with Bridges Tow'r to Tow'r Thus all things needful for Defence abound Mnestheus and brave Seresthus walk the round Commission'd by their Absent Prince to share The common Danger and divide the Care The Souldiers draw their Lots and as they fall By turns relieve each other on the Wall Nigh where the Foes their utmost Guards advance To watch the Gate was warlike Nisus chance His Father Hyrtacus of Noble Blood His Mother was a Hunt'ress of the Wood And sent him to the Wars well cou'd he bear His Lance in fight and dart the flying Spear But better skill'd unerring Shafts to send Beside him stood Euryalus his Friend Euryalus than whom the Trojan Hoast No fairer Face or fweeter Air could boast Scarce had the Down to shade his Cheeks begun One was their Care and their Delight was one One Common hazard in the War they shar'd And now were both by choice upon the Guard Then Nisus thus Or do the Gods inspire This warmth or make we Gods of our Desire A gen'rous ardour boils within my Breast Eager of Action Enemy to Rest This urges me to fight and fires my Mind To leave a memorable Name behind Thou see'st the Foe secure how faintly shine Their scatter'd Fires the most in Sleep supine Along the ground an easie Conquest lye The wakeful few the fuming Flaggon ply All hush'd around Now hear what I revolve A Thought unripe and scarcely yet resolve Our absent Prince both Camp and Council mourn By Message both wou'd hasten his return If they confer what I demand on thee For Fame is Recompence enough for me Methinks beneath yon Hill I have espy'd A way that safely will my passage guide Euryalus stood list'ning while he spoke With love of Praise and noble Envy struck Then to his ardent Friend expos'd his Mind All this alone and leaving me behind Am I unworthy Nisus to be join'd Think'st thou I can my share of Glory yield Or send thee unassisted to the Field Not so my Father taught my Childhood Arms Born in a Siege and bred among Alarms Nor is my Youth unworthy of my Friend Nor of the Heav'n-born Heroe I attend The thing call'd Life with ease I can disclaim And think it over sold to purchase Fame Then Nisus thus alas thy tender years Wou'd minister new matter to my Fears So may the Gods who view this friendly Strife Restore me to thy lov'd Embrace with life Condemn'd to pay my Vows as sure I trust This thy Request is Cruel and Unjust But if some Chance as many Chances are And doubtful Hazards in the deeds of War If one shou'd reach my Head there let it fall And spare thy Life I wou'd not perish all Thy bloomy Youth deserves a longer date Live thou to mourn thy Love 's unhappy Fate To bear my mangled Body from the Foe Or buy it back and Fun'ral Rites bestow Or if hard Fortune shall those Dues deny Thou canst at least an empty Tomb supply O let not me the Widows Tears renew Nor let a Mother's Curse my Name pursue Thy Pious Parent who for love of thee Forsook the Coasts of friendly Sicily Her Age committing to the Seas and Wind When ev'ry weary Matron staid behind To this Euryalus you plead in vain And but protract the Cause you cannot gain No more delays but haste With that he wakes The nodding Watch each to his Office takes The Guard reliev'd the gen'rous Couple went To find the Council at the Royal Tent. All Creatures else forgot their daily Care And Sleep the common Gift of Nature share Except the Trojan Peers who wakeful sate In nightly Council for th' indanger'd State They vote a Message to their absent Chief Shew their Distress and beg a swift Relief Amid the Camp a silent Seat they chose Remote from Clamour and secure from Foes On their left Arms their ample Shields they bear The right reclin'd upon the bending Spear Now Nisus and his Friend approach the Guard And beg Admission eager to be heard Th' Affair important not to be deferr'd Ascanius bids 'em be conducted in Ord'ring the more experienc'd to begin Then Nisus thus Ye Fathers lend your Ears Nor judge our bold Attempt beyond our Years The Foe securely drench'd in Sleep and Wine Neglect their Watch the Fires but thinly shine And where the Smoke in cloudy Vapours flies Cov'ring the Plain and curling to the Skies Betwixt two Paths which at the Gate divide Close by the Sea a Passage we have spy'd Which will our way to great Aeneas guide Expect each Hour to see him safe again Loaded with Spoils of Foes in Battel slain Snatch we the lucky Minute while we may Nor can we be mistaken in the way For hunting in the Vale we both have seen The rising Turrets and the Stream between And know the winding Course with ev'ry Ford. He ceas'd And old Alethes took the Word Our Country Gods in whom our Trust we place Will yet from Ruin save the Trojan Race While we behold such dauntless Worth appear In dawning Youth and Souls so void of Fear Then into Tears of Joy the Father broke Each in his longing Arms by Turns he took Panted and paus'd and thus again he spoke Ye brave young Men what equal Gifts can we In recompencc of such Desert decree The greatest sure and best you can receive The Gods and your own conscious Worth will give The rest our grateful Gen'ral will bestow And young Ascanius 'till his Manhood owe. And I whose Welfare in my Father lies Ascanius adds by the great Deities By my dear Country by my household Gods By hoary Vesta's Rites and dark Abodes Adjure you both on you my Fortune stands That and my Faith I plight into your Hands Make me but happy in his safe Return Whose wanted Presence I can only mourn Your common Gift shall two large Goblets be Of Silver wrought with curious Imagery And high emboss'd which when old Priam reign'd My conqu'ring Sire at sack'd Arisba gain'd And more two Tripods cast in antick Mould With two great Talents of the finest Gold Beside a costly Bowl ingrav'd with Art Which Dido gave when first she gave her Heart But if in conquer'd Italy we reign When Spoils by Lot the Victor shall obtain Thou saw'st the Courser by proud Turnus press'd That Nisus and his Arms and nodding Crest And Shield from Chance exempt shall be thy Share Twelve lab'ring Slaves twelve Handmaids young and fair All clad in rich Attire and train'd with Care And last a Latian Field with fruitful Plains And a large Portion of the King 's Domains But thou whose Years are more to mine ally'd No Fate my vow'd Affection shall divide From thee Heroick Youth be wholly mine Take full Possession all my Soul is thine One Faith one Fame one Fate shall both attend My Life's Companion and my Bosom Friend My Peace shall be committed to thy Care And to thy Conduct my Concerns in War Then thus the young Euryalus reply'd Whatever
out the Treasure of the Nation which is never to return but what I bring from Italy I spend in England Here it remains and here it circulates for if the Coyn be good it will pass from one hand to another I Trade both with the Living and the Dead for the enrichment of our Native Language We have enough in England to supply our necessity but if we will have things of Magnificence and Splendour we must get them by Commerce Poetry requires Ornament and that is not to be had from our Old Teuton Monosyllables therefore if I find any Elegant Word in a Classick Author I propose it to be Naturaliz'd by using it my self and if the Publick approves of it the Bill passes But every Man cannot distinguish betwixt Pedantry and Poetry Every Man therefore is not fit to innovate Upon the whole matter a Poet must first be certain that the Word he wou'd Introduce is Beautiful in the Latin and is to consider in the next place whether it will agree with the English Idiom After this he ought to take the Opinion of judicious Friends such as are Learned in both Languages And lastly since no Man is infallible let him use this License very sparingly for if too many Foreign Words are pour'd in upon us it looks as if they were design'd not to assist the Natives but to Conquer them I am now drawing towards a Conclusion and suspect your Lordship is very glad of it But permit me first to own what Helps I have had in this Undertaking The late Earl of Lauderdail sent me over his new Translation of the Aeneis which he had ended before I ingag'd in the same Design Neither did I then intend it But some Proposals being afterwards made me by my Bookseller I desir'd his Lordship's leave that I might accept them which he freely granted and I have his Letter yet to shew for that permission He resolv'd to have Printed his Work which he might have done two Years before I cou'd Publish mine and had perform'd it if Death had not prevented him But having his Manuscript in my hands I consulted it as often as I doubted of my Author's sense For no Man understood Virgil better than that Learned Noble Man His Friends I hear have yet another and more Correct Copy of that Translation by them which had they pleas'd to have given the Publick the Judges must have been convinc'd that I have not flatter'd him Besides this help which was not inconsiderable Mr. Congreve has done me the Favour to review the Aeneis and compare my Version with the Original I shall never be asham'd to own that this Excellent Young Man has shew'd me many Faults which I have endeavour'd to Correct 'T is true he might have easily found more and then my Translation had been more Perfect Two other Worthy Friends of mine who desire to have their Names conceal'd seeing me straitned in my time took Pity on me and gave me the Life of Virgil the two Prefaces to the Pastorals and the Georgics and all the Arguments in Profe to the whole Translation Which perhaps has occasion'd a Report that the two First Poems are not mine If it had been true that I had taken their Verses for my own I might have glory'd in their Aid and like Terence have farther'd the Opinion that Scipio and Laelius join'd with me But the same Style being continu'd thro' the whole and the same Laws of Versification observ'd are proofs sufficient that this is one Man's Work And your Lordship is too well acquainted with my manner to doubt that any part of it is anothers That your Lordship may see I was in earnest when I promis'd to hasten to an end I will not give the Reasons why I Writ not always in the proper terms of Navigation Land-Service or in the Cant of any Profession I will only say that Virgil has avoided those proprieties because he Writ not to Mariners Souldiers Astronomers Gardners Peasants c. but to all in general and in particular to Men and Ladies of the first Quality who have been better Bred than to be too nicely knowing in the Terms In such cases 't is enough for a Poet to write so plainly that he may be understood by his Readers To avoid impropriety and not affect to be thought Learn'd in all things I have omitted the Four Preliminary Lines of the First Aeneid Because I think them inferiour to any Four others in the whole Poem and consequently believe they are not Virgil's There is too great a gap betwixt the Adjective vicina in the Second Line and the Substantive Arva in the latter end of the Third which keeps his meaning in obscurity too long And is contrary to the clearness of his Style Vt quamvis avidis Is too ambitious an Ornament to be his and Gratum opus Agricolis Are all words unnecessary and Independent of what he had said before Horrentia Martis Arma Is worse than any of the rest Horrentia is such a flat Epithete as Tully wou'd have given us in his Verses 'T is a meer filler to stop a vacancy in the Hexameter and connect the Preface to the Work of Virgil. Our Author seems to sound a Charge and begins like the clangour of a Trumpet Arma virumque cano Trojae qui primus ab oris Scarce a word without an R. and the Vowels for the greater part sonorous The Prefacer began with Ille ego which He was constrain'd to patch up in the Fourth line with At nunc to make the Sense cohere And if both those words are not notorious botches I am much deceiv'd though the French Translator thinks otherwise For my own part I am rather of Opinion that they were added by Tucca and Varius than Retrench'd I know it may be answer'd by such as think Virgil the Author of the four Lines that he asserts his Title to the Aeneis in the beginning of this Work as he did to the two former in the last lines of the fourth Georgic I will not reply otherwise to this than by desiring them to compare these four Lines with the four others which we know are his because no Poet but he alone could write them If they cannot distinguish Creeping from Flying let them lay down Virgil and take up Ovid de Ponto in his stead My Master needed not the assistance of that Preliminary Poet to prove his Claim His own Majestick Meen discovers him to be the King amidst a Thousand Courtiers It was a superfluous Office and therefore I wou'd not set those Verses in the Front of Virgil. But have rejected them to my own Preface I who before with Shepherds in the Groves Sung to my Oaten Pipe their Rural Loves And issuing thence compell'd the Neighb'ring Field A plenteous Crop of rising Corn to yield Manur'd the Glebe and stock'd the fruitful Plain A Poem grateful to the greedy Swain c. If there be not a tolerable Line in all these six the Prefacer
