Thus at their last departing-tide the father poured the prayer, Whom, fainting now, the serving-men back within doors must bear; While forth from out the open gate the host of horsemen ride, Æneas and Achates leal in forefront of their pride, And then the other Trojan lords: amidst the company, In cloak adorned and painted arms, was Pallas fair to see: E'en such as Lucifer, when he bathed in the ocean stream, The light beloved of Venus well o'er every starry beam, 590 Hath raised his holy head in heaven and down the darkness rent. The fearful mothers on the walls their eyen after sent, Following the dusty cloud of them and ranks of glittering brass. But mid the thicket places there by nighest road they pass Unto their end in weed of war: with shout and serried band The clattering hooves of four-foot things shake down the dusty land. There is a mighty thicket-place by chilly Cæres' side, By ancient dread of fathers gone held holy far and wide: A place that hollow hills shut in and pine-wood black begirds. Men say that to Silvanus erst, the God of fields and herds, 600 The old Pelasgi hallowed it, and made a holy day, E'en those who in the time agone on Latin marches lay. No great way hence the Tuscan folk and Tarcho held them still In guarded camp; the host of them from rising of a hill Might now be seen, as far and wide they spread about the field. Father Æneas and his folk, the mighty under shield, Speed hither, and forewearied now their steeds and bodies tend. But through the clouds of heavenly way doth fair white Venus wend, Bearing the gift; who when she saw in hidden valley there Her son afar, apart from men by river cool and fair, 610 Then kind she came before his eyes, and in such words she spake: "These promised gifts, my husband's work, O son, I bid thee take: So shalt thou be all void of doubt, O son, when presently Laurentines proud and Turnus fierce thou bidst the battle try."