Lo, even as he spake the word the cloud that wrapped them cleaves, And in the open space of heaven no dusk behind it leaves; And there Æneas stood and shone amid the daylight clear, With face and shoulders of a God: for loveliness of hair His mother breathed upon her son, and purple light of youth, 590 And joyful glory of the eyes: e'en as in very sooth The hand gives ivory goodliness, or when the Parian stone, Or silver with the handicraft of yellow gold is done: And therewithal unto the Queen doth he begin to speak, Unlooked-for of all men: "Lo here the very man ye seek, Trojan Æneas, caught away from Libyan seas of late! Thou, who alone of toils of Troy hast been compassionate, Who takest us, the leavings poor of Danaan sword, outworn With every hap of earth and sea, of every good forlorn, To city and to house of thine: to thank thee to thy worth, 600 Dido, my might may compass not; nay, scattered o'er the earth The Dardan folk, for what thou dost may never give thee meed: But if somewhere a godhead is the righteous man to heed, If justice is, or any soul to note the right it wrought, May the Gods give thee due reward. What joyful ages brought Thy days to birth? what mighty ones gave such an one today? Now while the rivers seaward run, and while the shadows stray O'er hollow hills, and while the pole the stars is pasturing wide, Still shall thine honour and thy name, still shall thy praise abide What land soever calleth me." 610 Therewith his right hand sought His very friend Ilioneus, his left Serestus caught, And then the others, Gyas strong, Cloanthus strong in fight. Sidonian Dido marvelled much, first at the hero's sight, Then marvelled at the haps he had, and so such word doth say: "O Goddess-born, what fate is this that ever dogs thy way With such great perils? What hath yoked thy life to this wild shore? And art thou that Æneas then, whom holy Venus bore Unto Anchises, Dardan lord, by Phrygian Simoïs' wave? Of Teucer unto Sidon come a memory yet I have, Who, driven from out his fatherland, was seeking new abode 620 By Belus' help: but Belus then, my father, over-rode Cyprus the rich, and held the same as very conquering lord: So from that tide I knew of Troy and bitter Fate's award, I knew of those Pelasgian kings--yea, and I knew thy name. He then, a foeman, added praise to swell the Teucrian fame, And oft was glad to deem himself of ancient Teucer's line. So hasten now to enter in 'neath roofs of me and mine. Me too a fortune such as yours, me tossed by many a toil, Hath pleased to give abiding-place at last upon this soil, Learned in illhaps full wise am I unhappy men to aid." 630