fleet lay moored in that fearful neighborhood. The night was black and
starless, and the air was full of strange sounds, as if some vast,
primeval monster were groaning and gasping for breath. The day dawned
red and threatening, and Æneas had given the order to embark, when out
of the woods which clothe the lower slopes of Ætna a man came slowly
limping, whose appearance showed him to be in the last extremity of want
and misery. He was covered with mire, and clothed in rags, scarce held
together with thorns, and his face was almost hidden by a matted growth
of hair and beard. In such guise he came on with feeble steps, holding
out his hands like one imploring pity and protection. When he recognized
the Trojan arms and dress he halted suddenly, and seemed to hesitate;
then, summoning resolution, he came on again with quickened steps, and
flung himself at the knees of Æneas, who had advanced to meet him. “Save
me,” he cried, speaking in the Greek language, with sobs and tears;
“only take me from this horrible place, and then use me as ye will. I am
a Greek, as ye hear, and I fought with the other Greeks against Troy. If
that is a crime past forgiveness let me suffer for it; tear me limb from
limb, and fling the fragments on the waves—it will be something to be
slaughtered by human hands.”
Touched to the heart by that speaking image of wretchedness and
despair Æneas raised the poor outcast from the ground, comforted him
with gentle words, and encouraged him to tell his story. Reassured by
this kind reception he informed them that he was one of the comrades
of Ulysses, left behind in their hasty flight from the cave of the
Cyclops Polyphemus. For the hardy Ithacan had visited this island in his
wanderings, and had put out the single eye of Polyphemus, which flamed
like the sun in the center of his forehead, in revenge for the murder of
his comrades, whom the cannibal monster had slain and devoured. For three
months the unhappy castaway had skulked in the woods, supporting life on
berries and roots, and affrighted by the ponderous tread of Polyphemus
and his brethren, and their mighty voices, which rumbled like thunder
over his head. Then, catching sight of the Trojan vessels, he had crept
from his hiding-place, determined to trust himself to the mercy of the
new-comers, whoever they might be.
He had just finished his story when a sound of crashing boughs was heard,
as if some great beast were advancing through the jungle; and in a
moment the giant shepherd came into view, supporting his footsteps on
the trunk of a tall pine. Slowly he felt his way towards the sea, that
monster horrible, misshapen, huge, and sightless; and when he reached
the margin of the bay he knelt down, and washed the oozing gore from the
gaping pit in his brow, while groans, as of some wounded leviathan, made
the very waters tremble.
In wild panic the people of Æneas fled to their ships, and the hollow
cliffs resounded to the beat of a thousand oars as they made haste to
reach the open sea. Polyphemus heard, and waded out into deep water in
the direction of the sound, with arms outstretched, to seize one of
the flying vessels. But, finding himself outpaced, he lifted up his
voice, and sent forth a colossal shout, which was bellowed back from the
caverns of Ætna, and reached the far-off shores of Italy. Roused by that
tremendous signal his brethren came rushing from the woods, and gathered
in dread conclave, filling all the beach. Like towering oaks they stood,
or tall cypress-trees, glaring with orbs of fire at the Trojan fleet
and the dashing oars. But the wind blew fair, and soon that tall cohort
dwindled to pigmy size in the distance, and the rugged outlines of Ætna
grew fainter and fainter.
Along the eastern and southern shore of Sicily they fly, where the blue
waters lap softly round the feet of gently sloping hills, one day to be
the site of many a famous city—Syracuse and Agrigentum and Gela. Having
rounded the western cape of the island they come to anchor in the harbor
of Drepanum.
Here a great sorrow fell upon Æneas; his aged father, Anchises, who
had followed him through all his wanderings, and cheerfully endured
many perils and privations, passed gently away, worn out with years and
sorrows; and his bones were laid in foreign soil, far from the land of
his birth.
So far the Trojan emigrants have been suffered to proceed, slowly and by
winding ways, but without any direct hindrance, towards their destined
goal. But now a new power appears on the scene, and a hostile influence
begins to work against them, which will henceforth dog their footsteps
for many years. That power is Juno, who had ever been Troy’s bitterest
and most implacable enemy.
