Page:The Aeneid of Virgil JOHN CONINGTON 1917 V2.pdf/47

 full view far and wide over the sea, if haply he may see aught of Antheus, driven by the gale, and the Phrygian biremes,[o] or Capys, or high on the stern the arms of Caicus. Sail there is none in sight; three stags he sees at distance straying on the shore; these the whole herd follows in the     5 rear, and grazes along the hollows in long array. At once he took his stand, and caught up a bow and fleet arrows, which true Achates chanced to be carrying, and lays low first the leaders themselves, as they bear their heads aloft with tree-like antlers, then the meaner sort, and scatters with     10 his pursuing shafts the whole rout among the leafy woods; nor stays his hand till he stretches on earth victoriously seven huge bodies, and makes the sum of them even with his ships. Then he returns to the haven and gives all his comrades their shares. The wine next, which that good       15 Acestes had stowed in casks on the Trinacrian shore, and given them at parting with his own princely hand, he portions out, and speaks words of comfort to their sorrowing hearts:—

"Comrades! for comrades we are, no strangers to hardships     20 already; hearts that have felt deeper wounds! for these too heaven will find a balm. Why, men, you have even looked on Scylla[o] in her madness, and heard those yells that thrill the rocks; you have even made trial of the crags of the Cyclops.[o] Come, call your spirits back,     25 and banish these doleful fears—who knows but some day this too will be remembered[o] with pleasure? Through manifold chances, through these many perils of fortune, we are making our way to Latium, where the Fates hold out to us a quiet settlement; there Troy's empire has         30 leave to rise again from its ashes. Bear up, and reserve yourselves for brighter days."

Such were the words his tongue uttered; heart-sick[o] with overwhelming care, he wears the semblance of hope in his face, but has grief deep buried in his heart. They     35 gird themselves to deal with the game, their forthcoming meal; strip the hide from the ribs, and lay bare the flesh—some cut it into pieces, and impale it yet quivering on