An essay upon two of Virgil's Eclogues and two books of his Æneis (if this be not enough) towards the translation of the whole / by James Harrington.

AN ESSAY Vpon two of VIRGIL'S ECLOGUES , AND TWO BOOK'S OF HIS AENEIS ( If this be not enough ) Towards the Translation of the whole .

BY JAMES HARRINGTON .

Ce ne sont pas nos folies qui me font rire , Ce sont nos sagesses . — Montaigne .

London , Printed by T. C. for Thomas Brewster 〈◊〉 the sign of the three Bibles at the west end of Pauls , 1658.

Epistle to the READER .

I Have reason'd to as much purpose as if I had rimed , and now I think shall rime to as much purpose as if I had reason'd . All 's one , a man that hath nothing to entertain himself withal but a pen , must be contented as others be , or should be with their estates , whether narrow or plentiful . Be a mans estate as narrow as it will , his natural necessities require of the earth variety of fruits ; much more doth his delight that hath a garden , that it should produce him variety of flowers . A mans study , unless it be Law or Theology , which commonly is his bread , is his garden , in which he may affirm a rose or a violet to be the best flower , and yet be unwilling it should not be furnished with greater variety . Indeed not Nature only , but her Maker is apparently delighted with variety ; his plantations of heaven and earth are not indued or sowed with one , but divers influences , or seeds , and his nearer resemblance the soul of man is impregnated with divers faculties . The heavens and the earth have their seasons to play with flowers as well as to work at harvest : and the soul of man is as well indued with phansie as with reason when memory : the harvest of reason when she is predominate , is natural Theology or Phylosophy , that of memory ; story , and prudence : Phansie of her self ( that is where the other two do not check but ohey her ) produceth but a flower , which is Poetry . Others have gone farther about for the vindication of this Art , not ( I think ) to come the nearest way home ; seeing by thus much it is clear enough that Poetry is not the wine of Divels , but a sprightly liquor infused into the soul by God himself . It is true the Divel may stumb it , but so he may reason or memory , which in this case become so much the more deadly draughts , as fraud is more poisonous then fiction , or revenge and malice then wantonness . To these arguments from reason I might add experience , exemplifi'd in the greatest masters of the gravest Arts , as Moses , Lycurgus , and Machiavil , all sufficiently known to have exercised and delighted themselves with Poetry . I would willingly walk in my study with this horse of the Muses in my hand , and sometimes mount for my recreation , that is , if I may be allow'd any thing a good seat , and not ruin'd with the Ladies . The career I have chosen , is that where the ring was never yet taken nor touched , so that at worst I shall but fail with the best companie . In which opinion I am so confident that I am thought pleasant .

Ah me . THe man 's unblest in time or season That neither thrives by rime nor reason . Reason hath been a sword of might . And rime hath been a forked dart . Reason could have subdu'd Sir Knight . And rime have reach'd a Ladies heart . In me alone a rime or reason Must either be a crime or treason .

Courage . WHo writes doth launch a ship , that should not pray For calms , but winds to make her streamers play : For live she never shall , except the weather To set upon her can but wag her feather .

ECLOGUES OR , PASTORALS .

Argument .

THe occasion of writing this Eclogue and the next was this , When after the death of Julius Caesar , slain in the Senate , Augustus his son , by a war against them that slew him , and against Anthony , had obtained the victory of them all , he divided the lands of the inhabitants of Cremona among his souldiers , meerly because they had quarterd his enemies , whom they were not able to resist , and the lands of Cremona not sufficing for this use , he also divided those of Mantua after the same manner , for no other reason then that Mantua was neerest Cremona . Virgil being an inhabitant of Mantua , and coming by this means to lose his patrimony , repaired unto Rome , and there by the favour of the great ones , obtained such particular respect , that he alone continu'd his ancient possession ; which nevertheless was siezed by Arius the Centurion , who took it so ill to be removed , that if Virgil had not escaped his fury by plunging himself into the river Mincius , the Centurion had kill'd him . In this Eclogue the Poet represents himself by Tityrus , by Melibeus the miserable condition of those of Mantua : Which City he coucheth under the name of Galatea ; under that of Amarillis , Rome ; by the god he celebrateth , he means Augustus Caesar .

FIRST ECLOGUE Melibus . Tityrus . Thou in the shadow of a spreading beech Dost lie along blest Tityrus , and teach The woods to eccho Amarillis fair : While we , enforc'd to change our native air , Give up the vital breath of our sweet fields . Tityrus . O Melibeus , 't is a god that yields Our Muse this leisure : many a tender lamb Out of our fold shall feed his holy flame . By him my cattel wander as thou seest , By him my rural pipe plays what she list . Melibeus . In truth I do not envy , but admire What it should be for which throughout the shire They take away our lands ! Ah do but see How sick I drive my goats along with me : And look you Tityrus , alas there 's one Can hardly go ; but now she ye and upon The naked flint in yonder hazels , where She left her twins , and all my hopes this year . This when our oaks ( if we had minded ) from The skies were toucht , was sure enough to come . This mischief many times I heard full well Th' unhappy crow from hollow elms foretel . But Tityrus what is this god of yours ? Tityrus . I thought that Rome was such a town as ours , Fool as I was , and that they us'd to keep Their flocks as we do here , and tended sheep : So Melibeus I compar'd the lambs Unto the Ews , the kids unto their dams . But she among the Cities over-tops , As doth the Cypress in a Myrtle cops . Melibeus . And what good Tityrus made you at Rome ? Tityrus . Why truly when I saw the souldiers come , And here misuse us so ; though late it were , And that it snow'd if I but clipt my hair , I thought upon it and began to see What kind of thing it was call'd Liberty . This lost while I with Galatea griev'd , Changing for Amarillis I retriev'd : While th' other held me , I could neither spy An hope of fredome nor propriety : Though I the best of all my flock to this Had sacrific'd , and sent my fattest cheese Without return to the ungrateful town . Melibeus . I marl'd why Amarillis made such moan , It was for thee : I wonder'd on whose pine She 'd let the apples hang , it was on thine . While Tityrus with Amarillis kept , The fountains mourn'd , his Galatea wept . She fil'd the meddows with her slighted loves , And broke the silence of resounding groves . Tityrus . What could I do ? no other means I saw My servitude to shun , nor could I draw So neer the gods another way . Mine eyes Here found the power to whom I sacrifice : Here first mine ears receiv'd his Oracles . Shepherd go feed thy flock , and yoak thy bulls . Melibeus . Happy old man ! for this to thee , thy land Remains for ever at thy blest command ! And though some part with sedge , and some with ling Be overgrown , it is a goodly thing . Thy calves in kindly pastures shall be rear'd , Nor get the murrain of a forreign herd . Happy old man ! here by thy native brooks , In shady valleys shalt thou hear the rooks . The Bee shall buz with her Hyblean lays Soft sleep into thine eyes from blooming sprays . To thee shall warble the melodious rocks , While woodmen cut their browse , or hew their blocks : The groans of Turtles from the airy trees , The murmur of Quist shall joyn with these . Tityrus . Wherefore the sea shall drive his scaly shoales Into the woods , the stag shall browse the poles , The Parthian shall drink of Arar first , And rapid Tigris quench the German thirst , Ere I forget his favour or this grace . Melibeus . But we must flit unto some other place , Be on the torride zone , or frozen hurld , Or British shores divided from the world . O might I see but after many years My house of turfe , my field with yellow ears . But this the impious souldier must possess , This corn the barbarous ! Ah blessed peace ! See Citizens what discord sows , and who Must reap ! Be sure you graft your apples now And dress your vineyards . Hence no more shall I By the green arms of trees protected lie And see you far away , once happy flocks , Brouzing the shrubs and hanging on the rocks : Nor while you nibble shall I pipe your notes Sweet as your three leav'd grass . Farewel my Goats . Tityrus . Yet Melibeus since the shadows now Are at their length , and smoaking chimneys show 'T is late ; you may remain with us this night . Ripe chesnuts , mellow apples shall delight Your palate , we have cheese enough i th' house , And you shall lie upon a bed of boughs .

Argument .

BY Meris in this Eclogue , is to be understood Virgils Shepherd or Baylif , who carries a preseot of kids to mollifie the Centurion Arius ; by Menalcas is meant Virgil himself , some of whose verses Meris is woed by Lycidas to repeat .

