THE ENEID OF VIRGIL. BOOK VI. Thus he speaks with tears in his eyes, and gives his ship full sail, and at length he reaches the Eubœan coast of Cumæ. They turn their prows out to the sea; then the anchor with its tenacious fluke moored the ships, and the winding sterns line the margin of the shore. The youthful crew spring forth with ardour on the Hesperian strand; some explore the seeds of fire latent in the veins of flint; some plunder the copses, the close retreat of wild beasts, and point out rivers newly discovered. But the pious Æneas repairs to the towers over which exalted Apollo presides, and to the ample dreary cave, the cell of the Sibyl awful at a distance; whose great mind and soul the prophetic god of Delos inspires, and discloses to her future events. Now they enter Diana's groves, and Apollo's golden roofs. Dædalus, as is famed, flying the realms of Minos, adventuring to commit himself to the sky on nimble wings, sailed aloft in air through an untried path to the cold regions of the north, and at length gently alighted on the tower of Chalcis. Having landed first on those coasts, to thee, O Phoebus, he consecrated his oary wings, and reared a spacious temple. On the gates the death of Androgeos was represented: then appeared the Athenians, doomed, as an atonement for their crime (a piteous case!), to pay the yearly tribute of seven of their children: there stands the urn whence the lots were drawn. In counterview answers the land of Crete raised above the sea: Hic crudelis amor tauri, suppôstaque furto 27. Inextricabilis error. The labyrinth, here Pasiphae's fierce passion for the bull is seen, and she is introduced by artifice humbled to his embrace, with the Minotaur, that mingled birth, and two-formed offsprings, all monuments of execrable lust. Here are seen the laboured work of the Labyrinth, and the inextricable mazes: but Dædalus, pitying the violent love of the princess Ariadne, unravels to Theseus the intricacies and winding alleys of the structure, himself guiding his dark mazy steps by a thread. You too, O Icarus, should have borne a considerable part in that great work, had thy father's grief permitted. Twice he essayed to figure the disastrous story in gold; twice the parent's hand misgave him. And now the Trojans would survey the whole work in order, were not Achates sent before by Eneas, just at hand, and with him the priestess of Phoebus and Diana, Deiphobe, Glaucus' daughter, who thus bespeaks the king: This hour neither requires nor admits such amusements. At present it will be more suitable to sacrifice seven bullocks from a herd untouched with the yoke, and as many chosen ewes, with usual rites. The priestess having thus addressed Eneas (nor are they backward to obey her sacred orders), calls the Trojans into the lofty temple. The huge side of an Euboean rock is cut out into a cave, whither a hundred broad avenues lead, a hundred doors; whence rush forth as many voices, the responses of the Sibyl. They had come to the entry of the cave, when thus the virgin exclaims : Now is the time to consult your fate: the god, lo the god approaches! While thus before the gate she speaks, on a sudden her looks change, her colour comes and goes, her locks are dishevelled, her breast heaves, and her fiercely untoward heart swells with enthusiastic rage; she appears in a larger and more majestic form, her voice speaking her not a mortal, now that she is inspired with the nearer influence of the god. Do you delay, Trojan Æneas, she says, do you delay to pour forth Vows and prayers? Instantly begin; for not till then shall the ample gates of this mansion, where the god thunders with his voice, expand their jaws. And having Conticuit. Gelidus Teucris per dura cucurrit Dique Deæque omnes, quibus obstitit Ilium, et ingens 55 60 65 70 75 Os rabidum, fera corda domans, fingitque premendo. 80 57. Direxti tela. Directed his arrow to wound him on the heel, the only place where he was vulnerable. 61. Fugientis. Because, as they approached it, new obstructions arose that barred the access to it, as if it had fled from them. 71. Te quoque, etc. This alludes to the sanctuary in the temple of Jupiter Capitolinus, where the Sibylline books were kept in a stone chest under ground. The Quindecimviri, who were always patricians, were appointed to take care of them, and consult them. 74. Foliis. Before the use of paper was known, it was customary to write on the leaves of the palm tree. us. thus said, she ceased. Shivering horror ran thrilling cold through the Trojans, and penetrated even to their hard bones; and their king poured forth these prayers from the bottom of his heart: Great Apollo, always disposed to pity the grievous calamities of Troy, who guidedst the Trojan darts and the hand of Paris to the body of Achilles; under thy conduct I have entered so many seas encompassing extensive countries, and the Massylian kingdoms far remote, and regions whose frontiers are guarded by quicksands. Now, after all our toils, we are in possession of the coast of Italy that flies from Let it suffice that the fortune of Troy has persecuted us thus far. Now it is but equitable that you too spare the Trojan race, ye gods and goddesses, all to whom Ilium and the high renown of Dardania were obnoxious. And thou most holy prophetess, skilled in futurity, grant (for I ask no realms but what are destined to me by fate) that the Trojans, their wandering gods, and the persecuted deities of Troy, may settle in Latium. Then will I appoint, to Phoebus and Diana, temples of solid marble, and festival days, called by the name of Apollo. Thee too a spacious sanctuary awaits in our realms: for there, propitious maid, I will deposit thy oracles, and the secret fates declared to my nation, and will consecrate chosen men for thy service. Only commit not thy prophetic verses to leaves, lest they fly about in disorder, the sport of the rapid winds: I beg you yourself will pronounce them. He ended his address. But the prophetess, as yet impatient under the influence of Phoebus, raves with wild outrage in the cave, struggling if possible to disburthen her soul of the mighty god: so much the more he curbs and harasses her wildly rebellious jaws, subduing her ferocious heart, and, by bearing down her opposition, forms and makes her pliable. And now the hundred spacious gates of the dome expanded of their own accord, and pour forth these responses into the open air: O thou who hast at length G |