Age of Fable or Beauties of Mythology

by Thomas Bulfinch

  he says,

  "If future fate she plans 'tis all in leaves,

  Like Sibyl, unsubstantial, fleeting bliss;

  At the first blast it vanishes in air.

  * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

  As worldly schemes resemble Sibyl's leaves,

  The good man's days to Sibyl's books compare,

  The price still rising as in number less."

  Chapter XXXIII: Camilla - Evander - Nisus And Euryalus - Mezentius -

  Turnus

  Aeneas, having parted from the Sibyl and rejoined his fleet, coasted along the

  shores of Italy and cast anchor in the mouth of the Tiber. The poet, having brought his

  hero to this spot, the destined termination of his wanderings, invokes his Muse to tell

  him the situation of things at that eventful moment. Latinus, third in descent from

  Saturn, ruled the country. He was now old and had no male descendant, but had one

  charming daughter, Lavinia, who was sought in marriage by many neighboring chiefs,

  one of whom, Turnus, king of the Rutulians, was favored by the wishes of her parents.

  But Latinus had been warned in a dream by his father Faunus, that the destined

  husband of Lavinia should come from a foreign land. From that union should spring a

  race destined to subdue the world.

  Our readers will remember that in the conflict with the Harpies, one of those half-

  human birds had threatened the Trojans with dire sufferings. In particular she

  predicted that before their wanderings ceased they should be pressed by hunger to

  devour their tables. This portent now came true; for as they took their scanty meal,

  seated on the grass, the men placed their hard biscuit on their laps, and put thereon

  whatever their gleanings in the woods supplied. Having despatched the latter they

  finished by eating the crusts. Seeing which, the boy Iulus said playfully, "See, we are

  eating our tables." Aeneas caught the words and accepted the omen. "All hail,

  promised land!" he exclaimed, "this is our home, this our country!" He then took

  measures to find out who were the present inhabitants of the land, and who their

  rulers. A hundred chosen men were sent to the village of Latinus, bearing presents

  and a request for friendship and alliance. They went and were favorably received.

  Latinus immediately concluded that the Trojan hero was no other than the promised

  son-in-law announced by the oracle. He cheerfully granted his alliance and sent back

  the messengers mounted on steeds from his stables, and loaded with gifts and friendly

  messages.

  Juno, seeing things go thus prosperously for the Trojans, felt her old animosity

  revive, summoned Alecto from Erebus, and sent her to stir up discord. The Fury first

  took possession of the queen, Amata, and roused her to oppose in every way the new

  alliance. Alecto then speeded to the city of Turnus, and assuming the form of an old

  priestess, informed him of the arrival of the foreigners and of the attempts of their

  prince to rob him of his bride. Next she turned her attention to the camp of the Trojans.

  There she saw the boy Iulus and his companions amusing themselves with hunting.

  She sharpened the scent of the dogs, and led them to rouse up from the thicket a tame

  stag, the favorite of Silvia, the daughter of Tyrrheus, the king's herdsman. A javelin

  from the hand of Iulus wounded the animal, and he had only strength left to run

  homewards, and died at his mistress's feet. Her cries and tears roused her brothers

  and the herdsmen, and they, seizing whatever weapons came to hand, furiously

  assaulted the hunting party. These were protected by their friends, and the herdsmen

  were finally driven back with the loss of two of their number.

  These things were enough to rouse the storm of war, and the queen, Turnus, and

  the peasants all urged the old king to drive the strangers from the country. He resisted

  as long as he could, but finding his opposition unavailing, finally gave way and

  retreated to his retirement.

  Opening The Gates Of Janus.

  It was the custom of the country, when war was to be undertaken, for the chief

  magistrate, clad in his robes of office, with solemn pomp to open the gates of the

  temple of Janus, which were kept shut as long as peace endured. His people now

  urged the old king to perform that solemn office, but he refused to do so. While they

  contested, Juno herself, descending from the skies, smote the doors with irresistible

  force, and burst them open. Immediately the whole country was in a flame. The

  people rushed from every side breathing nothing but war.

  Turnus was recognized by all as leader; others joined as allies, chief of whom

  was Mezentius, a brave and able soldier, but of detestable cruelty. He had been the

  chief of one of the neighboring cities, but his people drove him out. With him was

  joined his son Lausus, a generous youth worthy of a better sire.

  Camilla.

  Camilla, the favorite of Diana, a huntress and warrior, after the fashion of the

  Amazons, came with her band of mounted followers, including a select number of her

  own sex, and ranged herself on the side of the Turnus. This maiden had never

  accustomed her fingers to the distaff or the loom, but had learned to endure the toils of

  war, and in speed to outstrip the wind. It seemed as if she might run over the standing

  corn without crushing it, or over the surface of the water without dipping her feet.

