The Fourth Book of Virgils Aeneid and the Ninth Book of Voltaires Henriad | Page 6

sought the Cyprian queen, ?What praise, what fame? 126 She cried, ?what glorious triumph you may claim,
What high renown, for you and for your son!?Two mighty gods--one woman have undone!?I'm not deceiv'd, I know what jealous hate?130 Our rising walls and Punic pow'r create;
To what extreme, what purpose will it tend??Why may not peace and nuptial union end?This dire debate?----You've gain'd your utmost aim;?Thro' every fibre Dido feels the flame;?135 She doats, she burns;--then let the nuptial rite,
At once the people, and the chiefs, unite,?And both the nations be alike our care;?The sceptre let the Phrygian husband bear,?And take my Tyrians for the nuptial dow'r?.
140 Venus who saw how much the Latian pow'r;
The promised empire in the Trojan line?Alarm'd the goddess, felt her false design,?But smiling said, ?Who madly would refuse?Such offers--and eternal warfare choose??145 Would Fortune friendly on our project wait.
But doubts within my mind arise, if Fate?And Jove allow, that, with the sons of Troy,?The Tyrian race one empire should enjoy,?The people mingled, and their rites combin'd.?150 'Tis yours; his queen, to try the thund'rer's mind;
Mine to obey?--?Be that my care,? replied?Jove's sister Queen--?Now hear what I provide:?To-morrow, when the rising lamp of day?Shoots o'er the humid orb its golden ray,?155 Unhappy Dido and her guest of Troy
Together in the woods the chase enjoy,?When ev'ry mind is on the sport intent,?From gather'd clouds with livid light'ning rent,?Of rain and pelting hail, a horrid show'r,?160 With peals of thunder on their heads I'll poor:
All fly the storm, and in one dark retreat,?The Trojan hero, and the Queen shall meet;?There will I be; there if unchang'd your mind,?Shall Hymen's chain at once the lovers bind?.
165 The Queen of love perceiv'd her false intent,
Smil'd at the smooth deceit, and bow'd assent.
Aurora now her wat'ry couch forsakes,?The chosen youth her earliest beam awakes,?The bounding steed, the highly scented hound,?170 Nets, toils, and spears, the palace court surround.
A favour'd band within the royal gate,?The Queen who still delay'd, respectful wait.?In purple trapping, burnish'd gold array'd,?Proud on the foaming bit, her courser play'd;?175 She comes; the court her graceful steps surround;
Her Tyrian vest, embroider'd fringes bound;?Her quiver gold, with gold her hair enlac'd,?A golden clasp her flowing mantle brac'd.?Next with his Phrygian youth Iulus came?180 On wings of joy; but charms divine proclaim
Cythereas offspring as he join'd the train.
Thus when young Phoebus leaves the wintry plain,?From Lycia and the Xanthian flood, retires?To native Delos, and his sacred choirs;?185 Mingled in carols loud around his shrine,
Cretans and Greeks, and painted Scythians join.?Graceful on high the god o'er Cynthio glides,?His wanton locks with pliant gold divides,?With tender foliage crowns his radiant hair;?190 Wide sounds the dart bu spreading shoulders bear.
?neas moves not with inferior grace,?Such heav'nly beauty beam'd upon his face.?O'er hills and rocks, and thro' the pathless wood,?From their old haunts they rouse the savage brood;?195 Here downward springs the shaggy goat, and here,
From the steep cliff down rush the bounding deep,?Dart from the hills, in panting herds unite,?Stretch o'er the plain and spread their dusty flight. As thro' the vale Iulus winds his steed,?200 Leads on the chase, and passes all in speed,
A nobler prey his youthful vows implore,?The tawny lion or the foaming boar.
But murky clouds are gath'ring round the pole-,?In hollow murmur distant thunders roll;?205 The hail, the rain a mingled tempest pour,
Whole rivers swelling down the mountain roar,?The trembling youths of Troy, the Tyrian train,?Cytherea's grandson, scatter'd o'er the plain,?All fly the storm, and in one dark retreat?210 The Tyrian Queen and Trojan Hero meet.
Strait nuptial Juno, gives the fatal sign;?Pale flames the torch, and trembling Earth the shrine: Night spread the veil;--and to the vow they swore?The murmuring air, ill omen'd witness bore.?215 The frighted Nymphs along the mountain height,
In doleful cries proclaim the genial rite.?That hour her death and all her sorrows wrought;?Then fame and honor vanish'd from her thought;?No more she struggles with a secret flame,?220 The crime is veil'd in wedlock's specious name.
Soon thro' the Lybian towns, Fame blew the deed;?Fame, that outstrips all other ills in speed,?That feeds on motion, strengthens as she flies,?225 Weak, timid first, but soon of monstrous size,
Her feet on earth, amid the clouds her head.
With Heav'n incens'd, her mother Earth 'tis said,?This sister added to the Giant brood,?With wings, with feet, with dreadful speed endu'd.?Huge horrid monster!----Ev'ry plume she wears?230 A watching eye conceal'd beneath it bears,
And strange to tell--on ev'ry feather hung?A gaping ear--a never ceasing tongue.?Sleep never enter'd yet those glaring eyes;?All night 'twixt earth and heav'n she buzzing flies;?235 All day sits watchful on the turrets height,
Or palace roof, the babbling town to fright.?Falsehood and truth, she spreads with equal real,?To gaping crouds rejoicing to reveal?What is, what was, and what has never been.?240 ?neas fled from Troy;--The Tyrian queen,
Her bed, her sceptre, with an exile shares;?And now