The Aeneid Part 3

Him Dido now with blandishment detains; But I suspect the town where Juno reigns.

For this 't is needful to prevent her art, And fire with love the proud Phoenician's heart: A love so violent, so strong, so sure, As neither age can change, nor art can cure.

How this may be perform'd, now take my mind: Ascanius by his father is design'd To come, with presents laden, from the port, To gratify the queen, and gain the court.

I mean to plunge the boy in pleasing sleep, And, ravish'd, in Idalian bow'rs to keep, Or high Cythera, that the sweet deceit May pa.s.s unseen, and none prevent the cheat.

Take thou his form and shape. I beg the grace But only for a night's revolving s.p.a.ce: Thyself a boy, a.s.sume a boy's dissembled face; That when, amidst the fervor of the feast, The Tyrian hugs and fonds thee on her breast, And with sweet kisses in her arms constrains, Thou may'st infuse thy venom in her veins."

The G.o.d of Love obeys, and sets aside His bow and quiver, and his plumy pride; He walks Iulus in his mother's sight, And in the sweet resemblance takes delight.

The G.o.ddess then to young Ascanius flies, And in a pleasing slumber seals his eyes: Lull'd in her lap, amidst a train of Loves, She gently bears him to her blissful groves, Then with a wreath of myrtle crowns his head, And softly lays him on a flow'ry bed.

Cupid meantime a.s.sum'd his form and face, Foll'wing Achates with a shorter pace, And brought the gifts. The queen already sate Amidst the Trojan lords, in shining state, High on a golden bed: her princely guest Was next her side; in order sate the rest.

Then canisters with bread are heap'd on high; Th' attendants water for their hands supply, And, having wash'd, with silken towels dry.

Next fifty handmaids in long order bore The censers, and with fumes the G.o.ds adore: Then youths, and virgins twice as many, join To place the dishes, and to serve the wine.

The Tyrian train, admitted to the feast, Approach, and on the painted couches rest.

All on the Trojan gifts with wonder gaze, But view the beauteous boy with more amaze, His rosy-color'd cheeks, his radiant eyes, His motions, voice, and shape, and all the G.o.d's disguise; Nor pa.s.s unprais'd the vest and veil divine, Which wand'ring foliage and rich flow'rs entwine.

But, far above the rest, the royal dame, (Already doom'd to love's disastrous flame,) With eyes insatiate, and tumultuous joy, Beholds the presents, and admires the boy.

The guileful G.o.d about the hero long, With children's play, and false embraces, hung; Then sought the queen: she took him to her arms With greedy pleasure, and devour'd his charms.

Unhappy Dido little thought what guest, How dire a G.o.d, she drew so near her breast; But he, not mindless of his mother's pray'r, Works in the pliant bosom of the fair, And molds her heart anew, and blots her former care.

The dead is to the living love resign'd; And all Aeneas enters in her mind.

Now, when the rage of hunger was appeas'd, The meat remov'd, and ev'ry guest was pleas'd, The golden bowls with sparkling wine are crown'd, And thro' the palace cheerful cries resound.

From gilded roofs depending lamps display Nocturnal beams, that emulate the day.

A golden bowl, that shone with gems divine, The queen commanded to be crown'd with wine: The bowl that Belus us'd, and all the Tyrian line.

Then, silence thro' the hall proclaim'd, she spoke: "O hospitable Jove! we thus invoke, With solemn rites, thy sacred name and pow'r; Bless to both nations this auspicious hour!

So may the Trojan and the Tyrian line In lasting concord from this day combine.

Thou, Bacchus, G.o.d of joys and friendly cheer, And gracious Juno, both be present here!

And you, my lords of Tyre, your vows address To Heav'n with mine, to ratify the peace."

The goblet then she took, with nectar crown'd (Sprinkling the first libations on the ground,) And rais'd it to her mouth with sober grace; Then, sipping, offer'd to the next in place.

'T was Bitias whom she call'd, a thirsty soul; He took challenge, and embrac'd the bowl, With pleasure swill'd the gold, nor ceas'd to draw, Till he the bottom of the brimmer saw.

The goblet goes around: Iopas brought His golden lyre, and sung what ancient Atlas taught: The various labors of the wand'ring moon, And whence proceed th' eclipses of the sun; Th' original of men and beasts; and whence The rains arise, and fires their warmth dispense, And fix'd and erring stars dispose their influence; What shakes the solid earth; what cause delays The summer nights and shortens winter days.

With peals of shouts the Tyrians praise the song: Those peals are echo'd by the Trojan throng.

