XLIV. "Then waxed the times degenerate, and the stain With stealthy growth gave birth to deeds of shame, The rage of battle, and the lust of gain. Then came Ausonians, then Sicanians came, And oft the land of Saturn changed its name. Strange tyrants came, and ruled Italia's shore, Grim-visaged Thybris, of gigantic frame; His name henceforth the river Tiber bore, And Albula's old name was known, alas! no more. XLV. "Me, from my country driven forth to roam The utmost deep, perforce the Fates' design And Fortune's power drove hitherward. This home My mother, Nymph Carmentis, warned was mine; A god, Apollo, did these shores assign." So saying, he shows the altar and the gate Long called Carmental, from the Nymph divine, First seer who sang, with faithful voice, how great AEneas' race should rise, and Pallanteum's fate. XLVI. He shows the grove of Romulus, his famed Asylum; then, beneath the rock's cold crest Lupercal's cave, from Pan Lycaean named; Then, Argiletum's grove, whose shades attest The death of Argus, once the monarch's guest; Tarpeia's rock, the Capitolian height, Now golden--rugged 'twas of old, a nest Of tangled brakes, yet hallowed was the site E'en then, and wood and rock filled the rude hinds with fright. XLVII. "These wooded steeps," he said, "this sacred grove What godhead haunts, we know not; legends say Arcadians here have seen the form of Jove, And seen his right hand, with resistless sway, Shake the dread AEgis, and the clouds array. See, yon two cities, once renowned by fame, Now ruined walls and crumbling to decay; This Janus built, those walls did Saturn frame; Janiculum was this, that bore Saturnia's name." XLVIII. So talking, to Evander's lowly seat They journeyed. Herds were lowing on the plain, Where stand the Forum and Carinae's street. "These gates," said he, "did great Alcides deign To pass; this palace did the god contain. Dare thou to quit thee like the god, nor dread To scorn mere wealth, nor humble cheer disdain." So saying, AEneas through the door he led, And skins of Libyan bears on garnered leaves outspread. XLIX. Night, with dark wings descending, wrapt the world, When Venus, harassed, nor in vain, with fear, To see the menace at Laurentum hurled, To Vulcan, on his golden couch, drew near, Breathing immortal passion: "Husband dear, When Greeks the fated citadel of Troy With fire and sword were ravaging, or ere Her towers had fallen, I sought not to employ Arms, arts or aid of thine, their purpose to destroy.