With rays of burning light, and a sudden rumor Runs through the Trojan ranks that the day has come To build the city due them. Cheered by the omen, They hurry on the feast, set out the wine-bowls, Crown them with garlands. And on the next bright morning As light streamed over the earth, they took the bearings For city and land and coast-line; here they found Numicius’ fountain, here the river Tiber, Here the brave Latins dwell. A hundred envoys, Picked men of every station, Aeneas orders To go to King Latinus’ noble city: They must bear gifts, be crowned with leaves of olive, Appeal for peace. They hurry at his bidding. Aeneas himself marks where the walls shall rise, With a shallow trench, studies the site, and circles The settlement, like a camp, with moat and rampart. And his ambassadors had made their journey; They were seeing, now, the Latin towers and roof-tops, And, on suburban plains, young men in training, Breaking their steeds to saddle or car, or drawing The bow, or hurling darts, daring each other To fights and races. A courier, at the gallop, Brought the king word that foreigners were coming, Big men, in strange attire. He bade them welcome, And took his place, high on the throne, before them. That was a mighty palace, rising high Over the city, with a hundred columns; Picus had ruled from there, and the place was holy With sacred forest and revered tradition. Here kings received the sceptre, here uplifted The bundled rods of power; here was their senate, Their banquet-hall, their temple; here the elders Made sacrifice, faced the long line of tables. And here were statues of the ancient fathers, Carved out of cedar, Italus, Sabinus, The planter of the vine, whose image guarded The curving sickle, and Saturn, and two-faced Janus, All standing in the hallways; and other kings From the very first beginning; and warriors wounded Fighting for homeland. On the door were hanging The consecrated arms; and there were chariots, Trophies of battle, curving axes, helmets And helmet-plumes, bars wrenched from gates, and javelins, And shields, and beaks of captured ships. Quirinus, The god (on earth the hero, Romulus), Was seated, holding the sacred staff of office, Wearing the augur’s robe; and near him Picus, Tamer of horses, whom that lovesick woman, Circe, his wife, had struck with her golden wand, And changed by magic spells into a bird Whose wings were of many colors.