 Great Pan arrived ; and we beheld him too. 
 
 His cheeks and temples of vermilion hue. ' 40 
 
 “ Why, Gallus, this immoderate grief? (he cried) 
 
 Think’st thou that love with tears is satisfied? 
 
 The meads are sooner drunk with morning dews. 
 
 The bees with flowery shrubs, the goats with browse.” 
 Unmoved, and with dejected eyes, he mourned : 45 
 
 He paused, and then these broken words returned : 
 
 “’Tis past ; and pity gives me no relief : 
 
 But you, Arcadian swains, shall sing my grief. 
 
 And on your hills my last complaints renew : 
 
 So sad a song is only worthy you. . 50 
 
 How light would lie the turf upon my breast. 
 
 If you my sufferings in your songs exprest ! 
 
 Ah! that your birth and business had been mine — 
 
 To pen the sheep, and press the swelling vine 1 
 
 Had Phyllis or Amyntas caused my pain, 55 
 
 Or any nymph or shepherd on the plain, 
 
 (Though Phyllis brown, though black, Amyntas were. 
 
 Are violets not sweet, because not fair?) 
 
 Beneath the sallows and the shady vine. 
 
 My loves had mixed their pliant limbs with mine: 60 
 
 Phyllis with myrtle wreaths had crowned my hair. 
 
 And soft Amyntas sung away my care. 
 
478 
 
 VIRGIL'S PASTORALS. 
 
 [X. 
 
 Come, see what pleasures in our plains abound ; 
 
 The woods, the fountains and the flowery ground. 
 
 65 As you are beauteous, were you half so true. 
 
 Here could I live, and love, and die, with only you. 
 Now I to flghting flelds am sent afar, 
 
 And strive in winter camps with toils of war; 
 
 While you, (alas, that I should find it so !) 
 
 70 To shun my sight, your native soil forego. 
 
 And climb the frozen Alps, and tread the eternal snow. 
 Ye frosts and snows, her tender body spare ! 
 
 Those are not limbs for icicles to tear. 
 
 For me, the wilds and deserts, are my choice; 
 
 75 The muses, once my care ; my once harmonious voice. 
 There will I sing, forsaken and alone : 
 
 The rocks and hollow caves shall echo to my moan. 
 The rind of every plant her name shall know ; 
 
 And as the rind extends, the love shall grow. 
 
 80 Then on Arcadian mountains will I chase 
 
 (Mixed with the woodland nymphs) the savage race ; 
 Nor cold shall hinder me, with horns and hounds 
 To thrid the thickets, or to leap the mounds. 
 
 And now methinks o^er steepy rocks I go, [thian bow ; 
 85 And rush through sounding woods, and bend the Par- 
 As if with sports my sufferings I could ease, 
 
 Or by my pains the god of love appease. 
 
 My frenzy changes : I delight no more 
 On mountain-tops to chase the tusky boar : 
 
 90 No game but hopeless love my thoughts pursue: 
 
 Once more, ye nymphs, and songs, and sounding woods, 
 Love alters not for us his hard decrees, [adieu ! 
 Not though beneath the Thracian clime we freeze, 
 
 Or Italy’s indulgent heaven forego, 
 
 95 And in mid-winter tread Sithonian snow ; 
 
 Or, when the barks of elms are scorched, we keep 
 On Meroe^s burning plains the Libyan sheep. 
 
 In hell, and earth, and seas, and heaven above. 
 
 Love conquers all ; and we must yield to Love.” 
 
 100 My muses, here your sacred raptures end: 
 
 The verse was what I owed my suffering friend. 
 
 Thus while I sung, my sorrows I deceived, 
 
INDEX. 
 
 Antenor, founded Padua, i. 332. 
 
 Antina, vii. 871. 
 
 Antiphates, Sarpedon’s son, killed, ix. 
 944. 
 
 Antores, killed, x. 1104. 
 
 Anxur, his life insured by magic, x. 761. 
 
 Apollo, his oracle in Delos, hi. 104- 
 132; a teacher of prophecy, 461; 
 described, iv. 204 ; his temple and 
 oracle at Cumae, vi. 17-50: in the 
 form of Butes encourages Ascanius, 
 ^ 73 - 
 
 Arcadians, their idea of Jove, viii. 
 463 ; defeated, x. 504. 
 
 Archery match, v. 646-713. 
 
 Archippus, vii. T033. 
 
 Ardea, vii. 576, 784. 
 
 . Arethusa, lii. 9x2. 
 
 Argives, vii, 1085. 
 
 Argos, i. 917. 
 
 Argus, viii. 455. 
 
 Aricia, vii. 1045. 
 
 Arms, the preparation of, vii. 870. 
 
 Arruns, xi. 1121 ; kills Camilla, 1150- 
 1T75 ; is killed by Opis, 1236. 
 
 Ascanius, founder of Alba-longa, i. 
 365 ; represented by Cupid, 65, 975 ; 
 put to sleep by Venus, 969 ; aflame 
 circles his brows, ii. 930 ; caressed 
 by Dido, iv. 120 ; at the hunt, 200 
 and 223 ; leader of the Trojan troop, 
 V. 716 ; reproves the matrons for 
 firing the fleet, 875 ; kills the pet 
 stag, vii. 690 ; promises to reward 
 Nisus and Euryalus, ix. 340-371 ; 
 kills Numanus, 802 and 851 ; en- 
 couraged by Apollo, 874 ; his beauty, 
 X. 200. 
 
 Assaracus, vi. 883. 
 
 Athamas, ii. 342. 
 
 Atlas, taught natural history, i. 1040 : 
 viii. 180. 
 
 Atlas (mount), iv. 362. 
 
 Atreus, viii. 172. 
 
 Atys, V. 741. 
 
 Augurs, prophesied, vii. 102; viii. 654. 
 
 Augury, i. 544. 
 
 Augustus Caesar, destined to be dei- 
 fied, i. 390 ; his sway foretold, vi. 
 1079-1102. 
 
 Aunus, tries to cheat Camilla, xi. 1034. 
 
 Aurora, viii. 505. 
 
 Auruncans, vii. 283, 1005, 1087. 
 
 Ausonians, i. 156 ; viii. 435. 
 
 Automedon, ii. 649. 
 
 Aventinus, son of Herculus, vii. 906. 
 
 Avernus (lake), vi. 341. 
 
 Bacchus, i. 1026 ; invoked to prosper 
 love, iv. 78 ; rites of, viii. 542. 
 
 Banquets, i. 900, 980. 
 
 Barce, iv. 910. 
 
 Battle, fluctuations of, x. 10^. 
 
 Bear, constellation of, hi. 676. 
 
 Bees, their labours, i. 599. 
 
 483 
 
 Bellona, the goddess of war, vii, 444. 
 
 Belus, Dido’s father, i. 878 ; his wine 
 bowl, 1017. 
 
 Beroe, v. 805. 
 
 Bitias, a toper, i 1034 ; ix. 914, 952. 
 
 Boat-race, v. 150-317. 
 
 Bowl of Belus, i. 1017. 
 
 Bowls (golden), i. 1013. 
 
 Boxing match, v. 478-623. 
 
 Briareus, vi. 401. 
 
 Brutus, eulogy of, vi 1118. 
 
 Butes, V. 493 ; ix. 888. 
 
 Buthrotus, ih. 379, 
 
 Byrsa, original name of Carthage, i. 
 506. 
 