Many causes concurred to keep alive her hatred against that devoted
race—the judgment of Paris, who had given the prize of beauty to her
rival, Venus; the high favor shown to Ganymede, a lovely Trojan boy,
whom Jupiter had made immortal, and exalted to be his cup-bearer; and
the ten long years of hope deferred and anxious toil when the Greeks
were fighting against Troy. Besides all these bitter memories, a new and
pressing occasion had lately arisen to fan the smouldering embers of
her resentment into a blaze. On the northern coast of Africa, fronting
the shores of Sicily, a colony from Tyre had recently founded the city
of Carthage, and the capricious Queen of Heaven had centered all her
affections on the Tyrian settlement, forgetting the ancient ties which
bound her to the Grecian states. And now she had heard a prophecy,
foretelling that a great nation was fated to spring from the blood of
the Trojan exiles which should one day level the towers of Carthage with
the dust and found a new empire upon her ruins.
Seated on her heavenly car the goddess was speeding on her way from
Carthage, full of ambitious schemes for the rising city, when, turning
her eyes earthward, she saw the fleet of Æneas putting out from the shore
of Sicily and heading for the Italian coast. At this unwelcome sight she
checked the flight of her airy steeds, and communed thus with her heart:
“There goes the Prince of Troy, the child of fortune, and thinks to
thwart my purpose, and bring all my plans to naught. Powers less august
than I can work their will, and vindicate their insulted majesty; Ajax
blasphemed against Pallas, and in the midst of his boastings was blasted
by Jove’s fiery bolt—and I, the high Queen of Heaven, the consort of
heaven’s king, must war in vain for years against this broken remnant of
a ruined race.”
VENUS SENDS ÆNEAS TO QUEEN DIDO
By Alfred J. Church
Not many days after Æneas and his companions set sail. But scarce were
they out of sight of the land of Sicily when Juno had espied them. Very
wroth was she that they should be now drawing near to the end of their
journey, and she smote the ship with the thunderbolts of Jupiter.…
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 land, into which the waves come not till their force be spent.…
Now it came to pass on the next day that Æneas, having first hidden
his ships in a bay that was well covered with trees, went forth to spy
out the new land whither he was come, and Achates only went with him.
And Æneas had in each hand a broad-pointed spear. And as he went there
met him in the middle of the wood his mother, but habited as a Spartan
virgin, for she had hung a bow from her shoulders after the fashion of a
huntress, and her hair was loose, and her tunic short to the knees, and
her garments gathered in a knot upon her breast. Then first the false
huntress spake, “If perchance ye have seen one of my sisters wandering
hereabouts, make known to me the place. She is girded with a quiver, and
is clothed with the skin of a spotted lynx, or, may be, she hunts a wild
boar with horn and hound.”
To whom Æneas, “I have not seen nor heard sister of thine, O virgin—for
what shall I call thee? for, of a surety, neither is thy look as of a
mortal woman, nor yet thy voice. A goddess certainly thou art, sister
of Phœbus, or, haply, one of the nymphs. But whosoever thou art, look
favorably upon us and help us. Tell us in what land we be, for the winds
have driven us hither, and we know not aught of place or people.”
And Venus said, “Nay, stranger I am not such as ye think. We virgins
of Tyre are wont to carry a quiver and to wear a buskin of purple. For
indeed it is a Tyrian city that is hard by, though the land be Libya. And
of this city Dido is queen, having come hither from Tyre, flying from the
wrong-doing of her brother. And indeed the story of the thing is long,
but I will recount the chief matter thereof to thee. The husband of this
Dido was one Sichæus, richest among all the men of Phœnicia, and greatly
beloved of his wife. Now the brother of this Sichæus was Pygmalion, the
king of the country, and he exceeded all men in wickedness. And when
there arose a quarrel between them, the king, being exceedingly mad after
gold, took him unaware, even as he did sacrifice at the altar, and slew
him. And the king hid the matter many days from Dido, and cheated her
with false hopes. But at the last there came to her in her dreams the
likeness of the dead man, baring his wounds and showing the wickedness
which had been done. Also he bade her make haste and fly from that land,
and, that she might do this the more easily, told her of great treasure,
gold and silver, that was hidden in the earth. And Dido, being much moved
by these things, made ready for flight; also she sought for companions,
and there came together to her all as many as hated the king or feared
him. Then did they seize ships that chanced to be ready and laded them
with gold, even the treasure of King Pygmalion, and so fled across the
sea. And in all this was a woman the leader. Then came they to this
place, where thou seest the walls and citadel of Carthage, and bought so
much land as they could cover with a bull’s hide. And now do ye answer me
this, Whence come ye, and whither do ye go?”
