Æn. II.
ÆNEIS.
377
Next, you my Servants, heed my strict Commands:
Without the Walls a ruin'd Temple stands,
To Ceres hallow'd once; a Cypress nigh 970
Shoots up her venerable Head on high;
By long Religion kept: there bend your Feet;
And in divided Parties let us meet.
Our Country Gods, the Relicks, and the Bands,
Hold you, my Father, in your guiltless Hands: 975
In me 'tis impious holy things to bear,
Red as I am with Slaughter, new from War:
Till in some living Stream I cleanse the Guilt
Of dire Debate, and Blood in Battel spilt.
Thus, ord'ring all that Prudence cou'd provide, 980
I cloath my Shoulders with a Lion's Hide;
And yellow Spoils: Then, on my bending Back,
The welcome load of my dear Father take.
While on my better Hand Ascanius hung,
And with unequal Paces tript along. 985
Creusa kept behind: by choice we stray
Through ev'ry dark and ev'ry devious Way.
I, who so bold and dauntless just before,
The Grecian Darts and shock of Lances bore,
At ev'ry Shadow now am seiz'd with Fear: 990
Not for my self, but for the Charge I bear.
Till near the ruin'd Gate arriv'd at last,
Secure, and deeming all the Danger past;
A frightful noise of trampling Feet we hear; 994
My Father looking through the Shades, with fear,
Without the Walls a ruin'd Temple stands,
To Ceres hallow'd once; a Cypress nigh 970
Shoots up her venerable Head on high;
By long Religion kept: there bend your Feet;
And in divided Parties let us meet.
Our Country Gods, the Relicks, and the Bands,
Hold you, my Father, in your guiltless Hands: 975
In me 'tis impious holy things to bear,
Red as I am with Slaughter, new from War:
Till in some living Stream I cleanse the Guilt
Of dire Debate, and Blood in Battel spilt.
Thus, ord'ring all that Prudence cou'd provide, 980
I cloath my Shoulders with a Lion's Hide;
And yellow Spoils: Then, on my bending Back,
The welcome load of my dear Father take.
While on my better Hand Ascanius hung,
And with unequal Paces tript along. 985
Creusa kept behind: by choice we stray
Through ev'ry dark and ev'ry devious Way.
I, who so bold and dauntless just before,
The Grecian Darts and shock of Lances bore,
At ev'ry Shadow now am seiz'd with Fear: 990
Not for my self, but for the Charge I bear.
Till near the ruin'd Gate arriv'd at last,
Secure, and deeming all the Danger past;
A frightful noise of trampling Feet we hear; 994
My Father looking through the Shades, with fear,
