Latin poetry -- Adaptations; Virgil -- Adaptations
And Venus said, "Nay, stranger, I am not such as ye think. We virgins
of Tyre are wont to carry a quiver and to wear a buskin of purple. For
indeed it is a Tyrian city that is hard by, though the land be Lybia.
And of this city Dido is queen, having come hither from Tyre, flying
from the wrong-doing of her brother. And indeed the story of the thing
is long, but I will recount the chief matter thereof to thee. The
husband of this Dido was one Sichæus, richest among all the men of
Phœnicia, and greatly beloved of his wife, whom he married from a
virgin. Now the brother of this Sichæus was Pygmalion, the king of the
country, and he exceeded all men in wickedness. And when there arose a
quarrel between them, the king, being exceedingly mad after gold, took
him unaware, even as he did sacrifice at the altar, and slew him. And
the king hid the matter many days from Dido, and cheated her with
false hopes. But at the last there came to her in her dreams the
likeness of the dead man, baring his wounds and showing the wickedness
which had been done. Also he bade her make haste and fly from that
land, and, that she might do this the more easily, told her of great
treasure, gold and silver, that was hidden in the earth. And Dido,
being much moved by these things, made ready for flight; also she
sought for companions, and there came together to her all as many as
hated the king or feared him. Then did they seize ships that chanced
to be ready, and laded them with gold, even the treasure of King
Pygmalion, and so fled across the sea. And in all this was a woman the
leader. Then came they to this place, where thou seest the walls and
citadel of Carthage, and bought so much land as they could cover with
a bull's hide. And now do ye answer me this, Whence come ye, and
whither do ye go?"
Then answered Æneas, "Should I tell the whole story of our wanderings,
and thou have leisure to hear, evening would come ere I could make an
end. We are men of Troy, who, having journeyed over many seas, have
now been driven by storms to this shore of Lybia. And as for me, men
call me the prince Æneas. The land I seek is Italy, and my race is
from Jupiter himself. With twenty ships did I set sail, going in the
way whereon the Gods sent me. And of these scarce seven are left. And
now, seeing that Europe and Asia endure me not, I wander over the
desert places of Africa."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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