Beside Achates tripped Cupid, for Venus, suspecting the craft of the
Tyrians, had hidden Ascanius on Mount Ida, and sent her own son in his
guise, to complete Aeneas's conquest of Dido.
After the feast was over, the great beakers were brought in and crowned
with garlands. Dido called for the beaker used by Belus and all his
descendants, and pouring a libation, drank to the happiness of the Trojan
wanderers, and passed the cup around the board. Iopas, the long-haired
minstrel, sang, and the night passed by in various discourse. Dido,
forgetting Sichaeus, hung on the words of Aeneas, questioning him of Priam
and Hector, and at last demanding the story of his wanderings.
"Thou orderest me, O queen, to renew my grief, the destruction of Troy by
the Greeks, which deeds I have seen, and a part of which I have been.
"Despairing of conquering Troy, the Greeks attempted to take it by
stratagem. By the art of Pallas, they framed a heaven-high horse, within
which were concealed picked men for our destruction. Leaving this behind
them, they sailed, ostensibly for home, in reality for Tenedos.
"When we supposed them gone we joyfully went forth to examine the deserted
camp and the giant horse. As we wondered at it, and Laocooen, priest of
Neptune, urged us to destroy it, a crowd of shepherds approached with a
youth whom they had found hiding in the sedges.
Pages:
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183