From land a gentle breeze arose by night; Serenely shone the stars; the moon was bright ; 10 And the sea trembled with her silver light. Now near the shelves of Circe's shores they run, A dang'rous coast!-The goddess wastes her days 15 The grunts of bristled boars, and groans of bears, 20 And wav'd her saffron streamer through the skies, When Thetis blushed in purple, not her own, 36 And from her face the breathing winds were blown, A sudden silence sate upon the sea, And sweeping oars, with struggling, urge their way. 45 The Trojan, from the main, beheld a wood, 40 Which thick with shades, and a brown horror, stood: Betwixt the trees the Tyber took his course, With whirlpools dimpled; and with downward force That drove the sand along, he took his way, And roll'd his yellow billows to the sea. About him, and above, and round the wood, The birds that haunt the borders of his flood, That bath'd within, or bask'd upon his side, To tuneful songs their narrow throats apply'd. The captain gives command: the joyful train Glide through the gloomy shade, and leave the main. Now, Erato! thy poet's mind inspire, And fill his soul with thy celestial fire. 50 Relate what Latium was; her ancient kings: 55 Declare the past and present state of things, 60 Which princes and their people did engage; A larger scene of action is display'd; 65 And, rising hence, a greater work is weigh'd. Latinus, old and mild, had long possess'd But Faunus came from Picus: Picus drew 70 His birth from Saturn, if records be true. Thus king Latinus, in the third degree, Had Saturn author of his family. 75 But this old peaceful prince, as heav'n decreed, Was bless'd with no male issue to succeed: His sons in blooming youth were snatch'd by fate : One only daughter heir'd the royal state. Fir'd with her love, and with ambition led, 80 The neighb'ring princes court her nuptial bed. 85 But dire portents the purpos'd match withstand. Deep in the palace, of long growth, there stood A laurel's trunk, a venerable wood; Where rites divine were paid; whose holy hair 90 This plant Latinus, when his town he wall'd, He vow'd the laurel to the laurel's god. 95 A swarm of bees, that cut the liquid sky, There, with their clasping feet, together clung, 100 army lands; 105 The town he conquers, and the tow'r commands." Yet more, when fair Lavinia fed the fire Before the gods, and stood beside her sire, 110 (Strange to relate!) the flames, involv'd in smoke From thence the fuming trail began to spread, This new portent the seer with wonder views, 115 "The nymph, who scatters flaming fires around, Shall shine with honour, shall herself be crown'd; But, caus'd by her irrevocable fate, War shall the country waste, and change the state.' Latinus, frighted with this dire ostent, For counsel to his father Faunus went, And sought the shades renown'd for prophecy, A swarm of thin aërial shapes appears, 121 125 And, flutt'ring round his temples, deafs his ears. 130 From powr's above, and from the fiends below. 135 |