 Cacus, monster son of Vulcan, slain by 
 Herculus, viii. 256-356. 
 
 Caeculus, founder of Prseneste, vii. 
 938. 
 
 Caere, viii. 624. 
 
 Caicus gives the alarm, ix. 39. 
 
 Caieta, nurse of .^neas, vii. 1. 
 
 Calchas, ii. 135. 
 
 Calydonian boar, vii. 424. 
 
 Camers, son of Volscens, killed, x. 786. 
 
 Camilla, queen of the Volscians, vii. 
 1094 : xi. 666 ; gallant proposal to 
 attack the enemy, 754 ; her history. 
 810-874 » Diana foresees her death 
 879 ; in midst of the fight, 962 ; 
 kills many Trojans, 985-1033; 
 defeats the stratagem of Aunus, 
 1055 ; mortally wounded by Arruns, 
 1131-1176 ; her death and dying 
 orders, 1195 ; Opis avenges her 
 death, 1236, 
 
 Capys, proposes to burn the wooden 
 horse, ii. 46 ; vi. 1042. 
 
 Cannenta, viii. 446. 
 
 Carpets (Tyrian), i. 902. 
 
 Carthage, peopled from Tyre, i. 20; 
 its destruction prophesied, 26, 467 ; 
 called Byrsa originally, 505. 
 
 Cassandra, foretold the fall of Troy, 
 ii. 323 ; ravished, 543 : foretold that 
 Troy should reign in I taly, iii. 244. 
 
 Cato, vi. T155. 
 
 Cavalry engagement, xi. 896-961. 
 
 Celeeno, a harpy, iii. 321 ; predicts 
 famine to the Trojans, 938. 
 
 Centaurs, vii. 422. 
 
 Ceraunian rocks, iii. 660. 
 
 Cerberus, vi. 564. 
 
 Ceres, invoked to prosper love, iv. 78. 
 
 Chalybe, vii. 583. 
 
 Charon, vi. 413; challenges ^Eneas, 
 526; ferries him across, 555. 
 
 Charybdis, iii. 735, 899. 
 
 Chiinaera, vi. 404. 
 
 Chloreus, a richly mounted priest, xi. 
 1131. 
 
 Choroebus, Cassandra’s’lover, ii. 461 ; 
 tries to rescue her, 549; is killed, 
 575 - 
 
INDEX. 
 
 484 
 
 Cincinatus, vi. 1163- 
 
 Circe, vii. 13, 260, 388, 
 
 Claussus, founder of the Claudian 
 race, vii. 973, 
 
 Cloanthes, i. 864 ; victor of the boat- 
 race, V. 201, 303-317. 
 
 Cocytus, vi. 412. 
 
 Combat betwixt i^^neas and Turnus, 
 xii. 173; preparations, spectators, 
 and sacrifices, 177-203 and 245-321 ; 
 the Rutulians wish Turnus to with- 
 draw, 322 ; the combat put off, 390- 
 468 ; combat renewed, 1035. 
 
 Common ancestry a cause of friend- 
 ship, viii. 186. 
 
 Contrast, “once oxen lowed where 
 now the lawyers bawl,” viii. 474. 
 
 Coras, vii. 932. 
 
 Corn, ground with marbles, i. 254. 
 
 Corynaeus, vi. 327. 
 
 Corythum, vii. 286. 
 
 Cossus, vi. 1157. 
 
 Couches, painted, i 989. 
 
 Crete, sacred to Jupiter, iii. 141. 
 
 Creiisa, iRneas’ wife, ii. 916 ; lost in 
 the flight, 1002; her ghost appears 
 to him, 1047. 
 
 Crown, i. 922. 
 
 Cupid, instructed by Venus to repre- 
 sent Ascanius and infect Dido, i. 
 929, 975 ; infects Dido, 1000. 
 
 Cures, vii. 979. 
 
 Cybele, iii. 152 ; turns the fleet into 
 sea nymphs, ix. 92-148; x. 354. 
 
 Cyclades, iii. 174. 
 
 Cyclops, i. 280 : cave of, iii. 809 ; de- 
 scription of, 863-894. 
 
 Cyclops, Vulcan’s assistants, viii. 555. 
 
 Cymothoe, i. 205. 
 
 Cynthia, a name of Diana, vii. 423. 
 
 Cynthus (mount), iv. 210. 
 
 Daedalus, vi. 18, 23-50. 
 
 Danae, vii. 572. 
 
 Dardanus, iii. 225 ; vii. 283, 330 ; viii. 
 178. 
 
 Dares, a celebrated boxer, v. 486. 
 
 Dead (the), prepared for funeral rites, 
 xi. 95-122. 
 
 Decii, (the), vi. 1131. 
 
 Dei’opeia, a sea nymph, i. no. 
 
 Deiphobe, the Cumaean .sibyl, vi. 55. 
 
 Deiphobus, ii. 417 ; meets ^neas in 
 Hades, vi. 666; tells him of Helen’s 
 treachery and his cruel treatment 
 by the Greeks, 685-712. 
 
 Delos, iii. 99 ; sacred to Apollo, iv. 206. 
 
 Derfioleus, v. 347. 
 
 Diana, i. 700; iii. 915 ; vii. 1047, 1056; 
 concerned for Camilla ; relates her 
 history, xi. 805-892 ; laments her 
 death, 1215. 
 
 Dido, her story told by Venus, i. 465- 
 508 ; built Juno’s temple, 624; her 
 appearance and administration, 697 ; 
 
 friendly reception of the Trojans, 
 790, 895 ; caresses Cupid, 1002 ; 
 invokes the gods to ratify the 
 peace, 1021 ; questions .^neas about 
 the war of Troy, 1050 ", discovers 
 her passion for ifeneas, iv. 10 ; sac- 
 rifices to prosper her love, 80 ; her 
 efforts to attract iRneas, 93-122 ; 
 violence of her love, 130; equipped 
 for the chase, 190 ; in the cave with 
 HUneas, 240-250 ; her conduct, the 
 public talk, 274 ; suspects him of 
 wishing to leave, 425 ; impassioned 
 speech, 441-479 : furious speech, in 
 the midst of which she faints, 522- 
 567; sendsher sister Anna to ^neas, 
 600-631 ; shows signs of mental de- 
 rangement, resolves on suicide, 653- 
 719 ; her preparations for her fatal 
 purpose, 728-756; despair, remorse, 
 irresolution, and perplexity, 768- 
 800; gives way to distraction and 
 fury, and mounting her funeral pile 
 kills herself withHCneas’ sword, 840- 
 955; her ghost in Hades, vi. 610; 
 declines to speak to .^neas, 635. 
 
 Didymaon, v. 472. 
 
 Diomede, i. 659 ; asked to assist the 
 Latians, viii. 13 ; refuses, xi. 348 : 
 his speech on the disasters of war 
 and connselling peace, 385-450. 
 
 Diores, v. 389. 
 
 Dirae, the furies, xii. 1224 ; one sent 
 to scare away Juturna, 1237. 
 
 Dittany, used in surgery, xii. 609. 
 
 Dodona, v. 352. 
 
 Donysa, iii. 172. 
 
 Doris, sea nymph, iii. too. 
 
 Doryclus, v. 806, 
 
 Doves of Venus, vi. 280. 
 
 Drances, opposed to Turnus, xi. 183 ; 
 leads the popular cry against him, 
 341 ; speech against him, 510-580. 
 
 Dream, of Turnus, vii. 592-640 ; of 
 .^neas, viii. 40-92. 
 
