} Meantime, the Trojan troops, with weeping eyes, } To dead Misenus pay his obsequies. } First, from the ground, a lofty pile they rear, Of pitch-trees, oaks, and pines, and unctuous fir: The fabric's front with cypress twigs they strew, And stick the sides with boughs of baleful yew. The topmost part his glittering arms adorn; Warm waters, then, in brazen cauldrons borne, Are poured to wash his body, joint by joint, And fragrant oils the stiffened limbs anoint. With groans and cries Misenus they deplore; Then on a bier, with purple covered o'er, The breathless body, thus bewailed, they lay, } And fire the pile, their faces turned away: } (Such reverent rites their fathers used to pay.) } Pure oil and incense on the fire they throw, And fat of victims, which his friends bestow. These gifts the greedy flames to dust devour; Then, on the living coals, red wine they pour; And, last, the reliques by themselves dispose, Which in a brazen urn the priests inclose. Old Corynæus compassed thrice the crew, And dipped an olive-branch in holy dew; Which thrice he sprinkled round, and thrice aloud Invoked the dead, and then dismissed the crowd. But good Æneas ordered on the shore } A stately tomb, whose top a trumpet bore, } A soldier's faulchion, and a seaman's oar. } Thus was his friend interred; and deathless fame Still to the lofty cape consigns his name. These rites performed, the prince, without delay, Hastes, to the nether world, his destined way. Deep was the cave; and, downward as it went From the wide mouth, a rocky rough descent; And here the access a gloomy grove defends, And here the innavigable lake extends, O'er whose unhappy waters, void of light, No bird presumes to steer his airy flight; Such deadly stenches from the depth arise, And steaming sulphur, that infects the skies. From hence the Grecian bards their legends make, And give the name Avernus to the lake. Four sable bullocks, in the yoke untaught, For sacrifice the pious hero brought. The priestess pours the wine betwixt their horns; Then cuts the curling hair; that first oblation burns, Invoking Hecat hither to repair-- A powerful name in hell and upper air. The sacred priests, with ready knives, bereave The beasts of life, and in full bowls receive The streaming blood: a lamb to Hell and Night (The sable wool without a streak of white) Æneas offers; and, by Fate's decree, A barren heifer, Proserpine, to thee. With holocausts he Pluto's altar fills: Seven brawny bulls with his own hand he kills: Then, on the broiling entrails, oil he pours; Which, ointed thus, the raging flame devours. Late the nocturnal sacrifice begun, Nor ended, till the next returning sun. Then earth began to bellow, trees to dance,