Aeneid

beneath the Nemean crag. At sight of thee

the Stygian region quailed, and Cerberus,

crouching o'er half-picked bones in gory cave.

Nothing could bid thee fear. Typhoeus towered

in his colossal Titan-panoply

o'er thee in vain; nor did thy cunning fail

when Lema's wonder-serpent round thee drew

its multudinous head. Hail, Jove's true son!

New glory to the gods above, come down,

and these thine altars and thy people bless!”

Such hymns they chanted, telling oft the tale

of Cacus' cave and blasting breath of fire:

while hills and sacred grove the note prolong.

Such worship o'er, all take the homeward way

back to the town. The hospitable King,

though bowed with weight of years, kept at his side

Aeneas and his son, and as they fared,

with various discourse beguiled the way.

Aeneas scanned with quick-admiring eyes

the region wide, and lingered with delight

now here, now there, inquiring eagerly

of each proud monument of heroes gone.

Then King Evander, he who builded first

On Palatine, spoke thus: “These groves erewhile

their native nymphs and fauns enjoyed, with men

from trees engendered and stout heart of oak.

Nor laws nor arts they knew; nor how to tame

burls to the yoke, nor fill great barns with store

and hoard the gathered grain; but rudely fared

on wild fruits and such food as hunters find.

Then Saturn from Olympian realms came down,

in flight from Jove's dread arms, his sceptre lost,

and he an exiled King. That savage race

he gathered from the mountain slopes; and gave

wise laws and statutes; so that latent land

was Latium, ‘hid land’, where he hid so long.

The golden centuries by legends told

were under that good King, whose equal sway

untroubled peace to all his peoples gave.

But after slow decline arrived an age

degenerate and of a darker hue,

prone to insensate war and greed of gain.

Then came Sicanian and Ausonian tribes,

and oft the land of Saturn lost its name.

New chieftains rose, and Thybris, giant King

and violent, from whom th' Italians named

the flooding Tiber, which was called no more

the Albula, its true and ancient style.

Myself, in exile from my fatherland

sailing uncharted seas, was guided here

by all-disposing Chance and iron laws

of Destiny. With prophecy severe

Carmentis, my nymph-mother, thrust me on,

warned by Apollo's word.” He scarce had said,

when near their path he showed an altar fair

and the Carmental gate, where Romans see

memorial of Carmentis, nymph divine,

the prophetess of fate, who first foretold

what honors on Aeneas' sons should fall

and lordly Pallanteum, where they dwell.

Next the vast grove was seen, where Romulus

ordained inviolable sanctuary;

then the Lupercal under its cold crag,

Wolf-hill, where old Arcadians revered

their wolf-god, the Lycaean Pan. Here too

the grove of Argiletum, sacred name,

where good Evander told the crime and death

of Argus, his false guest. From this they climbed

the steep Tarpeian hill, the Capitol,

all gold to-day, but then a tangled wild

of thorny woodland. Even then the place

woke in the rustics a religious awe,

and bade them fear and tremble at the view

of that dread rock and grove. “This leafy wood,

which crowns the hill-top, is the favored seat

of some great god,” said he, “but of his name

we know not surely. The Arcadians say

jove's dread right hand here visibly appears

to shake his aegis in the darkening storm,

the clouds compelling. Yonder rise in view

two strongholds with dismantled walls, which now

are but a memory of great heroes gone:

one father Janus built, and Saturn one;

their names, Saturnia and Janiculum.”

'Mid such good parley to the house they came

of King Evander, unadorned and plain,

whence herds of browsing cattle could be seen

ranging the Forum, and loud-bellowing

in proud Carinae. As they entered there,

“Behold,” said he, “the threshold that received

Alcides in his triumph! This abode

he made his own. Dare, O illustrious guest,

to scorn the pomp of power. Shape thy soul

to be a god's fit follower. Enter here,

and free from pride our frugal welcome share.”

So saying, 'neath his roof-tree scant and low

he led the great Aeneas, offering him

a couch of leaves with Libyan bear-skin spread.

Now night drew near, enfolding the wide world

in shadowy wings. But Venus, sore disturbed,