 Drepanum, iii. 930. 
 
 Dymas, ii. 459, 531 ; killed, 579. 
 
 Egerian groves, vii. 1045. 
 
 Electra, viii. 179. 
 
 Eliza, iv. 146. 
 
 Elysian plains, the souls there, their 
 enjoyments, vi. 867 -920, 
 
 Enceladus below .^tna, iii. 755. 
 
 Entellus, victor in the boxing match, 
 V. 525 ; kills a bull with his fi.st, 
 
 637- 
 
 Epeus, the constructor of the wooden 
 horse, ii. 345. 
 
 Epirus, iii. 377. 
 
 Eriphyle, vi. 602. 
 
 Eryx, a boxer, v. 521, 535, 1009. 
 
 Eryx (mountain), v. 990. 
 
 Eumelus, v 866. 
 
 Eurus, the south wind, i. 159, 186. 
 
INDEX. 485 
 
 Euryalus, V. 385 ; victor of the foot- 
 race, 439; his adventure with Nisus, 
 iv. 228-584; his mother’s lament for 
 his death, 631. 
 
 Eurypylus, ii, 159. 
 
 Eurytion, v. 658 ; victor in archery, 
 679 : belt made by him, x. 692. 
 
 Evadne, vi. 606. 
 
 Evander, founder of Pallanteum, viii. 
 70 ; his lineage, 172 ; welcomes 
 ^neas, 205-245 ; narrates the origin 
 of the rites of Herculus, 246-364 ; 
 his frugal hospitality accepted by 
 Herculus, 476 ; prefers his aid and 
 that of the inhabitants of Caere to 
 iEneas, 615-687 ; address to iEiieas, 
 740; his grief for Pallas, xi. 225-250. 
 
 Fabricius, vi. 1160. 
 
 Fabii (the), vi. 1164. 
 
 Fame, described, iv. 251-283 ; ix. 597. 
 
 Fates (the) release the soul in death, 
 iv. 1001 ; decreed the Trojan race 
 to reign in Italy, vii. 444. 
 
 Faunus, father of Latinus, vii. 70. 
 
 Fescennium, vii. 962. 
 
 Filial affection and devotion, ix. 373; 
 
 X. II2T. 
 
 Flavinium, vii. 962. 
 
 Fleet on fire, v. 861 ; extinguished, 910. 
 
 Foot-race, v. 381-475. 
 
 Friendship, ix. 256-289, 
 
 Funeral rites, iii. 388; v. 92-137; vi. 
 259 and 306-335 ; of Pallas, xi. 40- 
 T38 and 210-264; of the promiscuous 
 dead, 284-326. 
 
 Galesus, vii. 746. 
 
 Games, v. 140-783. 
 
 Ganymede, v. 328. 
 
 Gauntlets, v. 534. 
 
 Gela, iii. 923. 
 
 Geryon, vi. 402 ; vii, 917, 
 
 Ghosts, laws relating to them, vi. 436- 
 452 ; pleased to be remembered, 513 ; 
 of infants, 576 ; of suicides, 587. 
 
 Glaucus, vi. 651. 
 
 Gods, decreed that the Trojans should 
 slight, the warning of Cassandra, ii. 
 324 ; Troy’s destruction effected by 
 them, 829. 
 
 Golden (the), age, viii. 431. 
 
 Golden (the), bough, vi. 206-224, 296. 
 
 Grachii (the), vi. 1158. 
 
 Greeks, weary of the war of Troy, 
 ii. 17 ; stratagem of abandoning 
 the siege, 30 ; Greek character, 
 83; return to Troy at night, 332; 
 scale the walls of Priam’s palace, 
 600 ; collect the spoil in Juno’s 
 temple, 1036 ; their disasters after 
 Troy fell, xi. 395-430. 
 
 Gyas, i. 306, 864 ; v, 200, 
 
 Hades, the entrance to, vi. 374-403. 
 
 Hsemonides, an ostentatious priest, x. 
 747- 
 
 Halesus, vii. 1000. 
 
 Harpies, iii. 277. 
 
 Hecate, vi. 352, 760. 
 
 Hector, i. 677 ; his ghost advises 
 ./Eneas to escape from Troy, ii. 352- 
 381 ; his memory cherished by And- 
 romache, iii. 389. 
 
 Hecuba, chides Priam for arming, ii. 
 704. 
 
 Flelen, her vest, i. 916 ; met by /Eneas, 
 ii- 775 > saved by Venus, 801 ; her 
 betrayal of Deiphobus and the Tro- 
 jans, vi. 687-707. 
 
 Helenor, his heroic death, ix. 730. 
 
 Helenus, son of Priam, iii. 381 ; fore- 
 shows /Eneas his adventures, 480- 
 591- 
 
 Helicon, vii. 888. 
 
 Hell, the gates of, open night and day, 
 
 vi. igi ; the descent to, i. 338. 
 
 Helorus, iii. 917. 
 
 Hercules, vii 910 ; feast in honour of, 
 viii. 137 and 355 ; his herds stolen 
 by Cacus, 269 ; kills Cacus and re- 
 covers his cattle, 315-350 ; his ad- 
 ventures, 382-407. 
 
 Hesperia, ancient name of Italy, iii. 
 221. 
 
 Hippocoon, V. 655. 
 
 Hippolytus restored to life by Diana, 
 
 vii. 1055, 1063. 
 
 Horses, omens of war,iii. 709; celestial, 
 vii. 386. 
 
 H ousehold frugality, viii. 540. 
 
 Household gods, impiety to touch 
 with bloody hands, ii. 974. 
 
 Hunting match, iv. 182, 216. 
 
 Hunt of the pet stag, vii. 690. 
 
 Hyads, iii. 675. 
 
 Hydra, vi. 400, 778. 
 
 Hymen, the god of marriage, iv. 179. 
 
 Hymn to Hercules, viii. 389. 
 
 Hypanis, ii. 459, 580. 
 
 lapis, the Trojan physician, xii. 577, 
 
 larbas, a suitor of Dido, iv. 51 ; iv. 
 283 ; hears of her conduct, his re- 
 sentment, 295-319. 
 
 lasius, iii. 225. 
 
 Icarus, vi. 47. 
 
 Ida, the birthplace of /Eneas, i. 875. 
 
 Idaeus, vi. 653. 
 
 Idorneneus, king of Crete, iii. 167. 
 
 Ilia, mother of Romulus and Remus, 
 i. 376. _ 
 
 Ilioneus, i. 172 ; entreats the assistance 
 of Dido for the Trojans and relates 
 their adventures, 735-785; address 
 to Latinus, vii. 290 ; kills Lucetius, 
 &c., ix. 771. 
 
 Ilus, vi. 883. 
 
 Impiety, ii. 975 ; x. 1096, 1261. 
 
 Imprecations, iv. 873. 
 
INDEX. 
 
 486 
 
 Inachus, vii. 521, 
 
 Incense, i. 985. 
 
 Invocation, i. 1021. See prayers. 
 
 lo, vii, 1077. 
 
 lolas, killed, xii. 796. 
 
 lopas, a Tyrian Lyrist, i. 1037. 
 
 Iphitus, ii. 457, 591, 
 
 Iris, cuts Dido’s top hair and ends her 
 death struggle, iv. 1004 ; instigates 
 the matrons to fire the fleet, v. 803- 
 865; urges Turnus to attack the 
 Trojans, ix, 2. 
 
