Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey

From Book Two of Virgil's Aeneid

		From Book Two of Virgil’s Aeneid



		When that I saw in Vesta’s temple sit
		Dame Helen, lurking in a secret place
		(Such light the flame did give as I went by
		While here and there I cast mine eyes about)
5		For she in dread least that the Trojans should
		Revenge on her the ruin of their walls,
		And of the Greeks the cruel wrekes also,
		The fury eke of her forsaken make,
		The common bane of Troy, and eke of Greece,
10		Hateful she sat beside the altars hid.
		Then boiled my breast with flame and burning wrath
		To revenge my town unto such ruin brought,
		With worthy pains on her to work my will.
		Thought I: ‘Shall she pass to the land of Spart
15		All safe, and see Mycene her native land,
		And like a queen return with victory
		Home to her spouse, her parents and children,
		Followed with a train of Trojan maids

		And served with a band of Phrygian slav

Robert Clark