Page:The Aeneid of Virgil JOHN CONINGTON 1917 V2.pdf/219

 The sun had climbed in full blaze the central cope of heaven, when from afar they see walls, and a citadel, and the roofs of straggling habitations—the place which the power of Rome has now made to mate the skies: then it was but Evander's poor domain. At once they     5 turn their prows to land and approach the town.

It happened that on that day the Arcadian monarch was performing a yearly sacrifice to Amphitryon's mighty child[o] and the heavenly brotherhood in a grove before the city. With him his son Pallas, with him all the prime of     10 his warriors and his unambitious senate were offering incense, and the new-shed blood was steaming warm on the altar. Soon as they saw tall ships gliding toward them through the shadowy trees, and plying the oar in silence, alarmed by the sudden apparition, each and all start up     15 from the sacrificial board. Pallas, bolder than the rest, bids them not break the sacred observance, and snatching up a weapon flies himself to meet the strangers, and from a height at distance, "Warriors," he cries, "what cause has led you to venture on a path you know not?     20 whither are you bound? what is your nation, your family? is it peace you bring us or war?" Then father Æneas bespeaks him thus from the lofty stern, stretching forth in his hand a branch of peaceful olive: "These are Trojans you see. These weapons mean hostility to the             25 Latins, who have driven us from their land by a tyrannous war. Our errand is to Evander. Take back our message, and say that chosen chiefs of Dardany are at his gate, praying for an armed alliance." That mighty name struck awe into Pallas. "Disembark," he cries, "whoever     30 you be, and speak to my sire in person, and come beneath our home-gods' hospitable shelter," and gave his hand in welcome, and clung to the hand he clasped. They advance under the shade of the grove, and leave the river behind. 35

Then Æneas addresses the king with friendly courtesy: "Best of the sons of Greece, to whom it has pleased Fortune that I should make my prayer and stretch out boughs