Then answered Æneas, “Should I tell the whole story of our wanderings,
and thou have leisure to hear, evening would come ere I could make an
end. We are men of Troy, who, having journeyed over many seas, have now
been driven by storms to this shore of Libya. And as for me, men call
me Prince Æneas. The land I seek is Italy, and my race is from Jupiter
himself. With twenty ships did I set sail, going in the way whereof the
gods sent me. And of these scarce seven are left. And now, seeing that
Europe and Asia endure me not, I wander over the desert places of Africa.”
But Venus suffered him not to speak more, but said, “Whoever thou art,
stranger, that art come to this Tyrian city, thou art surely beloved by
the gods. And now go, show thyself to the queen. And as for thy ships and
thy companions, I tell thee that they are safe in the haven, if I have
not learnt augury in vain. See those twenty swans, how joyously they fly!
And now there cometh an eagle swooping down from the sky, putting them to
confusion, but now again they move in due order, and some are settling on
the earth and some are preparing to settle. Even so doth it fare with thy
ships, for either are they already in the haven or enter thereinto with
sails full set.”
And as she spake she turned away, and there shone a rosy light from her
neck, also there came from her hair a sweet savor as of ambrosia, and
her garments grew under her feet; and Æneas perceived that she was his
mother and cried aloud—
“O my mother, why dost thou mock me so often with false shows, nor
sufferest me to join my hand onto thy hand, and to speak with thee face
to face?”
And he went towards the walls of the city. But Venus covered him and his
companions with a mist, that no man might see them, or hinder them, or
inquire of their business, and then departed to Paphos, where was her
temple and also many altars of incense. Then the men hastened on their
way, and mounting a hill which hung over the city, marveled to behold it,
for indeed it was very great and noble, with mighty gates and streets,
and a multitude that walked therein. For some built the walls and the
citadel, rolling great stones with their hands, and others marked out
places for houses. Also they chose those that should give judgment and
bear rule in the city. Some, too, digged out harbors, and others laid the
foundations of a theatre, and cut out great pillars of stone. Like to
bees they were, when, the summer being newly come, the young swarms go
forth, or when they labor filling the cells with honey, and some receive
the burdens of those that return from the fields, and others keep off the
drones from the hive. Even so labored the men of Tyre. And when Æneas
beheld them he cried: “Happy ye, who even now have a city to dwell in!”
And being yet hidden by the mist, he went in at the gate and mingled with
the men, being seen of none.
Now, in the midst of the city was a wood, very thick with trees, and
here the men of Carthage, first come to the land from their voyage,
had digged out of the ground that which Juno had said should be a sign
to them, even a horse’s head; for that, finding this, their city would
be mighty in war, and full of riches. Here, then, Dido was building a
temple to Juno, very splendid, with threshold of bronze, and many steps
thereunto; of bronze also were the doorposts and the gates. And here
befell a thing which gave much comfort and courage to Æneas; for, as he
stood and regarded the place, waiting also for the queen, he saw set
forth in order upon the walls the battles that had been fought at Troy,
the sons of Atreus also, and King Priam, and fierce Achilles. Then said
he, not without tears, “Is there any land, O Achates, that is not filled
with our sorrows? Seest thou Priam? Yet withal there is a reward for
virtue here also, and tears and pity for the troubles of men. Fear not,
therefore. Surely the fame of these things shall profit us.”
Then he looked, satisfying his soul with the paintings on the walls. For
there was the city of Troy. In this part of the field the Greeks fled
and the youth of Troy pursued them, and in that the men of Troy fled,
and Achilles followed hard upon them in his chariot. Also he saw the
white tents of Rhesus, King of Thrace, whom the fierce Diomed slew in his
sleep, when he was newly come to Troy, and drave his horses to the camp
before they ate of the grass of the fields of Troy or drank the waters of
Xanthus. There also Troïlus was pictured, ill-matched in battle with the
great Achilles. His horses bare him along; but he lay on his back in the
chariot, yet holding the reins, and his neck and head were dragged upon
the earth, and the spear-point made a trail in the dust. And in another
place the women of Troy went suppliant-wise to the temple of Minerva,
bearing a great and beautiful robe, sad and beating their breasts, and
with hair unbound; but the goddess regarded them not. Also Achilles
dragged the body of Hector three times round the walls of Troy, and was
selling it for gold. And Æneas groaned when he saw the man whom he loved,
and the old man Priam reaching out helpless hands. Also he knew himself,
fighting in the midst of the Grecian chiefs; black Memnon also he knew,
and the hosts of the East; and Penthesilea leading the army of the
Amazons with shields shaped as the moon. Fierce she was to see, with one
breast bared for battle, and a golden girdle beneath it, a damsel daring
to fight with men.
