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Rh Meantime in Vulcan's arms arrayed

Æneas mans his breast,

Rejoiced that offered truce has made

Two hosts from battle rest:

Then reassures his comrades' fears

And checks Iulus' starting tears,

Rehearsing Fate's decree,

And bids his envoys answer bear

To Latium's monarch, and declare

The terms of peace to be.

Scarce had the morn her radiance shed

On topmost mountain height,

When, leaving Ocean's oozy bed,

The Sun's fleet steeds, with upturned head,

Breathe out loose flakes of light.

Beneath the city's strong redoubt

Rutule and Trojan measure out

The combat's listed ground,

And altars in the midst prepare

For common sacrifice and prayer,

Piled up with grassy mound;

While others, girt with aprons, bring

Live coals and water from the spring,

Their brows with vervain bound.

Through the thronged gates the Ausonian band

Comes streaming onward, lance in hand:

Trojans and Tuscans all,

Equipped in arms of various show,

Come marshalled by their ranks, as though

They heard the battle's call.

Decked out with gold and purple dye,

From troop to troop the leaders fly,

Mnestheus, Assaracus's seed,

Asilas, chief divine,