Are bright with flaming swords and brazen shields. A shining harvest either host displays, And shoots against the sun with equal rays. Thus, when a black-browed gust begins to rise, } White foam at first on the curled ocean fries; } Then roars the main, the billows mount the skies; } Till, by the fury of the storm full blown, The muddy bottom o'er the clouds is thrown. First Almon falls, old Tyrrheus' eldest care, Pierced with an arrow from the distant war: Fixed in his throat the flying weapon stood, And stopped his breath, and drank his vital blood. Huge heaps of slain around the body rise: Among the rest, the rich Galesus lies; A good old man, while peace he preached in vain, Amidst the madness of the unruly train: Five herds, five bleating flocks, his pastures filled; His lands a hundred yoke of oxen tilled. Thus, while in equal scales their fortune stood, The Fury bathed them in each other's blood; Then, having fixed the fight, exulting flies, And bears fulfilled her promise to the skies. To Juno thus she speaks:--"Behold! 'tis done, The blood already drawn, the war begun; The discord is complete; nor can they cease The dire debate, nor you command the peace. Now, since the Latian and the Trojan brood Have tasted vengeance, and the sweets of blood; Speak, and my power shall add this office more: The neighbouring nations of the Ausonian shore Shall hear the dreadful rumour, from afar, Of armed invasion, and embrace the war." Then Juno thus:--"The grateful work is done, The seeds of discord sowed, the war begun: Frauds, fears, and fury, have possessed the state, And fixed the causes of a lasting hate. A bloody Hymen shall the alliance join Betwixt the Trojan and Ausonian line: But thou with speed to night and hell repair; } For not the gods, nor angry Jove, will bear } Thy lawless wandering walks in upper air. } Leave what remains to me." Saturnia said: } The sullen fiend her sounding wings displayed, } Unwilling left the light, and sought the nether shade. } In midst of Italy, well known to fame, There lies a lake (Amsanctus is the name) Below the lofty mounts: on either side Thick forests the forbidden entrance hide. Full in the centre of the sacred wood, An arm arises of the Stygian flood, Which, breaking from beneath with bellowing sound, Whirls the black waves and rattling stones around. Here Pluto pants for breath from out his cell, And opens wide the grinning jaws of hell. To this infernal lake the Fury flies; Here hides her hated head, and frees the labouring skies. Saturnian Juno now, with double care, Attends the fatal process of the war. The clowns, returned from battle, bear the slain, Implore the gods, and to their king complain. The corpse of Almon, and the rest, are shown: