Forgotten Ground Regained

An Alliterative Aeneid Fragment

Michael Champagne
Of arms, armor, and errant manI sing: fugitive of fate-doomed city.From shattered walls to the shores of LaviniaHe came, driven over dreadful deepsBy Juno’s whim. In war bested,He stole from Ilium all he could carryOf his household Gods. To Hesperia coming,He founded there the fabled townWhence came the Latins, the lords of Alba,And Rome unrivaled in ruling and war.Why, Muse? What was the causeOf Juno’s hate in that just man?What offence fueled her anger,Such that she would not suffer him rest,A man as pius and patient as he?Can heaven’s hate so hotly burn?There was of old an infant cityFar from the Tiber. Tyrians dwelt there.Wealthy it was, in war adept,And Juno loved it not less than Samos.There her throne, there her chariot,There she fought (Fates permitting)To rear a nation to rule the world.But she’d heard a rumor, heinous to her ears,That the ilk of Ilium would issue a raceDestined to lordship: Libya’s bane.Daughter of Saturn, she sat in remembranceOf all her efforts on Argos’ behalfAgainst the Trojans. Troublesome insects.Nor forgot she Ganymede,Or Paris’ insult. Incensed by these,She hurled over ocean awesome stormsTo all that remained of the men unslainBy Achilles. From Latium they were led far,Fate-compelled in foundering ships.No facile task, the founding of Rome.
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