The Junior Classics, Volume 3: Tales from Greece and Rome
General
The Junior Classics, Volume 3: Tales from Greece and Rome
Children's literature; Mythology, Classical -- Juvenile literature
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 Libya. 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. 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 Libya. And as for me, men call
me 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 whereof 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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