XLI. "Have sea and sky been wielded to destroy,
Nor [Syrtes] yet, nor [Scylla's] fierce embrace,
Nor vast [Charybdis] whelmed the sons of Troy,
Who, safe in Tiber, flout me to the face?
Yet Mars from earth, and for a less disgrace
Could sweep the [Lapithæ,] and Heaven's great Sire
Doomed ancient [Calydon and OEneus' race]
To rue the vengeance of Diana's ire.		361
Did ever crime of theirs the Dardans' meed require?
XLII. "But I, Jove's consort, who have stooped to seek
All shifts, all ventures and devices, I
Am vanquished by Æneas! If too weak
Myself, some other godhead will I try,
And Hell shall hear, if Heaven its aid deny.
Grant that these Dardans must in Latium reign,
That fixt and changeless stands the doom, whereby
His bride shall be Lavinia, that in vain		370
Can Juno thwart whate'er the Destinies ordain;
XLIII. "Yet time delayed can make occasion lost,
Yet mutual strife each nation may devour,
And Kings plight marriage at their peoples' cost.
Troy's blood and Latium's, maiden, be thy dower.
Bellona lights thee to thy bridal bower.
Not only Hecuba—Ah, sweet the joy!—
Conceives a firebrand. Born in evil hour,
The child of Venus shall her hopes destroy,		379
And, like another Paris, fire a new-born Troy."

XLIV. She spake, and earthward darting, fierce and fell,
Calls sad Alecto from her dark retreat
Among the Furies in the shades of Hell.
Sweet are war's sorrows to her soul, and sweet
Are evil deeds, and hatred and deceit.
E'en Pluto, e'en her sister-fiends detest
The monstrous shape, so many forms complete
The grisly horrors of that hateful pest,		388
So many a coal-black snake sprouts from her threatening crest.
XLV. Her Juno finds, and thus new rage inspires:
"Grant, virgin daughter of eternal Night,
This boon, the labour that thy soul desires.
Lest here my fame and honour lose their might,
And Troy gain Italy, and craft unite
Troy's prince with Latium's heiress. Thou can'st turn
Fond hearts to feuds, and brethren arm for fight.
Thou know'st, for savage is thy mood and stern,		397
To breed domestic strife and happy homes to burn.

XLVI. "A thousand names, a thousand means hast thou
Of mischief. Search thy fertile breast, and break
The plighted peace. Breed calumnies, and sow
The strife. Let youth desire, demand and take
Thy weapons."—Wreathed with many a Gorgon snake,
To Latium's court Alecto flew unseen,
And by Amata's chamber sate, nor spake;
While, musing on her new-come guests, the queen,		406
Wroth for her Turnus, boiled with woman's rage and spleen.
XLVII. At her the goddess from her dark locks threw
A snake, and lodged the monster in her breast,
To make her fury all the house undo.
In glides, impalpable, the maddening pest
Between the dainty bosom and the vest,
Breathing its venom. Like a necklace thin
It hung, all golden, like a wreath, caressed
Her temples, like a ribbon, wove within		415
Her hair its slippery coils, and wandered o'er her skin.