The Works of Virgil Translated into English Blank Verse. With large Explanatory Notes, and Critical Observations. By Joseph Trapp |
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| 6. | BOOK the Sixth. |
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 | The Works of Virgil |  |
339
BOOK the Sixth.
344
Weeping He spoke: and loos'd the Navy's Reins;
And at th'Eubœan Coasts, on Cumæ's Shore,
At length arrives. They turn their Prows to Sea:
The biting Anchor moors their Ships; And all
The Beach is cover'd with the winding Sterns.
The youthful Crew upon th'Hesperian Strand
Exulting leap: Part seek the Seeds of Fire
Latent in Veins of Flint; Part seize the Woods,
Thick Haunts of Beasts, and Streams discover'd shew.
And at th'Eubœan Coasts, on Cumæ's Shore,
At length arrives. They turn their Prows to Sea:
The biting Anchor moors their Ships; And all
The Beach is cover'd with the winding Sterns.
The youthful Crew upon th'Hesperian Strand
Exulting leap: Part seek the Seeds of Fire
Latent in Veins of Flint; Part seize the Woods,
Thick Haunts of Beasts, and Streams discover'd shew.
But good Æneas to the tow'ring Fane
Repairs, o'er which Apollo high presides;
And to the spacious Cavern, where retir'd
The venerable Sibyl dwells; to whom
Prophetick Delius an extensive Soul
And Mind inspires, and future Things reveals.
Now Trivia's Thicket, and the golden Dome
They enter. Dædalus (as Fame reports)
On nimble Pinions flying Minos' Realms,
Advent'rous to commit himself to Air,
And by a wond'rous Voyage sailing, came
To the cold North; and swift on Chalcis' Tow'r
At length alighted. On These Coasts arriv'd,
Phœbus, to Thee the Steerage of his Wings
He consecrated; and a Temple built,
Capacious, vast: Androgeos' Death engrav'd
Adorns the Entrance; Then th'Athenians doom'd
To pay an annual Tribute (harsh Command!)
Sev'n of their Sons; The fatal Urn stands by.
Full opposite the Isle of Crete appears,
Answ'ring the Shore, and rais'd above the Sea.
Here the dire Passion for a Bull is shewn;
Pasiphäe by secret Art inclos'd;
The mingled Species, and the two-form'd Birth,
That Monument of execrable Lust,
The Minotaur. Here That laborious Dome,
And Errour intricate: But Dædalus,
Pitying the Princess, and her boundless Love,
The various Fraud, and Windings of the Maze
Himself unravel'd, guiding with a Thread
Her doubtful Steps. And not a little Part
In so renown'd a Sculpture, had but Grief
Permitted him, Thou, Icarus, had'st shar'd:
Twice he assay'd to cast Thy Fate in Gold;
Twice fell the Father's Hands. Now all the Work
Throughout with curious Eyes they would have trac'd;
Had not Achates sent before arriv'd,
With Him, Deïphobe from Glaucus sprung,
Priestess of Trivia, and the Delian God,
Who Thus bespeaks the Prince: 'Tis now no Time
With These Amusements to indulge your Sight;
'Twould more import you, from a Herd untouch'd
To sacrifice, as Custom due requires,
Sev'n Heifers, and as many chosen Sheep.
Repairs, o'er which Apollo high presides;
And to the spacious Cavern, where retir'd
345
Prophetick Delius an extensive Soul
And Mind inspires, and future Things reveals.
Now Trivia's Thicket, and the golden Dome
They enter. Dædalus (as Fame reports)
On nimble Pinions flying Minos' Realms,
Advent'rous to commit himself to Air,
And by a wond'rous Voyage sailing, came
To the cold North; and swift on Chalcis' Tow'r
At length alighted. On These Coasts arriv'd,
Phœbus, to Thee the Steerage of his Wings
He consecrated; and a Temple built,
Capacious, vast: Androgeos' Death engrav'd
Adorns the Entrance; Then th'Athenians doom'd
To pay an annual Tribute (harsh Command!)
Sev'n of their Sons; The fatal Urn stands by.
Full opposite the Isle of Crete appears,
Answ'ring the Shore, and rais'd above the Sea.
Here the dire Passion for a Bull is shewn;
Pasiphäe by secret Art inclos'd;
The mingled Species, and the two-form'd Birth,
That Monument of execrable Lust,
The Minotaur. Here That laborious Dome,
And Errour intricate: But Dædalus,
Pitying the Princess, and her boundless Love,
The various Fraud, and Windings of the Maze
Himself unravel'd, guiding with a Thread
346
In so renown'd a Sculpture, had but Grief
Permitted him, Thou, Icarus, had'st shar'd:
Twice he assay'd to cast Thy Fate in Gold;
Twice fell the Father's Hands. Now all the Work
Throughout with curious Eyes they would have trac'd;
Had not Achates sent before arriv'd,
With Him, Deïphobe from Glaucus sprung,
Priestess of Trivia, and the Delian God,
Who Thus bespeaks the Prince: 'Tis now no Time
With These Amusements to indulge your Sight;
'Twould more import you, from a Herd untouch'd
To sacrifice, as Custom due requires,
Sev'n Heifers, and as many chosen Sheep.
Thus She; Nor were the sacred Rites delay'd:
The Priestess to the lofty Temple calls
The Trojans. Cut into th'Eubœan Rock
A roomy Cave descended; whither lead
An hundred Entrances of wide Extent,
An hundred Mouths; whence rush as many Sounds,
The Sibyl's Oracles. And now they reach'd
The Portal: When the Virgin, 'Tis the Time
Now to enquire the Doom of Fate; Behold,
The God, the God, she cry'd. While thus she spoke;
Before the Doors, her Looks, her Colour chang'd,
Sudden; Her Hair in wild Confusion rose:
Enthusiastick Fury heav'd her Breast,
And throbbing Heart; More large her Form appear'd;
Nor spoke she mortal Accents; when inspir'd
By the more present God. Dost thou delay,
Trojan Æneas, thy Requests, and Vows?
Dost thou delay? she cry'd: For not 'till then
The trembling Fane will open wide it's Mouths.
This said, she silent stood: A chilling Fear
Ran thro' the hardy Trojans' Bones; Their Prince
Thus from his inmost Bosom pour'd his Pray'rs.
The Priestess to the lofty Temple calls
The Trojans. Cut into th'Eubœan Rock
A roomy Cave descended; whither lead
An hundred Entrances of wide Extent,
An hundred Mouths; whence rush as many Sounds,
The Sibyl's Oracles. And now they reach'd
The Portal: When the Virgin, 'Tis the Time
Now to enquire the Doom of Fate; Behold,
The God, the God, she cry'd. While thus she spoke;
347
Sudden; Her Hair in wild Confusion rose:
Enthusiastick Fury heav'd her Breast,
And throbbing Heart; More large her Form appear'd;
Nor spoke she mortal Accents; when inspir'd
By the more present God. Dost thou delay,
Trojan Æneas, thy Requests, and Vows?
Dost thou delay? she cry'd: For not 'till then
The trembling Fane will open wide it's Mouths.
This said, she silent stood: A chilling Fear
Ran thro' the hardy Trojans' Bones; Their Prince
Thus from his inmost Bosom pour'd his Pray'rs.
Phœbus, who always did'st with Pity view
Troy's pressing Toils, and guide the Dardan Shafts
Of Paris deep into Achilles' Blood:
So many Seas surrounding spacious Lands,
Under thy Conduct, I have long explor'd;
The far retir'd Massylians, and the Fields
Extended near the Syrtes: Now at last
We touch the Coasts of flying Italy.
Let it suffice that Destiny thus far
Has persecuted Troy: And all Ye Gods,
And Goddesses, to whom the Dardan State,
And mighty Ilium's envy'd Glory shone
Obnoxious; 'Tis allow'd you now to spare
The Trojan Race: And Thou, Celestial Maid,
Skill'd in Futurity (Realms not undue
By Fate I ask) permit our wand'ring Gods
To fix our Colony on Latium's Coast.
To Phœbus then, and Trivia I will build
A Fane of solid Marble, and appoint
Days festival, to honour Phœbus' Name.
Thee too magnificent Apartments wait
Within my Realms; Thy Fates to us reveal'd,
And secret Oracles I will preserve,
Propitious Maid, and chosen Men ordain.
Only to Leaves commit not, I implore,
Thy Numbers; lest dispers'd they fly, the Sport
Of rapid Winds: but vocal sing our Fate.
Troy's pressing Toils, and guide the Dardan Shafts
Of Paris deep into Achilles' Blood:
348
Under thy Conduct, I have long explor'd;
The far retir'd Massylians, and the Fields
Extended near the Syrtes: Now at last
We touch the Coasts of flying Italy.
Let it suffice that Destiny thus far
Has persecuted Troy: And all Ye Gods,
And Goddesses, to whom the Dardan State,
And mighty Ilium's envy'd Glory shone
Obnoxious; 'Tis allow'd you now to spare
The Trojan Race: And Thou, Celestial Maid,
Skill'd in Futurity (Realms not undue
By Fate I ask) permit our wand'ring Gods
To fix our Colony on Latium's Coast.
To Phœbus then, and Trivia I will build
A Fane of solid Marble, and appoint
Days festival, to honour Phœbus' Name.
Thee too magnificent Apartments wait
Within my Realms; Thy Fates to us reveal'd,
And secret Oracles I will preserve,
Propitious Maid, and chosen Men ordain.
Only to Leaves commit not, I implore,
Thy Numbers; lest dispers'd they fly, the Sport
349
He ended: But impatient in her Grot
Apollo's swelling Priestess wildly raves;
Reluctant, lab'ring from her Breast to heave
Th'incumbent God: So much the more He curbs
Her foamy Mouth, subdues her madding Heart,
And pressing forms her. Now spontaneous fly
Wide-ope the Cavern's hundred spacious Mouths,
And waft her Oracles into the Air.
Apollo's swelling Priestess wildly raves;
Reluctant, lab'ring from her Breast to heave
Th'incumbent God: So much the more He curbs
Her foamy Mouth, subdues her madding Heart,
And pressing forms her. Now spontaneous fly
Wide-ope the Cavern's hundred spacious Mouths,
And waft her Oracles into the Air.
O Thou, who hast by Sea such Toils endur'd;
By Land still greater wait thee: On the Coasts
Of Latium (let not That disturb thy Breast)
The Trojans shall arrive; But they shall wish
They never had: Wars, horrid Wars I see,
And Tyber frothing with a Tide of Gore.
Another Simoïs thou shalt not want,
Another Xanthus, other Doric Camps:
A new Achilles is for thee prepar'd
In Italy; and He too Goddess-born:
Nor any where will Juno fail t'attend
The Trojans. Suppliant in distress'd Affairs
Whom shalt thou not, among th'Italian States,
What Towns, what Nations shalt thou not implore?
The Cause of so much Woe shall be again
A foreign Consort to the Trojan Race,
And foreign Nuptials.
Submit not Thou to Dangers; but proceed
More daring, than thy Fortune will allow.
The Way to Safety (which you least expect)
Shall from a Grecian City first be shewn.
By Land still greater wait thee: On the Coasts
Of Latium (let not That disturb thy Breast)
The Trojans shall arrive; But they shall wish
They never had: Wars, horrid Wars I see,
And Tyber frothing with a Tide of Gore.
Another Simoïs thou shalt not want,
Another Xanthus, other Doric Camps:
A new Achilles is for thee prepar'd
In Italy; and He too Goddess-born:
Nor any where will Juno fail t'attend
The Trojans. Suppliant in distress'd Affairs
Whom shalt thou not, among th'Italian States,
What Towns, what Nations shalt thou not implore?
The Cause of so much Woe shall be again
A foreign Consort to the Trojan Race,
And foreign Nuptials.
350
More daring, than thy Fortune will allow.
The Way to Safety (which you least expect)
Shall from a Grecian City first be shewn.
Thus the Cumæan Sibyl from her Shrine
Sings mystic Verse; and bellows in her Cave,
Involving Truth in Darkness: As she foams,
Apollo shakes the Reins, and goads her Breast.
Soon as her Fury, and her rabid Mouth
Had ceas'd; the Trojan Hero Thus began.
Sings mystic Verse; and bellows in her Cave,
Involving Truth in Darkness: As she foams,
Apollo shakes the Reins, and goads her Breast.
Soon as her Fury, and her rabid Mouth
Had ceas'd; the Trojan Hero Thus began.
No Face of Toil, or Danger, can to me,
O Virgin, new, or unexpected, rise:
Long have I form'd them all within my Breast,
And preconceiv'd them. One thing I implore;
Since here 'tis said th'infernal Gate of Dis,
And gloomy Acheron's tumultuous Gulf
Are open'd; let me by permitting Fates
To my lov'd Father's Sight and Presence go:
Shew Thou the Way, and ope the sacred Doors.
