In frenzy roseVolscens, but nowhere could espy what handthe shaft had hurled, nor whither his wild ragecould make reply. “But thou,” he cried, “shalt feedwith thy hot blood my honor and revengefor both the slain.” Then with a sword unsheathedupon Euryalus he fell. Loud shriekedNisus, of reason reft, who could not bearsuch horror, nor in sheltering gloom of nightlonger abide: “'T is I, 't is I!” he said.look on the man who slew them! Draw on meyour swords, Rutulians! The whole stratagemwas mine, mine only, and the lad ye slaydared not, and could not. O, by Heaven aboveand by the all-beholding stars I swear,he did but love his hapless friend too well.”But while he spoke, the furious-thrusting swordhad pierced the tender body, and run throughthe bosom white as snow. Euryalussank prone in death; upon his goodly limbsthe life-blood ran unstopped, and low inclinedthe drooping head; as when some purpled flower,cut by the ploughshare, dies, or poppies proudwith stem forlorn their ruined beauty bowbefore the pelting storm. Then Nisus flewstraight at his foes; but in their throng would findVolscens alone, for none but Volscens stayed:they gathered thickly round and grappled himin shock of steel with steel. But on he plunged,swinging in ceaseless circles round his headhis lightning-sword, and thrust it through the faceof shrieking Volscens, with his own last breathstriking his foeman down; then cast himselfupon his fallen comrade's breast; and there,stabbed through, found tranquil death and sure repose.
Saevit atrox Volcens nec teli conspicit usquamauctorem nec quo se ardens inmittere possit.“Tu tamen interea calido mihi sanguine poenas”“persolves amborum,” inquit; simul ense reclusoibat in Euryalum. Tum vero exterritus, amensconclamat Nisus, nec se celare tenebrisamplius aut tantum potuit perferre dolorem.“Me me, adsum qui feci, in me convertite ferrum,”“O Rutuli, mea fraus omnis; nihil iste nec ausus”“nec potuit, caelum hoc et conscia sidera testor,”“tantum infelicem nimium dilexit amicum.”Talia dicta dabat; sed viribus ensis adactustransabiit costas et candida pectora rumpit.Volvitur Euryalus leto, pulchrosque per artusit cruor, inque umeros cervix conlapsa recumbit:purpureus veluti cum flos succisus aratrolanguescit moriens lassove papavera collodemisere caput, pluvia cum forte gravantur.At Nisus ruit in medios solumque per omnisVolcentem petit in solo Volcente moratur.Quem circum glomerati hostes hinc comminus atque hincproturbant. Instat non setius ac rotat ensemfulmineum, donec Rutuli clamantis in orecondidit adverso et moriens animam abstulit hosti.Tum super exanimum sese proiecit amicumconfossus placidaque ibi demum morte quievit.
Heroic pair and blest! If aught I singhave lasting music, no remotest ageshall blot your names from honor's storied scroll:not while the altars of Aeneas' lineshall crown the Capitol's unshaken hill,nor while the Roman Father's hand sustainsits empire o'er the world.
Fortunati ambo! Siquid mea carmina possunt,nulla dies umquam memori vos eximet aevo,dum domus Aeneae Capitoli immobile saxumaccolet imperiumque pater Romanus habebit.
The Rutules seized the spoils of victory,and slowly to their camp, with wail and cry,bore Volscens' corse; and in the eamp they madelike wailing over Rhamnes lifeless found,o'er Numa and Serranus, and a throngof princes dead. The gazing people pressedaround the slain, the dying, where the earthran red with slaughter and full many a streamof trickling gore; nor did they fail to knowMessapus' glittering helm, his baldric fair,recaptured now with lavish sweat and pain.
Victores praeda Rutuli spoliisque potitiVolcentem exanimum flentes in castra ferebant.Nec minor in castris luctus Rhamnete repertoexsangui et primis una tot caede peremptis,Serranoque Numaque. Ingens concursus ad ipsacorpora seminecisque viros tepidaque recentemcaede locum et plenos spumanti sanguine rivos.Agnoscunt spolia inter se galeamque nitentemMessapi et multo phaleras sudore receptas.
