With manly force, and with undaunted hearts: With our united strength the war we waged; With equal numbers, equal arms, engaged: You see the event.--Now hear what I propose, To save our friends, and satisfy our foes. A tract of land the Latians have possessed Along the Tyber, stretching to the west, Which now Rutulians and Auruncans till, And their mixed cattle graze the fruitful hill. Those mountains filled with firs, that lower land, If you consent, the Trojans shall command, Called into part of what is ours; and there, On terms agreed, the common country share. There let them build and settle, if they please; Unless they chuse once more to cross the seas, In search of seats remote from Italy, And from unwelcome inmates set us free. Then twice ten galleys let us build with speed, Or twice as many more, if more they need. Materials are at hand: a well-grown wood Runs equal with the margin of the flood: Let them the number and the form assign; The care and cost of all the stores be mine. To treat the peace, a hundred senators Shall be commissioned hence with ample powers, With olive crowned: the presents they shall bear, } A purple robe, a royal ivory chair, } And all the marks of sway that Latian monarchs wear, } And sums of gold. Among yourselves debate This great affair, and save the sinking state." Then Drances took the word, who grudged, long since, The rising glories of the Daunian prince. Factious and rich, bold at the council-board, } But cautious in the field, he shunned the sword-- } A close caballer, and tongue-valiant lord. } Noble his mother was, and near the throne; But, what his father's parentage, unknown. He rose, and took the advantage of the times, To load young Turnus with invidious crimes. "Such truths, O king," said he, "your words contain, As strike the sense, and all replies are vain; Nor are your loyal subjects now to seek What common needs require, but fear to speak. Let him give leave of speech, that haughty man, Whose pride this inauspicious war began; For whose ambition, (let me dare to say, Fear set apart, though death is in my way,) The plains of Latium run with blood around; So many valiant heroes bite the ground; Dejected grief in every face appears; A town in mourning, and a land in tears; While he, the undoubted author of our harms, The man who menaces the gods with arms, Yet, after all his boasts, forsook the fight, And sought his safety in ignoble flight. Now, best of kings, since you propose to send Such bounteous presents to your Trojan friend; Add yet a greater at our joint request, One which he values more than all the rest: Give him the fair Lavinia for his bride; } With that alliance let the league be tied, }