QUEEN DIDO WELCOMES ÆNEAS
By Alfred J. Church
But while Æneas marvelled to see these things, lo! there came, with a
great throng of youths behind her, Dido, most beautiful of women, fair
as Diana, when, on the banks of Eurotas or on the hills of Cynthus, she
leads the dance with a thousand nymphs of the mountains about her. On
her shoulder she bears a quiver, and overtops them all, and her mother,
even Latona, silently rejoices to behold her. So fair and seemly to see
was Dido as she bare herself right nobly in the midst, being busy in the
work of her kingdom. Then she sat herself down on a lofty throne in the
gate of the temple, with many armed men about her. And she did justice
between man and man; also she divided the work of the city, sharing it
equally or parting it by lot.
Then of a sudden Æneas heard a great clamor, and saw a company of men
come quickly to the place, among whom were Antheus and Sergestus and
Cloanthus, and others of the men of Troy that had been parted from him in
the storm. Right glad was he to behold them, yet was not without fear;
and though he would fain have come forth and caught them by the hand, yet
did he tarry, waiting to hear how the men had fared, where they had left
their ships, and wherefore they were come.
Then Ilioneus, leave being now given that he should speak, thus began:
“O queen, whom Jupiter permits to build a new city in these lands, we
men of Troy, whom the winds have carried over many seas, pray thee that
thou save our ships from fire, and spare a people that serveth the gods.
For, indeed, we are not come to waste the dwellings of this land, or to
carry off spoils to our ships. For, of a truth, they who have suffered
so much think not of such deeds. There is a land which the Greeks call
Hesperia, but the people themselves Italy, after the name of their chief;
an ancient land, mighty in arms and fertile of corn. Hither we were
journeying, when a storm arising scattered our ships, and only these few
that thou seest escaped to the land. And can there be nation so savage
that it receiveth not shipwrecked men on its shore, but beareth arms
against them, and forbiddeth them to land? Nay, but if ye care not for
men, yet regard the gods, who forget neither them that do righteously nor
them that transgress. We had a king, Æneas, than whom there lived not a
man more dutiful to gods and men, and greater in war. If indeed he be yet
alive, then we fear not at all. For of a truth it will not repent thee to
have helped us. And if not, other friends have we, as Acestes of Sicily.
Grant us, therefore, to shelter our ships from the wind; also to fit them
with fresh timber from the woods, and to make ready oars for rowing, so
that, finding again our king and our companions, we may gain the land of
Italy. But if he be dead, and Ascanius his son lost also, then there is
a dwelling ready for us in the land of Sicily, with Acestes, who is our
friend.”
Then Dido, her eyes bent on the ground, thus spake: “Fear not, men of
Troy. If we have seemed to deal harshly with you, pardon us, seeing
that, being newly settled in this land, we must keep watch and ward over
our coasts. But as for the men of Troy, and their deeds in arms, who
knows them not? Think not that we in Carthage are so dull of heart, or
dwell so remote from man, that we are ignorant of these things. Whether,
therefore, ye will journey to Italy, or rather return to Sicily and
King Acestes, know that I will give you all help, and protect you; or,
if ye will, settle in this land of ours. Yours is this city which I am
building. I will make no difference between man of Troy and man of Tyre.
Would that your king also were here! Surely I will send those that seek
him in all parts of Libya, lest haply he should be gone astray in any
forest or strange city of the land.”
And when Æneas and Achates heard these things they were glad, and would
have come forth from the cloud, and Achates said, “What thinkest thou?
Lo, thy comrades are safe, saving him whom we saw with our own eyes
drowned in the waves; and all other things are according as thy mother
said.”
