And wear his life inglorious there: then shalt thou bid the hand Of Carthage weigh Ausonia down, and nothing shall withstand The towns of Tyre.--Ah, what availed to 'scape the bane of war? Ah, what availed that through the midst of Argive flames they bore To wear down perils of wide lands, and perils of the main, While Teucrian men sought Latin land and Troy new-born again? Ah, better had it been for them by Troy's cold ash to stay, To dwell on earth where Troy hath been. Father, give back, I pray, 60 Their Xanthus and their Simoïs unto that wretched folk, And let them toil and faint once more 'neath Ilium's woeful yoke!" Then spake Queen Juno, heavy wroth: "Why driv'st thou me to part My deep-set silence, and lay bare with words my grief of heart? What one of all the Gods or men Æneas drave to go On warring ways, or bear himself as King Latinus' foe? Fate-bidden he sought Italy?--Yea, soothly, or maybe Spurned by Cassandra's wilderment--and how then counselled we To leave his camp and give his life to make the winds a toy? To trust his walls and utmost point of war unto a boy? 70 To trust the Tuscan faith, and stir the peaceful folk to fight? What God hath driven him to lie, what hardness of my might? Works Juno here, or Iris sent adown the cloudy way? 'Tis wrong for Italy, forsooth, the ring of fire to lay Round Troy new-born; for Turnus still to hold his fathers' earth!-- Though him, Pilumnus' own son's son, Venilia brought to birth-- But what if Trojans fall with flame upon the Latin folk, And drive the prey from off their fields oppressed by outland yoke? Or choose them sons-in-law, or brides from mothers' bosoms tear? Or, holding peace within their hands, lade ships with weapon-gear? 80 Thou erst hadst might from Greekish hands Æneas' self to draw, To thrust a cloud and empty wind in stead of man of war, And unto sea-nymphs ship by ship the ship-host mayst thou change. But we to help the Rutuli, 'tis horrible and strange! --Unware Æneas is away?--let him abide unware! Paphus thou hast, Idalium, and high Cythera fair, Then why with cities big with war and hearts of warriors deal? What! we it was who strove to wrack the fainting Trojan weal? We!--or the one who thwart the Greeks the wretched Trojans dashed? Yea, and what brought it all about that thus in arms they clashed, 90 Europe and Asia? that men brake the plighted peace by theft? Did I the Dardan lecher lead, who Sparta's jewel reft? Did I set weapons in his hand, breed lust to breed debate? Then had thy care for thine been meet, but now indeed o'erlate With wrongful plaint thou risest up, and bickerest emptily."