 Italus, vii. 243. 
 
 Italy, i. 319; iii. 224; first sighted, 
 685. 
 
 Ithaca, iii. 353. 
 
 liilus, son of .i®neas, i. 910. See As- 
 canius. 
 
 Ixion, vi. 814. 
 
 Janiculum, viii. 469. 
 
 Janus, vii. 245 ; guards the gates of 
 the temple of Mars, 840. 
 
 Jealousy and feminine intriguetermed 
 the power of Juno, vii. 815. 
 
 Julius Caesar, vi. 1075, 
 
 Juno, her hatred of Troy and 
 partiality to Carthage, i, 2-36 ; 
 speech, 56 ; induces .^olus to loose 
 the winds on .^neas, 96 ; pointed 
 out the site of Carthage, 622 *, her 
 temple, 625 ; invoked by Dido, 
 T027 ; at the fall of Troy, ii. 830 ; 
 presides over marriage, iv. 80; at- 
 tempts to get Venus’ consent to the 
 match between iDneas and Dido, 
 1 30-147 ; contrives a hunting match 
 to further her designs, 161 ; sends 
 Iris to shorten Dido’s death struggle, 
 994 : sends Iris to prompt the Tro- 
 jan matrons to burn the fleet, v. 
 786 : her hatred of the Trojans ex- 
 cited by their arrival in Latium, vii. 
 395-448; employs Alecto to wreak 
 her vengeance on them, 460 ; dis- 
 charges Alecto, 765 ; makes a sar- 
 castic speech in reply to Venus, x. 
 94-146; pleads with Jupiter to pro- 
 long the life of Turnus, 864 and 888 ; 
 deludes Turnus from the fight with 
 a phantom of .^neas, 896-973; her 
 efforts to prevent the combat, xii. 
 205-244; yields to fate, 1177; pledges 
 Jupiter that the name of Latium be 
 retained, 1195. 
 
 Jupiter, ponders on man’s miseries, i. 
 310 ; reassures Venus regarding 
 iEneas, 350 ; foreshows the course 
 of Roman history from .^neas to 
 Augustus, 364-407 ; sends Mercury 
 to insure the Trojans a reception in 
 Carthage, 408 ; invoked to bless 
 friendship, 1021; at the fall of Troy, 
 ii. 835 ; sends Mercury to remon- 
 strate with iDneas for forgetting his 
 
 destiny, iv. 324 ; struck .dEsculapius 
 dead, vii. 1060 ; his promise to Cy- 
 bele regarding the fleet, ix. no; 
 swears by Styx, 120 ; calls a 
 council of the gods and forbids their 
 engaging in the war, x. 1-23 and 
 159 ; his nod, 171 ; draws Juno’s 
 attention to the prowess of .^neas, 
 855; grants Juno an extension of 
 the life of Turnus, 879 ; weighs the 
 fates of the combatants, xii. 1054 ; 
 censures Juno for striving against 
 fate to save Turnus, 1145; grants 
 Juno’s request, 1205. 
 
 Juturna, Turnus’ sister, xii. 209; in 
 form of Camertes, incites the multi- 
 tude, 340 ; takes the place of Tur- 
 nus’ charioteer, to keep him from the 
 combat, 687; gives him a new 
 sword, 1134; her grief on seeing 
 him attacked by the fury, 1256. 
 
 Labyrinth (the), vi. 39. 
 
 Laocoon warns the Trojans of the 
 stratagem of the wooden horse, ii. 
 52; pierces it with his .spear, 65; 
 attacked by the serpents, ii. 270. 
 
 Laodamia, vi. 606. 
 
 Laomedon, iv. 782. 
 
 Latians, vii. 992. 
 
 Latian matrons supplicate Minerva, 
 xi. 725 ; virgins defend the walls, 
 1285. 
 
 Latinus, his genealogy and family, 
 vii. 68 ; his palace, and coun- 
 sellors, 229 ; his ancestors, 241 ; re- 
 ceives the ambassadors of ^Eneas, 
 270; believing the Trojans to be 
 divinely sent welcomes them, 349- 
 394; appealed to by the mob 
 headed by Turnus, who demand 
 to be led to the war, 791-808 ; his 
 speech on yielding to their clamour, 
 819; refuses to open the gates of 
 the temple of war, 851 ; summons a 
 council, xi. 362 ; proposes terms of 
 peace, 483; urges Turnus to retire 
 from the contest, xii. 30-70; his 
 trials and distraction, 891 ; confirms 
 with vows the conditions of the 
 combat, 292. 
 
 Latium, promised to the Trojans, i. 
 286 ; its aboriginal inhabitants, viii. 
 417; civilized by Saturn, 425. 
 
 Latona, i. 705. 
 
 Laurel, the sacred, vii. 89. 
 
 Laurentum, vii. 93 ; viii. 2. 
 
 Lausus, son of Mezentius, vii. 899 ; 
 X. 601; his affecting death, 1155. 
 
 Lavinia, wife of iEneas, vi. 1037; 
 only daughter of Latinus, vii. 79 ; 
 the subject of a prodigy, 107 ; her 
 beauty, xii. 100; grief for her 
 mother, 885. 
 
 Lavinium, founded by .dEneas, i. 352. 
 
INDEX. 
 
 Leda, Helen’s mother, i. 919. 
 
 Lethe, vi. 957-970. 
 
 Leucaspis, vi. 457. 
 
 Leucate, iii. 355. 
 
 Libations, i. 1030. 
 
 Liger, sues ^L^neas for his life, x. 837. 
 
 Ligurians, proverbial cheats, xi. 1038. 
 
 Lilybseum, iii. 927. 
 
 Love, i. 932, 948, 1005 ; iv. 1-40, 
 90-122. 
 
 Love of fame, ix. 235. 
 
 Lovers’ ghosts, vi. 598. 
 
 Lucagus and Liger attack .^neas, 
 X. 810. 
 
 Lycian sailors, i. 163. 
 
 Lycurgus, King of Thrace, iii. 20. 
 
 Lycus, i. 306 ; runs for life, ix. 747. 
 
 Magic Arts, iv. 695-719, 736, 910 ; 
 vii. 1035; X. 763. 
 
 Magus, offers a large ransom in 
 vain, X. 725. 
 
 Maia, daughter of Atlas, viii. 183. 
 
 Marcellus, vi. 1180 ; son of Octavia, 
 
 vi. 1188-1226. 
 
 Marcia, Latinus’ mother, vii. 71. 
 
 Marsian herbs, vii. 1039. 
 
 Mars worshipped in Thrace, iii. 47 ; 
 
 vii. 422 ; his temple gates open 
 during war, 845. 
 
 Massic soil, the slopes of Mount 
 Massicus, vii. 1004. 
 
 Massylian horses, iv. 187. 
 
 Maternal sorrow, ix, 631. 
 
 Medon, vi. 651. 
 
 Megara (bay of), iii. 905. 
 
 Memnon, i. 686. 
 
 Menelaus, ii. 344. 
 
 Menoetes, a leader in the boat-race, 
 V. 213. 
 
 Mercury, descends to Carthage, i. 
 412; sent by Jupiter to remon- 
 strate with iLneas, iv. 350 ; de- 
 livers his message, 389; viii. 182. ■ 
 
 M^ssapus, vii. 955 ; viii. 9 ; ix. 693. 
 
 Metabus, Camilla’s father, xi. 815. 
 
 Meteor, ii. 940. 
 