Now, from Tithonus' saffron couch set free,Aurora over many a land outpouredthe rising morn; the sun's advancing beamunveiled the world; and Turnus to his hostgave signal to stand forth, while he arrayedhimself in glorious arms. Then every chiefawoke his mail-clad company, and stirredtheir slumbering wrath with tidings from the foe.Tumultuously shouting, they impaledon lifted spears—O pitiable sight! —the heads of Nisus and Euryalus.Th' undaunted Trojans stood in battle-linealong the wall to leftward (for the rightthe river-front defended) keeping guardon the broad moat; upon the ramparts highsad-eyed they stood, and shuddered as they sawthe hero-faces thrust aloft; too welltheir loyal grief the blood-stained features knew.
Et iam prima novo spargebat lumine terrasTithoni croceum linquens Aurora cubile:iam sole infuso, iam rebus luce retectisTurnus in arma viros, armis circumdatus ipse,suscitat, aeratasque acies in proelia cogitquisque suas variisque acuunt rumoribus iras.Quin ipsa arrectis (visu miserabile) in hastispraefigunt capita et multo clamore sequunturEuryali et Nisi.Aeneadae duri murorum in parte sinistraopposuere aciem, nam dextera cingitur amni,ingentisque tenent fossas et turribus altisstant maesti; simul ora virum praefixa movebant,nota nimis miseris atroque fluentia tabo.
On restless pinions to the trembling townhad voiceful Rumor hied, and to the earsof that lone mother of Euryalusrelentless flown. Through all her feeble framethe chilling sorrow sped. From both her handsdropped web and shuttle; she flew shrieking forth,ill-fated mother! and with tresses torn,to the wide ramparts and the battle-lineran frantic, heeding naught of men-at-arms,nor peril nor the rain of falling spears;and thus with loud and lamentable cryfilled all the air: “Is it in yonder guise,Euryalus, thou comest? Art thou he,last comfort of my life? O cruel one!Couldst thou desert me? When they thrust thee forthto death and danger, did they dare refusea wretched mother's last embrace? But now —O woe is me!—upon this alien shorethou liest for a feast to Latin dogsand carrion birds. Nor did thy mother leadthe mourners to thy grave, nor shut those eyes,nor wash the dreadful wounds, nor cover theewith the fair shroud, which many a night and dayI swiftly wove, and at my web and loomforgot my years and sorrows. Whither nowto seek and follow thee? What spot of earthholds the torn body and the mangled limbs?Is all the gift thou bringest home, dear child,this? O, was this the prize for which I cameo'er land and sea? O, stab me very deep,if ye have any pity; hurl on meyour every spear, Rutulians; make of meyour swords' first work. Or, Father of the gods!Show mercy, thou! and with thy lightning touchthis head accurst, and let it fall by theedown to the dark. For else what power is minemy tortured life to end?” Her agonysmote on their listening souls; a wail of woealong the concourse ran. Stern men-at-armsfelt valor for a moment sleep, and alltheir rage of battle fail. But while she stirredthe passion of her grief, Ilioneusand young Iulus, weeping filial tears,bade Actor and Idaeus, lifting herin both their reverent arms, to bear her home.