Him on These Shoulders, rescu'd from the Foe,
Thro' Flames, and Storms of hostile Darts, I bore:
He thro' all Oceans, Partner of my Flight,
Infirm, endur'd all Threats of Sea, and Sky,
Beyond his Strength, and what his Age requir'd.
He too commanded me with earnest Pray'r,
Suppliant to beg your Counsels, and approach
Your awful Temple: Pity, I intreat,
Propitious Maid, the Father and the Son:
For You can all things; nor did Hecate
Appoint you o'er th'Avernian Groves in vain.
If Orpheus, trusting in his Thracian Lyre,
And sounding Strings, could free his Consort's Ghost;
If Pollux by alternate Death redeem'd
His Brother, and so often goes, and comes:
Why should I name brave Theseus? or the great
Alcides? And I too descend from Jove.
O Virgin, new, or unexpected, rise:
Long have I form'd them all within my Breast,
And preconceiv'd them. One thing I implore;
Since here 'tis said th'infernal Gate of Dis,
And gloomy Acheron's tumultuous Gulf
Are open'd; let me by permitting Fates
351
Shew Thou the Way, and ope the sacred Doors.
Him on These Shoulders, rescu'd from the Foe,
Thro' Flames, and Storms of hostile Darts, I bore:
He thro' all Oceans, Partner of my Flight,
Infirm, endur'd all Threats of Sea, and Sky,
Beyond his Strength, and what his Age requir'd.
He too commanded me with earnest Pray'r,
Suppliant to beg your Counsels, and approach
Your awful Temple: Pity, I intreat,
Propitious Maid, the Father and the Son:
For You can all things; nor did Hecate
Appoint you o'er th'Avernian Groves in vain.
If Orpheus, trusting in his Thracian Lyre,
And sounding Strings, could free his Consort's Ghost;
If Pollux by alternate Death redeem'd
His Brother, and so often goes, and comes:
Why should I name brave Theseus? or the great
Alcides? And I too descend from Jove.
Thus He before the Altars suppliant pray'd;
Then Thus the Prophetess: Anchises' Son,
Trojan, of Race celestial; The Descent
To Hell is easy; Night and Day the Gate
Of gloomy Dis stands open: But to turn
One's Steps, and re-ascend to upper Air,
There, there's the arduous Task. A few, belov'd
By fav'ring Jove, and by transcendent Worth
Rais'd to the Stars, of heav'nly Parents born,
This Privilege could gain. The middle Space
Is all o'ergrown with Woods, and all around
Inclos'd by black Cocytus' winding Stream.
But if so fond a Love, such strong Desire
Inflame thee twice to sail the Stygian Lake,
And twice to visit the Tartarean Gloom,
Delighting to indulge so vast a Toil;
Attend to what must previous be perform'd.
Within a shady Tree there grows retir'd
A Bough, with Leaves, and pliant Sprigs of Gold,
Held sacred to th'Infernal Queen: This Branch
The Grove all covers, and in Vales obscure
The Shades surround: But 'tis allow'd to None
The subterranean Regions to explore,
'Till from That Tree he crops the golden Shoot.
This Gift the fair Proserpina ordains
An Off'ring to her self: The first pluck'd off,
Still other Gold succeeds, another Twig
With the same vegetable Metal blooms.
Thou therefore search it with uplifted Eyes,
And crop it with thy Hand, by Rite prescrib'd.
For if the Fates have destin'd thee, with ease
Spontaneous it will bend, and meet thy Touch;
Else, by no Strength or Steel it will be hewn.
Besides, a lifeless Body of thy Friend
There lies (alas! thou know'st it not) and all
The Navy his unbury'd Coarse pollutes;
While thou art here consulting Fate's Decree,
And ling'ring at my Doors: Him first commit
To his due Earth, and hide him in a Tomb;
Black Victims (Those the first Lustrations) bring;
And then at last the Stygian Groves, and Realms
Impervious to the Living thou shalt see.
She ended; and her Mouth in silence clos'd.
Then Thus the Prophetess: Anchises' Son,
Trojan, of Race celestial; The Descent
To Hell is easy; Night and Day the Gate
Of gloomy Dis stands open: But to turn
One's Steps, and re-ascend to upper Air,
There, there's the arduous Task. A few, belov'd
By fav'ring Jove, and by transcendent Worth
Rais'd to the Stars, of heav'nly Parents born,
This Privilege could gain. The middle Space
Is all o'ergrown with Woods, and all around
Inclos'd by black Cocytus' winding Stream.
352
Inflame thee twice to sail the Stygian Lake,
And twice to visit the Tartarean Gloom,
Delighting to indulge so vast a Toil;
Attend to what must previous be perform'd.
Within a shady Tree there grows retir'd
A Bough, with Leaves, and pliant Sprigs of Gold,
Held sacred to th'Infernal Queen: This Branch
The Grove all covers, and in Vales obscure
The Shades surround: But 'tis allow'd to None
The subterranean Regions to explore,
'Till from That Tree he crops the golden Shoot.
This Gift the fair Proserpina ordains
An Off'ring to her self: The first pluck'd off,
Still other Gold succeeds, another Twig
353
Thou therefore search it with uplifted Eyes,
And crop it with thy Hand, by Rite prescrib'd.
For if the Fates have destin'd thee, with ease
Spontaneous it will bend, and meet thy Touch;
Else, by no Strength or Steel it will be hewn.
Besides, a lifeless Body of thy Friend
There lies (alas! thou know'st it not) and all
The Navy his unbury'd Coarse pollutes;
While thou art here consulting Fate's Decree,
And ling'ring at my Doors: Him first commit
To his due Earth, and hide him in a Tomb;
Black Victims (Those the first Lustrations) bring;
And then at last the Stygian Groves, and Realms
Impervious to the Living thou shalt see.
She ended; and her Mouth in silence clos'd.
Æneas pensive, and with downcast Eyes,
Leaving the Cave, walks musing, and revolves
Within his secret Mind the dark Events.
Achates, faithful Partner, by his Side
With equal Cares accompanies his Steps.
Much by themselves, and variously they talk,
What lifeless Friend the Priestess should design,
What Corps to be interr'd: And as they came,
They saw Misenus on the naked Shore,
By a disastrous Death untimely slain.
Misenus, Son of Æolus, than whom
None more expert with sounding Brass to rouse
The Troops, and fire the Battle with Alarms.
He first great Hector follow'd; fam'd in Fight,
Near Hector's Person, for his Fife, and Spear.
Him when Achilles Conqu'rour robb'd of Life;
The valiant Hero to Æneas' Train
Added Himself; nor then obey'd a Lord
Inferiour. But when o'er the Sea he blew
His sounding Conch, and madly dar'd the Gods
To Emulation; Him (if such a Fame
Be credible) his Rival Triton plung'd
Among the Rocks into the foaming Deep.
Leaving the Cave, walks musing, and revolves
Within his secret Mind the dark Events.
Achates, faithful Partner, by his Side
With equal Cares accompanies his Steps.
Much by themselves, and variously they talk,
What lifeless Friend the Priestess should design,
What Corps to be interr'd: And as they came,
They saw Misenus on the naked Shore,
By a disastrous Death untimely slain.
Misenus, Son of Æolus, than whom
None more expert with sounding Brass to rouse
The Troops, and fire the Battle with Alarms.
He first great Hector follow'd; fam'd in Fight,
Near Hector's Person, for his Fife, and Spear.
354
The valiant Hero to Æneas' Train
Added Himself; nor then obey'd a Lord
Inferiour. But when o'er the Sea he blew
His sounding Conch, and madly dar'd the Gods
To Emulation; Him (if such a Fame
Be credible) his Rival Triton plung'd
Among the Rocks into the foaming Deep.
Therefore with loud Laments all round him mourn,
Chiefly the pious Prince: Without Delay
Weeping they execute the Sibyl's Charge;
Industrious to erect with Trees, and build
To Heav'n the Altar of his Fun'ral Pile,
Into an ancient Wood, the deep Recess
Of Beasts they go: Down fall the pitchy Pines;
With Blows of Axes Oaks, and Ashen Trunks,
And splitting Timber, cleft with Wedges, sound;
And from the Hills the lofty Beeches roll.
Æneas foremost, with like Weapons arm'd,
Encourages his Friends, and aids their Toil:
These Thoughts revolves within his anxious Breast;
And, looking round the Wood's immense Extent,
Thus prays. May now to us That golden Branch
It self discover in so vast a Grove;
Since all things true, alas! too true of Thee,
Misenus, the Prophetick Virgin told.
He scarce had spoke; When full before his Eyes
Two Doves by chance came flying thro' the Sky,
And pitch'd upon the verdant Ground: The Chief
Soon knows his Mother's Birds, and joyful prays.
Be You my Guides, if any Way there lie,
And to That Wood direct my Course thro' Air,
Where the rich Bough o'ershades the fertil Ground:
And Thou, O heav'nly Parent, in These Doubts
Desert me not. He said; and fix'd his Steps,
Observing close what Signal they would give,
And whither tend. With interrupted Flight
They feeding move before him, just as far
As Those behind could keep them still in view:
When to Avernus' stenchy Jaws they came;
Swiftly they mount, and thro' the liquid Air
Both gliding at the wish'd-for Place alight,
Upon That Tree, from whence, among the Boughs,
Discolour'd shone the gleamy Air of Gold.
As Misletoe in Woods, in Winter's Frost,
Not by its own congenial Plant produc'd,
Is wont to spring with recent Leaves, and round
The Trunks in Ringlets twines its yellow Shoots:
Such was the Figure of the blooming Gold,
Within the Oak o'ershading; So the Bark
Metallick tinkled with the gentle Wind.
Æneas eager crops the lingring Branch
With Haste, and bears it to the Sibyl's Cave.
Chiefly the pious Prince: Without Delay
Weeping they execute the Sibyl's Charge;
Industrious to erect with Trees, and build
To Heav'n the Altar of his Fun'ral Pile,
Into an ancient Wood, the deep Recess
Of Beasts they go: Down fall the pitchy Pines;
With Blows of Axes Oaks, and Ashen Trunks,
And splitting Timber, cleft with Wedges, sound;
And from the Hills the lofty Beeches roll.
Æneas foremost, with like Weapons arm'd,
Encourages his Friends, and aids their Toil:
These Thoughts revolves within his anxious Breast;
And, looking round the Wood's immense Extent,
Thus prays. May now to us That golden Branch
It self discover in so vast a Grove;
Since all things true, alas! too true of Thee,
Misenus, the Prophetick Virgin told.
355
Two Doves by chance came flying thro' the Sky,
And pitch'd upon the verdant Ground: The Chief
Soon knows his Mother's Birds, and joyful prays.
Be You my Guides, if any Way there lie,
And to That Wood direct my Course thro' Air,
Where the rich Bough o'ershades the fertil Ground:
And Thou, O heav'nly Parent, in These Doubts
Desert me not. He said; and fix'd his Steps,
Observing close what Signal they would give,
And whither tend. With interrupted Flight
They feeding move before him, just as far
As Those behind could keep them still in view:
When to Avernus' stenchy Jaws they came;
Swiftly they mount, and thro' the liquid Air
356
Upon That Tree, from whence, among the Boughs,
Discolour'd shone the gleamy Air of Gold.
As Misletoe in Woods, in Winter's Frost,
Not by its own congenial Plant produc'd,
Is wont to spring with recent Leaves, and round
The Trunks in Ringlets twines its yellow Shoots:
Such was the Figure of the blooming Gold,
Within the Oak o'ershading; So the Bark
Metallick tinkled with the gentle Wind.
Æneas eager crops the lingring Branch
With Haste, and bears it to the Sibyl's Cave.
357
Nor less, mean-while, the Trojans on the Shore
Weep o'er Misenus; and the last sad Rites
Pay to his senseless Ashes: First a Pile
With Timber cleft, and unctuous Pitch-Trees high
They build; with gloomy Boughs entwine it's Sides,
Before it fun'ral Cypresses erect,
And grace it all above with shining Arms.
Warm Liquors, Some, and Cauldrons from the Fire
Boiling, dispatch; first wash, and then anoint
His cold, stiff Limbs: A gen'ral Groan succeeds;
Then, mourning, on the Bed his Corps they lay,
And o'er it throw the purple Robes, the Veil
Accustom'd: Some support the pond'rous Bier,
(Sad Ministry!) and, by the ancient Rite,
With Faces turn'd away, beneath the Pyre
Hold flaming Brands: Together blended burn
Off'rings of Incense, Flesh, and Jars of Oil.
Soon as the Ashes fell, and Flames expir'd;
Th'imbibing Cinders, and the last Remains
They drench with Wine; and in a brazen Urn
The Bones collected Chorinæus hides:
Then thrice with limpid Water sprinkles round
Th'Assembly, from the fertil Olive-Bough;
With dewy Moisture purifies his Friends,
Concludes the Rites, and speaks the last Farewel.
