Here the tribunal stood, the house of prayer, And here the sacred senators repair; All at large tables, in long order set, A ram their offering, and a ram their meat. Above the portal, carved in cedar wood, Placed in their ranks, their godlike grandsires stood; Old Saturn, with his crooked scythe, on high; And Italus, that led the colony; And ancient Janus, with his double face, And bunch of keys, the porter of the place. There stood Sabinus, planter of the vines; } On a short pruning-hook his head reclines, } And studiously surveys his generous wines; } Then warlike kings, who for their country fought, And honourable wounds from battle brought. Around the posts, hung helmets, darts, and spears, } And captive chariots, axes, shields, and bars, } And broken beaks of ships, the trophies of their wars. } Above the rest, as chief of all the band, } Was Picus placed, a buckler in his hand, } His other waved a long divining wand. } Girt in his Gabine gown the hero sate, Yet could not with his art avoid his fate: For Circe long had loved the youth in vain, Till love, refused, converted to disdain: Then, mixing powerful herbs, with magic art, She changed his form, who could not change his heart; Constrained him in a bird, and made him fly, With party-coloured plumes, a chattering pie. In this high temple, on a chair of state, The seat of audience, old Latinus sate; Then gave admission to the Trojan train; And thus, with pleasing accents, he began:-- "Tell me, ye Trojans, for that name you own, Nor is your course upon our coasts unknown-- Say what you seek, and whither were you bound; Were you by stress of weather cast a-ground? (Such dangers of the sea are often seen, And oft befal to miserable men,) Or come, your shipping in our ports to lay, Spent and disabled in so long a way? Say what you want: the Latians you shall find Not forced to goodness, but by will inclined; For, since the time of Saturn's holy reign, His hospitable customs we retain. I call to mind (but time the tale has worn) The Aurunci told, that Dardanus, though born On Latian plains, yet sought the Phrygian shore, And Samothracia, Samos called before. From Tuscan Corythum he claimed his birth; But after, when exempt from mortal earth, From thence ascended to his kindred skies, A god, and, as a god, augments their sacrifice." He said.--Ilioneus made this reply: "O king, of Faunus' royal family! Nor wintery winds to Latium forced our way, Nor did the stars our wandering course betray. Willing we sought your shores; and, hither bound, The port, so long desired, at length we found; From our sweet homes and ancient realms expelled; Great as the greatest that the sun beheld. The god began our line, who rules above;