Part 5 (2/2)

CONINGTON, _AEneid_, BOOK V

As Pyrgo ceased speaking, Iris, a.s.suming her own form, mounted into the sky. Then the Trojan women, astonished at what they had seen, and excited almost to madness, cried out with a loud voice, and, seizing brands from the altars, they rushed to the s.h.i.+ps.

They shriek aloud; they s.n.a.t.c.h with impious hands The food of altars; firs and flaming brands, Green boughs and saplings, mingled in their haste, And smoking torches, on the s.h.i.+ps they cast.

DRYDEN, _AEneid_, BOOK V.

The s.h.i.+ps were now on fire and the alarm quickly reaching the men, they rushed to the sh.o.r.e and endeavored to subdue the flames, while the women already regretting their folly, fled in terror from the scene. But in spite of the efforts of the men the fire rapidly spread, and it seemed as if the entire Trojan fleet was doomed to destruction.

Then the pious AEneas, with upraised hands, prayed to Jupiter for help, and immediately there came a great rain-storm, and the water descended in torrents, until every spark was extinguished. Four of the s.h.i.+ps, however, were destroyed.

AEneas was much distressed by this misfortune, and he began to think that it might be better, even in disregard of the fates, and the prophecies, to remain in Sicily, than to make any further attempt to reach the promised Italian land. But one of his people, an old and a very wise man, named Nau'tes, strongly urged that the will of the G.o.ds ought to be obeyed. As to those who were weary of the enterprise--the aged, the feeble, and such of the women as were not willing to undergo further fatigues at sea-he advised that they should be left under the protection of Acestes, who, being himself of Trojan blood, would doubtless grant them a settlement in his kingdom.

”Your friend Acestes is of Trojan kind; To him disclose the secrets of your mind; Here you may build a common town for all, And, from Acestes' name, Acesta call.”

DRYDEN, _AEneid_, BOOK V.

While AEneas was still in doubt what course to pursue, his father appeared to him in a dream and bade him do as Nautes had advised.

Acestes willingly consented, and so a Trojan colony was formed in Sicily, and AEneas marked out with a plow the boundaries of the new city, which he called after the king's name. Soon afterwards preparations for departure were made, and AEneas set sail, accompanied by all of his people who were still willing to follow his fortunes, and strong enough to endure further toils and hards.h.i.+ps.

They had a safe voyage to Italy, for Venus had entreated Neptune to protect her son and his fleet.

The G.o.d of the ocean was favorable, and he promised to take care that the Trojans should reach their destination in safety. But there was to be one exception. ”One life,” he said, ”shall be given for many.” The victim was the famous pilot Palinurus, and the poet tells us that his fate was brought about by the action of Som'nus, the G.o.d of sleep.

This G.o.d taking upon himself the likeness of Phor'bas, one of the sons of Priam, who was killed during the Trojan war, appeared to Palinurus during one of the watches of the night, and tried to persuade him to lie down and sleep, while he himself would stand at the helm and steer the s.h.i.+p. But Palinurus refused to quit his post. Then the treacherous G.o.d waved before his eyes a branch that had been dipped in the Stygian Le'the, the fabled river of forgetfulness, and soon the pilot dropped off into a deep slumber, during which Somnus leaning heavily upon him, plunged him headlong into the waves.

AEneas was deeply grieved at the loss of his faithful pilot. He himself took charge of the s.h.i.+p, and the whole fleet, secure under the protection of Neptune, reached the Italian coast without further mishap.

V. THE SIBYL OF c.u.mAE--THE GOLDEN BOUGH--IN THE REGIONS OF THE DEAD.

AEneas was now in Italy, but not in the part of it where the destined city was to be founded. The prophet, Helenus, as we have seen, had directed him that when he reached the Hesperian land he should visit the Cu-mae'an Sibyl, and learn from her what difficulties he was yet to encounter, and how to overcome them. c.u.mae, where the Sibyl dwelt, was on the coast of Cam-pa'ni-a, and to this place, therefore, AEneas directed his course after leaving Sicily. Having safely landed, the hero lost no time in making his way to the temple of Apollo, for in a cave adjoining this temple and communicating with it by a hundred doors and as many avenues or corridors, the Sibyl gave her answers.

There were many sibyls in ancient times. The most celebrated was the Sibyl of c.u.mae. She had several names, but the one adopted by Vergil is De-iph'o-be. Apollo once fell in love with this Sibyl and he promised to give her whatever she should ask if she would marry him.

Deiphobe asked to live as many years as she had grains of sand in her hand at the time. She forgot, however, to ask for the continuance of health and youth, of which she was then in possession. Apollo granted her request but she refused to perform her part of the bargain, and soon afterwards she became aged and feeble. She had already lived seven hundred years when AEneas came into Italy, and she had three centuries more to live before her years would be as numerous as the grains of sand which she had held in her hand.

As AEneas with several of his companions approached the cave, they were met at the outer entrance by the Sibyl herself. Then the Trojan hero, after a prayer to Apollo, begged the good will of the prophetess that her answers might be favorable to him and his people.

”And thou, O sacred maid, inspired to see The event of things in dark futurity!

Give me, what heaven has promised to my fate, To conquer and command the Latian state; To fix my wandering G.o.ds, and find a place For the long exiles of the Trojan race.”

DRYDEN, _AEneid_, BOOK VI.

Nor did AEneas forget to beg the Sibyl, as Helenus had directed him, to give her revelations by word of mouth, and not on leaves of trees, as was her custom.

”But, oh! commit not thy prophetic mind To flitting leaves, the sport of every wind, Lest they disperse in air our empty fate; Write not, but, what the powers ordain, relate.”

DRYDEN, _AEneid_, BOOK VI.

The Sibyl graciously consented, and then the spirit of prophecy having moved her, she told AEneas of the dangers that yet lay before him, dangers far more formidable than any he had hitherto encountered.

”Escaped the dangers of the watery reign, Yet more and greater ills by land remain.

The coast so long desired (nor doubt the event), Thy troops shall reach, but, having reached, repent.

Wars! horrid wars, I view!--a field of blood, And Tiber rolling with a purple flood.”

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