s: Half-dead, the huge mass following amain,


s: They come to earth, stabbed by the darts they bore,


s: Or pierced by splinters through the breast. Scarce twain


s: Escape--Helenor one, and Lycus--from the slain.


s: LXX. Of these Helenor,--whom to Lydia's lord


s: By stealth his slave, the fair Licymnia, bore,


s: And plain, white shield, yet unrenowned, he wore,--


s: He, when he sees, around him and before,


s: The Latin hosts, as when in fierce disdain,


s: Hemmed round by huntsmen, in his rage the boar


s: O'erleaps the spears, so, where the thickest rain


s: The foemen's darts, springs forth Helenor to be slain.


s: LXXI. But fleeter far, young Lycus hastes to slip


s: Through swords, through foes, and gains the walls, and tries


s: To climb them, and a comrade's hand to grip.


s: With foot and spear behind him, as he flies,


s: Comes Turnus. Scornfully the victor cries,


s: "Mad fool! to fly, whom I have doomed to fall;


s: Think'st thou to baffle Turnus of his prize?"


s: Therewith he grasps him hanging, and withal


s: Down with his victim drags huge fragments of the wall.


s: LXXII. E'en so some snowy swan, or timorous hare


s: Jove's armour-bearer, swooping from the sky,


s: Grips in his talons, and aloft doth bear.


s: So, where apart the folded weanlings lie,


s: Swift at some lamb the warrior-wolf doth fly,


s: And leaves the mother, bleating in her woe.


s: Loud rings the noise of battle. With a cry


s: The foe press on; these fill the trench below,


s: These to the topmost towers the blazing firebrands throw.


s: LXXIII. Ilioneus with a rock's huge fragment quelled


s: The flying dart, one famous with the bow.


s: Caenus--brief triumph!--made Ortygius fall,


s: Sagaris, and Idas last, the warder of the wall.


s: LXXIV. There, slain by Capys, poor Privernus lay,


s: Grazed by Themilla's javelin; with a start


s: The madman flung his trusty shield away,


s: And clapped his left hand to the wounded part,


s: Fain, as he thought, to ease him of the smart.


s: Thereat, a light-winged arrow, unespied,


s: Whirred on the wind. It missed the warrior's heart,


s: But pierced his hand, and pinned it to his side,


s: And, entering, clave the lung, and with a gasp he died.


s: LXXV. With broidered scarf of Spanish crimson, stood


s: A comely youth, young Arcens was his name,


s: Sent by his father, from Symaethus' flood,


s: And nurtured in his mother's grove, he came,


s: Where, rich and kind, Palicus' altars flame.


s: His lance laid by, thrice whirling round his head


s: The whistling thong, Mezentius took his aim.


s: Clean through his temples hissed the molten lead,


s: And prostrate in the dust, the gallant youth lay dead.


s: LXXVI. Then first, 'tis said, in war Ascanius drew


s: His bow, wherewith in boyish days he plied


s: For Turnus' youngest sister was his bride.


s: He, puffed with new-won royalty and proud,


s: Stalked in the forefront of the fight, and cried


s: With random clamour and big words and loud,


s: Fain by his noise to show his grandeur to the crowd.


s: LXXVII. "Think ye no shame, poor cowards, thus again


s: Behind your sheltering battlements to stand,


s: Twice-captured Phrygians! and to plant in vain


s: These walls, to shield you from the foemen's hand?


s: Lo, these the varlets who our wives demand!


s: What God, what madness blinded you, that e'er


s: Far other foes than he or Atreus' sons are here.


s: LXXVIII. "Our babes are hardened in the frost and flood,


s: Strong is the stock and sturdy whence we came.


s: Our boys from morn till evening scour the wood,


s: Their joy is hunting, and the steed to tame,


s: To bend the bow, the flying shaft to aim.


s: Patient of toil, and used to scanty cheer,


s: Our youths with rakes the stubborn glebe reclaim,


s: Or storm the town. Through life we grasp the spear.


s: In war it strikes the foe, in peace it goads the steer.


s: LXXIX. "Age cannot stale, nor creeping years impair


s: Stout hearts as ours, nor make our strength decay.


s: To reap fresh plunder, and to live by prey.


s: Ye love to dance, and dally with the fair,


s: In saffron robes with purple flounces gay.


s: Your toil is ease, and indolence your care,


s: And tunics hung with sleeves, and ribboned coifs ye wear.


s: LXXX. "Go Phrygian women, for ye are not men!


s: Hence, to your Dindymus, and roam her heights


s: And hear the flute, harsh-grating, that invites


s: With twy-mouthed music to her lewd delights,


s: Shriek forth the summons to her sacred rites.


s: Leave arms to men, like us, nor meddle with the war."


s: LXXXI. Such taunts Ascanius brooked not. Stung with pride,


s: A shaft he fitted to the horse-hair twine,


s: And, turning, stood with outstretched arms, and cried:


s: "Bless, Jove omnipotent, this bold design:


s: Aid me, and yearly offerings shall be thine.


s: A milk-white steer--I bind me to the vow--


s: Myself will lead, the choicest, to thy shrine,


s: Tall as his mother, and with gilded brow,


s: And butting horns, and hoofs, that spurn the sand e'en now."


s: LXXXII. Jove heard, and leftward, where the sky was blue,


s: Thundered aloud. At once the fateful bow


s: Twanged; with a whirr the fateful arrow flew,


s: And pierced the head of Remulus. "Now go,


s: And teach thy proud tongue to insult a foe,


s: And scoff at Trojan valour. _This_ reply


s: Twice-captured Phrygians to thy taunts bestow."


s: Ascanius spoke; the Teucrians with a cry,


s: Press on, their joyous hearts uplifting to the sky.


s: LXXXIII. Meanwhile, Apollo from his cloudy car


s: The Ausonian host, and leaguered town descries,


s: And calls the youthful conqueror from afar:


s: "Hail to thy maiden prowess; yonder lies


s: Thy path, brave boy, to glory and the skies.


s: All wars shall cease beneath the race to rise


s: From great Assaracus. Nor thine, nor thee


s: Shall narrow Troy contain; so stands the Fate's decree."


s: LXXXIV. He spake, and through the breathing air shot down,


s: But shaped like aged Butes, whilom known


s: The servant of the Dardan king, who bore


s: Anchises' shield, and waited at his door,


s: Then left to guard Ascanius. Such in view


s: Apollo seemed; such clanging arms he wore;


s: Such were his hoary tresses, voice, and hue,


s: And these his words, as near the fiery youth he drew:


s: LXXXV "Enough, to live, and see Numanus bleed,


s: Child of AEneas! This, thy valour's due,


s: Great Phoebus grants, nor stints a rival's meed.


s: Now cease."--He spake, and vanished from their view.


s: His arms divine the Dardan chieftains knew,


s: And heard the quiver rattle in his flight.


s: So, warned by Phoebus' presence, back they drew


s: The fiery youth, then plunged into the fight.


s: Death seems a welcome risk, and danger a delight.


s: LXXXVI. Shouts fill the walls and outworks; casque and shield


s: Clash; bows are bent, and javelins hurled amain:


s: Fierce grows the fight, and weapons strew the field.


s: So fierce what time the Kid-star brings the rain,


s: The storm, from westward rising, beats the plain:


s: So thick with hail, the clouds, asunder riven,


s: Pour down a deluge on the darkened main,


s: When Jove, upon his dreaded south-wind driven


s: Stirs up the watery storm, and rends the clouds of heaven.


s: LXXXVII. Pandarus and Bitias, whom in Ida's grove


s: Tall as their mountains or the pines of Jove,


s: Fling back the gate committed to their care,


s: With waving plumes, and armed from top to toe,


s: In front, beside the gateway, stand the pair,


s: Tall as twin oaks, with nodding crests, that grow


s: Where Athesis' sweet stream or Padus' waters flow.


s: LXXXVIII. Up rush the foemen to the open gate,


s: In troops they come, in troops they turn in flight,


s: Or fall upon the threshold, slain outright.


s: Now fiercer swells the discord, louder grows


s: The noise of strife, as, hastening to unite,


s: The sons of Troy their banded ranks oppose,


s: And battle hand to hand and, sallying, charge the foes.


s: LXXXIX. Elsewhere to Turnus, as he raged, and marred


s: The ranks, came tidings of the foe, elate


s: With new-wrought carnage, and the gates unbarred.


s: Forth from his work he rushes, grim with hate,


s: To seek the brothers, and the Dardan gate.


s: Here brave Antiphates, the first in view


s: Borne by a Theban) with his dart he slew;


s: Swift through the yielding air the Italian cornel flew.


s: Out from the dark pit gushed a foaming tide;


s: The cold steel, warming in the lung, stood fast.


s: And Bitias, fierce with flaming eyes of pride.


s: No dart for him; no dart his life had ta'en.


s: A spear phalaric, thundering, pierced his side.


s: Nor bulls' tough hides, nor corselet's twisted chain,


s: Twice linked with golden scales the monstrous blow sustain.


s: His shield above him thunders. Such the roar,


s: When falls the solid pile of quarried stones,


s: Sunk in the sea off Baiae's echoing shore;


s: So vast the ruin, when the waves close o'er,


s: And the black sands mount upward, as the block,


s: Dashed headlong, settles on the deep-sea floor,


s: Piled o'er Typhoeus, quake and tremble with the shock.


s: Fresh heart and strength, but Fear and black Dismay


s: And Flight upon the Teucrian troops he sends.


s: From right and left they hurry to the fray,


s: And o'er each spirit comes the War-God's sway.


s: But when brave Pandarus saw his brother's fate,


s: And marked the swerving fortune of the day,


s: He set his broad-built shoulders to the gate;


s: The groaning hinges yield, and backward rolls the weight.


s: Sore straitened in the combat; these, the rest,


s: Saved like himself, he rescues and receives.


s: Madman! who, blind to Turnus, as he pressed


s: Among them, made the dreaded foe his guest.


s: Fierce as a tiger in the fold, he preys.


s: Loud ring his arms; his helmet's blood-red crest


s: Waves wide; strange terrors from his eyes outblaze,


s: And on his dazzling shield the living lightning plays.


s: The Trojans see, and stand aghast with fear.


s: Then, fired with fury for his brother slain,


s: Forth leaping, shouts huge Pandarus with a jeer,


s: "No Queen Amata's bridal halls are here;


s: No Ardea this; around the camps the foe.


s: No flight for thee." He, smiling, calm of cheer,


s: "Come, if thou durst; full soon shall Priam know


s: Thou too hast found a new Achilles to thy woe."


s: Cased in its bark, with hardened knots and dried.


s: The breezes caught the missile as it flew;


s: And fixed it in the gate. "Ha! bravely tried!


s: Not so _this_ dart shalt thou escape; not so


s: Send I the weapon and the wound." He cried,


s: And, sword in hand, uprising to the blow,


s: Between the temples clave the forehead of his foe.


s: Gape wide. Aloud his clanging arms resound.


s: Earth groans beneath, as prone, amid the splash


s: Of blood and brains, he sprawls upon the ground,


s: And right and left hangs, severed by the wound,


s: The Trojans fly. Then, then had Turnus found


s: Time and the thought to burst the town-gate's bar,


s: That day had seen the last of Trojans and the war.


s: Urged on the conqueror. Phalaris he slew,


s: Then hamstrung Gyges, and their javelins seized,


s: And hurled them at their comrades, as they flew,


s: For Juno nerved and strengthened him anew.


s: Here Halys fell, and hardy Phlegeus there,


s: Pierced through his shield. Alcander down he threw,


s: As on the walls they stood, and roused the battle's blare.


s: Cheering his friends. Back-handed, with fierce sway,


s: His right knee bent, he swung the sweeping blade,


s: The wood-deer, and the venomed barb to wing,


s: And Creteus, too, who loved the minstrel's lay,


s: The Muses' friend, whose joy it was to sing


s: Of steeds, and arms and men, and wake the lyre's sweet string.


s: Brave Mnestheus, and Serestus fierce, and see


s: Their friends in flight, and foemen in the town.


s: Then Mnestheus cries: "Friends, whither would ye flee?


s: What other walls, what further town have we?


s: Shame on the thought, shall then a single foe,


s: Cooped thus within your ramparts, work such woe,


s: Such deaths--and unavenged? and lay your choicest low?