 Meteorological observations, iii. 671. 
 
 Mezentius, vii. 895; viii. 10; his 
 cruelties and expulsion from Caere, 
 630-650; ix. 691; commands in 
 absence of Turnus, x. 974; com- 
 mits great slaughter, 986-1051 ; at- 
 tacks .^neas, 1081 ; is wounded but 
 saved by Lausus, his son, who is 
 killed, 1115-1T35; his sorrow for 
 Lausus, 1205; his horse Rhoebus, 
 1225 ; attacks ^Kneas, mounted, 
 1250; his dying speech, 1295. 
 
 Minerva, burnt the Grecian navy, 
 i. 60 ; assisted to build the wooden 
 horse, ii. 19 ; the sanctity of her 
 altar violated, 545 ; at the fall of 
 Troy, 833 ; her temple a landmark, 
 iii. 696. 
 
 487 
 
 Minos judging the dead, vi. 580. 
 
 Minotaur (the), vi. 35. 
 
 Misenum (cape), vi. 335. 
 
 Misenus, vi. 242 ; his funeral rites, 
 259, and 306-335. 
 
 Mnestheus, v. 241, 337, 657; rallies the 
 Trojans against Turnus, ix. 1050. 
 
 Moors (the), iv. 300. 
 
 Moral Maxims, valour useless with- 
 out the aid of the gods, ii. 541 ; 
 learn righteousness, and dread the 
 avenging deities, vi. 844; dare to 
 be poor, and emulate a god, viii. 
 479 ; ’Tis virtue lengthens life, x. 
 657; “ O mortals ! blind in fate who 
 never know to bear high fortune or 
 endure the low,” 698 ; ’Tis no dis- 
 honour for the brave to die, 1297. 
 
 Mournful fields, vi. 596, 
 
 Musseus, the Thracian bard, vi. 877; 
 directs .dEneas and the Sibyl to 
 Anchises, 905-920. 
 
 Muse (the), invoked, i. ii; vii. 52, 
 888 ; ix. 88, 696 ; x. 241. 
 
 Mutuscans, vii. 980. 
 
 Nar (river), vii. 720. 
 
 Natural history, i. 1040. 
 
 Nautes, a seer, v. 922. 
 
 Naxos, famed for vines, iii. 171. 
 
 Necklace, i. 922. 
 
 Neptune rebukes the winds, i. 176; 
 asserts his right to rule the sea, 
 195; rescues the Trojan fleet, and 
 stills the waves, 208-225 ; at the fall 
 of Troy, ii. 827; promises Venus to 
 protect .^neas, recounts his past 
 assistance to him, v. 1045-1067 ; his 
 progress through the sea, 1070. 
 
 Neritos, iii. 352. 
 
 Night, iv. 757. 
 
 Night guard of the Rutulians, ix. 200. 
 
 Nisus, V. 385, 427, 462 ; his adven- 
 ture with Euryalus to hasten the 
 return of .^neas, ix. 220-596. 
 
 Numanus, boasting speech, ix. 810; 
 killed, 865. 
 
 Numa Pompilius, vi. 1103. 
 
 Numicus (river), vii. 332. 
 
 Numitor, vi. 1042. 
 
 Nursians, vii. 991, 1027. 
 
 Oak (the), sacred, vi. 298. 
 
 OEbalus, vii. 1014. 
 
 QEnotrians, iii. 223. 
 
 Omens, i. 544, 620; ii. 265; iii. 707; 
 
 viii. 61, III. 
 
 Opiates used to subdue serpents, vii. 
 
 ^ h°37- . 
 
 Opis, xi. 807, 1236. 
 
 Orestes, iii. 428 ; iv. 683. 
 
 Orion, constellation, iii. 677; vii. 995. 
 
 Orontes, i. 162, 305. 
 
 Orpheus, recovers his wife from 
 Hades, vi. 178. 
 
INDEX. 
 
 488 
 
 Ortygia, iii. 909. 
 
 Osca (town), vii. 1008. 
 
 Pachynus (Cape), iii. 918. 
 
 Palamedes, ii. 104. 
 
 Pallas, son of Evander, welcomes 
 .^neas, viii. 146-166 ; accompanies 
 .^neas to the war, 776 ; x. 237 ; 
 rallies his troops and kills many 
 Latians, 510-600 ; attacked and 
 slain by Turnus, 623-682 ; his fune- 
 ral, xi. 40-138. 
 
 Palinurus, the Trojan pilot, iii. 264; 
 making observations, 671 ; prepar- 
 ing for a squall, v. 18 ; drowned, 
 logo ; his ghost in Hades, vi. 461- 
 520. 
 
 Pan, viii. 454. 
 
 Pandarus, ix. 914; attacks Turnus, 
 and is killed, 993. 
 
 Panopea, a sea nymph, v. 313. 
 
 Panopes, v. 394. 
 
 Pantagias (river(, iii. 903. 
 
 Panthus, a priest of Apollo, informs 
 iEneas of Troy being taken, ii. 
 429 ; killed, 581. 
 
 Paphos, i. 575. 
 
 Paros, celebrated for its marble, iii. 
 
 Pasiphse, queen of Crete, vi. 32, 604. 
 
 Paternal affection, viii. 755 ; x. 1205. 
 
 Patron, v. 390. 
 
 Peace ratified, i. 1030. 
 
 Pelias, ii. 592, 
 
 Peneleus kills Choroebus, ii 576. 
 
 Penthesilea, queen of the Amazons, 
 i. 688. 
 
 Pentheus, iv, 681. 
 
 Pergamus, iii. 183; 434. 
 
 Periphas, ii. 649. 
 
 Pelorus (cape), iii. 902. 
 
 Phseacia, iii. 376. 
 
 Phaedra, vi. 605, 
 
 Phlegethon, vi. 741. 
 
 Phlegyas, vi. 842. 
 
 Phoebus, see Apollo. 
 
 Phoenix, ii. 1036. 
 
 Pholoe, a Cretan slave, v. 371. 
 
 Phorcus, a sea god, v. 312. 
 
 Physician and Poet, xii. 577. 
 
 Picus, vii. 72, 229, 256, 
 
 Pirithoiis, vi. 814. 
 
 Plate, i. 903. 
 
 Pleiads, iii. 675. 
 
 Plemmyrium, iii. 908 
 
 Pluto, king of hell, vi. 360; his palace, 
 744 and 856. 
 
 Podalirius, ii. 342. 
 
 Polites, son of Priam, killed, ii. 721. 
 
 Pollux, vi. 181. 
 
 Polydore, his story, iii. 70-94. 
 
 Pomptina (the Pontine Marshes), vii. 
 1093. 
 
 Portunus, the god of harbours, v. 
 
 314- 
 
 Potitius, viii. 357 ; leads the proces- 
 sion in honour of Hercules, 370. 
 
 Praeneste, vii. 938, 
 
 Prayers, i. 1021 ; ii. 937 ; iv. 300 ; 
 V. 305, 900; vi. 88; viii. 97; ix. 857 ; 
 X. 354> 595> 1153 ; xi. 729; xii. 266, 
 1126. 
 
 Presents, royal, vii. 333 ; 385. 
 
 Priam, the younger, v. 734. 
 
