FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   134   135   136   137   138   139   140   141   142   143   144   145   146   147   148   149   150   151   152   153   154   155   156   157   158  
159   160   161   162   163   164   165   166   167   168   169   170   171   172   173   174   175   176   177   178   179   180   181   182   183   >>   >|  
banks and pure Numicius' spring. XXXIII. "These gifts AEneas to our charge commends, Poor relics saved from Ilion, but a sign Of ancient greatness, and the gifts of friends. See, from this golden goblet at the shrine His sire Anchises poured the sacred wine; Clad in these robes sat Priam, when of old The laws he ministered. These robes are thine, This sceptre, this embroidered vest,--behold, 'Twas wrought by Trojan dames,--this diadem of gold." XXXIV. Mute sat and motionless, with looks bent down, Latinus; but his restless eyes confessed His musings. Not the sceptre nor the gown Of purple moved him, but his pensive breast Dwelt on his daughter's marriage, till he guessed The meaning of old Faunus. This was he, His destined heir, the bridegroom and the guest, Whose glorious progeny, by Fate's decree, The Latin throne should share, and rule from sea to sea. XXXV. "Heaven prosper," joyfully he cried, "our deed, And heaven's own augury. Your wish shall stand; I take the gifts. Yours, Trojans, all ye need-- The wealth of Troy, the fatness of the land,-- Nought shall ye lack from King Latinus' hand. Let but AEneas, if he longs so fain To claim our friendship, and a home demand, Come here, nor fear to greet us. Not in vain 'Twixt monarchs stands the peace, which plighted hands ordain. XXXVI. "Let now this message to your King be given. 'A child, the daughter of my heart, is mine, Whom neither frequent prodigies from heaven, Nor voices uttered from my father's shrine, Permit with one of Latin birth to join. Strange sons--so Latin oracles conspire-- Shall come, whose offspring shall exalt our line. Thy King the bridegroom whom the Fates require I deem, and, if in aught I read the truth, desire.'" XXXVII. So speaks Latinus, and with kindly care Choice steeds selects. Three hundred of the best Stand in his lofty stables, sleek and fair; And forth in order for each Teucrian guest His servants led them, at their King's behest. Rich housings, wrought in many a purple fold, And broidered rugs adorn them; o'er each breast Hang golden poitrels, glorious to behold. Each champs with foaming mouth a chain of glittering gold. XXXVIII. A car he orders for the Dardan sire, And twin-yoked coursers of ethereal seed, Whose snorting nostrils breathe the flames of fire. Hal
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   134   135   136   137   138   139   140   141   142   143   144   145   146   147   148   149   150   151   152   153   154   155   156   157   158  
159   160   161   162   163   164   165   166   167   168   169   170   171   172   173   174   175   176   177   178   179   180   181   182   183   >>   >|  



Top keywords:

Latinus

 

sceptre

 

behold

 
wrought
 

heaven

 

breast

 

purple

 
daughter
 

bridegroom

 

glorious


shrine

 

golden

 
AEneas
 

Strange

 

snorting

 
father
 

Permit

 

conspire

 

offspring

 

uttered


oracles
 

ethereal

 
coursers
 

prodigies

 

message

 

plighted

 

ordain

 

frequent

 
nostrils
 

breathe


flames
 

voices

 

champs

 

foaming

 
Teucrian
 

servants

 

stables

 

poitrels

 
broidered
 

housings


behest

 

orders

 

desire

 

XXXVII

 
Dardan
 

speaks

 

kindly

 

hundred

 
selects
 

glittering