s: For Troy's old gods, and for your native land,


s: And for the great AEneas, and his name?"


s: Fired by his words, they gather heart, and stand,


s: Shoulder to shoulder, rallying in a band.


s: Backward, but slowly he retreats, too proud


s: To turn, and seeks the ramparts hard at hand,


s: Girt by the stream; while, clamouring aloud,


s: Fiercer the foe press on, and larger grows the crowd.


s: And pressed with galling javelins, half in fright,


s: But grim and glaring, step by step gives way,


s: Too wroth to turn, too valorous for flight,


s: And fain, but impotent, to wreak his spite


s: Slowly and wavering, Turnus quits the fight,


s: Boiling with rage; yet twice he charged the foe,


s: Twice round the walls in rout they fled before his blow.


s: Nor Juno dares his failing force to stay,


s: For Jove in wrath sent heavenly Iris down,


s: Stern threats to bear, should Turnus disobey,


s: No more his shield, nor strength of hand avail


s: To ward the storm; so thick the javelins play.


s: Loud rings his helmet with the driving hail;


s: Rent with the volleyed stones, the solid brass-plates fail.


s: The shield-boss. Faster still the darts they pour,


s: And thundering Mnestheus towers amid his foes.


s: Trembling with pain, exhausted, sick, and sore,


s: He gasps for breath. Sweat streams from every pore,


s: And, black with dust, from all his limbs descends.


s: Headlong, at length, he plunges from the shore,


s: Clad all in arms. The yellow river bends,


s: And bears him, cleansed from blood, triumphant to his friends.


s: (1-153). The siege of the Trojan camp continues. AEneas meanwhile


s: (154-207). Catalogue of the helpers of AEneas, who is presently


s: The Sire of Gods and men, whose eyes behold


s: The wide-wayed earth, the Dardans' leaguered hold,


s: And Latium's peoples, from his throne of state


s: Convokes the council. Ranged on seats of gold


s: Around the halls, in silence they await.


s: Himself, in measured speech, begins the grand debate.


s: Rebellious thoughts, my purpose thus to mar?


s: 'Twixt Troy and Italy I banned the feud;


s: My nod forbade it. Whence this impious jar?


s: What fear hath stirred them to provoke the war?


s: Fate in due course shall bring the destined hour,--


s: Foredate it not--when Carthage from afar


s: Her barbarous hordes through riven Alps shall pour,


s: To storm the towers of Rome, to ravage and devour.


s: Then may ye glut your vengeance. Now forbear,


s: And plight this peaceful covenant with joy."


s: Thus Jove; but Venus of the golden hair,


s: Less brief, made answer: "Lord of earth and air!


s: We know none other, to approach with prayer,


s: See the Rutulians, how they swell with pride;


s: See Turnus, puffed with triumph, borne upon the tide.


s: Within the gates, amid the mounds the fray


s: Is raging, and the trenches float with gore,


s: Is theirs no rest from leaguer--not a day?


s: A son of Tydeus comes, as dreadful as before.


s: And mortal arms must vex her. List to me:


s: If maugre thee, and careless of thy will,


s: Nor aid them; let their folly reap its fee.


s: But if, oft called by many a warning sign


s: From Heaven and Hell, they followed thy decree,


s: Who then shall tamper with the doom divine,


s: Or dare to forge new Fates, or alter words of thine?


s: The vessels burnt on Eryx' distant shore,


s: The tempest's monarch, and the raging blast


s: Stirred in AEolia, and the winds' uproar,


s: And Iris, heaven-sent messenger? Nay more,


s: From Hell's dark depths she summons her allies,


s: Through Latin towns, sent sudden from the skies,


s: Alecto wings her flight, and riots as she flies.


s: While fortune smiled, I hoped for it; but now


s: Theirs, whom thou choosest, be the victor's meed.


s: But if no land thy ruthless spouse allow


s: To Teucrian outcasts, hearken to me now:


s: Safe let him cease from arms, my darling and my joy.


s: Where future leads, and wander on the brine.


s: _Him_ shield, and let me snatch him from the fray.


s: There let him live, forgetful of renown,


s: And, deaf to fame, these warlike weeds resign;


s: Then let fierce Carthage press Ausonia down,


s: For he and his no more shall vex the Tyrian town.


s: And drain all dangers of the land and main,


s: If Teucrians seek on Latin soil to frame


s: Troy's towers anew? Far better to remain


s: There, on their country's ashes, on the plain


s: Where Troy once stood. Give, Father, I implore,


s: To wretched men their native streams again;


s: There let them toil and faint, as Trojans toiled of yore."


s: My lips break silence and lay bare my woe?


s: The sword, and make the Latin King his foe?


s: Driven by the frenzied prophetess of Troy.


s: Did we then bid him leave the camp, and throw


s: His life to fortune, ay, and leave a boy


s: To rule the war, and Tuscan loyalty destroy,


s: For fraud like that? Where then was Juno? where


s: Was cloud-sent Iris? Sooth, ye count it shame


s: That Latins hedge the new-born Troy with flame,


s: And Turnus dares his native land possess,


s: And nymph Venilia. Is the shame then less,


s: That Troy with foreign yoke should Latin fields oppress,


s: And lift, and burn and ravage as they list,


s: Then plead for peace, with arms upon the prow?


s: And cheat his foemen with an empty mist,


s: The warrior's counterfeit. At thy command


s: Ships change to sea-nymphs, and the flames desist.


s: And now, that we should stretch a friendly hand,


s: And lend Rutulians aid, an infamy ye brand.


s: He knows not: let him know not. Do I care?


s: And bowers of high Cythera; get thee there.


s: Why seek for towns with battle in their womb,


s: Wrought we the wreck, when Ilion sank in gloom,


s: We, or the hands that urged poor Trojans to their doom?


s: Whose theft in arms two continents arrayed,


s: When Europe clashed with Asia? I the one,


s: To storm the chamber of the Spartan maid?


s: Did I with lust the fatal strife sustain,


s: And fan the feud, and lend the Dardans aid?


s: _Then_ had thy fears been fitting; now in vain


s: Thy taunts are hurled; too late thou risest to complain."


s: On this and that side murmured their assent,


s: As new-born gales, that tell the coming squall,


s: Caught in the woods, their mingled moanings vent.


s: Hush'd was the hall; Earth shook; the firmament


s: Was silent; whist was every wind that blows,


s: And o'er the calm deep spread the stillness of repose.


s: Since naught avails this discord to allay,


s: And peace is hopeless, let the war proceed.


s: Must carve his hopes and fortune as he may.


s: Fate, blindness, crooked counsels--whatso'er


s: The chance of all, nor would Rutulians spare.


s: For each must toil and try, till Fate the doom declare."


s: Invoked his brother, and the Stygian flood,


s: The pitchy whirlpool, and the banks abhorr'd,


s: Then bent his brow, and with his awful nod


s: So ceased the council. From his throne of state,


s: The courts of Heaven. The powers celestial wait


s: Around their sovereign Lord, and lead him to the gate.


s: The fierce Rutulians still the siege maintain.


s: Pent in their ramparts stay the sons of Troy,


s: Hopeless of flight, and line the walls in vain,


s: These, battling in the van, the desperate strife uphold.


s: Claros and Themon,--braver Lycians none.


s: There, with a rock's huge fragment toils amain


s: Menestheus' brother, nor less fame he won.


s: Hot fares the combat; from the walls these fling


s: The stones, and those the javelins. Each one


s: Toils to defend; these blazing firebrands bring,


s: And fetch the flying shafts, and fit them to the string.


s: Fair Venus' care, the Dardan youth divine,


s: Bright as a diamond, or the lustrous sheen


s: Of gems, that, set in yellow gold, entwine


s: The neck, or sparkling on the temples shine.


s: In chest of terebinth, or boxwood scrine;


s: And o'er his milk-white neck and shoulders fair,


s: Twined with the pliant gold, streams down the warrior's hair.


s: Scattering the poisoned arrows from thy hands;


s: A gallant knight, and born of high degree


s: Pactolus rolls along the fruitful lands.


s: There he, whom yesterday the voice of fame


s: Raised to the stars, the valiant Mnestheus stands,


s: Who drove fierce Turnus from the camp with shame;


s: There, Capys, he who gave the Capuan town its name.


s: And now, at midnight, o'er the deep sea fares


s: His name and race, the aid he asks and bears,


s: The friends Mezentius gathers to the fray,


s: And Turnus' violence; then warns, with prayers,


s: Brave Tarchon joins his power, and strikes a league straightway.


s: And Lydians, with a foreign leader, plough


s: Here sits AEneas, thoughtful, on the stern,


s: For war's dark chances cloud the chieftain's brow.


s: There, on his left, sits Pallas, and in turn


s: Now cons the stars, now seeks the wanderer's woes to learn.


s: Ye Goddesses. Strike up the noble stave,


s: And sing what hosts from Tuscan shores he brings,


s: What ships he arms, and how they cross the wave.


s: The watery plain. With him from Clusium go,


s: And Cosae's town, a hundred, tried and brave;


s: Deft archers, well the deadly craft they know.


s: Light from their shoulders hang the quiver and the bow.


s: All trained to battle, and three hundred more


s: Expounds to man, and kens, with prescient lore,


s: The starry sky, the hearts of slaughtered kine,


s: The voices of the birds, the lightning's warning sign.


s: In bristling ranks, all spearmen of renown.


s: Next, Astur--comeliest Astur--clad in weed


s: Of divers hues, and glorying in his steed:


s: Three hundred men from ancient Pyrgos fare,


s: From Caere's home, from Minio's fruitful mead,


s: And they who breathe Gravisca's tainted air.


s: One purpose fills them all, to follow and to dare.


s: Liguria's chief, nor, though a few were thine,


s: The swan's white feathers on his helmet shine,


s: Thy fault, O Love. When Cycnus, left to pine


s: Soothed his sad passion with the Muse divine,


s: Old age with hoary plumage round him clung;


s: Starward he soared from earth and, soaring up, still sung.


s: Oaring their bark. A Centaur from the prow


s: Looms o'er the waves a-tiptoe, with his hands


s: A vast rock heaving, as in act to throw;


s: The long keel ploughs the furrowed deep below.


s: Next, from his home the gallant Ocnus came,


s: The son of Manto, who the Fates doth know,


s: Brave child of Tiber. He his mother's name


s: And walls to Mantua gave,--great Mantua, rich in fame,


s: Three separate stems four-fold the state compose,


s: Five hundred warriors, all Mezentius' foes,


s: And armed for vengeance, from her walls arose.


s: Mincius in front, veiled in his sedges grey


s: (Fair stream, whose birth from sire Benacus flows),


s: Shines on the poop, and seaward points the way;


s: Swift speeds the bark of pine, with foemen for the fray.


s: Of hundred oarsmen, beats the watery lea.


s: The lashed deeps boil; big Triton from the prow


s: Sounds his loud shell, that frights the sky-blue sea.


s: Waist-high, a man with human face is he;


s: All else, a fish; beneath his savage breast


s: The white foam roars before him.--Such to see,


s: Such, and so numerous was the host that pressed,


s: Borne in their thirty ships, to succour Troy distrest.


s: Bright Phoebe drove her nightly-wandering wain.


s: And trimmed the sails, while trouble tossed his brain.


s: When lo! around him thronged the Sea-nymphs' train,


s: Whom kind Cybele changed from ships of wood


s: As many as late, with brazen beaks, had stood


s: Linked to the shore, now swim in even line the flood.


s: Clings to the stern; breast-high the nymph doth show;


s: Her left hand oars the placid deep below.


s: Then, "Watchest thou, AEneas, child divine?


s: Watch on," she cries, "and let the canvas go.


s: Behold us, sea-nymphs, once a grove of pine


s: On Ida's sacred crest, the Trojans' ships and thine.


s: With sword and flame, perforce, sweet life to save,


s: We broke our chains, and wander in thy quest.


s: Our shape the Mother, pitying, changed and gave


s: Immortal life, to spend beneath the wave.


s: Thy son, he stays in Latin leaguer pent;


s: Arcadian horsemen, with the Tuscans brave,


s: Hold tryst to aid. His troops hath Turnus sent,


s: Charged, with opposing arms, their succour to prevent.


