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my father, take in your hands the images of the household gods. My hands are red with blood, and I must not touch holy things till I have washed them in running water."

Then he put a lion's skin upon his shoulders and 5 stooped down, and the old man Anchises climbed upon them. And the boy Ascanius laid hold of his hand, keeping pace with his father as best he could with his little steps. And Creüsa followed behind. So he went, with many fears. He had not been afraid of 10 the swords and spears of the enemy, but now he was full of fear for them who were with him, father and wife and child. But when he had nearly got to the gates of the city there happened a dreadful thing. There was heard a great sound of feet in the darkness; 15 and the old man cried: "Fly, my son, fly; they are coming. I see the flashing of shields and swords." So Æneas hurried on, but his wife was separated from him. Whether she lost her way, or whether she was tired and sat down to rest herself, no one knew. Only 20 Æneas never saw her again; nor did he know that she was lost, till all the company met at the appointed place, and she alone was not among them.

It seemed a most grievous thing to him, and he made loud complaints against both gods and men. Then 25 he told his companions that they must take care of the old man and of Ascanius, and that he would go

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and search for his wife. So he went first to the gate by which he had come out of the city. Then he went to his house, thinking that by some chance she might have gone back there. He found the house indeed, but the Greeks were there, and it was nearly burnt. 5 After this he went to the citadel and to the palace of King Priam. Her he saw not, but he saw in the temple of Juno Ulysses and Phoenix keeping guard over the spoil, treasures from the temples, and cups of gold, and beautiful robes, and long lines of prisoners, 10 women and children. And still he looked for his wife, going through all the streets of the city, and calling her name aloud.

While he was doing this her image seemed to stand before him. It was she, and yet another, so tall and 15 beautiful did she seem. And the spirit said: "Why are you troubled? These things have come about by the will of the gods. Jupiter himself has ordered that your Creüsa should not sail across the seas with you. You have a long journey to make, and many 20 seas to cross till you come to the land of Hesperia, to the place where the river Tiber flows softly through a fair and fertile land. There you shall have great prosperity, and shall marry a wife of royal race. Weep not for your Creüsa, and do not think that I shall be 25 carried away to be the bond slave of some Greek lady. Such a lot would not be fitting for one who comes, as

I come, from the race of the kings of Troy and for her who was the daughter-in-law of Venus. The mother of the gods keeps me in this land to be her servant. And now farewell. Think sometimes of me, and love 5 the child Ascanius, for he is your child and mine."

So spake the spirit; but when Eneas would have answered, it vanished out of his sight. Three times. did he try to put his arms round her, and three times.

it seemed to slip away from him, being thin and light 10 as air. And now the night was far spent and the morn

ing was about to break. So he went back to his comrades and found, much to his joy, a great company of men and women, all ready to follow him, wherever he might lead them. And now the morning star, 15 which goes before the sun, rose over Mount Ida, and Eneas seeing that the Greeks were in possession of Troy, and that there was no hope of help, again took his father on his shoulders, and went his way to the mountains, his people following him.

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That summer Æneas and his companions built ships for the voyage, dwelling meantime on Mount Ida. By the next summer the work was finished, and the old man Anchises commanded that they should wait no longer. So they sailed, taking their gods with 25 them, and seeking a new home.

Adapted from A. J. CHURCH: The Eneid for Boys and Girls.

4.

HELPS TO STUDY

6. How

7. What

8. What

I. THE FALL OF TROY. 1. What were some of the chief events of the siege of Troy? 2. What were the different opinions about the Horse of Wood? 3. What did Laocoön advise? "Beware of the Greeks, bearing gifts" has been a proverb. How would you apply it? 5. Who was Sinon? did the gods punish Laocoön for his good advice? goddess was especially concerned in this punishment? other names had she? 9. Have you ever seen a cast or photograph of the famous statue of Laocoön? 10. Describe the entrance of the Horse into Troy. 11. Tell in your own words the dream of Æneas. 12. Describe the fight at the palace of Priam. 13. Who is compared to a shepherd on a hill? to a great snake in springtime? to a swollen river? to a flock of doves? II. THE ESCAPE OF ENEAS. 1. What thoughts of his own home did the death of Priam bring to Æneas? 2. What different thoughts were brought by the sight of Helen? 3. What counsel did Venus give him? 4. What gods were taking part in the destruction of Troy? 5. What can you tell me about each of these deities? What reasons did Anchises give for refusing to flee? 6. By what marvelous signs was he persuaded? 7. How was Creüsa lost? 8. What did her spirit prophesy for Eneas? 9. What new city was he to establish? passages show that Æneas was a good son?

so careful of the images of the household gods?

10. What 11. Why was he

12. Is war more

or less cruel and horrible now than in the days of Troy?

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