the crown, throws them into the hallowed flame, as the

firstfruits of worship, with loud cries on Hecate, queen in

heaven and Erebus both. Others put the knife to the 25

throat, and catch in chargers the steaming blood. With

his own sword Æneas strikes down a lamb of sable fleece,

for the Furies’[214] mother and her mighty sister, and a

barren heifer for thee, dread Proserpine. Then to the

Stygian monarch he rears altars, blazing through the 30

darkness, and piles on the flame the bulls’ carcases

entire, pouring fat oil on the entrails all aglow. When,