POLYDORUS--DELOS--CRETE--THE HARPIES.
Now for what remained of that year (for it was the time of summer when
Troy was taken), Æneas, and they that were gathered to him, builded
themselves ships for the voyage, dwelling the while under Mount Ida;
and when the summer was well-nigh come again the work was finished,
and the old man Anchises commanded that they should tarry no longer.
Whereupon they sailed, taking also their Gods with them.
There was a certain land of Thrace, which the god Mars loved beyond
all other lands, whereof in time past the fierce Lycurgus, who would
have slain Bacchus, was king. Here, therefore, for the men of the land
were friendly, or, at the least, had been before evil days came upon
Troy, Æneas builded him a city, and called it after his own name. But,
after awhile, as he did sacrifice on a certain day to his mother,
even Venus, that he might have a blessing on his work, slaying also a
white bull to Jupiter, there befell a certain horrible thing. For hard
by the place where he did sacrifice there was a little hill, with much
cornel and myrtle upon it, whereto Æneas coming would have plucked
wands having leaves upon them, that he might cover therewith the
altars. But lo! when he plucked a wand there dropped drops of blood
therefrom. Whereupon great fear came on him, and wonder also. And when
seeking to know the cause of the thing he plucked other wands also,
there dropped blood even as before. Then, having prayed to the nymphs
of the land and to Father Mars that they would turn all evil from him,
he essayed the third time with all his might, setting his knee against
the ground, to pluck forth a wand. Whereupon there issued from the
hill a lamentable voice, saying, "Æneas, why doest thou me such cruel
hurt, nor leavest me in peace in my grave? For indeed I am no stranger
to thee, nor strange is this blood which thou seest. Fly, for the land
is cruel, and the shore greedy of gain. I am Polydorus. Here was I
pierced through with spears, which have grown into these wands that
thou seest."
But Æneas when he heard the voice was sore dismayed, and he remembered
him how King Priam, thinking that it might fare ill with him and the
great city of Troy, had sent his son, Polydorus, by stealth, and much
gold with him, to Polymestor, who was king of Thrace, and how the
king, when Troy had now perished, slew the boy, and took the gold to
himself. For of a truth the love of gold is the root of all evil. And
Æneas told the thing to his father and to the chiefs; and the sentence
of all was that they should depart from the evil land. But first they
made a great funeral for Polydorus, making a high mound of earth, and
building thereon an altar to the dead. This also they bound about with
garlands of sad-coloured wool and cypress, and the women of Troy stood
about it with their hair loosened, as is the use of them that mourn.
They offered also bowls of warm milk and blood, and laid the spirit in
the tomb, bidding him farewell three times with a loud voice.
After this, when the time for voyaging was come, and the south wind
blew softly, they launched the ships and set sail. And first they came
to the island of Delos, which, having been used to wander over the
sea, the Lord of the Silver Bow made fast, binding it to Myconos and
Gyaros, and found there quiet anchorage. And when they landed to
worship, there met them Anius, who was priest and king of the place,
having a crown of bay-leaves about his head, who knew Anchises for a
friend in time past, and used to them much hospitality. Then did they
pray to the god, saying, "Give us, we beseech thee, a home where we
may dwell, and a name upon the earth, and a city that shall abide,
even a second Troy for them that have escaped from the hands of
Achilles and the Greeks. And do thou answer us, and incline our hearts
that we may know."
But when Æneas had ended these words, straightway the place was
shaken, even the gates of the temple and the bay-trees that were hard
by. And when they were all fallen to the ground there came a voice,
saying, "Son of Dardanus, the land that first bare you shall receive
you again. Seek, then, your ancient mother. Thence shall the children
of Æneas bear rule over all lands, yea, and their children's children
to many generations." Which when they had heard, they greatly
rejoiced, and would fain know what was the city whither Phœbus would
have them go, that they might cease from their wanderings. Then
Anchises, pondering in his heart the things which he had learnt from
men of old time, spake thus: "There lieth in mid-ocean a certain
island of Crete, wherein is a mountain, Ida. There was the first
beginning of our nation. Thence came Teucer, our first father, to the
land of Troy. Let us go, then, whither the Gods would send us, first
doing sacrifice to the Winds; and, indeed, if but Jupiter help us,
'tis but a three days' journey for our ships."
