Part 23 (1/2)
[Sidenote: Death of Dido.]
Concealing her grief, and pretending an anger she did not feel, she bade her servants make a funeral pyre, and place upon it all the objects AEneas had used during his sojourn in her palace; then, on top of it all, she set an effigy of her false lover, set fire to the pyre, sprang into the midst of the flames, and there stabbed herself.
”'Yet let me die: thus, thus I go Exulting to the shades below. Let the false Dardan feel the blaze That burns me pouring on his gaze, And bear along, to cheer his way, The funeral presage of to-day.'”
Virgil (Conington's tr.).
From the mast of his vessel AEneas saw the rising column of smoke, and his heart sank within him; for he suspected its fatal import, and honestly mourned the death of the beautiful queen.
[Sidenote: Funeral games.]
The Trojans sailed onward until the threatening clouds made them take refuge in the Sicanian port, where they celebrated the usual games to commemorate Anchises' death, which had occurred there just one year previous. While the men were engaged in the customary naval, foot, and horse races, boxing, wrestling, and archery matches, the women gathered together, and, instigated by Juno, began to bewail the hard lot which compelled them to encounter again the perils of the sea. Their discontent ultimately reached such a pitch that they set fire to the vessels. When AEneas heard of this new misfortune, he rushed down to the sh.o.r.e, tore his costly festal garments, and cried to Heaven for a.s.sistance in this his time of direst need.
”'Dread Sire, if Ilium's lorn estate Deserve not yet thine utter hate, If still thine ancient faithfulness Give heed to mortals in distress, Oh, let the fleet escape the flame! Oh, save from death Troy's dying name!'”
Virgil (Conington's tr.).
[Sidenote: Apparition of Anchises.]
This prayer was instantly answered by a sudden severe shower, which quenched the devouring flames. Soon after this miracle, Anchises appeared to AEneas, and bade him leave the women, children, and aged men in Sicily, and travel on to c.u.mae, where he was to consult the Sibyl, visit the Infernal Regions, and there receive further advice from him.
”First seek the halls of Dis below, Pa.s.s deep Avernus' vale, and meet Your father in his own retreat.”
Virgil (Conington's tr.).
AEneas again dutifully obeyed; but when Venus saw him afloat once more, she hastened to Neptune, and bade him watch over her unfortunate son. Neptune listened very graciously to her appeal, and promised to take but one of all the many lives intrusted to his care. That one was AEneas' pilot, Palinurus, who, falling asleep at the helm, fell overboard and was drowned.
[Sidenote: The c.u.maean Sibyl.]
As for the fleet, it reached the c.u.maean sh.o.r.e in safety; and AEneas hastened off to the Sibyl's cave, made known his wish to visit Hades, and entreated her to serve as his guide in that perilous journey. She consented, but at the same time informed him that he must first obtain a golden twig, which grew in a dark forest.
”None may reach the shades without The pa.s.sport of that golden sprout.”
Virgil (Conington's tr.).
[Ill.u.s.tration: c.u.mAEAN SIBYL.--Domenichino. (Borghese Gallery, Rome.)]
Almost despairing, AEneas now prayed for a.s.sistance; for how could he find a tiny golden sprig in the midst of the dense forest foliage without the G.o.ds' aid? In answer to this appeal, Venus, ever mindful of her son, sent two of her snowy doves to lead the way and alight on the tree, where AEneas readily found the object of his search.
Armed with this branch as key, he and the Sibyl boldly entered the Lower Regions, where all the ghastly sights and sounds we have already described (p. 167) met them on every side. Charon quickly ferried them over the Acheron, on whose bank they saw the wandering shade of Palinurus, who had no obolus to pay his way across, and that of Dido, with a gaping wound in her breast.
They did not pause, however, until they reached the Elysian Fields, where they found Anchises, gravely considering among the unborn souls those who were destined to animate his race and make it ill.u.s.trious in the future. These he carefully pointed out to AEneas, foretelling their future achievements, and called by name Romulus, Brutus, Camillus, the Gracchi, Caesar,--in fact, all the heroes of Roman history.
”Anchises showed AEneas, in long line, The ill.u.s.trious shades of those who were to s.h.i.+ne One day the glory of the Italian sh.o.r.e.”
Tomas de Iriarte.
[Sidenote: Arrival in Latium.]
After a prolonged conversation with his father, AEneas returned to his companions, and led them to the mouth of the Tiber, whose course they followed until they reached Latium, where their wanderings were to cease. Latinus, king of the country, received them hospitably, and promised the hand of his daughter Lavinia in marriage to AEneas.
Lavinia was very beautiful, and had already had many suitors, among whom Turnus, a neighboring prince, boasted of the most exalted rank. The queen, Amata, specially favored this youth's suit; and the king would gladly have received him for a son-in-law, had he not twice been warned by the G.o.ds to reserve his daughter for a foreign prince, who had now appeared.
In spite of all the years which had elapsed since Paris scorned her attractions and bribes (p. 307), Juno had not yet forgotten her hatred of the Trojan race, and, afraid lest her enemy's course should now prove too smooth, she sent Alecto, the Fury, down upon earth to stir up war, and goad Amata to madness. The Fury executed both commands, and Amata fled to the woods, where she concealed her daughter Lavinia, to keep her safe for Turnus, whom she preferred to AEneas.
[Sidenote: War with the Latins.]