 Priam, i. 642, 647, 678 ; his palace 
 attacked, ii. 595 ; secret entrance 
 to it, 619 ; the palace sacked, 665- 
 690; his hundred wives, 683; he 
 arms himself, 695 ; chid by Hecuba, 
 710; his speech to Pyrrhus, 729; 
 throws his javelin at him, 742; is 
 killed, 746 ; his robe, tiara and 
 sceptre presented to Latinus, vii. 
 337 ; his visit to Arcadia, viii. 
 210. 
 
 Prizes, V. 145, 320, 403, 482. 
 
 Procas, vii. 1041. 
 
 Procris, vi. 602. 
 
 Prodigies, ii. 930, 940 ; V. in; 689 ; 
 vii. 96, 109 ; ix. 139. 
 
 Proserpine, iv. 1002 ; vi. 176, 359. 
 
 Prophecy regarding Latinus’ succes- 
 sor, vii. 103, and 117-146 ; the pro- 
 phecy of Anchises fulfilled, vii. 
 ^ 55 - . . . ' 
 
 Pygmalion, Dido’s brother, i. 477 ; 
 iv. 61. 
 
 Pyrgo, the nurse of Priam’s family, 
 V. 841. 
 
 Pyrrhus, son of Achilles, ii. 342 ; 
 forces the gate of Priam’s palace, 
 640-660; kills Polites, 718 ; iii. 383 ; 
 killed by Orestes, 420. 
 
 Remorse, x. 1213. 
 
 Remus, killed, ix. 441. 
 
 Retirement from worldly strife, xii. 
 75 ?- 
 
 Retribution, xii. 678. 
 
 Review, v. 754. 
 
 Revenge, spirit of, X. 721 ; xi. 271 ; 
 exhausted, 430. 
 
 Rhadamanthus, vi 764. 
 
 Rhamnes, his death, ix. 435, 
 
 Rhea, vii. 921. 
 
 Rhesus, i. 657. 
 
 Rhoebus, Mezentlus’ horse, x. 1225. 
 
 Riding habit, iv. 196. 
 
 Ripheus, ii. 457, 531 ; killed, 577. 
 
 Romans, i. 322; named from Romulus, 
 377 ; their mode of proclaiming war, 
 vii. 834. 
 
 Rome, its glories derived from Troy, 
 i. 10, 322 ; founded by Romulus, 375 ; 
 destined to subdue the world, 384; 
 vi. 1064, and 1174 ; the chief events 
 of its history sculptured on the 
 shield of vEneas, viii. 830-973. 
 
 Romulus, founder of Rome, i. 375 ; 
 vi. 1055; viii. 452. 
 
INDEX. 
 
 Rout of the Latians and their allies, 
 xi. 1257. 
 
 Rutuliaiis, vii. 656, 1086. 
 
 Sabines, vii. 974. 
 
 Sabinus, vii. 247. 
 
 Sack of a city, it.*: horrors, ii. 488. 
 
 Sacrana (town), vii. 1087. 
 
 Sacrifices, to prosper love, iv. 76 : to 
 the infernal deities, vi. 348-365 ; be- 
 fore the combat, xii. 255. 
 
 Sacrilege, ii. 546. 
 
 Salius, V. 390. 
 
 Salmoneus, vi. 788. 
 
 Samothracia, vii. 285. 
 
 Sanctuary, ii. 545. 
 
 Sarnus (river), vii. T019. 
 
 Saturn, vii. 75, 243, 280 ; viii. 425. 
 
 Saturnia (town), vii. 944; viii. 469. 
 
 Scaling walls, ii. 600. 
 
 Sceptre, i. 921. 
 
 Scipios (the), vi. 1159. 
 
 Scylla, i. 279 ; iii. 899. 
 
 Sea nymphs, i. 107, 205. 
 
 Sebethis, vii. 1015. 
 
 Selinus, iii. 926. 
 
 Serestus, ix. 216, 1051. 
 
 Sergestus, i. 863 ; a leader in the 
 boat-race, v. 160, 240, 355. 
 
 Serpents and Laocoon, ii. 270. 
 
 Sheltered haven, i. 228. 
 
 Shield (the) of ^neas, on which was 
 sculptured the chief events of 
 Roman history, viii. 830-972. 
 
 Sibyl (the Cumsean), vi. 16; consults 
 the oracle of Apollo, 68 ; possessed 
 by the god she foretells the further 
 adventures of Aeneas, 120-146 ; a , 
 priestess of Proserpine, 176; in- »! 
 structs .^Rneas as to the descent to 
 hell, and the golden bough for 
 Proserpine, 191-224: leads the way 
 to Hades, 372 ; satisfies Charon to 
 ferry them across the Styx, 538-554. 
 
 Sicanians, vii. 1085 ; viii. 435. 
 
 Sichseus, Dido’s husband, i. 472; iv. 
 26 ; vi. 639. 
 
 Sidicini, vii. 1006. 
 
 Silvanus, viii. 796. 
 
 Silvia, vii. 677 ; and her pet stag, 700. 
 
 Silvius, vi. 1033 ; Silvius j®neas, 
 1044. 
 
 Similes : — Neptune stilling the waves, 
 compared, to an orator hushing the 
 tumult of the mob, i. 213 ; Tyrians 
 building Carthage, to bees, 599 ; the 
 burning of Troy, to a flood of fire 
 driven by the wind, or a deluge 
 descending on the plains, ii. 406 ; 
 .^neas and his friends, at the sack 
 of Troy, to hungry wolves, 479 ; 
 Androgeos surprised, to a peasant 
 who treads on a snake, 510 ; the in- 
 cidents of war, to the contention of 
 various winds, 565 ; Pyrrhus, to 
 
 489 
 
 a snake revived from winter’s 
 torpor, 641 ; Troy’s fall, to moun- 
 tain ash uprooted, ii. 846; Creusa’s 
 ghost vanishing, to a dream or a 
 gust of wind, ii. 1076; Dido’spassion, 
 to a wounded hind, iv. 95 ; Aineas, 
 to Apollo, iv. 203; Mercury, to 
 water-fowl .skimming the sea, iv. 
 372 ; Trojans leaving Carthage, to 
 ants, 582 ; iEneas’ resistance to 
 Dido’s entreaties, to that of the oak 
 to the storm, 638 ; the boat-race, to 
 a horse-race, V. 190; boat shattered 
 in the race, to a snake crushed be- 
 neath a loaded waggon, 359 : a 
 boxer, to a commander besieging a 
 castle, 588 ; a boxer falling, to a 
 pine felled, 599 ; the evolutions of 
 cavalry, to the mazes of the Cretan 
 labyrinth, and to dolphins at play, 
 769 ; the golden bough, to the 
 mistletoe, vi. 288 ; ghosts waiting 
 to be ferried across the Styx, to 
 leaves in autumn, and to birds of 
 passage, 428 ; the light of Hades, 
 to the obscure rays of the waning 
 moon, 380 and 615 ; the shade of 
 Anchises, to a shadow, wind, or an 
 empty dream, 951 ; pre-existent 
 souls, to summer bees, 958; Amata’s 
 fury, to spinning a top, vii. 528 ; the 
 raising of war, to a storm’s spread- 
 ing on the ocean, 736 ; Latinus re- 
 sisting the demands of the mob, to 
 a rock resisting the waves, 809 ; 
 Latinus yielding, to the pilot for- 
 saking the helm, 831 ; the march- 
 ing of troops, to the flight of swans 
 or geese, 965; Vulcan rising early 
 to work, to the frugal housewife, 
 
 viii. 540 ; Pallas in arms, to the 
 morning star, 778 : troops march- 
 ing, to the flow of Nile or Ganges, 
 
 ix. 35;' the drooping head of dead 
 Euryalus, to a flower broken by the 
 plough or a white poppy over- 
 charged with rain, 581 ; Turnus’ 
 attack of Lycus, to an eagle poun- 
 cing on a swan or hare, or to a wolf 
 seizing a lamb, 761 ; the storm of 
 battle, to an April shower, or hail 
 on the ocean, 908 : two tall youths, 
 to firs, 916; fighting, to two oaks 
 swayed by the winds, 924 ; the fall 
 of Bitias, to that of the Baian Mole, 
 961 ; Turn us in the Trojan entrench- 
 ments, to a tiger in the fold, 986 ; 
 Turnus hard pressed, to a lion press- 
 ed by the hunters, 1072 ; the ap- 
 plause and murmurs of the gods 
 after Juno’s .speech, to wind in a 
 forest, x 147 ; the Trojans renew- 
 ing the fight, to the flight of cranes, 
 370 ; the consternation inspired by 
 the unlooked-for return of ^Lneas, 
 
