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Now shift your sails: what place can please me 'Than what you promise, the Sicilian shore; [more 'Whose hallow'd earth Anchises' bones contains, ' And where a prince of Trojan lineage reigns!' 41 The course resolv'd, before the western wind They scud amain, and make the port assign'd. Meantime Acestes, from a lofty stand, Beheld the fleet descending on the land; And not unmindful of his ancient race, Down from the cliff he ran with eager pace, And held the hero in a strict embrace. Of a rough Libyan bear the spoils he wore; And either hand a pointed jav'lin bore. His mother was a dame of Dardan blood; His sire Crinisus, a Sicilian flood; He welcomes his returning friends ashore With plenteous country cates, and homely store. Now, when the following morn had chac'd away The flying stars, and light restor'd the day, Eneas call'd the Trojan troops around,

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And thus bespoke them from a rising ground: 'Offspring of heaven, divine Dardanian race, 'The sun, revolving through th' ethereal space, 60 'The shining circle of the year has fill'd, 'Since first this isle my father's ashes held: And now the rising day renews the year, '(A day for ever sad, for ever dear). "This would I celebrate with annual games, With gifts on altars pil'd, and holy flames,

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" Though banish'd to Gætulia's barren sands, Caught on the Grecian seas, or hostile lands: But since this happy storm our fleet has driv'n (Not, as I deem, without the will of heaven) 70 Upon these friendly shores and flow'ry plains, Which hide Anchises, and his blest remains, Let us with joy perform his honors due,

Andpray for prosp'rous winds,our voyage to renew. Pray, that in towns and temples of our own, 75 'The name of great Anchises may be known, And yearly games may spread the god's renown. 'Our sports Acestes, of the Trojan race,

With royal gifts ordain'd, is pleas'd to grace: 'Two steers on every ship the king bestows: 80 'His gods and ours shall share your equal vows. Besides, if, nine days hence, the rosy morn • Shall, with unclouded light, the skies adorn, That day with solemn sports I mean to grace: Light gallics on the seas shall run a wať'ry race. Some shall in swiftness for the goal contend, 86 And others try the twanging bow to bend : 'The strong with iron gauntlets arm'd, shall stand < 'Oppos'd in combat on the yellow sand. 'Let all be present at the games prepar'd; And joyful victors wait the just reward. 'But now assist the rites, with garlands crown'd.' He said and first his brows with myrtle bound.^· Then Helymus, by his example led,

And old Acestes, each adorn'd his head;

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Thus young Ascanius, with a sprightly grace,
His temples ty'd, and all the Trojan race.
Æneas then advanc'd amidst the train,
By thousands follow'd through the flow'ry plain, 99
To great Anchises' tomb; which when he found,
He pour'd to Bacchus, on the hallow'd ground,
Two bowls of sparkling wine, of milk two more,
And two, from offer'd bulls, of purple gore.
With roses then the sepulchre he strow'd,
And thus his father's ghost bespoke aloud:
Hail, O ye holy manes! hail again
‹ Paternal ashes, now review'd in vain !
'The gods permitted not, that you, with me,
'Should reach the promis'd shores of Italy,
'Or Tiber's flood, what flood soe'er it be.' 110.
Scarce had he finish'd, when, with speckled pride,
A serpent from the tomb began to glide;

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His hugy bulk on seven high volumes roll'd; [gold:
Blue was his breadth of back,but streak'd with scaly
Thus, riding on his cûrls, he seem'd to pass 115
A rolling fire along, and singe the grass.
More various colours through his body run,
Than Iris, when her bow imbibes the sun:
Betwixt the rising altars, and around,

The sacred monster shot along the ground; 120
With harmless play amidst the bowls he pass'd,
And, with his lolling tongue, assay'd the taste:
Thus fed with holy food, the wond'rous guest
Within the hollow tomb retir'd to rest.

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The pious prince, surpriz'd at what he view'd, 125
The fun'ral honors with more zeal renew'd:
Doubtful if this the place's Genius were,
Or guardian of his father's sepulchre.
Five sheep, according to the rites, he slew ;
As many swine, and steers of sable hue;
Now gen'rous wine he from the goblets pour'd,
And call'd his father's ghost, from hell restor❜d.
The glad attendants in long order come,
Off'ring their gifts at great Anchises' tomb;
Some add more oxen; some divide the spoil; 135
Some place the chargers on the grassy soil;
Some blow the fires, and offer'd entrails broil,
Now came the day desir'd: the skies were bright
With rosy lustre of the rising light :

The bord'ring people, rouz'd by sounding fame 140
Of Trojan feasts, and great Acestes' name,
The crowded shore with acclamations fill,
Part to behold, and part to prove their skill.
And first the gifts in public view they place, 144
Green laurel-wreaths, and palm the victor's grace;
Within the circle, arms and tripods lie,
Ingots of gold, and silver heap'd on high,
And vests embroider'd, of the Tyrian dye.
The trumpet's clangor then the feast proclaims,
And all prepare for their appointed games.
Four gallies first, which equal rowers bear,
Advancing, in the wat❜ry lists appear.

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The speedy Dolphin, that outstrips the wind, Bore Mnestheus, author of the Memmian kind:

Gyas the vast Chimæra's bulk commands,
Which rising like a tow'ring city stands:
Three Trojans tug at every lab'ring oar;
Three banks in three degrees the sailors bore;
Beneath their sturdy strokes the billows roar.
Sergestus, who began the Sergian race,
In the great Centaur took the leading place:
Cloanthus on the sea-green Scylla stood,
From whom Cluentius draws his Trojan blood.

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Far in the sea, against the foaming shore, There stands a rock: the raging billows roar 165 Above his head in storms: but, when 'tis clear, Uncurl their ridgy backs, and at his foot appear. In peace below the gentle waters run; The cormorants above lie basking in the sun. On this the hero fix'd au oak in sight, The mark to guide the mariners aright.

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To bear with this, the seamen stretch their oars; Then round the rock they steer, and seek the former The lots decide their place. Above the rest, [shores. Each leader shining in his Tyrian vest;

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The common crew, with wreaths of poplar boughs, Their temples crown, and shade their sweaty brows: Besmear'd with oil, their naked shoulders shine, All take their seats and wait the sounding sign. They gripe their oars, and every panting breast 180 Is rais'd by turns with hope, by turus with fear deThe clangor of the trumpet gives the sign; [press'd. At once they start advancing in a line: