THE exiles sail in early summer, and arrive at Thrace, but are alarmed by the prodigy of a bleeding thicket over Polydorus's grave (vv. 1-68). At Delos they consult Apollo, and (misunderstanding his oracle) settle in Crete, whence they are driven by a pestilence (69–146). Æneas is warned in a vision that Italy is the destined land: they set sail, but are overtaken by a storm (147-208). Seeking shelter at the Strophades, they are driven thence by the Harpies, and follow the coast as far as Epirus (209-293). Here they find Helenus and Andromache, who joyfully receive them in hospitality (294-355). The prophecy of Helenus they depart, laden with gifts (356-505). They hail the coast of Italy, and proceed till they near Sicily and the residence of the Cyclops the spectacle of Mount Etna (506-587). Here they rescue one of the companions of Ulysses. The monster Polyphemus is seen approaching the shore: his cries summon his companions (588–681). Retracing their course, to avoid Scylla and Charybdis, they land at the port of Drepanum: the death of Anchises (682-718).

POSTQUAM

Embarkation of the Trojans.

OSTQUAM res Asiae Priamique evertere gentem
immeritam visum superis, ceciditque superbum

Ilium, et omnis humo fumat Neptunia Troia,

diversa exsilia et desertas quaerere terras

auguriis agimur divom, classemque sub ipsa
Antandro et Phrygiae molimur montibus Idae,
incerti, quo fata ferant, ubi sistere detur,
contrahimusque viros. Vix prima inceperat aestas,
et pater Anchises dare fatis vela iubebat,
litora cum patriae lacrimans portusque relinquo
et campos, ubi Troia fuit: feror exsul in altum
cum sociis natoque Penatibus et magnis dis.

Landing in Thrace.

Terra procul vastis colitur Mavortia campis, Thraces arant, acri quondam regnata Lycurgo, hospitium antiquum Troiae sociique Penates, dum fortuna fuit. Feror huc, et litore curvo moenia prima loco, fatis ingressus iniquis, Aeneadasque meo nomen de nomine fingo.

Tomb of the Murdered Polydorus.

Sacra Dionaeae matri divisque ferebam auspicibus coeptorum operum, superoque nitentem caelicolum regi mactabam in litore taurum. Forte fuit iuxta tumulus, quo cornea summo virgulta et densis hastilibus horrida myrtus. Accessi, viridemque ab humo convellere silvam conatus, ramis tegerem ut frondentibus aras, horrendum et dictu video mirabile monstrum. Nam, quae prima solo ruptis radicibus arbos.

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vellitur, huic atro liquuntur sanguine guttae,

et terram tabo maculant. Mihi frigidus horror
membra quatit, gelidusque coit formidine sanguis.
Rursus et alterius lentum convellere vimen
insequor, et causas penitus temptare latentis:
ater et alterius sequitur de cortice sanguis.
Multa movens animo nymphas venerabar agrestis
Gradivumque patrem, Geticis qui praesidet arvis,
rite secundarent visus omenque levarent.
Tertia sed postquam maiore hastilia nisu

adgredior, genibusque adversae obluctor arenae-
eloquar, an sileam? - gemitus lacrimabilis imo
auditur tumulo, et vox reddita fertur ad auris :
'Quid miserum, Aenea, laceras? Iam parce sepulto;
parce pias scelerare manus. Non me tibi Troia
externum tulit, aut cruor hic de stipite manat.
Heu, fuge crudelis terras, fuge litus avarum:
nam Polydorus ego; hic confixum ferrea texit
telorum seges et iaculis increvit acutis.'

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Tum vero ancipiti mentem formidine pressus obstipui, steteruntque comae et vox faucibus haesit. Hunc Polydorum auri quondam cum pondere magno infelix Priamus furtim mandarat alendum

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Threicio regi, cum iam diffideret armis
Dardaniae, cingique urbem obsidione videret.
Ille, ut opes fractae Teucrum, et fortuna recessit,
res Agamemnonias victriciaque arma secutus,
fas omne abrumpit; Polydorum obtruncat, et auro
vi potitur. Quid non mortalia pectora cogis,
auri sacra fames? Postquam pavor ossa reliquit,
delectos populi ad proceres primumque parentem
monstra deum refero, et quae sit sententia posco.
Omnibus idem animus, scelerata excedere terra,
linqui pollutum hospitium, et dare classibus austros.

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