s: Bid forth thy followers to arms. Be bold,


s: And take this shield, the Fire-King's gift divine,


s: Next morn--so truly as the word is told--


s: Huge heaps of dead Rutulian foes shall view."


s: She spake; her hand, departing, loosed its hold,


s: And pushed the vessel; well the way she knew;


s: Swift as a dart it flies; the rest its flight pursue.


s: Yet hails the sign, and gladdens at the sight,


s: And, gazing on the vaulted skies, he prays,


s: "Mother of Heaven, whom Dindymus' famed height,


s: And tower-girt towns, and lions yoked delight,


s: Assist the Phrygians, and direct the fray.


s: Kind Goddess, prosper us, and speed aright


s: Returning, climbed the sky, and chased the night away.


s: And take fresh heart, and for the fight prepare.


s: Now, from the stern, the Dardans he espies,


s: Hemmed in their camp. Aloft his hands upbear


s: The burning shield. With shouts his Dardans tear


s: Heaven's concave. Hope with fury fires their veins.


s: Fast fly their darts, as when through darkened air


s: With clang and clamour the Strymonian cranes


s: Stream forth, the signal given, from winter's winds and rains.


s: Till, looking round, they see the watery ways


s: A sea of ships, all crowding to the land,


s: The flaming crest, the helmet all ablaze,


s: The golden shield-boss, with its lightning rays.


s: As when a comet, bright with blazing hair,


s: Its blood-red beams athwart the night displays,


s: Or Sirius, rising, with its baleful glare


s: Brings pestilence and drought, and saddens all the air.


s: To seize the shore, and keep them from the land.


s: Now cheering, and now chiding, rings his cry


s: "Lo, here--'tis here, the battle ye demand.


s: Up, crush them; war is in the warrior's hand.


s: Think of your fathers and their deeds of old,


s: Your homes, your wives. Forestall them on the strand,


s: Now, while they totter, while the foot's faint hold


s: Slips on the shelving beach. Fair Fortune aids the bold."


s: To mind the siege, and whom the foe to meet.


s: By planks meanwhile AEneas lands his crews.


s: Some wait until the languid waves retreat,


s: Then, leaping, to the shallows trust their feet;


s: Some vault with oars. Brave Tarchon marks, quick-eyed,


s: A sheltered spot, where neither surf doth beat,


s: Nor breakers roar, but smooth the waters glide,


s: And up the sloping shore unbroken swells the tide.


s: XL. Here suddenly he bids them turn the prow,


s: And shouts aloud, "Now, now, my chosen band,


s: Lean to your oars; strive lustily and row.


s: Lift the keel onward, till it cleaves the strand,


s: And ploughs its furrow in the foeman's land.


s: Let the bark break, with such a haven here


s: What harm, if once upon the shore we stand?"


s: So Tarchon spake; his comrades, with a cheer,


s: Rise on the smooth-shaved thwarts, and sweep the foaming mere.


s: XLI. So, one by one, they gain the land, and, whole


s: And scatheless, on the Latin shore abide.


s: All safe but Tarchon. Dashed upon a shoal,


s: In doubtful balance swayed from side to side,


s: His vessel hangs, and back the waves doth beat,


s: Then breaks, and leaves them tangled in the tide


s: 'Twixt planks and oars, while, ebbing to retreat,


s: The shrinking waves draw back, and wash them from their feet.


s: XLII. Nor loiters Turnus; eager to attack,


s: To meet the foe, and drive the Teucrians back.


s: The trumpet sounds: the Latin churls straightway


s: Huge Theron slain, their mightiest, who in pride


s: Of strength, rushed forth and dared him to the fray.


s: Through quilted brass the Dardan sword he plied,


s: Through tunic stiff with gold, and pierced th' unguarded side.


s: XLIII. Lichas he smites, who vowed his infant life,


s: Ripped from his mother, dying in her pain,


s: To Phoebus, freed from perils of the knife.


s: Huge Gyas, brawny Cisseus press the plain,


s: As, club in hand, they strew the Tuscan train.


s: Naught now avail those stalwart arms, that plied


s: They boast their sire Melampus, comrade tried


s: Of Hercules, while earth his toilsome tasks supplied.


s: XLIV. Lo, full at Pharus, in his bawling mouth


s: He plants a dart. Thou, Cydon, too, in quest


s: Of Clytius, blooming with the down of youth,


s: Thy latest joy, had'st laid thy loves to rest,


s: Slain by the Dardan; but around thee pressed


s: Old Phorcus' sons. Seven brethren bold are there,


s: Seven darts they throw. These helm and shield arrest,


s: Those, turned aside by Venus' gentle care


s: Just graze the Dardan's frame, and, grazing, glance in air.


s: "Quick, hand me store of weapons; none in vain


s: This arm shall hurl at yon Rutulian crew,


s: Not one of all that whilom knew the stain


s: So saying, he snatched, and in a moment threw


s: His mighty spear, that, hurtling, rent in twain


s: The brazen plates of Maeon's shield, and through


s: The breastplate pierced the breast, nor faltered as it flew.


s: XLVI. Up ran, and raised his brother, as he lay,


s: And pierced his arm, and, reddening, held its way,


s: And from his shoulders by the sinews hung


s: The dying hand. Then straight, the dart outwrung,


s: But failed to smite. The weapon, turned awry,


s: Missed the intended mark, and grazed Achates' thigh.


s: XLVII. Up Clausus came, of Cures, in the pride


s: Of youth. His stark spear, urged with forceful sway,


s: Through Dryops' throat, beneath the chin, he plied,


s: And voice and life forsook him, as he lay,


s: Spewing thick gore, his forehead in the clay.


s: Three Thracians next, three sons of Idas bleed.


s: Brings his Auruncan bands, and Neptune's seed,


s: Messapus, too, comes up, the tamer of the steed.


s: XLVIII. Each side strives hard the other's ground to win.


s: E'en on Ausonia's threshold raves the fray.


s: The battle, matched in strength and rage, nor they,


s: The winds themselves, nor clouds nor sea give way,


s: All locked in strife, and struggling as they can,


s: And long in doubtful balance hangs the day,


s: So meet the ranks, and mingle in the van,


s: And foot clings close to foot, and man is massed with man.


s: XLIX. Where, in another quarter, stones and trees,


s: Torn from its banks, a torrent at its height


s: Had strewn with wide-wrought ravage, Pallas sees


s: His brave Arcadians break the ranks of fight,


s: And turn before their Latin foes in flight.


s: Strange to foot-combat, from his trusty horse


s: The rough ground lured each rider to alight.


s: Now with entreaties--'tis his last resource--


s: And now with bitter words he fires their flagging force.


s: L.  "Shame on ye, comrades! whither do ye run?


s: By your brave deeds, and by the name ye bear,


s: And great Evander's, by the wars ye won,


s: By these my hopes, which even now bid fair


s: E'en with my father's honours to compare.


s: Trust not your feet; the sword, the sword must hew


s: A pathway through the foemen. See, 'tis there,


s: Where foes press thickest, and our friends are few,


s: Our noble country calls for Pallas and for you.


s: LI. "No gods assail us; mortals fight to-day


s: With mortals. Lives as many as theirs have we,


s: As many hands, to match them in the fray.


s: Earth fails for flight, and yonder lies the sea.


s: Seaward or Troyward--whither shall we flee?"


s: So saying, he plunged amid the throng. First foe,


s: Fell Lagus, doomed an evil fate to dree.


s: Him, toiling hard a ponderous stone to throw,


s: Between the ribs and spine a whistling dart laid low.


s: LII. Scarce from his marrow could the victor tear


s: The steel, so tightly clung it to the bone.


s: Forth Hisbo leaped, to smite him unaware.


s: Rash hope! brave Pallas caught him, rushing on,


s: And through the lung his sword a passage won.


s: Fate stopped his lewdness now, and stretched him with the dead.


s: LIII. Ye, too, young Thymber and Larides fair,


s: Twin sons of Daucus, did the victor quell.


s: So like in form and features were the pair,


s: That e'en their doting parents failed to tell


s: This one from that. Alas! the sword too well


s: Divides them now. Here, tumbled on the sward,


s: At one fierce swoop, the head of Thymber fell.


s: Thy severed hand, Larides, seeks its lord;


s: The fingers, half alive and quivering, clutch the sword.


s: LIV. Fired by his words, his deeds the Arcadians view,


s: And shame and anger arm them to the fray.


s: Rhoeteus, as past his two-horsed chariot flew


s: He pierced,--'twas Ilus Pallas meant to slay,


s: Rhoeteus, in flight from Teuthras and from thee,


s: His brother Tyres, met the spear midway.


s: Down from his chariot in the dust rolled he,


s: And, dying, with his heels beat the Rutulian lea.


s: LV. As when a shepherd, on a summer's day,


s: The wished-for winds arising, hastes to cast


s: The mid space seized, the line of fire runs fast


s: From field to field, and broadens with the blast:


s: And, sitting down, the victor from a height


s: Surveys the triumph, as the flames rush past.


s: And round thee, Pallas, throng, and aid thee in the fight.


s: LVI. But lo, from out the foemen's ranks, athirst


s: For battle, fierce Halesus charged, and drew


s: His covering shield before him. Ladon first,


s: Next, at his throat as bold Strymonius flew,


s: The glittering falchion severed at a blow


s: The lifted hand. At Thoas' face he threw


s: A stone, that smashed the forehead of his foe,


s: And bones, and blood, and brains the spattered earth bestrow.


s: LVII. Halesus, when a boy, in woods concealed,


s: His sire, a seer, had reared with tender care.


s: But soon as death the old man's eyes had sealed,


s: Fate marked the son for the Evandrian spear.


s: Him Pallas sought; "O Tiber!" was his prayer,


s: His arms and spoils thy sacred oak shall bear."


s: 'Twas heard: Halesus, shielding from the foe


s: Imaon, leaves his breast unguarded to the blow.


s: LVIII. Firm Lausus stands, bearing the battle's brunt,


s: Nor lets Halesus' death his friends dismay.


s: Dead falls the first who meets him front to front,


s: Brave Abas, knot and holdfast of the fray.


s: Down go the Etruscans, and the Teucrians, those


s: Whom Grecian conquerors had failed to slay.


s: Man locked with man, amid the conflict's throes,


s: With strength and leaders matched, the rival armies close.


s: LIX. On press the rearmost, crowding on the van,


s: So thick, that neither hand can stir, nor spear


s: Be wielded; each one struggles as he can.


s: Here Pallas, there brave Lausus, charge and cheer,


s: Two foes, in age scarce differing by a year.


s: Both fair of form. Stern Fate to each forbade


s: His home return. But Jove allowed not here


s: Awhile for mightier foes their destined doom delayed.


s: LX. Warned by his gracious sister, Turnus flies


s: To take the place of Lausus. Driving through


s: The ranks, "Stand off," he shouts to his allies,


s: Would that his sire were here himself to view!"


s: All clear the field. Then, pondering with surprise


s: The proud command, as back the crowd withdrew,


s: The youth, amazed at Turnus, rolls his eyes


s: And scans his giant foe, and thus in scorn replies:


s: LXI. "Or kingly spoils shall make me famed to-day,


s: My sire can bear it. Put thy threats away."


s: Then forth he stepped; cold horror chills his train.


s: Down from his car, close combat to darrain,


s: Has marked a bull, that butts the sandy plain


s: For battle, springs to grapple with his prey;


s: So dreadful Turnus looks, advancing to the fray.


s: LXII. Him, deemed within his spear-throw, undismayed


s: The youth prevents, if chance the odds should square,


s: And aid his daring. To the skies he prayed,


s: "O thou, my father's guest-friend, wont whilere


s: A stranger's welcome at his board to share,


s: Let Turnus fall, and, falling, see me tear


s: His blood-stained arms, and may his swooning eyes


s: Meet mine, and bear the victor's image, when he dies."


s: LXIII. Alcides heard, and, stifling in his breast


s: A deep groan, poured his unavailing grief.


s: Whom thus the Sire with kindly words addressed:


s: By deeds of fame. Dead many a godlike chief,


s: His proper Fates demand; his destined hour is due."


s: LXIV. So saying, he turned, and shunned the scene of death.


s: Forth Pallas hurled the spear with all his might,


s: And snatched the glittering falchion from the sheath.