But good Æneas rear'd a stately Tomb,
The Hero's Arms, his Oar, and Trumpet fix'd,
Beneath a lofty Mountain; which from Him
Is now Misenus call'd, and keeps it's Name
To everlasting Ages. This perform'd,
He executes with speed the Sibyl's Charge.
Weep o'er Misenus; and the last sad Rites
Pay to his senseless Ashes: First a Pile
With Timber cleft, and unctuous Pitch-Trees high
They build; with gloomy Boughs entwine it's Sides,
Before it fun'ral Cypresses erect,
And grace it all above with shining Arms.
Warm Liquors, Some, and Cauldrons from the Fire
Boiling, dispatch; first wash, and then anoint
His cold, stiff Limbs: A gen'ral Groan succeeds;
Then, mourning, on the Bed his Corps they lay,
And o'er it throw the purple Robes, the Veil
Accustom'd: Some support the pond'rous Bier,
(Sad Ministry!) and, by the ancient Rite,
With Faces turn'd away, beneath the Pyre
Hold flaming Brands: Together blended burn
Off'rings of Incense, Flesh, and Jars of Oil.
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Th'imbibing Cinders, and the last Remains
They drench with Wine; and in a brazen Urn
The Bones collected Chorinæus hides:
Then thrice with limpid Water sprinkles round
Th'Assembly, from the fertil Olive-Bough;
With dewy Moisture purifies his Friends,
Concludes the Rites, and speaks the last Farewel.
But good Æneas rear'd a stately Tomb,
The Hero's Arms, his Oar, and Trumpet fix'd,
Beneath a lofty Mountain; which from Him
Is now Misenus call'd, and keeps it's Name
To everlasting Ages. This perform'd,
He executes with speed the Sibyl's Charge.
A Cave profound there was, with yawning Mouth
Capacious, stony, with a darksom Lake,
And gloomy Grove defended; o'er whose Gulph
None of the Feather'd Kind might wing their way
With safety; such a Vapour thick exhal'd
From it's black Jaws ascended to the Sky!
From whence the Greeks the Place Avernus nam'd.
Four Bullocks first, with Hides of sable Hue,
The Priestess here before the Altars plac'd;
And full upon their Foreheads downwards pour'd
The Wine: Then plucking from between their Horns
Their foremost Hairs, into the holy Fire
The first Oblation flings; invoking loud
Great Hecate, potent in Hell, and Heav'n.
Some, sticking Knives beneath, in Bowls receive
The tepid Blood: Æneas with his Sword
Himself dispatches to th'Infernal Pow'rs,
The Mother of the Furies, and to Earth
Her Sister-Deity, a black Ewe-Lamb,
And, Proserpine, a barren Cow to Thee.
Then to the Stygian Monarch he begins
The nightly Sacrifice; the solid Flesh
Of Bulls upon the flaming Altar lays,
And o'er their burning Entrails pours the Oil.
Lo! at the Sun's first Light, and dawning Day,
The Ground began to groan beneath their Feet;
The Woods, upon the Mountains, nodding shook;
And thro' the Shade the howling Dogs foretold
The coming Goddess: Hence, the Priestess cry'd,
Hence, Ye Profane; from all the Grove retire:
And Thou invade the Passage, with thy Steel
Unsheath'd; Now, now, Æneas, is the time
For Courage, and a stedfast Mind. This said,
Furious she plung'd into the open Cave:
He equals with intrepid Steps his Guide.
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And gloomy Grove defended; o'er whose Gulph
None of the Feather'd Kind might wing their way
With safety; such a Vapour thick exhal'd
From it's black Jaws ascended to the Sky!
From whence the Greeks the Place Avernus nam'd.
Four Bullocks first, with Hides of sable Hue,
The Priestess here before the Altars plac'd;
And full upon their Foreheads downwards pour'd
The Wine: Then plucking from between their Horns
Their foremost Hairs, into the holy Fire
The first Oblation flings; invoking loud
Great Hecate, potent in Hell, and Heav'n.
Some, sticking Knives beneath, in Bowls receive
The tepid Blood: Æneas with his Sword
Himself dispatches to th'Infernal Pow'rs,
The Mother of the Furies, and to Earth
360
And, Proserpine, a barren Cow to Thee.
Then to the Stygian Monarch he begins
The nightly Sacrifice; the solid Flesh
Of Bulls upon the flaming Altar lays,
And o'er their burning Entrails pours the Oil.
Lo! at the Sun's first Light, and dawning Day,
The Ground began to groan beneath their Feet;
The Woods, upon the Mountains, nodding shook;
And thro' the Shade the howling Dogs foretold
The coming Goddess: Hence, the Priestess cry'd,
Hence, Ye Profane; from all the Grove retire:
And Thou invade the Passage, with thy Steel
Unsheath'd; Now, now, Æneas, is the time
For Courage, and a stedfast Mind. This said,
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He equals with intrepid Steps his Guide.
Ye Gods, who rule o'er Ghosts, and silent Shades,
Chaos, and Phlegethon; Ye spacious Fields
Of silent Night: Let me permitted speak
What I have heard, and Authoriz'd by You
Disclose Things hid in Darkness, and deep Earth.
Lonely They went, in Night obscure, thro' Shades,
Thro' Pluto's empty Courts, and airy Realms.
Such is the solitary Walk in Woods,
By the uncertain Moon's malignant Gleam;
When Jove in Darkness has involv'd the Sky,
And Objects lose their Colour by the Night.
Chaos, and Phlegethon; Ye spacious Fields
Of silent Night: Let me permitted speak
What I have heard, and Authoriz'd by You
Disclose Things hid in Darkness, and deep Earth.
Lonely They went, in Night obscure, thro' Shades,
Thro' Pluto's empty Courts, and airy Realms.
Such is the solitary Walk in Woods,
By the uncertain Moon's malignant Gleam;
When Jove in Darkness has involv'd the Sky,
And Objects lose their Colour by the Night.
Just in the Entrance, and first Jaws of Hell,
Grief, and revengeful Cares their Couches plac'd;
And pale Diseases, querulous Old Age,
Fear, ill-persuading Hunger, and foul Want;
(Forms dreadful to behold!) and Death, and Pain;
And Sleep a-kin to Death; the Mind's false Joys;
And, in the adverse Portal, deadly War.
The Furies' iron Beds; and Discord wild,
Her vip'rous Locks with bloody Fillets bound.
Full in the Midst a tall and dusky Elm
Displays it's Boughs, and aged Limbs: This Seat
(Such is the Fame) fantastic Dreams possess,
And stick beneath the Leaves. Then monstrous Beasts,
Of various Figure: Centaurs, in the Doors,
And two-shap'd Scylla's stable; Briareus
Hundred-fold Giant; Lerna's Snake with Hiss
Terrific, and Chimæra arm'd with Flames;
Gorgons, and Harpys, and the hideous Form
Of the three-body'd Fantom. Here, surpriz'd
With sudden Fear, Æneas grasps his Sword,
And obvious, as they come, the Blade unsheath'd
Presents: And had not his experienc'd Guide
Advis'd him, that Those unimbody'd Shades
Fly fleeting, and impassive; He had rush'd,
Beating thin Air, and stabbing Ghosts in vain.
Grief, and revengeful Cares their Couches plac'd;
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Fear, ill-persuading Hunger, and foul Want;
(Forms dreadful to behold!) and Death, and Pain;
And Sleep a-kin to Death; the Mind's false Joys;
And, in the adverse Portal, deadly War.
The Furies' iron Beds; and Discord wild,
Her vip'rous Locks with bloody Fillets bound.
Full in the Midst a tall and dusky Elm
Displays it's Boughs, and aged Limbs: This Seat
(Such is the Fame) fantastic Dreams possess,
And stick beneath the Leaves. Then monstrous Beasts,
Of various Figure: Centaurs, in the Doors,
And two-shap'd Scylla's stable; Briareus
Hundred-fold Giant; Lerna's Snake with Hiss
Terrific, and Chimæra arm'd with Flames;
Gorgons, and Harpys, and the hideous Form
Of the three-body'd Fantom. Here, surpriz'd
With sudden Fear, Æneas grasps his Sword,
And obvious, as they come, the Blade unsheath'd
Presents: And had not his experienc'd Guide
Advis'd him, that Those unimbody'd Shades
363
Beating thin Air, and stabbing Ghosts in vain.
Hence to Tartarean Acheron's fierce Waves
The Way directs; Here turbid, thick with Mud
Voraginous, boils a vast whirling Gulph,
And to Cocytus disembogues the Sand.
Charon, the griesly Ferryman of Hell,
This River keeps, and on These Surges waits;
Horrid with dreadful Filth. Much hoary Beard
Lies on his Chin uncultivate; His Eyes
Stand fix'd in Flame; Down from his Shoulder hangs
In Knot his foul Attire: The God himself
Shoves with a Pole his Boat, and spreads his Sails,
And in his sable Skiff transports the Ghosts,
Now Senior, but in fresh and green Old Age.
Hither in Throngs they crouded to the Bank;
Matrons, and Men, Souls of brave Heroes dead,
Boys, and unmarry'd Girls, and Youths consum'd
On Fun'ral-piles before their Parents' Eyes.
Unnumber'd, as the Leaves, which fall in Woods,
By Autumn's first sharp Blasts: Or as the Birds
Which flock from Sea to Land; when the cold Year
Drives them beyond Sea, seeking warmer Climes.
Praying they stood, first to be wafted o'er;
And, longing for the farther Bank, their Hands
Extended: But the surly Boatman, deaf
To all their Cries, now These, now Those receives;
But drives the rest at distance from the Beach.
The Way directs; Here turbid, thick with Mud
Voraginous, boils a vast whirling Gulph,
And to Cocytus disembogues the Sand.
Charon, the griesly Ferryman of Hell,
This River keeps, and on These Surges waits;
Horrid with dreadful Filth. Much hoary Beard
Lies on his Chin uncultivate; His Eyes
Stand fix'd in Flame; Down from his Shoulder hangs
364
Shoves with a Pole his Boat, and spreads his Sails,
And in his sable Skiff transports the Ghosts,
Now Senior, but in fresh and green Old Age.
Hither in Throngs they crouded to the Bank;
Matrons, and Men, Souls of brave Heroes dead,
Boys, and unmarry'd Girls, and Youths consum'd
On Fun'ral-piles before their Parents' Eyes.
Unnumber'd, as the Leaves, which fall in Woods,
By Autumn's first sharp Blasts: Or as the Birds
Which flock from Sea to Land; when the cold Year
Drives them beyond Sea, seeking warmer Climes.
Praying they stood, first to be wafted o'er;
And, longing for the farther Bank, their Hands
365
To all their Cries, now These, now Those receives;
But drives the rest at distance from the Beach.
Æneas (for That Tumult much surpriz'd,
And struck his Soul) Thus speaks: O sacred Maid,
Tell me, what means This Concourse to the Lake?
What do the Ghosts desire? And why distinct
Leave These the Banks, while Others sweep with Oars
The livid Ford? To Him in brief replies
The aged Priestess. Great Anchises' Son,
Undoubted Offspring of the Gods; You see
Profound Cocytus, and the Stygian Pool;
Whose Deity the Gods by Oaths revere,
And dread to violate. This Croud is All
Distress'd, and unintomb'd: That Ferryman
Is Charon; Those who sail the Lake, interr'd.
But 'tis not giv'n to pass the horrid Banks,
And hoarse-resounding Fluent; 'till in Graves
Their Bones are laid: An hundred Years they rove,
And flutter round These Shores; and then at length
Admitted, to the wish'd-for Stream return.
And struck his Soul) Thus speaks: O sacred Maid,
Tell me, what means This Concourse to the Lake?
What do the Ghosts desire? And why distinct
Leave These the Banks, while Others sweep with Oars
The livid Ford? To Him in brief replies
The aged Priestess. Great Anchises' Son,
Undoubted Offspring of the Gods; You see
Profound Cocytus, and the Stygian Pool;
Whose Deity the Gods by Oaths revere,
And dread to violate. This Croud is All
Distress'd, and unintomb'd: That Ferryman
Is Charon; Those who sail the Lake, interr'd.
But 'tis not giv'n to pass the horrid Banks,
And hoarse-resounding Fluent; 'till in Graves
Their Bones are laid: An hundred Years they rove,
And flutter round These Shores; and then at length
Admitted, to the wish'd-for Stream return.
Fix'd stood Anchises' Son, repress'd his Steps,
Much musing; and the hard, unequal Fate
Commiserates: Leucaspis here he sees,
And the Commander of the Lycian Fleet
Orontes, mourning, and deny'd the Rites
Of Honours due to Death; whom, toss'd from Troy
O'er stormy Billows, Auster overwhelm'd,
Involving in the Waves the Ship, and Men.
Lo! Palinure with wand'ring Steps mov'd slow,
The Pilot, who, as he observ'd the Stars
Late, in the Libyan Voyage, from the Stern
Fell plung'd into the Middle of the Deep.
