Page:The Aeneid of Virgil JOHN CONINGTON 1917 V2.pdf/245

 heed, nor let these our proffers be judged by our years. The Rutulians, unnerved by sleep and wine, are hushed in silence: we have ourselves observed a place for a stealthy move, open through the passage of the gate which abuts on the sea. The line of fires is broken, and only     5 dusky smoke rises to the sky: give us but leave to make use of fortune, and go in quest of Æneas and the walls of Pallanteum, soon shall you see us here again after a mighty carnage, laden with spoils. Nor can the way mislead us as we go: we have seen in the dimness of the vale the outskirts     10 of the city while persevering in our hunting, and have made acquaintance with the whole river's course." Then spoke Aletes, weighty with years and ripe of understanding: "Gods of our fathers, whose constant presence watches over Troy, not yet in spite of all do ye purpose to     15 make an utter end of us Teucrians, when such are the spirits and so steadfast the hearts ye breed in our youth." As he said this, he kept embracing the necks and hands of both, and bathing his cheeks in floods of tears. "What guerdons, gallant men, what can I fancy of worth enough     20 to pay you for glories like these? First and richest of all will be the praise of heaven and your own hearts: next to these you will receive the rest without fail from good Æneas and young Ascanius, who will never forget a service so great." "Nay," cries Ascanius, "let me speak, me,     25 whose safety is bound up with my sire's return: by our great household gods I adjure you, Nisus, by the deity of Assaracus' house and the shrine of reverend Vesta—all my fortune, all my trust, I place in your hands: bring back my father, let me see him again; he once restored,     30 all grief is over. I will give you a pair of goblets wrought with silver and rough from the chasing-tool, which my father took when he conquered Arisba, a couple of tripods, two great talents of gold, and an ancient bowl, Sidonian Dido its donor. But if it be our victorious fortune to     35 conquer Italy and attain the crown, and appoint the lot for the booty—you saw the horse which Turnus rode, the arms in which he moved all golden—that horse, that