and hidden Frauds explore The giddy Vulgar as their Fancies guide With Noise say nothing and in parts divide Iaocoon follow'd by a num'rous Crowd Ran from the Fort and cry'd from far aloud O wretched Country-men 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 Fabrick either must inclose Within its blind Recess our secret Foes Or 't is an Engine rais'd above the Town T' o'relook 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 it flew Pierc'd through the yielding Planks of jointed Wood And trembling in the hollow Belly stood The sides transpierc'd return a ratling Sound And Groans of Greeks inclos'd come issuing through 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 Mean time 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 circumvent 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 rowl'd his hagger'd 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 ruful Eye Our Pity kindles and our Passions dye We chear the Youth to make his own Defence And freely tell us what he was and whence What News he cou'd impart we long to know And what to credit from a captive Foe His fear at length dismiss'd he said what e're My Fate ordains my Words shall be sincere I neither can nor dare my Birth disclaim Greece is my Country Sinon is my Name Though plung'd by Fortune's Pow'r in Misery 'T is not in Fortune's Pow'r to make me lye If any chance has hither 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 favour'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 Peoples 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 threatn'd if indulgent Heav'n once more Wou'd land me safely on my Native Shore His Death with double Vengeance to restore This mov'd the Murderer's Hate and soon ensu'd 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 Threatning 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 Asswage 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 pursu'd Long had the Grecians tir'd with fruitless Care And weary'd with an unsuccessful War Resolv'd to raise the Siege and leave the Town And had the Gods permitted they had gone But oft the Wintry Seas and Southern Winds Withstood their passage 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 ratled through a Skie serene Dismay'd and fearful of some dire Event Eurypylus t' enquire their Fate was sent He from the Gods this dreadful Answer brought O Grecians when the Trojan Shores you sought Your Passage with a Virgin 's Blood was bought So must your safe Return be bought again And Grecian Blood once more attone the Main The spreading Rumour 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 Than bade him name the Wretch ordain'd by Fate The Publick 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 Clamours and pursute Of Ithacus he stood no longer Mute But as it was agreed pronounc'd that I Was destin'd by the wrathful Gods to die All prais'd the Sentence pleas'd the storm should fall On one alone whose Fury threatn'd all The dismal day was come the Priests prepare Their leaven'd Cakes and Fillets for my Hair I follow'd Natur '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 Gods 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
fierce a Rage the foaming Flood Roars when he finds his rapid Course withstood Bears down the Dams with unresisted sway And sweeps the Cattle and the Cots away These Eyes beheld him when he march'd between The Brother-Kings I saw th' unhappy Queen The hundred Wives and where old Priam stood To stain his hallow'd Altar with his Blood The fifty Nuptial Beds such Hopes had he So large a Promise of a Progeny The Posts of plated Gold and hung with Spoils Fell the Reward of the proud Victor's Toils Where e're the raging Fire had left a space The Grecians enter and possess the Place Perhaps you may of Priam's Fate enquire He when he saw his Regal Town on fire His ruin'd Palace and his ent'ring Foes On ev'ry side inevitable woes In Arms disus'd invests his Limbs decay'd Like them with Age a late and useless aid His feeble shoulders scarce the weight sustain Loaded not arm'd he creeps along with pain Despairing of Success ambitious to be slain Uncover'd but by Heav'n there stood in view An Altar near the hearth a Lawrel grew Dodder'd with Age whose Boughs encompass round The Household Gods and shade the holy Ground Here Hecuba with all her helpless Train Of Dames for shelter sought but sought in vain Driv'n like a Flock of Doves along the skie Their Images they hugg and to their Altars fly The Queen when she beheld her trembling Lord And hanging by his side a heavy Sword What Rage she cry'd has seiz'd my Husband's mind What Arms are these and to what use design'd These times want other aids were Hector here Ev'n Hector now in vain like Priam wou'd appear With us one common shelter thou shalt find Or in one common Fate with us be join'd She said and with a last Salute embrac'd The poor old Man and by the Lawrel plac'd Behold Polites one of Priam's Sons Pursu'd by Pyrrhus there for safety runs Thro Swords and Foes amaz'd and hurt he flies Through empty Courts and open Galleries Him Pyrrhus urging with his Lance pursues And often reaches and his thrusts renews The Youth transfix'd with lamentable Cries Expires before his wretched Parent 's Eyes Whom gasping at his feet when Priam saw The Fear of death gave place to Nature's Law And shaking more with Anger than with Age The Gods said He requite thy brutal Rage As sure they will Barbarian sure they must If there be Gods in Heav'n and Gods be just Who tak'st in Wrongs an insolent delight With a Son's death t' infect a Father's sight Not He whom thou and lying Fame conspire To call thee his Not He thy vaunted Sire Thus us'd my wretched Age The Gods he fear'd The Laws of Nature and of Nations heard He chear'd my Sorrows and for Sums of Gold The bloodless Carcass of my Hector sold Pity'd the Woes a Parent underwent And sent me back in safety from his Tent. This said his feeble hand a Javelin threw Which flutt'ring seem'd to loiter as it flew Just and but barely to the Mark it held And faintly tinckl'd on the Brazen Shield Then Pyrrhus thus go thou from me to Fate And to my Father my foul deeds relate Now dye with that he dragg'd the trembling Sire Slidd'ring through clotter'd Blood and holy Mire The mingl'd Paste his murder'd Son had made Haul'd from beneath the violated Shade And on the Sacred Pile the Royal Victim laid To y e Right Hon ble Roger Earle of Orrery Baron of Broghill ct AE 2. l 765. His right Hand held his bloody Fauchion bare His left he twisted in his hoary Hair Then with a speeding Thrust his Heart he found The lukewarm Blood came rushing through the wound And sanguine Streams distain'd the sacred Ground Thus Priam fell and shar'd one common Fate With Troy in Ashes and his ruin'd State He who the Scepter of all Asia sway'd Whom Monarchs like domestick Slaves obey'd On the bleak Shoar now lies th' abandon'd King A headless Carcass and a nameless thing Then not before I felt my crudled Blood Congeal with Fear my Hair with horror stood My Father's Image fill'd my pious Mind Lest equal Years might equal Fortune find Again I thought on my forsaken Wife And trembl'd for my Son 's abandon'd Life I look'd about but found my self alone Deserted at my need my Friends were gone Some spent with Toil some with Despair oppress'd Leap'd headlong from the Heights the Flames consum'd the rest Thus wand'ring in my way without a Guide The graceless Helen in the Porch I spy'd Of Vesta's Temple there she lurk'd alone Muffled she sate and what she cou'd unknown But by the Flames that cast their Blaze around That common Bane of Greece and Troy I found For Ilium burnt she dreads the Trojan Sword More dreads the Vengeance of her injur'd Lord Ev'n by those Gods who refug'd her abhorr'd Trembling with Rage the Strumpet I regard Resolv'd to give her Guilt the due reward Shall she triumphant sail before the Wind And leave in Flames unhappy Troy behind Shall she her Kingdom and her Friends review In State attended with a Captive Crew While unreveng'd the good old Priam falls And Grecian Fires consume the Trojan Walls For this the Phrygian Fields and Xanthian Flood Were swell'd with Bodies and were drunk with Blood 'T is true a Souldier can small Honour gain And boast no Conquest from a Woman slain Yet shall the Fact not pass without Applause Of Vengeance taken in so just a Cause The punish'd Crime shall set my Soul at ease And murm'ring Manes of my Friends appease Thus while I rave a gleam of pleasing Light Spread o're the Place and shining Heav'nly bright My Mother stood reveal'd before my Sight Never so radiant did her Eyes appear Not her own Star confess'd a Light so clear Great in her Charms as when on Gods above She looks and breaths her self into their Love She held my hand the destin'd Blow to break Then from her rosie Lips began to speak My Son from whence this Madness this neglect Of my Commands and those whom I protect Why this unmanly Rage Recall to mind Whom you forsake what Pledges leave behind Look if your helpless Father yet survive Or if Ascanius or Creusa live Around your House the greedy Grecians err And these had perish'd in the nightly War But for my Presence and protecting Care Not Helen's Face nor Paris was in fault But by the Gods was this Destruction brought Now cast your Eyes around while I dissolve The Mists and Films that mortal Eyes involve Purge from your sight the Dross and make you see The Shape of each avenging Deity Enlighten'd thus my just Commands fulfill Nor fear Obedience to your Mother's Will Where you disorder'd heap of Ruin lies Stones rent from Stones where Clouds of dust arise Amid that smother Neptune holds his place Below the Wall 's foundation drives his Mace And heaves the Building from the solid Base Look where in Arms Imperial Juno stands Full in the
you feed She said and to the neighb'ring Forest flew Our Courage fails us and our Fears renew Hopeless to win by War to Pray'rs we fall And on th' offended Harpies humbly call And whether Gods or Birds obscene they were Our Vows for Pardon and for Peace prefer But old Anchises off'ring Sacrifice And lifting up to Heav'n his Hands and Eyes Ador'd the greater Gods Avert said he These Omens render vain this Prophecy And from th' impending Curse a Pious People free Thus having said he bids us put to Sea We loose from Shore our Haulsers and obey And soon with swelling Sails pursue the wat'ry Way Amidst our course Zacynthian Woods appear And next by rocky Neritos we steer We fly from Ithaca's detested Shore And curse the Land which dire Ulysses bore At length Leucates cloudy top appears And Phoebus Temple which the Sailor fears Resolv'd to breath a while from Labour past Our crooked Anchors from the Prow we cast And joyful to the little City haste Here safe beyond our Hopes our Vows we pay To Jove the Guide and Patron of our way The Customs of our Country we pursue And Trojan Games on Actian Shores renew Our Youth their naked Limbs besmear with Oyl And exercise the Wrastlers noble Toil. Pleas'd to have sail'd so long before the Wind And left so many Grecian Towns behind The Sun had now fulfill'd his Annual Course And Boreas on the Seas display'd his Force I fix'd upon the Temples lofty Door The brazen Shield which vanquish'd Abas bore The Verse beneath my Name and Action speaks These Arms Aeneas took from Conqu'ring Greeks Then I command to weigh the Seamen ply Their sweeping Oars the smokeing Billows fly The sight of high Phaeacia soon we lost And skim'd along Epirus rocky Coast Then to Chaonia's Port our Course we bend And landed to Buthrotus heights ascend Here wond'rous things were loudly blaz'd by Fame How Helenus reviv'd the Trojan Name And raign'd in Greece That Priam's captive Son Succeeded Pyrrhus in his Bed and Throne And fair Andromache restor'd by Fate Once more was happy in a Trojan Mate I leave my Gallies riding in the Port And long to see the new Dardanian Court. By chance the mournful Queen before the Gate Then solemniz'd her former Husbands Fate To The Hon ble D r Io n Mountague Master of Trinity College in Cambridge AE 3. l 415. Green Altars rais'd of Turf with Gifts she Crown'd And sacred Priests in order stand around And thrice the Name of hapless Hector sound The Grove it self resembles Ida's Wood And Simois seem'd the well dissembl'd Flood But when at nearer distance she beheld My shining Armour and my Trojan Shield Astonish'd at the sight the vital Heat Forsakes her Limbs her Veins no longer beat She faints she falls and scarce recov'ring strength Thus with a falt'ring Tongue she speaks at length Are you alive O Goddess born she said Or if a Ghost then where is Hector's Shade At this she cast a loud and frightful Cry With broken words I made this brief Reply All of me that remains appears in sight I live if living be to loath the Light No Phantome but I drag a wretched life My Fate resembling that of Hector's Wife What have you suffer'd since you lost your Lord By what strange blessing are you now restor'd Still are you Hector's or is Hector fled And his Remembrance lost in Pyrrhus Bed With Eyes dejected in a lowly tone After a modest pause she thus begun Oh only happy Maid of Priam's Race Whom Death deliver'd from the Foes embrace Commanded on Achilles Tomb to die Not forc'd like us to hard Captivity Or in a haughty Master's Arms to lie In Grecian Ships unhappy we were born Endur'd the Victor's Lust sustain'd the Scorn Thus I submitted to the lawless pride Of Pyrrhus more a Handmaid than a Bride Cloy'd with Possession He forsook my Bed And Helen's lovely Daughter sought to wed Then me to Trojan Helenus resign'd And his two Slaves in equal Marriage join'd Till young Orestes pierc'd with deep despair And longing to redeem the promis'd Fair Before Apollo's Altar slew the Ravisher By Pyrrhus death the Kingdom we regain'd At least one half with Helenus remain'd Our part from Chaon He Chaonia calls And names from Pergamus his rising Walls But you what Fates have landed on our Coast What Gods have sent you or what Storms have tost Does young Ascanius life and health enjoy Sav'd from the Ruins of unhappy Troy O tell me how his Mothers loss he bears What hopes are promis'd from his blooming years How much of Hector in his Face appears She spoke and mix'd her Speech with mournful Cries And fruitless Tears came trickling