ls their eyen after sent,
Following the dusty cloud of them and ranks of glittering brass.
But mid the thicket places there by nighest road they pass
Unto their end in weed of war: with shout and serried band
The clattering hooves of four-foot things shake down the dusty land.

There is a mighty thicket-place by chilly Caeres' side,
By ancient dread of fathers gone held holy far and wide:
A place that hollow hills shut in and pine-wood black begirds.
Men say that to Silvanus erst, the God of fields and herds, 600
The old Pelasgi hallowed it, and made a holy day,
E'en those who in the time agone on Latin marches lay.
No great way hence the Tuscan folk and Tarcho held them still
In guarded camp; the host of them from rising of a hill
Might now be seen, as far and wide they spread about the field.
Father AEneas and his folk, the mighty under shield,
Speed hither, and forewearied now their steeds and bodies tend.
But through the clouds of heavenly way doth fair white Venus wend,
Bearing the gift; who when she saw in hidden valley there
Her son afar, apart from men by river cool and fair, 610
Then kind she came before his eyes, and in such words she spake:
"These promised gifts, my husband's work, O son, I bid thee take:
So shalt thou be all void of doubt, O son, when presently
Laurentines proud and Turnus fierce thou bidst the battle try."

So spake the Cytherean one and sought her son's embrace,
And hung the beaming arms upon an oak that stood in face.
But he, made glad by godhead's gift, and such a glory great,
Marvelleth and rolleth o'er it all his eyes insatiate,
And turns the pieces o'er and o'er his hands and arms between;
The helm that flasheth flames abroad with crest so dread beseen: 620
The sword to do the deeds of Fate; the hard-wrought plates of brass,
Blood-red and huge; yea, e'en as when the bright sun brings to pass
Its burning through the coal-blue clouds and shines o'er field and fold:
The light greaves forged and forged again of silver-blend and gold:
The spear, and, thing most hard to tell, the plating of the shield.
For there the tale of Italy and Roman joy afield
That Master of the Fire had wrought, not unlearned of the seers,
Or blind to see the days before. The men of coming years,
Ascanius stem, all foughten fields, were wro