When lo, a sudden portent marvellous to view—stretched in milk-white length along the sward, herself of one hue with her white litter, conspicuous on the verdant bank is seen a sow, whom pious Æneas to thee, even to thee, mightiest Juno, immolates in sacrifice, and sets her 25 with all her brood before the altar. That whole night long Tiber smoothed his brimming stream, and so stood with hushed waves, half recoiling, as to lay down a watery floor as of some gentle lake or peaceful pool, that the oar might have nought to struggle with. So they begin their 30 voyage and speed with auspicious cheers. Smooth along the surface floats the anointed pine: marvelling stand the waters, marvelling the unwonted wood, to see the warriors’ shields gleaming far along the stream, and the painted vessels gliding between the banks. The rowers 35 give no rest to night or day, as they surmount the long meanders, sweep under the fringe of diverse trees, and cut through the woods that look green in the still expanse. The sun had climbed in full blaze the central cope of heaven, when from afar they see walls, and a citadel, and the roofs of straggling habitations—the place which the power of Rome has now made to mate the skies: then it was but Evander’s poor domain. At once they 5 turn their prows to land and approach the town. It happened that on that day the Arcadian monarch was performing a yearly sacrifice to Amphitryon’s mighty child[250] and the heavenly brotherhood in a grove before the city. With him his son Pallas, with him all the prime of 10 his warriors and his unambitious senate were offering incense, and the new-shed blood was steaming warm on the altar. Soon as they saw tall ships gliding toward them through the shadowy trees, and plying the oar in silence, alarmed by the sudden apparition, each and all start up 15 from the sacrificial board. Pallas, bolder than the rest, bids them not break the sacred observance, and snatching up a weapon flies himself to meet the strangers, and from a height at distance, “Warriors,” he cries, “what cause has led you to venture on a path you know not? 20 whither are you bound? what is your nation, your family? is it peace you bring us or war?” Then father Æneas bespeaks him thus from the lofty stern, stretching forth in his hand a branch of peaceful olive: “These are Trojans you see. These weapons mean hostility to the 25 Latins, who have driven us from their land by a tyrannous war. Our errand is to Evander. Take back our message, and say that chosen chiefs of Dardany are at his gate, praying for an armed alliance.” That mighty name struck awe into Pallas. “Disembark,” he cries, “whoever 30 you be, and speak to my sire in person, and come