from her Eyes At length her Lord descends upon the Plain In pomp attended with a num'rous Train Receives his Friends and to the City leads And Tears of Joy amidst his Welcome sheds Proceeding on another Troy I see Or in less compass Troy's Epitome A Riv'let by the name of Xanthus ran And I embrace the Scaean Gate again My Friends in Portico's were entertain'd And Feasts and Pleasures through the City reign'd The Tables fill'd the spacious Hall around And Golden Bowls with sparkling Wine were crown'd Two days we pass'd in mirth till friendly Gales Blown from the South supply'd our swelling Sails Then to the Royal Seer I thus began O thou who know'st beyond the reach of Man The Laws of Heav'n and what the Stars decree Whom Phoebus taught unerring Prophecy From his own Tripod and his holy Tree Skill'd in the wing'd Inhabitants of Air What Auspices their notes and flights declare O say for all Religious Rites portend A happy Voyage and a prosp'rous End And ev'ry Pow'r and Omen of the Sky Direct my Course for destin'd Italy But only dire Celaeno from the Gods A dismal Famine fatally fore-bodes O say what Dangers I am first to shun What Toils to vanquish and what Course to run The Prophet first with Sacrifice adores The greater Gods their Pardon then implores Unbinds the Fillet from his holy Head To Phoebus next my trembling Steps he led Full of religious Doubts and awful dread Then with his God possess'd before the Shrine These words proceeded from his Mouth Divine O Goddess-born for Heav'n's appointed Will With greater Auspices of good than ill Fore-shows thy Voyage and thy Course directs Thy Fates conspire and Jove himself protects Of many things some few I shall explain Teach thee to shun the dangers of the Main And how at length the promis'd Shore to gain The rest the Fates from Helenus conceal And Juno's angry Pow'r forbids to tell First then that happy Shore that seems so nigh Will far from your deluded Wishes fly Long tracts of Seas divide your hopes from Italy For you must cruise along Sicilian Shoars And stem the Currents with your struggling Oars Then round th' Italian Coast your Navy steer And after this to Circe's Island veer And last before your new Foundations rise Must
maze the Matrons wildly stare Then Pyrgo reverenc'd for her hoary Hair Pyrgo the Nurse of Priam's num'rous Race No Beroe this tho she belies her Face What Terrours from her frowning Front arise Behold a Goddess in her ardent Eyes What Rays around her heav'nly Face are seen Mark her Majestick Voice and more than mortal Meen Beroe but now I left whom pin'd with pain Her Age and Anguish from these Rites detain She said the Matrons seiz'd with new Amaze Rowl their malignant Eyes and on the Navy gaze They fear and hope and neither part obey They hope the fated Land but fear the fatal Way The Goddess having done her Task below Mounts up on equal Wings and bends her painted Bow Struck with the sight and feiz'd with Rage Divine The Matrons prosecute their mad Design They shriek aloud they snatch with Impious Hands The food of Altars Firs and flaming Brands Green Leaves and Saplings mingled in their haste And smoaking Torches on the Ships they cast The Flame unstop'd at first more Fury gains And Vulcan rides at large with loosen'd Reins Triumphant to the painted Sterns he soars And seizes in his way the Banks and crackling Oars Eumelus was the first the News to bear While yet they crowd the Rural Theatre Then what they hear is witness'd by their Eyes A storm of Sparkles and of Flames arise Ascanius took th' Alarm while yet he led His early Warriors on his prancing Steed And spurring on his Equals soon o'repass'd Nor cou'd his frighted Friends reclaim his haste Soon as the Royal Youth appear'd in view He sent his Voice before him as he flew What Madness moves you Matrons to destroy The last Remainders of unhappy Troy Not hostile Fleets but your own hopes you burn And on your Friends your fatal Fury turn Behold your own Ascanius while he said He drew his glitt'ring Helmet from his Head In which the Youths to sportful Arms he led By this Aeneas and his Train appear And now the Women seiz'd with Shame and Fear Dispers'd to Woods and Caverns take their Flight Abhor their Actions and avoid the Light Their Friends acknowledge and their Error find And shake the Goddess from their alter'd Mind Not so the raging Fires their Fury cease But lurking in the Seams with seeming Peace Work on their way amid the smouldring Tow Sure in Destruction but in Motion slow The silent Plague thro' the green Timber eats And vomits out a tardy Flame by fits Down to the Keels and upward to the Sails The Fire descends or mounts but still prevails Nor Buckets pour'd nor strength of Human Hand Can the victorious Element withstand The Pious Heroe rends his Robe and throws To Heav'n his Hands and with his Hands his Vows O Jove he cry'd if Pray'rs can yet have place If thou abhorr'st not all the Dardan Race If any spark of Pity still remain If Gods are Gods and not invok'd in vain Yet spare the Relicks of the Trojan Train Yet from the Flames our burning Vessels free Or let thy Fury fall alone on me At this devoted Head thy Thunder throw And send the willing Sacrifice below Scarce had he said when Southern Storms arise From Pole to Pole the forky Lightning flies Loud ratling shakes the Mountains and the Plain Heav'n bellies downward and descends in Rain Whole Sheets of Water from the Clouds are sent Which hissing thro' the Planks the Flames prevent And stop the fiery Pest Four Ships alone Burn to the wast and for the Fleet attone But doubtful thoughts the Hero's Heart divide If he should still in Sicily reside Forgetful of his Fates or tempt the Main In hope the promis'd Italy to gain Then Nautes old and wise to whom alone The Will of Heav'n by Pallas was fore-shown Vers'd in Portents experienc'd and inspir'd To tell Events and what the Fates requir'd Thus while he stood to neither part inclin'd With chearful Words reliev'd his lab'ring Mind O Goddess-born resign'd in ev'ry state With Patience bear with Prudence push your Fate By suff'ring well our Fortune we subdue Fly when she frowns and when she calls pursue Your Friend Acestes is of Trojan Kind To him disclose the Secrets of your Mind Trust in his Hands your old and useless Train Too num'rous for the Ships which yet remain The feeble old indulgent of their Ease The Dames who dread the Dangers of the Seas With all the dastard Crew who dare not stand The shock of Battel with your Foes by Land Here you may build a common Town for all And from Acestes name Acesta call The Reasons with his Friend's Experience join'd Encourag'd much but more disturb'd his Mind 'T was dead of Night when to his slumb'ring Eyes His Father's Shade descended from the Skies And thus he spoke O more than vital Breath Lov'd while I liv'd and dear ev'n after Death O Son in various Toils and Troubles tost The King of Heav'n employs my careful Ghost On his Commands the God who sav'd from Fire Your flaming Fleet and heard your just desire The Wholsom Counsel of your Friend receive And here the Coward Train and Women leave The chosen Youth and those who nobly dare Transport to tempt the Dangers of the War The stern Italians will their Courage try Rough are their Manners and their Minds are high But first to Pluto's Palace you shall go And seek my Shade among the blest below For not with impious Ghosts my Soul remains Nor suffers with the Damn'd perpetual Pains But breaths the living Air of soft Elysian Plains The chast Sybilla shall your steps convey And Blood of offer'd Victims free the way There shall you know what Realms the Gods assign And learn the Fates and Fortunes of your Line But now farewel I vanish with the Night And feel the blast of Heav'ns approaching Light He said and mix'd with Shades and took his airy flight Whether so fast the filial Duty cry'd And why ah why the wish'd Embrace deny'd He said and rose as holy Zeal inspires He rakes hot Embers and renews the Fires His Country Gods and Vesta then adores With Cakes and Incense and their Aid implores Next for his Friends and Royal Host he sent Reveal'd his Vision and the Gods intent With his own Purpose All without delay The Will of Jove and his Desires obey They list with Women each degenerate Name Who dares not hazard Life for future Fame These they cashier the brave remaining few Oars Banks and Cables half consum'd renew The Prince designs a City with the Plough The Lots their sev'ral Tenements allow This part is nam'd from Ilium that from Troy And the new King ascends the Throme with Joy A chosen Senate from the People draws Appoints the Judges and ordains the Laws Then on the top of Eryx they begin To raise a Temple to the Paphian Queen Anchises last is honour'd as a God A Priest is added annual Gifts bestow'd And Groves are planted round his blest Abode Nine days they pass in
from the Ground a lofty Pile they rear Of Pitch-trees Oaks and Pines and unctuous Firr The Fabrick's Front with Cypress Twigs they strew And stick the sides with Boughs of baleful Yeugh The topmost part his glitt'ring Arms adorn Warm Waters then in brazen Caldrons born Are pour'd to wash his Body Joint by Joint And fragrant Oils the stiffen'd Limbs anoint With Groans and Cries Misenus they deplore Then on a Bier with Purple cover'd o're The breathless Body thus bewail'd they lay And fire the Pile their Faces turn'd away Such reverend Rites their Fathers us'd to pay Pure Oyl and Incense on the Fire they throw And Fat of Victims which his Friends bestow These Gifts the greedy Flames to Dust devour Then on the living Coals red Wine they pour And last the Relicks by themselves dispose Which in a brazen Urn the Priests inclose Old Chorineus compass'd thrice the Crew And dip'd an Olive Branch in holy Dew Which thrice he sprinkl'd round and thrice aloud Invok'd the dead and then dismiss'd the Crowd But good Aeneas order'd on the Shore A stately Tomb whose top a Trumpet bore A Souldier's Fauchion and a Sea-man's Oar. Thus was his Friend interr'd And deathless Fame Still to the lofty Cape consigns his Name These Rites perform'd the Prince without delay Hastes to the neather World his destin'd Way Deep was the Cave and downward as it went From the wide Mouth a rocky rough Descent And here th' access a gloomy Grove defends And there th' unnavigable Lake extends O're whose unhappy Waters void of Light No Bird presumes to steer his Airy Flight Such deadly Stenches from the depth arise And steaming Sulphur that infects the Skies From hence the Grecian Bards their Legends make And give the name Avernus to the Lake Four sable Bullocks in the Yoke untaught For Sacrifice the pious Heroe brought The Priestess pours the Wine betwixt their Horns Then cuts the curling Hair that first Oblation burns Invoking Hecate hither to repair A pow'rful Name in Hell and upper Air. The sacred Priests with ready Knives bereave The Beasts of Life and in full Bowls receive The streaming Blood A Lamb to Hell and Night The sable Wool without a streak of white Aeneas offers And by Fates decree A barren Heifar Proserpine to thee With Holocausts he Pluto's Altar fills Sev'n brawny Bulls with his own Hand he kills Then on the broiling Entrails Oyl he pours Which ointed thus the raging Flame devours Late the Nocturnal Sacrifice begun Nor ended 'till the next returning Sun Then Earth began to bellow Trees to dance And howling Dogs in glimm'ring Light advance E're Hecate came Far hence be Souls prophane The Sibyl cry'd and from the Grove abstain Now Trojan take the way thy Fates afford Assume thy Courage and unsheath thy Sword She said and pass'd along the gloomy Space The Prince pursu'd her Steps with equal pace Ye Realms yet unreveal'd to human sight Ye Gods who rule the Regions of the Night Ye gliding Ghosts permit me to relate The mystick Wonders of your silent State Obscure they went thro dreery Shades that led Along the waste Dominions of the dead Thus wander Travellers in Woods by Night By the Moon 's doubtful and malignant Light When Jove in dusky Clouds involves the Skies And the faint Crescent shoots by fits before their Eyes Just in the Gate and in the Jaws of Hell Revengeful Cares and sullen Sorrows dwell And pale Diseases and repining Age Want Fear and Famine's unresisted rage Here Toils and Death and Death's half-brother Sleep Forms terrible to view their Centry keep With anxious Pleasures of a guilty Mind Deep Frauds before and open Force behind The Furies Iron Beds and Strife that shakes Her hissing Tresses and unfolds her Snakes Full in the midst of this infernal Road An Elm displays her dusky Arms abroad The God of Sleep there hides his heavy Head And empty Dreams on ev'ry Leaf are spread Of various Forms unnumber'd Specters more Centaurs and double Shapes besiege the Door Before the Passage horrid Hydra stands And Briareus with all his hundred Hands Gorgons Geryon with his triple Frame And vain Chimaera vomits empty Flame The Chief unsheath'd his shining Steel prepar'd Tho seiz'd with sudden Fear to force the Guard Off'ring his brandish'd Weapon at their Face Had not the Sibyl stop'd his eager Pace And told him what those empty Fantomes were Forms without Bodies and impassive Air. Hence to deep Acheron they take their way Whose troubled Eddies thick with Ooze and Clay Are whirl'd aloft and in Cocytus lost There Charon stands who rules the dreary Coast A sordid God down from his hoary Chin A length of Beard descends uncomb'd unclean His Eyes like hollow Furnaces on Fire A Girdle foul with grease binds his obscene Attire He spreads his Canvas with his Pole he steers The Freights of flitting Ghosts in his thin Bottom beats He look'd in Years yet in his Years were seen A youthful Vigour and Autumnal green An Airy Crowd came rushing where he stood Which fill'd the Margin of the fatal Flood To John Lenknor Esq r of West Deane in the County of Sussex AE 6. l 390 Husbands and Wives Boys and unmarry'd Maids And mighty Heroes more Majestick Shades And Youths intomb'd before their Fathers Eyes With hollow Groans and Shrieks and feeble Cries Thick as the Leaves in Autumn strow the Woods Or Fowls by Winter forc'd forsake the Floods And wing their hasty flight to happier Lands Such and so thick the shiv'ring Army stands And press for passage with extended hands Now these now those the surly Boatman bore The rest he drove to distance from the Shore The Heroe who beheld with wond'ring Eyes The Tumult mix'd with Shrieks Laments and Cries Ask'd of his Guide what the rude Concourse meant Why to the Shore the thronging People bent What Forms of Law among the Ghosts were us'd Why some were ferry'd o're and some refus'd Son of Anchises Offspring of the Gods The Sibyl said you see the Stygian Floods The Sacred Stream which Heav'n's Imperial State Attests in Oaths and fears to violate The Ghosts rejected are th' unhappy Crew Depriv'd of Sepulchers and Fun'ral due The Boatman Charon those the bury'd host He Ferries over to the Farther Coast Nor dares his Transport Vessel cross the Waves With such whose Bones are not compos'd in Graves A hundred years they wander on the Shore At length their Pennance done are wafted o're The Trojan Chief his forward pace repress'd Revolving anxious Thoughts within his Breast He saw his Friends who whelm'd beneath the Waves Their Fun'ral Honours claim'd and ask'd their quiet Graves The lost Leucaspis in the Crowd he knew And the brave Leader of the Lycian Crew Whom on the Tyrrhene Seas the Tempests met The Sailors master'd and the Ship o'reset Amidst the Spirits Palinurus press'd Yet fresh from life a new admitted Guest Who while he steering view'd the Stars and bore His Course from Affrick to the Latian Shore Fell
