In reply to this question, Anchises entered into a long explanation, the substance of which was that all the spirits of the departed had to endure in the regions below a process of expiation for their earthly sins, longer or shorter according to the nature of their transgressions.  Those that were not consigned to the pains of Tartarus entered the Elysian Fields, where, after they had remained a thousand years, they were summoned to drink of the waters of Lethe, and thus lose all recollection of their former lives; after which, being purified from all stain, they were fitted to return to the upper world and inhabit new bodies.  Anchises added that he would show to his son the forms of his own descendants in the Italian kingdom he was destined to establish, and would trace for him their achievements.  Leading AEneas and the Sibyl onto a rising ground, in the midst of the souls which were crowding about the magic stream of Lethe, he pointed out to him a long array of future kings of Latium,—­Silvius, who was to be the son of AEneas’s old age by his consort Lavinia; Procas, Capys, and Numitor, destined to be monarchs of Alba Longa; and Romulus, the future founder of the great city of Rome, which would extend over seven hills, and would spread her dominion over the whole earth.  Not far from these were the souls of Romulus’s successors in the’ early days of Rome,—­Numa Pompilius, who first would give his country laws, and encourage the arts of peace; Tullus Hostilius, who would wage victorious wars, and extend the territories of Rome; Ancus Martius, not less successful in the field; and Tarquin, destined to lose the throne through his oppressive reign.  Anchises proceeded to indicate to his wondering son many of the patriots and generals who in future years were to contribute to the glory and power of the Roman State,—­more especially the great Julius Caesar, the lineal descendant of AEneas himself; and Augustus, who would once more establish the golden age in Latium, and whose empire would extend to countries as yet unknown.  The venerable shade concluded his forecast of the future with a splendid description of the part which Rome was destined to play in the world’s history:—­

  “Let others better mould the running mass
  Of metals, and inform the breathing brass,
  And soften into flesh a marble face;
  Plead better at the bar; describes the skies,
  And when the stars descend, and when they rise: 
  But Rome! ’tis thine alone, with awful sway
  To rule mankind, and make the world obey,
  Disposing peace and war thy own majestic way;
  To tame the proud, the fettered slave to free,—­
  These are imperial arts, and worthy thee.”