When scarce He knew him pensive, thro' the Shades,
Thus first: Who, Palinure, of all the Gods
Snatch'd thee from Us, and drown'd thee in the Sea?
O speak; For never faithless found 'till Now
Apollo by This Oracle alone
Deluded me; Pronouncing from his Shrine
That Thou shouldst pass the Ocean safe, and reach
Ausonia's Coasts. Is This the promis'd Faith?
Much musing; and the hard, unequal Fate
Commiserates: Leucaspis here he sees,
And the Commander of the Lycian Fleet
Orontes, mourning, and deny'd the Rites
366
O'er stormy Billows, Auster overwhelm'd,
Involving in the Waves the Ship, and Men.
Lo! Palinure with wand'ring Steps mov'd slow,
The Pilot, who, as he observ'd the Stars
Late, in the Libyan Voyage, from the Stern
Fell plung'd into the Middle of the Deep.
When scarce He knew him pensive, thro' the Shades,
Thus first: Who, Palinure, of all the Gods
Snatch'd thee from Us, and drown'd thee in the Sea?
O speak; For never faithless found 'till Now
Apollo by This Oracle alone
Deluded me; Pronouncing from his Shrine
That Thou shouldst pass the Ocean safe, and reach
Ausonia's Coasts. Is This the promis'd Faith?
Then He; Nor you has Phœbus' Shrine deceiv'd,
Brave Prince, Anchises' Son; Nor did the God
Plunge me into the Sea. For as I held
The Rudder, sticking fast, and steer'd our Course;
Falling, I drew it, with me, torn by chance
With mighty Violence. By the stormy Seas
I swear, I never for my self conceiv'd
So great a Fear, as lest your Ship should fail,
Robb'd of her Rudder, and her Pilot lost,
Amidst the Tossing of such boist'rous Waves.
Three Nights tempestuous o'er the boundless Deep
Rough Notus bore me; Scarce upon the fourth
Appearing Dawn, I saw th'Italian Coast,
High from the topmost Billow. By degrees
I swam to Land: and now had safe arriv'd;
Had not the cruel Nation, as I catch'd
With grasping Hands the Mountain's rugged Sides,
Clogg'd in my brine-drench'd Garments, with the Sword
Invaded me, and ignorant suppos'd
They gain'd a Prize. My Body now is wrapp'd
In Waves, and roll'd by Winds along the Shore.
Wherefore, by Heav'n's refreshing Light and Air,
By your lov'd Father, by the rising Hope
Of young Iülus, free me from These Woes,
Unconquerable Chief. Or You, your self,
Cast Earth upon me, (for You can,) and seek
The Velin Port: Or if a Way there be,
If any Way your Goddess Mother shew;
(For sure without the Favour of the Gods
You never would, I think, attempt to pass
Such mighty Rivers, and the Stygian Lake)
Give wretched Me your Hand, and o'er the Waves
Transport me with Your self; that I may find
A Mansion of Repose, at least in Death.
Brave Prince, Anchises' Son; Nor did the God
367
The Rudder, sticking fast, and steer'd our Course;
Falling, I drew it, with me, torn by chance
With mighty Violence. By the stormy Seas
I swear, I never for my self conceiv'd
So great a Fear, as lest your Ship should fail,
Robb'd of her Rudder, and her Pilot lost,
Amidst the Tossing of such boist'rous Waves.
Three Nights tempestuous o'er the boundless Deep
Rough Notus bore me; Scarce upon the fourth
Appearing Dawn, I saw th'Italian Coast,
High from the topmost Billow. By degrees
I swam to Land: and now had safe arriv'd;
Had not the cruel Nation, as I catch'd
With grasping Hands the Mountain's rugged Sides,
Clogg'd in my brine-drench'd Garments, with the Sword
Invaded me, and ignorant suppos'd
They gain'd a Prize. My Body now is wrapp'd
In Waves, and roll'd by Winds along the Shore.
Wherefore, by Heav'n's refreshing Light and Air,
By your lov'd Father, by the rising Hope
Of young Iülus, free me from These Woes,
Unconquerable Chief. Or You, your self,
Cast Earth upon me, (for You can,) and seek
The Velin Port: Or if a Way there be,
If any Way your Goddess Mother shew;
368
You never would, I think, attempt to pass
Such mighty Rivers, and the Stygian Lake)
Give wretched Me your Hand, and o'er the Waves
Transport me with Your self; that I may find
A Mansion of Repose, at least in Death.
He said; and Thus the Prophetess reply'd.
Whence, Palinure, in thee does This Desire
So impious rise? Shalt Thou unbury'd see
That River, and the Furies' dreary Stream,
Or unpermitted pass the Stygian Bank?
Forbear to hope the Destinies Divine
Can ever with Intreaties be subdu'd.
Yet mindful take This Solace of thy Woe;
For far and wide th'adjoining Cities, urg'd
By Prodigies Celestial, shall attone
Thy Ashes, build a Tomb, and solemn Rites
Perform: And to eternal Ages fam'd
The Place shall Palinurus' Name retain.
Whence, Palinure, in thee does This Desire
So impious rise? Shalt Thou unbury'd see
That River, and the Furies' dreary Stream,
Or unpermitted pass the Stygian Bank?
Forbear to hope the Destinies Divine
Can ever with Intreaties be subdu'd.
Yet mindful take This Solace of thy Woe;
For far and wide th'adjoining Cities, urg'd
By Prodigies Celestial, shall attone
Thy Ashes, build a Tomb, and solemn Rites
Perform: And to eternal Ages fam'd
The Place shall Palinurus' Name retain.
These Words relieve his Cares, and for a-while
Ease his sad Soul; With pleasure he reflects
Upon the Land distinguish'd by his Name.
They now pursue their Way, and near the Stream
Arrive: Them soon as from the Stygian Sound
The Steersman saw, thro' the brown silent Grove,
Approaching to the Bank; He first with Speech
Accosts them, challenging. Whoe'er Thou art
Who arm'd art making to our River; speak
The Causes of thy Coming, and presume
No farther to advance: This Place to Ghosts
Is all assign'd, to Sleep, and drowsy Night;
'Tis not permitted in the Stygian Boat
The Bodies of the Living to convey.
Nor was it Joy to me, that I receiv'd
Alcides in his Passage o'er my Lake,
Nor Theseus, nor Perithöus; tho' born
Of heav'nly Race, and Matchless in their Might.
The First in Chains th'infernal Mastiff seiz'd,
And drag'd him trembling from our Monarch's Throne:
The Rest attempted from his Bed to force
Great Pluto's Queen. To Him in brief replies
Th'Amphrysian Prophetess: No Plots like These
(Dismiss thy Apprehensions) here are meant;
Nor do These Weapons threaten hostile Wrongs:
Still may the monstrous Porter in his Den
Eternal, barking fright the bloodless Shades;
And still may chaste Proserpina remain
Within her Uncle's Court. Æneas sprung
From Troy, renown'd in Piety, and Arms,
Descends, to see his Father, to the Waves
Of Erebus profound. If by the Image
Of so much Piety thou art not mov'd;
This Bough at least acknowledge: With those Words.
She shew'd the Bough, which lay beneath her Robe
Conceal'd. His swelling Choler strait subsides;
Nor more: He wond'ring at the fatal Branch,
That venerable Passport long unseen;
Turns his cerulean Skiff, and to the Bank
Approaches: Other Ghosts, which sate in Rows
Along the Deck, he then removes; and clears
His Hatches; and at once receives on Board
The great Æneas; Lab'ring with his Weight
The Leathern Sculler groans, and leaky sucks
The rushing Waves: At length beyond the Stream
The Hero and the Priestess safe he lands,
On the grey Sedges, and unsightly Mud.
Ease his sad Soul; With pleasure he reflects
Upon the Land distinguish'd by his Name.
They now pursue their Way, and near the Stream
Arrive: Them soon as from the Stygian Sound
The Steersman saw, thro' the brown silent Grove,
Approaching to the Bank; He first with Speech
Accosts them, challenging. Whoe'er Thou art
Who arm'd art making to our River; speak
369
No farther to advance: This Place to Ghosts
Is all assign'd, to Sleep, and drowsy Night;
'Tis not permitted in the Stygian Boat
The Bodies of the Living to convey.
Nor was it Joy to me, that I receiv'd
Alcides in his Passage o'er my Lake,
Nor Theseus, nor Perithöus; tho' born
Of heav'nly Race, and Matchless in their Might.
The First in Chains th'infernal Mastiff seiz'd,
And drag'd him trembling from our Monarch's Throne:
The Rest attempted from his Bed to force
Great Pluto's Queen. To Him in brief replies
Th'Amphrysian Prophetess: No Plots like These
(Dismiss thy Apprehensions) here are meant;
Nor do These Weapons threaten hostile Wrongs:
Still may the monstrous Porter in his Den
Eternal, barking fright the bloodless Shades;
And still may chaste Proserpina remain
370
From Troy, renown'd in Piety, and Arms,
Descends, to see his Father, to the Waves
Of Erebus profound. If by the Image
Of so much Piety thou art not mov'd;
This Bough at least acknowledge: With those Words.
She shew'd the Bough, which lay beneath her Robe
Conceal'd. His swelling Choler strait subsides;
Nor more: He wond'ring at the fatal Branch,
That venerable Passport long unseen;
Turns his cerulean Skiff, and to the Bank
Approaches: Other Ghosts, which sate in Rows
Along the Deck, he then removes; and clears
His Hatches; and at once receives on Board
The great Æneas; Lab'ring with his Weight
The Leathern Sculler groans, and leaky sucks
The rushing Waves: At length beyond the Stream
371
On the grey Sedges, and unsightly Mud.
The Monster Cerberus with three-mouth'd Bark
Howls thro' These Realms; within his Den adverse
Outstretch'd enormous. When the Priestess saw
The Snakes with horrour swelling round his Neck;
She flings a Cake of medicated Meal,
And soporific Honey: He, with Rage
Of Hunger op'ning wide his triple Throat,
Snatches the Morsel; and, his spacious Chine
Relaxing, lies extended on the Ground,
And with his Vastness covers all the Cave.
The Watch thus laid asleep; Æneas swift
Seizes the Passage, and behind him leaves
The Border of th'irremeable Lake.
Howls thro' These Realms; within his Den adverse
Outstretch'd enormous. When the Priestess saw
The Snakes with horrour swelling round his Neck;
She flings a Cake of medicated Meal,
And soporific Honey: He, with Rage
Of Hunger op'ning wide his triple Throat,
Snatches the Morsel; and, his spacious Chine
Relaxing, lies extended on the Ground,
And with his Vastness covers all the Cave.
The Watch thus laid asleep; Æneas swift
Seizes the Passage, and behind him leaves
The Border of th'irremeable Lake.
First shrill Laments, and slender Cries are heard,
The Ghosts of Infants weeping in the Door:
Whom, of sweet Life abridg'd, and from the Breast
Untimely snatch'd, the fatal Day cut off,
And in a Fun'ral immature involv'd.
Next Those who by an Accusation false
Were doom'd to Death. Nor are Those Seats assign'd
Unjudg'd, or lotless: Minos shakes the Urn,
Inquisitor; He calls the silent Shades
To Council; and their Lives, and Crimes explores.
372
Whom, of sweet Life abridg'd, and from the Breast
373
And in a Fun'ral immature involv'd.
374
Were doom'd to Death. Nor are Those Seats assign'd
Unjudg'd, or lotless: Minos shakes the Urn,
Inquisitor; He calls the silent Shades
To Council; and their Lives, and Crimes explores.
The next allotted Mansions Those possess,
Wailing, who innocent procur'd their Death
By their own Hands; and, sick of Living, flung
Their Souls away: How gladly would they Now
The Pain of Toils and Poverty endure
In upper Light! The Destinies forbid;
Them Styx, unlovely Lake, with dreary Waves
Hems in, and nine times interfus'd, confines.
Wailing, who innocent procur'd their Death
By their own Hands; and, sick of Living, flung
Their Souls away: How gladly would they Now
The Pain of Toils and Poverty endure
In upper Light! The Destinies forbid;
375
Hems in, and nine times interfus'd, confines.
Not far from hence extended wide are shewn
The Mourning Fields; To them That Name is giv'n.
Here Those, whom unrelenting Love consum'd
With cruel pining Sickness, secret Walks
O'ershadow, and a Myrtle Grove around
Conceals: Their Cares in Death it self survive.
Phædra, and Procris, in These Fields he sees;
And weeping Eryphile, shewing here
The Wounds she from her cruel Son receiv'd;
Evadne, and Pasiphäe; with Them
Laodamia walks; and Cæneus once
A Man, a Woman first, and by the Turn
Of Fate, into her former Sex revolv'd.
The Mourning Fields; To them That Name is giv'n.
