Minerva's temple then salutes our sight, Plac'd, as a landmark, on the mountain's height.
We furl our sails, and turn the prows to shore;The curling waters round the galleys roar.
The land lies open to the raging east, Then, bending like a bow, with rocks compress'd, Shuts out the storms; the winds and waves complain, And vent their malice on the cliffs in vain.
The port lies hid within; on either side Two tow'ring rocks the narrow mouth divide.
The temple, which aloft we view'd before, To distance flies, and seems to shun the shore.
Scarce landed, the first omens I beheld Were four white steeds that cropp'd the flow'ry field.
'War, war is threaten'd from this foreign ground,'
My father cried, 'where warlike steeds are found.
Yet, since reclaim'd to chariots they submit, And bend to stubborn yokes, and champ the bit, Peace may succeed to war.' Our way we bend To Pallas, and the sacred hill ascend;There prostrate to the fierce virago pray, Whose temple was the landmark of our way.
Each with a Phrygian mantle veil'd his head, And all commands of Helenus obey'd, And pious rites to Grecian Juno paid.
These dues perform'd, we stretch our sails, and stand To sea, forsaking that suspected land.
"From hence Tarentum's bay appears in view, For Hercules renown'd, if fame be true.
Just opposite, Lacinian Juno stands;
Caulonian tow'rs, and Scylacaean strands, For shipwrecks fear'd.Mount Aetna thence we spy, Known by the smoky flames which cloud the sky.
Far off we hear the waves with surly sound Invade the rocks, the rocks their groans rebound.
The billows break upon the sounding strand, And roll the rising tide, impure with sand.
Then thus Anchises, in experience old:
''T is that Charybdis which the seer foretold, And those the promis'd rocks! Bear off to sea!'
With haste the frighted mariners obey.