So they offered sacrifice, a bull to Neptune and a bull to the
beautiful Apollo, and a black sheep to the Storm and a white sheep to
the West Wind. There came also a rumour that Idomeneus the Cretan had
fled from his father's kingdom, and that the land was ready for him
who should take it. Whereupon the men of Troy set sail with a good
heart, and passing among the islands that are called Cyclades, the
wind blowing favourably behind them, so came to Crete. There they
builded a city, and called its name Pergamea, after Pergama, which was
the citadel of Troy. And for a while they tilled the soil; also they
married and were given in marriage, as purposing to abide in the land.
But there came a wasting sickness on the men, and a blight also on the
trees and harvests, filling the year with death. The fields likewise
were parched with drought, and the staff of bread was broken. Then the
old Anchises bade them go yet again to the oracle at Delos, and
inquire of the god what end there should be of these troubles, whence
they should seek for help, and whither they should go.
But as Æneas slept there appeared to him the household Gods, which he
had carried out of the burning of Troy, very clear to see in the light
of the moon, which shone through the window of his chamber. And they
spake unto him, saying, "Apollo bids us tell thee here that which he
will tell thee if thou goest to Delos. We who have followed thee over
many seas, even we will bring thy children's children to great
honour, and make their city ruler over many nations. Faint not,
therefore, at thy long wandering. Thou must seek yet another home. For
it was not in Crete that Apollo bade thee dwell. There is a land which
the Greeks call Hesperia; an ancient land, whose inhabitants are
mighty men of valour; a land of vineyards and wheat. There is our
proper home, and thence came Dardanus our father. Do thou, therefore,
tell these things to the old man Anchises. Seek ye for the land of
Hesperia, which men also call Italy; but as for Crete, Jupiter willeth
not that ye should dwell there."
And for a while Æneas lay in great fear, with a cold sweat upon him,
so clear was the vision of those whom he saw, nor in anywise like unto
a dream. Then he rose up from his bed, and after prayer and sacrifice
told the thing to Anchises. And the old man saw that he had been
deceived in this matter, and he said, "O my son, now do I remember how
Cassandra was wont to prophesy these things to me, and would speak of
Hesperia and of the land of Italy. But, indeed, no man thought in
those days that the men of Troy should voyage to Hesperia, nor did any
take account of the words of Cassandra. But now let us heed the oracle
of Apollo, and depart."
[Illustration: THE HARPIES.]
So the men of Troy made their ships ready and departed. And after a
while, when they could no more see the land, there fell a great storm
upon them, with a strong wind and great rolling waves, and much
lightning also. Thus were they driven out of their course, and for
three days and nights saw neither the sun nor the stars. But on the
fourth day they came to a land where they saw hills, and smoke rising
therefrom. Then did the men ply their oars amain, and soon came to the
shore. Now this place they found to be one of certain islands which
men name the Strophades. And upon these islands dwell creatures which
are called Harpies, very evil indeed, having the countenances of women
and wings like unto the wings of birds and long claws. Also their
faces are pale as with much hunger. Now when the men of Troy were come
to this land, they saw many herds of oxen and flocks of goats thereon,
nor any one to watch them. Of these they slew such as they needed,
and, not forgetting to give due share to the Gods, made a great feast
upon the shore. But lo! even while they made merry, there came a great
rushing of wings, and the Harpies came upon them, making great havoc
of the meat and fouling all things most horribly. And when they had
departed, the men of Troy sought another place where they might do
sacrifice and eat their meat in peace. But when the Harpies had come
thither also and done in the same fashion, Æneas commanded that the
men should draw their swords and do battle with the beasts. Therefore,
the Harpies coming yet again, Misenus with his trumpet gave the sound
for battle. But lo! they fought as those that beat the air, seeing
that neither sword nor spear availed to wound the beasts. Then again
these departed, one only remaining, by name Celæno, who, sitting on a
rock, spake after this fashion: "Do ye purpose, sons of Laomedon, to
fight for these cattle that ye have wrongfully taken, or to drive the
Harpies from their kingdom and inheritance? Hear, therefore, my words,
which indeed the almighty Father told to Phœbus, and Phœbus told to
me. Ye journey to Italy, and to Italy shall ye come. Only ye shall
not build a city, and wall it about with walls, till dreadful hunger
shall cause you to eat the very tables whereon ye sup."
So saying, she departed. But when great fear was fallen upon all,
Anchises lifted up his hands to heaven and prayed to the Gods that
they would keep that evil from them.