Page:The Aeneid of Virgil JOHN CONINGTON 1917 V2.pdf/269

the stern, herself lifted breast high above the water,
while with her left she paddles in the noiseless wave.
Then thus she breaks on his wondering ear: "Wake you,
Æneas, seed of the gods? be wakeful still, and let the sail-ropes
go. We it is you see, pines of Ida from the sacred 5
summit, Sea-nymphs now, your sometime fleet. When
the false Rutulian was hot at our backs with fire and sword,
reluctantly we burst your bonds, and are now in full quest
of you over the sea. This new shape the great mother gave
us in her pity, and granted us the state of goddesses and 10
lives to lead beneath the water. Meantime young Ascanius
is hemmed in by rampart and trench, with serried
weapons all around him, and Latians bristling with battle.
Already the Arcadian horse mixed with the brave Etruscan
has gained the appointed spot: to bar their way with an 15
intervening host and cut them off from the camp is
Turnus' fixed intent. Rise, and with the earliest approach
of dawn bid your allies be summoned to arms, and take in
hand that shield which the Fire-god himself made to
be invincible and bordered with a marge of gold. The 20
morrow's sun, if you will but give credence to my words,
shall survey mighty heaps of Rutulian carnage." Her
speech was done: and as she parted she gave with her
hand an impulse to the lofty stern, well knowing the due
measure of force: on it speeds over the wave, fleeter than 25
dart and wind-swift arrow both. The rest in order mend
their speed. Wondering he pauses, the great Trojan of
Anchises' line, yet cheers his soul with the omen. Then,
looking to the vault above, he prays in brief: "Gracious
mother of the gods, lady of Ida, whose joy is in Dindymus, 30
and in turreted cities and harnessed lions at thy
bridle-rein, be thou now to me the controller of the fight,
do thou bring the presage nigh, and walk beside the
Phrygians, mighty goddess, with favouring step." Thus
much he said: and meanwhile day was returning at speed, 35
with its light grown to full strength, and night had vanished
before it.

First he gives orders to his comrades to obey the