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270 Nor chose in vain for arms to task

Thy labour or thy grace,

Though much to Priam's sons I owed,

And oft my tears of pity flowed

For my Æneas' case.

And now his foot, by Jove's command,

Is planted on Rutulian land.

Thus then behold me suppliant here,

Low at those knees I most revere:

Behold a tender mother plead:

Arms are the boon, her son's the need.

Not vainly Nereus' daughter pled:

Not vain the tears Aurora shed.

What nations, see, what towns combine,

To draw the sword 'gainst me and mine!'

She ceased: her snowy arms enwound

Her faltering husband round and round.

The wonted fire at once he feels:

Through all his veins the passion steals,

Swift as the lightning's fiery glare

Runs glimmering through the thunderous air.

His spouse in conscious beauty smiled

To see his heart by love beguiled.

Smit to the core with heavenly fire

In fondling tone returns the sire:

'Why stray so far thy pleas to seek?

Has trust in Vulcan grown so weak?

Had such, my queen, been then thy bent,

E'en then to Troy had arms been lent,

Nor Jove nor Fate refused to give

To Priam ten more years to live.

And now, if war be in the air

And battle's need thy present care,

What molten gold or iron can

With fire to fuse and winds to fan,