NINTH ECLOGUE . Lycidas . Meris . Whither away good Meris , to the town ? Meris . O Lycidas , the like was never known ! We live to see a guest come in a doors And say , my friends , this house , these fields are ours , I pray depart ! Nay , and for this ( because Fortune will have obedience to her laws ) Must I these kids unto his worship bear . But shall not say much good may do you Sir . Lycidas . There was a speech me thinks that since among The gallant Courtiers your Menalcas sung , They left him all his goodly fields that reach Down from the hills to the bald-pated beech . Meris . Why so they talk'd indeed ; but songs and loves Are unto souldiers as to eagles doves . Neither your Meris nor Menalcas now Had been alive , had the auspicious crow Out of her hollow roost not stood my friend , And warn'd me that I should no more contend . Lycidas . Is there such wickedness ! in thee alone Menalcas all our melody had gone . Who should have sung the Nymphs ? Our springs with bowers , Have clouded or have star'd our fields with flowers ? Who ere made verse like that I stole from thee When thou to Amarillis stolst from me ! Feed Tityrus , the flock , till I return , I go not far , and drive 'em to the bourn , But driving make me not more haste then speed , The Goat is parlous with the horn , take heed . Mhris . What then were those to Varus , set by yours ; Varus thy name ( if Mantua be ours , Mantua whose guilt is that she is too neer Cremona ) swans unto the skies shall bear . Lycidas . As thou dost hope thy swarm shall scape the Ew , Or that the honeysuckle shall indue The strutting udders of thy Cows , begin If thou hast any more , for I am in : Me have the sisters made a poet too , And this our swains throughout the fields avow ; But I believe them not ; such strains as these To Varus or the Muses swans were geese . Meris . I am upon it , and if I can bring It well to mind , a noble air shall sing . Come fairest Galatea , come away . What sport is there for me where Delphins play ? The purple spring here scatters , on the shores Of creeping rivlets , his delitious stores . The poplar with the vine hath joyning made Vs party colourd bowers and cooling shade . Come lovely sea nymph from the furrowd deep , And let the shores thy flock of billows keep . Lycidas . Now that at which the sky grew clear as curds Last night ; I have the tune , what are the words ? Meris . Why hee dst thou Dapnis antiquated signs ? Behold the star of heav'n born Caesar shines , Whose Mounth bestows upon the gods of bread And wine , the ruby crown and golden head . Engraft thine apples Daphnis and thy pears , The harvest shall descend upon thine heirs . You should have more , but all is gone with time : I could have brought the Sun to bed in rime : Now me my verses and my voice forsake ; The wolf hath seen me first . But this way make You merry till Menalcas come and feast Us on our floury carpets with the rest . Lycidas . Ah thou by these hast but my flame increast . The air to hearken has his murmur ceast . The silent wave his roughness at thy feet Hath laid as smooth as glass . That we are yet But half our way Bianors tomb now shows ; Here where the shepherds cut him verdant boughs Here Meris let us sing , thy kids here lay , We shall be time enough at Mantua . Or if the moist surprize of night we fear , Sing as we go , and I the kids will bear . Meris . Good Lycidas be said ; if first we bring Our work about , we shall have time to sing .

A Note upon the fore-going Eclogues .

THat the Roman Empire was never founded upon a sufficient ballance of absolute Monarchy , is very true ; but not truer then that this was the cause of that impotency and misery in the same , which oppressed both Prince and People . Wherefore ( because the error is popular ) I shall take this opportunity to propose unto such as place the ballance or foundation of the Roman Empire in a matter of eight or ten thousand Praetorians , a few Quaeries .

1. Whether Tarquine made not such havock of the Roman Nobility , as left the advantage of the ballance of Dominion ten for one in the people ? And whether this did not inevitably tend unto the generation of the Commonwealth ?

2. Whether the Nobility when they overcame , under Sylla , held not the advantage of the ballance ten for one against the people ? And whether this did not inevitably tend unto the generation of Monarchy ?

3. Whether Sylla did not plant forry seven Legions , or one hundred and twenty thousand Veteranes in Italy upon Lands taken in the war ? Whether this president were not followed by the Triumvirs first , then by Augustus Caesar , as in these Eclogues ? and whether this were not the ballance of the Roman Monarchy ?

4. Whether such Lands confer'd upon the Souldery came not to be called benefices , and the incumbents beneficiaries ? and whether the policy of the Turkish Timars ( a word of the same signification ) be not hence derived ?

5. Whether Alexander Severus were not the first that granted such benefices unto the next heirs of the incumbents , but upon condition they should continue to serve the Emperor in war as formerly , otherwise not ?

6. Whether Constantine the Great were not the first that made these benefices ( held hitherto for life only ) hereditary .

7. Whether the ballance being thus ruined , the Roman Empire subsisted otherwise then by stipendiating strangers or mercenaries , as the Goths and Vandals ?

8. Whether this were not the means by which the Goths and Vandals came to ruine the Roman Empire ?

9. Whether the Goths and Vandals having ruined the Roman Empire , did not by their policy place the over ballance of Dominion in their Nobility ? and whether this were not the original of government by King , Lords , and Commons , throughout Christendom ?

The doctrine of the ballance not sufficiently discover'd or heeded by ancient Historians and Polititians , is the cause why their writings are more dark , and their judgement less steddy or clear in the principles of Government then otherwise they would have been ; nevertheless , he who not studying Partys , shall rightly answer these Quaeries out of story , must strike the inevitable light of this truth out of Nature ; which once masterd , the whole mystery of Government rightly instituted , or to be rightly instituted , becometh as demonstrable and certain , or as obvious and facile , even to vulgar apprehensions , as the meanest of vulgar Arts.

On the Political Ballance . NAture is that preserv'd which God began : The soul of Empire and the soul of man ( Though each of Heav'n be the diviner seed ) Bodies by various temper shape and feed . Where elements are strong , or where they faint , 'T is life or death , be thou or wretch or Saint : Who other steps through blind ambition trod Invaded not the throne of Man but * * As when the Ballance was Popular . 1 Sam. 8.7 . When Monarchial . Jer. 27.9 , 10 , 11. God .