Then of it self unfolds th' Eternal Door With dreadful Sounds the brazen Hinges roar You see before the Gate what stalking Ghost Commands the Guard what Centries keep the Post More formidable Hydra stands within Whose Jaws with Iron Teeth severely grin The gaping Gulph low to the Centre lies And twice as deep as Earth is distant from the Skies The Rivals of the Gods the Titan Race Here sing'd with Lightning rowl within th' unfathom'd space Here lye th' Alaean Twins I saw them both Enormous Bodies of Gigantick Growth Who dar'd in Fight the Thund'rer to defy Affect his Heav'n and force him from the Sky Salmoneus suff'ring cruel Pains I found For emulating Jove the ratling Sound Of Mimick Thunder and the glitt'ring Blaze Of pointed Lightnings and their forky Rays Through Elis and the Grecian Towns he flew Th' audacious Wretch four fiery Coursers drew He wav'd a Torch aloft and madly vain Sought Godlike Worship from a Servile Train Ambitious Fool with horny Hoofs to pass O're hollow Arches of resounding Brass To rival Thunder in its rapid Course And imitate inimitable Force But he the King of Heav'n obscure on high Bar'd his red Arm and launching from the Sky His writhen Bolt not shaking empty Smoak Down to the deep Abyss the flaming Felon strook There Tityus was to see who took his Birth From Heav'n his Nursing from the foodful Earth Here his Gygantic Limbs with large Embrace Infold nine Acres of Infernal Space A rav'nous Vulture in his open'd side Her crooked Beak and cruel Tallons try'd Still for the growing Liver dig'd his Breast The growing Liver still supply'd the Feast Still are his Entrails fruitful to their Pains Th' immortal Hunger lasts th' immortal Food remains Ixion and Perithous I cou'd name And more Thessalian Chiefs of mighty Fame High o're their Heads a mould'ring Rock is plac'd That promises a fall and shakes at ev'ry Blast They lye below on Golden Beds display'd And genial Feasts with Regal Pomp are made The Queen of Furies by their sides is set And snatches from their Mouths th' untasted Meat Which if they touch her hissing Snakes she rears Tossing her Torch and thund'ring in their Ears Then they who Brothers better Claim disown Expel their Parents and usurp the Throne Defraud their Clients and to Lucre sold Sit brooding on unprofitable Gold Who dare not give and ev'n refuse to lend To their poor Kindred or a wanting Friend Vast is the Throng of these nor less the Train Of lustful Youths for foul Adultry slain Hosts of Deserters who their Honour sold And basely broke their Faith for Bribes of Gold All these within the Dungeon's depth remain Despairing Pardon and expecting Pain Ask not what Pains nor farther seek to know Their Process or the Forms of Law below Some rowl a weighty Stone some laid along And bound with burning Wires on Spokes of Wheels are hung Unhappy Theseus doom'd for ever there Is fix'd by Fate on his Eternal Chair And wretched Phlegias warns the World with Cries Cou'd Warning make the World more just or wise Learn Righteousness and dread th' avenging Deities To Tyrants others have their Country sold Imposing Foreign Lords for Foreign Gold Some have old Laws repeal'd new Statutes made Not as the People pleas'd but as they paid With Incest some their Daughters Bed prophan'd All dar'd the worst of Ills and what they dar'd attain'd Had I a hundred Mouths a hundred Tongues And Throats of Brass inspir'd with Iron Lungs I could not half those horrid Crimes repeat Nor half the Punishments those Crimes have met But let us haste our Voyage to pursue The Walls of Pluto's Palace are in view The Gate and Iron Arch above it stands On Anvils labour'd by the Cyclops Hands Before our farther way the Fates allow Here must we fix on high the Golden Bough She said and thro' the gloomy Shades they past And chose the middle Path Arriv'd at last The Prince with living Water sprinkl'd o're His Limbs and Body then approach'd the Door Possess'd the Porch and on the Front above He fix'd the fatal Bough requir'd by Pluto's Love These Holy Rites perform'd they took their Way Where long extended Plains of Pleasure lay The verdant Fields with those of Heav'n may vye With Aether vested and a Purple Sky The blissful Seats of Happy Souls below Stars of their own and their own Suns they know Their Airy Limbs in Sports they exercise And on the Green contend the Wrestler's Prize Some in Heroick Verse divinely sing Others in artful Measures lead the ring The Thracian Bard surrounded by the rest There stands conspicuous in his flowing Vest His flying Fingers and harmonious Quill Strike sev'n distinguish'd Notes and sev'n at once they fill Here found they Teucer's old Heroick Race Born better times and happier Years to grace Assaracus and Ilus here enjoy Perpetual Fame with him who founded Troy The Chief beheld their Chariots from afar Their shining Arms and Coursers train'd to War Their Lances fix'd in Earth their Steeds around Free from their Harness graze the flow'ry Ground The love of Horses which they had alive And care of Chariots after Death survive Some chearful Souls were feasting on the Plain Some did the Song and some the Choir maintain Beneath a Laurel Shade where mighty Po Mounts up to Woods above and hides his Head below Here Patriots live who for their Countries good In fighting Fields were prodigal of Blood Priests of unblemish'd Lives here make Abode And Poets worthy their inspiring God And searching Wits of more Mechanick parts Who grac'd their Age with new invented Arts. Those who to worth their Bounty did extend And those who knew that Bounty to commend The Heads of these with holy Fillets bound And all their Temples were with Garlands crown'd To these the Sibyl thus her Speech address'd And first to him surrounded by the rest Tow'ring his Height and ample was his Breast Say happy Souls Divine Musaeus say Where lives Anchises and where lies our Way To find the Heroe for whose only sake We sought the dark Abodes and cross'd the bitter Lake To this the Sacred Poet thus reply'd In no fix'd place the Happy Souls reside In Groves we live and lye on mossy Beds By Crystal Streams that murmur through the Meads But pass yon easie Hill and thence descend The Path conducts you to your Journeys end This said he led them up the Mountains brow And shews them all the shining Fields below They wind the Hill and thro' the blissful Meadows go But old Anchises in a flow'ry Vale Review'd his muster'd Race and took the Tale. Those Happy Spirits which ordain'd by Fate For future Beings and new Bodies wait With studious Thought observ'd th' illustrious Throng In Nature's Order as they pass'd along Their Names their Fates their Conduct and their Care In peaceful Senates and successful War He when Aeneas on the Plain appears Meets him with open Arms and falling Tears Welcome he said the Gods undoubted
War at hand appears with more affright And rises ev'ry Moment to the sight Then old Evander with a close embrace Strain'd his departing Friend and Tears o're-flow his Face Wou'd Heav'n said he my strength and youth recall Such as I was beneath Preneste's Wall Then when I made the foremost Foes retire And set whole heaps of conquer'd Shields on Fire When Herilus in single Fight I slew Whom with three lives Feronia did endue And thrice I sent him to the Stygian Shore Till the last Ebbing Soul return'd no more Such if I stood renew'd not these Alarms Nor Death shou'd rend me from my Pallas arms Nor proud Mezentius thus unpunish'd boast His Rapes and Murthers on the Tuscan Coast Ye Gods and mighty Jove in pity bring Relief and hear a Father and a King If Fate and you reserve these Eyes to see My Son return with peace and Victory If the lov'd Boy shall bless his Father's sight If we shall meet again with more delight Then draw my Life in length let me sustain In hopes of his Embrace the worst of Pain But if your hard Decrees which O I dread Have doom'd to death his undeserving head This O this very Moment let me die While Hopes and Fears in equal ballance lye While yet Possest of all his Youthful Charms I strain him close within these Aged Arms Before that fatal news my Soul shall wound He said and swooning sunk upon the ground His Servants bore him off And softly laid His languish'd Limbs upon his homely Bed The Horsemen march the Gates are open'd wide Aeneas at their head Achates by his side Next these the Trojan Leaders rode along Last follows in the Reer th' Arcadian Throng Young Pallas shone conspicuous o're the rest Guilded his Arms Embroider'd was his Vest So from the Seas exerts his radiant head The Star by whom the Lights of Heav'n are led Shakes from his rosie Locks the perly Dews Dispels the darkness and the Day renews The trembling Wives the Walls and Turrets crowd And follow with their Eyes the dusty Cloud Which Winds disperse by fits and shew from far The blaze of Arms and Shields and shining War The Troops drawn up in beautiful Array O're heathy Plains pursue the ready way Repeated peals of showts are heard around The Neighing Coursers answer to the sound And shake with horny Hoofs the solid ground A greenwood Shade for long Religion known Stands by the Streams that wash the Tuscan Town Incompass'd round with gloomy Hills above Which add a holy horrour to the Grove The first Inhabitants of Grecian Blood That sacred Forest to Sylvanus vow'd The Guardian of their Flocks and Fields and pay Their due Devotions on his annual day Not far from hence along the River's side In Tents secure the Tuscan Troops abide By Tarchon led Now from a rising ground Aeneas cast his wond'ring Eyes around And all the Tyrrhene Army had in sight Stretch'd on the spacious Plain from left to right Thether his warlike Train the Trojan led Refresh'd his Men and weary'd Horses fed Mean time the Mother Goddess crown'd with Charms Breaks through the Clouds and brings the fated Arms. Within a winding Vale she finds her Son On the cool Rivers ' Banks retir'd alone She shews her heav'nly Form without disguise And gives her self to his desiring Eyes Behold she said perform'd in ev'ry part My promise made and Vulcan's labour'd Art Now seek secure the Latian Enemy And haughty Turnus to the Field defy She said And having first her Son embrac'd The radiant Arms beneath an Oak she plac'd Proud of the Gift he rowl'd his greedy sight Around the Work and gaz'd with vast delight He lifts he turns he poizes and admires The Crested Helm that vomits radiant Fires His hands the fatal Sword and Corslet hold One keen with temper'd Steel one stiff with Gold Both ample flaming both and beamy bright So shines a Cloud when edg'd with adverse Light He shakes the pointed Spear and longs to try The plated Cuishes on his manly thigh But most admires the Shields Mysterious mould And Roman Triumphs rising on the Gold To Sr. Godfry Kneller Knight Principall Painter to his Majesty AE 8. l. 805 For those emboss'd the Heav'nly Smith had wrought Not in the Rolls of future Fate untaught The Wars in Order and the Race Divine Of Warriors issuing from the Julian Line The Cave of Mars was dress'd with mossy Greens There by the Wolf were laid the Martial Twins Intrepid on her swelling Dugs they hung The foster Dam loll'd out her fawning Tongue They suck'd secure while bending Back her Head She lick'd their tender Limbs and form'd them as they fed Not far from thence new Rome appears with Games Projected for the Rape of Sabine Dames The Pit resounds with Shrieks A War succeeds For breach of Publick Faith and unexampl'd Deeds Here for Revenge the Sabine Troops contend The Romans there with Arms the Prey defend Weary'd with tedious War at length they cease And both the Kings and Kingdoms plight the Peace The friendly Chiefs before Jove's Altar stand Both arm'd with each a Charger in his Hand A fatted Sow for Sacrifice is led With Imprecations on the perjur'd Head Near this the Traytor Metius stretch'd between Four fiery Steeds is dragg'd along the Green By Tullus doom The Brambles drink his Blood And his torn Limbs are left the Vulture's Food There Porsena to Rome proud Tarquin brings And wou'd by Force restore the banish'd Kings One Tyrant for his fellow Tyrant fights The Roman Youth assert their Native Rights Before the Town the Tuscan Army lies To win by Famine or by Fraud surprise Their King half threat'ning half disdaining stood While Cocles broke the Bridge and stem'd the Flood The Captive Maids there tempt the raging Tide Scap'd from their Chains with Clelia for their Guide High on a Rock Heroick Manlius stood To guard the Temple and the Temple's God Then Rome was poor and there you might behold The Palace thatch'd with Straw now roof'd with Gold The Silver Goofe before the shining Gate There flew and by her Cackle sav'd the State She told the Gauls approach Th' approaching Gauls Obscure in Night ascend and seize the Walls The Gold dissembl'd well their yellow Hair And Golden Chains on their white Necks they wear Gold are their Vests Long Alpine Spears they wield And their left Arm sustains a length of Shield Hard by the leaping Salian Priests advance And naked thro' the Streets the mad Luperci dance In Caps of Wool The Targets dropt from Heav'n Here modest Matrons in soft Litters driv'n To pay their Vows in solemn Pomp appear And odorous Gums in their chast Hands they bear Far hence remov'd the Stygian Seats are seen Pains of the damn'd and punish'd Catiline Hung on a Rock the Traytor and around The Furies hissing from the neather Ground Apart from these the happy Souls he draws And Cato's holy Ghost dispensing Laws Betwixt the Quarters flows a Golden Sea But