Th' unhappy queen with talk prolong'd the night, And drank large draughts of love with vast delight; Of Priam much enquir'd, of Hector more; Then ask'd what arms the swarthy Memnon wore, What troops he landed on the Trojan sh.o.r.e; The steeds of Diomede varied the discourse, And fierce Achilles, with his matchless force; At length, as fate and her ill stars requir'd, To hear the series of the war desir'd.

"Relate at large, my G.o.dlike guest," she said, "The Grecian stratagems, the town betray'd: The fatal issue of so long a war, Your flight, your wand'rings, and your woes, declare; For, since on ev'ry sea, on ev'ry coast, Your men have been distress'd, your navy toss'd, Sev'n times the sun has either tropic view'd, The winter banish'd, and the spring renew'd."

BOOK II

All were attentive to the G.o.dlike man, When from his lofty couch he thus began: "Great queen, what you command me to relate Renews the sad remembrance of our fate: An empire from its old foundations rent, And ev'ry woe the Trojans underwent; A peopled city made a desart place; All that I saw, and part of which I was: Not ev'n the hardest of our foes could hear, Nor stern Ulysses tell without a tear.

And now the latter watch of wasting night, And setting stars, to kindly rest invite; But, since you take such int'rest in our woe, And Troy's disastrous end desire to know, I will restrain my tears, and briefly tell What in our last and fatal night befell.

"By destiny compell'd, and in despair, The Greeks grew weary of the tedious war, And by Minerva's aid a fabric rear'd, Which like a steed of monstrous height appear'd: The sides were plank'd with pine; they feign'd it made For their return, and this the vow they paid.

Thus they pretend, but in the hollow side Selected numbers of their soldiers hide: With inward arms the dire machine they load, And iron bowels stuff the dark abode.

In sight of Troy lies Tenedos, an isle (While Fortune did on Priam's empire smile) Renown'd for wealth; but, since, a faithless bay, Where ships expos'd to wind and weather lay.

There was their fleet conceal'd. We thought, for Greece Their sails were hoisted, and our fears release.

The Trojans, coop'd within their walls so long, Unbar their gates, and issue in a throng, Like swarming bees, and with delight survey The camp deserted, where the Grecians lay: The quarters of the sev'ral chiefs they show'd; Here Phoenix, here Achilles, made abode; Here join'd the battles; there the navy rode.

Part on the pile their wond'ring eyes employ: The pile by Pallas rais'd to ruin Troy.

Thymoetes first ('t is doubtful whether hir'd, Or so the Trojan destiny requir'd) Mov'd that the ramparts might be broken down, To lodge the monster fabric in the town.

But Capys, and the rest of sounder mind, The fatal present to the flames designed, Or to the wat'ry deep; at least to bore The hollow sides, and hidden frauds explore.

The giddy vulgar, as their fancies guide, With noise say nothing, and in parts divide.

Laoc.o.o.n, follow'd by a num'rous crowd, Ran from the fort, and cried, from far, aloud: 'O wretched countrymen! what fury reigns?

What more than madness has possess'd your brains?

Think you the Grecians from your coasts are gone?

And are Ulysses' arts no better known?

This hollow fabric either must inclose, Within its blind recess, our secret foes; Or 't is an engine rais'd above the town, T' o'erlook the walls, and then to batter down.

Somewhat is sure design'd, by fraud or force: Trust not their presents, nor admit the horse.'

Thus having said, against the steed he threw His forceful spear, which, hissing as flew, Pierc'd thro' the yielding planks of jointed wood, And trembling in the hollow belly stood.

The sides, transpierc'd, return a rattling sound, And groans of Greeks inclos'd come issuing thro' the wound And, had not Heav'n the fall of Troy design'd, Or had not men been fated to be blind, Enough was said and done t'inspire a better mind.

Then had our lances pierc'd the treach'rous wood, And Ilian tow'rs and Priam's empire stood.

Meantime, with shouts, the Trojan shepherds bring A captive Greek, in bands, before the king; Taken to take; who made himself their prey, T' impose on their belief, and Troy betray; Fix'd on his aim, and obstinately bent To die undaunted, or to circ.u.mvent.

About the captive, tides of Trojans flow; All press to see, and some insult the foe.

Now hear how well the Greeks their wiles disguis'd; Behold a nation in a man compris'd.

Trembling the miscreant stood, unarm'd and bound; He star'd, and roll'd his haggard eyes around, Then said: 'Alas! what earth remains, what sea Is open to receive unhappy me?

What fate a wretched fugitive attends, Scorn'd by my foes, abandon'd by my friends?'

He said, and sigh'd, and cast a rueful eye: Our pity kindles, and our pa.s.sions die.

We cheer youth to make his own defense, And freely tell us what he was, and whence: What news he could impart, we long to know, And what to credit from a captive foe.

