Now midst these stirs and flaming broils the messengers are here From Diomedes' mighty walls; and little is the cheer Wherewith they bring the tidings back that every whit hath failed Their toil and pains: that not a whit hath gold or gifts availed, Or mighty prayers, that Latin folk some other stay in war Must seek, or from the Trojan king a craven peace implore. 230 Then e'en Latinus' counsel failed amid such miseries: The wrath of God, the tombs new-wrought that lay before their eyes, Made manifest Æneas come by will of God and Fate. Therefore a mighty parliament, the firstlings of estate, By his commandment summoned there, unto his house he brings. Wherefore they gather, streaming forth unto that house of kings By the thronged ways: there in the midst Latinus sitteth now, First-born of years, first lord of rule, with little joyful brow. Hereon the men come back again from that Ætolian wall He biddeth tell their errand's speed, what answers did befall, 240 Each in their order: thereupon for speech was silence made, And Venulus, obeying him, suchwise began and said: "Friends, we have looked on Diomede and on the Argive home, And all the road and every hap thereby have overcome: Yea, soothly, we have touched the hand that wracked the Ilian earth: Argyripa he buildeth there, named from his land of birth, In Iapygian Garganus, where he hath conquered place. Where, entered in, and leave being given to speak before his face, We gave our gifts, and told our names, and whence of lands we were, Who waged us war, and for what cause to Arpi we must fare. 250 He hearkened and from quiet mouth gave answer thus again: