A GENERALLSVM whereof all the xij. Bookes of Aeneidos do entreate.
When
Troy was destroyed by the Greekes, and most of
their Nobilitie slayne, Aeneas beinge Sonne to prince
Anchises, and begotten of VENVS, a man of most valient
courage and vertue (after great slaughter made on
his enemies) was forced to flee his countrey, and taking
with him his Images and Goddes, whom he than worshipt
for his auouries, withdrewe himselfe to the sea, with his sonne
Ascanius and his olde father Anchises and family to whom a great number
of Troians, from euery quarter resorted, and ioyninge togethers
vnder him, erected a Nauie of twentie ships and departed to seas, perswaded
by their Goddes, that they should come to a land, where their
kingdome should florish. First he arriued in Thracia, and would haue
remayned there, but vnderstanding that yonge Polydorus his cosin was
murthered there by the kinge thereof, for his Golde, he forsooke that
couetous land, after he had builded a citie called by his name Aeneas.
From thence he sailed into Candy, where he was setled a while, but
he felt his prophecie wrong expounded, and was put from thence by
a pestilence. Than remembringe that his auncient forefathers came
out of Italy and being better instructed by his Gods, that Italy should
be his place and kingdome appointed: hee cut another course to the
land of Chaonia, where one Helenus raigned, being his kinsman a Troiā,
of whom he learned many thinges touching his Prophecie, and was
newly refreshed with men, armour, and treasour. He passed from
thence to the yle of Sicil, and was there well receiued of king Acestes
his cosin, and there he buried his old father Anchises, by which time,
vij. yeres were almost expired. Than hauinge but a short iourney to
Italy, hee went thitherwards out of Sicil, and by the waye was taken
with an horrible tempest, and driuen from Italy an extreme course,
to the countrey of white Moores in Affrike, and after extreme desperation,
was honourably there enterteyned of the Queene DIDO
a widow, with whom he ioyned in loue, and remayned till his Gods
commaunded him forth, and thence he returned in all hast into Sicill.
There for his fathers honour he deuised games of actiuitie, & set forth
his Obite or yeeres minde, with great solempnitie and triumphe, building
a citie called Acesta, where he left much of his people, and with
the residue arriued in Italy at Cumas, but by the way he lost Palinurus
his cheife maister and Pilot. At Cumas that time vnder a gorgeous
temple, Sibly the Prophetisse inhabited deepe in the ground, of whom
at length he obteyned, to be conducted to Limbo, and to speake with
the soule of his father Anchises, and passed with her through all the
places infernall, and at last to the feildes of blisse, which the Pagans
tooke for their Paradise: where he conferred with his father, and of
him was instructed of all his predestinations and fortunes: but before
he descended with Sibly, he buried his noble Trumpettour Misenus.
At his comminge vp he buried his nurse, and called that coast of her
name Caieta. Then he came saufe into Tyber with all his ships, and
landed his people, & shortly compoūded to marry Lauinia the doughter
of king Latinus there raigninge, who beforetime was promised to
king Turnus, vpon which occasion arose war betweene the two kings,
where in most of al Italy conspired against Aeneas: but he with helpe
of a poore king called Euander, and of one Tarchon capitaine of a great
people of Etruria, who had expulsed Mezentius their king for his tirranny,
did so valiantly behaue him selfe, that after most greeuous conflictes,
he slew king Turnus in combat, & wan the Ladie and the kingdome
by conquest. Of whose issewe afterward proceeded the greatest
Princes of the world, by whom Rome was founded, that sometime was
ruler of the vniuersall earth, and yet amonge all christen kingdomes
beareth no litle sway of authoritie, and dominion.
