Scarce had he spoken when the cloud that enveloped them suddenly parts asunder and clears into the open sky. 35 Out stood Æneas, and shone[107] again in the bright sunshine, his face and his bust the image of a god, for his great mother had shed graceful tresses over her son’s brow, and the glowing flush of youth, and had breathed the breath of beauty and gladness into his eyes, loveliness such as the artist’s touch imparts to ivory, or when silver or Parian marble is enchased[108] with yellow gold. Then he addresses the queen, and speaks suddenly to the astonishment 5 of all:—“Here am I whom you are seeking, before you,—Æneas, the Trojan, snatched from the jaws of the Libyan wave. O heart that alone of all has found pity for Troy’s cruel agonies—that makes us, poor remnants of Danaan fury, utterly spent by all the chances of land and 10 sea, destitute of all, partners of its city, of its very palace! To pay such a debt of gratitude, Dido, is more than we can do—more than can be done by all the survivors of the Dardan nation, now scattered the wide world over. May the gods—if there are powers that regard the pious, if 15 justice and conscious rectitude count for aught anywhere on earth—may they give you the reward you merit! What age had the happiness to bring you forth? what godlike parents gave such nobleness to the world? While the rivers run into the sea, while the shadows sweep along 20 the mountain-sides, while the stars draw life from the sky, your glory and your name and your praise shall still endure, whatever the land whose call I must obey.” So saying, he stretches out his right hand to his friend Ilioneus, his left to Serestus, and so on to others, gallant Gyas 25 and gallant Cloanthus.