XXIX. He spake: Ilioneus this answer gave: "O King, blest seed of Faunus! Star nor strand Misled us, nor hath stress of storm or wave Forced us to seek the shelter of your land. Freewill hath brought us hither, forethought planned Our flight; for we are outcasts, every one, The toil-worn remnant of an exiled band, Driven from a mighty empire; mightier none In bygone years was known beneath the wandering sun. XXX. "From Jove we spring; Jove Dardans hail with joy Their parent; he who sends us is our lord AEneas, Jove-born and a prince of Troy. How fierce a tempest from Mycenae poured O'er Ida's fields; how Fate with fire and sword Made Europe clash with Asia, he hath known Whoe'er to Ocean's limits hath explored The utmost earth, or in the central zone Dwells, if a man there be, in torrid climes unknown. XXXI. "Swept by that deluge o'er the deep, we crave A home for home-gods, shelter on the strand, And man's free privilege of air and wave. We shall not shame the lustre of your land, Nor stint the gratitude kind deeds demand. Grant Troy a refuge, and Ausonians ne'er Shall rue the welcome proffered by your hand. Yea, scorn us not, that thus unsought we bear The lowly suppliant's wreath, and speak the words of prayer. XXXII. "Full many a people,--let the fates attest Of great AEneas, and his hand of might, Ne'er pledged in vain, our bravest and our best-- Full many a tribe, though lowly be our plight, Have sought with ours their fortunes to unite. Fate bade us seek your country and her King. Hither, where Dardanus first saw the light, Apollo back the Dardan race would bring, To Tuscan Tiber's banks and pure Numicius' spring. XXXIII. "These gifts AEneas to our charge commends, Poor relics saved from Ilion, but a sign Of ancient greatness, and the gifts of friends. See, from this golden goblet at the shrine His sire Anchises poured the sacred wine; Clad in these robes sat Priam, when of old The laws he ministered. These robes are thine, This sceptre, this embroidered vest,--behold, 'Twas wrought by Trojan dames,--this diadem of gold." XXXIV. Mute sat and motionless, with looks bent down, Latinus; but his restless eyes confessed His musings. Not the sceptre nor the gown Of purple moved him, but his pensive breast Dwelt on his daughter's marriage, till he guessed The meaning of old Faunus. This was he, His destined heir, the bridegroom and the guest, Whose glorious progeny, by Fate's decree, The Latin throne should share, and rule from sea to sea.