mother’s cares, disturbed by the menaces of the Laurentines
and the violence of the gathering storm, addresses
Vulcan, and in the nuptial privacy of their golden chamber 5
begins her speech, breathing in every tone the love
that gods feel: “In old days of war, while the Argive
kings were desolating Pergamus, their destined prey, and
ravaging the towers which were doomed to hostile fire,
no help for the sufferers, no arms of thy resourceful workmanship 10
did I ask; no, my dearest lord, I chose not to
task thee and thy efforts to no end, large as was my debt