Then me to Trojan Helenus resigned, And his two slaves in equal marriage joined; Till young Orestes, pierced with deep despair, } And longing to redeem the promised fair, } Before Apollo's altar slew the ravisher. } By Pyrrhus' death the kingdom we regained: At least one half with Helenus remained. Our part, from Chaon, he Chaonia calls, And names, from Pergamus, his rising walls. But you what fates have landed on our coast? What gods have sent you, or what storms have tossed? Does young Ascanius life and health enjoy, Saved from the ruins of unhappy Troy? O! tell me how his mother's loss he bears, } What hopes are promised from his blooming years, } How much of Hector in his face appears?"-- } She spoke; and mixed her speech with mournful cries, And fruitless tears came trickling from her eyes. At length her lord descends upon the plain, In pomp, attended with a numerous train; Receives his friends, and to the city leads, And tears of joy amidst his welcome sheds. Proceeding on, another Troy I see, Or, in less compass, Troy's epitome. A rivulet by the name of Xanthus ran, And I embrace the Scæan gate again. My friends in porticoes were entertained, And feasts and pleasures through the city reigned. The tables filled the spacious hall around, And golden bowls with sparkling wine were crowned. Two days we passed in mirth, till friendly gales, Blown from the south, supplied our swelling sails. Then to the royal seer I thus began:-- "O thou, who know'st, beyond the reach of man, The laws of heaven, and what the stars decree, } Whom Phœbus taught unerring prophecy, } From his own tripod, and his holy tree; } Skilled in the winged inhabitants of air, What auspices their notes and flights declare-- O! say; for all religious rites portend A happy voyage, and a prosperous end; And every power and omen of the sky Direct my course for destined Italy; But only dire Celæno, from the gods, A dismal famine fatally forebodes-- O! say, what dangers I am first to shun, What toils to vanquish, and what course to run." The prophet first with sacrifice adores The greater gods; their pardon then implores; Unbinds the fillet from his holy head; } To Phœbus, next, my trembling steps he led, } Full of religious doubts and awful dread. } Then, with his god possessed, before the shrine, These words proceeded from his mouth divine:-- "O goddess-born! (for heaven's appointed will, With greater auspices of good than ill, Foreshows thy voyage, and thy course directs; Thy fates conspire, and Jove himself protects,) Of many things, some few I shall explain, } Teach thee to shun the dangers of the main, }