Here Those, whom unrelenting Love consum'd
With cruel pining Sickness, secret Walks
O'ershadow, and a Myrtle Grove around
Conceals: Their Cares in Death it self survive.
Phædra, and Procris, in These Fields he sees;
And weeping Eryphile, shewing here
The Wounds she from her cruel Son receiv'd;
Evadne, and Pasiphäe; with Them
Laodamia walks; and Cæneus once
A Man, a Woman first, and by the Turn
Of Fate, into her former Sex revolv'd.
Among the rest, fresh reeking from her Wound,
In the vast Grove Phœnician Dido roams:
Soon as the Trojan Hero near her stood,
And knew her thro' the dusky Shade, as when
At the first Op'ning of the Month one sees,
Or thinks one sees, thro' Clouds the rising Moon;
Tears he lets fall, and Thus with fondness speaks.
Was it then true, Unhappy Dido? True
The Tidings I receiv'd, that by the Sword
Dying you had pursu'd the last Extremes?
Your Death, alas! I caus'd: But by the Stars,
And by the Gods I swear, by all the Faith
Beneath the Earth, if any such there be;
Unwillingly, O Queen, I left your Coasts.
But the Celestial Pow'rs, who force me now
To travel thro' These Shades, These squalid Realms,
And Night profound, urg'd me by Their Commands;
Nor could I think that such excessive Grief
To You by my Departure would be caus'd:
Whom fly you? Stay; nor from my Sight withdraw;
'Tis the last Interview our Fate allows.
In the vast Grove Phœnician Dido roams:
Soon as the Trojan Hero near her stood,
And knew her thro' the dusky Shade, as when
376
Or thinks one sees, thro' Clouds the rising Moon;
Tears he lets fall, and Thus with fondness speaks.
Was it then true, Unhappy Dido? True
The Tidings I receiv'd, that by the Sword
Dying you had pursu'd the last Extremes?
Your Death, alas! I caus'd: But by the Stars,
And by the Gods I swear, by all the Faith
Beneath the Earth, if any such there be;
Unwillingly, O Queen, I left your Coasts.
But the Celestial Pow'rs, who force me now
To travel thro' These Shades, These squalid Realms,
And Night profound, urg'd me by Their Commands;
Nor could I think that such excessive Grief
To You by my Departure would be caus'd:
Whom fly you? Stay; nor from my Sight withdraw;
'Tis the last Interview our Fate allows.
Thus Her with Indignation frowning, stern,
With Tears, and Blandishments Æneas sooth'd:
She bends her Eyes averse upon the Ground;
And by his Speech begun is mov'd no more,
Than a hard Flint, or fix'd Marpesian Rock.
At length she flits away, and from his Sight
Detested whirls into the shady Grove;
Where her Sichæus, her first plighted Lord,
Answers her Cares, and equals all her Love.
377
She bends her Eyes averse upon the Ground;
And by his Speech begun is mov'd no more,
Than a hard Flint, or fix'd Marpesian Rock.
At length she flits away, and from his Sight
Detested whirls into the shady Grove;
Where her Sichæus, her first plighted Lord,
Answers her Cares, and equals all her Love.
Nor less Æneas her hard Fate bewails,
And far with Tears pursues her, as she flies.
Then speeds his destin'd Way; and now they reach
The last allotted Fields, possess'd by Chiefs
In War illustrious. Tydeus meets him here,
And brave Parthenopæus, fam'd in Arms,
And pale Adrastus' Ghost: Here Leaders sprung
From Troy, who fell in Battle, much deplor'd
In upper Life; whom he beholding, groan'd,
As there in long extended Ranks they stood:
Glaucus, and Medon, and Thersilochus,
Antenor's three Sons, Polybætes, Priest
Of Ceres, and Idæus, ev'n in Death
Retaining still his Chariot, and his Arms.
On either side the thronging Ghosts stand round;
Nor them suffices to have seen him Once:
Delighted, they detain him long, and walk
Familiar, and confer, and ask the Cause
Of his Arrival. But the Grecian Lords,
And Agamemnon's Squadrons, when they saw
The Hero shining thro' the Shades in Arms,
Tremble with sudden Fear: Some turn their Backs
In Flight, as to their Ships they once retir'd:
Some raise a slender Cry; Th'abortive Scream
Dies in their Throats, and stifles half the Sound.
And far with Tears pursues her, as she flies.
Then speeds his destin'd Way; and now they reach
The last allotted Fields, possess'd by Chiefs
In War illustrious. Tydeus meets him here,
And brave Parthenopæus, fam'd in Arms,
And pale Adrastus' Ghost: Here Leaders sprung
From Troy, who fell in Battle, much deplor'd
In upper Life; whom he beholding, groan'd,
As there in long extended Ranks they stood:
Glaucus, and Medon, and Thersilochus,
Antenor's three Sons, Polybætes, Priest
Of Ceres, and Idæus, ev'n in Death
Retaining still his Chariot, and his Arms.
378
Nor them suffices to have seen him Once:
Delighted, they detain him long, and walk
Familiar, and confer, and ask the Cause
Of his Arrival. But the Grecian Lords,
And Agamemnon's Squadrons, when they saw
The Hero shining thro' the Shades in Arms,
Tremble with sudden Fear: Some turn their Backs
In Flight, as to their Ships they once retir'd:
Some raise a slender Cry; Th'abortive Scream
Dies in their Throats, and stifles half the Sound.
Here Priam's Son Deïphobus he sees,
Butcher'd thro' all his Body; with his Face
Inhumanly disfigur'd o'er; his Face,
And both his Hands, his Temples hack'd, his Ears
Hewn off, and with an indecorous Wound
His Nostrils mangled. Him when scarce he knew
Trembling with Shame, and striving to conceal
His dire Indignities; with well-known Voice
He first begins. Deïphobus, renown'd
In Arms, deriv'd from Teucer's Royal Blood;
Who had the Will, or Pow'r on Thee t'inflict
Such cruel, barb'rous Treatment? Fame to Me
Reported, that in Troy's last Night you fell,
Fatigu'd with mighty Slaughter of the Greeks,
Upon their Heaps confus'd. An empty Tomb
Strait on the Rhætian Shore I rear'd, and thrice
Aloud invok'd thy Manes: Still the Place
Retains thy Name, and Arms. Thy self, my Friend,
I could not find; nor, from our Native Soil
Departing, in a Grave thy Corps compose.
Butcher'd thro' all his Body; with his Face
Inhumanly disfigur'd o'er; his Face,
And both his Hands, his Temples hack'd, his Ears
Hewn off, and with an indecorous Wound
379
Trembling with Shame, and striving to conceal
His dire Indignities; with well-known Voice
He first begins. Deïphobus, renown'd
In Arms, deriv'd from Teucer's Royal Blood;
Who had the Will, or Pow'r on Thee t'inflict
Such cruel, barb'rous Treatment? Fame to Me
Reported, that in Troy's last Night you fell,
Fatigu'd with mighty Slaughter of the Greeks,
Upon their Heaps confus'd. An empty Tomb
Strait on the Rhætian Shore I rear'd, and thrice
Aloud invok'd thy Manes: Still the Place
Retains thy Name, and Arms. Thy self, my Friend,
I could not find; nor, from our Native Soil
Departing, in a Grave thy Corps compose.
To whom Priamides: By You, my Friend,
Nothing has been omitted; All the Rites
To dead Deïphobus you have perform'd.
But me my Fate, and Helen's murd'rous Fraud
Plung'd in These Woes; These Monuments she left.
For how we wasted in delusive Mirth
That last of Nights to Troy, too well you know;
Nor can the sad Remembrance be effac'd.
When o'er high Pergamus the fatal Steed
Ascended huge, and pregnant from his Womb
Disclos'd an Army: She, a festal Dance
Pretending, round the Orgies led in pomp
The Bacchanalian Dames of Troy; Herself
Holds a vast flaming Taper in the Midst,
And from the Cittadel invites the Greeks.
Then I, o'erwhelm'd with Cares, and plung'd in Sleep,
Lay on my fatal Bed, dissolv'd in Rest
Sweet, and profound, and like a pleasing Death.
Mean-while my precious Consort from my House
Removes all Arms, and from my Pillow steals
My faithful Sword; wide open flings the Gates,
And to my Palace Menelaüs calls:
Hoping, belike, by That to reconcile
Her injur'd Lord, and for her former Crimes
By That important Service to attone.
Short let me be; They burst into my Room:
With them That Traitor of th'Æolian Race,
Encourager of Villany, is join'd.
Ye Gods, repay such Treatment to the Greeks,
If 'tis with pious Pray'r I beg Revenge.
But by what Fortune, tell me in your Turn,
Living arrive You here? By Stress of Sea
Wand'ring, and toss'd? Or warn'd by Pow'rs Divine?
Or what Fate urges you to visit Realms
Joyless, and unillumin'd by the Sun,
These turbid Regions? Thus while mutual Speech
They chang'd alternate; in her rosy Car
Aurora now had finish'd half her Course
Ethereal: And perhaps in Talk like This
Their whole allotted Time they would have spent;
But Thus in brief the Sibyl Guide advis'd.
Nothing has been omitted; All the Rites
To dead Deïphobus you have perform'd.
But me my Fate, and Helen's murd'rous Fraud
Plung'd in These Woes; These Monuments she left.
For how we wasted in delusive Mirth
That last of Nights to Troy, too well you know;
Nor can the sad Remembrance be effac'd.
When o'er high Pergamus the fatal Steed
Ascended huge, and pregnant from his Womb
Disclos'd an Army: She, a festal Dance
Pretending, round the Orgies led in pomp
The Bacchanalian Dames of Troy; Herself
Holds a vast flaming Taper in the Midst,
And from the Cittadel invites the Greeks.
Then I, o'erwhelm'd with Cares, and plung'd in Sleep,
380
Sweet, and profound, and like a pleasing Death.
Mean-while my precious Consort from my House
Removes all Arms, and from my Pillow steals
My faithful Sword; wide open flings the Gates,
And to my Palace Menelaüs calls:
Hoping, belike, by That to reconcile
Her injur'd Lord, and for her former Crimes
By That important Service to attone.
Short let me be; They burst into my Room:
With them That Traitor of th'Æolian Race,
Encourager of Villany, is join'd.
Ye Gods, repay such Treatment to the Greeks,
If 'tis with pious Pray'r I beg Revenge.
381
Living arrive You here? By Stress of Sea
Wand'ring, and toss'd? Or warn'd by Pow'rs Divine?
Or what Fate urges you to visit Realms
Joyless, and unillumin'd by the Sun,
These turbid Regions? Thus while mutual Speech
882
Aurora now had finish'd half her Course
Ethereal: And perhaps in Talk like This
Their whole allotted Time they would have spent;
But Thus in brief the Sibyl Guide advis'd.
The Night rolls on, Æneas; We by Tears
Protract the Time: Here lies a Way, which parts
In Two; The Right to awful Pluto's Court,
And to Elysium leads Us; but the Left
To the Tartarean Gloom, and tortur'd Damn'd.
Protract the Time: Here lies a Way, which parts
In Two; The Right to awful Pluto's Court,
And to Elysium leads Us; but the Left
To the Tartarean Gloom, and tortur'd Damn'd.
To Her Deïphobus: Be not displeas'd,
Great Priestess; Chide me not: I will retire,
My Number fill, and render back my self
To Darkness: Go, Our Glory; Go, and prove
A better Fate. He said; and at the Word
Turn'd, and withdrew. Æneas looks behind
Sudden, and sees, beneath the left-hand Rock,
An ample City, with a triple Wall
Begirt; which, rolling on it's rapid Tide,
Tartarean Phlegethon with torrent Flames
Incloses round, and whirls the rattling Stones.
A spacious Gate adverse, and Pillars hewn
From solid Adamant; which human Force
None can subdue, nor ev'n the Gods with Steel
Can cut: An iron Tow'r stands high in Air;
And pale Tisiphone, clad in a Gown
Deep dy'd in Blood, before the Portal sits,
And sleepless, day and night, the Entrance guards.
Hence Groans are heard, and lashing Whips, the Din
Of Iron, and the Clank of dragging Chains.
Startled with Fear, and listning to the Noise,
Æneas stood: O tell me, sacred Maid,
What Scene of Crimes is This? What Pains? And what
Such loud Laments, ascending to the Sky?
383
My Number fill, and render back my self
To Darkness: Go, Our Glory; Go, and prove
A better Fate. He said; and at the Word
Turn'd, and withdrew. Æneas looks behind
Sudden, and sees, beneath the left-hand Rock,
384
Begirt; which, rolling on it's rapid Tide,
Tartarean Phlegethon with torrent Flames
Incloses round, and whirls the rattling Stones.
A spacious Gate adverse, and Pillars hewn
From solid Adamant; which human Force
None can subdue, nor ev'n the Gods with Steel
Can cut: An iron Tow'r stands high in Air;
And pale Tisiphone, clad in a Gown
Deep dy'd in Blood, before the Portal sits,
385
Hence Groans are heard, and lashing Whips, the Din
Of Iron, and the Clank of dragging Chains.