VIRGIL'S AENEIS . The first Book . I , He of late that on the slender oate , Sat piping to the fields an humble note ; Then passing through the woods , indu'd the plains With vow'd allegiance though to griple swains ; A work with these already in the van : Now sing the horrid arms of Mars , the man Whose wandring fate from ruin'd a Troy . Ilium bore His painful course for the b Italy . Lavinian shore . Much was he tossed both at sea and land By Juno's wrath , and that celestial band Of powr's , which in her quarrel she engag'd : And much he suffer'd in the wars he wag'd , Ere he could seat his deities , or found The mother City on Italian ground ; From whence our Latine predecessors come , Our Albane fathers , and our haughty Rome . O Muse record the cause , what had there been To animate the gods or grieve their Queen , That she with such a world of woe should wound The man for piety so much renown'd ? Can passion set ev'n souls in heaven on fire ! Carthage , an ancient City sprung from Tyre , Once for her wealth and martial arts in vogue , Against the yellow shores that disimbogue Rough Tyber , stood to Italy oppos'd ; Juno's delight , the circle that enclos'd Her heart beyond her Samos ; to this plot ( Where hung her arms , where stood her chariot ) Could she the fatal Sisters have enclin'd , The Empire of the world had been design'd . But they had told there should descend from Troy A race that must the Tyrian line destroy , A soveraign people that the head sublime Of Empire , should on ruin'd Carthage climbe . The goddess gald with this , her antient fewd Revolves , by growing injuries renewd : The honours done to ravish'd Ganimed , Who of the hated blood of Troy was bred ; Her beauty foyld and blasted by the foul Repulse of Paris , dwell in her deep soul . For these the reliques of the Grecian ire Some years she wrenchd with seas & bleach'd with fire ; Jealous of Italy as of her Jove , The wandring Trojan from his harbour drove , While every element obey'd her doom . So vast a work it was to raise up Rome ! The Trojan fleet at plough with brazen prows , The sight of Sicily no sooner loose , Then Juno feeding her eternal wound , Thus with her self . Must then the Fates confound My enterprizes ? Yes , they shall convince Me with their saw , and with their Dardan Prince . Minerva , when unto her c Cassandra . Prophetess Oilus offer'd force , could go no less Then thunder : for the fault of one , her hand By Jove's good favour , flourisht with his brand , Sunk an whole Navy , i th' Aegaean straights Of Grecians , of my confederates , With whirlewinds took the guilty lover , stuck Him , gasping flame , upon a pointed rock ! But I the Queen of heaven , from age to age , With half a foe , a fruitless war must wage , Nay , still be worsted , who will bend a knee , Or pay a grain of incense more to me ? Thus fanning hidden fire , she took her way Into the land of storms , Aeolia . Here Aeolus , while in his mighty cave , The hollow winds , and sounding tempests rave , Upon a lofty tower enthroned bears A scepter awful to the mutineers ; Who yet with murmur for enlargement seek , In labour to be born at every creek : And should the marble womb afford them birth , Would lave the sea , and mingle heaven and earth . But Jove , a people that so high are flown , As with their liberty to shake his throne Observing , hurl'd upon their necks the rocks That bow their fury to eternal yoaks ; Gave them a King that curbs the giddy race With brazen chains , and with an iron mace . To him lamenting Juno speaks her mind , Prince of the rocks and ayries of the wind , Behold the Tyrrhene seas are cover'd o're With canvas that to me will never lore ; My enemy , in my despite , is bound To plant his colours on Italian ground : Unhood thy falcons , slip their leases , throw Thy haggards off to tyre upon my foe . For this , De ●ope , the blackest ey'd , The fairest Nymph I have shall be thy bride , And live a constant mark of gratitude , In lovely copies of thy self renew'd . Madam ( said Aeolus ) when we but know Your pleasure , 't is obedience we ow , Who at the table of the gods have place , And hold our pregnant Empire of your grace . Then turning with his javelin gave a stroak That fruitfully disclos'd the teeming rock . The winged furies from the bottome sweep The sea , and to the mountains roll the deep . The chariot of the poles is over driven , The axel catches fire in groaning heaven . Untimely night is hatch'd by brooding clouds That sit the sea . The noise of tearing shrouds Is answer'd by the shreeks of men beneath , To whom each object threatens present death . Ah ( says Aeneas ) you that chanc'd to fall While Troy was yet invested with her wall , On which your wives or aged parents stood , And saw your valour sacrifice your blood Unto your Countrey , souls for ever blest ! How oft have I desir'd your envi'd rest ! Thus Hector with Achilles parted well . Thus great Sarpedon by Patroclus fell . Why Diomedes could I not from you Obtain the favour every whit as due , Where Simois so many shields and helms And dearer spoils of Heroes overwhelms ? But these , to other sighs , to other brine That tear his sails , and snap his oars , resign . A billow charges like a falling rock , The prow declines , the deck receives the shock . Some bottomes sound and raise the sand below , While others foam on liquid Alps in snow . Three on the shelves ( they call the altars ) stick , And other three are stranded in a quick , Orontes Captain of the Lycian keel , Engag'd in broken seas that meeting wheel , Is swallow'd by the gulph . What Troy could save From fire , is now for plunder to the wave . The Ilion , Abbas , the Achates , all , How snug , how tite soever , or how tall , Are drunken with the tipple of their leaks , And stagger unto death with giddy decks . Neptune by this who felt the lower sound Remove , in great commotion gave a bound Which from the deep above the raging flood Advanc'd his calmy head . Intent he stood Upon the ruine scatter'd round about , Perceives it Trojan and is out of doubt ; He 's no such stranger to his sister Queen But Juno through her cloud is eas'ly seen . At which he hales the winds , and rates 'em . Whence ? Sons of the Gyants , this your confidence ! From your high birth forsooth ! that ere your leisure Could give you leave to know our will and pleasure , You dare to jumble heaven and earth together ! Whom we — But better 't is to calm the weather . Be gone , and tell your King what he forgot , The azure crown and trident are our lot , He must not lord it here , he may do so Upon your conyburies Puff-cheeks , go . His words restore the day : the ships are wrench'd Out of the shelves and quicks , their jaws unclench'd By Triton joyning with Cymothoe ; While Neptune in his chariot rolls the sea . As when some mighty City bursteth out Into sedition , the ignoble rout Assault the Palaces , usurp the street With stones , or brands , or any thing they meet ; ( For furies armoury is everywhere ) But if a man of gravity appear , Whose worth they own , whose piety they know , Are mute , are planted in the place , and grow Unto his lips that smooth , that melt their souls : So hush the waves where Neptune's chariot rolls . The Trojans leaky , spent and shatter'd , stand Now for the next which was the Lybian Land . A bosome in the yielding border lay The safe retreat unto a calmy bay , Which , seaward by an Isle is fortifi'd That drives the foamy croud with either side On rocks which threaten heaven and aw the deep ; By these the weary billows steal to sleep . The one whose airy brows are over-grown , Under the shadow of his oaken crown , Receives the stranger , and presents his sight With vari'd scenes of wonder and delight . I' th other hangs a cave , the dear resort Of Nymphs that revel in the marble Court ; Where lavish springs in silver eddys run , And seats are offer'd by the living stone . The ships that here arrive ensure themselves , Nor need their crooked teeth to bite the shelves . Seven gallies with the Prince of all his store Disbarque , enamour'd of the wished shore . The sea-sick stooping kiss the flowry vest Of mother earth and lay their bones to rest . Achates ploughs with flint and sows the seed Of flame which wither'd leaves and branches feed . Some bring the mils and some the soaken wheat : They yet have better appetites then meat . Aeneas fullest of his wanted men ( To see if there were any hope in ken ) Had climb'd a rock , upon whose deck he stood As much as ever tossed by the flood , While he can neither a dismantled stern , Nor canvas crest throughout the coast discern . In grief descending from the helpless crags , He casts his eye upon an herd of stags At forrage in the valley , where they fed In file with three commanders at the head : His bow and feather'd reeds he takes , to these The fairest standards stoop like falling trees ; At which in vain the vulgar take the rout By his unerring hand pursued throughout The rusling woods , till he have equalled Unto his ships the number of the dead . These , with the wine that good Acestes stowd Into the hould at the Sicilian road ; He destributes unto his fainting troops , With words that re-inspire the soul that droops . Companions says he , too well you know We are not learning what belongs to wo , But must forget the dolours we out-live To doubt if God an end to these can give . Unto the teeth of the Nereian wolf , Or to the swallow of her sister Gulph , The forge of Aetna , or her Smiths , what may We reckon that we have escap'd to day ? If pleasure past be but