And shoots against the sun with equal rays. 735 Thus, when a black-brow'd gust begins to rise, White foam at first on the curl'd ocean fries; Then roars the main, the billows mount the skies; Till, by the fury of the storm full blown, The muddy bottom o'er the clouds is thrown. First Almon falls, old Tyrrheus' eldest care, Pierc'd with an arrow from the distant war: Fix'd in his throat the flying weapon stood, 740 And stopp'd his breath, and drank his vital blood. 745 750 A good old man, while peace he preach'd in vain, Speak, and my pow'r shall add this office more: Of arm'd invasion, and embrace the war." Then Juno thus: "The grateful work is done, 765 A bloody Hymen shall th' alliance join 770 The sullen fiend her sounding wings display'd, 775 Thick forests the forbidden entrance hide. 780 Full in the centre of the sacred wood, An arm arises of the Stygian flood, Which, breaking from beneath with bellowing sound, Whirls the black waves and rattling stones around. Here Pluto pants for breath from out his cell, 785 And opens wide the grinning jaws of hell. To this infernal lake the Fury flies; Here hides her hated head, and frees the lab'ring skies. Saturnian Junò now, with double care, Attends the fatal process of the war. 790 The clowns, return'd from battle, bear the slain, And, aggravating crimes, augments their fears; A solemn promise made, and disavow'd ; 795 805 A foreign son is sought, and a mix'd mungrel brood. 810 So stood the pious prince unmov'd, and long But, when he found that Juno's pow'r prevail'd, 815 He calls the gods to witness their offence, "Hurry'd by fate," he cries," and borne before And pray to heav'n for peace, but pray too late. I to the port of death securely tend. The fun'ral pomp which to your kings you pay, He said no more, but, in his walls confin'd, 825 Shut out the woes which he too well divin'd; 830 Nor with the rising storm would vainly strive, But left the helm, and let the vessel drive. A solemn custom was observ'd of old, Which Latium held, and now the Romans hold, Their standard when in fighting fields they rear 835 Against the fierce Hyrcanians, or declare The Scythian, Indian, or Arabian war →→→ Or from the boasting Parthians would regain Their eagles, lost in Carra's bloody plain. Two gates gates of steel (the name of Mars they bear, And still are worshipp'd with religious fear) Before his temple stand: the dire abode, And the fear'd issues of the furious god, 839 Are fenc'd with brazen bolts; without the gates, Then, when the sacred senate votes the wars, The Roman consul their decree declares, And in his robes the sounding gates unbars. The youth in military shouts arise, 845 And the loud trumpets break the yielding skies. 850 Then heav'n's imperious queen shot down from high; The gates are forc'd, and ev'ry falling bar; The peaceful cities of th' Ausonian shore, Lull'd in their ease, and undisturb'd before, Are all on fire; and some, with studious care, 860 Their restive steeds in sandy plains preparedS |