Page:The Aeneid of Virgil JOHN CONINGTON 1917 V2.pdf/217

 stretched himself on the bank under heaven's chilly cope, and let repose at last steal over his frame. Before him appeared in person the god of the place, old Tiber of the pleasant stream, rising among the poplar foliage: a gray mantle of transparent linen floated about him, and his     5 hair was shaded with bushy reeds: and thus he began to address the chief and relieve his care: "O offspring of heaven's stock, who are bringing back to us safe from the foe the city of Troy, and preserving Pergamus in enduring life, yourself looked for long on the Laurentian     10 soil and in the fields of Latium, here is your abiding place of rest, here, distrust it not, permanence for your home-gods: let not war's threatenings make you afraid, the swellings of the anger of heaven have all given way. Even now, that you may not think this the idle coinage      15 of sleep, under the oaks on the bank you shall find an enormous swine lying with a litter of thirty head just born, white herself throughout her lazy length, her children round her breasts as white as she: a sign that when thirty years have made their circuit, Ascanius shall found      20 that city known by the illustrious name of the White. Of no doubtful issue are these words of mine. Now for the way in which you may triumphantly unravel the present knot, grant me your attention, and I will show you in brief. On this my coast, Arcadians, a race sprung     25 from Pallas, who have followed king Evander and his banner, have chosen themselves a site and built a city on the hills, called from the name of their ancestor Pallas, Pallanteum. These are forever engaged in war with the Latian nation: let them join your camp as allies, and     30 make league with them. I myself will lead you between the banks, straight along my stream, that as you journey up your oars may surmount the adverse current. Up then, goddess-born, and ere the stars have well set, offer prayer in due course to Juno, and overbear with suppliant     35 vows her anger and her menace. Once triumphant, you shall pay your worship to me. I am he whom you see here with brimming flood grazing the banks and