The Araucaniad

Canto XXXIII

[ 272 ] Canto XXXIII Don Alonso proceeds with Dido’s navigation until she reaches Bizerte. He tells how she founded Carthage and the cause of her suicide. Also, in this canto is contained the imprisonment of Caupolicán. “To the right her course was shifted. Tacking, frightened, toward the Syrtes, Traversing Licudia’s vistas, Skimming Afric’s sandy coastline, Ever navigating landward, ’Twixt the stag and Lampadosa Passed she, anchoring at Tunis With her fleet, by Fate’s ordainment. “There she saw the soil fructiferous, With fresh-blooming plants embellished, Sky serene and air translucent, Mild apparently, and clement. There she ceased to fear her brother, Too remote for stern reprisals. There she fain would found a city Of cement, and dwell within it. “For this enterprise she bargained With the inhabitants and landsmen That they sell a stretch of country Of an ox-hide’s drawn dimensions.** Natives, seeing what a profit They would reap from such a contract, Fixed their price and stipulations With the queen, and signed the charter. “Paid the sum, site designated, Dido bade them bring a bullock, Fat and heavy, to her presence, Where they’d flay its skin and stretch it, Which, when cut to slender ribbons, Occupied such space that cynics Called the clever queen’s manoeuvre Subterfuge and arrant trickery. ** This account is based on Vergil’s story: mercatique solum, facti de nomine Byrsam, taurino quantum possent circumdare tergo. “Many enter o’er-impulsive In the rough-cragged race of virtue, Straying into vice’s byways, Whence there is no turning backward. Smooth the offtrack is, and easy, From control to life licentious; Sore, the steep from vice to uprightness. Virtue’s lane is hedged with vice-weeds! “Thus Pygmalion on the surface Showed a scrupulous good-breeding, Promising from fair incipience Liberal and lofty prospects, But by greed and lust perverted, In brief season wrought he changes, For not only grew he selfish But perfidious, cruel, bloodthirsty. “We perceive his treacherous lewdness In his brother-in-law’s dark murder, Who had lived in blissful pleasance, Guaranteed by law of kinship. At that period the king seemed Wedded to punctilious practice. Knavery ne’er is more deceitful Than when clad in robes of candor! “Cheated was his expectation; All his schemings were frustrated, Nor alone his hopes were dampened, But he lost his ships and vassals.* Wind astern, the queen was sailing, As I told, toward western landmarks, Skirting with her brigs and galleys Sundry banks and demarcations. * In the Aeneid, Dido makes off not only with Pygmalion’s ships, but with his treasure: naves quae forte para-tae, corripiunt, onerantque auro; portantur avari Pygma-lionis opes pelago. Part Three [ 273 ] “Yet, she recompensed them further, Leaving them well paid and happy, And revealed to her adherents Hidden treasures she had salvaged, For ’twas foresight that had prompted Her to throw but chests of gravel In the sea to dupe her brother, And discourage persecution. “Faults and defects, prejudicial To sound living, were corrected, And the prudent queen elected Magistrates, officials, consuls. Master arquitects were summoned With materials necessary, As the queen initiated Labor for the town’s construction. “ ’Twas a city fabricated Orderly, with fates propitious, Briefly blazoned and ennobled With tall, sumptuous edifices; And she framed the new republic, Instituted laws and judgeships, That the folk might cleave to reason, Live in polity pacific. “With what bravery and discretion Ruled she her obedient subjects! Ever waxed the population, Over limits small expanding. So attractive were her edicts And her pleasant haunt’s location That from different lands and regions Many flocked to plight their fealty. “In those days there was no paper, For as yet ’twas uninvented. Pacts on hides of beasts were written, And were known as vellum letters; E’en today we use this caption. Hence that town by ox-skin measured, Chartered in this cartulary, Dido dubbed with name of Carthage. “Shortly it became so famous, Of such eminent augustness, That ’twas marvelous to witness Such a crowd of Carthaginians. Queenly Dido showed such prudence In her governance that many Kings and potentates and princes Took their laws from her new city. “Such her character and wisdom Was, that she was held a goddess. In her day there breathed no maiden Who could parallel her beauty. As a miracle of nature, As a wonder never visioned, She was haunted by adorers. Pilgrims idolized her sainthood. “Matrons were there great of spirit, Facing death for reputation; With...