Ardea

Burned City into Bird

 

The Trojans sack and burn the city of Ardea.

 

A mighty town when Turnus yet was safe:

It cruel flames destroy'd; and every roof

The smoking embers hid; up from the heap

Of ruins, sprung a bird unknown before,

And beat the ashes with its sounding wings:

Its voice, its leanness, pallid hue, and all,

Suit well a captur'd city; and the name

Retaining still, with beating wings it wails.