Aeneid

vexed not unwisely her maternal breast,

fearing Laurentum's menace and wild stir

of obstinate revolt, and made her plea

to Vulcan in their nuptial bower of gold,

outbreathing in the music of her words

celestial love: “When warring Argive kings

brought ruin on Troy's sacred citadel

and ramparts soon to sink in hostile flames,

I asked not thee to help that hopeless woe,

nor craved thy craft and power. For, dearest lord,

I would not tax in vain shine arduous toil,

though much to Priam's children I was bound,

and oft to see Aeneas burdened sore

I could but weep. But now by will of Jove

he has found foothold in Rutulian lands.

Therefore I come at last with lowly suit

before a godhead I adore, and pray

for gift of arms,—a mother for her son.

Thou wert not unrelenting to the tears

of Nereus' daughter or Tithonus' bride.

Behold what tribes conspire, what cities strong

behind barred gates now make the falchion keen

to ruin and blot out both me and mine!”

So spake the goddess, as her arms of snow

around her hesitating spouse she threw

in tender, close embrace. He suddenly

knew the familiar fire, and o'er his frame

its wonted ardor unresisted ran,

swift as the glittering shaft of thunder cleaves

the darkened air and on from cloud to cloud

the rift of lightning runs. She, joyful wife;

felt what her beauty and her guile could do;

as, thralled by love unquenchable, her spouse

thus answered fair: “Why wilt thou labor so

with far-fetched pleas? my goddess, hast thou lost

thy faith in me? Had such a prayer been shine,

I could have armed the Teucrians. Neither Jove

nor Destiny had grudged ten added years

of life to Troy and Priam. If to-day

thou hast a war in hand, and if thy heart

determine so, I willingly engage

to lend thee all my cunning; whatsoever

molten alloy or welded iron can,

whate'er my roaring forge and flames achieve,

I offer thee. No more in anxious prayer

distrust thy beauty's power.” So saying, he gave

embrace of mutual desire, and found

deep, peaceful sleep, on her fond heart reclined.

Night's course half run, soon as the first repose

had banished sleep,—what time some careful wife

whose distaff and Minerva's humble toil

must earn her bread, rekindling her warm hearth,

adds a night-burden to her laboring day,

and by the torch-light cheers her maidens on

to their long tasks; that so her husband's bed

she may in honor keep, and train to power

her dear men-children—at such prime of morn,

with not less eager mind the Lord of Fire

fled his soft couch and to his forges tried.

An island near Aeolian Lipara

not far from a Sicilian headland lies,

where smoking rocks precipitously tower

above a vast vault, which the Cyclops' skill

outhollowed large as Aetna's thunderous caves.

There ring the smitten anvils, and the roof

re-echoes, roaring loud. Chalybian ores

hiss in the gloom, and from the furnace mouths

puff the hot-panting fires. 'T is Vulcan's seat,

and all that island is Vulcania.

Thither descended now the god of fire

from height of heaven. At their task were found

the Cyclops in vast cavern forging steel,

naked Pyracmon and gigantic-limbed

Brontes and Steropes; beneath their blows

a lightning-shaft, half-shaped, half-burnished lay,

such as the Thunderer is wont to fling

in numbers from the sky, but formless still.

Three strands of whirling storm they wove with three

of bursting cloud, and three did interfuse

of ruddy-gleaming fires and winged winds;

then fearful lightnings on the skilful forge

they welded with loud horror, and with flames

that bear swift wrath from Jove. Elsewhere a crew

toiled at the chariot and winged wheel

wherewith the war-god wakens from repose

heroes and peopled cities. Others wrought

the awful Aegis, herald of dismay,

by angry Pallas worn; they burnished bright

the golden serpent-scales and wreathing snakes,

till from the corselet of the goddess glared

the Gorgon's severed head and rolling eyes.

“Cyclops of Aetna,” Vulcan cried, “have done!

Leave ev'ry task unfinished, and receive

my new command! Good armor must be forged

for warrior brave. For this I need to use

your utmost sinew and your swiftest hand,

with all your master skill. No lingering now!”

Swift the command, and swiftly they divide

to each his portion, and united urge

the common task. Forth fow the molten streams