as treasure lost , Then pains when they are past may quit the cost . Through all varieties that can oppose , Each element conspiring with our foes , We make our way , and at an easie rate When we compute the promises of Fate ; For if we thus redeem the Trojan wall , It stood us yet in more to see it fall . Reserve your selves for better . Thus he said With smiling lips , but with an heart that bled . The Deer are broken up , some strip the side , And others with their glittering skeans divide The bleeding quarry into chops yet hot , That tremble on the spit or warm the pot , The iron helmet and the brazen shield Are pots and pans that stew the smoaky field : Till on the grass they wallow , where at length Fat venison and old wine retreive their strength . Hunger appeas'd but wakes another pain ; Gyas and Amycus are call'd in vain : What of Cloanth , of Lycus is become ? And of Orontes , ah the cruel doom ! Aeneas of the mourners still is chief And with a never discontinu'd grief . Jove on the brow of heaven a pause now made , The poised earth and sail-wing'd sea survey'd , On mortals and their frail affairs intent ; When Venus full of tears , as he is bent Point blank upon the Lybian realms and seas , Invades the thundrer with such moans as these . Director of the gods and men , you see What of my Trojans is become and me . How have they sin'd , that still their punishments Are but renew'd , while all the world consents . To hold em off , against your will combin'd ? Or how is it that you have chang'd your mind ? Sure you have made it known to be your doom , That Italy by Troy should bear great Rome . With this I sollac'd my afflicted state When she was ruin'd , poising fate with fate : Yet cruel fortune , at our charge indu'd With constancy , pursues her antient few'd . Antenor through the Greek could find a way A passage through the Gulph of Adria . Cross the Lyburnian territory safe , Subdue the furious torrent of Timave , That bursting from a mountain in nine streams , Ploughs the fat valley with his foamy teams , And there erect his Padua , where at ease He bears the Trojan arms impal'd with peace . Why then should some , whose ways you needs must see , Have less regard to us your progeny , While we are in our lawful voyage crost , Tatter'd and torn , and hung on every coast ? Is this the throne , the scepter you inten'd ? Who will be pious if this be the end ? Jove , with the smiles that clear the weather , dips His coral in the Nectar of her lips , And thus replies . My Cytherea fair , Discharge these moving pillows of their care . What we engage we never shall decline , Firm as our Atlas stand the fates of thine . Thy promis'd City shall put forth her towres , And spring the neerest neighbour unto ours ; 'T is thus upon the roll , and I could strain A point , because I see thou art in pain , To make the secrets of the Fates appear A little more at large , but in thine ear ; This man thy son will have enough to do , His foes have might and courage , but must bow . Ere three springs warm him in his Latine throne , Or the fierce Rutili have been his own So many winters , all will be secur'd , Rough nations hewn , his royal seat immur'd : Then shall he captivate their better parts , By righteous laws inthroned in their hearts . But young Ascanius ( whom they call'd Jule ) Removing from Lavinium , shall rule , Till Sol have finisht thirty large carriers , At Alba , which shall be three hundred years The seat of Trojan Empire , ere the sons Of Mars be born among the vestal Nuns , And Romulus from royal Ilia come To suck his wolf and then to build thy Rome ; From him the Romans shall descend : to these I set no bounds of time , of land or seas . My wife herself shall here compose our wars , Become the willing nurse of their affairs : The patronized earth shall gladly own Her self the client of the Roman gown . It is decreed , and flowing time shall see Submissive Greece restore upon her knee The Trophies that from Trojan ashes came To the reviving Phoenix of her flame . Then shall her Caesar ( Julius of great Julus call'd ) unto his Empire set The Ocean , to his fame the starry skies For frontiers , to which when he shall rise Loaden with Eastern spoils in spicy smoak , Him shall the gods embrace and men invoke . The age succeeding shall relent , obey Law and Religion , throwing arms away ; With Iron bolts and leavers stanch and bar The floud-gate and the doleful hinge of war : Within shall impious fury sit in chains On piles of swords and spears ; with scalding veins , ( His arms behind him in a brazen knot Securely bound ) set up his horrid throat . This said he sends his Harbinger to take Up Juno's Carthage for the Trojan wrack ; Who cuts the liquid air with feather'd oars And casts himself upon the Lybian shores . The Tyrian courage nor the royal brest Of Dido strives with Jove or the distrest . Aeneas now had pass'd a thoughtful night In musing where he was , and with the light Is up to hide his fleet and seek this out , He is at once their General , their Scout . Nor was it by the Countrey easily guess'd Whether it were the realm of man or beast : The coast was desert , and the land untill'd , ( For Carthage yet her self was hardly fill'd ) The bay was strangely over-grown , the flood In many creeks was cover'd by the wood : In these he stows his Navy , then away He and Achates with their javelins stray . An huntress in the covert passes by , As in the duske heavens wanton flashes fly , To whom Harpalice of Thrace were slow , Her sporting locks like rapid Heber flow ; The ruffling winds that touse her as she goes , A rifled brest , a naked knee disclose . The Spartane maid ( for this unto the eye Her dress , her quiver , and her bow imply ) Begins the dialogue . My hearts , I pray Did any of my sisters go this way ? In pillage of the spotted Linx , they follow The foamy bore , or did you hear them hollow ? Goddess , ( says he ) for in that voice , that face There is no sound , no shew of humane race ; None of thy sisters did we see or hear Nor if we had could have inform'd thee where , Who know not where we are ; propitious power , Behold the shipwrack of a forreign shore ; Say what we do , whose fields they be we tread , To whom we fall ; so shall thy flames be fed By our right hands . Strangers , ( says she ) not so ; Unto the purple buskin and the bow , Which is the fashion with the Tyrian Dames , Belong no such devotions nor flames . The fields you tread to Carthage appertain , Where sons of Mars obey a womans reign . Here Dido by her brother chas'd from Tyre The scepter sways : volumes her wrongs require . But I shall touch their tops and run them over . The greatest Lord of lands , the truest lover Throughout Phoenicia , in her blooming pride From her glad parents had receiv'd this bride ; Sichaeus was his name , whose brother then ( Pigmalion the wickedest of men ) Was King of Tyre . This prodigy by stealth Murders Sichaeus meerly for his wealth , The body and the fact conceals , beguiles His sisters flatter'd hopes with many wiles ; Till all in slumber be at length disclos'd Unto the widdow by her husbands ghost : His visage wan in dreadful wise he shews , His wounds , the mazes of the bloody house , Then beckons to a vault where buried lie His golden hoards , with which he bids her flie . She thus resolved , companions in her flight Loathing and fear of tyranny provide . Pigmalion's revolting fleet is tow'd Into rebellion , by the treasure stow'd : Under the conduct of a woman , on A canvas wing his golden dream is flown . Such was the Colony that landed where You soon will see her rising towres appear . But whence are you , or whither would you go ? Goddess ( says he ) the Sun , ere half our wo Could be express'd , would hide himself : we are Troys ashes spurn'd and scatter'd into air : Her hated reliques which the light abhors , Toss'd by the seas and split upon the shores . Aeneas is my name , whom wrathful heaven Exil'd in twenty ships now brought to seven . A Countrey promis'd by the destinies I seek , pursuing Italy that flies . But sure ( returns the maid ) he has not lost His way , nor all the gods , that on this coast Is born , by milder weather or by stress , As when you see the Queen you will confess . And as those swans descending from above , Where they were scatter'd by the bird of Jove , Tack their white sails , and falling in a round Together touch or seem to touch the ground , So does your fleet , so does your landing youth , If ancient augury have any truth . This said , in vain recalled by her son , His Mother Venus as she goes is known ; Who , to conceal him from the gazing crowd , At parting clothes him with a trusty crowd , And so to Paphos , where unto the skies An hundred smoaky altars seek her , hies . The Trojans haste and rising with their way , Carthage below from steepy clifs survey . Wonder commands an halt . The vale , ere while Sprinkled with sheds , becomes an haughty pile , The pavements sound , the ardent Tyrians reek , Some cut , some roll the stone which others seek In speckled quarries , some the theater On mighty columns , some the castle rear , Some spread a common roof , and some their own , While others lead the wall about the town . As when the heir apparent of the hive Calls forth the youth , or when their parents stive In liquid cells the plunder of the fields ; One brings the burden and another builds , The eager work with murmur fills the plain , A drone is not permitted to remain . Aeneas moves agen and moving cries , O walls that have the happiness to rise ! Then met by