s: Where the shield's top just matched the shoulders' height,


s: Clean through the rim, the javelin winged its flight,


s: And grazed the flesh. Then Turnus, poising slow


s: His oakbeam, tipt with iron sharp and bright,


s: Took aim, and, hurling, shouted to his foe,


s: "See, now, if this my lance can deal a deadlier blow."


s: LXV. He spake, and through the midmost shield, o'erlaid


s: With bull-hide, brass, and iron, welded hard,


s: Whizzed the keen javelin, nor its course delayed,


s: But pierced the broad breast through the corslet's guard.


s: He the warm weapon, in the wound embarred,


s: Wrenched, writhing in his agony; in vain;


s: Out gushed the life and life-blood. O'er him jarred


s: His clanging armour, as he rolled in pain.


s: Dying, with bloody mouth he bites the hostile plain.


s: LXVI. Then Turnus, standing o'er the dead, "Go to,


s: If earth's cold lap yield solace to his woe,


s: I grant it. Dearly will his Dardan guest


s: Cost him, I trow." Then, trampling on the foe,


s: His left foot on the lifeless corpse he pressed,


s: And tore the ponderous belt in triumph from his breast;


s: LXVII. The belt, whereon the tale of guilt was told,--


s: The wedding night, the couches smeared with gore,


s: The bridegrooms slain--which Clonus in the gold,


s: And Turnus now, exulting, seized and wore.


s: Vain mortals! triumphing past bounds to-day,


s: Shall come, when gold in plenty would he pay


s: Ne'er Pallas to have touched, and curse the costly prey.


s: LXVIII. With tears his comrades lifted from the ground


s: Dead Pallas; groaning, on his shield they bore


s: Him homeward, and the bitter wail went round.


s: "O grief! O glory! fall'n to rise no more!


s: Thus back we bring thee, thus the son restore!


s: One day to battle gave thee, one hath ta'en,


s: Victor and vanquished in the self-same hour!


s: Yet fall'n with honour, for behind thee slain,


s: Heaps of Rutulian foes thou leavest on the plain!"


s: LXIX. Sure tidings to AEneas came apace,--


s: 'Twas no mere rumour--of his friends in flight;


s: Time pressed for help, death stared them in the face.


s: Sweeping his foes before him, left and right


s: He mows a passage through the ranks of fight.


s: Thee, haughty Turnus, thee he burns to find,


s: Hot with new blood, and glorying in thy might.


s: The sire, the son, the welcome warm and kind,


s: The feast, the parting grasp--all crowd upon his mind.


s: LXX. Eight youths alive he seizes for the pyre,


s: Four, sons of Sulmo, four, whom Ufens bred,


s: Poor victims, doomed to feed the funeral fire,


s: And pour their blood in quittance for the dead.


s: The quivering steel, that whistles o'er his head,


s: And, like a suppliant, crouching to his foe,


s: Clings to AEneas' knees, and cries in words of woe:


s: LXXI. "O by the promise of thy youthful heir,


s: My son, my father; for their sakes forbear.


s: Rich is my house, its cellars heaped with store


s: Of gold, and silver talents by the score.


s: 'Tis not my doom, that shall the day decide.


s: If Trojans win, one foeman's life the more


s: Mars not the triumph, nor can turn the tide."


s: Thus he, and thus in scorn the Dardan chief replied:


s: LXXII. "The treasures that thou vauntest, let them be.


s: Thy gold, thy silver, and thy hoarded gain


s: Spare for thy children, for they bribe not me.


s: Since Pallas fell by Turnus' hand, 'twere vain


s: To think thy pelf will traffic for the slain,


s: So deems my son, so deems Anchises' shade."


s: He spake, and with his left hand grasped amain


s: His helmet. Even as the suppliant prayed,


s: Hilt-deep, the neck bent back, he drove the shining blade.


s: LXXIII. Hard by, the son of Haemon there was seen,


s: In robe and armour of resplendent sheen,


s: Him, met, afield he chases, lays him low,


s: And o'er him, like a storm-cloud, dark as night,


s: Stands, hugely shadowing the fallen foe:


s: And back Serestus bears his armour bright,


s: A trophy, vowed to thee, Gradivus, lord of fight.


s: LXXIV. Then Caeculus, to Vulcan's race allied,


s: And Marsian Umbro, rally 'gainst the foe


s: The wavering ranks. The Dardan on his side


s: Still rages. First from Anxur with a blow


s: His sword the shield-arm and the shield laid low.


s: Big things had Anxur boasted, empty jeers,


s: And deemed his valour with his vaunts would grow:


s: Perchance, with spirit lifted to the spheres,


s: Hoar hairs he looked to see, and length of peaceful years.


s: LXXV. Sheathed in bright arms, proud Tarquitus in scorn,


s: To Faunus, ranger of the woods, had borne,


s: Leaped forth, and at the fiery Dardan flew.


s: He, drawing back his javelin, aimed and threw.


s: And through the cuirass and the ponderous shield


s: Pinned him. Then, vainly as he strove to sue,


s: Much pleading, even while the suppliant kneeled.


s: Lopt off, the lifeless head went rolling on the field.


s: LXXVI. His reeking trunk the victor in disdain


s: Spurns with his foot, and cries aloud, "Lie there,


s: Proud youth, and tell thy terrors to the slain.


s: No tender mother shall thy shroud prepare,


s: No father's sepulchre be thine to share.


s: Thy carrion corpse shall be the vultures' food,


s: And birds that batten on the dead shall tear


s: Thee piecemeal, and the fishes lick thy blood,


s: Drowned in the deep sea-gulfs, or drifting on the flood."


s: LXXVII. Lucas, Antaeus in the van were slain.


s: Here Numa, there the fair-haired Camers lay,


s: Great Volscens' son; full many a wide domain


s: Was his, and mute Amyclae owned his sway.


s: As when AEgeon, hundred-armed, they say,


s: And hundred-handed, would the Sire withstand,


s: And fifty mouths, and fifty maws each way


s: Shot flames against Jove's thunder, and each hand


s: Clashed on a sounding shield, or bared a glittering brand,


s: LXXVIII. So raves AEneas, victor of the war,


s: His sword now warmed, and many a foeman dies.


s: Breasting the battle, in hot haste he flies.


s: Scared stand the steeds, in terror and surprise,


s: So dire his gestures, as he strides amain,


s: So fierce his looks, so terrible his cries;


s: Then, turning, from his chariot on the plain


s: Fling their ill-fated lord, and gallop to the main.


s: LXXIX. With two white steeds into the midmost dashed


s: Around him Lucagus his broad sword flashed


s: His brother wheeled the horses with the rein.


s: Rushed on them, towering with uplifted spear.


s: "No steeds of Diomede, nor Phrygian plain,"


s: Cries Liger, "nor Achilles' car are here.


s: This field shall end the war, thy fatal hour is near."


s: LXXX. So fly his words, but not in words the foe


s: Makes answer, but his javelin hurls with might.


s: As o'er the lash proud Lucagus bends low


s: To prick the steeds, and planting for the fight


s: His left foot forward, stands in act to smite,


s: Clean through the nether margin of his shield


s: The Dardan shaft goes whistling in its flight,


s: And thrills his groin upon the left. He reeled,


s: And from the chariot fell half-lifeless on the field.


s: LXXXI. Then bitterly AEneas mocked him: "Lo,


s: Proud Lucagus! no lagging steeds have played


s: Thy chariot false, nor shadows of the foe


s: Deceived thy horses, and their hearts dismayed.


s: 'Tis thou--thy leap has lost the car!" He said


s: And snatched the reins. The brother in despair


s: Slipped down, and spread his hapless hands, and prayed:


s: "O by thyself, great son of Troy, forbear;


s: By those who bore thee such, have pity on my prayer."


s: LXXXII. More would he, but AEneas: "Nay, not so


s: Thou spak'st erewhile. Die now, and take thy way,


s: And join thy brother, brotherlike, below."


s: Deep in the breast he stabbed him as he lay,


s: And bared the life's recesses to the day.


s: Such deaths the Dardan dealt upon the plain,


s: Like storm or torrent, full of rage to slay.


s: And now at length Ascanius and his train


s: Burst forth, and leave their camp, long leaguered, but in vain.


s: LXXXIII. Great Jove meanwhile to Juno spake and said,


s: "Sweet spouse and sister, thou hast deemed aright,


s: 'Tis Venus, sure, who doth the Trojans aid,


s: Not courage, strength and patience in the fight."


s: With cruel words to vex me, sad with fear


s: And sick at heart? Had still my love the might


s: It had and should have; were I still so dear,


s: Not thou, with all thy power, should'st then refuse to hear,


s: LXXXIV. "But safe should Turnus from the fight once more


s: And let him die, and shed his righteous gore


s: To glut the vengeance of his Teucrian foe,


s: Albeit his name celestial birth doth show,


s: Fourth in succession from Pilumnus, yea,


s: Though oft his hand thy sacred shrines below


s: Hath heaped his gifts." She ended, and straightway


s: Brief answer made the Sire, who doth Olympus sway:


s: LXXXV. "If but a respite for the youth be sought,


s: And thus thou read'st the purport of my thought,


s: Take then awhile thy Turnus; let him fly


s: And 'scape his present fates; thus far may I


s: Indulge thee. But if aught beneath thy prayer


s: Lie veiled of purpose or of hopes more high,


s: To change the war's whole aspect, then beware,


s: For idle hopes thou feed'st, as empty as the air."


s: LXXXVI. Then She with tears: "What if thy heart should give


s: The pledge and promise, that thy lips disdain,


s: And Turnus by thy warrant still should live?


s: Now death awaits him guiltless, or in vain


s: I read the Fates. Ah! may I merely feign


s: An empty fear, and better thoughts advise


s: Thee--for thou can'st--to spare him and refrain!"


s: So saying, arrayed in storm-clouds, through the skies


s: Down to Laurentum's camp and Ilian lines she flies.


s: LXXXVII. Then straight the Goddess from a hollow cloud--


s: Strange sight to see!--a thin and strengthless shade


s: Shaped like the great AEneas, and endowed


s: With Dardan arms, and fixed the shield, and spread


s: The plume and crest as on his godlike head.


s: And empty words, a soulless sound, she gave,


s: And feigned the fashion of the warrior's tread.


s: Thus ghosts are said to glide above the grave;


s: Thus oft delusive dreams the slumbering sense enslave.


s: LXXXVIII. Proud stalks the phantom, gladdening in the van,


s: With darts provokes him, and with words defies.


s: Forth rushed fierce Turnus, hurling as he ran


s: His whistling spear. The shadow turns and flies.


s: Then Turnus, glorying in his fancied prize,


s: "Where now, AEneas, from thy plighted bride?


s: The land thou soughtest o'er the deep, it lies


s: Here, and this hand shall give it thee." He cried,


s: And waved his glittering sword, and chased him, nor espied


s: LXXXIX. The winds bear off his triumph.--Hard at hand,


s: With steps let down and gangway ready laid,


s: Moored by the rocks, a vessel chanced to stand,


s: Which brave Osinius, Clusium's king, conveyed.


s: Here, as in haste, for shelter plunged the shade.


s: On Turnus pressed, and with a bound ascends


s: The lofty gangways, dauntless nor delayed.


s: The bows scarce reached, the rope Saturnia rends,


s: And down the refluent tide the loosened ship descends.


s: To meet him--hurries to the shades below.


s: No more the phantom lingers in his lair,


s: Turnus a storm-wind o'er the deep sea blows.


s: Backward he looks, and of events unware,


s: Up to the stars of heaven his hand and voice he throws.


s: To make thee deem such punishment my due?


s: Whence came I? Whither am I borne? What flight


s: What of that band, who followed me, whom I--


s: Shame on me--left a shameful death to rue?


s: E'en now I see them scattered,--see them fly,--


s: And see them fall; and hear the groans of those that die.


s: Gape deep enough? Ye winds that round me roar,


s: 'Tis Turnus, I, a willing prayer who pour--


s: Dash me this ship, or drive it on the shore,


s: 'Mid ruthless shoals, where no Rutulian eyes


s: May see my shame, nor prying Fame explore."


s: Thus he, and, tost in spirit, as he cries,


s: This plan and that in turn his wavering thoughts devise:


s: And through his ribs drive home the naked blade,


s: Or plunge into the deep, and swim to land,


s: And, armed, once more the Teucrian foes invade.