490 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 to that caused by comets, 380 ; the 
 strife of battle, to the contest of 
 opposing winds, 496 ; ^neas, to 
 ^gaeon contending with Jove, 791 ; 
 Mezentius resisting his opponents, 
 to a rock resisting the waves, 982, 
 and to a boar pressed by the hun- 
 ters, 1000 ; attacking Acron, to a 
 lion rushing on agoat or stag, 1019 ; 
 striding across the field of battle, 
 to Orion crossing the sea, or to 
 a mountain ash, 1084 ; ^neas 
 retiring before the storm of spears, 
 to a traveller seeking shelter 
 from a shower of hail, 1140; the 
 corpse of Pallas, to a flower pulled 
 by virgin hands, xi. 99 ; the mur- 
 murs and jarring of a council, to 
 the rattling of a brook over pebbles, 
 455 ; the people’s alarm, to the noise 
 of swarms of different kinds of birds, 
 694 ; Turnus returning to battle, to 
 the horse returning to pasture, 743 ; 
 the cavalry charges, to waves beat- 
 ing the shore, 929 ; Camilla running 
 down Aunus, to a falcon trussing a 
 dove, 1065 5 Tarchon carrying off 
 Venulus, to an eagle carrying away 
 a serpent, 1105 ; Arruns stealthily 
 killing Camilla, to a wolf attacking a 
 bullock or shepherd unawares, 1183; 
 Turnus retreating, to a wounded 
 lion, xii. 9 ; Lavinia’s blushes, to 
 the hues of painted Indian ivory or 
 to lilies damasked by the rose, 105 : 
 Turnus anticipating the combat, to 
 a bull trying his horns against a 
 tree, 159 ; Turnus, to Mars, 500 ; 
 Turnus, to Boreas on the u®gean 
 sea, 542 ; ^neas renewing the 
 fight, to a whirlwind on the ocean, 
 667 ; Juturna driving Turnus’ car, 
 to the swallow’s flight, 691 ; the 
 warlike career of heroes, to fire 
 in a wood, or to the course of tor- 
 rents over rocks, 670 ; the con- 
 fusion of the invaded citizens, to 
 that of bees smoked, 861 ; Tur- 
 nus rushing through the crowd, 
 to a rock rolling down a preci- 
 pice, 991 ; iEneas, to a mountain 
 whose head is hid in clouds, 
 1020; -^neas and Turnus combat- 
 ing, to two bulls, 1042 ; Turnus 
 pressed by .^neas, to a stag at bay, 
 1083; the descent of the Fury, to 
 an arrow from the Parthian bow, 
 1240 ; the delirious efforts of Tur- 
 nus, to nightmare, 1312 ; the force 
 of iEneas’ lance, to that of a thunder- 
 bolt or battering ram, 1336. 
 
 Sinon taken before Priam, ii, 75 ; 
 deceives the Trojans, 86 ; his 
 stories, 97-258 ; of the virgin sacri- 
 • ficed by the Greeks, 161 ; released 
 
 by the Trojans, 197 ; of the theft 
 of the Palladium, 218; his reason 
 for the building of the wooden 
 horse, 243 ; unlocks the wooden 
 horse, 336 ; fires the city, 443. 
 
 Sleep (the god of) attacks the pilot 
 Palinurus, v. 1090-1120 ; his abode 
 in Hades, vi. 395 ; the horn and 
 ivory gates through which visions 
 enter, vi. 1235. 
 
 Slings used by Turnus, ix. 296. 
 
 Sirens, cliffs, V. T125. 
 
 Soul, the universal the source of the 
 individual, its transpositions and 
 probationary purification.s, vi. 980- 
 1020. 
 
 Souls in a pre-existent state, vi. 958, 
 
 Sow (the white), viii. 60, ni. 
 
 Spartan, dogs, iv. 187. 
 
 Stag (a tame one), vii. 669. 
 
 Sthenelus, ii. 340. 
 
 Storm at sea, i. 120-175 ; hi. 255. 
 
 Storm on land, iv. 231. 
 
 Suicides, vi. 586. 
 
 Strophades, inhabited by the Harpies, 
 hi. 274. 
 
 Styx, vi. 442. 
 
 Tarchon, a Tuscan chief, viii. 664, 
 800; joins yEneas, x. 219; rallies 
 his troops, xi. 1071 ; takes Venulus 
 off his horse, 1092. 
 
 Tarentum (bay), hi. 723. 
 
 Tarpeian Rock, viii. 457. 
 
 Tarquin Kings, vi. 1117. 
 
 Tarquitus killed by .dEneas, x. 767. 
 
 Tartarus, the depths of hell, vi. 729; 
 the souls confined there, 758-850. 
 
 4 'elon, vii. 1015. 
 
 Tenedos, ii. 27. 
 
 Tetrica (mount), vii. 985. 
 
 Teucer tells Dido about the Trojan 
 war, hi. 148 ; his race in Elysium, 
 VI. 881. 
 
 Teutons, their swords brass, their 
 helmets cork, vii. 1022. 
 
 Thapsus, iii. 905. 
 
 The.seus, vi. 46, 184; in Tartarus, 840. 
 
 Thessander, ii. 340. 
 
 Thetis, vii. 36; viii. 505. 
 
 Thoas, ii. 342. 
 
 Thrace, iii. 21. 
 
 Thracian horses, xii. 127. 
 
 Thym(jetes proposed to bring the 
 wooden horse unto Troy, ii. 42. 
 
 Tiber (river), vii. 331, 986, 1090 ; its 
 ancient name Abula, viii. 439. 
 
 Tibris, viii. 437. 
 
 Tibur (town), vii. 872, 930. 
 
 Tisiphone, vi. 749. 
 
 Titans (the) in Tartarus, vi. 782. 
 
 Tityus, vi. 804. 
 
 I'orchlight procession in honour of 
 Hercules, viii. 370. 
 
 Torquatus, vi. 1130. 
 
INDEX. 
 
 491 
 
 Transmigration of souls, vi. 975-1020. 
 
 'Triton, i. 205. 
 
 'IVivia, vii. 1062. 
 
 Trivia’s grove, vi. 16; lake, vii. 719. 
 
 Troilus, i. 663. 
 
 Trojan (the) fleet turned into sea 
 nymphs, ix. 126 ; meet .dEneas and 
 hasten his return, x. 312-350. 
 
