Aeneid

Now I bethink me our Ausonian seers

have dark, dim lore that 't was this land gave birth

to Dardanus, who after took his way

through Phrygian Ida's towns and Samothrace.

Once out of Tuscan Corythus he fared;

but now in golden house among the stars

he has a throne, and by his altars blest

adds to the number of the gods we praise.”

He spoke; Ilioneus this answer made:

“O King, great heir of Faunus! No dark storm

impelled us o'er the flood thy realm to find.

Nor star deceived, nor strange, bewildering shore

threw out of our true course; but we are come

by our free choice and with deliberate aim

to this thy town, though exiled forth of realms

once mightiest of all the sun-god sees

when moving from his utmost eastern bound.

From Jove our line began; the sons of Troy

boast Jove to be their sire, and our true King

is of Olympian seed. To thine abode

Trojan Aeneas sent us. How there burst

o'er Ida's vales from dread Mycenae's kings

a tempest vast, and by what stroke of doom

all Asia's world with Europe clashed in war,

that lone wight hears whom earth's remotest isle

has banished to the Ocean's rim, or he

whose dwelling is the ample zone that burns

betwixt the changeful sun-god's milder realms,

far severed from the world. We are the men

from war's destroying deluge safely borne

over the waters wide. We only ask

some low-roofed dwelling for our fathers' gods,

some friendly shore, and, what to all is free,

water and air. We bring no evil name

upon thy people; thy renown will be

but wider spread; nor of a deed so fair

can grateful memory die. Ye ne'er will rue

that to Ausonia's breast ye gathered Troy.

I swear thee by the favored destinies

of great Aeneas, by his strength of arm

in friendship or in war, that many a tribe

(O, scorn us not, that, bearing olive green,

with suppliant words we come), that many a throne

has sued us to be friends. But Fate's decree

to this thy realm did guide. Here Dardanus

was born; and with reiterate command

this way Apollo pointed to the stream

of Tiber and Numicius' haunted spring.

Lo, these poor tributes from his greatness gone

Aeneas sends, these relics snatched away

from Ilium burning: with this golden bowl

Anchises poured libation when he prayed;

and these were Priam's splendor, when he gave

laws to his gathered states; this sceptre his,

this diadem revered, and beauteous pall,

handwork of Asia's queens.” So ceased to speak

Ilioneus. But King Latinus gazed

unanswering on the ground, all motionless

save for his musing eyes. The broidered pall

of purple, and the sceptre Priam bore,

moved little on his kingly heart, which now

pondered of giving to the bridal bed

his daughter dear. He argues in his mind

the oracle of Faunus:—might this be

that destined bridegroom from an alien land,

to share his throne, to get a progeny

of glorious valor, which by mighty deeds

should win the world for kingdom? So at last

with joyful brow he spoke: “Now let the gods

our purpose and their own fair promise bless!

Thou hast, O Trojan, thy desire. Thy gifts

I have not scorned; nor while Latinus reigns

shall ye lack riches in my plenteous land,

not less than Trojan store. But where is he,

Aeneas' self? If he our royal love

so much desire, and have such urgent mind

to be our guest and friend, let him draw near,

nor turn him from well-wishing looks away!

My offering and pledge of peace shall be

to clasp your monarch's hand. Bear back, I pray,

this answer to your King: my dwelling holds

a daughter, whom with husband of her blood

great signs in heaven and from my father's tomb

forbid to wed. A son from alien shores

they prophesy for Latium's heir, whose seed

shall lift our glory to the stars divine.

I am persuaded this is none but he,

that man of destiny; and if my heart

be no false prophet, I desire it so.”

Thus having said, the sire took chosen steeds

from his full herd, whereof, well-groomed and fair,

three hundred stood within his ample pale.

Of these to every Teucrian guest he gave

a courser swift and strong, in purple clad

and broidered housings gay; on every breast

hung chains of gold; in golden robes arrayed,

they champed the red gold curb their teeth between.

For offering to Aeneas, he bade send

a chariot, with chargers twain of seed

ethereal, their nostrils breathing fire: