Aeneid
- 1.613.901
the board had massy silver, gold-embossed,
- 1.613.902
where gleamed the mighty deeds of all her sires,
- 1.613.903
a graven chronicle of peace and war
- 1.613.904
prolonged, since first her ancient line began,
- 1.613.905
from royal sire to son.
- 1.643.906
Aeneas now
- 1.643.907
(for love in his paternal heart spoke loud
- 1.643.908
and gave no rest) bade swift Achates run
- 1.643.909
to tell Ascanius all, and from the ship
- 1.643.910
to guide him upward to the town,—for now
- 1.643.911
the father's whole heart for Ascanius yearned.
- 1.643.912
And gifts he bade them bring, which had been saved
- 1.643.913
in Ilium's fall: a richly broidered cloak
- 1.643.914
heavy with golden emblems; and a veil
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by leaves of saffron lilies bordered round,
- 1.643.916
which Argive Helen o'er her beauty threw,
- 1.643.917
her mother Leda's gift most wonderful,
- 1.643.918
and which to Troy she bore, when flying far
- 1.643.919
in lawless wedlock from Mycenae's towers;
- 1.643.920
a sceptre, too, once fair Ilione's,
- 1.643.921
eldest of Priam's daughters; and round pearls
- 1.643.922
strung in a necklace, and a double crown
- 1.643.923
of jewels set in gold. These gifts to find,
- 1.643.924
Achates to the tall ships sped away.
- 1.657.925
But Cytherea in her heart revolved
- 1.657.926
new wiles, new schemes: how Cupid should transform
- 1.657.927
his countenance, and, coming in the guise
- 1.657.928
of sweet Ascanius, still more inflame
- 1.657.929
the amorous Queen with gifts, and deeply fuse
- 1.657.930
through all her yielding frame his fatal fire.
- 1.657.931
Sooth, Venus feared the many-languaged guile
- 1.657.932
which Tyrians use; fierce Juno's hate she feared,
- 1.657.933
and falling night renewed her sleepless care.
- 1.657.934
Therefore to Love, the light-winged god, she said:
- 1.657.935
“Sweet son, of whom my sovereignty and power
- 1.657.936
alone are given! O son, whose smile may scorn
- 1.657.937
the shafts of Jove whereby the Titans fell,
- 1.657.938
to thee I fly, and humbly here implore
- 1.657.939
thy help divine. Behold, from land to land
- 1.657.940
Aeneas, thine own brother, voyages on
- 1.657.941
storm-driven, by Juno's causeless enmity.
- 1.657.942
Thou knowest it well, and oft hast sighed to see
- 1.657.943
my sighs and tears. Dido the Tyrian now
- 1.657.944
detains him with soft speeches; and I fear
- 1.657.945
such courtesy from Juno means us ill;
- 1.657.946
she is not one who, when the hour is ripe,
- 1.657.947
bids action pause. I therefore now intend
- 1.657.948
the Tyrian Queen to snare, and siege her breast
- 1.657.949
with our invading fire, before some god
- 1.657.950
shall change her mood. But let her bosom burn
- 1.657.951
with love of my Aeneas not less than mine.
- 1.657.952
This thou canst bring to pass. I pray thee hear
- 1.657.953
the plan I counsel. At his father's call
- 1.657.954
Ascanius, heir of kings, makes haste to climb
- 1.657.955
to yon Sidonian citadel; my grace
- 1.657.956
protects him, and he bears gifts which were saved
- 1.657.957
from hazard of the sea and burning Troy.
- 1.657.958
Him lapped in slumber on Cythera's hill,
- 1.657.959
or in Idalia's deep and hallowing shade,
- 1.657.960
myself will hide, lest haply he should learn
- 1.657.961
our stratagem, and burst in, foiling all.
- 1.657.962
Wear thou his shape for one brief night thyself,
- 1.657.963
and let thy boyhood feign another boy's
- 1.657.964
familiar countenance; when Dido there,
- 1.657.965
beside the royal feast and flowing wine,
- 1.657.966
all smiles and joy, shall clasp thee to her breast
- 1.657.967
while she caresses thee, and her sweet lips
- 1.657.968
touch close with thine, then let thy secret fire
- 1.657.969
breathe o'er her heart, to poison and betray.”
- 1.657.970
The love-god to his mother's dear behest
- 1.657.971
gave prompt assent. He put his pinions by
- 1.657.972
and tripped it like Iulus, light of heart.
- 1.657.973
But Venus o'er Ascanius' body poured
- 1.657.974
a perfect sleep, and, to her heavenly breast
- 1.657.975
enfolding him, far, far away upbore
- 1.657.976
to fair Idalia's grove, where fragrant buds
- 1.657.977
of softly-petalled marjoram embower
- 1.657.978
in pleasurable shade.
- 1.695.979
Cupid straightway
- 1.695.980
obeyed his mother's word and bore the gifts,
- 1.695.981
each worthy of a king, as offerings
- 1.695.982
to greet the Tyrian throne; and as he went
- 1.695.983
he clasped Achates' friendly hand, and smiled.
- 1.695.984
Father Aeneas now, and all his band
- 1.695.985
of Trojan chivalry, at social feast,
- 1.695.986
on lofty purple-pillowed couches lie;
- 1.695.987
deft slaves fresh water on their fingers pour,
- 1.695.988
and from reed-woven basketry renew
- 1.695.989
the plenteous bread, or bring smooth napery
- 1.695.990
of softest weave; fifty handmaidens serve,
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whose task it is to range in order fair
- 1.695.992
the varied banquet, or at altars bright
- 1.695.993
throw balm and incense on the sacred fires.
- 1.695.994
A hundred more serve with an equal band
- 1.695.995
of beauteous pages, whose obedient skill
- 1.695.996
piles high the generous board and fills the bowl.
- 1.695.997
The Tyrians also to the festal hall
- 1.695.998
come thronging, and receive their honor due,
- 1.695.999
each on his painted couch; with wondering eyes
- 1.695.1000
Aeneas' gifts they view, and wondering more,
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