Aeneid

such memory to renew. Go, lay these gifts,

brought to my honor from your ancient land,

at great Aeneas' feet. We twain have stood

confronting close with swords implacable

in mortal fray. Believe me, I have known

the stature of him when he lifts his shield,

and swings the whirlwind of his spear. If Troy

two more such sons had bred, the Dardan horde

had stormed at Argos' gates, and Greece to-day

were for her fallen fortunes grieving sore.

Our lingering at Ilium's stubborn wall,

our sluggard conquest halting ten years Iong,

was his and Hector's work. Heroic pair!

Each one for valor notable, and each

famous in enterprise of arms,—but he

was first in piety. Enclasp with his

your hands in plighted peace as best ye may:

but shock of steel on steel ye well may shun.’

now hast thou heard, good King, a king's reply,

and how his wisdom sits in this vast war.”

Soon as the envoys ceased, an answering sound

of troubled voices through the council flowed

of various note, as when its rocky bed

impedes an arrowy stream, and murmurs break

from the strait-channelled flood; the fringing shores

repeat the tumult of the clamorous wave.

But when their hearts and troublous tongues were still,

the King, invoking first the gods in heaven,

thus from a Iofty throne his sentence gave:

“Less evil were our case, if long ago

ye had provided for your country's weal,

O Latins, as I urged. It is no time

to hold dispute, while, compassing our walls,

the foeman waits. Ill-omened war is ours

against a race of gods, my countrymen,

invincible, unwearied in the fray,

and who, though lost and fallen, clutch the sword.

If hope ye cherished of Aetolia's power,

dismiss it! For what hope ye have is found

in your own bosoms only. But ye know

how slight it is and small. What ruin wide

has fallen, is now palpable and clear.

No blame I cast. What valor's uttermost

may do was done; our kingdom in this war

strained its last thews. Now therefore I will tell

such project as my doubtful mind may frame,

and briefly, if ye give good heed, unfold:

an ancient tract have I, close-bordering

the river Tiber; it runs westward far

beyond Sicania's bound, and filth it bears

to Rutule and Auruncan husbandmen,

who furrow its hard hills or feed their flocks

along the stonier slopes. Let this demesne,

together with its pine-clad mountain tall,

be given the Teucrian for our pledge of peace,

confirmed by free and equitable league,

and full alliance with our kingly power.

Let them abide there, if it please them so,

and build their city's wall. But if their hearts

for other land or people yearn, and fate

permits them hence to go, then let us build

twice ten good galleys of Italian oak,

or more, if they can man them. All the wood

lies yonder on the shore. Let them but say

how numerous and large the ships they crave,

and we will give the brass, the artisans,

and ship-supplies. Let us for envoys choose

a hundred of the Latins noblest born

to tell our message and arrange the peace,

bearing mild olive-boughs and weighty gifts

of ivory and gold, with chair of state

and purple robe, our emblems as a king.

But freely let this council speak; give aid

to our exhausted cause.” Then Drances rose,

that foe inveterate, whom Turnus' fame

to stinging hate and envy double-tongued

ever pricked on. Of liberal wealth was he

and flowing speech, but slack of hand in war

at council board accounted no weak voice,

in quarrels stronger still; of lofty birth

in the maternal line, but by his sire's

uncertain and obscure. He, claiming place,

thus multiplies with words the people's ire:

“A course most clear, nor needing voice of mine,

thy council is, good King; for all men see

the way of public weal, but smother close

the telling of it. Turnus must concede

freedom to speak, and his own arrogance

diminish! Under his ill-boding star

and fatal conduct—yea, I speak it plain,

though with his naked steel my death he swear—

yon host of princes fell, and we behold

the whole land bowed with grief; while he assails

the Trojan camp (beating such bold retreats!)

and troubles Heaven with war. One gift the more,

among the many to the Trojans given,

one chiefly, best of kings, thy choice should be.

Let not wild violence thy will restrain

from granting, sire, thy virgin daughter's hand

to son-in-law illustrious, in a match