And even as he spake the cloud parted from about them, and Æneas stood
forth, very bright to behold, with face and breast as of a god, for
his mother had given to him hair beautiful to see, and cast about him
the purple light of youth, even as a workman sets ivory in some fair
ornament, or compasseth about silver or marble of Paros with gold. Then
spake he to the queen, “Lo! I am he whom ye seek, even Æneas of Troy,
scarcely saved from the waters of the sea. And as for thee, O queen,
seeing that thou only hast been found to pity the unspeakable sorrows
of Troy, and biddest us, though we be but poor exiles and lacking all
things, to share thy city and thy home, may the gods do so to thee as
thou deservest. And, of a truth, so long as the rivers run to the seas,
and the shadows fall on the hollows of the hills, so long will thy name
and thy glory survive, whatever be the land to which the gods shall
bring me.” Then gave he his right hand to Ilioneus, and his left hand to
Sergestus, and greeted them with great joy.
And Dido, hearing these things, was silent for a while, but at the last
she spake: “What ill fortune brings thee into perils so great? What
power drave thee to these savage shores? Well do I mind me how in days
gone by there came to Sidon one Teucer, who, having been banished from
his country, sought help from Belus that he might find a kingdom for
himself. And it chanced that in those days Belus, my father, had newly
conquered the land of Cyprus. From that day did I know the tale of Troy,
and thy name also, and the chiefs of Greece. Also I remember that Teucer
spake honorably of the men of Troy, saying that he was himself sprung of
the old Teucrian stock. Come ye, therefore, to my palace. I, too, have
wandered far, even as you, and so have come to this land, and having
suffered much have learnt to succor them that suffer.”
So saying she led Æneas into her palace; also she sent to his companions
in the ships great store of provisions, even twenty oxen and a hundred
bristly swine and a hundred ewe sheep with their lambs. But in the palace
a great feast was set forth, couches covered with broidered purple, and
silver vessels without end, and cups of gold, whereon were embossed the
mighty deeds of the men of old time.
And in the meantime Æneas sent Achates in haste to the ships, that he
might fetch Ascanius to the feast. Also he bade that the boy should
bring with him gifts of such things as they had saved from the ruins
of Troy, a mantle stiff with broidery of gold and a veil bordered with
yellow acanthus, which the fair Helen had taken with her, flying from her
home; but Leda, her mother, had given them to Helen; a scepter likewise
which Ilione, first-born of the daughters of Priam, had carried, and a
necklace of pearls and a double crown of jewels and gold.
But Venus was troubled in heart, fearing evil to her son should the men
of Tyre be treacherous, after their wont, and Juno remember her wrath.
Wherefore, taking counsel with herself, she called to the winged boy,
even Love, that was her son, and spake, “My son, who art all my power and
strength, who laughest at the thunders of Jupiter, thou knowest how Juno,
being exceedingly wroth against thy brother Æneas, causeth him to wander
out of the way over all lands. This day Dido hath him in her palace, and
speaketh him fair; but I fear me much how these things may end. Wherefore
hear thou that which I purpose. Thy brother hath even now sent for the
boy Ascanius, that he may come to the palace, bringing with him gifts of
such things as they saved from the ruins of Troy. Him will I cause to
fall into a deep sleep, and hide in Cythera or Idalium, and do thou for
one night take upon thee his likeness. And when Queen Dido at the feast
shall hold thee in her lap, and kiss and embrace thee, do thou breathe by
stealth thy fire into her heart.”
Then did Love as his mother bade him, and put off his wings, and took
upon him the shape of Ascanius, but on the boy Venus caused there to
fall a deep sleep, and carried him to the woods of Idalium, and lapped
him in sweet-smelling flowers. And in his stead Love carried the gifts
to the queen. And when he was come they sat down to the feast, the queen
being in the midst under a canopy. Æneas also and the men of Troy lay
on coverlets of purple, to whom serving-men brought water and bread in
baskets and napkins; and within fifty handmaids were ready to replenish
the store of victuals and to fan the fire; and a hundred others, with
pages as many, loaded the tables with dishes and drinking-cups. Many men
of Tyre also were bidden to the feast. Much they marvelled at the gifts
of Æneas, and much at the false Ascanius. Dido also could not satisfy
herself with looking on him, nor knew what trouble he was preparing for
her in the time to come. And he, having first embraced the father who
was not his father, and clung about his neck, addressed himself to Queen
Dido, and she ever followed him with her eyes, and sometimes would hold
him on her lap. And still he worked upon her that she should forget the
dead Sichæus and conceive a new love in her heart.