THE BURNING OF THE SHIPS--THE VOYAGE TO ITALY.
But while the men of Troy were busy with the games, Juno prepared
mischief against them in her heart, and sent down Iris, her messenger,
to accomplish it. Now the women sat apart on the shore, and lifted up
their voices and bewailed the old man Anchises. But when they looked
upon the sea they lamented for themselves that they had so much travel
to accomplish, for they were weary of the sea, and would fain have a
city to dwell in. Which when Iris perceived, laying aside the
semblance of a goddess, she took upon herself the form of Beroé, the
wife of Doryclus, and went among the women of Troy and spake, saying,
"O unhappy, that ye were not dragged to death by the hands of the
Greeks! For now the seventh summer is come, and yet we journey over
many lands and seas, and seek this Italy which ever flies before us.
Here we have friends and kindred. What forbids that we build here a
city? Shall I never see the walls of another Troy, nor find Xanthus
and Simoïs, rivers of Troy, in a strange land? Why burn we not these
accursed ships that carry us hither and thither. I saw in a dream the
seeress Cassandra, and she seemed to put a torch in my hand, and to
say, 'Here seek ye for Troy: here is your home.' And lo! here are
altars and fire."
Then she caught a brand from an altar, and cast it far from her at the
ships. Then cried out Pyrgo, who had been nurse to the sons of Priam,
"O mothers of Troy, this is not Beroé whom ye see. Mark ye her shining
eyes, and her voice, and her gait. But as for Beroé I left her long
since, sick and sore vexed that she was absent this day from our
solemnity."
And for a while the women stood in doubt regarding the ships, loving
indeed the land whereon they stood, yet knowing that the Fates called
them to another. But when the goddess rose on her wings, and passed up
by the path of the rainbow into the heavens, then a great fury fell
upon them, so that they caught brands from the altars and set fire to
the ships. And straightway the flames ran over the benches and the
oars and the stems of painted pine. Then ran Eumelus to the men of
Troy where they sat at the games, and told them how that the ships
were burning; also they themselves saw the black cloud of smoke
rolling before the wind. And Ascanius, in the midst of his
horsemanship, heard the matter and sped to the camp. And being come he
cried aloud, "What madness is this? Ye burn not the camp of the
Greeks, ye burn our own hopes. Lo! I am your Ascanius." And he threw
his helmet on the ground, that they should know him. Also Æneas and
the men of Troy made haste to come up. Then were the women ashamed of
that which they had done, and would have hidden themselves, their fury
being past. But not the more did the flame cease to devour the ships;
and they who would have quenched the fire availed nothing. Then the
pious Æneas rent his garments and prayed to the Gods, saying, "O
Jupiter, if thou dost not altogether hate us, save our ships from the
fire, and suffer us not to perish utterly; but if thou art angry, and
so it seem good to thee, slay me with thy thunderbolt."
And even as he spake there came up a great storm from the south, with
thunder and lightning and a great rain, and the fire was quenched, but
of the ships four were burnt altogether.
Now Æneas was sore troubled at these things, and doubted much whether
he should still abide in the land of Sicily nor heed the Fates, or
should yet follow after Italy. Then the old man, Nautes, the priest of
Pallas, in whom more than in all men besides dwelt the wisdom of the
goddess, spake to him, saying, "Son of the goddess, it must needs be
that we go whither the Gods call us. Yet mayest thou devise something
for this present necessity, taking counsel with King Acestes, seeing
that he also is a son of Troy. For now, four ships being burned, the
people are over many for such as are left to us; some also faint at
this thing that we purpose; also there are old men and women, wearied
of the sea, and the weak and the fearful. Suffer, then, that he take
these to himself to be his people, and build a city for them, and call
it Acesta, after his own name."
