She shall tell you of the nations of Italy, and the wars of the future, and the way to shun or stand the shock of every peril, and shall vouchsafe to your prayer the boon of a prosperous voyage. Such are the counsels which it is given you to receive from my 15 lips. Go on your way, and by your own actions lift to heaven the greatness of Troy.’ “Soon as the seer had thus uttered these words of kindness, he next orders massy gifts of gold and carved ivory to be carried on shipboard, and stores in the keels, a 20 weight of silver and caldrons of Dodona, a cuirass of chain-mail, three-threaded in gold, and a splendid helmet with cone and flowing crest, the armour of Neoptolemus. My father, too, has presents of his own. Horses, too, he gives, and guides too; makes up the complement of oars, 25 and arms the crews. Meanwhile Anchises was giving the word to rig the fleet, not to wear out the patience of a fair wind. Him the interpreter of Phœbus addresses with much pomp of courtesy: ‘Anchises, graced with the proud privilege of Venus’ wedded love, the special care 30 of the gods, whom they twice interposed to save from the fall of Pergamus, lo! there lies Ausonia’s land; for this make all sail. Yet what have I said? This coast you must needs sail past; far away yonder lies that part of Ausonia which Apollo reveals to you. Go on your way,’ 35 cries he, ‘blessed in a son so duteous! Why proceed further, and make the rising gales wait while I talk?’ As freely, too, Andromache, saddened with the grief of parting, presents Ascanius with robes pictured with gold embroidery, and a Phrygian scarf. She tires not in her bounty, but loads him with gifts of needlework, and bespeaks him thus: ‘Take, too, these, dear boy, to be a memorial of what my hands can do—a token for long 5 years of the affection of Andromache, Hector’s wife. Yes, take the last presents your kin can bestow, O sole surviving image of my own Astyanax[165]! Those eyes are his eyes, those hands his hands, that face his face, and he would now be growing to manhood by your side, in bloom 10 like yours!’ Tears started forth, as I addressed my parting words to the royal pair: ‘Live long and happily, as those should for whom the book of Fortune is closed. We, alas! are still called to turn page after page. You have won your rest: you have no expanse of sea to 15 plough, no Ausonian fields to chase, still retiring as you advance. Your eyes look upon a copy of the old Xanthus, upon a Troy which your own hands have made—made, I would hope and pray, with happier auspices, and with less peril of a visit from Greece. If the day ever 20 arrive when I shall enter Tiber and the fields that neighbour Tiber, and look on the walls which Fate has made