the fight? There shall come a rightful time for combat—no

need for you to hasten it—when fierce Carthage one

day shall launch on the hills of Rome mighty ruin and the 15

opening of Alpine barriers. Then will your rancours be

free to contend, your hands to plunder and ravage; for the

present let be, and cheerfully ratify the peace that I have

willed.”

Thus Jupiter in brief; but not brief was the answer 20

of golden Venus: “O Father! O eternal sovereignty of

man and nature! for what else can there be which is left