"His fear at length dismiss'd, he said: 'Whate'er My fate ordains, my words shall be sincere: I neither can nor dare my birth disclaim; Greece is my country, Sinon is my name.

Tho' plung'd by Fortune's pow'r in misery, 'T is not in Fortune's pow'r to make me lie.

If any chance has. .h.i.ther brought the name Of Palamedes, not unknown to fame, Who suffer'd from the malice of the times, Accus'd and sentenc'd for pretended crimes, Because these fatal wars he would prevent; Whose death the wretched Greeks too late lament- Me, then a boy, my father, poor and bare Of other means, committed to his care, His kinsman and companion in the war.

While Fortune favor'd, while his arms support The cause, and rul'd the counsels, of the court, I made some figure there; nor was my name Obscure, nor I without my share of fame.

But when Ulysses, with fallacious arts, Had made impression in the people's hearts, And forg'd a treason in my patron's name (I speak of things too far divulg'd by fame), My kinsman fell. Then I, without support, In private mourn'd his loss, and left the court.

Mad as I was, I could not bear his fate With silent grief, but loudly blam'd the state, And curs'd the direful author of my woes.

'T was told again; and hence my ruin rose.

I threaten'd, if indulgent Heav'n once more Would land me safely on my native sh.o.r.e, His death with double vengeance to restore.

This mov'd the murderer's hate; and soon ensued Th' effects of malice from a man so proud.

Ambiguous rumors thro' the camp he spread, And sought, by treason, my devoted head; New crimes invented; left unturn'd no stone, To make my guilt appear, and hide his own; Till Calchas was by force and threat'ning wrought- But why- why dwell I on that anxious thought?

If on my nation just revenge you seek, And 't is t' appear a foe, t' appear a Greek; Already you my name and country know; a.s.suage your thirst of blood, and strike the blow: My death will both the kingly brothers please, And set insatiate Ithacus at ease.'

This fair unfinish'd tale, these broken starts, Rais'd expectations in our longing hearts: Unknowing as we were in Grecian arts.

His former trembling once again renew'd, With acted fear, the villain thus pursued:

"'Long had the Grecians (tir'd with fruitless care, And wearied with an unsuccessful war) Resolv'd to raise the siege, and leave the town; And, had the G.o.ds permitted, they had gone; But oft the wintry seas and southern winds Withstood their pa.s.sage home, and chang'd their minds.

Portents and prodigies their souls amaz'd; But most, when this stupendous pile was rais'd: Then flaming meteors, hung in air, were seen, And thunders rattled thro' a sky serene.

Dismay'd, and fearful of some dire event, Eurypylus t' enquire their fate was sent.

He from the G.o.ds this dreadful answer brought:

"O Grecians, when the Trojan sh.o.r.es you sought, Your pa.s.sage with a virgin's blood was bought: So must your safe return be bought again, And Grecian blood once more atone the main."

The spreading rumor round the people ran; All fear'd, and each believ'd himself the man.

Ulysses took th' advantage of their fright; Call'd Calchas, and produc'd in open sight: Then bade him name the wretch, ordain'd by fate The public victim, to redeem the state.

Already some presag'd the dire event, And saw what sacrifice Ulysses meant.

For twice five days the good old seer withstood Th' intended treason, and was dumb to blood, Till, tir'd, with endless clamors and pursuit Of Ithacus, he stood no longer mute; But, as it was agreed, p.r.o.nounc'd that I Was destin'd by the wrathful G.o.ds to die.

All prais'd the sentence, pleas'd the storm should fall On one alone, whose fury threaten'd all.

The dismal day was come; the priests prepare Their leaven'd cakes, and fillets for my hair.

I follow'd nature's laws, and must avow I broke my bonds and fled the fatal blow.

Hid in a weedy lake all night I lay, Secure of safety when they sail'd away.

But now what further hopes for me remain, To see my friends, or native soil, again; My tender infants, or my careful sire, Whom they returning will to death require; Will perpetrate on them their first design, And take the forfeit of their heads for mine?

Which, O! if pity mortal minds can move, If there be faith below, or G.o.ds above, If innocence and truth can claim desert, Ye Trojans, from an injur'd wretch avert.'

"False tears true pity move; the king commands To loose his fetters, and unbind his hands: Then adds these friendly words: 'Dismiss thy fears; Forget the Greeks; be mine as thou wert theirs.

But truly tell, was it for force or guile, Or some religious end, you rais'd the pile?'

Thus said the king. He, full of fraudful arts, This well-invented tale for truth imparts: 'Ye lamps of heav'n!' he said, and lifted high His hands now free, 'thou venerable sky!