Startled with Fear, and listning to the Noise,
Æneas stood: O tell me, sacred Maid,
What Scene of Crimes is This? What Pains? And what
Such loud Laments, ascending to the Sky?
To whom the Sibyl Priestess Thus reply'd.
None that is pure, Illustrious Trojan Chief,
May enter There, or tread th'unhallow'd Ground:
But Hecate, when o'er th'Avernian Groves
She gave me Charge, led me thro' all, and told
The Vengeance of the Gods. These ruthless Realms
By Cretian Rhadamanthus are possess'd:
He punishes, and hears their secret Guilt;
Compels them to confess their hidden Crimes,
Which, with the vain Dissimulation pleas'd,
Each had protracted, in the upper World,
To his late Hour of Death. The vengeful Pest
Tisiphone then frights the guilty Ghosts,
Arm'd with her Whip, insulting; threat'ning, waves
With her Left hand her griesly Snakes, and calls
The grim Assembly of her Sister-Fiends.
None that is pure, Illustrious Trojan Chief,
May enter There, or tread th'unhallow'd Ground:
But Hecate, when o'er th'Avernian Groves
386
The Vengeance of the Gods. These ruthless Realms
By Cretian Rhadamanthus are possess'd:
He punishes, and hears their secret Guilt;
Compels them to confess their hidden Crimes,
Which, with the vain Dissimulation pleas'd,
Each had protracted, in the upper World,
To his late Hour of Death. The vengeful Pest
Tisiphone then frights the guilty Ghosts,
Arm'd with her Whip, insulting; threat'ning, waves
With her Left hand her griesly Snakes, and calls
The grim Assembly of her Sister-Fiends.
387
Then with a dismal Jarring, on their Hinge,
Grating harsh Noise, the execrable Gates
At length are open'd: What a Sentry sits,
You see; and what a Figure guards the Door.
More dire the monstrous Hydra, lodg'd within,
Opens with pitchy Yawn her fifty Throats:
Then Tartarus it self sinks twice as low,
Beneath the Shades descending, wide, and deep,
As tends the upper Prospect to the Sky.
Here the old Earth-born Offspring, Titan's Sons,
Roll, struck with Lightning, in the vast Abyss.
The two Alöides I here beheld
Of mighty Stature; who with impious Hands
Assail'd the Sky, and from his Seat supreme
Attempted to dethrone the King of Heav'n.
Salmoneus' penal Torments too I saw,
Who mimick'd Thunder, and the Flames of Jove.
He by four Horses drawn, along the Streets
Of Elis' City, and the Grecian Towns,
And brandishing a Torch, Triumphant rode,
And to himself celestial Honours claim'd:
Infatuate, with a brazen Bridge, and Hoofs
Of noisy trampling Steeds, to counterfeit
Th'inimitable Lightning, and the Storms.
But the Almighty Father lanc'd a Bolt
Thro' the thick Clouds (a Bolt He lanc'd, not Brands,
And smoking Tow) and drove him headlong hurl'd
With the vast Swing, and Whirlwind of his Arm.
There Tityus, Son of the all-bearing Earth,
One might behold: Whose Body's monstrous Bulk
Lies stretch'd o'er nine whole Acres; and a huge
Portentous Vultur, with her hooky Beak
Pouncing his everlasting Liver, thrives
Upon his Entrails fruitful of their Pains;
Rummages for her Meals, inhabits deep
Beneath his Breast; nor do the Fibres find
The least Relief from Torment, still renew'd.
Grating harsh Noise, the execrable Gates
At length are open'd: What a Sentry sits,
You see; and what a Figure guards the Door.
More dire the monstrous Hydra, lodg'd within,
Opens with pitchy Yawn her fifty Throats:
Then Tartarus it self sinks twice as low,
Beneath the Shades descending, wide, and deep,
As tends the upper Prospect to the Sky.
Here the old Earth-born Offspring, Titan's Sons,
388
The two Alöides I here beheld
Of mighty Stature; who with impious Hands
Assail'd the Sky, and from his Seat supreme
Attempted to dethrone the King of Heav'n.
Salmoneus' penal Torments too I saw,
Who mimick'd Thunder, and the Flames of Jove.
He by four Horses drawn, along the Streets
Of Elis' City, and the Grecian Towns,
And brandishing a Torch, Triumphant rode,
And to himself celestial Honours claim'd:
Infatuate, with a brazen Bridge, and Hoofs
Of noisy trampling Steeds, to counterfeit
Th'inimitable Lightning, and the Storms.
389
Thro' the thick Clouds (a Bolt He lanc'd, not Brands,
And smoking Tow) and drove him headlong hurl'd
With the vast Swing, and Whirlwind of his Arm.
There Tityus, Son of the all-bearing Earth,
One might behold: Whose Body's monstrous Bulk
Lies stretch'd o'er nine whole Acres; and a huge
Portentous Vultur, with her hooky Beak
Pouncing his everlasting Liver, thrives
Upon his Entrails fruitful of their Pains;
Rummages for her Meals, inhabits deep
Beneath his Breast; nor do the Fibres find
The least Relief from Torment, still renew'd.
Why should I name the Lapithæan Race?
Ixion? and Perithöus? O'er whom
Hangs a black Flint, just tumbling now, just falling
Down in Appearance. Lofty genial Beds
On golden Pillars shine; And Feasts prepar'd
With Royal Luxury, before their Eyes:
Near them the Eldest of the Furies sits,
Prohibits them from touching with their Hands
The Dishes; rises, tossing in the Air
Her flaming Torch, and thunders with her Voice.
Ixion? and Perithöus? O'er whom
Hangs a black Flint, just tumbling now, just falling
Down in Appearance. Lofty genial Beds
390
With Royal Luxury, before their Eyes:
Near them the Eldest of the Furies sits,
Prohibits them from touching with their Hands
The Dishes; rises, tossing in the Air
Her flaming Torch, and thunders with her Voice.
Here Those, who, while their Term of Life endur'd,
Hated their Brethren, or against their Fathers
Lifted their Hands; Those who with Fraud betray'd
Their Client's Cause; and Those who brooded o'er
Their Wealth acquir'd alone, nor to their Friends
Assign'd a Portion; (These the greatest Croud:)
They too who for Adultery were slain;
And They who in illegal Wars engag'd,
Nor trembled to deceive their Masters' Faith,
Imprison'd wait their Doom. Seek not to know
What Doom, what fatal Sentence, or what Form
Of Punishment: Some roll a pond'rous Rock,
And on the Spokes of Wheels distended hang:
There sits, and to Eternity will sit
Unhappy Theseus: And, advising all,
The wretched Phlegyas with his Voice aloud
There Testifies, and Preaches thro' the Shades;
“Be warn'd, learn Justice, nor contemn the Gods.
Hated their Brethren, or against their Fathers
Lifted their Hands; Those who with Fraud betray'd
Their Client's Cause; and Those who brooded o'er
Their Wealth acquir'd alone, nor to their Friends
Assign'd a Portion; (These the greatest Croud:)
They too who for Adultery were slain;
And They who in illegal Wars engag'd,
Nor trembled to deceive their Masters' Faith,
Imprison'd wait their Doom. Seek not to know
What Doom, what fatal Sentence, or what Form
Of Punishment: Some roll a pond'rous Rock,
And on the Spokes of Wheels distended hang:
391
Unhappy Theseus: And, advising all,
The wretched Phlegyas with his Voice aloud
There Testifies, and Preaches thro' the Shades;
“Be warn'd, learn Justice, nor contemn the Gods.
One sold his Country, and a Tyrant's Rule
Impos'd; for Bribes made Laws, and Laws repeal'd.
Another by forbidden Nuptials seiz'd
His Daughter's Bed: All most flagitious Crimes
Daring, and executing what they dar'd.
Had I an hundred Tongues, an hundred Mouths,
An iron Voice; I could not comprehend
The various Villanies with all their Names,
The various Forms, and Punishments of Vice.
Impos'd; for Bribes made Laws, and Laws repeal'd.
Another by forbidden Nuptials seiz'd
His Daughter's Bed: All most flagitious Crimes
Daring, and executing what they dar'd.
Had I an hundred Tongues, an hundred Mouths,
An iron Voice; I could not comprehend
The various Villanies with all their Names,
The various Forms, and Punishments of Vice.
When Phœbus' aged Priestess Thus had spoke;
But haste, she said, pursue your Way, complete
The Off'ring you design'd: I see the Walls
Wrought in the Cyclops' Forges, and the Gates
With Arch adverse; where we our Gift prescrib'd
Must by Command deposite. Thus she spoke;
And Both together, thro' the gloomy Walks,
O'ershoot the middle Space, and to the Doors
Approach: Æneas to the Entrance hastes,
His Body with fresh Water sprinkles o'er,
And in the fronting Portal sticks the Bough.
But haste, she said, pursue your Way, complete
The Off'ring you design'd: I see the Walls
Wrought in the Cyclops' Forges, and the Gates
With Arch adverse; where we our Gift prescrib'd
Must by Command deposite. Thus she spoke;
And Both together, thro' the gloomy Walks,
O'ershoot the middle Space, and to the Doors
Approach: Æneas to the Entrance hastes,
392
And in the fronting Portal sticks the Bough.
The Rites thus finish'd, and the Off'ring due
Paid to the Goddess; to the Realms of Joy
At length they come, and to the blissful Greens,
Fortunate Groves, and Mansions of the Bless'd.
An Ether more enlarg'd here cloaths the Fields
With purple Light: and their own proper Sun,
And proper Stars they know. On grassy Meads
Some wrestling exercise their Limbs, contend
In Sport, and struggle on the yellow Sand.
Others in Dances artful Measures beat,
And Verse recite: With These the Thracian Priest,
In his long Garment, sev'n Divisions sings
In tuneful Numbers; on the same by turns
His Fingers, and his Iv'ry Quill employs.
Here, Teucer's ancient Race, th'illustrious Line,
Heroes renown'd, in happier Ages born;
Ilus, Assaracus, and Dardanus
Founder of Troy. With Wonder they behold
Their Arms, and empty Chariots on the Plain
At distance rang'd: Their Spears stand fix'd in Earth;
And loose o'er all the Fields their Horses feed:
The same Delight in Chariots, and in Arms,
And shining Steeds, which living they conceiv'd,
Pursues them still beneath the Earth repos'd.
Others on either hand he sees reclin'd
In Feasts along the Grass, and Pæans sweet
Singing in Chorus, in the fragrant Grove
Of Laurel: whence, descending thro' the Wood,
Eridanus abundant rolls his Waves.
Here, Those who for their Country Wounds endur'd
In War; And holy Priests, while Life remain'd;
And pious Poets, who recited Things
Worthy of Phœbus; Those who polish'd Life
With Arts invented; Or consign'd their Names
To Memory by well-deserving Deeds.
Their Heads are all with snow-white Fillets wreath'd:
Whom gather'd round the Sibyl thus bespeaks;
Chiefly Musæus: For th'inclosing Croud
Of Ghosts look up to Him, above the rest
Standing superiour with his Shoulders tall.
Paid to the Goddess; to the Realms of Joy
At length they come, and to the blissful Greens,
Fortunate Groves, and Mansions of the Bless'd.
An Ether more enlarg'd here cloaths the Fields
With purple Light: and their own proper Sun,
And proper Stars they know. On grassy Meads
393
In Sport, and struggle on the yellow Sand.
Others in Dances artful Measures beat,
And Verse recite: With These the Thracian Priest,
In his long Garment, sev'n Divisions sings
In tuneful Numbers; on the same by turns
His Fingers, and his Iv'ry Quill employs.
Here, Teucer's ancient Race, th'illustrious Line,
Heroes renown'd, in happier Ages born;
Ilus, Assaracus, and Dardanus
Founder of Troy. With Wonder they behold
Their Arms, and empty Chariots on the Plain
At distance rang'd: Their Spears stand fix'd in Earth;
And loose o'er all the Fields their Horses feed:
The same Delight in Chariots, and in Arms,
394
Pursues them still beneath the Earth repos'd.
Others on either hand he sees reclin'd
In Feasts along the Grass, and Pæans sweet
Singing in Chorus, in the fragrant Grove
Of Laurel: whence, descending thro' the Wood,
Eridanus abundant rolls his Waves.
Here, Those who for their Country Wounds endur'd
In War; And holy Priests, while Life remain'd;
And pious Poets, who recited Things
Worthy of Phœbus; Those who polish'd Life
With Arts invented; Or consign'd their Names
To Memory by well-deserving Deeds.
Their Heads are all with snow-white Fillets wreath'd:
Whom gather'd round the Sibyl thus bespeaks;
395
Of Ghosts look up to Him, above the rest
Standing superiour with his Shoulders tall.
