from the royal stables, with rich purple trappings. To Aeneas himself
he sent a chariot and a pair of horses of the breed which the
sorceress, Circe, had obtained from the sun-god, her father. With
these presents, the Trojan ambassadors, mounted on their splendid
steeds, returned to their chief, and joyfully informed him of the
king's message and invitation.

But this friendship shown to the Trojans by King Latinus was not at
all agreeable to Juno. On the contrary that unforgiving goddess was
filled with grief and anger when she saw Aeneas and his people
engaged in building their city and settling themselves in their new
home, and so she resolved to stir up strife between the Trojans and
Latinus. With this object she called to her aid A-lec'to, one of the
three terrible sisters called Furies. These were evil deities whose
usual occupation was to scourge and torment condemned souls in the
kingdom of Pluto, and drive them to the gates of Tartarus. They
sometimes also caused trouble in the upper world, by exciting
dissensions and bringing about wars. This was the service which
Juno now required, and so, addressing Alecto she requested her to stir
up discord between the people of Latium and the followers of Aeneas.

"'Tis thine to ruin realms, o'erturn a state,
Betwixt the dearest friends to raise debate,
And kindle kindred blood to mutual hate.
Thy hand o'er towns the funeral torch displays,
And forms a thousand ills ten thousand ways.
Now, shake from out thy frightful breast, the seeds
Of envy, discord, and of cruel deeds;
Confound the peace established, and prepare
Their souls to hatred, and their hands to war."