  Camilla's history had been singular from the beginning. Her father, Metabus, driven

  from his city by civil discord, carried with him in his flight his infant daughter. As he fled

  through the woods, his enemies in hot pursuit, he reached the bank of the river

  Amazenus, which, swelled by rains, seemed to debar a passage. He paused for a

  moment, then decided what to do. He tied the infant to his lance with wrappers of

  bark, and poising the weapon in his upraised hand, thus addressed Diana: "Goddess

  of the woods! I consecrate this maid to you;" then hurled the weapon with its burden to

  the opposite bank. The spear flew across the roaring water. His pursuers were

  already upon him, but he plunged into the river and swam across and found the spear,

  with the infant safe on the other side. Thenceforth he lived among the shepherds and

  brought up his daughter in woodland arts. While a child she was taught to use the bow

  and throw the javelin. With her sling she could bring down the crane or the wild swan.

  Her dress was a tiger's skin. Many mothers sought her for a daughter-in-law, but she

  continued faithful to Diana and repelled the thought of marriage.

  Evander.

  Such were the formidable allies that ranged themselves against Aeneas. It was

  night and he lay stretched in sleep on the bank of the river, under the open heavens.

  The god of the stream, Father Tiber, seemed to raise his head above the willows and

  to say, "O goddess-born, destined possessor of the Latin realms, this is the promised

  land, here is to be your home, here shall terminate the hostility of the heavenly powers,

  if only you faithfully persevere. There are friends not far distant. Prepare your boats

  and row up my stream; I will lead you to Evander the Arcadian chief. He has long

  been at strife with Turnus and the Rutulians, and is prepared to become an ally of

  yours. Rise! offer your vows to Juno, and deprec
ate her anger. When you have

  achieved your victory then think of me." Aeneas woke and paid immediate obedience

  to the friendly vision. He sacrificed to Juno, and invoked the god of the river and all his

  tributary fountains to lend their aid. Then for the first time a vessel filled with armed

  warriors floated on the stream of the Tiber. The river smoothed its waves, and bade its

  current flow gently, while, impelled by the vigorous strokes of the rowers, the vessel

  shot rapidly up the stream.

  About the middle of the day they came in sight of the scattered buildings of the

  infant town where in after times the proud city of Rome grew, whose glory reached the

  skies. By chance the old king, Evander, was that day celebrating annual solemnities in

  honor of Hercules and all the gods. Pallas, his son, and all the chiefs of the little

  commonwealth stood by. When they saw the tall ship gliding onward through the

  wood, they were alarmed at the sight, and rose from the tables. But Pallas forbade the

  solemnities to be interrupted, and seizing a weapon, stepped forward to the river's

  bank. He called aloud, demanding who they were, and what their object. Aeneas,

  holding forth an olive-branch, replied, "We are Trojans, friends to you and enemies to

  the Rutulians. We seek Evander, and offer to join our arms with yours." Pallas, in

  amaze at the sound of so great a name, invited them to land, and when Aeneas

  touched the shore he seized his hand, and held it long in friendly grasp. Proceeding

  through the wood they joined the king and his party and were most favorably received.

  Seats were provided for them at the tables, and the repast proceeded.

  Infant Rome.

  When the solemnities were ended all moved towards the city. The king, bending

  with age, walked between his son and Aeneas, taking the arm of one or the other of

  them, and with much variety of pleasing talk shortening the way. Aeneas with delight

  looked and listened, observing all the beauties of the scene, and learning much of

  heroes renowned in ancient times. Evander said, "These extensive groves were once

  inhabited by fauns and nymphs, and a rude race of men who sprang from the trees

  themselves, and had neither laws nor social culture. They knew not how to yoke the

  cattle nor raise a harvest, nor provide from present abundance for future want; but

  browsed like beasts upon the leafy boughs, or fed voraciously on their hunted prey.

  Such were they when Saturn, expelled from Olympus by his sons, came among them

  and drew together the fierce savages, formed them into society, and gave them laws.

  Such peace and plenty ensued that men ever since have called his reign the golden

  age; but by degrees far other times succeeded, and the thirst of gold and the thirst of

  blood prevailed. The land was a prey to successive tyrants, till fortune and resistless

  destiny brought me hither, an exile from my native land, Arcadia."

  Having thus said, he showed him the Tarpeian rock, and the rude spot then

  overgrown with bushes where in after times the Capitol rose in all its magnificence. He

  next pointed to some dismantled walls, and said, "Here stood Janiculum, built by

  Janus, and there Saturnia, the town of Saturn." Such discourse brought them to the

  cottage of poor Evander, whence they saw the lowing herds roaming over the plain

  where now the proud and stately Forum stands. They entered, and a couch was

  spread for Aeneas, well stuffed with leaves and covered with the skin of a Libyan bear.