none with what he pleases meets , And goes invisible into the streets . A grove that cast a pleasing shade , indued The mighty City with a solitude , Which in the middle of the builders lay Untouched by the threatning ax , since they Here with the spade discover'd Juno's sign , An horses head , by which they might divine Unto their arms and ploughs increase . There stood A temple in the middle of the wood , Unto the goddess raised by the Queen , Which full of either power , and pomp was seen . The high ascent was brass , the beams were cheek'd With brass , the gates on brazen hinges shreek'd . Here first Aeneas met what made him dare To trust his hopes , and vilifie despair : For wandring through a world , the pensil struck As out of Chaos with stupendious luck ; He finds the story of the Trojan flame Had fill'd the world already with her fame . Here Agamemnon , there Achilles stood ; Here Priam sacrificed in his blood . At which he stopt and wept , behold , says he , Achates , if in all the earth there be A stranger to our woes , an heart so hard Where pain wants pity , vertue her reward : While each of these hath been our harbinger , What is it man that we should need to fear ? While thus the empty shadows drink his tears And feed his hopes , the zealous Queen repairs So to the temple , and with such a train : As when upon the Taenarean plain , The fair Oreades by hundreds follow The quiver-bearing sister of Apollo . Her incense paid , the Dame intent upon Her growing Empire , now ascends a throne Environ'd by her guards ; divides , creates By word or lot , the honours , Magistrates : While men as Oracle receive her law . Mean time it seem'd unto the Prince he saw Antheus , Sergest , Cloanthus , many more He gave for lost appearing at the door . Achates , rapt with joy , would streight have had Him break his cloud ; Aeneas though as glad Yet not so suddain , while he sees a press About the strangers , waits for the success . They sue for audience , which granted , thus Unto the Queen grave Ilioneus . May 't please your sacred Majesty ; the hand , Which by divine indulgence hath obtain'd To be the foundress of a glorious realm , And steer rough Nations with a calmy helm , We ruines of our Troy and of your shore To gracious pity and relief implore . O stop the sluces of mistaken ire ; O save our Navy from the threaten'd fire . We neither bring you war , nor come for prey , Crimes which our better fortunes could not lay Unto our charge : what courage then appears In conquer'd bosomes to create such fears ? There is a Land was call'd Hesperia , Where once th' Oenotrian plough'd the fertil clay , A dug of earth that suckles arms ; the name Of late is Italy , at this we aim . It was the cruelty of wind and weather That broke us in our course and forc'd us hither . Yet winds and seas have cast us upon men , While men would cast us into seas agen ; Your shores are arm'd against a naked brest , As if the gods were foes to the distress'd . The wave devours , they threaten with the brand , We sink , and yet they will not let us land . A Prince we have , or had , then whose hath fame For arms or piety no greater name ; To him in kindness , if he see the Sun , You never will repent to have begun . This was , this is I trust Aeneas : We Have friends , Acestes King of Sicily , Who being of our blood must needs embrace A favour done unto the Dardan race . We ask but to Carine upon your shores , And cut a little wood to make us oars . This work perform'd immediately we steer For Italy , if of our Prince we hear ; But if our life be swallow'd by the waves , For Sicily which will afford us graves . The sense of Ilioneus approv'd By all , the Queen at first was somewhat mov'd , Who thus , invaded by a blush , replies . Trojans , if diligence or jealousies Have rougher brows in Empire that is new , This should not be so strange to such as you . Be not discourag'd , we have heard of all , Your Prince , your selves , your City and her fall . The Sun is neerer neighbour both to Tyre And Carthage then to leave us in the mire Of Barbarism : you may safely use Our ports , and taking time as freely chuse Your course , or with your Prince , or for your friend ; And what it is you want our stores shall lend . Or should you rather like this realm of ours , The City which we build is freely yours . Break up your fleet , with me the different name Trojan and Tyrian shall be the same . And for your Prince we hope he may be well , But if there be a shore of ours can tell , You shall be eased of the heavy doubt . At which she orders horse to be sent out . Aeneas swell'd with joy that tore his shroud , Broke from the chamber of the lightning cloud Into the field , for which his Mothers charms Had been at work to gird him with her arms ; As when to Ivory , to Parian stone Art contributes the lustre that 's their own . Interpreted by such a garb and meen , He comes with this address unto the Queen . Sacred and only calm I ever knew , The raging sea , the stormy winds that blew , The crushing rocks be ever blest , since we By these are driven under such a Lee. While rivers with their silver tribute own The sea , will we the favours you have shown ; Our gratitude from their immenseness shall Descend , while shadows from the mountains fall . Your fame shall sound and spread where ere we steer ; While Planets wander in the azure sphear . This said to Ilioneus , Gyas and Cloanthus , with the rest he gives his hand . The presence or the fortunes of the man Silenc'd the Queen a while , ere she began Thus to bemoan his state , What cruel hand Pursues the pious to an unknown land ! You are Aeneas whom the goddess bore , And Simois swaddled in his flowry shore ; For at the time my father Belus broke Fat Cyprus unto his victorious yoke , There came a Greek one Teucer , who was sprung Of Trojan blood , and did the name no wrong ; He from the very first unto the last Had seen your wars , and told us all that past : And in the miseries which you have known There is so great resemblance of our own , While either fleet by like adventures tost , Is met at length upon the self same cost ; That you may trust our learning in the art Of giving ease to the afflicted heart . Which said , she brings the Trojan to her court , And sends a royal present to the port ; An hundred ews and lambs , an hundred sows , And Bacchus rides upon a drove of cows . The royal pallace with magnificence And vari'd scenes of pomp receiv'd the Prince . The flores were carpets , and the roofs were guilt , The walls with story silken volumes fill'd . The board was cover'd with besuiting state , The cupboards loaden , where the massey plate Phoenician arms and pedigrees inrol'd In silver Trophies , and triumphant gold . Forthwith Aeneas ( for the fathers mind Runs not on things that leave the son behind ) Dispatch'd Achates to the fleet for dear Ascanius , directed thence to bear Some ornaments and jewels , which had been The choice of Helens store , unto the Queen . But Venus still in doubt what might betide In Juno's realms , with new adventures pli'd The destin'd Lady ; stole the boy away With slumber bound him in Idalia The sluggard lies , imbrac'd by shady bowres , In fragrant herbage breathing like the flowres ; While Cupid , having laid aside his wings , Puts on his nephew and the present brings . The Queen upon a purple couch at board Was set , and next to her the Trojan Lord ; By him his Captains , for their better cheer Each entertained by a Tyrian Peer . First comes the towel and the spouting ewre , Then yellow Ceres usher'd by the Sewer . An hundred Pages serve the smoaky plate , As many on the flouring bottles wait . To these not dreaming to be so beguil'd Enters the little God that plays the child ; The Tyrians in the jewels worship Troy , But Dido ravisht with the lovely boy , Enthrones the cruel wanton on her knee , And offers to the unknown Deity In kisses , while he scratches out Sicheus And in her marble bosome writes Aeneas . Now at the second service Bacchus crown'd With more solemnity began his round : At freer mirth which former silence brake The roof , the arches murmuring awake . Torches in golden sconces keep the field And night is scatter'd by a flaming shield . The bowl which Belus us'd , and all from him , Sparkling with wine and jewels to the brim , Dido receives , and silence made , O Jove ( Says she ) for thee we understand to love The hospitable , and preside at all The entertainments truly jovial , May our posterity observe with joy This day , the festival of Tyre and Troy : Propitious Juno be a constant guest , And Bacchus Prince of gladness crown the feast . At which she shed the honour of the cup To consecrate the board , and took a sup ; Then rousing mighty Bitias gave him hold , Who launch'd his lips , and lav'd the foamy gold . The health goes round . Iopas with the tresses What Atlas taught unto the harp expresses ; How man , how beast , how rain and thunder come By Nature to be formed in her womb , The travails of the Sun and Moon in airs Re-eccho to the musick of their sphears : Trojans and Tyrians at every pause Become the Chorus with their high applause . But other draughts , and other charms then these For ever on unhappy Dido sieze ; Who wastes the night with various discourse , Enquiring now of arms and then of horse , Much after Priam , after Hector much ; If Diomed were so , Achilles such : Nay , but ( says she ) Aeneas , now oblige Me to begin , and shew me the whole siege , With all your travels since you there begun , And here conclude seven courses of the Sun .

