Classic Poem

EIGHTH BOOK, LINES 337 66

This scarcely uttered they advance, and straight
He shows the Altar and Carmental Gate,
Which (such the record) by its Roman name
Preserves the nymph Carmenta's ancient fame,
Who first the glories of the Trojan line
Predicted, and the noble Pallantine.
Next points he out an ample sylvan shade
Which Romulus a fit asylum made,
Turns thence, and bids Aeneas fix his eyes
Where under a chill rock Lupercal lies
Named from Lycaean Pan, in old Arcadian guise.
Nor left he unobserved the neighbouring wood
Of sacred Argiletum, stained with blood.
There Argos fell, his guest — the story told,
To the Tarpeian Rock their way they hold
And to the Capitol now bright with gold, —
In those far-distant times a spot forlorn
With brambles choked and rough with savage thorn.
Even then an influence of religious awe
The rustics felt, subdued by what they saw,
The local spirit creeping through their blood,
Even then they feared the rocks, they trembled at the wood.
" This grove (said he) this leaf-crowned hill — some God
How named we know not, takes for his abode,
The Arcadians think that Jove himself aloft
Hath here declared his presence oft and oft,
Shaking his lurid Aegis in their sight
And covering with fierce clouds the stormy height.
Here also see two mouldering towns that lie
Mournful remains of buried ancestry;
That Citadel did father Janus frame,
And Saturn this, each bears the Founder's name.

Conversing thus their onward course they bent
To poor Evander's humble tenement;
Herds range the Roman Forum; in the street
Of proud Carinae bellowing herds they meet;
When they had reached the house, he said " This gate
Conquering Alcides entered, his plain state
This palace lodged; O guest, like him forbear
To frown on scanty means and homely fare;
Dare riches to despise; with aim as high
Mount thou, and train thyself for Deity."

This said, through that low door he leads his guest,
The great Aeneas, to a couch of rest.
There propped he lay on withered leaves, o'erspread
With a bear's skin in Libyan desarts bred.