s: Thrice, but in vain, each venture he essayed.


s: Thrice Heaven's high queen, in pity fain to save,


s: Held back the youth, and from his purpose stayed.


s: And borne along by favouring tide and wave,


s: On to his father's town the level deep he clave.


s: Takes up, and charges at the Teucrian foes.


s: And, hurrying up, the Tuscan troops unite.


s: All against one--one only--these and those


s: Their gathered hate and crowding darts oppose.


s: Unmoved he stands, as when a rocky steep


s: In ocean, bare to every blast that blows,


s: Around whose base the savage waves upleap,


s: Braves all the threats of heaven, and buffets of the deep.


s: A monstrous stone, that stretched him with the dead.


s: Palmus, with severed hamstring, next he sped,


s: And rolled him helpless. Lausus takes his gear;


s: The shining crest he fits upon his head,


s: And dons the breastplate. 'Neath the conqueror's spear


s: Phrygian Evanthes falls, and Paris' friend and peer,


s: Theano bore, when, big with Ilion's bane,


s: Queen Hecuba brought Paris forth to light.


s: As when a wild-boar, hounded from the hill,


s: Who long on pine-clad Venulus hath lain,


s: Now in the toils caught fast, before his foes stands still,


s: None dares approach him, but aloof they wait,


s: Safe-shouting, and with distant darts attack;


s: E'en so, of those who burn with righteous hate,


s: None dares against Mezentius try his fate.


s: But cries are hurled, and distant missiles plied,


s: While he, undaunted, but in desperate strait,


s: Gnashes his teeth, and from his shield's tough hide


s: Shakes off the darts in showers, and shifts from side to side.


s: A Greek, in exile from his half-won bride.


s: Him, dealing havoc in the ranks, elsewhere


s: Mezentius marked; the purple plumes he eyed,


s: The robe his loved one for her lord had dyed.


s: Sore pinched with hunger, round the fold, hath spied


s: A stag tall-antlered, or a timorous roe,


s: Ghastly he grins, erect his horrid mane doth show;


s: And laps the gore; so, burning in his zeal,


s: The fierce Mezentius at his foemen springs.


s: Poor Acron falls, and earth with dying heel


s: Spurns, and the red blood stains the splintered steel.


s: Orodes fled; Mezentius marks his flight,


s: And scorns with lance a covert wound to deal,


s: But face to face confronts him in the fight,


s: Courage, not craft, prevails, and might o'ermatches might.


s: "Their champion; see the great Orodes slain!"


s: All shout applause, but, dying, he replies,


s: "Strange foe, not long thy triumph shall remain;


s: Like fate awaits thee, on the self-same plain."


s: "Die!" said Mezentius, with a smile of spite,


s: "Jove cares for me," and plucked the shaft again.


s: Grim rest and iron slumber seal his sight;


s: The drooping eyelids close on everlasting night.


s: Messapus Clonius, whom his steed o'erthrew,


s: And, foot to foot, Lycaon's son he slew,


s: Felled Agis, Lycia' s warrior. Salius flew


s: Skilled with the flying dart and far-deceiving bow.


s: The mutual slaughter, and the ghastly fight


s: Raves, as in turn they perish or prevail,


s: Vanquished or victor, for none dreams of flight.


s: From Heaven the gods look pitying on the sight,


s: Such fruitless hate, such scenes of mortal woe.


s: Here Venus, there great Juno, filled with spite,


s: Fierce amid thousands raves, and bids the discord grow.


s: He cleaves the deep-sea, where the Nereids reign,


s: And lifts his lofty shoulders o'er the main,


s: Or when, uprooting from the mountain head


s: And hides his forehead in the clouds; so dread


s: Mezentius clangs his arms, so terrible his tread.


s: Far off, and hastes to meet him in advance.


s: Dauntless he waits, collected in his might,


s: The noble foe, then, measuring at a glance


s: The space his arm can cover with the lance;


s: "May this right hand, my deity," cried he,


s: "And this poised javelin aid the doubtful chance.


s: The spoils, from this false pirate stript, to thee


s: My Lausus, I devote; his trophy shalt thou be."


s: Wide glanced the missile, by the tough shield bent,


s: 'Twixt flank and bowels pierced a deadly rent.


s: He, friend of Hercules, from Argos sent,


s: With king Evander, 'neath Italian skies,


s: Had fixed his home. Alas! a wound unmeant


s: Hath laid him low. To heaven he lifts his eyes,


s: And of sweet Argos dreams, his native land, and dies.


s: Flying it pierced the hollow disk, and through


s: The plates of brass, thrice welded firm and fast,


s: And linen folds, and triple bull-hides flew,


s: And in the groin, with failing force but true,


s: Lodged deep. At once AEneas, for his eye


s: Glistens with joy, the Tuscan's blood to view,


s: His trusty sword unfastening from his thigh,


s: Springs at the faltering foe, and bids Mezentius die.


s: Rolled down, and heavily he groaned. Thy fate,


s: Brave youth! thy prowess, if the far-off years


s: Shall give due credence to a deed so great,


s: My verse at least shall spare not to relate.


s: While backward limped Mezentius, spent and slow,


s: His shield still cumbered with the javelin's weight,


s: Forth sprang the youth, and grappled with the foe,


s: And 'neath AEneas' sword, uplifted for the blow,


s: With shouts, to shelter the retreating sire,


s: Safe-covered stands AEneas, thrilled with ire.


s: As when the storm-clouds in a deluge dire


s: Pour down the hail, and all the ploughmen fly,


s: And scattered hinds from off the fields retire,


s: And rock or stream-side shields the passer-by,


s: Till sunshine calls to toil, and reawakes the sky;


s: The cloud of war, till all its storms abate,


s: And chides and threatens Lausus. "Fool," he cries,


s: "Why rush to death, and dare a deed too great?


s: Rash youth! thy love betrays thee." 'Twas too late;


s: Rage blinds poor Lausus, and he scorns to stay.


s: Then fiercer waxed the Dardan's wrath, and Fate


s: The threads had gathered, for their forceful sway


s: Hilt-deep within his breast the falchion urged its way.


s: Wrought by his mother with fine golden thread,


s: And drenched with gore the tunic and the breast.


s: Sweet life, departing, left the limbs outspread,


s: And the sad spirit to the ghost-world fled.


s: But when the son of great Anchises scanned


s: The face, the pallid features of the dead,


s: Deeply he groaned, and stretched a pitying hand.


s: Grief for his own dear sire his noble soul unmanned.


s: The arms wherein thou joyed'st; they are thine.


s: Thy corpse--if aught can please the senseless clay--


s: Poor youth! thy solace be it to be slain


s: By great AEneas." Then his friends' delay


s: He chides, and lifts young Lausus from the plain,


s: Dead, and with dainty locks fouled by the crimson stain.


s: In Tiber's waters bathes the bleeding wound.


s: Against a trunk he leans; the boughs sustain


s: His brazen helm; his arms upon the ground


s: Rest idly, and his comrades stand around.


s: Sick, gasping, spent, his weary neck he tends;


s: Loose o'er his bosom floats the beard unbound.


s: Oft of his son he questions, oft he sends


s: To bid him quit the field, and seek his sire and friends.


s: Bear back the lifeless Lausus from the field,


s: Weeping--the mighty by a mightier slain,


s: And laid in death upon the warrior's shield.


s: Far off, their wailing to the sire revealed


s: The grief, that made his boding heart mistrust.


s: His hoary hairs disfiguring with the dust,


s: Whom I begot? Shalt thou, my son, expire,


s: Saved by thy wounds, and living by thy doom?


s: The pangs of exile, and the wound strikes home.


s: 'Twas I, thy name who tarnished, I alone,


s: Whom just resentment thrust from sceptre and from throne.


s: All deaths Mezentius had deserved to die.


s: Yet still I leave, and leave not man and day,


s: But leave I will,--the fatal hour is nigh."


s: Then, slowly leaning on his crippled thigh


s: (Deep was the wound, but dauntless was his breast),


s: He rose, and calling for his steed hard by,


s: The steed, that oft in victory's hour he pressed,


s: His solace and his pride, the sorrowing beast addressed:


s: And spoils, blood-crimsoned to avenge this wrong,


s: Back shalt thou bring, or, failing in the fray,


s: Bite earth with me, and be the Dardan's prey.


s: Not thou would'st brook a foreign lord, I weet,


s: Brave heart, or deign a Teucrian to obey."


s: He spoke, and, mounting to his well-known seat,


s: Swift at the ranks spurred forth, his dreaded foe to meet.


s: Gleamed the brass helmet with its horse-hair crest.


s: Shame for himself, and sorrow for the dead,


s: The parent's anguish, and the warrior's zest,


s: Thrilled through his veins, and kindled in his breast,


s: And thrice he called AEneas. With delight


s: AEneas heard him, and his vows addressed:


s: "So help me Jove, so Phoebus lend his might,


s: Come on," and couched his spear, advancing to the fight.


s: Only through Lausus were his sire undone.


s: But send this gift to greet thee, ere I go."


s: He spake, and quickly let a javelin fly,


s: In widening orbs he wheels; the good shield bides the blow.


s: Raining his darts. Thrice, shifting round, each way


s: The Trojan bears the forest of his spears.


s: And tired with plucking all the shafts away,


s: Pondering awhile, and by the ceaseless blows


s: Hard pressed, and chafing at the unequal fray,


s: Forth springs AEneas, and betwixt the brows


s: Full at the warrior-steed a fatal javelin throws.


s: Then, following on his falling rider, lies


s: And pins him with his shoulder to the plain.


s: Shouts from each host run kindling through the skies.


s: Forth springs AEneas, glorying in his prize,


s: And plucks the glittering falchion from his thigh,


s: "Where now is fierce Mezentius? where," he cries,


s: "That fiery spirit?" Then, with upturned eye,


s: Gasping, with gathered sense, the Tuscan made reply:


s: His sire made Lausus; nor for this I came.


s: One boon I ask--if vanquished men may crave


s: The victor's grace--a burial for the brave.


s: My people hate me; I have lived abhorred;


s: Shield me from them with Lausus in the grave."


s: This said, his throat he offered to the sword,


s: And o'er his shining arms life's purple stream was poured.


s: AEneas erects a trophy of Mezentius' arms, and sends the body of


s: single combat, and presently seizes the opportunity afforded by a


s: Camilla and charges Opis, one of her nymphs, to avenge her should


s: Latinus (685-738). The deeds and death of Camilla are recounted:


s: The Dardan chief, though fain his friends to mourn,


s: And pressed with thoughts of burial, hastes to pay


s: His vows, as victor, with the rising morn.


s: A towering oak-tree, of its branches shorn,


s: He plants upon a mound. Aloft, in sight,


s: The glittering armour from Mezentius torn,


s: His spoils, he hangs,--a trophy to thy might,


s: Great Mars, the Lord of war, the Ruler of the fight.


s: Bedewed with gore, the javelins snapt in twain,


s: And fits the corslet on the warrior's breast,


s: Pierced in twelve places through the twisted chain.


s: The left arm, as for battle, bears again


s: The brazen shield, and from the neck depends


s: Around, with shouts of triumph, crowd his friends,


s: Whom thus the Dardan chief with gladdening words commends:


s: Let not the morrow trouble you. See there


s: The tyrant's spoils, the first-fruits of the fray.


s: And this my work, Mezentius. Now prepare


s: Let hope forestall, and courage hail the fray,


s: So, when the gods shall summon us to bear


s: The standards forth, and muster our array,


s: No fears shall breed dull sloth, nor ignorance delay.


s: Awaits them. Go ye, on these souls renowned,


s: Who poured their blood, to purchase from the foe


s: The last, sad gift, the tribute of a tomb.


s: First to Evander's city, whelmed in woe,


s: Send Pallas back, whom Death's relentless doom


s: Hath reft ere manhood's prime, and plunged in early gloom."


s: Where by dead Pallas watched with pious care


s: His squire; since then, with auspices less fair,


s: The trusted guardian of his dear-loved heir.


s: A crowd of sorrowing menials stand around,


s: And Troy's sad matrons, with their streaming hair.


s: These, when AEneas at the door is found,


s: Shriek out, and beat their breasts, and bitter wails resound.