VIRGIL'S AENEIS . The second Book . SIlence and deep attention every man Had rais'd , when from his haughty couch began The Prince thus in obedience , to relate Unto the Tyrian Queen the Trojan fate . Madam , our pains , since you assign them breath , Shall live again , though they be worse then death : For how dire Greece attain'd to overwhelm Troy's glories , and that miserable realm , ( A desolation which wretched we , So great a share of it , surviv'd to see ) What Dolop , Myrmidon , or tongue of theirs That triumph in the fact , could tell for tears ! And now the heavens shake off dissolving night , And setting stars to injur'd sleep invite ; Yet since by your commands , you should not fear The groans again of gasping Troy to hear , Although my soul give back , as shrinking in At thoughts so horrid , I shall now begin . The Greeks for many years repuls'd by Fate , And broken by our sallies , dedicate A mighty horse ( whose arched rib was pine ) To Pallas , framed by her art divine ; An holy bribe as they would have it thought , By which their licence to retreat was bought . For so 't was given out , while they indeed Had lodg'd an ambush in the hollow steed . This spacious womb of death impregnated Thus with the choicest men that nation bred , For Tenedos ( an Island in the ken Of Troy , rich , while she stood , but now a fen And unsecure ) their sculking Navy bore , And lurk'd upon the solitary shore . The wind was good , and we suppos'd 'em gone , When Troy her tarnish'd jollity put on , Open'd her gates , now every one must see The trenches of the flying enemy ; Here lodg'd Achilles , there his Dolops laid , Here joyn'd the battel , there was the Parade . But that of all which had ingros'd discourse And wonder , was the fabrick of the horse : Which first Thymetes ( whether so to be Troy's Fate would have it or his treachery ) Commands into the City to be brought . Capys and others not so rash ( who thought The Grecian bounty fitter to be thrown Into the sea then for the wise to own ) To launch the swelling oak , and search the dire Impostume , call for axes or for fire . Th' incertain people now to this inclin'd , 〈◊〉 now to that , are never of a mind . ●●●oon , in speed and very lowd , Comes from the castle , at his heels a crowd , And all the way he runs , he shreeks and crys , Ah wretches , what is it hath seild your eyes ? Is' t possible you think the Grecians fled ! Are you no better in Vlysses read , Then to imagine him a friend that woo'd Be at such cost with you , and for your good ! The foe is spying from that lofty crest , The City to be trampled by this beast : Or be what will the drift of this device , A Greek and bountiful forewarns me twice . At which he rally'd all his scatter'd force , And threw his massey javelin at the horse : It stuck and trembled in the dry-lip'd wound , The caves resounded and the caverns groan'd . O heavens ! O destinies ! you have design'd Whom you intend for ruine to be blind , Or death had thus been stifled in the womb , And Troy had stood upon a Grecian tomb . As this was doing , lo unto the King A captive youth in bonds the shepherds bring : A rable gathers to him , some with spite Are mov'd , and some with pity at the sight . The youth among the Trojan bands amaz'd , Thus vents his grief as on their strength he gaz'd ; Wretch that I am , what land , what sea can be My refuge , in whose double destiny Both Greece and troy pursue each others ends , My equal foes whose fortune makes them friends ! His words , his sighs , his tears have turn'd the tide , The Trojans pity whom they did deride , Enquire his story , him to truth advise , As that wherein the Captives safety lies . Whence he assur'd , assures the King of truth , I am ( says he ) indeed a Grecian youth . ( For wicked fortune never shall be able To render Sinon false though miserable ) If you have heard of Palamed ( deriv'd From Belus ) who in fame shall be long liv'd , Spite of that treachery which cut him short , For shocking with the rashness of the Court By counsel , which against this war he gave , He dy'd by them that weep upon his grave . I was his kinsman , and with him I came , Driv'n by my wants to venture at this game , The sword , which by his conduct thriv , while he Was in such honour , as had some for me . But since that sugard poyson of the tongue Envious Vlysses ( what I say is sung ) Gave him his bane ; I have bemoan'd my friend In solitude , resolv'd if fate should send Me ever home , I never would forget His ghost , the traytor , or the bloody debt . But fool , I could not hide this noble sense , And all my miseries derive from thence . Vlysses having found me , from that time Hath still upon his forge had some new crime Against me , so to make the vulgar prate , And with their forked tongues to arm his hate . Nor could a peace or truce be ever made , Till he had won our Prophet to his aid — But I anatomize a Greek to men That think them all ( perhaps ) alike , and then My cause , no doubt , is pleaded very well To loose this head of mine , which you may sell , Since Agamemnon or Vlysses would , For such a purchase give the weight in gold . We are on thorns to hear his story out , Intreating him to lay aside his doubt . And on he goes . Full oft the stormy skies Have counsel'd us ( O had we been so wise ! ) To raise our siege , but never in that style , As when we were about to build this pile . Yet so did they inrage the sea , that still They took away the power to give the will . In this suspense Eurypylus is sent T' inquire at Delphos what was the portent . Dire Oracles incens'd Apollo sings , Which from the holy threshold thus he brings . O Greeks , when to the siege of Troy you came , You offerd up a Virgin soul in flame ; In flame agen , when ere you would return , A Grecian soul unto the winds must burn . The people stupid when they hear this news , Expect with horror whom the god will chuse . The Priest comes forth , is urged by my foe To name his man ( men saw how this would go ) Yet tender Calchas , to conceal from whence He had his Oracle , is in suspense ; Ten days he takes , in which to seek and know Of heaven , what was resolv'd so long ago , And end his piety where it began , While I at length am pointed out the man ; And every one , transported thus to be Deliver'd of his own , lays load on me . What remedy ? the day is come , the corn And salt prepar'd , the filet to be worn . I must confess , not yet prepar'd to die , I brake my bonds , and made a shift to flie Into the sedges of a lake , there lay Perdu , till they had weigh'd , if they would weigh . And thus have I escap'd the sacrifice , For which perhaps my dearest friend now dies ; My father or my son , whom I , nor thee My native Countrey , ever hope to see . If truth have any Patron ( mighty Sir ) In heaven or earth , by him I do conjure , Ponder the weight of my calamity , The greatest that of guilt was ever free . The captive hath his pardon as his due , And pity of free gift , they brake and threw Away his bonds , while Priamus ( good King ) Thus thaw'd his sadness like the cheerful spring . Stranger from hence forgetting Greece well lost , Esteem thy self a native of this coast ; No more of that , we call thee ours . But say , ( This monstrous horse confounds me every way ) What is portended by the mighty beam ? Is it religion or stratagem ? Sinon , with raised hands at liberty , Exclaims , Eternal spangles of the sky , Inviolable powers , polluted swords , Ye altars I have scap'd , ye fillets , cords , What Greece can have , to you I now appeal So sacred , as I ought not to reveal . If she her love , her nature can revoke , I am absolved from the law she broke . But Troy , if faithful to the hope she gives Shall nere repent it , that her Sinon lives . While Pallas rul'd the Grecian arms , 't was so That what design so ere they drave would go : But from the time that forge of wickedness , Vlysses got with Diomede access Unto her shrine , by killing of her guard , And there with bloud-imbrued clutches dar'd To touch the goddess and her fillet tear , To drag her a statue by the virgin hair , a the Paladium . Their fortune like a mighty tide gave back , The strength , the nerve of their design grew slack . Nor had the goddess her estranged brest By undiscerned prodigies express'd : For when her image came into the camp , The marble swet , the eye was like a lamp , And thrice she brandish'd in the open field Her threatning sword , and raised up her shield . Calchas denounces that they must depart , Troy cannot suffer by a Grecian dart Till all renew'd at Argos , they resign The stoln Palladium to the proper shrine . Nor are they now at home for other ends Then to recruite , and make the gods their friends , That when you least expect they may invade You fresh , for so it is by Calchas laid . And for the horse , which warned of their guilt , In lieu of the Paladium they built , Calchas ordain'd it of the height you see To bar your gates against the deity . For thus he prophesies , destruction shall The Trojan name and Priam's throne befal ( Which righteous heaven fulfil in him and his ) If you shall violate this edifice ; But , if intire her saving gift ascend Your City , Pallas shall be Asia's friend , Whose armies through the heart of Greece shall run , The fathers due repaying to the son . We give him credit , and his tears succeed , The fraud and perjuries of Sinon speed Where Diomedes and Achilles fail In ten years war , and with a thousand sail . Yet 't was an higher hand , while this was hot That striking forged up the iron plot . Laocoon , Priest of Neptune , deals his blows , A mighty bull before the altar bows , When lo , from Tenedos two serpents creep , Whose circling backs ingulph the calmy deep , Their bloody mains above the wave they hold , And in their winding tales large seas infold ; The poyson'd billows cast them on the shore , Licking their jaws that hiss with flame and gore . Pale and dispers'd we flie , they spring upon Two of the children of Laocoon , Soft limbs in venomous embraces wrap , And open purple fountains where they lap . The father with the threatning dart he brought To help , into the running noose is caught , And twice about his neck and waste they got , Raising their heads above the scaly knot , Which he endeavours to unty in vain , His holy fillet blood and rancor stain ; At which he bellows like a bull that shakes Out of his wounded neck the failing ax : The spiny dragons in swift mazes flie To fierce Minerva's cittadel , there lie Low at the virgins foot , and hurkle in Protected by her golden shield