And Ocnus summons Men from his native shores, Ocnus, the son Of a Tuscan river and a woman, Manto, Gifted in prophecy; her name was given To Mantua, rich in ancestors, one city, Three races, each one master of four peoples, And Mantua the queen of all, her power Secure in Tuscan strength. From here Mezentius Rouses five hundred men in arms against him, And Mincius, Benacus’ son, crowned with grey rushes Brings them down to the sea. On comes Aulestes, Whose _Triton_ wallows heavily in the waters, With a hundred oars lashing the waves to foam, And the blue waters tremble at the sea-god Riding the prow, conch at his lips, a figure Shaped like a shaggy man, as far as the belly, And then a fish or serpent, a great sea-monster, Under whose weight the water sucks and gurgles. So the bronze vessels come, thirty good ships For the help of Troy, and men, and chosen leaders Over the salt sea plains.
And day had gone, And the dear moon in her night-wandering chariot Was halfway up the sky; Aeneas, restless, Tended the sails and rudder, holding the course, And a band of his own company came to meet him, Those goddesses, whom Cybele had ordered To rule the seas that once they sailed. They knew him, Their king, far off, circled his ships in greeting, And Cymodocea, of them all most gifted In ways of speech, clung to the stern; one hand Lifted her out of the water, and the other Kept plying under the waves. She hailed Aeneas:-- “Are you on watch, son of the gods? Be watchful, Crowd on full sail! We are the pines of Ida, Born from that sacred mountain. Nymphs of the sea, We used to be your fleet. But treacherous Turnus Drove us with fire and sword; against our will We broke our bonds to you, and now we seek you Over the deep. The mother of the gods Took pity on us, and made us goddesses, Immortal under the waters. We have bad news; your son Is under siege; walls hold him in, and trenches, And the air is filled with darts, and the wild Latins Bristle in war. The cavalry of Pallas And the brave Etruscan allies, minding orders, Hold their appointed station. Turnus knows it, Turnus is certain to send opposing squadrons To keep them from the camp. Hurry, then, hurry, Get the men armed by daylight; raise the shield Given by Vulcan, the invincible armor, Bright with its ring of gold. To-morrow morning Shall see, unless I speak in foolish error, Great heaps of slain Rutulians.” She finished speaking, And as she left the ship, her right hand gave it An expert shove, and it sped over the water Swifter than javelin or flying arrow, And the other vessels quickened pace. Aeneas Marvelled, amazed, and the portent cheered his spirit, And he looked up to the vault of heaven, praying:-- “Dear mother of the gods, Idean queen, Lover of tower-crowned cities, and the lions That draw the chariot, be my leader now Before the fight begins, affirm the omen, Favor the Trojans, goddess, with your blessing.” And as he spoke, new day broke over the ocean In a great blaze of light, and the darkness vanished.