s: The smooth breast, gaping with the wound, and cried


s: In anguish, while the tears burst forth apace,


s: "Poor boy; hath Fortune, in her hour of pride,


s: My pledge to him, who, ere I left his side


s: In quest of empire, clasped me, boding woe,


s: And warned the race was fierce, and terrible the foe.


s: With prayer and presents doth the gods constrain.


s: We to the dead, whose debt to Heaven is paid,


s: The rites of mourners render, but in vain.


s: Unhappy! doomed to see thy darling slain.


s: Is this the triumph? this the promise sworn?


s: This the return? Yet never thine the pain


s: A coward's flight, a coward's scars to mourn;


s: Not thine to long for death, thy loved one saved with scorn.


s: Thy heart's delight, the bulwark of the fray!"


s: Thus he with tears, and bids them lift the slain.


s: A thousand men, the choicest of his train,


s: He sends as mourners, with the corpse to go,


s: And stand between the parent and his pain,


s: But such as pity claims, and piety doth owe.


s: A wattled bier. Soft leaves beneath him made


s: They twined a verdurous canopy of shade.


s: There, on his rustic couch the youth is laid,


s: Fair as the hyacinth, with drooping head,


s: Cropped by the careless fingers of a maid,


s: That, torn from earth, still blooms, unfaded but unfed.


s: AEneas brings, which erst, in loving care,


s: And pranked with golden tissue, for his wear.


s: One, wound in sorrow round the corpse so fair,


s: The last, sad honour, shrouds the senseless clay;


s: One, ere the burning, veils the warrior's hair.


s: Rich spoils, the trophies of Laurentum's fray,


s: Stript arms and steeds he brings, and bids them pile the prey.


s: There, staff in hand, each Dardan chief uprears


s: The spoil-decked ensigns, marked with foemen's names.


s: There, too, they lead Acoetes, bowed with years,


s: He smites his breast, his haggard cheeks he tears,


s: Then flings his full length prostrate. There, again,


s: The blood-stained chariot, and with big, round tears,


s: Stript of his trappings, in the mournful train,


s: AEthon, the warrior's steed, comes sorrowing for the slain.


s: All else the victor for his spoils hath ta'en.


s: Teucrians, and Tuscans, and Arcadia's train,


s: With arms reversed, and mourning for the slain.


s: So passed the pomp, and, while the tear-drops fell,


s: AEneas stopped, and, groaning, cried again,


s: "Hail, mighty Pallas! us the fates compel


s: Yet other tears to shed. Farewell! a long farewell!"


s: Thither Laurentum's envoys found their way.


s: Branches of olive in their hands they bear,


s: And beg a truce,--a respite from the fray,


s: Their slaughtered comrades in the ground to lay,


s: And glean the war's sad harvest. Brave men ne'er


s: Warred with the dead and vanquished. Once were they


s: His hosts and kinsmen; he would surely spare.


s: Their plea AEneas owns, and thus accosts them fair:


s: To shun our friendship in the hour of need,


s: And rush to arms? Peace ask ye for the dead,


s: The War-God's prey, whom folly doomed to bleed?


s: Peace to the living would I fain concede.


s: I came not hither, but with Heaven to guide.


s: Fate chose this country, and this home decreed;


s: Nor war I with the race. Your king denied


s: Our proffered league; 'twas he on Turnus' arms relied.


s: His life had ventured. Dreams he in his pride


s: To end the war, and drive us from the land?


s: _He_ should have met me; he or I had died,


s: As Fate or prowess might the day decide.


s: Go, take your dead, and let the bale-fires blaze:


s: Ye have your answer." Thus the prince replied,


s: And each on each the wondering heralds gaze,


s: Mute with admiring awe, and wildered with amaze.


s: To vex young Turnus, takes the word and cries,


s: "O Trojan, great in fame, in arms more great,


s: What praise of mine shall match thee with the skies?


s: What most--thy deeds or justice--shall I prize?


s: Grateful, this answer to our friends we bear,


s: And thee (let Turnus seek his own allies),


s: Thee King Latinus shall his friend declare,


s: And Latium's sons with joy Troy's destined walls prepare."


s: For twice six days a solemn truce they plight,


s: And Teucrians, now, with Latins, freely blent


s: In peaceful fellowship, as friends unite,


s: And roam the wooded hills. Sharp axes smite


s: The sounding ash; these with keen wedges cleave


s: Tall oak and scented cedar; those with might


s: The pine-tree, soaring to the stars, upheave,


s: And wains, with groaning wheels, the giant elms receive.


s: With torches snatched, as ancient rites ordain.


s: A line of fire, that parts the dusky plain,


s: The long road gleams before them, as they go


s: To meet the mourners. Soon the wailing train


s: The Phrygians join. With shrieks the matrons know


s: Far off the funeral throng, and fill the town with woe.


s: And falling on the bier, as down they lay


s: Dead Pallas, groaning to his child he clings,


s: And hangs with tears upon the senseless clay,


s: Till speech, half-choked with sorrow, finds a way.


s: "Pallas, not such thy promise to thy sire,


s: Warely to trust the War-God in the fray.


s: I knew what ardour would thy soul inspire,


s: The charms of new-won fame, and battle's fierce desire.


s: O war's stern prelude! promise dashed to scorn!


s: O happy spouse! not left, like me, to mourn


s: A son thus slaughtered, and a life outworn.


s: When Pallas left me childless and forlorn.


s: O, had I fall'n with Trojans in his stead,


s: And me this pomp brought home, and not my Pallas, dead!


s: We joined in friendship, nor the league we swore.


s: Old age--too old--this cruel lot demands.


s: Ah, sweet to think, though falling in his flower,


s: He fell, where thousand Volscians fell before,


s: Leading Troy's sons to Latium. Thou shalt have


s: A Trojan's funeral--can I wish thee more?--


s: And all Etruria's hosts shall bear thee to the grave.


s: Bear thee, and slaughtered foemen speak thy fame.


s: Thou, Turnus, too, an effigy should'st stand,


s: Hung round with arms, and Pallas' praise proclaim,


s: Had but thine age and Pallas' been the same,


s: Like thine the vigour of his years. But O!


s: Why, Teucrians, do I keep you? wherefore claim


s: This message bear your king, and con it as ye go.


s: Loathing the light, and longing to expire,


s: 'Tis thy right hand that tempts me to remain,


s: That hand from which--thou see'st it--son and sire


s: This niche of fame,--'tis all the Fates bestow--


s: Awaits thee still. For me, all life's desire--


s: 'Twere vain--hath fled; but gladly would I go,


s: And bear the welcome news to Pallas' shade below."


s: Upsprings the Dawn, and reawakes the land


s: To toil and labour. Reared with pious care


s: The funeral pyres along the winding strand.


s: Here brings each warrior, as in days gone by,


s: His comrade's corpse, and holds the lighted brand.


s: The dusk flames burn beneath them, and on high


s: The clouds of smoke roll up, and shroud the lofty sky.


s: Pace round the piles; three times they ride around


s: The funeral fire, and raise the warrior's wail.


s: Tears bathe their arms, and tears bedew the ground,


s: And, mixt with clamour, comes the clarion's sound.


s: Spoils of dead Latins on the flames are thrown,


s: Bits, bridles, glowing wheels and helmets crown'd


s: With glittering plumes, and, last, the gifts well-known,


s: The luckless spear and shield, the weapons of their own.


s: To Death's dread power, and herds of bristly swine;


s: And cattle, snatched from all the neighbouring plain,


s: And sheep they slaughter for the flames divine.


s: Far down the sea-coast, where the bale-fires shine,


s: They guard and gaze upon the pyres, where lie


s: Their burning comrades, nor their watch resign,


s: Nor leave the spot, till dewy night on high


s: Rolls round the circling heavens, and starlight gilds the sky.


s: Their countless piles. These burying they bemoan;


s: Those to the town or neighbouring fields they bear.


s: The rest, untold, unhonoured and unknown,


s: A mass of carnage, on the flames are thrown.


s: Thick blaze the fires, and light the plains around,


s: And on the third dawn, when the mists have flown,


s: The bones and dust, still smouldering on the ground,


s: Mourning, they rake in heaps, and cover with a mound.


s: Of woe and wailing for their friends who died.


s: Here, mothers, wives, sad sisters, orphaned boys


s: Curse the dire war, and Turnus and his bride.


s: "Let him, let Turnus fight it out," they cried;


s: "Who claims chief honours and Italia's throne,


s: And caused the quarrel, let his sword decide";


s: And spiteful Drances: "Ay, 'tis he alone


s: Whom Latium's foes demand; the challenge is his own."


s: For Turnus, sheltered by the queen's great name,


s: And spoils that speak for many a glorious deed.


s: Lo, in the midst, the tumult still aflame,


s: With doleful news from Diomede, back came


s: The envoys. All was useless,--gifts, and prayer,


s: And proffered gold; his answer was the same:


s: Let Latins look for other arms elsewhere,


s: Or beg the Trojan king in clemency to spare.


s: The wrath of Heaven, the recent funerals,


s: The god's true choice. A council straight he calls,


s: And Latium's chiefs convenes within his walls.


s: All meet; along the crowded ways the peers


s: Stream at the summons. In his palace-halls


s: Amidst them sits Latinus, first in years,


s: And first in sceptred state, but filled with anxious fears.


s: To tell his message, and the terms expound,


s: "Friends, we have seen great Diomede, and found


s: The Argive camp, and, safe from peril, crowned


s: Our journey's end, and pressed the mighty hand


s: Argyripa's new town, named from his native land.


s: The gifts we tender, and our names declare


s: And country, who our foemen, what we seek,


s: He hears, and gently thus bespeaks us fair:


s: What evil fortune mars your ancient rest


s: And tempts to wage strange wars, and dare the doubtful test?


s: Troy's fields (I leave the wasting siege alone,


s: The dead, who lie in Simois), all have drained


s: Evils past utterance, o'er the wide world blown,


s: And, suffering, learned our trespass to atone,


s: A hapless band! E'en Priam's self might weep


s: For woes like ours, as Pallas well hath known,


s: Whose baleful star once wrecked us on the deep,


s: And grim Euboea's rocks, Caphareus' vengeful steep.


s: To Proteus' Pillars, far remote from men


s: Of Locrians, cast upon the Libyan plain?


s: Mycenae's valiant lord, slain by his faithless mate,


s: Hath envious Heaven in exile doomed to stay,


s: Nor home, nor wife, nor Calydon to view.


s: Nay, ghastly prodigies my flight pursue.


s: Transformed to birds, my comrades wing the skies,--


s: Ah! cruel punishment for friends so true!--


s: Or skim the streams; from all the shores arise


s: Their piteous shrieks, the cliffs re-echo with their cries.


s: The hand of Venus. To such fights, I pray,


s: Persuade me not. Troy fall'n, I fight no more


s: With Trojans, nor those evil days of yore


s: And take these gifts. Once, hand to hand, we bore


s: How to his shield he towers, the whirlwind of his throw.


s: And Greece were mourning now a different fate.


s: The stubborn siege, the conquerors kept at bay,


s: For ten whole years, the triumph's long delay


s: Were his and Hector's doing, each in might


s: Renowned, and each the foremost in the fray,


s: What peace ye may, but shun to meet him in the fight.'


s: And this, his sentence on the war." So they,


s: And diverse murmurs in the crowd upspring;


s: As when big rocks a rushing torrent stay,


s: The prisoned waters, chafing with delay,


s: Boil, and the banks in many a foaming crest


s: Fling back with echoes the tumultuous spray.


s: Now from his throne, their murmurs laid to rest,


s: The King, first offering prayer, his listening folk addressed:


s: An earlier hour had called us to debate,


s: Than thus in haste a council to convene,


s: And meet, while foemen battle at the gate.


s: We wage with men unconquered in the field,


s: A race of gods, whose force nor toils abate,


s: Nor wounds can tire; who, driven back, still wield


s: The sword and shake the spear, and, beaten, scorn to yield.


s: XL. "What hope ye had in Diomede, give o'er;


s: Each for himself must be his hope and stay.


s: This hope how slender, and our straits how sore,


s: Yet blame I none; what valour could, was done.


s: Our country's strength, our souls were in the fray.


s: Hear then in brief, and ponder every one,


s: What wavering thoughts have shaped, our present fate to shun.