and shrine . New terror creeps into each brest , they own The vengeance just that siez'd Laocoon , Whose sacrilegious javelin dar'd to maim The beauty of the consecrated frame ; And cry to have it instantly brought in , If so they may the angry Goddess win . We lay the City open , break the wall , Some fasten wheels unto the pedestal , Harness the horse , and draw him by his trace ; Men are his team , he mounts the breach a pace : Soft virgins flock , and proud to touch the string , Like swans at Cytherea's chariot sing , Till from the ruine of the wall they launch Into the threatned street the sounding Paunch . Ah , Mother Troy , ah walls with trophies hung , Ah temple where the gods had dwelt so long ! Thrice in his journey was the beast discern'd To stop , and thrice his iron bowels yern'd , While we more beasts were haling , till at length Plac'd in the tower we gave the foe our strength . Here all was said , but 't was Cassandra said it , Who was indu'd with truth , but not with credit . Poor souls , the day to be our last , we drest With boughs , and celebrated as a feast , When fell the Sun , as if the orbe of light Had burst , and scatter'd with his cinders night ; That night which spread her sable wing abroad Ore heaven , ore earth , and ore the Grecian fraud . The Trojans silent as the walls they keep Bedew their stiffned limbs which supple sleep , While with the moon to friend , the Grecians cross Unto the well known shore from Tenedos ; Their order'd decks no sooner were advanc'd , Then flame out of the Admiral gally glanc'd , Which was the sign appointed to be given ; Sinon at this ( that curse of partial heaven ) Broaches the horse , which by a rope to run Begins , as when you pierce a poysond tun . Vlysses , Sthenelus , Tisandrus , Thaos , The Architect Epeus , Menelaus , Machaon , Pyrrhus , on the dead now fall , For wine and sleep by this had bury'd all . Our guards cut off , their companies that wait Are both received and receive the gate . About the hour heavens bounty sleep renews , The strength of mortals and their care subdues , The ghost of Hector smear'd with dust and blood Approach'd my bed , and staring on me stood , His cheeks were sallow , and his eyes were dim , As when the chariot drag'd him by a limb . O heavens the spectacle ! ah how he was Transformed from that Hector who gave chace To proud Achilles , and from thence return'd In Laurel , and his brighter spoils adorn'd ! Who split the Grecians while the Trojan brand Fell on their navies from his lightning hand ! His beard was stiff , each wound a running sore , His lovely locks were clotted with his gore . Mine eyes gush'd forth , ah Hector , ah the joy , The strength , the glory , the support of Troy , Where hast thou been , whence doest thou come , how art Thou furrow'd with those wounds that wound my heart ? Why after such effusion in this place Of Dardan blood see we so late thy face ? He answers not , but with a dreadful cry Exclaims , son of the goddess fly , O fly . Our gates are siezed by th' insulting foe , Great Troy , to which nor you nor I do owe Is fallen , fallen from her envy'd height , Acknowledging we both have done her right . The rest is vain , if she had been to stand That had been granted unto this right hand . Her holy reliques , to thy piety Bequeathed by her self , bear thou with thee , Whose wandring fate by these conducted , shall In forraign parts set up the Trojan wall . This said , from Vesta's cooling hearth he tears Th' immortal flame , and forthwith disappears . Our house inviron'd by a silent wood Retir'd some distance from the City stood . Confused noises rise in shreeks and fire , The light grows greater , and the clamour higher . As when a tempest fans with her hoarse wings A spark , which into standing corn she brings ; Or when a torrent at his forrage mocks The labour of the plough-man and his ox , Astonish'd shepherds waking at the sound Climb some high clift , and view the wasted ground : Rous'd from my bed upon a tower I hover , The Grecian fraud and fury thence discover . Deiphobuses house fierce Vulcan razes , And now Vcalegon our neighbour blazes , The Seas themselves are set on many fires By the reflection of flaming spires . Trumpets with shouts , and shreeks with trumpets vy , To arms , to arms , give me my arms , I cry : But to what end , I am as much to seek , Except the castle held , and through the Greek We were enow to make our way . Despair Provides companions that nothing fear . Panthus Otriades , Apollo's Priest , Haling his little Nephew by the wrist , And loaden with his reliques , first we met . Panthus , what chear , the castle holds it yet ? W' are gone , w' are lost , he cries , the hour is come , We have been Trojans , this was Ilium , The mighty glory of our ancesters , Now all to Argos wrathful heaven transfers : The burning City 's master'd by the Greeks , The teeming horse has open'd all his decks . Insulting Sinon lays about in flame , Thousands that are not of the Grecian name Possess the gates , upon the breaches stand , The reeking sword is in a bloody hand ; Some of our guards a noble heat express , But few , and they expos'd to great distress . At this as clamor and the furies guide , We follow , Ripheus marching by my side , With gallant Iphitus , then by the moon Dymas and Hypanis fall in , and soon ( Unto adventures equal with his stake ) Comes young Coraebus for Cassandra's sake : Unhappy youth , who yet had breath'd this air Had he believ'd her true as he did fair . To these , great souls resolv'd to charge , said I Although our gods retreat , our fortune fly , Since all extreams meet in the point they shun , This is our safety that we look for none . Which said , as wolves , whose cubs are dry-lip'd , prey , Through night , through darts , through death we make our way . That hollow herse of darkness never shall Find tears proportion'd to her funeral : The growth of ages , from her envi'd height , The antient City tumbles in a night , The mangled spoils of souls in sad exile , Her houses , streets , her holy fanes defile . Nor falls the Trojan only , or in vain ; Courage in frozen bosomes gives again ; The victor takes his turn , and has his hap , While death is revelling in every shape . First of the Greeks Androgeo , by mistake , Accost's us thus . So camerades , you make Good haste it seems , while Troy is bound for Greece , Others returning stow her golden fleece On sinking keels , you but disbarque : what ails You creep out of your wooden shells like snails ! But as a man that treads upon a snake Too late perceives his error and gives back , We charge him through and through , while he retires , And cut him off engag'd among the briars . At this success Coraebus well advises , We thus have gotten arms with fit disguises , Pursue we fortune in her chosen ways ; Courage and stratagem are equal praise : And so puts on Androgeo's plumed crest , Commending his example to the rest . Thus with the Trojan sword and Grecian shield Thousands of foes we leave for ever seild ; Some sneak abord , some to the lower shade , And others reascend their wooden jade . But who can strive with heaven ! we meet divine Cassandra drag'd from her Minerva's shrine , With flowing hair , and raised eyes in vain . At which , into the midst of the prophane , Coraebus charg'd . We second him , thus known Unto their men and not unto our own , Our friends , deceived by our bucklers , poure Their fury on us from the temple tower . To this both Ajax and the furious b Menelaus , & Agamennon . sons Of Atreus bring up their Myrmidons . We joyn like blasts from distant quarters met , And whirle-winds in the rough embrace beget . Numbers oppress us , they , whom partial night Had rescu'd once , return unto the fight . Coraebus on Minerva's altar dies , Cassandra's most unwelcome sacrifice . Ripheus true Trojan , with his Dymas by Mistaking friends , are kill'd in curtesy . Nor would thy Mitre Panthus serve thy turn . To Troy's cold ashes and your common urne , If any danger could divert the zeal I shew'd your lives to rescue , I appeal . Peleas and Iphytus with me are born , By clamour forward ( Iphytus was worn With age , and Pelias feeble with a wound Vlysses gave ) w' are hurri'd till we found The Court engaged in a fight so sore As if there had been nothing done before . The Greeks close rank'd their heads with targets slate , Apply the tortoys unto every gate , Others their lathers set unto the walls , The left defends the head , the right hand scales ; While from the roof the Trojans roll the spires And battlements , the pomp of their old fiers , The waken'd rafters with their guilded beams , Are amunition in these sad extreams . Others with rough provision below Attend i th' entreys to sustain the foe . Priam's distress our loyal blood inflames ; There was a secret passage for the dames Of Hector's house unto the Court , which way His children were accustom'd to go play ( Troy then was happy ) with their gransire King ; By this recruites unto the Court we bring , There climb the roof from whence with small effect The Trojans their derided shot direct . Here yet remain'd a turret Priam's spy , Whence he was wont to view the enemy , We hew her from her lofty seat , disclose Her joynts , and pour the ruine on our foes ; Thousands are bury'd , but , do what we can , On their neglected graves as many stand . Automedon brings up the Scyrian bands With Periphas , and storms the roof with brands . Pyrrhus , in armour like the burnish'd skins Of vipers basking in the Sun , begins To force the pallace gate : at every stroak His iron javelin feeds upon the oak , Till eaten through the heart , it now disclose The entrails sacred to our Kings repose ; The guards with which the yielding door is lin'd , Are first in view with spacious Courts behind . Out of the inner parts confused cries , Piercing the walls ascend unto the skies , Virgins in horror of their ruthless dooms Wander the vast and solitary rooms , Embrace the pillars , clip and kiss the stone , The marble thaws , the hollow arches groan . Pyrrhus insists with native fury born , The doors are from their brazen hinges torn , The guards cut off Streams , that have burst their dams , Swept herds of bulls away with flocks of lambs , Into the eddys of some valley come , As now the Greek flows into every room . Proud columns hatch'd with gold , with trophies hung , Are taught humility and laid along . Where fire goes out , the fiercer Grecians hold . His Troy on flame , his pallace forc'd , the old King , feeble , and decrepid with his years , Yet full of courage and