Jove commanded Cyllenius

Down from Heaven’s steep

Winging before unfurling Fate

Redressing Libya’s mortal laws

Bearing Jove’s rod of peace

Trojans protected under Heaven’s law

.

Marooned in the shades of night

Aeneas harried of soul forsook sleep

Standing under dawn in the sight

New lands eager and anxious to seek

.

The hero explored the unplowed shore

His ships hid under a rocky ledge

Of the forest-shaded mountain

Two darts in hand from his band he parts

.

By true Achates he is attended

Deep into the untended wood

Before his eyes a huntress appeared

His mother Venus deceptively stood

By her dress a virgin by her air a queen

Her bow slung like a nymph of the wood

Her hair flung wanton as a she-wolf

She seemed a virgin of the Spartan blood

.

[she spoke]

Strangers my sister have you seen

Wearing the painted bow case

A spotted lynx hide she wore

In pursuit of the tusky boar

.

[Aeneas spoke]

No huntress have we seen

Virgin so haughty and serene

You seem sister of the day

Not a huntress coursing prey

.

Pray tell a stranger

Long in tempests tossed

What realm we wander

Among what powers are we lost

Upon what goddess we must call

When on her altar offerings fall

End 8

 

Notes

-1. Cyllenius was a name for Hermes, escort of souls, messenger of the divine and patron of athletes and travelers, named after Mount Cyllene in Arkadia, on Redface-island, north of the Silent Land.