s: XLI. "Far-stretching westward, past Sicania's bound,


s: By Tiber's stream, an ancient tract is mine.


s: Auruncans and Rutulians till the ground;


s: Their ploughshares cleave the stubborn slopes, their kine


s: Graze on the rocks. This tract, these hills of pine


s: Let Latins yield the Trojans for their own,


s: And both, as friends, in equal league combine


s: And share the realm. Here let them settle down,


s: If so they love the land, and build the wished-for town.


s: XLII. "But if new frontiers, and another folk,


s: They fain would look for, and can leave our shore,


s: Then twice ten ships of tough Italian oak


s: Can they but man them (by the stream good store


s: The form, the number, and the size. What more


s: Is wanting, we will grudge not to provide,


s: Gold, labour, brass, and docks, and naval gear beside.


s: XLIII. "Nay more, to strike the proffered league, 'twere good


s: That chosen envoys to their camp should fare,


s: The peaceful olive in their hands to bear,


s: With gifts, the choicest that the realm can spare,


s: Talents of gold and ivory, just in weight,


s: The marks of rule. With freedom now debate,


s: Consult the common weal, and help the sickly state."


s: XLIV. Up rose then Drances, with indignant mien,


s: Whom, spiteful still, the fame of Turnus stung


s: With carping envy, and malignant spleen;


s: Lavish of wealth, and fluent with his tongue,


s: In faction, but in battle cold and tame.


s: From royal seed his mother's race was sprung,


s: His sire's unknown. He thus with words of blame


s: Piles up the general wrath, and fans resentment's flame.


s: XLV. "Good king, the matter--it is plain, for each


s: Knows well our needs, but hesitates to say.


s: Let _him_ cease blustering, and allow free speech,


s: Him, for whose pride and sullen temper, yea,


s: Quenched is the light of many a chief, that lies


s: In earth's cold lap, and mourning and dismay


s: Have filled the town, while, sure of flight, he tries


s: To storm the Trojan camp, and idly flouts the skies.


s: XLVI. "One gift, O best of monarchs, add, to crown


s: These many, nor let bluster bear thee down.


s: And peace shall with the lasting pact abide.


s: Else, if such terror doth our souls enslave,


s: Him now, in hope to turn away his pride,


s: Him let us pray his proper right to waive,


s: And, pitying, deign to yield what king and country crave.


s: XLVII. "O Turnus, cause of all our ills to-day,


s: Why make the land these miseries endure?


s: The war is desperate; for peace we pray,


s: Naught else but which can make the peace secure.


s: Thy foeman, I--nor be the fact concealed,


s: For so thou deem'st--entreat thee and adjure.


s: Blood flows enough on many a wasted field.


s: Relent, and spare thine own, and, beaten, learn to yield.


s: XLVIII. "Or, if fame tempt, and in thy bosom glow


s: Such fire, and so thou hankerest to gain


s: A kingdom's dower, take heart and face the foe.


s: Must we, poor souls, that Turnus may obtain


s: A royal bride, like carrion strew the plain,


s: Unwept, unburied? If thine arm hath might,


s: Go forth this hour; in arms assert thy right,


s: And meet him, face to face, who calls thee to the fight."


s: XLIX. Fierce blazed the wrath of Turnus, and he wrung


s: Speech from his breast, deep groaning in his gall.


s: "Glib art thou, Drances, voluble of tongue,


s: When hands are needed, and the trumpets call.


s: The council summoned, thou art first of all.


s: Not this the hour thy vapouring to outpour,


s: Though big thy talk, and brave the words, that fall


s: From craven lips, while ramparts stand before,


s: To guard thee safe from foes, nor trenches swim with gore.


s: L.  "Rave on, and thunder in thy wonted strain,


s: And brand me coward, thou whose hands can slay


s: Such Trojan hosts, whose trophies grace the plain.


s: What worth can do, and manhood can essay,


s: We twain may venture. Sooth, not far away


s: Need foes be sought; around the walls they throng.


s: Still dwells thy War-God in a windy tongue,


s: And flying feet, and knees all feeble and unstrung?


s: LI. "I beaten? Who, foul spawn of earth, shall call


s: Me beaten? who, that saw swoln Tiber flow


s: Red with the blood of Trojans, ay, and all


s: And fierce Arcadians vanquished at a blow?


s: This right hand, nor those thousands hurled below


s: In one short day, when battlement and mound


s: Hemmed me in hostile walls, and foemen swarmed around.


s: LII. "No hope from war?--Go, fool, to Dardan ears


s: Go, swell the panic, spread the coward's fears.


s: Puff up the foemen's prowess to the sky,--


s: Twice-conquered churls,--and Latin arms decry.


s: Shrunk from the Hadrian deep, and cowering in his bed.


s: LIII. "Or mark the trickster's cunning when he feigns


s: To fear my vengeance, whom his taunts revile!


s: Nay, Drances, be at ease; this hand disdains


s: Keep it, fit inmate of that breast of guile,


s: And now, good Sire, if, beaten, we despair,


s: If never Fate on Latin arms shall smile,


s: And naught our ruined fortunes can repair,


s: Stretch we our craven hands, and beg the foe to spare.


s: LIV. "Yet oh! if aught of ancient worth remain,


s: Him deem I noblest, and his end renowned,


s: Brave soul! who sooner than behold such stain,


s: Fell once for all, and, dying, bit the ground.


s: But, if fit men and martial means abound,


s: And towns and tribes, to muster at our call,


s: Fame dearly bought with many a brave man's fall


s: LV. "Why fail we on the threshold, faint with fears,


s: And sick knees tremble ere the trumpets bray?


s: Time--healing Time--and long, laborious years


s: Oft raise the humble; Fortune in her play


s: Lifts those to-morrow, whom she lowers to-day.


s: Nor scanty fame, nor slow Italia's hosts attends.


s: LVI. "Ours, too, is brave Camilla, noble maid,


s: The pride of Volscians, and she leads a band


s: Of horsemen fierce, in brazen arms arrayed.


s: Not so hath victory fled this hated hand,


s: With such a prize unsnatched, and falter from the fray.


s: LVII. "Though greater than the great Achilles he,


s: Though, like Achilles, Vulcan's arms he wear,


s: Fain will I meet him. Lo, to you, to thee,


s: So let him, rather than that Drances bear


s: The smart, if death the wrathful gods decree,


s: Or, if 'tis glory's field, usurp the victor's fee."


s: LVIII. While thus, with wrangling and contentious doubt,


s: Moved from the camp. Behold, a trusty scout


s: Back, through Latinus' palace, speeds his way,


s: And fills the town with tumult and dismay.


s: The Trojans--see!--the Trojans,--down they swarm


s: Alive with foes! Rage, turmoil and alarm


s: In turns distract the town. "Arm," cry the young men, "arm!"


s: LIX. The old men weep and mutter. Clamours rend


s: The startled skies, and discord reigns supreme,


s: E'en as when birds on lofty woods descend


s: In flocks, or in Padusa's fishful stream


s: The swans sing hoarsely, and the wild-fowl scream


s: Along the babbling waters. Turnus straight


s: The moment snatched. "Ah! townsmen, sooth, ye deem


s: This hour an hour to chatter and debate;


s: Sit on, and praise sweet peace, while foemen storm the gate."


s: LX. He spake, and from the council dashed with speed.


s: The Volscians; hither the Rutulians lead.


s: Messapus, go, with horsemen in thy train,


s: And Coras, with thy brother scour the plain.


s: Let these all entrance at the gate forestall,


s: And man the turrets; let the rest remain


s: In arms, and wait my bidding." One and all,


s: The townsmen throng the streets, and hurry to the wall.


s: LXI. Then, sore distrest, the aged king proclaims


s: The council closed, and for a happier tide


s: Puts off debate; and oft himself he blames,


s: Nor graced his city with a Dardan's bride.


s: But hark! to battle peals the clarion's call.


s: These by the gate dig trenches, those provide


s: Sharp stakes and stones. Along the girdling wall


s: Pale boys and matrons stand: the last hour cries for all.


s: LXII. To Pallas' rock-built temple rides the queen,


s: Bearing her gifts. The matrons march in line,


s: The war's sad authoress, with down-dropt eyne.


s: They, entering in, with incense fume the shrine,


s: And from the threshold pour the mournful strain:


s: "O strong in arms, Tritonian maid divine!


s: Break thou the Phrygian robber's spear in twain,


s: And 'neath the gates strike down and stretch him on the plain."


s: LXIII. Now in hot haste fierce Turnus dons the mail,


s: Eager for battle. On his breast he laced


s: The corselet, rough with many a brazen scale.


s: Around his legs the golden greaves he placed,


s: His brow yet bare, and at his side he braced,


s: The trusty sword. All golden is the glow


s: Of burnished arms, as down the height in haste


s: High leaps his heart, and hope anticipates the foe.


s: LXIV. So, free at length, his tether snapt in twain,


s: Swift from his stall, in eager joy, the steed


s: Bounds forth and, master of the open plain,


s: Now seeks the mares that in the pastures feed,


s: Now towards the well-known river scours the mead,


s: Wont there to cool his glowing sides, and neighs


s: With head erect and glories in his speed,


s: While o'er his collar and his shoulders plays


s: The waving mane, flung loose in many a wandering maze.


s: LXV. Him meets Camilla, with her Volscian train,


s: And by the gate dismounting then and there


s: (Down likewise leap her followers to the plain),


s: "Turnus," she cries, "if confidence can e'er


s: Shall be the war's first hazards to essay;


s: Thou guard the walls afoot, and by the ramparts stay."


s: LXVI. Then he, with eyes fixt on the wondrous maid,


s: What praise can match thee? how shall thanks be paid?


s: But now, since naught can daunt thee nor affright,


s: Share thou my labour, and divide the fight.


s: So spies report, hath sent his horsemen light


s: To scour the fields, while o'er the mountains' crown


s: Himself through devious ways is marching to the town.


s: LXVII. "Deep in a hollow, where the wood's dark shade


s: Two cross-ways hides, an ambush I prepare,


s: And armed men shall the double pass blockade.


s: Thou take the shock of battle, and o'erbear


s: The Tuscan horse. Messapus shall be there,


s: To aid, and thine shall be the leader's care."


s: He spake, and cheered Messapus to the fray,


s: And Latium's federate chiefs, and spurred upon his way.


s: LXVIII. There lies a winding valley, fit for snares


s: By wooded slopes. A narrow pathway fares


s: Along the gorge, and on the hill-tops, planned


s: For safety, flat but hidden spreads the land.


s: Rightward or leftward there is room to bear


s: The shock of arms, or on the ridge to stand,


s: And roll down rocks upon the foe. 'Twas there


s: Young Turnus, screened by woods, lies crouching in his lair.


s: LXIX. Meanwhile Latonia in the realms of air


s: Addressed in sorrowing accents, "Maiden fair,


s: Goes forth, in quest of battle. See, in vain


s: Our arms she wears, the quiver and the bow.


s: Dearest is she of all that own my reign,


s: No fit of fondness this, or fancy known but now


s: LXX. "When tyrant Metabus his people's hate


s: Drove from Privernum, for his deeds of shame.


s: His babe he bore, the partner of his fate,


s: Through war and battle, and, her mother's name


s: To lonely woods and hill-tops fain to fly,


s: Fierce swords and Volscians all around, he came


s: Where Amasenus, with its waves bank-high,


s: Athwart him foamed; so vast a deluge rent the sky.


s: LXXI. "Prepared to plunge, he pauses, sore assailed


s: By love, and terror for a charge so dear.


s: All means revolving, this at last prevailed.


s: Fire-dried and knotted, an enormous spear


s: Of seasoned oak the warrior chanced to bear.


s: To the mid shaft the tender babe he ties,


s: Swathed in the covering of a cork-tree near,


s: Then lifts the load, and, poising, ere it flies,


s: The ponderous lance, looks up, and thus invokes the skies:


s: LXXII. "'O Queen of woods, Latonia, virgin fair!


s: Thy handmaid. See, thus early through the air


s: She bears thy weapons. Make her thine, I pray,


s: And safely through the doubtful air convey.'


s: So prayed the sire, and nerved him for the throw,


s: Then aimed, and launched the missile on its way.


s: The babe forlorn, while roars the stream below,


s: Link'd to the shaft, is borne across the current's flow.