resolv'd appears In unaccustom'd arms to welcome death . There was an inner Court , in this beneath The green pavilion of a Laurel stood The houshold gods , their table and their food , An altar that was dayly smoaking . Hither , Like flocks of Doves pursu'd by stormy weather , The Trojan dames with Hecuba were fled , And hung upon the Altars horned head . But when the Queen perceiv'd her Priamus In youthful arms , she let the Altar loose And hung about his neck , my aged Lord , Alas , ( says she ) were this my Hector's sword It were too late , our exigences call For other aids then these , or none at all ; This Altar shall defend us both , or neither , As we have liv'd so let us die together . Which said , she set him on the sacred stone . When lo , Polites , Priam's younger son , By Pyrrhus wounded , and pursued flies Through privy passages and galleries , Till reach'd , he spill upon the holy place His purple soul before his fathers face . The King above the danger , at the dire Affront expresses this beseeming ire . The gods reward thee ( if in heaven there be Such care ) for that which thou hast made me see ; The like Achilles never would have done , Thou dost but fain thy self to be his son . At which with all his strength he dealt a stroke , That Pyrrhus with his brazen target broke , And took him sliding in the blood yet warm Of his cold son , then wound about his arm The snowy tresses of the feeble sire , And drag'd him to the Altar . Go , enquire Among the shades ( says he ) whose son I am , Or tell my father how I Soil his name . Which words by unrelenting Pyrrhus said , The other hand strikes off old Priam's head . The sons of Atreus with equal rage Succeeding Pyrrhus spare nor sex , nor age , Till in their blood upon the altar lay By thoughtless Priam willing Hecuba , Extinguishing the flames they us'd to feed , By these an hundred of their off-spring bleed . Such was the end of Priamus , when he The ruine of his realm had liv'd to see ; The potent Prince to whom all Asia gave Obedience is not allow'd a grave ; His mighty trunk upon the shore is thrown A common carkass , and a corse unknown . This spectacle my soul , till now of proof , Had wholly stupifi'd , while on the roof I stood deserted to a man by all : And dire remembrancers , what might befal My family , deprived of my aid , With horrour to my guilty conscience laid . My father in the King , in Hecuba My undefended wife Creüsa lay , And of the children that I look'd upon Me thought Ascanius must needs be one . Too late , while every pass is block'd with fire , I cast about enraged to retire , When lo , in flame that quenches flame and me , From heav'n descends my Mother-Deity . Son , says the Goddess , thanks to me are due , That all is well at home , and not to you . And for your Countrey , lay the cruel storm , This blood was not from Helen's envy'd form , Paris was not the maker of this fire . Though dim mortality go seldom higher , Men are but instruments of heav'ns decree , And this such Hero's as thy self should see . Render thine arms , obey in suddain flight , Behold , they are the gods themselves that fight . Which said , a ray she drops into mine eyes That fills them with celestial light , and flyes . Now Neptune , where the dust and smoak arose , Beheld I with his Trident dealing blows , The spreading walls which he had ●oyst before He furles , and makes their lofty turrets lore . Waving a sword unto her Grecians sat Remorsless Juno on the Scaean gate : Upon the castle with her Gorgon stood Bellona , brewing in a cloud of blood : Nay , Jove himself so us'd to carry even In Grecian arms array'd the hoast of heaven . Troy , like a pine , that was the mountain's pride , By husbandmen beset on every side , Whose axes lay their sighing blows upon Her stable root , now trembles , and anon Slowly begins to bow , then with a groan Astonishing the sounding woods comes down . The gods must be obey'd , farewell my Joy , Eternally farewel Neptunian Troy . Now swerves the Palace , our supporters bend , The roof that follows lands me ; I descend In ruine that before my flying feet Chases the conqueror , and clears the street . Unto the place once call'd our home , I steer , Resolv'd my father thence with speed to bear . But good old man , he utterly denies To lay his bones but where his Ilium lies . You that have blood to fill and warm your veins , Have means to flie , and somewhat for your pains , ( Says he ) but I should find some other way , Heav'n in these ruines laughs at my delay . Alas , what should he fly that seeks his end ? Help is at hand , a foe will be a friend . All that of this cold earth can live is you , My dear resources leave a corse , adieu . My wife Creus ' , Ascanius , and I Bathing with tears his feet , at which we lie , Beseech him as he wishes such resource Not to obstruct it in the proper course , Nor think the loss already had so small As thus to argue till he lose us all . Still he persists . Why then our flight , her sears Hath mew'd , for farewel hopes and farewel fears : And should a father think while he hath none There can remain an hope unto his son ! My arms , my arms , the life I purchas'd at Some price , let me go sell at any rate ; Or Pyrrhus call to murder with a grace Another son before his fathers face . Ah mother Venus , thou hast stood indeed My friend , but has it been a friend at need , If I be but preserv'd to see my father , Creus ' , Ascanius , mix life blood together ? My arms , my arms , it is the last day calls The Victor to the Captives funerals , Who shall be entertain'd . — As with such words I flung away , Creusa's arms were cords , Who on her knees imbrac'd my feet , and spread Ascanius in the step I was to tread . If death , says she , be good , and of despair You seek that cure , refuse us not our share , If ill forsake us not at such a need , Since he that flies to arms hath hope to speed . As thus she argues with a tide of tears , Behold a suddain prodigy appears , Ascaniuses curles have caught a fire That on his tufted crown erects a spire , Kisses his temples where it feeding shines , And softly with his unsing'd tresses twines . Creus ' and I implore the liquid aid Of springs , and with their gift the flame invade . But old Anchises , with his hands to heaven , Exalted at the sign the gods have given , Invokes the confirmation of their love With zealous prayers addrest to father Jove . It thunder'd , and a falling star that drew A silver streak out of her rav'led clew , To tack her thread upon the house begun , And thence unto the woods of Ida spun . Anchises is convinc'd , now no delay Since his adored goddess chalks the way . My honour'd father , come , you are no weight , ( Who bears his health is lighten'd by his freight ) Sit on my neck , thy hand Ascanius , And dear Creus ' be sure you follow close ; For you the servants , at the Cypress tree ; Upon the solitude of Ceres , be The rendevouz . Our gods my father bears , I him , thus fraught with all my hopes and fears I go ; Ascanius grasps my hand , and traces His fathers steps , though with unequal paces , Creusa follows . Was I us'd to start ! Now not a leaf that stirs but chils my heart ! The horror of the night , the vast and wild Fields which we pass affright me like a child . When well advanc'd upon our way , we meet A suddain clash of fire , and sound of feet . At this Anchises cry'd , Aeneas , fly , And so I did as fast as I could hy . Thus chas'd , I know not by what envious power , Dearest Creus ' I saw not from that hour . Nor did I know or think how poor a man I was , till we arriv'd at Ceres fane : Where all are safe , but when we find the cost , ( While she alone is wanting ) all are lost . Whether she staid or fainted by the way , Or frighted by the spirits went astray , Ye heav'ns it was a great severity ! The sack of Troy was not so much to me ! Unto a trusty covert I commend My treasure in my young and ancient friend , With such as met us at the Cypress tree : Resolv'd the sable field again to see , And try if I have courage now to greet The powers with lightning eyes and thundring feet . The darkness seem'd a vault , the night a tomb , I call'd , Creusa , O Creusa come . Horror condenses , and in tears distils , The eccho's shreek upon the waking hills . Creusa , O Creusa , hear , O hear , Thou knowest my woes , and if thy soul yet wear The tenderness of humane flesh , shouldst aid : Or , ah Creusa , if thou beest a shade , Can blessed spirits wound as thou hast done , And are they void of all compassion ! At such complaints , to my affrighted eyes , Her taller ghost appears , and thus replies . My Lord , asswage the passion that trains This fond indulgence unto fruitless pains : Thus heav'n will have it : unpropitious Jove Forbids Creusa to enjoy her love . Where Lydian Tyber flows , the gods prepare Him fortunes , better then admit her share ; A scepter and a crowned bride . My dear , Love my Ascanius , and spare that tear . I do not in low servitude disgrace The son of Venus , nor the Dardan race . Nor Myrmidon , nor Dolop me constrains To wait upon his wife , or wear his chains , Who , by the Corybants presented , dwell With great Cybele . Dearest Lord , farewel . I call'd , I cry'd , endeavour'd to have staid With my deluded arms the flitting shade , That cruelly regardless of my moans Leaves me embracing air and thawing stones . The night was wasted . I return and find Our company increas'd in every kind : A miserable multitude implore Me but to set 'em upon any shore . The morning from mount Ida blusht to show Our gates , not to be rescu'd from the foe ; When with my father and my helpless flocks I fled unto the refuge of the rocks . FINIS .

Inconstancy . HE who at first a womans mind Compar'd to the inconstant wind , Did it in gratitude , not spleen , For , had this ever constant been , We that in wealth to pomp abound Had scarce for needful uses found . It is his vary'd dance that leads Us to the eastern spicy meads , And back again our course declines To dig in the rich western mines , Where should it stand still to one coast The trafick of the world were lost .

On Florella's coming to be a maid of honour . WHen in Florella first I view'd The charms which more then I have ru'd , She past here time in speckled bowers And dwelt among the Countrey flowers . My wonder lending fame a wing This beauty to the Court to bring , The virgin streight began to wear An heart as hard as she was fair . So Divers from the deep invite The hidden coral to the light , When at the touch of air alone The tender plant turns precious stone . FINIS .