The Aeneid by Virgil Page B

“Byrsa”,
                the animal’s hide, as large an area as they could include within
                the hide of a bull. But now tell me, who are you? What country
370         have you sailed from? Where are you making for?’
                    In reply to her questions Aeneas drew a great sigh from the
                bottom of his heart and said: ‘O goddess, if I were to start at the
                beginning and retrace our whole story, and if you had the time
                to listen to the annals of our suffering, before I finish the doors
                of Olympus would close and the Evening Star would lay the day
                to rest. We come from the ancient city of Troy, if the name of
                Troy has ever reached your ears. We have sailed many seas and
                by the chance of the winds we have been driven ashore here in
                Libya. I am Aeneas, known for my devotion. I carry with me on
                my ships the gods of my home, the Penates, wrested from my
                enemies, and my fame has reached beyond the skies. I am
380         searching for my fatherland in Italy. My descent is from highest
                Jupiter. With my goddess mother to show the way, I embarked
                upon the Phrygian sea with twenty ships, following the destiny
                which had been given to me, and now a bare seven of them
                remain, and these torn to pieces by wind and wave. I am a
                helpless stranger, driven out of Europe and out of Asia, tramping
                the desert wastes of Libya.’
                    Venus could listen to no more. She broke in on the tale of his
                sufferings, saying: ‘Whoever you are I do not believe you are
                hated by the gods: you live and breathe and have reached this
390         Tyrian city. Go on now from here to the queen’s door. I can tell
                you that your comrades are restored and your fleet returned to
                you. The winds have veered to the north and blown them safe
                to shore. All this is true unless my parents have failed in their
                efforts to teach me to interpret the flight of birds. Look at these
                twelve swans flying joyfully in formation. The eagle of Jupiter
                was swooping down on them from the heights of heaven and
                scattering them over the open sky, but now look at them in
                their long column. Some are reaching land. Some have already
                reached it and are looking down on it. Just as they have come
                to their home and their flock has circled the sky in play, singing
                as they fly with whirring wings, so your ships and your warriors
400         are either already in port or crossing the bar in full sail. Go on
                now, and follow where the road takes you.’
                    When she had finished speaking and was turning away, her
                neck shone with a rosy light and her hair breathed the divine
                odour of ambrosia. Her dress flowed free to her feet and as she
                walked he knew she was truly a goddess. As she hastened away,
                he recognized her as his mother and called after her: ‘Why