And as she spoke she turned away, and there shone a rosy light from her neck, also there came from her hair a sweet savor as of ambrosia, and her garments grew under her feet; and AEneas perceived that she was his mother, and cried aloud,—­

“O my mother, why dost thou mock me so often with false shows, nor sufferest me to join my hand unto thy hand, and to speak with thee face to face?”

And he went towards the walls of the city.  But Venus covered him and his companions with a mist, that no man might see them, or hinder them, or inquire of their business, and then departed to Paphos, where was her temple and also many altars of incense.  Then the men hastened on their way, and mounting a hill which hung over the city, marveled to behold it, for indeed it was very great and noble, with mighty gates and streets, and a multitude that walked therein.  For some built the walls and the citadel, rolling great stones with their hands, and others marked out places for houses.  Also they chose those that should give judgment and bear rule in the city.  Some, too, digged out harbors, and others laid the foundations of a theatre, and cut out great pillars of stone.  Like to bees they were, when, the summer being newly come, the young swarms go forth, or when they labor filling the cells with honey, and some receive the burdens of those that return from the fields, and others keep off the drones from the hive.  Even so labored the men of Tyre.  And when AEneas beheld them he cried, “Happy ye, who even now have a city to dwell in!” And being yet hidden by the mist, he went in at the gate and mingled with the men, being seen of none.

Now in the midst of the city was a wood, very thick with trees, and here the men of Carthage, first come to the land from their voyage, had digged out of the ground that which Juno had said should be a sign to them, even a horse’s head; for that, finding this, their city would be mighty in war, and full of riches.  Here, then, Dido was building a temple to Juno, very splendid, with threshold of bronze, and many steps thereunto; of bronze also were the door-posts and the gates.  And here befell a thing which gave much comfort and courage to AEneas; for as he stood and regarded the place, waiting also for the queen, he saw set forth in order upon the walls the battles that had been fought at Troy, the sons of Atreus also, and King Priam, and fierce Achilles.  Then said he, not without tears, “Is there any land, O Achates, that is not filled with our sorrows?  Seest thou Priam?  Yet withal there is a reward for virtue here also, and tears and pity for the troubles of men.  Fear not, therefore.  Surely the fame of these things shall profit us.”