Enter [455] Iarbus, followed by Ilioneus, Cloanthus, [456] Sergestus, and others.
Ili. Follow, ye Trojans, follow this brave lord, And plain to him the sum of your distress.
Iar. Why, what are you, or wherefore do you sue?
Ili. Wretches [457] of Troy, envied of the winds, That crave such favour at your honour's feet As poor distressèd misery may plead: Save, save, O, save our ships from cruel fire, That do complain the wounds of thousand waves, And spare our lives, whom every spite pursues! We come not, we, to wrong your Libyan gods,10 Or steal your household Lares from their shrines; Our hands are not prepared to lawless spoil. Nor armèd to offend in any kind; Such force is far from our unweapon'd thoughts Whose fading weal, of victory forsook, Forbids all hope to harbour near our hearts.
Iar. But tell me, Trojans, Trojans if you be, Unto what fruitful quarters were ye bound, Before that Boreas buckled with [458] your sails?
Clo. There is a place, Hesperia termed by us,20 An ancient empire, famousèd for arms, And fertile in fair Ceres' furrowed wealth, Which now we call Italia, of his name That in such peace long time did rule the same. Thither made we; When, suddenly, gloomy Orion rose, And led our ships into the shallow sands, Whereas the southern wind with brackish breath Dispersed them all amongst the wreckful rocks: From thence a few of us escaped to land;30 The rest, we fear, are folded in the floods.
Iar. Brave men-at-arms, abandon fruitless fears, Since Carthage knows to entertain distress.
Serg. I, but the barbarous sort do threat our ships, And will not let us lodge upon the sands; In multitudes they swarm unto the shore, And from the first earth interdict our feet.
Iar. Myself will see they shall not trouble ye: Your men and you shall banquet in our court, And every Trojan be as welcome here40 As Jupiter to silly Baucis' [459] house. Come in with me; I'll bring ye to my queen, Who shall confirm my words with further deeds.
Serg. Thanks, gentle lord, for such unlook'd-for grace: Might we but once more see Æneas' face, Then would we hope to quite such friendly turns, As shall [460] surpass the wonder of our speech. [Exeunt.