Tell us, Ye happy Spirits, and Thou best
Of Poets; say, what Place, what Region holds
Anchises? For his sake we hither came,
And the wide Streams of Erebus o'erpass'd.
To whom the Hero Thus in brief reply'd.
Of Poets; say, what Place, what Region holds
Anchises? For his sake we hither came,
And the wide Streams of Erebus o'erpass'd.
To whom the Hero Thus in brief reply'd.
None have fix'd Seats; We live in shady Groves,
And Beds of Banks, and Meadows fresh with Rills
Inhabit. But if such be your Desire,
Ascend This Hill; and to an easy Path
I will conduct your Steps. This said, he leads;
And shews them from above the shining Fields:
They thence descend, and leave the Mountain's height.
And Beds of Banks, and Meadows fresh with Rills
Inhabit. But if such be your Desire,
Ascend This Hill; and to an easy Path
I will conduct your Steps. This said, he leads;
And shews them from above the shining Fields:
They thence descend, and leave the Mountain's height.
But old Anchises in a verdant Vale
By chance review'd the separated Ghosts,
Destin'd to upper Light; recounted All
With studious Recollection; and survey'd
The Number of his darling Race, their Fates,
Their Fortunes, Manners, and Heroic Deeds.
He, when Æneas thro' the Meads adverse
He saw advancing forward, both his Hands
With Joy extended; Tears ran trickling down
His Cheeks; And from his Mouth these Accents fell.
By chance review'd the separated Ghosts,
Destin'd to upper Light; recounted All
With studious Recollection; and survey'd
The Number of his darling Race, their Fates,
Their Fortunes, Manners, and Heroic Deeds.
He, when Æneas thro' the Meads adverse
396
With Joy extended; Tears ran trickling down
His Cheeks; And from his Mouth these Accents fell.
Are you then come at last? And has at last
Your filial Piety, by me so long
Experienc'd, conquer'd such a Journey's Toil?
Is it then giv'n me to behold your Face,
My Son? and well-known Accents hear, and speak?
So I indeed was casting in my Mind,
And calculating Times: Nor did my Care
Delude me: Thro' what Lands, what Oceans toss'd,
What Perils, You, my Son, do I receive?
How did I fear from Libya's Realms for You!
Your filial Piety, by me so long
Experienc'd, conquer'd such a Journey's Toil?
Is it then giv'n me to behold your Face,
My Son? and well-known Accents hear, and speak?
So I indeed was casting in my Mind,
And calculating Times: Nor did my Care
Delude me: Thro' what Lands, what Oceans toss'd,
What Perils, You, my Son, do I receive?
How did I fear from Libya's Realms for You!
Then He: Your Ghost, my Father, your sad Ghost
Oft urg'd my Journey to This Clime. Our Ships
Ride in the Tyrrhene Sea. Give, Father, give
Your Hand to join with mine; nor from my Sight
Your self withdraw. So saying, he bedew'd
His Face with flowing Tears: And thrice assay'd
About his Neck to throw his folding Arms;
Thrice, vainly grasp'd at, from their Circle flew
Th'unbody'd Fantom; light as fleeting Winds,
And like a slipp'ry Dream. Meanwhile He sees
A Grove secluded in a secret Vale,
Shrubs rattling in the Woods, and Lethe's Stream,
Which near the peaceful Mansions glides along;
Round which unnumber'd Crouds, and Nations flew.
As when the Bees in Meads, while Summer shines,
On various Flowers alight, and hover o'er
The snow-white Lilies: All the Field resounds
With humming Noise. Struck at the sudden Sight,
Surpriz'd, and ignorant, Æneas asks
The Cause; Enquires, what River That? and Who
The thronging Ghosts that crouded to the Shore?
Oft urg'd my Journey to This Clime. Our Ships
Ride in the Tyrrhene Sea. Give, Father, give
Your Hand to join with mine; nor from my Sight
Your self withdraw. So saying, he bedew'd
His Face with flowing Tears: And thrice assay'd
About his Neck to throw his folding Arms;
Thrice, vainly grasp'd at, from their Circle flew
Th'unbody'd Fantom; light as fleeting Winds,
And like a slipp'ry Dream. Meanwhile He sees
A Grove secluded in a secret Vale,
Shrubs rattling in the Woods, and Lethe's Stream,
Which near the peaceful Mansions glides along;
Round which unnumber'd Crouds, and Nations flew.
397
On various Flowers alight, and hover o'er
The snow-white Lilies: All the Field resounds
With humming Noise. Struck at the sudden Sight,
Surpriz'd, and ignorant, Æneas asks
The Cause; Enquires, what River That? and Who
The thronging Ghosts that crouded to the Shore?
Anchises then: Those Souls, to whom by Fate
New Bodies are decreed, at Lethe's Stream
Drink long Oblivion from the drowsy Waves.
All These indeed, my Son, I have desir'd
To shew thee, and recount my future Race;
That with the more Delight thou may'st enjoy
Thy Kingdom fix'd at length on Latium's Coasts.
New Bodies are decreed, at Lethe's Stream
Drink long Oblivion from the drowsy Waves.
All These indeed, my Son, I have desir'd
To shew thee, and recount my future Race;
That with the more Delight thou may'st enjoy
Thy Kingdom fix'd at length on Latium's Coasts.
O Father, Is it then to be conceiv'd
That any of These Spirits so sublime
Would go to upper Light, and re-assume
Their sluggish Bodies? Whence such fond Desire,
Such miserable Love of wretched Life?
That any of These Spirits so sublime
Would go to upper Light, and re-assume
Their sluggish Bodies? Whence such fond Desire,
Such miserable Love of wretched Life?
Yes; All, my Son, to thee I will explain,
Nor hold thee longer in suspense; replies
Anchises, and in order all unfolds.
398
Anchises, and in order all unfolds.
First, Heav'n, and Earth, and Ocean's liquid Plains,
The Moon's bright Globe, the Sun, and shining Stars,
A Soul within enlivens; and a Mind,
Diffus'd thro' all its parts, the gen'ral Mass
Invigorates, and mingles with the Whole.
Hence Men, and Beasts, and all the Feather'd Kind
Proceed, and Monsters of the boundless Deep:
A fiery Force, and Origin Divine
These Seeds inspires; so far as not controul'd
By their terrestrial Bodies, clog'd and damp'd
By their dull Flesh, and cumbrous mortal Frame.
Hence they Desire, and Fear, Rejoice, and Grieve;
Nor see the Light, in Prison dark confin'd.
Nor, ev'n when Life is fled, do all their Ills,
And all their Pests corporeal wear away;
But many Stains, in such a Length of Time
Contracted, marvellously must inhere.
Therefore with Punishment they are explor'd,
And pay due Penance for their former Crimes.
Some hang expanded to the empty Winds;
The Guilt ingrain'd of Others in th'Abyss
Of Seas is wash'd; or burnt away with Fire.
Each of us from our sev'ral Manes bear
Purgation; To Elysium then we go,
And here We few enjoy These blissful Fields:
When Tract of Time (it's fatal Round at length
Revolv'd) has quite work'd off the blended Stain;
Leaving defecated th'ethereal Ray,
And simple Energy of heav'nly Fire.
All These (the Circle of a thousand Years
Complete) the God to Lethe's River calls
Assembled; that forgetful of the past
They may return to Life, and reascend
Contended to their first imbody'd State.
402
A Soul within enlivens; and a Mind,
Diffus'd thro' all its parts, the gen'ral Mass
Invigorates, and mingles with the Whole.
Hence Men, and Beasts, and all the Feather'd Kind
Proceed, and Monsters of the boundless Deep:
403
These Seeds inspires; so far as not controul'd
By their terrestrial Bodies, clog'd and damp'd
By their dull Flesh, and cumbrous mortal Frame.
Hence they Desire, and Fear, Rejoice, and Grieve;
Nor see the Light, in Prison dark confin'd.
Nor, ev'n when Life is fled, do all their Ills,
And all their Pests corporeal wear away;
But many Stains, in such a Length of Time
Contracted, marvellously must inhere.
Therefore with Punishment they are explor'd,
And pay due Penance for their former Crimes.
Some hang expanded to the empty Winds;
The Guilt ingrain'd of Others in th'Abyss
Of Seas is wash'd; or burnt away with Fire.
Each of us from our sev'ral Manes bear
Purgation; To Elysium then we go,
And here We few enjoy These blissful Fields:
404
Revolv'd) has quite work'd off the blended Stain;
Leaving defecated th'ethereal Ray,
And simple Energy of heav'nly Fire.
407
Complete) the God to Lethe's River calls
Assembled; that forgetful of the past
They may return to Life, and reascend
Contended to their first imbody'd State.
Thus having spoke, Anchises leads his Son,
With his Prophetic Guide, into the Midst
Of the thick Concourse, and the sounding Croud;
Then takes a Hill, from whence they might discern
Their Looks, in long Procession as they came
Advancing opposite. Now mark, my Son,
The Glory which attends the Dardan Race,
What Heroes from th'Italian Stem shall spring,
Illustrious future Partners of our Fame,
I will explain; and teach thee all thy Fate.
With his Prophetic Guide, into the Midst
408
Then takes a Hill, from whence they might discern
Their Looks, in long Procession as they came
Advancing opposite. Now mark, my Son,
The Glory which attends the Dardan Race,
409
Illustrious future Partners of our Fame,
I will explain; and teach thee all thy Fate.
410
Him seest thou leaning on his pointless Spear?
That Youth is destin'd next to upper Life;
He mingled with Italian Blood shall rise
First to ethereal Light; an Alban Name,
Sylvius, thy Son by posthumous Descent:
Whom late to Thee advanc'd among the Gods
Thy Wife Lavinia in the Woods shall bear,
Himself a King, and Ancestor of Kings:
From whom our Race shall o'er long Alba reign.
The next, the Glory of the Trojan Line,
Is Procas; Capys; Numitor; and He
Who in his own shall represent Thy Name,
Sylvius Æneas, equally renown'd
In Piety, and Arms; if e'er he come
To govern Alba with imperial Sway.
See what brave Youths! What manly Force they shew!
But They, whose Heads with Civic Oak are wreath'd,
Nomentum, Gabii, and Fidena's Walls
Shall build on Mountains, and Collatia's Tow'rs,
Pometia, and the Fort of Inuus,
Bola, and Cora: Those shall be their Names
In after Ages; Now no Names they bear.
Next, to assert his Grandsire's Right, shall come
Mavortian Romulus, to be disclos'd
By Ilia, from Assaracus deriv'd:
Seest thou upon his Helm the double Crest
Stand high? and how the Father of the Gods
Ev'n now encircles him with Rays Divine?
By his auspicious Conduct, see, my Son,
Immortal Rome shall equal to the Earth
Her Sov'reign Rule, her Courage to the Sky;
And single with her Walls sev'n Hills inclose:
With a long Progeny of Heroes bless'd.
As Berencynthia in her Chariot rides
Aloft, thro' Phrygian Cities, crown'd with Towers;
Mother of Gods; proud of her hundred Sons,
All Pow'rs Divine, all high enthron'd in Heav'n.
Hither, bend hither both thy Eyes; Behold
This Lineage, and Thy Romans: Cæsar hence,
And all Iülus' Progeny shall come
Beneath the spacious Axis of the Sky.
This, This is He; the Man whom thou hast heard
So often promis'd; Offspring of the Gods,
Augustus Cæsar: Destin'd to restore
The Golden Age in Latium, govern'd once
By Saturn: He his Empire shall extend
Beyond the Garamantes, and the Tract
Of Indian Regions, Realms beyond the Stars,
Beyond the Circuit of the Year, and Sun;
Where mighty Atlas on his Shoulders turns
The rolling Axis, studded o'er with Stars.
On his Approach, ev'n Now the Caspian Realms
With Horrour hear the Answers of the Gods;
And all the Country of Mœtis' Lake,
And Nilus trembles thro' his sev'nfold Stream.
Nor did Alcides' self so far advance;
Tho' he transfix'd the brazen-footed Deer,
Quell'd Erymanthus' Woods, and with his Bow
Made Lerna tremble: Nor the Victor God
Liber, who guides his Car with viny Reins,
And drives his Tygers from high Nisa's Top.
And doubt we still our Glory to extend
By Actions? Or does Fear forbid us still
To fix our Colony on Latium's Coast?
That Youth is destin'd next to upper Life;
He mingled with Italian Blood shall rise
First to ethereal Light; an Alban Name,
Sylvius, thy Son by posthumous Descent:
411
Thy Wife Lavinia in the Woods shall bear,
Himself a King, and Ancestor of Kings:
From whom our Race shall o'er long Alba reign.
The next, the Glory of the Trojan Line,
Is Procas; Capys; Numitor; and He
Who in his own shall represent Thy Name,
Sylvius Æneas, equally renown'd
In Piety, and Arms; if e'er he come
412
See what brave Youths! What manly Force they shew!