Fortune good or bad betide The same shall be my Age as now my Youth No time shall find me wanting to my Truth This only from your Goodness let me gain And this ungranted all Rewards are vain Of Priam's Royal Race my Mother came And sure the best that ever bore the Name Whom neither Troy nor Sicily cou'd hold From me departing but o'respent and old My Fate she follow'd ignorant of this Whatever Danger neither parting Kiss Nor pious Blessing taken her I leave And in this only Act of all my Life deceive By this right Hand and conscious Night I swear My Soul so sad a farewel could not bear Be you her Comfort fill my vacant place Permit me to presume so great a Grace Support her Age forsaken and distress'd That hope alone will fortifie my Breast Against the worst of Fortunes and of Fears He said The mov'd Assistants melt in Tears Then thus Ascanius wonder-struck to see That Image of his filial Piety So great Beginnings in so green an Age Exact the Faith which I again ingage Thy Mother all the Dues shall justly claim Creusa had and only want the Name Whate're Event thy bold Attempt shall have 'T is Merit to have born a Son so brave Now by my Head a sacred Oath I swear My Father us'd it what returning here Crown'd with Success I for thy self prepare That if thou fail shall thy lov'd Mother share He said and weeping while he spoke the Word From his broad Belt he drew a shining Sword Magnificent with Gold Lycaon made And in an Iv'ry Scabbard sheath'd the Blade This was his Gift Great Mnestheus gave his Friend A Lyon's Hide his Body to defend And good Alethes furnish'd him beside With his own trusty Helm of Temper try'd Thus arm'd they went The Noble Trojans wait Their issuing forth and follow to the Gate With Prayers and Vows above the rest appears Ascanius manly far beyond his Years And Messages committed to their Care Which all in Winds were lost and flitting Air. The Trenches first they pass'd Then took their Way Where their proud Foes in pitch'd Pavilions lay To many fatal e're themselves were slain They found the careless Hoast dispers'd upon the Plain Who gorg'd and drunk with Wine supinely snore Unharnass'd Chariots stand along the Shore Amidst the Wheels and Reins the Goblet by A Medly of Debauch and War they lye Observing Nisus shew'd his Friend the sight Behold a Conquest gain'd without a Fight To y e Hon ble Colonel George Cholmondeley Colonel of his Majestys Troop of Granadier Guards Groome of his Maj ties Bedchamber AE 9. l. 435. Occasion offers and I stand prepar'd There lies our Way be thou upon the Guard And look around while I securely go And a hew Passage thro the sleeping Foe Softly he spoke then striding took his way With his drawn Sword where haughty Rhamnes lay His Head rais'd high on Tapestry beneath And heaving from his Breast he drew his Breath A King and Prophet by King Turnus lov'd But Fate by Prescience cannot be remov'd Him and his sleeping Slaves he slew Then spies Where Rhemus with his rich Retinue lies His Armor-bearer first and next he kills His Charioteer intrench'd betwixt the Wheels And his lov'd Horses Last invades their Lord Full on his Neck he drives the fatal Sword The gasping Head flies off a Purple flood Flows from the Trunk that welters in the Blood Which by the spurning Heels dispers'd around The Bed besprinkles and bedews the Ground Lamus the bold and Lamyrus the strong He slew and then Serranus fair and young From Dice and Wine the Youth retir'd to Rest And puff'd the fumy God from out his Breast Ev'n then he dreamt of Drink and lucky Play More lucky had it lasted 'till the Day The famish'd Lyon thus with Hunger bold O'releaps the Fences of the Nightly Fold And tears the peaceful Flocks With silent Awe Trembling they lye and pant beneath his Paw Nor with less Rage Euryalus employs The wrathful Sword or fewer Foes destroys But on th' ignoble Crowd his Fury flew He Fadus Hebesus and Rhaetus slew Oppress'd with heavy Sleep the former fall But Rhoetus wakeful and observing all Behind a spacious Jarr he slink'd for fear The fatal Iron found and reach'd him there For as he rose it pierc'd his naked side And reeking thence return'd in Crimson dy'd The Wound pours out a Stream of Wine and Blood The Purple Soul comes floating in the flood Now where Messapus Quarter'd they arrive The Fires were fainting there and just alive The Warriour-Horses ty'd in order fed Nisus observ'd the Discipline and said Our eager thirst of Blood may both betray And see the scatter'd Streaks of dawning day Foe to Nocturnal Thefts No more my Friend Here let our glutted Execution end A Lane through slaughter'd Bodies we have made The bold Euryalus tho' loath obey'd Of Arms and Arras and of Plate they find A precious load but these they leave behind Yet fond of gaudy Spoils the Boy wou'd stay To make the rich Caparison his prey Which on the steed of conquer'd Rhamnes lay Nor did his Eyes less longingly behold The Girdle-Belt with Nails of burnish'd Gold This Present Cedicus the Rich bestow'd On Remulus when Friendship first they vow'd And absent join'd in hospitable tyes He dying to his Heir bequeath'd the Prize Till by the Conqu'ring Ardean Troops oppress'd He fell and they the Glorious Gift possess'd These Glitt'ring Spoils now made the Victor's gain He to his body suits but suits in vain Messapus Helm he finds among the rest And laces on and wears the waving Crest Proud of their Conquest prouder of their Prey They leave the Camp and take the ready way But far they had not pass'd before they spy'd Three hundred Horse with Volscens for their Guide The Queen a Legion to King Turnus sent But the swift Horse the slower Foot outwent And now advancing sought the Leader's Tent. They saw the Pair for thro' the doubtful shade His shineing Helm Euryalus betray'd On which the Moon with full reflexion play'd 'T is not for nought cry'd Volscens from the Crow'd These Men go there then rais'd his Voice aloud Stand stand why thus in Arms and whither bent From whence to whom and on what Errand sent Silent they scud away and haste their flight To Neighb'ring Woods and trust themselves to night The speedy Horse all passages belay And spur their smoaking Steeds to Cross their way And watch each Entrance of the winding Wood Black was the Forest thick with Beech it stood Horrid with Fern and intricate with Thorn Few Paths of Humane Feet or Tracks of Beasts were worn The darkness of the Shades his heavy Prey And Fear mis-led the Younger from his way But Nisus hit the Turns with happier haste And thoughtless of his Friend the Forest pass'd And Alban Plains from Alba's Name so call'd Where King Latinus then his Oxen stall'd Till turning at the length he stood his ground And miss'd
his Friend and cast his Eyes around Ah Wretch he cry'd where have I left behind Th' unhappy Youth where shall I hope to find Or what way take again He ventures back And treads the Mazes of his former track He winds the Wood and list'ning hears the noise Of trampling Coursers and the Riders voice The sound approach'd and suddenly he view'd The Foes inclosing and his Friend pursu'd Forelay'd and taken while he strove in vain The shelter of the friendly Shades to gain What shou'd he next attempt what Arms employ What fruitless Force to free the Captive Boy Or desperate shou'd he rush and lose his Life With odds oppress'd in such unequal strife Resolv'd at length his pointed Spear he shook And casting on the Moon a mournful look Guardian of Groves and Goddess of the Night Fair Queen he said direct my Dart aright If e're my Pious Father for my sake Did grateful Off'rings on thy Altars make Or I increas'd them with my Silvan toils And hung thy Holy Roofs with Salvage Spoils Give me to scatter these Then from his Ear He poiz'd and aim'd and lanch'd the trembling Spear The deadly Weapon hiffing from the Grove Impetuous on the back of Sulmo drove Pierc'd his thin Armour drank his Vital Blood And in his Body left the broken Wood. He staggers round his Eyeballs rowl in Death And with short sobs he gasps away his Breath All stand amaz'd a second Jav'lin flies With equal strength and quivers through the Skies This through thy Temples Tagus forc'd the way And in the Brain-pan warmly bury'd lay Fierce Volscens foams with Rage and gazing round Descry'd not him who gave the Fatal Wound To S r Io n Percivalé Bart. of Barton in the County of Corke in Ireland AE 9. l. 590 Nor knew to fix Revenge but thou he cries Shalt pay for both and at the Pris'ner flies With his drawn Sword Then struck with deep Despair That cruel sight the Lover cou'd not bear But from his Covert rush'd in open view And sent his Voice before him as he flew Me me he cry'd turn all your Swords alone On me the Fact confess'd the Fault my own He neither cou'd nor durst the guiltless Youth Ye Moon and Stars bear Witness to the Truth His only Crime if Friendship can offend Is too much Love to his unhappy Friend Too late he speaks the Sword which Fury guides Driv'n with full Force had pierc'd his tender Sides Down fell the beauteous Youth the yawning Wound Gush'd out a Purple Stream and stain'd the Ground His snowy Neck reclines upon his Breast Like a fair Flow'r by the keen Share oppress'd Like a white Poppy sinking on the Plain Whose heavy Head is overcharg'd with Rain Despair and Rage and Vengeance justly vow'd Drove Nisus headlong on the hostile Crowd Volscens he seeks on him alone he bends Born back and bor'd by his surrounding Friends Onward he press'd and kept him still in sight Then whirl'd aloft his Sword with all his might Th' unnerring Steel descended while he spoke Pierc'd his wide Mouth and thro' his Weazon broke Dying he flew and stagg'ring on the Plain With smimming Eyes he sought his Lover slain Then quiet on his bleeding Bosom fell Content in Death to be reveng'd so well O happy Friends for if my Verse can give Immortal Life your Fame shall ever live Fix'd as the Capitol's Foundation lies And spread where e're the Roman Eagle flies The conqu'ring Party first divide the Prey Then their slain General to the Camp convey With Wonder as they went the Troops were fill'd To see such Numbers whom so few had kill'd Serranus Rhamnes and the rest they found Vast Crowds the dying and the dead surround And the yet reeking Blood o'reflows the Ground All knew the Helmet which Messapus lost But mourn'd a Purchase that so dear had cost Now rose the ruddy Morn from Tithon's Bed And with the Dawns of Day the Skies o'respread Nor long the Sun his daily Course withheld But added Colours to the World reveal'd When early Turnus wak'ning with the Light All clad in Armour calls his Troops to fight His Martial Men with fierce Harangues he fir'd And his own Ardor in their Souls inspir'd This done to give new Terror to his Foes The Heads of Nisus and his Friend he shows Rais'd high on pointed Spears A ghastly Sight Loud peals of Shouts ensue and barbarous Delight Mean time the Trojans run where Danger calls They line their Trenches and they man their Walls In Front extended to the left they stood Safe was the right surrounded by the Flood But casting from their Tow'rs a frightful view They saw the Faces which too well they knew Tho' then disguis'd in Death and smear'd all o're With Filth obscene and dropping putrid Gore Soon hasty Fame thro' the sad City bears The mournful Message to the Mother's Ears An icy Cold benums her Limbs She shakes Her Cheeks the Blood her Hand the Web forsakes She runs the Rampires round amidst the War Nor fears the flying Darts She rends her Hair And fills with loud Laments the liquid Air. Thus then my lov'd Euryalus appears Thus looks the Prop of my declining Years Was 't on this Face my famish'd Eyes I fed Ah how unlike the living is the dead And cou'dst thou leave me cruel thus alone Not one kind Kiss from a departing Son No Look no last adieu before he went In an ill-boding Hour to Slaughter sent Cold on the Ground and pressing foreign Clay To Latian Dogs and Fowls he lies a Prey Nor was I near to close his dying Eyes To wash his Wounds to weep his Obsequies To call about his Corps his crying Friends Or spread the Mantle made for other ends On his dear Body which I wove with Care Nor did my daily Pains or nightly labour spare Where shall I find his Corps what Earth sustains His Trunk dismember'd and his cold Remains For this alas I left my needful Ease Expos'd my Life to Winds and winter Seas If any pity touch Rutulian Hearts Here empty all your Quivers all your Darts Or if they fail thou Jove conclude my Woe And send me Thunder-struck to Shades below Her Shrieks and Clamours pierce the Trojans Ears Unman their Courage and augment their Fears Nor young Ascanius cou'd the sight sustain Nor old Ilioneus his Tears restrain But Actor and Idoeus jointly sent To bear the madding Mother to her Tent. And now the Trumpets terribly from far With rattling Clangor rouze the sleepy War The Souldiers Shouts succeed the Brazen Sounds And Heav'n from Pole to Pole the Noise rebounds The Volscians bear their Shields upon their Head And rushing forward from a moving Shed These fill the Ditch those pull the Bulwarks down Some raise the Ladders others scale the Town But where void Spaces on the Walls appear Or thin Defence they pour their Forces there With Poles and missive Weapons from afar The Trojans keep aloof the rising War Taught by their ten Years Siege
