Part 9 (1/2)
”My sons! (said Vulcan), set your tasks aside; Your strength and master skill must now be tried.
Arms for a hero forge--arms that require Your force, your speed, and all your forming fire.”
DRYDEN, _AEneid_, BOOK VIII.
Instantly the Cyclops set to work on their new task, and very soon rivulets of molten gold and copper and iron were flowing in flaming furnaces. A splendid s.h.i.+eld was made, which was a sufficient defense in itself against all the weapons of King Turnus. Other things necessary for war were also put in shape, and so the work of forging arms for the Trojan hero was vigorously prosecuted.
Meantime AEneas himself, after his night's repose in the palace of Evander, was talking with the king and his son on the business which had brought him to Pallanteum. The good will of Evander was greater than his means, for his country was small, and on one side of it was the territory of his enemies, the Rutulians. He was not able, therefore, to do much for AEneas, but he knew where ample aid could be obtained. ”In the neighboring state of Etruria, and not far from this spot,” said he, ”stands the ancient city of Agylla, founded by a nation ill.u.s.trious in war--Mezentius was recently its king, a cruel and wicked man. The people, indignant at his crimes, took up arms against him and set fire to his palace. He himself fled for protection to King Turnus, with whom he now is. The Etrurians therefore have resolved to make war upon Turnus, and their s.h.i.+ps and men are already a.s.sembled. You, AEneas, must be the leader of these people, for a soothsayer has told them that no native of Italy is destined to subdue the Rutulians, and that they must choose a foreigner to be their commander in the war. They have invited me to lead them, but I am too old to undertake such a task. I would have sent them my son, but being born of an Italian mother, he is of the people of this land.
You, however, gallant leader of the Trojans, being in the prime of life, and of foreign race, are destined by the G.o.ds for this work. My son Pallas too shall take part in the expedition, and I will give him two hundred hors.e.m.e.n, and as many more he shall add in his own name.”
Evander had scarcely ceased speaking when lightning flashed through the heavens and peals of thunder were heard and sounds as of trumpets blaring, and then across the sky were seen arms blazing brilliantly as the sun--arms such as heroes bore in battle, and they clashed with a loud resounding noise.
Gazing up, repeated peals they hear; And, in a heaven serene, refulgent arms appear Reddening the skies, and glittering all around, The tempered metals clash, and yield a silver sound.
DRYDEN, _AEneid_, BOOK VIII.
AEneas understood this marvelous apparition, and he explained it to his astonished companions as a call to him from heaven. His divine mother, he said, had told him that she would send that sign, and that she would bring him arms made by Vulcan. Then he offered the usual sacrifices to the G.o.ds, after which he went to his s.h.i.+ps, and chose from his followers some to accompany him to Agylla, directing the others to return to the camp at Laurentum, and inform Iulus of the progress of their affairs at Pallanteum. Preparations for departure were now made. Evander gave AEneas horses for himself and his companions, and when all was ready, the king affectionately embraced his son, and bade him a tender farewell, praying to the G.o.ds that he might live to see him come back in safety.
The Trojan chief and his warriors, among whom were the faithful Achates and Pallas at the head of his four hundred hors.e.m.e.n, then set forth from the city, amid the acclamations of the people. They soon came within sight of the camp of the Etrurians, who, under the command of one of their chiefs named Tarchon, had pitched their tents on a wide plain not many miles from Pallanteum.
But before joining his new allies, AEneas had a meeting with his G.o.ddess mother. Down from the clouds she came, beautiful as the sun, bearing with her the arms that Vulcan had made, and seeing her son alone on the bank of a small stream, in a secluded vale, to which he had retired for a brief rest, she presented herself before him. At his feet she placed the gifts she had promised, telling him that now he might not fear to meet his foes in battle.
”Behold! (she said) performed in every part, My promise made, and Vulcan's labored art.
Now seek, secure, the Latian enemy.
And haughty Turnus to the field defy.”
DRYDEN, _AEneid_, BOOK VIII.
Beautiful arms and armor they were, such as could be designed and fas.h.i.+oned only by a G.o.d--a sword and a spear, and a helmet with a blazing crest, and a breastplate of flaming bronze, and greaves of gold and electrum. But most wonderful of all was the s.h.i.+eld, upon which were depicted the glories and triumphs in later ages of the mighty men of Rome, the descendants of Iulus, for Vulcan, being a G.o.d, had the gift of seeing into futurity.
There, embossed, the heavenly smith had wrought (Not in the rolls of future fate untaught) The wars in order; and the race divine Of warriors issuing from the Julian line.
DRYDEN, _AEneid_, BOOK VIII.
[Ill.u.s.tration: AENEAS WITH HIS WONDERFUL ARMOR. (Drawn by Varian.)]
Vergil's description of this prophetic s.h.i.+eld occupies the concluding portion of the eighth book of the AEneid. It is a summary of notable events in the history of Rome from the time of Romulus, who founded the city, to the time of the Emperor Augustus. The achievements of Augustus are particularly dwelt on, for he was the friend and patron of the poet, and Vergil, therefore, gave special prominence to the part taken by him in the extension of the great empire. At the famous sea-battle of Ac'ti-um (B.C. 31) near the promontory of Leu-ca'te in Greece, Augustus, aided by A-grip'pa, defeated the forces of Antony and the celebrated Egyptian Queen Cle-o-pa'tra, and this victory made him master of the Roman world. On the s.h.i.+eld of AEneas the fight at Actium was shown on a sea of molten gold, in the midst of which were represented the fleets of s.h.i.+ps with their brazen prows.
Betwixt the quarters, flows a golden sea; But foaming surges there in silver play.
The dancing dolphins with their tails divide The glittering waves, and cut the precious tide.
Amid the main, two mighty fleets engage; Their brazen beaks opposed with equal rage, Actium surveys the well-disputed prize; Leucate's watery plain with foamy billows fries.
Young Caesar, on the stern in armor bright, Here leads the Romans and their G.o.ds to fight; Agrippa seconds him, with prosperous gales, And, with propitious G.o.ds, his foes a.s.sails.
A naval crown, that binds his manly brows, The happy fortune of the fight foreshows.
DRYDEN, _AEneid_, BOOK VIII.
On another part of the s.h.i.+eld were shown scenes of the Emperor's three days' Triumph in Rome after his great conquest--the procession of vanquished nations, the games and the sacrifices to the G.o.ds, and Augustus himself seated on a throne in front of the temple of Apollo.
The victor to the G.o.ds his thanks expressed; And Rome triumphant with his presence blessed.
Three hundred temples in the town he placed; With spoils and altars every temple graced.
Three s.h.i.+ning nights and three succeeding days, The fields resound with shouts, the streets with praise.
Great Caesar sits sublime upon his throne, Before Apollo's porch of Parian stone; Accepts the presents vowed for victory; And hangs the monumental crowns on high.