holding in his hand an olive branch, the emblem of peace, replied,
saying, "You see before you sons of Troy, and enemies of the Latians,
who have declared war against us. We seek King Evander. Bear him
these tidings, and say to him that we have come asking for his
alliance in arms."

Astonished at hearing that the visitors were the illustrious Trojans
whose fame had already spread throughout the world, Pallas invited
them to land and come as guests to his father's house. AEneas gladly
accepted the invitation, and the young prince conducted them to the
grove, and introduced them to King Evander. This Evander was by birth
a Greek. He had come from the Grecian province of Ar-ca'di-a, and the
city he founded in Italy he called after the name of his native
Arcadian city of Pallanteum. AEneas, however, had no fear that
Evander, though a Greek, would be an enemy of his, for they were both
of the same blood, being both descended from Atlas, the mighty hero
who of old supported the heavens on his shoulders. Mercury, the father
of Evander, was the son of Ma'i-a, a daughter of Atlas; and Dardanus,
the founder of Troy, and ancestor of its kings, was son of E-lec'tra,
another daughter of Atlas. AEneas reminded Evander of this
relationship and reminded him also that the Rutulians and Latians were
enemies of Evander and his people, as well as of the Trojans.

"They are the nation," said he, "which pursue you with cruel war, and
they think that if they expel us from the country, nothing can hinder
them from reducing all Italy under their yoke. Let us therefore form
an alliance against this common foe. We Trojans have amongst us men
stout of heart in battle and experienced in war."

While the hero was speaking, the king kept his eyes intently fixed