Book 8.497-507
The Etruscans were informed by a soothsayer that they must be led by a foreign leader. Tarchon seeks help from Evander, thinking the oracle refers to him.
Toto namque fremunt condensae litore puppes
497
Signaque ferre iubent; retinet longaevus haruspex
498
fata canens, ‘O Maeoniae delecta iuventus,
499
flos veterum virtusque virum, quos iustus in hostem
500
fert dolor et merita accendit Mezentius ira,
501
nulli fas Italo tantam subiungere gentem:
502
externos optate duces.’ tum Etrusca resedit
503
hoc acies campo, monitis exterrita divom.
504
Ipse oratores ad me regnique coronam
505
cum sceptro misit mandatque insignia Tarchon,
506
succedam castris Tyrrhenaque regna capessam.
507