THE NEID OF VIRGIL. BOOK VIII. Soon as from the tower of Laurentum Turnus had displayed the signal, and with hoarse clangor the trumpets rattled; soon as he roused the sprightly coursers, and clashed the din of arms; forthwith the minds of all are driven to high commotion; all Latium at once with hurrying tumultuous haste combine, and the madding youth burn with fury. The chief leaders, Messapus and Ufens, and that contemner of the gods, Mezentius, draw together their succours from every quarter, and of the labourers depopulate the lands around. Venulus too is sent to the city of great Diomede to crave a supply, and to give him intelligence, that the Trojans were settled in Latium; that Æneas had landed with a fleet, and was introducing his conquered gods, and gave out that he was designed by fate to be the king of Latium; that many nations joined themselves to the Trojan, and his fame began to be spread abroad all over Latium. What he proposes by these measures, and what events and resolutions in consequence of the war he longs to bring about (if fortune attend him), appear more obvious to (Diomede) himself than to king Turnus, or king Latinus. Such in Latium was the state of affairs; all which the Trojan hero perceiving fluctuates with a high tide of anxious care; and now this way, now that, he swiftly, turns his wavering mind, snatches various purposes by starts, and shifts himself every way: as when in brazen vats of water the trembling beams of light, reflected from the Sole repercussum, aut radiantis imagine lunæ, Nox erat, et terras animalia fessa per omnes Procubuit, seramque dedit per membra quietem. O sate gente Deûm, Trojanam ex hostibus urbem Qui revehis nobis, æternaque Pergama servas, Jamque tibi, ne vana putes hæc fingere somnum, Triginta capitum fetus enixa, jacebit; Alba, solo recubans, albi circum ubera nati. 45 Hic locus urbis erit, requies ea certa laborum : Ex quo ter denis urbem redeuntibus annis Haud incerta cano. Nunc quâ ratione, quod instat, 37. Revehis. Bringest back; because Dardanus, the founder of the Trojan race, was originally from Italy." sun, or from the image of the radiant moon, swiftly float over every place around, and now are darted up on high, and strike the ceilings of the lofty roof. It was night, and sleep profound held fast in his soft chains weary animals, the cattle and flying kind over all the earth; when on the bank, and under the canopy of heaven, father Æneas, disturbed in mind with the thought of disastrous war, laid himself down, and indulged his weary limbs in late repose. To his view Tiberinus himself, the old venerable god of the place, from his smooth gliding stream, was seen to lift up his head among the poplar boughs: a fine robe of lawn enwrapped his limbs in its seagreen folds, and shady reeds covered his locks. Then thus he addressed Eneas, and with these words eased him of his cares: Hail, sprung from the race of gods, who to us bringest home the remains of our city Troy saved from their foes, and preservest Pergamus destined. to stand for ever, a welcome expected guest to the Laurentine soil and lands of Latium; here is thy fixed abode, thy sure dwelling-place: flinch not from thy design, nor be dismayed by the threats of war. All indignation and anger of the gods are overpast. And now that you may not imagine sleep forms in your mind these visionary ideas, under the elms on the banks of the river you will find a sow lying, that has brought forth a litter of thirty young, white the dam, reclining on the ground, her offspring white around her dugs. That place shall be the station for your city, a sure harbour of rest from your toils; in consequence of which, after a revolution of thrice ten years, Ascanius shall build the city Alba of illustrious name. Events I foretell not uncertain. Now attend, I will briefly shew by what means you may accomplish with the desired success the work in hand. On these coasts the Arcadians, a race from Pallas descended (who, hither accompanying their king Evander and his standard, have chosen their place of residence, and in the mountains built a city called Pallanteum, from the name of their ancestor Pallas), perpetually carry on war with the Latin nation: admit them the confederates of your Ipse ego te ripis et recto flumine ducam, Hic mihi magna domus; celsis caput urbibus exit. Nymphæ, Laurentes Nymphæ, genus amnibus unde est : Quo te cunque lacus, miserantem incommoda nostra, 75 80 85 57. Recto flumine. Not that flows in a direct line, which would clash with verse 95, but which, by a right or unerring course, will bring you safe to your destined port. 74. Quo te cunque lacus. It was the opinion of some ancient philosophers, to which Virgil here seems to allude, that rivers took their rise from great subterraneous lakes. 77. Corniger. It is common with the poets to ascribe to rivers the form of bulls, as Horace, Lib. iv. Ode 14. The idea probably arose from the roaring noise of a river. Horns were also an emblem of power, and therefore peculiarly applicable to one styled Hesperi dum regnator aquarum. camp, and with them join league. Myself will conduct you along my banks and river right on your way, that borne up by my aid you may with oars surmount the adverse stream. Arise, bestir yourself, O goddess-born, and with the first setting stars offer prayers to Juno in due form, and by suppliant vows vanquish her resentment and threats. To me you shall pay honour when victorious over all your foes. I am he whom you behold gliding along the banks with my full stream, and dividing the fertile lands: the azure Tyber, a river highly favoured by heaven. Here is my spacious mansion; near lofty cities my fountain springs. He said; then in the deep pool the river-god plunged, diving to the bottom: from Eneas night and sleep departed. He started up; and, viewing the rising beams of the ethereal sun, in his hollow palms with pious form he raised water from the river, and poured forth to heaven these words: Ye nymphs, ye Laurentine nymphs, whence rivers have their origin; and thou, O father Tyber, with thy sacred river! receive Eneas into your protection, and defend him at length from dangers. In whatever source thy subterraneous lake contains thee compassionate to our misfortunes, from whatever soil thou springest forth, most beauteous sovereign river of the Italian streams, graced with the horns of power, thou shalt ever be honoured with my veneration, ever with my offerings: oh grant us but thy present aid, and by nearer signs confirm thy oracles divine. Thus he speaks; and from his fleet singles out two galleys, and furnishes them with implements for rowing; at the same time supplies. his friends with arms. But lo, a prodigy sudden and strange to sight, a milk-white sow of similar colour with her white young, lay along the wood, and was seen on the verdant bank; which to thee, O sovereign Juno (for to thee he was enjoined), the pious Eneas devotes as a sacred offering, and presents before thy altar with her offspring. The Tyber, all that night long, calmed his swelling river, and refluent with a silent stream stood poised; so that, like a mild unruffled pool and peaceful lake, he smoothed his watery plain, that |