The Children's Hour, Volume 3 (of 10): Stories from the Classics
General
The Children's Hour, Volume 3 (of 10): Stories from the Classics
Children's stories; Classical literature -- Adaptations
And when these things were done--for Anna knew not of her purpose--and
also an image of Æneas was laid upon the pile, the priestess, with her
hair unbound, called upon all the gods that dwell below, sprinkling
thereon water that was drawn, she said, from the lake of Avernus, and
scattering evil herbs that had been cut at the full moon with a sickle of
bronze. Dido also, with one foot bare and her garments loosened, threw
meal upon the fire and called upon the gods, if haply there be any, that
look upon those that love and suffer wrong.
In the mean time Æneas lay asleep in the hind part of his ship, when there
appeared to him in a dream the god Mercury, even as he had seen him when
he brought the commandment of Jupiter. And Mercury spake, saying, "Son of
Venus, canst thou sleep? seest thou not what perils surround thee, nor
hearest how the favorable west wind calls? The queen purposes evil against
thee. If thou lingerest till the morning come thou wilt see the shore
covered with them that wish thee harm. Fly, then, and tarry not; for a
woman is ever of many minds."
Then did Æneas in great fear start from his sleep, and call his
companions, saying, "Wake, and sit on the benches, and loose the sails.
'Tis a god thus bids us fly." And even as he spake he cut the cable with
his sword. And all hasted to follow him, and sped over the sea.
And now it was morning, and Queen Dido, from her watch-tower, saw the
ships upon the sea. Then she smote upon her breast and tore her hair, and
cried, "Shall this stranger mock us thus? Hasten to follow him. Bring down
the ships from the docks, make ready sword and fire. And this was the man
who bare upon his shoulders his aged father. Why did I not tear him to
pieces, and slay his companions with the sword, and serve up the young
Ascanius at his meal? And if I had perished, what then? for I die to-day.
O Sun, that regardest all the earth, and Juno, that carest for marriage
bonds, and Hecate, Queen of the dead, and ye Furies that take vengeance on
evil-doers, hear me. If it be ordered that he reach that land, yet grant
that he suffer many things from his enemies, and be driven from his city,
and beg for help from strangers, and see his people cruelly slain with the
sword; and, when he shall have made peace on ill conditions, that he enjoy
not long his kingdoms, but die before his day, and lie unburied on the
plain. And ye, men of Tyre, hate his children and his people forever. Let
there be no love or peace between you. And may some avenger arise from my
grave who shall persecute the race of Dardanus with fire and sword. So
shall there be war forever between him and me."
Then she spake to old Barce, who had been nurse to her husband Sichæus,
"Bid my sister bathe herself in water, and bring with her beasts for
sacrifice. And do thou also put a garland about thy head, for I am minded
to finish this sacrifice which I have begun, and to burn the image of the
man of Troy."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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