as he turn'd the Golden Orb withstood The Strokes and bore about an Iron Wood. Impatient of Delay and weary grown Still to defend and to defend alone To wrench the Darts which in his Buckler light Urg'd and o're-labour'd in unequal Fight At length resolv'd he throws with all his Force Full at the Temples of the Warrior Horse Just where the Stroke was aim'd th' unerring Spear Made way and stood transfix'd thro' either Ear. Seiz'd with unwonted Pain surpriz'd with Fright The wounded Steed curvets and rais'd upright Lights on his Feet before His Hoofs behind Spring up in Air aloft and lash the Wind. Down comes the Rider headlong from his height His Horse came after with unweildy weight And flound'ring forward pitching on his Head His Lord 's incumber'd Sholuder overlaid From either Hoast the mingl'd Shouts and Cries Of Trojans and Rutulians rend the Skies Aeneas hast'ning wav'd his fatal Sword High o're his head with this reproachful Word Now where are now thy Vaunts the fierce Disdain Of proud Mezentius and the lofty Strain Strugling and wildly staring on the Skies With scarce recover'd Sight he thus replies Why these insulting Words this waste of Breath To Souls undaunted and secure of Death 'T is no Dishonour for the Brave to dye Nor came I here with hope of Victory Nor ask I Life nor fought with that design As I had us'd my Fortune use thou thine My dying Son contracted no such Band The Gift is hateful from his Murd'rer's hand To Tho Hopkins of y e Middle Temple Esq. For this this only Favour let me sue If Pity can to conquer'd Foes be due Refuse it not But let my Body have The last Retreat of Human Kind a Grave Too well I know th' insulting People's Hate Protect me from their Vengeance after Fate This Refuge for my poor Remains provide And lay my much lov'd Lausus by my side He said and to his Throat the Sword apply'd The Crimson Stream distain'd his Arms around And the disdainful Soul came rushing thro' the Wound The Eleventh Book of the Aeneis The Argument Aeneas erects a Trophy of the Spoils of Mezentius grants a Truce for burying the dead and sends home the Body of Pallas with great Solemnity Latinus calls a Council to propose offers of Peace to Aeneas which occasions great Animosity betwixt Turnus and Drances In the mean time there is a sharp Engagement of the Horse wherein Camilla signalizes her self is kill'd And the Latine Troops are entirely defeated SCarce had the rosie Morning rais'd her Head Above the Waves and left her wat'ry Bed The Pious Chief whom double Cares attend For his unbury'd Souldiers and his Friend Yet first to Heav'n perform'd a Victor's Vows He bar'd an ancient Oak of all her Boughs Then on a rising Ground the Trunk he plac'd Which with the Spoils of his dead Foe he grac'd The Coat of Arms by proud Mezentius worn Now on a naked Snag in Triumph born Was hung on high and glitter'd from afar A Trophy sacred to the God of War Above his Arms fix'd on the leafless Wood Appear'd his Plumy Crest distilling Blood His brazen Buckler on the left was seen Trunchions of shiver'd Lances hung between And on the right was plac'd his Corslet bor'd And to the Neck was ty'd his unavailing Sword A Crowd of Chiefs inclose the Godlike Man Who thus conspicuous in the midst began Our Toils my Friends are crown'd with sure Success The greater Part perform'd atchieve the less To y e Right Noble Charles Duke of Shrensbury Marquis of Alton Earle of Shrensbury Wexford Water-ford Baron Talbot Strange of Blackmere Gifford of Brimsfield ct One of the Lords of his Ma. ties most Hon. ble Privy Councill Principall Secretary of State and Knight of y e most Noble Order of the Garter AE 11. l. 1. Now follow chearful to the trembling Town Press but an Entrance and presume it won Fear is no more For fierce Mezentius lies As the first Fruits of War a Sacrifice Turnus shall fall extended on the Plain And in this Omen is already slain Prepar'd in Arms pursue your happy Chance That none unwarn'd may plead his Ignorance And I at Heav'n's appointed Hour may find Your warlike Ensigns waving in the Wind. Mean time the Rites and Fun'ral Pomps prepare Due to your dead Companions of the War The last Respect the living can bestow To shield their Shadows from Contempt below That conquer'd Earth be theirs for which they fought And which for us with their own blood they bought But first the Corps of our unhappy Friend To the sad City of Evander send Who not inglorious in his Ages bloom Was hurry'd hence by too severe a Doom Thus weeping while he spoke he took his Way Where new in Death lamented Pallas lay Acaetes watch'd the Corps whose Youth deserv'd The Father's Trust and now the Son he serv'd With equal Faith but less auspicious Care Th' Attendants of the slain his Sorrow share A Troop of Trojans mix'd with these appear And mourning Matrons with dishevell'd Hair Soon as the Prince appears they raise a Cry All beat their Breasts and Echoes rend the Sky They rear his drooping Forehead from the Ground But when Aeneas view'd the grisly Wound Which Pallas in his Manly Bosom bore And the fair Flesh distain'd with Purple Gore First melting into Tears the pious Man Deplor'd so sad a sight then thus began Unhappy Youth When Fortune gave the rest Of my full Wishes she refus'd the best She came but brought not thee along to bless My longing Eyes and share in my Success She grudg'd thy safe Return the Triumphs due To prosp'rous Valour in the publick View Not thus I promis'd when thy Father lent Thy needful Succour with a sad Consent Embrac'd me parting for th' Etrurian Land And sent me to possess a large Command He warn'd and from his own Experience told Our Foes were warlike disciplin'd and bold And now perhaps in hopes of thy return Rich Odours on his loaded Altars burn While we with vain officious Pomp prepare To send him back his Portion of the War A bloody breathless Body which can owe No farther Debt but to the Pow'rs below The wretched Father e're his Race is run Shall view the Fun'ral Honours of his Son These are my Triumphs of the Latian War Fruits of my plighted Faith and boasted Care And yet unhappy Sire thou shalt not see A Son whose Death disgrac'd his Ancestry Thou shalt not blush old Man however griev'd Thy Pallas no dishonest Wound receiv'd He dy'd no Death to make thee wish too late Thou hadst not liv'd to see his shameful Fate But what a Champion has th' Ausonian Coast And what a Friend hast thou Ascanius lost Thus having mourn'd he gave the Word around To raise the lifeless Body from the Ground And chose a thousand Horse the flow'r of all His warlike Troops to wait the Funeral To bear him back and share Evander's Grief A well becoming but a
Deserv'd from them then I had been return'd A breathless Victor and my Son had mourn'd Yet will I not my Trojan Friend upbraid Nor grudge th' Alliance I so gladly made 'T was not his Fault my Pallas fell so young But my own Crime for having liv'd too long Yet since the Gods had destin'd him to dye At least he led the way to Victory First for his Friends he won the fatal Shore And sent whole Herds of slaughter'd Foes before A Death too great too glorious to deplore Nor will I add new Honours to thy Grave Content with those the Trojan Heroe gave That Funeral Pomp thy Phrygian Friends design'd In which the Tuscan Chiefs and Army join'd Great Spoils and Trophees gain'd by thee they bear Then let thy own Atchievments be thy share Even thou O Turnus hadst a Trophy stood Whose mighty Trunk had better grac'd the Wood If Pallas had arriv'd with equal length Of Years to match thy Bulk with equal Strength But why unhappy Man dost thou detain These Troops to view the Tears thou shedst in vain Go Friends this Message to your Lord relate Tell him that if I bear my bitter Fate And after Pallas Death live ling'ring on 'T is to behold his Vengeance for my Son I stay for Turnus whose devoted Head Is owing to the living and the dead My Son and I expect it from his Hand 'T is all that he can give or we demand Joy is no more But I would gladly go To greet my Pallas with such News below The Morn had now dispell'd the Shades of Night Restoring Toils when she restor'd the Light The Trojan King and Tuscan Chief command To raise the Piles along the winding Strand Their Friends convey the dead to Fun'ral Fires Black smould'ring Smoke from the green Wood expires The Light of Heav'n is choak'd and the new Day retires Then thrice around the kindled Piles they go For ancient Custom had ordain'd it so Thrice Horse and Foot about the Fires are led And thrice with loud Laments they hail the dead To y e Hon ble John Noel Esq 2 d Son to y e R t Hon ble Baptist late L d Viscount Campden Baron of Ridlington Ilmington AE 11. l. 290. Tears trickling down their Breasts bedew the Ground And Drums and Trumpets mix their mournful Sound Amid the Blaze their pious Brethren throw The Spoils in Battel taken from the Foe Helms Bitts emboss'd and Swords of shining Steel One casts a Target one a Chariot Wheel Some to their Fellows their own Arms restore The Fauchions which in luckless Fight they bore Their Bucklers pierc'd their Darts bestow'd in vain And shiver'd Lances gather'd from the Plain Whole Herds of offer'd Bulls about the Fire And bristled Boars and wooly Sheep expire Around the Piles a careful Troop attends To watch the wasting Flames and weep their burning Friends Ling'ring along the Shore 'till dewy Night New decks the Face of Heav'n with starry Light The conquer'd Latians with like Pious Care Piles without number for their Dead prepare Part in the Places where they fell are laid And part are to the neighb'ring Fields convey'd The Corps of Kings and Captains of Renown Born off in State are bury'd in the Town The rest unhonour'd and without a Name Are cast a common heap to feed the Flame Trojans and Latians vie with like desires To make the Field of Battel shine with Fires And the promiscuous Blaze to Heav'n aspires Now had the Morning thrice renew'd the Light And thrice dispell'd the Shadows of the Night When those who round the wasted Fires remain Perform the last sad Office to the slain They rake the yet warm Ashes from below These and the Bones unburn'd in Earth bestow These Relicks with their Country Rites they grace And raise a mount of Turf to mark the place But in the Palace of the King appears A Scene more solemn and a Pomp of Tears Maids Matrons Widows mix their common Moans Orphans their Sires and Sires lament their Sons All in that universal Sorrow share And curse the Cause of this unhappy War A broken League a Bride unjustly sought A Crown usurp'd which with their Blood is bought These are the Crimes with which they load the Name Of Turnus and on him alone exclaim Let him who lords it o're th' Ausonian Land Engage the Trojan Heroe hand to hand His is the Gain our Lot is but to serve 'T is just the sway he seeks he shoud deserve This Drances aggravates and adds with spight His Foe expects and dares him to the Fight Nor Turnus wants a Party to support His Cause and Credit in the Latian Court. His former Acts secure his present Fame And the Queen shades him with her mighty Name While thus their factious Minds with Fury burn The Legats from th' Aetolian Prince return Sad News they bring that after all the Cost And Care employ'd their Embassy is lost That Diomede refus'd his Aid in War Unmov'd with Presents and as deaf to Pray'r Some new Alliance must elswhere be sought Or Peace with Troy on hard Conditions bought Latinus sunk in Sorrow finds too late A Foreign Son is pointed out by Fate And till Aeneas shall Lavinia wed The wrath of Heav'n is hov'ring o're his Head Rem nulli obscuram nostrae nec vocis egentem Consulis Ô bone Rex Cuncti se scire fatentur Quid fortuna ferat populi sed dicere mussant Det libertatem fande flatusque remittat Cujus ob auspicum infaustum moresque sinistros Dicam equidem licet arma mihi mortemque minetur Lumina tot cecidisse ducum totamque videmus Consedisse urbem luctu To y e most Hon ble Johns Marquiss of Normanby Earle of Mulgrave Kt. of y e most noble Order of y e Garter AE 11. l. 365 The Gods he saw espous'd the juster side When late their Titles in the Field were try'd Witness the fresh Laments and Fun'ral Tears undry'd Thus full of anxious Thought he summons all The Latian Senate to the Council Hall The Princes come commanded by their Head And crowd the Paths that to the Palace lead Supream in Pow'r and reverenc'd for his Years He takes the Throne and in the midst appears Majestically sad he sits in State And bids his Envoys their Success relate When Venulus began the murmuring Sound Was hush'd and sacred Silence reign'd around We have said he perform'd your high Command And pass'd with Peril a long Tract of Land We reach'd the Place desir'd with Wonder fill'd The Grecian Tents and rising Tow'rs beheld Great Diomede has compass'd round with Walls The City which Argyripa he calls From his own Argos nam'd We touch'd with Joy The Royal Hand that raz'd unhappy Troy When introduc'd our Presents first we bring Then crave an instant Audience from the King His Leave obtain'd our Native Soil we name And tell th' important Cause for which we came Attentively he heard us while we spoke Then with soft Accents and