But They, whose Heads with Civic Oak are wreath'd,
Nomentum, Gabii, and Fidena's Walls
Shall build on Mountains, and Collatia's Tow'rs,
Pometia, and the Fort of Inuus,
Bola, and Cora: Those shall be their Names
In after Ages; Now no Names they bear.
Next, to assert his Grandsire's Right, shall come
Mavortian Romulus, to be disclos'd
By Ilia, from Assaracus deriv'd:
Seest thou upon his Helm the double Crest
Stand high? and how the Father of the Gods
Ev'n now encircles him with Rays Divine?
By his auspicious Conduct, see, my Son,
Immortal Rome shall equal to the Earth
Her Sov'reign Rule, her Courage to the Sky;
And single with her Walls sev'n Hills inclose:
With a long Progeny of Heroes bless'd.
As Berencynthia in her Chariot rides
Aloft, thro' Phrygian Cities, crown'd with Towers;
Mother of Gods; proud of her hundred Sons,
All Pow'rs Divine, all high enthron'd in Heav'n.
Hither, bend hither both thy Eyes; Behold
This Lineage, and Thy Romans: Cæsar hence,
And all Iülus' Progeny shall come
Beneath the spacious Axis of the Sky.
This, This is He; the Man whom thou hast heard
So often promis'd; Offspring of the Gods,
Augustus Cæsar: Destin'd to restore
The Golden Age in Latium, govern'd once
413
Beyond the Garamantes, and the Tract
Of Indian Regions, Realms beyond the Stars,
Beyond the Circuit of the Year, and Sun;
Where mighty Atlas on his Shoulders turns
The rolling Axis, studded o'er with Stars.
On his Approach, ev'n Now the Caspian Realms
With Horrour hear the Answers of the Gods;
And all the Country of Mœtis' Lake,
And Nilus trembles thro' his sev'nfold Stream.
Nor did Alcides' self so far advance;
Tho' he transfix'd the brazen-footed Deer,
Quell'd Erymanthus' Woods, and with his Bow
Made Lerna tremble: Nor the Victor God
Liber, who guides his Car with viny Reins,
And drives his Tygers from high Nisa's Top.
And doubt we still our Glory to extend
414
To fix our Colony on Latium's Coast?
But Who is He, with Olive-Boughs from far
Conspicuous, and with Incense in his Hands?
I know the Roman King, his silver Beard,
And venerable Hair. He first by Laws
The City shall establish, from the State
Of little Cures, and his poor Domains
Sent to wide Empire. Him shall next succeed
Tullus, who shall dissolve his Country's Peace,
Rousing the restive Soldiery to Arms,
And Troops unus'd to Triumphs. Ancus Then
Shall follow, more magnificently great,
Ev'n now too much delighted with the Breath
Of popular Applauses. Wouldst thou next
Behold the Tarquin Kings? the haughty Soul
Of vengeful Brutus? and the Fasces chang'd?
He first shall exercise the Consul's Pow'r,
And unrelenting Axes; and his Sons
Conspiring in new Wars the Father's self
To Death for glorious Liberty shall call,
Unfortunate: However future Times
That Action may resent; his Country's Love
Shall conquer, and th'immense Desire of Praise.
The Decii at a distance next behold;
The Drusi; and Torquatus with his Axe
Relentless; and Camillus bringing back
The Roman Standard. But Those friendly Souls
Thou seest, who now alike in Armour shine,
Here in This nether World: What Wars (alas!)
Whenever They arrive at upper Light,
What Battles, what a Slaughter shall They raise!
From Alpine Ridges, and Monæcus' Mount
The Father comes, descending: From the East
The Son advances opposite in Arms.
Forbear such Wars, my Children, O forbear;
Nor sheath your dreaded Country's conqu'ring Swords
Within your Country's Bowels: And Thou first,
My Son, whose Birth is from the Gods deriv'd,
Throw Thou thy Arms away.
One to the lofty Capitol shall ride
High in his Chariot, with Corinthian Spoils
Proud, and Triumphant o'er the vanquish'd Greeks.
Another, Argos, and Mycenæ fam'd
For Agamemnon's Empire, and the great
Æacides, from brave Achilles sprung,
Shall conquer; to revenge the ancient Kings
Of Troy, and Pallas' violated Fane.
Thee, mighty Cato, and Thee, Cossus, who
Can pass in silence? Who the Gracchian Race?
Or the two Scipio's, Thunderbolts of War,
The Bane of Lybia? Or Fabricius, great
In little Fortune? Or thy Furrows sown,
Serranus? Whither weary am I rapt
By You, ye Fabii? Thou, the Great, art He
Alone, who by Delay retriev'st our State.
Others more soft shall carve the breathing Brass;
Nay living Looks, I think, from Marble draw:
Plead Causes better; with a Wand describe
The heav'nly Roads, and trace the rising Stars.
Roman, Remember Thou to rule the World;
(Be These thy Arts!) to fix the Laws of Peace;
To spare the Suppliant, and confound the Proud.
Conspicuous, and with Incense in his Hands?
I know the Roman King, his silver Beard,
And venerable Hair. He first by Laws
The City shall establish, from the State
Of little Cures, and his poor Domains
Sent to wide Empire. Him shall next succeed
Tullus, who shall dissolve his Country's Peace,
Rousing the restive Soldiery to Arms,
And Troops unus'd to Triumphs. Ancus Then
Shall follow, more magnificently great,
Ev'n now too much delighted with the Breath
Of popular Applauses. Wouldst thou next
Behold the Tarquin Kings? the haughty Soul
Of vengeful Brutus? and the Fasces chang'd?
He first shall exercise the Consul's Pow'r,
And unrelenting Axes; and his Sons
Conspiring in new Wars the Father's self
To Death for glorious Liberty shall call,
Unfortunate: However future Times
That Action may resent; his Country's Love
Shall conquer, and th'immense Desire of Praise.
The Decii at a distance next behold;
The Drusi; and Torquatus with his Axe
Relentless; and Camillus bringing back
The Roman Standard. But Those friendly Souls
Thou seest, who now alike in Armour shine,
415
Whenever They arrive at upper Light,
What Battles, what a Slaughter shall They raise!
From Alpine Ridges, and Monæcus' Mount
The Father comes, descending: From the East
The Son advances opposite in Arms.
Forbear such Wars, my Children, O forbear;
Nor sheath your dreaded Country's conqu'ring Swords
Within your Country's Bowels: And Thou first,
My Son, whose Birth is from the Gods deriv'd,
Throw Thou thy Arms away.
One to the lofty Capitol shall ride
High in his Chariot, with Corinthian Spoils
Proud, and Triumphant o'er the vanquish'd Greeks.
Another, Argos, and Mycenæ fam'd
For Agamemnon's Empire, and the great
Æacides, from brave Achilles sprung,
Shall conquer; to revenge the ancient Kings
Of Troy, and Pallas' violated Fane.
Thee, mighty Cato, and Thee, Cossus, who
Can pass in silence? Who the Gracchian Race?
Or the two Scipio's, Thunderbolts of War,
The Bane of Lybia? Or Fabricius, great
In little Fortune? Or thy Furrows sown,
Serranus? Whither weary am I rapt
By You, ye Fabii? Thou, the Great, art He
Alone, who by Delay retriev'st our State.
Others more soft shall carve the breathing Brass;
416
Plead Causes better; with a Wand describe
The heav'nly Roads, and trace the rising Stars.
Roman, Remember Thou to rule the World;
(Be These thy Arts!) to fix the Laws of Peace;
To spare the Suppliant, and confound the Proud.
417
So spake Anchises to his wond'ring Guests;
Then Thus proceeds: Behold how rich with Spoils
Marcellus walks Triumphant, and o'erlooks
The Heroes all. He in tumultuous Times,
Warriour, shall fix the Roman State; subdue
The Carthaginians, and the Rebel Gaul;
And the third Trophies to Quirinus bring.
Then here Æneas (for with Him he saw
A Youth of beauteous Form, in shining Arms,
But with o'er-clouded Brow, and down-cast Eyes)
Say, Father, Who is He, with such a Mien
Attending on the Hero, as he walks?
His Son? Or any of th'illustrious Line?
What Noise of his Retinue crouding round!
How great Resemblance in his Face appears!
But gloomy Night with Darkness wraps his Head.
Then Thus proceeds: Behold how rich with Spoils
Marcellus walks Triumphant, and o'erlooks
The Heroes all. He in tumultuous Times,
Warriour, shall fix the Roman State; subdue
The Carthaginians, and the Rebel Gaul;
And the third Trophies to Quirinus bring.
Then here Æneas (for with Him he saw
A Youth of beauteous Form, in shining Arms,
But with o'er-clouded Brow, and down-cast Eyes)
Say, Father, Who is He, with such a Mien
Attending on the Hero, as he walks?
His Son? Or any of th'illustrious Line?
What Noise of his Retinue crouding round!
How great Resemblance in his Face appears!
But gloomy Night with Darkness wraps his Head.
Then Thus Anchises, with o'erflowing Tears:
Forbear the sad Enquiry, O my Son;
Seek not to know th'unutterable Grief
Of thy Descendants. Him the Fates shall shew
To Earth, and only shew him; nor shall There
Permit his longer Stay. Too much, Ye Gods,
The Roman Pow'r would seem to rival Yours;
Should Gifts like these be lasting! What Laments
Shall Mars's Field, near the high Walls, repeat!
And what a Fun'ral, Tyber, shalt Thou see,
When by his recent Tomb thy Stream shall glide!
Nor e'er shall any Youth of Trojan Race
Exalt the Latin Fathers in their Hopes
So high; nor ever shall Quirinus' Realm
Glory so much in any of her Sons.
O Piety! O ancient Faith! And Force
Invincible in War! Him none adverse
Would with Impunity have met in Arms;
Whether on foot he had defy'd the Foe,
Or with sharp Rowels goar'd the foaming Steed.
Alas, lamented Youth! If any way
Thou break the Doom of unrelenting Fate;
Marcellus Thou shalt be. Bring Lillies here
In copious Handfuls: To my Grandson's Shade
I'll scatter purple Flow'rs; and pay at least
This unavailing Duty. Thus at large,
Thro' all the Region, in th'extended Fields
Of Air, they walk; and ev'ry thing survey.
All which Anchises having shewn his Son,
And fir'd his Breast with Love of future Fame;
The destin'd Wars in which he must engage
He next foretels him; the Laurentian Realms;
And King Latinus' City; and the Means,
To suffer, or escape his ev'ry Toil.
Forbear the sad Enquiry, O my Son;
Seek not to know th'unutterable Grief
Of thy Descendants. Him the Fates shall shew
To Earth, and only shew him; nor shall There
Permit his longer Stay. Too much, Ye Gods,
The Roman Pow'r would seem to rival Yours;
Should Gifts like these be lasting! What Laments
418
And what a Fun'ral, Tyber, shalt Thou see,
When by his recent Tomb thy Stream shall glide!
Nor e'er shall any Youth of Trojan Race
Exalt the Latin Fathers in their Hopes
So high; nor ever shall Quirinus' Realm
Glory so much in any of her Sons.
O Piety! O ancient Faith! And Force
Invincible in War! Him none adverse
Would with Impunity have met in Arms;
Whether on foot he had defy'd the Foe,
Or with sharp Rowels goar'd the foaming Steed.
Alas, lamented Youth! If any way
Thou break the Doom of unrelenting Fate;
Marcellus Thou shalt be. Bring Lillies here
419
I'll scatter purple Flow'rs; and pay at least
This unavailing Duty. Thus at large,
Thro' all the Region, in th'extended Fields
Of Air, they walk; and ev'ry thing survey.
All which Anchises having shewn his Son,
And fir'd his Breast with Love of future Fame;
The destin'd Wars in which he must engage
He next foretels him; the Laurentian Realms;
And King Latinus' City; and the Means,
To suffer, or escape his ev'ry Toil.
Two Gates of Sleep there are: The one of Horn,
Thro' which with ease the real Fantoms pass;
With polish'd Elephant the other shines,
Thro' which the Manes send false Dreams to Light.
Here then the Sire Anchises with his Son,
And his Prophetick Guide, in such Discourse
Confers; and sends them thro' the Iv'ry Gate.
Æneas to his Navy strait pursues
His Way, and speedily rejoins his Friends:
Then to Cajeta's Harbour sails direct,
Coasting along: The Anchors from the Prow
Are cast; The Sterns stand resting on the Shore.
Thro' which with ease the real Fantoms pass;
With polish'd Elephant the other shines,
420
Here then the Sire Anchises with his Son,
And his Prophetick Guide, in such Discourse
Confers; and sends them thro' the Iv'ry Gate.
Æneas to his Navy strait pursues
His Way, and speedily rejoins his Friends:
Then to Cajeta's Harbour sails direct,
Coasting along: The Anchors from the Prow
Are cast; The Sterns stand resting on the Shore.
The End of the Second Volume.
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