225Amid these commotions, in the midst of the blazing uproar, look, on top of all, the envoys, downcast, bring back the answer from the great city of Diomedes: nothing has been achieved for all the cost of such great efforts; gifts and gold and great entreaties have availed nothing; the Latins must look for other arms or seek peace from the Trojan king. 231King Latinus himself sinks beneath a vast grief. 232The anger of the gods and the fresh tombs before his eyes warn him that Aeneas is brought by fate, by the manifest will of heaven. 234So he gathers a great council, the chief men of his people summoned by his command, within his lofty threshold.
236They assembled and stream to the royal palace through the crowded streets. 237In the midst, greatest in years and first in sceptre, sits Latinus, with no glad brow. 239And here he bids the envoys sent back from the Aetolian city tell what they bring back, and demands all the replies, each in its order. 241Then tongues fell silent, and Venulus, obeying his command, begins to speak thus: