XXXVIII. Next came the Salians, dancing as they sung Around the blazing altars. Poplar crowned Their brows; a double chorus, old and young, Chant forth the glories and the deeds renowned Of Hercules; how, potent to confound His stepdame's hate, he crushed the serpents twain; What towns in war he levelled to the ground, Troy and OEchalia; how with infinite pain Eurystheus' tasks he sped, and Juno's fates were vain: XXXIX. "Oh thou, unconquered, whose resistless hand Smote the twin giants of the cloud-born crew, Pholus, Hylaeus; and the Cretan land Freed from its monster; and in Nemea slew The lion! Styx hath trembled at thy view, And Cerberus, when, smeared with gore, he lay On bones half-mumbled in his darksome mew. Thee not Typhoeus, when in armed array He towered erect, could daunt, nor grisly shapes dismay. XL. "Prompt was thy wit, when, powerless to prevail, Around thee twined, the beast of Lerna's fen Hissed with the legion of its heads. O hail, True son of Jove, the praise of mortal men, And Heaven's new glory. Hither turn thy ken, And cheer thy votaries." So with heart and will They chant his praise, nor less the monster's den, And Cacus, breathing flames. The loud notes fill The sacred grove around, and echo to the hill. XLI. The rites thus ended, to the town they fare. In front, the good Evander, old and grey, Moves 'twixt AEneas and his youthful heir, And oft with various converse, as they stray, Beguiles the lightened labour of the way. Now this, now that the Trojan chief admires, Filled with new pleasure, as his eyes survey Each place in turn. Oft, gladly he enquires The tokens, one by one, and tales of ancient sires. XLII. Then he, who built the citadel of Rome, Spake thus--the good Evander: "Yonder view The forest; 'twas the Fauns' and Wood-nymphs' home. Their birth from trunks and rugged oaks they drew; No arts they had, nor settled life, nor knew To yoke the ox, or lay up stores, or spare What wealth they gathered; but their wants were few; The branches gave them sustenance, whate'er In toilsome chase they won, composed their scanty fare. XLIII. "Then first came Saturn from Olympus' height, Flying from Jove, his kingdom barred and banned, He taught the scattered hillsmen to unite, And gave them laws, and bade the name to stand Of Latium, he safe latent in the land. Then tranquilly the happy seasons rolled Year after year, and Peace, with plenteous hand, Smiled on his sceptre. 'Twas the Age of Gold, So well his placid sway the willing folk controlled.