s: LXXIII. "In plunges Metabus, the foemen near,


s: And Trivia's gift, safe landing from the wave,


s: Plucks from the grass,--the maiden and the spear.


s: His savage mood no shelter deigns to crave.


s: A shepherd's life on lonely hills he leads,


s: The milk of beasts supplies his daughter's needs,


s: And from the wild-mare's teats her tender lips he feeds.


s: LXXIV. "And when the tottering infant first essayed


s: To plant her footsteps, to her hands he strung


s: A lance, and o'er the shoulders of the maid


s: The light-wing'd arrows and the bow he slung.


s: For golden coif and trailing mantle, hung


s: A tiger's spoils. Her tiny hand e'en then


s: Hurled childish darts; e'en then the tough hide, swung


s: Around her temples, as she roamed the plain,


s: Brought down the snowy swan, or swift Strymonian crane.


s: LXXV. "Full many a Tuscan mother far and near


s: She loves her silvan weapon, free and fain


s: To live a maiden-huntress, pure of stain.


s: And O! had battle, and the toils of fight


s: Not lured her thus to combat on the plain,


s: And match her prowess with the Teucrians' might,


s: Mine were the maiden still, my darling and delight.


s: LXXVI. "Now, since well-nigh the fatal threads are spun,


s: Go, Nymph, to Latin frontiers wing thy way,


s: Take, too, this quiver; who the maid shall slay,--


s: Trojan or Latin--with his blood shall pay


s: Myself the armour and the corpse will bear,


s: Wrapt in a cloud, and in her country lay."


s: She spake, and, girt with whirlwind, and the blare


s: Of sounding arms, the Nymph glides down the yielding air.


s: LXXVII. Meanwhile, the Trojans and the Tuscan train,


s: In marshalled squadrons, to the walls draw near,


s: Steeds neigh, and chafe, and prance upon the plain,


s: And lances bristling o'er the field appear.


s: Messapus, too, and Latium's hosts are here,


s: Her troops to aid. All couch the levelled spear,


s: And whirl the dart. Hot waxes on the meads


s: The tramp of hurrying hosts, the snorting of the steeds.


s: LXXVIII. Each halts within a spear-cast of the foe,


s: Then, spurring, forward with a shout they dash,


s: And, darkening heaven, shower the darts like snow.


s: Cross spears, the first to grapple. With a crash,


s: Steed against steed, went ruining. Breast and head


s: Shocked and were shattered. Like the lightning's flash,


s: And loud as missile from an engine sped,


s: Hurled far, Aconteus falls, and with a gasp lies dead.


s: LXXIX. This breaks the line; the Latins turn and fly,


s: Their shields behind them. On the Trojans go,


s: Asilas first. And now the gates are nigh;


s: Once more, with shouts, the Latins face the foe;


s: These, scared in turn, the slackened reins forego.


s: So shifts the fight, as on the winding strand


s: The swelling ocean, with alternate flow,


s: Foams on the rocks, and curls along the sand,


s: Now sucks the shingle back, and, ebbing, leaves the land.


s: LXXX. Twice the fierce Tuscans, spurring o'er the fields,


s: Drive the Rutulians to their walls in flight.


s: Twice, driven backward, from behind their shields


s: The victors see the rallying foes unite.


s: But when the third time, in the fangs of fight,


s: Man singling man, both armies met to close,


s: Loud were the groans, and fearful was the sight,


s: Arms splashed with gore, steeds, riders, friends and foes,


s: Blent in the deadly broil, and fierce the din uprose.


s: LXXXI. Lo, here, Orsilochus, too faint with fear


s: Hurls at his steed. Beneath the charger's ear


s: The shaft stands fixt; the beast, with sudden start,


s: His breast erect, and maddened by the smart,


s: Rears up, and flings his rider to the ground.


s: Here brave Iolas, from his friends apart,


s: Large-hearted, large of limb, and eke in arms renowned.


s: LXXXII. Bare is his head, with auburn locks aglow,


s: And bare his shoulders. Wounds to him are vain;


s: Tower-like he stands, defenceless to the foe.


s: Through his broad chest the javelin, urged amain,


s: Pierced him, and quivered, and he writhed with pain,


s: His giant form bent double. Far and nigh


s: The dark blood pours in torrents on the plain,


s: As, dealing havoc with the sword, they vie,


s: And, courting wounds, rush on, a warrior's death to die.


s: LXXXIII. There, quiver-girt, the Amazonian maid,


s: One bosom bare, amidst the carnage wheeled,


s: Camilla, glorying in the war's grim trade.


s: Her limber darts she scatters o'er the field,


s: Her arms untired the ponderous axe can wield.


s: Sound at her back. She too, if forced to yield,


s: Fights as she flies, and well the maid doth know


s: With flying shafts hurled back to stay the following foe.


s: LXXXIV. Around her, Tulla and Larinia stand,


s: Her Thracians, when Thermodon's banks afar


s: Ring with their arms. So rides the maid of might,


s: And hosts, with moon-shaped shields, exulting hail the war.


s: LXXXV. Whom first, dread maiden, did thy javelin quell?


s: Whom last? how many in the dust lay low?


s: Eunaeus first, the son of Clytius, fell.


s: Sheer through his breast, left naked to the blow,


s: Ploughed the long fir-shaft, as he faced his foe.


s: Prone falls the warrior, and in deadly stound


s: Gasps out his life-blood, and the crimson flow


s: Spouts forth in torrents, as he bites the ground,


s: And, dying, grasps the spear, and writhes upon the wound.


s: LXXXVI. Liris anon and Pagasus she slew,


s: One, flung to earth, and gathering up the rein,


s: His charger stabbed, the other, as he flew


s: To aid, and reached his helpless hands in vain,


s: The dread spear caught, and stretched upon the plain,


s: Tereus and Chromis. For each shaft that sped,


s: Launched from her maiden hand, a Phrygian foe lay dead.


s: LXXXVII. On Iapygian steed, in arms unknown,


s: Rode Ornytus, the huntsman. A rough hide,


s: Stript from a bullock, o'er his back was thrown.


s: A wolf's huge jaws, with glittering teeth, supplied


s: Him, as he towered, the tallest in the fray,


s: Caught--in the rout 'twas easy--and her prey


s: Pinned, with unpitying spear, and jeered him as he lay.


s: LXXXVIII. "Ha, Tuscan! thought'st thou 'twas the chase? Thy day


s: Hath come; a woman shall thy vaunts belie.


s: Yet take this glory to the grave, and say


s: 'Twas I, the great Camilla, made thee die."


s: She spake, and smote Orsilochus close by,


s: First Butes falls; just where the neck doth lie,


s: 'Twixt casque and corslet, naked to the view,


s: And leftward droops the shield, the fatal barb goes through.


s: LXXXIX. Chased by Orsilochus, afar she wheels


s: Her seeming flight, wide-circling to and fro,


s: Till, doubling in a narrower ring, she steals


s: Inside, and follows on the following foe.


s: Then, rising steep, while vainly in his woe


s: He pleads for pity, and entreats her grace,


s: She swings the battle-axe, and blow on blow


s: And the hot brains and blood are spattered o'er his face.


s: The son of Aunus, from the mountain-seat


s: While Fate was kind, and prospered his deceit.


s: Fearful of death, and hopeless to retreat,


s: And cries aloud, "Good sooth, a wondrous feat!


s: Come down; fight fair afoot, and take the braggart's meed!"


s: Hands to a comrade, and with arms matched fair,


s: And dauntless heart, confronts him on the mead,


s: Her shield unblazoned, and her falchion bare.


s: He, vainly glorying in his fancied snare,


s: Reins round in haste, and, spurring, strives to flee.


s: "Fool," cries Camilla, "let thy pride beware.


s: Think not to palm thy father's tricks on me,


s: Nor hope with craft like this thy lying sire to see."


s: Outruns his steed, and stands athwart the way,


s: Then grasps the reins, and deals the wretch his hire,


s: Doomed with his life-blood for his craft to pay.


s: Down swoops the sacred falcon through the sky


s: From some tall cliff, and fastens on his prey,


s: And grips, and rends, and sucks the life-blood dry;


s: The feathers, foul with blood, come, fluttering down from high.


s: Throned on Olympus, doth the scene survey.


s: Watchful of all, the Sire of gods and men


s: Stirs up the Tuscan Tarchon to the fray,


s: And plies the war-goad with no gentle sway.


s: He through the squadrons on his steed aflame


s: Rides 'mid the carnage, where the ranks give way;


s: Now chides, now cheers, and calling each by name,


s: Re-forms the broken lines, and reinspires the tame.


s: Fie! shall a woman scatter you in flight?


s: O, slack! O, never to be stung to shame!


s: What use of weapons, if ye fear to fight?


s: No laggards ye for amorous jousts at night,


s: Or Bacchic revels, when the fife ye hear.


s: The feast and wine-cup--these are your delight;


s: For these ye linger, till the approving seer


s: He dashed at Venulus, unhorsed his prize,


s: Goes up, and all the Latins turn their eyes.


s: Swift with his prey the fiery Tarchon flies,


s: And, while the steel-head from his spear he rends,


s: To deal the death-blow. He, as fierce, contends,


s: And, countering force with force, his naked throat defends.


s: Wreathed with a serpent, fastens, as she flies,


s: With feet that clutch, and taloned claws that tear.


s: Coil writhed in coil, the roughening scales uprise,


s: The crest points up, the hissing tongue defies.


s: She with sharp beak still rends the struggling prey,


s: And beats the air. So Tarchon with his prize


s: Through Tibur's host exulting speeds away.


s: With cheers the Tuscans charge, and hail their chief's essay.


s: And tries where fortune lends the readiest chance.


s: Oft as she charges, where the war-shout peals,


s: He slips unseen, and follows on her heels.


s: When back she runs, triumphant from the foe,


s: He shifts the rein, and from the conflict steals.


s: Now here, now there, he doubles to and fro,


s: And shakes his felon spear, but hesitates to throw.


s: All decked in feathered chain-work, linked with gold.


s: Cretan his shafts, his bow of Lycian mould.


s: Dark blue and foreign purple clothed his breast,


s: Golden his casque and bow; his mantle's fold


s: Of yellow saffron knots of gold compressed,


s: And buskins bound his knees, and broidered was his vest.


s: To deck with trophies, or with envious eyes


s: Wishful herself in Trojan arms to shine,


s: Marks in the strife; at him alone she flies,


s: Proud, like a woman, of her fancied prize.


s: Blindly she runs, uncautious of the snare,


s: When, darting from the ambush, where he lies,


s: The moment snatched, false Aruns shakes his spear,


s: And thus, with measured aim, invokes the Gods with prayer.


s: Whom first we honour, to whose sacred name,


s: Thy votaries, we, the blazing pine-wood heap,


s: And, firm in faith, pass through the smouldering flame,


s: Grant that our arms may wipe away this shame.


s: Trophies, nor spoils, nor plunder from the prey


s: Be mine; I look to other deeds for fame.


s: If wound of mine this hateful pest shall slay,


s: Home will I gladly go, and fameless quit the fray."


s: And half he scattered to the winds. To slay


s: He gave, but gave not his returning day;


s: The breezes puffed the bootless wish away.


s: Shrill sang the lance; each Volscian eye and heart


s: Turned to the queen. The weapon on its way,--


s: The rush of air she heeds not, till the dart


s: Strikes home, and, staying, draws the life-blood from her heart.


s: More scared than all, in fear and joy amain,


s: False Aruns flies, nor dares to face the maid,


s: Or trust the venture of his spear again.


s: As guilty wolf, some steer or shepherd slain,


s: Slinks to the hills, ere hostile darts pursue,


s: And clasps his tail between his thighs, full fain


s: To seek the woods, so Aruns shrank from view,


s: Sore scared and glad to fly, and in the crowd withdrew.


s: Deep 'twixt the rib-bones in the wound it lies.


s: Bloodless she faints; her features, late so fair,


s: Fade, as the crimson from the pale cheeks flies,


s: And cold and misty wax the drooping eyes.


s: Then, with quick gasps, and groaning from her breast,


s: She calls to faithful Acca, ere she dies,--


s: The partner of her cares,--and breathes a last request.


s: Consumes me; all is growing dark. Go, tell