  Next morning, awakened by the dawn and the shrill song of birds beneath the

  eaves of his low mansion, old Evander rose. Clad in a tunic, and a panther's skin

  thrown over his shoulders, with sandals on his feet, and his good sword girded to his

  side, he went forth to seek his guest. Two mastiffs followed him, his whole retinue and

  body guard. He found the hero attended by his faithful Achates, and, Pallas soon

  joining them, the old king spoke thus: -

  "Illustrious Trojan, it is but little we can do in so great a cause. Our state is feeble,

  hemmed in on one side by the river, on the other by the Rutulians. But I propose to

  ally you with a people numerous and rich, to whom fate has brought you at the

  propitious moment. The Etruscans hold the country beyond the river. Mezentius was

  their king, a monster of cruelty, who invented unheard-of torments to gratify his

  vengeance. He would fasten the dead to the living, hand to hand and face to face, and

  leave the wretched victims to die in that dreadful embrace. At length the people cast

  him out, him and his house They burned his palace and slew his friends. He escaped

  and took refuge with Turnus, who protects him with arms. The Etruscans demand that

  he shall be given up to deserved punishment, and would ere now have attempted to

  enforce their demand; but their priests restrain them, telling them that it is the will of

  heaven that no native of the land shall guide them to victory, and that their destined

  leader must come from across the sea. They have offered the crown to me, but I am

  too old to undertake such great affairs, and my son is native-born, which precludes him

  from the choice. You, equally by birth and time of life, and fame in arms, pointed out

  by the gods, have but to appear to be hailed at once as their leader. With you I will join

  Pallas, my son, my only hope and comfort. Under you he shall learn the art of war,

  and strive to emulate your great exploits."

  Then the king ordered horses to be furnished for the Trojan chiefs, and Aeneas,

  with a chosen band of followers and Pallas accompanying, mounted and took the way

  to the Etruscan city, ^* having sent back the rest of his party in the ships. Aeneas and

  his band safely arrived at the Etruscan camp and were received with open arms by

  Tarchon and his countrymen.

  [Footnote *: The poet here inserts a famous line which is thought to imitate in its

  sound the galloping of horses. It may be thus translated: "Then struck the hoofs of the

  steeds on the ground with a four-footed trampling." - See Proverbial Expressions, page

  479.]

  Nisus And Euryalus.

  In the meanwhile Turnus had collected his bands and made all necessary

  preparations for the war. Juno sent Iris to him with a message inciting him to take

  advantage of the absence of Aeneas and surprise the Trojan camp. Accordingly the

  attempt was made, but the Trojans were found on their guard, and having received

  strict orders from Aeneas not to fight in his absence, they lay still in their

  intrenchments, and resisted all the efforts of the Rutulians to draw them into the field.

  Night coming on the army of Turnus, in high spirits at their fancied superiority, feasted

  and enjoyed themselves, and finally stretched themselves on the field and slept

  secure.

  In the camp of the Trojans things were far otherwise. There all was watchfulness

  and anxiety, and impatience for Aeneas's return. Nisus stood guard at the entrance of

  the camp, and Euryalus, a youth distinguished above all in the army for graces of

  person and fine qualities, was with him. These two were friends and brothers in arms.

  Nisus said to his friend, "Do you perceive what confidence and carelessness the

  enemy display? Their lights are few and dim, and the men seem all oppressed with

  wine or sleep. You k
now how anxiously our chiefs wish to send to Aeneas, and to get

  intelligence from him. Now I am strongly moved to make my way through the enemy's

  camp and to go in search of our chief. If I succeed, the glory of the deed will be

  reward enough for me, and if they judge the service deserves any thing more, let them

  pay it to you."

  Euryalus, all on fire with the love of adventure, replied, "Would you then, Nisus,

  refuse to share your enterprise with me? And shall I let you go into such danger

  alone? Not so my brave father brought me up, nor so have I planned for myself when I

  joined the standard of Aeneas, and resolved to hold my life cheap in comparison with

  honor." Nisus replied, "I doubt it not, my friend; but you know the uncertain event of

  such as undertaking, and whatever may happen to me, I wish you to be safe. You are

  younger than I and have more of life in prospect. Nor can I be the cause of such grief

  to your mother, who has chosen to be here in the camp with you rather than stay and

  live in peace with the other matrons in Acestes' city." Euryalus replied, "Say no more.

  In vain you seek arguments to dissuade me. I am fixed in the resolution to go with

  you. Let us lose no time." They called the guard, and committing the watch to them,

  sought the general's tent. They found the chief officers in consultation, deliberating

  how they should send notice to Aeneas of their situation. The offer of the two friends

  was gladly accepted, themselves loaded with praises and promised the most liberal

  rewards in case of success. Iulus especially addressed Euryalus, assuring him of his

  lasting friendship. Euryalus replied, "I have but one boon to ask. My aged mother is

  with me in the camp. For me she left the Trojan soil, and would not stay behind with

  the other matrons at the city of Acestes. I go now without taking leave of her. I could

  not bear her tears nor set at nought her entreaties. But do thou, I beseech you,

  comfort her in her distress. Promise me that and I shall go more boldly into whatever