Page:Aeneid (Conington 1866).djvu/354

And Pallas, ever at his side,
Asks of the stars, the night-fare's guide,
Or questions of his wanderings wide
On ocean and on shore.

Now, Muses, ope your Helicon,
The gates of song expand;
Say what the host to war comes on
From forth the Etruscan strand,
And, following in Æneas' train,
Spreads sail, and navigates the main.

See Massicus the foremost guide
His Tiger o'er the deep;
A thousand warriors at his side
In Clusium's lofty towers that bide
And Cosæ's warlike keep:
Light quivers from their shoulders hang,
Their deadly bows in combat twang.
Grim Abas next; his followers bold
In gleaming steel arrayed;
High on his stern, a blaze of gold,
Apollo shone displayed.
Six hundred Populonia gave
To share his fortunes, tried and brave,
And Ilva sends three hundred more,
Rich island-home of Chalyb ore.
Then far-renowned Asilas third,
Who tells heaven's will to men:
The starry sky, the victim herd,
The levin-bolt, the voiceful bird,
All own his piercing ken:
To war he brings a mighty throng,
True spearmen all, a thousand strong.
The people these of Pisa's town,
Whose sires from Elis erst came down.