Page:An Essay on Virgil's Æneid.djvu/58

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54
The First Book of

But much I fear that hospitable Place,
Where Juno reigns, the Guardian of the Race:905
And least this fair Occasion she improve,
Know, I design to fire the Queen with Love;
A Love, beyond the Cure of Pow’rs divine;
A Love as strong, and violent as mine.
But how the proud Phoenician to surprize910
With such a Passion, hear what I advise.
The royal Youth, Ascanius, from the Port
Hastes, by his Father’s Summons, to the Court;
With costly Presents charg’d, he takes his Way,
Sav’d from the Trojan Flames, and stormy Sea;915
But to prevent Suspicion, will I steep
His Temples in the Dews of balmy Sleep,
Then to Cythera’s sacred Seats remove,
Or softly lay him in th’ Idalian Grove.
This one revolving Night, thy self a Boy,920
Wear thou the Features of the Youth of Troy;
And when the Queen, transported with thy Charms,
Amidst the Feast, shall strain thee in her Arms,

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