Foes in Arms approach the Walls He said and turning short with speedy Pace Casts back a scornful Glance and quits the Place Thou Volusus the Volscian Troops command To mount and lead thy self our Ardean Band. Messapus and Catillus post your Force Along the Fields to charge the Trojan Horse Some guard the Passes others man the Wall Drawn up in Arms the rest attend my Call They swarm from ev'ry Quarter of the Town And with disorder'd haste the Rampires crown Good old Latinus when he saw too late The gath'ring Storm just breaking on the State Dismiss'd the Council 'till a fitter time And own'd his easie Temper as his Crime Who forc'd against his reason had comply'd To break the Treaty for the promis'd Bride Some help to sink new Trenches others aid To ram the Stones or raise the Palisade Hoarse Trumpets sound th' Alarm Around the Walls Runs a distracted Crew whom their last Labour calls A sad Procession in the Streets is seen Of Matrons that attend the Mother Queen High in her Chair she sits and at her side With downcast Eyes appears the fatal Bride They mount the Cliff where Pallas's Temple stands Pray'rs in their Mouths and Presents in their Hands With Censers first they fume the sacred Shrine Then in this common Supplication joyn O Patroness of Arms unspotted Maid Propitious hear and lend thy Latins Aid Break short the Pirat's Lance pronounce his Fate And lay the Phrygian low before the Gate Now Turnus arms for Fight His Back and Breast Well temper'd Steel and scaly Brass invest The Cuishes which his brawny Thighs infold Are mingled Metal damask'd o're with Gold His faithful Fauchion sits upon his side Nor Casque nor Crest his manly Features hide But bare to view amid surrounding Friends With Godlike Grace he from the Tow'r descends Exulting in his Strength he seems to dare His absent Rival and to promise War Freed from his Keepers thus with broken Reins The wanton Courser prances o're the Plains Or in the Pride of Youth o'releaps the Mounds And snuffs the Females in forbidden Grounds Or seeks his wat'ring in the well known Flood To quench his Thirst and cool his fiery Blood He swims luxuriant in the liquid Plain And o're his Shoulder flows his waving Mane He neighs he snorts he bears his Head on high Before his ample Chest the frothy Waters fly Soon as the Prince appears without the Gate The Volcians with their Virgin Leader wait His last Commands Then with a graceful Meen Lights from her lofty Steed the Warrior Queen Her Squadron imitates and each descends Whose common Sute Camilla thus commends If Sence of Honour if a Soul secure Of inborn Worth that can all Tests endure Can promise ought or on it self rely Greatly to dare to conquer or to dye Then I alone sustain'd by these will meet The Tyrrhene Troops and promise their Defeat Ours be the Danger ours the sole Renown You Gen'ral stay behind and guard the Town Turnus a while stood mute with glad Surprize And on the fierce Virago fix'd his Eyes Then thus return'd O Grace of Italy With what becoming Thanks can I reply Not only Words lye lab'ring in my Breast But Thought it self is by thy Praise opprest Yet rob me not of all but let me join My Toils my Hazard and my Fame with thine The Trojan not in Stratagem unskill'd Sends his light Foot before to scour the Field Himself thro' steep Ascents and thorny Brakes A larger Compass to the City takes This news my Scouts confirm And I prepare To foil his Cunning and his Force to dare With chosen Foot his Passage to forelay And place an Ambush in the winding way Thou with thy Volscians face the Tuscan Horse The brave Messapus shall thy Troops inforce With those of Tibur and the Latian Band Subjected all to thy Supream Command This said he warns Messapus to the War Then ev'ry Chief exhorts with equal Care All thus encourag'd his own Troops he joins And hastes to prosecute his deep Designs Inclos'd with Hills a winding Valley lies By Nature form'd for Fraud and fitted for Surprize A narrow Track by Human Steps untrode Leads thro' perplexing Thorns to this obscure abode High o're the Vale a steepy Mountain stands Whence the surveying Sight the neather Ground commands The top is level an offensive Seat Of War and from the War a safe Retreat For on the right and left is room to press The Foes at hand or from afar distress To drive 'em headlong downward and to pour On their descending backs a stony show'r Thither young Turnus took the well known way Possess'd the Pass and in blind Ambush lay Mean time Latonian Phoebe from the Skies Beheld th' approaching War with hateful Eies And call'd the light-foot Opis to her aid Her most belov'd and ever trusty Maid Then with a sigh began Camilla goes To meet her Death amidst her Fatal Foes The Nymph I lov'd of all my Mortal Train Invested with Diana's Arms in vain Nor is my kindness for the Virgin new 'T was born with Her and with her Years it grew Her Father Metabus when forc'd away From old Privernum for Tyrannick sway Snatch'd up and sav'd from his prevailing Foes This tender Babe Companion of his Woes Casmilla was her Mother but he drown'd One hissing Letter in a softer sound And call'd Camilla Thro the Woods he flies Wrap'd in his Robe the Royal Infant lies His Foes in sight he mends his weary pace With shouts and clamours they pursue the Chace The Banks of Amasene at length he gains The raging Flood his farther flight restrains Rais'd o're the Borders with unusual Rains Prepar'd to Plunge into the Stream He fears Not for himself but for the Charge he bears Anxious he stops a while and thinks in haste Then desp'rate in Distress resolves at last A knotty Lance of well-boil'd Oak he bore The middle part with Cork he cover'd o're He clos'd the Child within the hollow Space With Twigs of bending Osier bound the Case Then pois'd the Spear heavy with Human Weight And thus invok'd my Favour for the Freight Accept great Goddess of the Woods he said Sent by her Sire this dedicated Maid Thro' Air she flies a Suppliant to thy Shrine And the first Weapons that she knows are thine He said and with full Force the Spear he threw Above the sounding Waves Camilla flew Then press'd by Foes he stemm'd the stormy Tyde And gain'd by stress of Arms the farther Side His fasten'd Spear he pull'd from out the Ground And Victor of his Vows his Infant Nymph unbound Nor after that in Towns which Walls inclose Wou'd trust his hunted Life amidst his Foes But rough in open Air he chose to lye Earth was his Couch his Cov'ring was the Sky On Hills unshorn or in a desart Den He shunn'd the dire Society of Men. A Shepherd's solitary Life he led His Daughter with the Milk of Mares he fed The Dugs of Bears and ev'ry Salvage Beast He drew
before the Town both Armies lye While Night with sable Wings o'respreads the Sky The Twelfth Book of the Aeneis The Argument Turnus challenges Aeneas to a single Combat Articles are agreed on but broken by the Rutili who wound Aeneas He is miraculously cur'd by Venus forces Turnus to a Duel and concludes the Poem with his Death WHen Turnus saw the Latins leave the Field Their Armies broken and their Courage quell'd Himself become the Mark of publick Spight His Honour question'd for the promis'd Fight The more he was with Vulgar hate oppress'd The more his Fury boil'd within his Breast He rowz'd his Vigour for the last Debate And rais'd his haughty Soul to meet his Fate As when the Swains the Lybian Lion chase He makes a sour Retreat nor mends his Pace But if the pointed Jav'lin pierce his Side The lordly Beast returns with double Pride He wrenches out the Steel he roars for Pain His sides he lashes and erects his Mane So Turnus fares his Eye-balls flash with Fire And his wide Nostrils Clouds of Smoke expire Trembling with Rage around the Court he ran At length approach'd the King and thus began No more excuses or Delays I stand In Arms prepar'd to Combat hand to hand This base Deserter of his Native Land The Trojan by his Word is bound to take The same Conditions which himself did make To y e Right Hon ble Phillip Lord Stanhope Earle of Chesterfield Baron of Shelford in the Kingdom of England AE 12. l. 1. Renew the Truce the solemn Rites prepare And to my single Virtue trust the War The Latians unconcern'd shall see the Fight This Arm unaided shall assert your Right Then if my prostrate Body press the Plain To him the Crown and beauteous Bride remain To whom the King sedately thus reply'd Brave Youth the more your Valour has been try'd The more becomes it us with due Respect To weigh the chance of War which you neglect You want not Wealth or a successive Throne Or Cities which your Arms have made your own My Towns and Treasures are at your Command And stor'd with blooming Beauties is my Land Laurentum more than one Lavinia sees Unmarry'd fair of Noble Families Now let me speak and you with Patience hear Things which perhaps may grate a Lover's Ear But sound Advice proceeding from a heart Sincerely yours and free from fraudful Art The Gods by Signs have manifestly shown No Prince Italian born shou'd heir my Throne Oft have our Augurs in Prediction skill'd And oft our Priests a Foreign Son reveal'd Yet won by Worth that cannot be withstood Brib'd by my Kindness to my kindred Blood Urg'd by my Wife who wou'd not be deny'd I promis'd my Lavinia for your Bride Her from her plighted Lord by force I took All tyes of Treaties and of Honour broke On your Account I wag'd an impious War With what Success 't is needless to declare I and my Subjects feel and you have had your Share Twice vanquish'd while in bloody Fields we strive Scarce in our Walls we keep our Hopes alive The rowling Flood runs warm with human Gore The Bones of Latians blanch the neighb'ring Shore Why put I not an end to this Debate Still unresolv'd and still a Slave to Fate If Turnus's Death a lasting Peace can give Why shou'd I not procure it while you live Shou'd I to doubtful Arms your Youth betray What wou'd my Kinsmen the Rutulians say And shou'd you fall in Fight which Heav'n defend How curse the Cause which hasten'd to his end The Daughter's Lover and the Father's Friend Weigh in your Mind the various Chance of War Pity your Parent 's Age and ease his Care Such balmy Words he pour'd but all in vain The proffer'd Med'cine but provok'd the Pain The wrathful Youth disdaining the Relief With intermitting Sobs thus vents his Grief The care O best of Fathers which you take For my Concerns at my Desire forsake Permit me not to languish out my Days But make the best exchange of Life for Praise This Arm this Lance can well dispute the Prize And the Blood follows where the Weapon flies His Goddess Mother is not near to shrowd The flying Coward with an empty Cloud But now the Queen who fear'd for Turnus Life And loath'd the hard Conditions of the Strife Held him by Force and dying in his Death In these sad Accents gave her Sorrow breath O Turnus I adjure thee by these Tears And what e're price Amata's Honour bears Within thy Breast since thou art all my hope My sickly Mind's repose my sinking Age's Prop Since on the safety of thy Life alone Depends Latinus and the Latian Throne Refuse me not this one this only Pray'r To wave the Combat and pursue the War Whatever chance attends this fatal Strife Think it includes in thine Amata's Life I cannot live a Slave or see my Throne Usurp'd by Strangers or a Trojan Son At this a Flood of Tears Lavinia shed A crimson Blush her beauteous Face o'respread Varying her Cheeks by Turns with white and red The driving Colours never at a stay Run here and there and flush and fade away Delightful change Thus Indian Iv'ry shows Which with the bord'ring Paint of Purple glows Or Lillies damask'd by the neighb'ring Rose The Lover gaz'd and burning with desire The more he look'd the more he fed the Fire Revenge and jealous Rage and secret Spight Rowl in his Breast and rowze him to the Fight Then fixing on the Queen his ardent Eyes Firm to his first intent he thus replies O Mother do not by your Tears prepare Such boding Omens and prejudge the War Resolv'd on Fight I am no longer free To shun my Death if Heav'n my Death decree Then turning to the Herald thus pursues Go greet the Trojan with ungrateful News Denounce from me that when to Morrow's Light Shall guild the Heav'ns he need not urge the Fight The Trojan and Rutulian Troops no more Shall dye with mutual Blood the Latian Shore Our single Swords the Quarrel shall decide And to the Victor be the beauteous Bride He said and striding on with speedy Pace He sought his Coursers of the Thracian Race At his Approach they toss their Heads on high And proudly neighing promise Victory The Sires of these Orythia sent from far To grace Pilumnus when he went to War The drifts of Thracian Snows were scarce so white Nor Northern Winds in fleetness match'd their Flight Officious Grooms stand ready by his Side And some with Combs their flowing Manes divide And others stroke their Chests and gently sooth their Pride He sheath'd his Limbs in Arms a temper'd Mass Of golden Metal those and Mountain Brass Then to his Head his glitt'ring Helm he ty'd And girt his faithful Fauchion to his side In his Aetnean Forge the God of Fire That Fauchion labour'd sor the Hero's Sire Immortal Keenness on the Blade bestow'd And plung'd it hissing in the Stygian Flood Prop'd on a Pillar which the Ceiling