As Iulus and some companions had unfortunately wounded the pet stag of Silvia, daughter of the head shepherd, a brawl ensued, which, fomented by Alecto, soon developed into a b.l.o.o.d.y war. Hostilities having thus begun, Turnus, with the various Latin chiefs, immediately besought Latinus to open the gates of Ja.n.u.s' temple. He refused; but Juno, afraid lest even now her plans might be set at naught, came down from Olympus, and with her own hand flung wide the brazen doors. This unexpected apparition kindled a general ardor; new troops enlisted; and even Camilla, the Volscian warrior-maiden, came to proffer her aid to Turnus.
”Last marches forth for Latium's sake Camilla fair, the Volscian maid, A troop of hors.e.m.e.n in her wake In pomp of gleaming steel arrayed; Stern warrior queen!”
Virgil (Conington's tr.).
[Sidenote: Story of Camilla.]
When but a babe in arms, Camilla had been carried off by her father, as he fled before the Volscian troops. When he came to the Amasenus River, he found his pursuers close at his heels. Tying his infant daughter to his spear, he hurled her to the opposite bank, which, thanks to Diana's aid, she reached unharmed, while her father plunged into the waves to join her. In his grat.i.tude to find her safe, he dedicated her to Diana, who trained her to love the chase and all manly pursuits.
Surprised to see Latinus' friendly offers of hospitality so suddenly withdrawn, AEneas made rapid preparations for war, and sailed farther up the Tiber to secure the aid of Evander, king of the Tuscans, the hereditary foe of the Latins. This monarch, too old to lead his troops in person, nevertheless promised his aid, and sent his beloved son Pallas in his stead to command the troops he supplied.
[Sidenote: Nisus and Euryalus.]
Juno, still implacable, had in the mean while sent Iris to apprise Turnus of AEneas' departure, and to urge him to set fire to the remainder of the fleet,--a suggestion which Turnus joyfully obeyed. The Trojans, headed by young Iulus, AEneas' son, defended themselves with their usual courage; but, seeing the enemy would soon overpower them, they dispatched Nisus and Euryalus, two of their number, to warn AEneas of their danger, and entreat him to hasten up with his reenforcements. These unfortunate youths pa.s.sed through the camp unseen, but farther on fell into the hands of a troop of Volscian hors.e.m.e.n, who cruelly put them to death, and then hurried with the Rutules to lend a.s.sistance to Turnus. Next some of the Trojan vessels were fired by the enemy; but, instead of being consumed by the flames, they were changed into water nymphs by the intervention of the G.o.ds, and, sailing down the Tiber, met AEneas, and warned him to hasten to his son's rescue.
”His vessels change their guise, And each and all as Nereids rise.”
Virgil.
[Sidenote: The armor.]
In the mean while, Venus, who befriended the Trojans, had sought Vulcan's detested abode, and had prevailed upon him to forge a beautiful armor for AEneas. On the s.h.i.+eld, which is minutely described in one of the books of Virgil's celebrated epic poem, the AEneid, were depicted many of the stirring scenes in the lives of the future descendants of AEneas, the heroes of Roman history. As soon as this armor was completed, Venus brought it to her son, who donned it with visible pleasure, and, encouraged by his mother's words, prepared to meet the Latins and hold his own.
Venus and Juno were not the only deities interested in the coming struggle; for all the G.o.ds, having watched AEneas' career, were anxious about his fate. Seeing this, and fearful lest their interference should still further endanger the hero whom he favored, Jupiter a.s.sembled the G.o.ds on high Olympus, and sternly forbade their taking any active part in the coming strife, under penalty of his severe displeasure.
[Sidenote: AEneas' arrival.]
AEneas and his Tuscan allies arrived on the battle scene just in time to give the necessary support to the almost exhausted Trojans; and now the fight raged more fiercely than ever, and prodigies of valor were accomplished on both sides, until finally young Pallas fell, slain by Turnus. When aware of the death of this promising young prince, AEneas' heart was filled with grief, for he could imagine the sorrow of the aged Evander when he saw his son's corpse brought home for burial; and he then and there registered a solemn vow to avenge Pallas' death by slaying Turnus, and immediately hastened forth to keep his word.
[Sidenote: Juno's treachery.]
In the mean while, Juno, suspecting what his purpose would be, and afraid to allow Turnus to encounter such a formidable antagonist as AEneas, had determined to lure her favorite away from the field. To compa.s.s this, she a.s.sumed the form of AEneas, challenged Turnus, and, as soon as he began the fight, fled toward the river, and took refuge on one of the vessels, closely pursued by him. No sooner did she see the Rutule chief safe on board, than she loosed the vessel from its moorings, and allowed it to drift down the stream, bearing Turnus away from the scene of battle. Aware now of the delusion practiced, Turnus raved, and accused the G.o.ds, and then eagerly watched for an opportunity to land, and make his way, alone and on foot, back to the scene of conflict.
[Sidenote: AEneas' prowess.]
During Turnus' involuntary absence, AEneas had ranged all over the battlefield in search of him, and had encountered and slain many warriors, among others Lausus and his aged father Mezentius, two allies of Latinus, who had specially distinguished themselves by their great valor. The dead and dying covered the field, when Latinus, weary of bloodshed, summoned a council, and again vainly tried to make peace. But his efforts were of no avail. The war was renewed more fiercely than ever; and in the next encounter, Camilla, the brave Volscian maiden, fell at last, breathing a fervent entreaty that Turnus should hasten to the succor of his despairing people if he would not see them all slain and the town in the hands of the Trojans.
”'Go: my last charge to Turnus tell, To haste with succor, and repel The Trojans from the town--farewell.'”