THE SHIPWRECK.
Not many days after Æneas and his companions set sail. But scarce were
they out of sight of the land of Sicily when Juno espied them. Very
wroth was she that they should be now drawing near to the end of their
journey, and she said to herself, "Shall I be baulked of my purpose,
nor be able to keep these men of Troy from Italy? Minerva, indeed,
because one man sinned, even Ajax Oïleus, burned the fleet of the
Greeks, and drowned the men in the sea. For the ships she smote with
the thunderbolts of Jupiter; and as for Ajax, him she caught up with a
whirlwind, and dashed him upon the rocks, piercing him through. Only
I, though I be both sister and wife to Jupiter, avail nothing against
this people. And who that heareth this in after time shall pay me due
honour and sacrifice?"
Then she went, thinking these things in her heart, to the land of
Æolia, where King Æolus keepeth the winds under bolt and bar. Mightily
do they roar within the mountain, but their king restraineth them and
keepeth them in bounds, being indeed set to do this very thing, lest
they should carry both the heavens and the earth before them in their
great fury. To him said Juno, "O Æolus, whom Jupiter hath made king of
the winds, a nation which I hate is sailing over the Tuscan sea. Loose
now thy storms against them, and drown their ships in the sea. And
hearken what I will do for thee. Twelve maidens I have that wait on me
continually, who are passing fair, and the fairest of all, even
Deiopëia, I will give thee to wife."
To whom answered King Æolus, "It is for thee, O Queen, to order what
thou wilt, it being of thy gift that I hold this sovereignty and eat
at the table of the Gods."
So saying he drave in with his spear the folding-doors of the prison
of the winds, and these straightway in a great host rushed forth, even
all the winds together, and rolled great waves upon the shore. And
straightway there arose a great shouting of men and straining of
cables; nor could the sky nor the light of the day be seen any more,
but a darkness as of night came down upon the sea, and there were
thunders and lightnings over the whole heavens.
Then did Æneas grow cold with fear, and stretching out his hands to
heaven he cried, "Happy they who fell under the walls of Troy, before
their fathers' eyes! Would to the Gods that thou hadst slain me,
Diomed, bravest of the Greeks, even as Hector fell by the spear of
Achilles, or tall Sarpedon, or all the brave warriors whose dead
bodies Simoïs rolled down to the sea!"
But as he spake a blast of wind struck his sails from before, and his
ship was turned broadside to the waves. Three others also were tossed
upon the rocks which men call the "Altars," and three into the
quicksands of the Syrtis. And another, in which sailed the men of
Lycia, with Orontes, their chief, was struck upon the stern by a great
sea and sunk. And when Æneas looked, lo! there were some swimming in
the waves, and broken planks also, and arms and treasures of Troy.
Others also were shattered by the waves, as those of Ilioneus and
Achates, and of Abas and the old man Alethes.
[Illustration: JUNO AND ÆOLUS.]
But King Neptune was aware of the tumult where he sat at the bottom of
the sea, and raising his head above the waves, looked forth and saw
how the ships were scattered abroad and the men of Troy were in sore
peril. Also he knew his sister's wrath and her craft. Then he called
to him the winds and said, "What is this, ye winds, that ye trouble
heaven and earth without leave of me? Now will I--but I must first bid
the waves be still, only be sure that ye shall not thus escape
hereafter. Begone, and tell your king that the dominion over the sea
belongeth unto me, and bid him keep him to his rocks."
Then he bade the waves be still; also he scattered the clouds and
brought back the sun. And Cymothea and Triton, gods of the sea, drew
the ships from the rocks, Neptune also lifting them with his trident.
Likewise he opened the quicksands, and delivered the ships that were
therein. And this being done he crossed the sea in his chariot, and
the waves beholding him sank to rest, even as it befalls when there is
sedition in the city, and the people are wroth, and men throw stones
and firebrands, till lo! of a sudden there cometh forth a reverend
sire, a good man and true, and all men are silent and hearken to him;
and the uproar is stayed. So was the sea stilled, beholding its king.
Then Æneas and his companions, being sore wearied with the storm, made
for the nearest shore, even Africa, where they found a haven running
far into the land, into which the waves come not till their force be
spent. On either side thereof are cliffs very high, and shining woods
over them. Also at the harbour's head is a cave and a spring of sweet
water within, a dwelling-place of the Nymphs. Hither came Æneas, with
seven ships. Right glad were the men of Troy to stand upon the dry
land again. Then Achates struck a spark out of flint, and they lighted
a fire with leaves and the like; also they took of the wheat which had
been in the ships, and made ready to parch and to bruise it, that they
might eat. Meanwhile Æneas had climbed the cliff, if haply he might
see some of his companions' ships. These indeed he saw not, but he
espied three great stags upon the shore and a herd following them.
Wherefore, taking the arrows and the bow which Achates bare with him,
he let fly, slaying the leaders and others also, till he had gotten
seven, one for each ship. Then made he his way to the landing-place,
and divided the prey. Also he made distribution of the wine which
Acestes, their host in Sicily, had given them as they were about to
depart, and spake comfortable words to them, saying, "O my friends, be
ye sure that there will be an end to these troubles; and indeed ye
have suffered worse things before. Be ye of good cheer therefore.
Haply ye shall one day have pleasure in thinking of these things. For
be sure that the Gods have prepared a dwelling-place for us in Italy,
where we shall build a new Troy, in great peace and happiness.
Wherefore endure unto the day of prosperity."
[Illustration: NEPTUNE STILLING THE WAVES.]
Then they made ready the feast, and roasted of the meat upon spits,
and boiled other in water. Also they drank of the wine and were
comforted. And after supper they talked much of them that were absent,
doubting whether they were alive or dead.