message: I have a daughter, whose marriage with a husband 35
of our nation is forbidden by voices from my father’s
shrine, by countless prodigies from heaven; sons-in-law
are to arrive from foreign climes—such, they say, is
Fate’s will for Latium—who by mixing their blood with
ours are to exalt our name to the spheres. That he is this
chosen one of destiny is my belief, and, if my mind reads
the future true, my award.” With these words the old
king makes choice of horses from the multitude he possessed. 5
Three hundred there were, sleek-coated, standing