Having thus inspired AEneas with renewed determination by showing him the brilliant future that was awaiting his descendants, Anchises conducted him over those parts of the Elysian Fields which he had not yet visited, and showed him everything that was of peculiar interest.  As they went, he discoursed to him respecting the wars which he would have to wage in Latium, and gave him counsel as to the means by which he should overcome every difficulty.  Then at last, having brought him to the ivory gate whence the gods were accustomed to send false dreams to the upper world, he bade him farewell.  By that gate AEneas and the Sibyl quitted the abodes of the dead, and ascended without difficulty or adventure to the cave of the oracle, whence the hero hastened at once to his ships.  Without loss of time he ordered the sails to be spread, and the ships were steered along the coast, drawing nearer ever hour to their final destination.

AENEAS’S FIRST GREAT BATTLE WITH THE LATINS

By Charles Henry Hanson

[AEneas finally lands in Italy, the country promised him by the Gods as a home for his race.  The Italian king, Latinus, has been warned by signs and omens that the hand of his daughter Lavinia must not be given to an Italian prince, but to a stranger coming from a far country.  He believes that AEneas is the hero chosen by the Fates as her husband, and greets him in most friendly manner.  Queen Amata, however, is influenced by the Trojan-hating Juno to oppose this marriage.  Turnus, chief of the Rutuli, a suitor of Lavinia, is next aroused, and soon the whole kingdom is in a turmoil.  A fierce battle ensues.]

Turnus, having brought the bulk of his forces from before the beseiged camp, hurled them against the army of AEneas before its ranks were properly formed, and a furious conflict at once began to rage.  The Trojan hero, rejoicing to find himself once more on a field of battle, first encountered the Latian warriors, who chanced to be in his front.  Their leader was Theron, a man of gigantic stature, who did not hesitate to engage AEneas hand to hand; but he paid dearly for his rashness, for the sword which Vulcan had forged—­so keen was its edge, so excellent its temper—­pierced through his brazen buckler and his tunic stiffened by bars of gold, and penetrating his side, drained the life-blood.  Next the hero struck down Lycas; and rushing onward, encountered two stalwart rustics, Cisseus and Gyas, who were making havoc among the Trojans by beating them down with ponderous clubs.  On the divine armor the heavy blows of these rude weapons fell harmless, while the spear of AEneas proved fatal to both those who wielded them.  An insolent warrior named Pharus was defying the hero from a short distance with taunting speech, when he hurled a javelin, which struck the boaster full in the mouth, and transfixing the throat, silenced him forever.  Now a band of seven brothers,