his Knees he press'd And plung'd his holy Ponyard in his Breast While Podalirius with his Sword pursu'd The Shepherd Alsus thro' the flying Crowd Swiftly he turns and aims a deadly blow Full on the Front of his unwary Foe The broad Axe enters with a crashing Sound And cleaves the Chin with one continu'd Wound Warm Blood and mingled Brains besmear his Arms around An Iron Sleep his stupid Eyes oppress'd And seal'd their heavy Lids in endless rest But good Aeneas rush'd amid the Bands Bare was his Head and naked were his Hands In sign of Truce Then thus he cries aloud What sudden Rage what new Desire of Blood Inflames your alter'd Minds O Trojans cease From impious Arms nor violate the Peace By Human Sanctions and by Laws Divine The Terms are all agreed the War is mine Dismiss your Fears and let the Fight ensue This Hand alone shall right the Gods and you Our injur'd Altars and their broken Vow To this avenging Sword the faithless Turnus owe. Thus while he spoke unmindful of Defence A winged Arrow struck the Pious Prince But whether from some Human Hand it came Or Hostile God is left unknown by Fame No Human Hand or Hostile God was found To boast the Triumph of so base a Wound When Turnus saw the Trojan quit the Plain His Chiefs dismay'd his Troops a fainting Train Th' unhop'd Event his heighten'd Soul inspires At once his Arms and Coursers he requires Then with a leap his lofty Chariot gains And with a ready hand assumes the Reins He drives impetuous and where e're he goes He leaves behind a Lane of slaughter'd Foes These his Lance reaches over those he rowls His rapid Car and crushes out their Souls In vain the vanquish'd fly the Victor sends The dead Mens Weapons at their living Friends Thus on the Banks of Hebrus freezing Flood The God of Battel 's in his angry Mood Clashing his Sword against his brazen Shield Le ts loose the Reins and scours along the Field Before the Wind his fiery Coursers fly Groans the sad Earth resounds the ratling Sky Wrath Terror Treason Tumult and Despair Dire Faces and deform'd surround the Car Friends of the God and Followers of the War With Fury not unlike nor less Disdain Exulting Turnus flies along the Plain His smoaking Horses at their utmost Speed He lashes on and urges o're the dead Their Fetlocks run with Blood and when they bound The Gore and gath'ring Dust are dash'd around Thamyris and Pholus Masters of the War He kill'd at hand but Sthelenus afar From far the Sons of Imbracus he slew Glaucus and Lades of the Lycian Crew Both taught to fight on Foot in Battel join'd Or mount the Courser that outstrips the Wind. Mean time Eumedes vaunting in the Field New fir'd the Trojans and their Foes repell'd This Son of Dolon bore his Grandsire's Name But emulated more his Father's Fame His guileful Father sent a nightly Spy The Grecian Camp and Order to descry Hard Enterprise and well he might require Achilles Carr and Horses for his hire But met upon the Scout th' Etolian Prince In Death bestow'd a juster Recompence Fierce Turnus view'd the Trojan from afar And lanch'd his Jav'lin from his lofty Carr Then lightly leaping down pursu'd the Blow And pressing with his Foot his prostrate Foe Wrench'd from his feeble hold the shining Sword And plung'd it in the Bosom of its Lord. Possess said he the fruit of all thy Pains And measure at thy length our Latian Plains Thus are my Foes rewarded by my hand Thus may they build their Town and thus enjoy the Land Then Dares Butes Sybaris he slew Whom o're his Neck his flound'ring Courser threw As when loud Boreas with his blust'ring Train Stoops from above incumbent on the Main Where e're he flies he drives the Rack before And rowls the Billows on th' Aegean Shore So where resistless Turnus takes his Course The scatter'd Squadrons bend before his force His Crest of Horses Hair is blown behind By adverse Air and rustles in the Wind. This haughty Phegeus saw with high Disdain And as the Chariot rowl'd along the Plain Light from the Ground he leapt and seiz'd the Rein. Thus hung in Air he still retain'd his hold The Coursers frighted and their Course control'd The Lance of Turnus reach'd him as he hung And pierc'd his plated Arms but pass'd along And only raz'd the Skin he turn'd and held Against his threat'ning Foe his ample Shield To Thomas Hobbs D r in Phisic En 12. l 570. Then call'd for Aid but while he cry'd in vain The Chariot bore him backward on the Plain He lies revers'd the Victor King descends And strikes so justly where his Helmet ends He lops the Head The Latian Fields are drunk With streams that issue from the bleeding Trunk While he triumphs and while the Trojans yield The wounded Prince is forc'd to leave the Field Strong Mnestheus and Achates often try'd And young Ascanius weeping by his side Conduct him to his Tent Scarce can he rear His Limbs from Earth supported on his Spear Resolv'd in Mind regardless of the Smart He tugs with both his Hands and breaks the Dart. The Steel remains No readier way he found To draw the Weapon than t' inlarge the Wound Eager of Fight impatient of delay He begs and his unwilling Friends obey Iapis was at hand to prove his Art Whose blooming Youth so fir'd Apollo's Heart That for his Love he proffer'd to bestow His tuneful Harp and his unerring Bow The pious Youth more studious how to save His aged Sire now sinking to the Grave Prâ—ferr'd the pow'r of Plants and silent Praise Of healing Arts before Phoebeian Bays Prop'd on his Lance the pensive Heroe stood And heard and saw unmov'd the mourning Crowd The fam'd Physician tucks his Robes around With ready Hands and hastens to the Wound With gentle Touches he performs his part This way and that solliciting the Dart And exercises all his Heav'nly Art All softning Simples known of Sov'raign Use He presses out and pours their noble Juice These first infus'd to lenifie the Pain He tugs with Pincers but he tugs in vain Then to the Patron of his Art he pray'd The Patron of his Art refus'd his Aid Mean time the War approaches to the Tents Th' Allarm grows hotter and the Noise augments The driving Dust proclaims the Danger near And first their Friends and then their Foes appear Their Friends retreat their Foes pursue the Rear The Camp is fill'd with Terror and Affright The hissing Shafts within the Trench alight An undistinguish'd Noise ascends the Sky The Shouts of those who kill and Groans of those who dye But now the Goddess Mother mov'd with Grief And pierc'd with Pity hastens her Relief A Branch of healing Dittany she brought Which in the Cretan Fields with Care she sought Rough is the Stem which woolly Leafs surround The Leafs with Flow'rs the Flow'rs with Purple crown'd Well known to wounded Goats a sure
my departure For Deiphobus being a Ghost can hardly be said to be of their Number Perhaps the Poet means by explebo numerum absolvam sententiam As if Deiphobus reply'd to the Sibil who was angry at his long Visit I will only take my last leave of Aeneas my Kinsman and my Friend with one hearty good-wish for his Health and Well-fare and then leave you to prosecute your Voyage That Wish is express'd in the words immediately following I Decus I nostrum c. Which contain a direct Answer to what the Sibill said before When she upbraided their long Discourse Nos flendo ducimus horas This Conjecture is new and therefore left to the discretion of the Reader L. 981. Know first that Heav'n and Earth's compacted Frame And flowing Waters and the Starry Flame And both the radiant Lights c. Principio Coelum terras composque liquentes Lucentemque globum Lunae Titaniaque Astra c. Here the Sun is not express'd but the Moon only though a less and also a less radiant Light Perhaps the Copies of Virgil are all false and that instead of Titaniaque Astra he writ Titanaque Astra and according to those words I have made my Translation 'T is most certain that the Sun ought not to be omitted for he is frequently call'd the Life and Soul of all the World And nothing bids so fair for a visible Divinity to those who know no better than that glorious Luminary The Platonists call God the Archetypall Sun and the Sun the visible Deity the inward vital Spirit in the Center of the Universe or that Body to which that Spirit is united and by which-it exerts it self most powerfully Now it was the receiv'd Hypothesis amongst the Pythagoreans that the Sun was scituate in the Center of the World Plato had it from them and was himself of the same Opinion as appears by a passage in the Timaeus From which Noble Dialogue is this part of Virgil's Poem taken L. 1157. Great Cato there for gravity renown'd c. Quis te Magne Cato c. There is no Question but Virgil here means Cato Major or the Censor But the Name of Cato being also mention'd in the Eighth Aeneid I doubt whether he means the same Man in both places I have said in the Preface that our Poet was of Republican Principles and have given this for one Reason of my Opinion that he prais'd Cato in that Line Secretisque piis his dantem jura Catonem And accordingly plac'd him in the Elysian Fields Montaign thinks this was Cato the Vtican the great Enemy of Arbitrary Power and a profess'd Foe to Julius Caesar Ruaeus wou'd perswade us that Virgil meant the Censor But why shou'd the Poet name Cato twice if he intended the same person Our Author is too frugal of his Words and Sense to commit Tautologies in either His Memory was not likely to betray him into such an Errour Nevertheless I continue in the same Opinion concerning the Principles of our Poet. He declares them sufficiently in this Book Where he praises the first Brutus for expelling the Tarquins giving Liberty to Rome and putting to Death his own Children who conspir'd to restore Tyranny He calls him only an unhappy Man for being forc'd to that severe Action Infelix utcunque ferent ea facta Minores Vincet amor Patriae laudumque immensa Cupido Let the Reader weigh these two Verses and he must be convinc'd that I am in the right And that I have not much injur'd my Master in my Translation of them Line 1140. Embrace again my Sons be Foes no more Nor stain your Country with her Childrens gore And thou the first lay down thy lawless claim Thou of my Blood who bear'st the Julian Name This Note which is out of its proper place I deferr'd on purpose to place it here Because it discovers the Principles of our Poet more plainly than any of the rest Tuque prior tu parce genus qui ducis Olympo Projice tela manu Sanguis meus Anchises here speaks to Julius Caesar And commands him first to lay down Arms which is a plain condemnation of his Cause Yet observe our Poet 's incomparable Address For though he shews himself sufficiently to be a Common-wealth's-man yet in respect to Augustus who was his Patron he uses the Authority of a Parent in the Person of Anchises who had more right to lay this Injunction on Caesar than on Pompey because the latter was not of his Blood Thus our Author cautiously veils his own opinion and takes Sanctuary under Anchises as if that Ghost wou'd have laid the same Command on Pompey also had he been lineally descended from him What cou'd be more judiciously contriv'd when this was the Aeneid which he chose to read before his Master Line 1222. A new Marcellus shall arise in thee In Virgil thus Tu Marcellus eris How unpoetically and baldly had this been translated Thou shalt Marcellus be Yet some of my Friends were of Opinion that I mistook the Sense of Virgil in my Translation The French Interpreter observes nothing on this place but that it appears by it the Mourning of Octavia was yet fresh for the loss of her Son Marcellus whom she had by her first Husband And who dyed in the Year aburbe conditâ 731. And collects from thence that Virgil reading this Aeneid before her in the same Year had just finish'd it That from this time to that of the Poet's Death was little more than four Years So that supposing him to have written the whole Aeneis in eleven Years the first six Books must have taken up seven of those Years On which Account the six last must of necessity be less correct Now for the false judgment of my Friends there is but this little to be said for them the words of Virgil in the Verse preceding are these Siqua fata aspera rumpas As if the Poet had meant if you break through your hard Destiny so as to be born you shall be call'd Marcellus But this cannot be the Sense for though Marcellus was born yet he broke not through those hard Decrees which doom'd him to so immature a death Much less can Virgil mean you shall be the same Marcellus by the Transmigration of his Soul For according to the System of our Author a Thousand Years must be first elaps'd before the Soul can return into a Humane Body but the first Marcellus was slain in the second Punick War And how many hundred Years were yet wanting to the accomplishing his penance may with ease be gather'd by computing the time betwixt Scipio and Augustus By which 't is plain that Virgil cannot mean the same Marcellus but one of his Descendants whom I call a new Marcellus who so much resembled his Ancestor perhaps in his Features and his Person but certainly in his Military Vertues that Virgil cries out quantum instar in ipso est which I have translated How like the former