Latin poetry -- Adaptations; Virgil -- Adaptations
So Æneas came to the land of Italy, nigh unto Cumæ, which was the
dwelling-place of the Sibyl. And the men turned the forepart of the
ships to the sea, and made them fast with anchors. Then they leapt
forth upon the shore, and kindled a fire; and some cut wood in the
forest, or fetched water from the stream. But Æneas went up to the
great cave of the Sibyl, where, by the inspiration of Apollo, she
foretelleth things to come.
Now the temple was a marvellous place to look upon. For Dædalus, when
he fled from Minos, King of Crete, flying through the air upon wings,
came northwards to the land of Cumæ, and tarried there. Also he
dedicated his wings in the temple. On the doors thereof was set forth,
graven in stone, the death of Androgeos, and the men of Attica
choosing by lot seven of their children who should be given as a
ransom yearly; and, rising from the sea upon the other side, the land
of Crete. Likewise the Labyrinth was there and its winding ways; but
Icarus they saw not, for when his father would have wrought the manner
of his death in gold his hands failed him: twice he strove and twice
they failed. And when Æneas would have looked further, the priestess
said, "Linger not with these things, but slay forthwith seven bullocks
from the herd, and seven sheep duly chosen out of the flock." And when
they came to the cave--now there are a hundred doors, and a voice
cometh forth from each--the Sibyl cried, "It is time. Lo! the god, the
god!" And even as she spake her look was changed and the colour of her
face; also her hair was loosened, and her breast panted, and she waxed
greater than is the stature of a man. Then she cried, "Delayest thou
to pray, Æneas of Troy? delayest thou? for the doors open not but to
prayer." Nor said she more. Then Æneas prayed, saying, "O Phœbus, who
didst always pity the sorrows of Troy, and didst guide the arrow of
Paris that it slew the great Achilles, I have followed thy bidding,
journeying over many lands, and now I lay hold on this shore of Italy,
which ever seemed to fly before me. Grant thou that our ill fortune
follow us no more. And all ye Gods and Goddesses who loved not Troy,
be merciful to us. And thou, O Prophetess, give, if it may be, such
answer as I would hear. So will I and my people honour thee for ever.
And write it not, I pray thee, upon leaves, lest the winds carry them
away, but speak with thy voice."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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