Alas! I loft Creüfa: hard to tell
If by her fatal destiny she fell,
Or weary fate, or wander'd with affright;
But she was loft for ever to my fight.
I knew not, or reflected, till I meet
My friends, at Ceres' now-deferted feat:
We met not one was wanting, only the
Deceiv'd her friends, her fon, and wretched me.
What mad expreffions did my tongue refuse!
Whom did I not of gods or men accufe!
This was the fatal blow, that pain'd me more
Than all I felt from ruin'd Troy before.
Stung with my lofs, and raving with defpair,
Abandoning my now-forgotten care,
Of counsel, comfort, and of hope bereft,
My fire, my fon, my country gods, I left.
In fhining armour once again I fheath
My limbs, not feeling wounds, nor fearing death.
Then headlong to the burning walls I run,
And feek the danger I was forc'd to fhun.
I tread my former tracks: through night explore
Each paffage, every street I crofs'd before.
All things were full of horror and affright,
And dreadful ev'n the filence of the night.
Then to my father's house I make repair,
With fome small glimpse of hope to find her there :
Inftead of her, the cruel Greeks I met :
The house was fill'd with foes, with flames beset.
Driven on the wings of winds, whole sheets of fire,
Through air transported, to the roofs afpire.
From thence to Priam's palace I refort,
And fearch the citadel, and desert court.
Then, unobserv'd, I pass'd by Juno's church;
A guard of Grecians had poffefs'd the porch:
There Phoenix and Ulyffes watch the prey,
And thither all the wealth of Troy convey.
The spoils which they from ranfack'd houses brought,
And golden bowls from burning altars caught.
The tables of the gods, the purple vests,
The peoples' treasure, and the pomp of priests.
A rank of wretched youths, with pinion'd hands,
And captive matrons in long order stands.
Then, with ungovern'd madness, I proclaim,
Through all the filent ftreets, Creüfa's name,
Creüfa ftill I call: at length fhe hears;
And, fudden, through the fhades of night appears.
Appears no more Creüfa, nor my wife,
But a pale spectre, larger than the life.
Aghast, astonish'd, and struck dumb with fear, 1050
I ftood; like briftles rofe my ftiffen'd hair,
Then thus the ghoft began to foothe my grief:
Nor tears, nor cries, can give the dead relief;
Defift, my much-lov'd lord, t' indulge your pain:
You bear no more than what the gods ordain.
My fates permit me not from hence to fly;
Nor he, the great comptroller of the sky.
Long wandering ways for you the powers decree :
On land hard labours, and a length of fea.
Then, after many painful years are past,
On Latium's happy fhore you fhall be caft:
Where gentle Tiber from his bed beholds
The flowery meadows, and the feeding folds.
There end your toils: and there your fates provide A quiet kingdom, and a royal bride :
There fortune shall the Trojan line restore;
And you for loft Creüfa weep no more.
Fear not that I fhall watch, with fervile fhame,
Th' imperious looks of fome proud Grecian dame:
Or, stooping to the victor's luft, difgrace
My goddefs-mother, or my royal race.
And now, farewel: the parent of the gods
Restrains my fleeting foul in her abodes:
I trust our common iffue to your care.
She faid and gliding pass'd unseen in air.
1 ftrove to speak, but horror ty'd my tongue;
And thrice about her neck my arms I flung:
And thrice, deceiv'd, on vain embraces hung.
Light as an empty dream at break of day,
Or as a blast of wind, fhe rufh'd away.
Thus, having pafs'd the night in fruitless pain,
I to my longing friends return again.
Amaz'd th' augmented number to behold,
Of men and matrons mix'd, of young and old :
A wretched exil'd crew together brought,
With arms appointed, and with treasure fraught.
Refolv'd, and willing under my command,
To run all hazards both of fea and land.
The morn began, from Ida, to display
Her rofy checks, and Phofphor led the day:
Before the gates the Grecians took their post:
And all pretence of late relief were loft.
I yield to fate, unwillingly retire,”
And, loaded, up the hill convey my fire.
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