 Trojans, persecuted by Juno, i. 45-83 ; 
 reach the Libyan shores, 227 ; land, 
 244; they feast, 293; their friendly 
 reception by Dido, 790 ; visit the 
 deserted Greek camp, ii. 35 ; take 
 the wooden horse into Troy, 304 ; 
 defend the palace, 607 : their pre- 
 parations for leaving Carthage, iv. 
 572-590; entrench their encamp- 
 ment in Latium, vii. 21 1 : ambas- 
 sadors’ account of their country 
 to Latinus, 290-340 ; retire behind 
 their ramparts, ix. 45 and 211 ; war 
 council, 295 ; commend the adven- 
 ture of Nisus and Euryalus, 325 ; 
 act on the defensive, 678 ; make a 
 sally, 935 ; the leaders’ names, x. 
 188-215 ; encouraged by the return ■ 
 of .^neas, 366. 
 
 Trojan troop, v. 716, 
 
 Trojan war, incidents of painted round 
 Juno’s temple, i. 635-695. 
 
 Troy, i. 318 ; doomed to fall, ii. 70 ; 
 taken and sacked, 397 ; horrors of 
 the sack, 488 ; the gods accomplish 
 its destruction, 825 ; on fire, 844 ; 
 the spoils of taken by the Greeks, 
 1037 - 
 
 Tullus, vi. 1T09. 
 
 Turnus, suitor to Lavinia, vii. 83: 
 his descent, 520 ; his town, 570% 
 approached by Alecto in the form 
 of Chalybe in a dream, 580-612 ; 
 she plies him more furiously, and 
 succeeds, 622-639 ; sends a threaten- 
 ing embassy to Latinus, and pre- 
 pares for war, ; described in 
 armour, 1071 ; takes the command 
 of the Latians, viii. i ; sends for 
 aid to Diomede, 13; leads his 
 forces against the Trojans, ix. 29 ; 
 challenges them to fight, 58 : at- 
 tempts to fire their fleet, 80 ; ex- 
 plains the prodigy of the fleet 
 turned to sea nymphs as against 
 them, and animates his forces, 155- 
 198 ; fires a tower, 712 ; kills Lycus, 
 753 ; kills many Trojans and puts 
 them to flight, 938-976 ; shut within 
 the Trojan entrenchments, 984 ; 
 kills Pandarus and many others, 
 1010-1048 ; is hard pressed, 1065 ; 
 escapes by plunging into the Tiber, 
 1102; prepares to attack .®neas 
 while landing his forces, x. 385, and 
 427 ; kills Pallas, 675 ; deceived by 
 Juno, and carried to sea, 900; his 
 
 rage and despair, 940 ; sarcastic 
 reply to Drances, and acceptance 
 of iEneas’ challenge, xi. 585-680 ; 
 quits the council and resumes his 
 arms, 698 and 733 ; gracefully de- 
 clines the proposal of Camilla, 770 ; 
 apprised of her death, 1293: pro- 
 poses to fight uiEneas in single com- 
 bat, xii. 20; sends his challenge,ii7; 
 his horses, 126; resumes his war- 
 like career, 487-564 ; avoids iEneas, 
 697 ; accuses his sister of saving him 
 at the cost of his honour, 918, 943 ; 
 he resolves to try the combat, 981- 
 loii ; his sword breaks, and he 
 flies, 1062; Juturna gives him a 
 new sword, 1134; attacked by the 
 Fury, 1252 ; tries to cast a large 
 stone at ^neas, 1300; becomes furi- 
 ous, 1320; his dying speech, 1349 ; 
 his death, 1370. 
 
 Tuscans, viii. 625, 657 ; chiefs, their 
 names, their ships, and forces, x. 
 
 245-307* 
 
 Tuscan sea, i. 102. 
 
 Tydeus, vi. 646. 
 
 Tyrians, build Carthage, i. 580. 
 
 Tyrrheus, ranger to Latinus, vii. 675 ; 
 leads the rustics to revenge the 
 killing of the pet stag, 708'. 
 
 Ucalagon, ii. 419. 
 
 Ufens, vii. 1026; viii. 9. 
 
 Ufens (river), vii. 1092. 
 
 Ulysses, ii. 10, 57, 116, 341; watch- 
 ing the Trojan spoils, 1036. 
 
 Umbro, a martial priest, vii. 1032. 
 
 Vases (gold), i. 905. 
 
 Veline mountains, vii. 720. 
 
 Venulus, viii. 13 ; his account of the 
 embassy to Diomede, xi. 370-452; 
 
 ' carried off his horse by Tarchon, 
 1092. 
 
 Venus, pleads with Jupiter on behalf 
 of her son iEneas, i. 314-345 ; meets 
 ./Eneas, 434 ; tells him the story of 
 Dido, 465-508 ; cheers and directs 
 him, 535 ; her appearance, 556 : 
 she retires to Paphos, where she is 
 worshipped, 575 : substitutes Cupid 
 for Ascanius, 927 ; instructs him 
 to infect Dido with violent love, 
 945 : puts Ascanius asleep, 969 ; 
 reproves ./Eneas on account of 
 Helen, ii. 808 ; shows ^Eneas the 
 gods warring against Troy, 825 ; 
 urges him to save himself and 
 family, 837 ; evasive speech to 
 Juno, iv. 151 ; gives a seeming as- 
 sent to Juno’s plans, 180 ; com- 
 plains to Neptune of Juno’s perse- 
 cution of her son, and implores him 
 to grant a favourable passage to 
 Italy, V. 1020 ; by her allurements 
 
492 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 prevails on Vulcan to make arms 
 for T^lneas, viii. 486-538 ; brings 
 the arms to him, 692 and 806 ; in 
 the council of the gods complains of 
 
 • Juno’s persecution of the Trojans, 
 X. 25-93 procures dittany to cure 
 Tineas’ wound, xii. 607. 
 
 Verbius, vii. 1048, 1064, 1069. 
 
 Vesta, her image and sacred fire 
 taken by iEneas from Troy, ii. 395. 
 
 Visions, true and false, vi. 1235. 
 
 Volcano, iii. 748. 
 
 Volscens, ix. 502 ; kills Euryalus, 
 577 ; killed, 587. 
 
 Volscians, vii. 1094 ; begin the at- 
 tack, ix. 671 ; retreat on the death 
 of Camilla, xi. 1257. 
 
 Vulcan, V. 863; vii. 939; his ready 
 compliance with the wishes of 
 Venus, viii. 523; commands the 
 Cyclops to make arms for iEneas, 
 580. 
 
 Volulus, xi. 703. 
 
 Vulturnus (river), vii. 1007. 
 
 War signals and signs, vii. 713 740; 
 formal proclamation of by the 
 Romans, 834 ; Mar’s temple gates 
 forced by Juno, 857; preparations 
 for, 861-886; its sufferings dispose 
 to peace, xi. 384 and 429 ; alarm 
 of, 686. 
 
 Washing hands before meat, i. 982. 
 
 Winds, i. 80, 120. 
 
 Wine, presented to .^neas, i. 269 ; 
 used as libations to ratify peace, 
 1030. 
 
 Woman, her jealousy, iv. 426 ; her 
 fickleness, 820 ; her sti'ength of 
 love, V. 7. 
 
 Wooden horse (the), ii. ig ; taken 
 unto Troy, 305 ; the leader en- 
 closed in it, 340. 
 
 # 
 
 PRINTED BY MUIR AND PATERSON, EDINBURGH.