And while Æneas thought on these things he slept. And lo! in his
dream there came to him his father, Anchises, and spake, saying, "I
come, my son, at the bidding of Jupiter. Take thou heed to the counsel
which Nautes giveth thee, for it is good. Let the chosen youth of thy
people go with thee, for thou hast a mighty people and a fierce in
Latium with whom to do battle. But first must thou seek the dwellings
of the dead and hold converse with me. For indeed I dwell not in
Tartarus, with the evildoers, but in Elysium, with the companies of
the blessed. And thither shall the Sibyl guide thee, and thou shalt
learn all that shall befall thee and thy people after this. And now
farewell, for the morning cometh, and I must depart."
And the spirit of Anchises vanished out of his sight, even as smoke
into the air, nor heeded him when he would have stayed it; and Æneas
arose and did sacrifice to the household gods and to Vesta. Then he
took counsel with his companions and with Acestes. And Acestes
hearkened to his words. And they separated such as would tarry in the
place, both men and women; but the others, few in number indeed, but
strong and of a good courage, made ready the ships to depart. And in
the mean time Æneas marked the boundaries of the city with a
ploughshare, and Acestes set it in order with laws and government.
Also on the mountain of Eryx they built a temple to Venus, and they
consecrated a grove and a priest at the tomb of Anchises.
Then for nine days they feasted; and after, for it was fine weather,
and the south wind blew softly, they made ready to sail. There was
then a great weeping and embracing on the shore; and now were all fain
to go, willing not to be parted from kindred and friends. But Æneas
comforted them, and, having sacrificed three calves to Eryx and a lamb
to the Storms, so departed.
And Venus spake to Neptune, saying, "It troubleth me sore that Juno
will not lay aside her wrath. For the city of Troy she overthrew, and,
it being overthrown, she pursueth them that are left with hatred that
cannot be appeased; and now I fear me much what she may do, for she
stirred up Æolus that he loosed all the winds against them; and even
now she put into the hearts of the women this great madness that they
should burn the ships. Wherefore I pray thee that thou shouldest give
them now a safe voyage to Italy." And the King of the sea made answer,
"Thou doest well to put thy trust in my realms and me. For both have I
stilled the madness of the sea and also on the land have I taken
thought for thy Æneas. Mindest thou not the day when Achilles pursued
the men of Troy to their city, and filled the rivers with dead bodies,
so that Xanthus could not make his way to the sea, and how Æneas would
have met him in battle, being weaker, and I snatched him away in a
cloud, yea though I desired from my heart to overthrow the city of
Troy, even the works of my own hands? Fear not, therefore: he shall
come safe to the haven of Avernus. One only of his company must
perish, even one life for many."
Then did he pass over the sea in his chariot, and there was a great
calm as he went, and the clouds flew from the sky, and the great
beasts of the sea went with him; also the gods and goddesses of the
sea, as Glaucus and Palæmon, and the company of the Tritons and
Thetis and the virgin Panopeä.
And the men of Troy loosed the sheets, and spread all the sails to the
wind; and the foremost of the fleet was the ship of Æneas, Palinurus
being the helmsman. And in the night Sleep came down from the sky, and
taking the shape of Phorbas, spake to Palinurus, saying, "All things
are quiet; rest awhile: it is the hour of rest. I will take thy office
for thee." But Palinurus, scarce lifting his eyes, made answer: "Dost
thou bid me trust calm seas and gentle winds? Not so. Too often have I
been deceived." Nor did he loose his hold upon the rudder, or take his
eyes from the stars. Then did Sleep wave over him a bough that had
been dipped in the water of Lethe; and when he slept, as he must needs
do, thrust him into the sea and a portion of the rudder with him; and
he fell, calling vainly for help.
And when the ships were close to the rocks of the Sirens, which in old
time were white with bones of men, but now with spray and broken
waves, Æneas perceived that the ship strayed from its course. For
indeed, seeing that the helmsman had perished, the winds and the waves
had their will of it. Then did he lay hold on the rudder himself, but
it grieved him much that such mischance had befallen his friend.