Loud rattling shakes the mountains and the plain; Heaven bellies downward, and descends in rain; Whole sheets of water from the clouds are sent, Which, hissing through the planks, the flames preAnd stop the fiery pest: four ships alone [vent, Burn to the waist, and for the fleet atone.

917

But doubtful thoughts the hero's heart divide,

If he should still in Sicily reside,

Forgetful of his fates: or tempt the main, 920
In hope the promis'd Italy to gain.

Then Nautes, old and wise, to whom alone
The will of heaven by Pallas was fore-shown,
Vers'd in portents, experienc'd and inspir'd
To tell events, and what the Fates requir'd: 925
Thus while he stood, to neither part inclin'd,
With chearful words reliev'd his lab'ring mind;
"O goddess-born! resign'd in every state,
With patience bear, with prudence push, your fate.
By suff'ring well, our fortune we subdue;
Fly when she frowns, and when she calls pursue.
"Your friend Acestes is of Trojan kind;
"To him disclose the secrets of your mind:

930

Trust in his hands your old and useless train, 'Too num'rous for the ships which yet remain➡ "The feeble, old, indulgent of their ease, 936

The dames who dread the dangers of the seas, With all the dastard crew, who dare not stand › " The shock of battle with your foes by land, Here you may build a common town for all, 910 And, from Acestes' name, Acesta call.'

The reasons, with his friend's experience join'd,
Encourag'd much, but more disturb'd his mind.
'Twas dead of night; when, to his slumb'ring eyes,
His father's shade descended from the skies; 945
And thus he spoke: 'O more than vital breath,
Lov'd while I liv'd, and dear ev'n after death;
O son! in various toils and troubles tost,

The King of heav'n employs my careful ghost "On his commands; the God who sav'd from fire "Your flaming fleet and heard your just desire:951 "The wholesome counsel of your friend receive, And here the coward train, and women leave: The chosen youth, and those who nobly dare, Transport, to tempt the dangers of the war, 955 The stern Italians will their courage try;

Rough are their manners, and their minds are high. But first to Pluto's palace you should go, And seek my shade among the blest below. 959 For not with impious ghosts my soul remains, Nor suffers, with the damn'd, perpetual pains, But breathes the living air of soft Elysian plains. The chaste Sibylla shall your steps convey, And blood of offer'd victims free the way. There shall you know what realms the gods assign; And learn the fates and fortunes of your line. "But now, farewell! I vanish with the night, "And feel the blast of heaven's approaching light.' He said, and mix'd with shades, and took his airy flight,

964

· Whither so fast?' the filial duty cry'd,

970

' And why, ah! why, the wish'd embrace deny'd?"

He said, and rose: as holy zeal inspires,

He rakes hot embers, and renews the fires.
His country gods and Vesta then adores
With cakes and incense, and their aid implores.
Next for his friends and royal host he sent, 976
Reveal'd his vision and the God's intent,
With his own purpose. All, without delay,
The will of Jove and his desires obey.

985

They list with women each degenerate name, 980
Who dares not hazard life, for future fame.
These they cashier. The brave remaining few,
Oars, banks, and cables, half consum'd, renew.
The prince designs a city with the plough;
The lots their several tenements allow,
This part is nam'd from Ilium, that from Troy;
And the new king ascends the throne with joy;
A chosen senate from the people draws;
Appoints the judges, and ordains the laws.
Then on the top of Eryx, they begin
A rising temple to the Paphian queen:
Anchises, last, is honor'd as a god;
A priest is added, annual gifts bestow'd;
And groves are planted round his blest abode.
Nine days they pass in feasts, their temples
And fumes of incense in the fanes abound.[crown'd;
Then, from the south arose a gentle breeze,
That curl'd the smoothness of the glassy seas:

990

The rising winds a ruffling gale afford,
And call the merry mariners aboard.

1000

1010

Now loud laments along the shores resound, Of parting friends in close embraces bound. The trembling women, the degen'rate train, Who shunn'd the frightful dangers of the main, Ev'n those desire to sail, and take their share 1005 Of the rough passage, and the promis'd war: Whom good Æneas chears; and recommends To their new master's care, his fearful friends. On Eryx' altars three fat calves he lays; A lamb new fallen to the stormy seas; Then slips his hausers, and his anchors weighs. High on the deck the godlike hero stands, With olive crown'd; a charger in his hands; Then cast the reeking entrails in the brine, And pour'd the sacrifice of purple wine. 1015 Fresh gales arise, with equal strokes they vie, And brush the buxom seas, and o'er the billows fly. Meantime the mother goddess, full of fears, To Neptune thus address'd, with tender tears: The pride of Jove's imperious queen, the rage, The malice which no suff'rings can assuage,1021 Compel me to these pray'rs; since neither fate, Nor time, nor pity, can remove her hate. 'Ev'n Jove is thwarted by his haughty wife; Still vanquish'd, yet she still renews the strife. 'As if 'twere little to consume the town "Which aw'd the world, and wore th' imperial crown,

1026

'She prosecutes the ghost of Troy with pains, 'And gnaws, ev'n to the bones, the last remains. Let her the causes of her hatred tell;

1030

'But you can witness its effects too well. 'You saw the storms she rais'd on Libyan floods, 'That mix'd the mounting billows with the clouds ; 'When, bribing Æolus, she shook the main,

And mov'd rebellion in your wat'ry reign. 1035 'With fury she possess'd the Dardan dames 'To burn their fleet with execrable flames, ' And forc'd Æneas, when his ships were lost, 'To leave his followers on a foreign coast: 'For what remains, your godhead I implore,1040 And trust my son to your protecting pow'r. 'If neither Jove's nor Fate's decree withstand, 'Secure his passage to the Latian land.'

Then thus the mighty ruler of the main: 1044 'What may not Venus hope, from Neptune's reign? 'My kingdom claims your birth: my late defence Of your endanger'd fleet, may claim your confidence.

Nor less by land than sea my deeds declare, 'How much your lov'd Æneas is my care. 'Thee, Xanthus! and thee, Simo:s! I attest: 1050 "Your Trojan troops when proud Achilles press'd, 'And drove before him headlong on the plain, 'And dash'd against their walls the trembling train,

'When floods were fill'd with bodies of the slain; VIRGIL. VOL. III.

E