XCIII. So down to earth came Iris from on high On saffron wings all glittering with the dew. A thousand tints against the sunlit sky She flashed from out her rainbow as she flew, Then, hovering overhead, these words outthrew, "Behold, to Dis this offering I bear, And loose thee from thy body."--Forth she drew The fatal shears, and clipped the golden hair; The vital heats disperse, and life dissolves in air. BOOK FIVE ARGUMENT AEneas, unaware of Dido's fate, sails away to Acestes in Sicily, and prepares funeral games against the anniversary of Anchises' death (1-90). Offerings are paid to the spirit of Anchises. Sicilians and Trojans assemble for the first contest, a boat race (91-140), which is described at length. Cloanthus, ancestor of the Cluentii, wins with the "Scylla" (141-342). The foot-race is next narrated. Euryalus, by his friend's cunning, gains the first prize, and the scene shifts (343-441) to the ring, in which Dares is defeated by the veteran Entellus, who fells the ox, his prize, as an offering to his master Eryx (442-594). After some wonderful shooting in the archery which follows, AEneas awards the first prize to Acestes, as the favourite of the gods (595-667). Before this contest is over AEneas summons Ascanius and his boy-companions to perform the elaborate manoeuvres afterwards celebrated in Rome as the "Trojan Ride" (668-729). Juno schemes to destroy the Trojan fleet, while the games are being held. She inspires with discontent the Trojan matrons, who are not present at the festival. They set fire to the ships (730-810). Ascanius hurries to the scene. Jupiter sends rain and saves all the ships but four (811-855). Nautes advises AEneas to leave behind the weak and aged with Acestes. The wraith of Anchises enforces the advice, and bids AEneas visit him in the nether-world (856-909). Preparations for departure. Acestes accepts his new subjects, and the Trojans depart. Venus prevails on Neptune to grant them safe convoy in return for the life of the helmsman Palinurus, who is drowned (910-1062). I. Now well at sea, AEneas, fixt in mind, Held on his course, and cleft the watery ways Through billows blackened by the northern wind, And backward on the city bent his gaze, Bright with the flames of Dido. Whence the blaze Arose, they knew not; but the pangs they knew When love is passionate, and man betrays, And what a frantic woman scorned can do, And many a sad surmise their boding thoughts pursue. II. The fleet was on mid-ocean; land no more Was visible, nor aught but sea and sky; When lo! above them a black cloud, that bore Tempest and Night, frowned iron-dark on high, And the wave, shuddering as the wind swept by, Curled and was darkened. From the stern loud cries The pilot Palinurus: "Whence and why This cloudy rack that gathers o'er the skies? What, father Neptune, now, what mischief dost devise?"