390
VIRGIL's
Æn. III.
Again my Father bids me seek the Shore
Of sacred Delos; and the God implore:
To learn what end of Woes we might expect,
And to what Clime, our weary Course direct. 200
Twas Night, when ev'ry Creature, void of Cares,
The common gift of balmy Slumber shares:
The Statues of my Gods, (for such they seem'd)
Those Gods whom I from flaming Troy redeem'd,
Before me stood; Majestically bright, 205
Full in the Beams of Phœbe's entring light.
Then thus they spoke; and eas'd my troubled Mind:
What from the Delian God thou go'st to find,
He tells thee here, and sends us to relate:
Those Pow'rs are we, Companions of thy Fate, 210
Whom from the burning Town by thee were brought;
Thy Fortune follow'd, and thy safety wrought.
Through Seas and Lands, as we thy Steps attend,
So shall our Care thy Glorious Race befriend.
An ample Realm for thee thy Fates ordain; 215
A Town, that o'er the conquer'd World shall reign.
Thou, mighty Walls for mighty Nations build;
Nor let thy weary Mind to labours yield:
But change thy Seat; for not the Delian God,
Nor we, have giv'n thee Crete for our Abode. 220
A Land there is, Hesperia call'd of old,
The Soil is fruitful, and the Natives bold.
Th' Oenotrians held it once; by later Fame,
Now call'd Italia from the Leader's Name.
Of sacred Delos; and the God implore:
To learn what end of Woes we might expect,
And to what Clime, our weary Course direct. 200
Twas Night, when ev'ry Creature, void of Cares,
The common gift of balmy Slumber shares:
The Statues of my Gods, (for such they seem'd)
Those Gods whom I from flaming Troy redeem'd,
Before me stood; Majestically bright, 205
Full in the Beams of Phœbe's entring light.
Then thus they spoke; and eas'd my troubled Mind:
What from the Delian God thou go'st to find,
He tells thee here, and sends us to relate:
Those Pow'rs are we, Companions of thy Fate, 210
Whom from the burning Town by thee were brought;
Thy Fortune follow'd, and thy safety wrought.
Through Seas and Lands, as we thy Steps attend,
So shall our Care thy Glorious Race befriend.
An ample Realm for thee thy Fates ordain; 215
A Town, that o'er the conquer'd World shall reign.
Thou, mighty Walls for mighty Nations build;
Nor let thy weary Mind to labours yield:
But change thy Seat; for not the Delian God,
Nor we, have giv'n thee Crete for our Abode. 220
A Land there is, Hesperia call'd of old,
The Soil is fruitful, and the Natives bold.
Th' Oenotrians held it once; by later Fame,
Now call'd Italia from the Leader's Name.
