Æneas took the Word, and thus replies:
(Confeffing Fate with Wonder in his Eyes)
All Hail, O Earth! all Hail my Houshold Gods,
Behold the deftin'd place of your Abodes!
For thus Anchifes prophecy'd of old,
And this our fatal place of Reft foretold.
"When on a Foreign Shore, instead of Meat,
"By Famine forc'd, your Trenchers you fhall eat,
"Then Ease your weary Trojans will attend:
And the long Labours of your Voyage end.
"Remember on that happy Coast to build :
"And with a Trench inclofe the fruitful Field.
This was that Famine, this the fatal Place,
Which ends the Wand'ring of our exil'd Race.
Then, on to-Morrow's Dawn, your Care employ,
To search the Land, and where the Cities lye,
And what the Men; but give this Day to Joy.
Now pour to Jove, and after Jove is blest,
Call great Anchifes to the Genial Feast:
Crown high the Goblets with a chearful Draught;
Enjoy the present Hour, adjourn the future Thought,
Thus having faid, the Heroe bound his Brows
With leafy Branches, then perform'd his Vows:
Adoring first the Genius of the Place,
Then Earth, the Mother of the Heav'nly Race;
The Nymphs, and native Godheads yet unknown,
And Night, and all the Stars that gild her Sable Throne. And ancient Cybel, and Idaan Jove;
And last his Sire below, and Mother Queen above.
Then Heav'ns high Monarch thundred thrice aloud;
And thrice he shook aloft, a Golden Cloud.
Soon thro' the joyful Camp a Rumor flew,
The time was come their City to renew:
Then ev'ry Brow with chearful Green is crown'd,
The Feafts are doubled, and the Bowls go round.
When next the rofie Morn disclos'd the Day,
The Scouts to fev'ral parts divide their Way,
To learn the Natives Names, their Towns, explore
The Coafts, and Trendings of the crooked Shore:
Here Tyber flows, and here Numicus stands,
Here warlike Latins hold the happy Lands.
The Pious Chief, who fought by peaceful Ways
To found his Empire, and his Town to raise;
A hundred Youths from all his Train selects,
And to the Latian Court their Courfe directs:
(The fpacious Palace where their Prince refides;)
And all their Heads with Wreaths of Olive hides.
They go commiffion'd to require a Peace;
And carry Prefents to procure Access.
Thus while they speed their Pace, the Prince defigns
The new elected Seat, and draws the Lines:
The Trojans round the Place a Rampire caft,
And Palisades about the Trenches plac'd.
Mean time the Train, proceeding on their way,
From far the Town, and lofty Tow'rs furvey:
At length approach the Walls: without the Gate
They fee the Boys, and Latian Youth debate
The Martial Prizes on the duty Plain:
Some drive the Cars, and fome the Courfers rein:
Some bend the stubborn Bow for Victory;
And fome with Darts their active Sinews try...
A pofting Messenger difpatch'd from hence,
Of this fair Troop, advis'd their aged Prince;'
That foreign Men, of mighty Stature, came;
Uncouth their Habit, and unknown their Name.
The King ordains their Entrance, and ascends
His Regal Seat, furrounded by his Friends.
The Palace built by Picus, vaft and proud,.
Supported by a hundred Pillars flood:
And round incompass'd with a rising Wood.
The Pile o'erlook'd the Town, and drew the fight,..
Surpriz'd at once with Reverence and Delight.
There Kings receiv'd the Marks of Sov'raign Pow'r:
In State the Monarchs march'd, the Lictors bore 235
Their Awful Axes, and the Rods before.
Here the Tribunal ftood, the House of Pray'r
And here the facred Senators repair:
All at large Tables, in long order fet,
A Ram their Off'ring, and a Ram their Meat.
Above the Portal, carv'd in Cedar Wood,
Plac'd in their Ranks, their Godlike Grandfires flood.
Old Saturn, with his crooked Scythe, on high;
And Italus, that led the Colony:
And ancient Fanus, with his double Face,
And Bunch of Keys, the Porter of the place.
There stood Sabinus, planter of the Vines,
On a fhort Pruning-hook his Head reclines:
And ftudiously furveys his gen'rous Wines.
Then Warlike Kings, who for their Country fought, 250
And honourable Wounds from Battel brought.
Around the Pofts hung Helmets, Darts, and Spears;
And Captive Chariots, Axes, Shields, and Bars,
And broken Beaks of Ships, the Trophies of their Wars..
Above the rest, as Chief of all the Band,
Was Picus plac'd, a Buckler in his, Hands
His other wavy'd a long divining Wand.
Girt in his Gabin Gown the Heroe fate:
Yet could not with his Art avoid his Fate.
For Circe long had lov'd the Youth in vain,
Till Love, refus'd, converted to Difdain:
Then mixing pow'rful Herbs, with Magic Art,
She chang'd his Form, who cou'd not change his Heart.
Conftrain'd him in a Bird, and made him fly,
With party-colour'd Plumes, a Chattering Pye.
In this high Temple, on a Chair of State;
The Seat of Audience, old Latinus fate;
Then gave Admiffion to the Trojan Train,
And thus, with pleafing accents, he began.
Tell me, ye Trojans, for that Name you own;
Nor is your Courfe upon our Coafts unknown;
Say what you seek, and whither were you bound?
Were you by ftrefs of Weather caft a-ground?
Such dangers on the Seas are often seen,
And oft befall to miferable Men.
Or come, your Shipping in our Ports to lay,
Spent and difabled in fo long a way?
Say what you want, the Latians you fhall find
Not forc'd to Goodness, but by Will inclin'd;
For fince the time of Saturn's holy Reign,
His Hofpitable Cuftoms we retain.
I call to mind, (but Time the Tale has worn)
Th' Arunci told; that Dardanus, tho' born
On Latian Plains, yet fought the Phrygian Shore,
And Samothracia, Samos call'd before:
From Tufcan Coritum he claim'd his Birth,
But after, when exempt from Mortal Earth,
From thence afcended to his kindred Skies,
A God, and as a God augments their Sacrifice.
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