The Adventures of Enea, Part 2 of 13

Enea, Embarking at Piombino An impecunious nobleman he was, with all the grace and arrogance of youth: he signed with Capranica, just because the latter (who was longer in the tooth, with deeper pockets) offered him, in truth, a chance to show his intellectual wares – and fortune loves a comely youth who dares. This Capranica bore Colonna blood, the Pope, new-voted, was Orsini clan – a situation classed as less than good. The urgent need was, get to Switzerland, consult the Pope, and do what eloquence can. (Poor Capranica’s farms were being despoiled by elements who were Orsini-loyal). And Enea? Good-looking, limber, neat, whose fragrant learning smelled not of the lamp: he’d charm those cardinals right off their feet, with each Quintilian quip or Catiline cramp. Across the seas and through the Alps he’d tramp, with brain and tongue to serve his master’s cause, like “To Lucasta, Going to the Wars.” To Piombino Capranica’s band now headed. Quite aware they must avoid Orsini cities, and all hostile land, took ship for Genoa. A storm “annoyed” their boat (the very word Enea employed): as Ulysses encountered Nausicaa, he almost lost his life off Corsica. But here we see him as the journey starts (he’s riding on the chestnut). True to form (before the fiefdom of the Bonapartes) his universe is colourful and warm, oblivious of that black approaching storm. If only we could know our destiny, and shape to meet our cyclones, out at sea!