Interea pavidam volitans pennata per urbemnuntia Fama ruit matrisque adlabitur aurisEuryali. At subitus miserae calor ossa reliquit,excussi manibus radii revolutaque pensa.Evolat infelix et femineo ululatu,scissa comam, muros amens atque agmina cursuprima petit, non illa virum, non illa periclitelorumque memor; caelum dehinc questibus implet:“Hunc ego te, Euryale, aspicio? Tune illa senectae”“sera meae requies, potuisti linquere solam,”“crudelis? Nec te, sub tanta pericula missum,”“adfari extremum miserae data copia matri?”“Heu, terra ignota canibus data praeda Latinis”“alitibusque iaces, nec te, tua funera mater”“produxi pressive oculos aut volnera lavi,”“veste tegens, tibi quam noctes festina diesque”“urgebam et tela curas solabar anilis.”“Quo sequar, aut quae nunc artus avolsaque membra”“et funus lacerum tellus habet? Hoc mihi de te,”“nate, refers? Hoc sum terraque marique secuta?”“Figite me, siqua est pietas, in me omnia tela”“conicite, o Rutuli, me primam absumite ferro:”“aut tu, magne pater divom, miserere tuoque”“invisum hoc detrude caput sub Tartara telo,”“quando aliter nequeo crudelem abrumpere vitam.”Hoc fletu concussi animi, maestusque per omnisit gemitus: torpent infractae ad proelia vires.Illam incendentem luctus Idaeus et ActorIllionei monitu et multum lacrimantis Iulicorripiunt interque manus sub tecta reponunt.
But now the brazen trumpet's fearsome songblares loud, and startled shouts of soldieryspread through the roaring sky. The Volscian bandpress to the siege, and, locking shield with shield,fill the great trenches, tear the palisades,or seek approach by ladders up the walls,where'er the line of the defenders thins, and lightthrough their black circle shines. The Trojans pourpromiscuous missiles down, and push out hardwith heavy poles—so well have they been schooledto fight against long sieges. They fling downa crushing weight of rocks, in hope to breakth' assailing line, where roofed in serried shieldsthe foe each charge repels. But not for longthe siegers stand; along their dense arraythe crafty Teucrians down the rampart rolla boulder like a hill-top, laying lowthe Rutule troop and crashing through their shields.Nor may the bold Rutulian longer hopeto keep in cover, but essays to stormonly with far-flung shafts the bastion strong.Here grim Mezentius, terrible to see,waved an Etrurian pine, and made his warwith smoking firebrands; there, in equal rage,Messapus, the steed-tamer, Neptune's son,ripped down the palisade, and at the breachstrung a steep path of ladders up the wall.
At tuba terribilem sonitum procul aere canoroincrepuit; sequitur clamor caelumque remugit.Adcelerant acta pariter testudine Volsciet fossas implere parant ac vellere vallum.Quaerunt pars aditum et scalis ascendere muros,qua rara est acies interlucetque coronanon tam spissa viris. Telorum effundere contraomne genus Teucri ac duris detrudere contis,adsueti longo muros defendere bello.Saxa quoque infesto volvebant pondere, siquapossent tectam aciem perrumpere: cum tamen omnisferre iuvat subter densa testudine casus;nec iam sufficiunt. Nam qua globus imminet ingens,immanem Teucri molem volvuntque ruuntque,quae stravit Rutulos late armorumque resolvittegmina. Nec curant caeco contendere Marteamplius audaces Rutuli, sed pellere vallomissilibus certant.Parte alia horrendus visu quassabat Etruscampinum et fumiferos infert Mezentius ignis;at Messapus equum domitor, Neptunia proles,rescindit vallum et scalas in moenia poscit.
Aid, O Calliope, the martial song!Tell me what carnage and how many deathsthe sword of Turnus wrought: what peer in armseach hero to the world of ghosts sent down.Unroll the war's great book before these eyes.
Vos, o Calliope, precor, adspirate canenti,quas ibi tum ferro strages, quae funera Turnusediderit, quem quisque virum demiserit Orco;et mecum ingentis oras evolvite belli,[et meministis enim, divae, et memorare potestis.]
A tower was there, well-placed and looming large,with many a lofty bridge, which desperatelyth' Italians strove to storm, and strangely pliedbesieging enginery to cast it down:the Trojans hurled back stones, or, standing close,flung through the loopholes a swift shower of spears.But Turnus launched a firebrand, and piercedthe wooden wall with flame, which in the windleaped larger, and devoured from floor to floor,burning each beam away. The trembling guardssought flight in vain; and while they crowded closeinto the side unkindled yet, the towerbowed its whole weight and fell, with sudden crashthat thundered through the sky. Along the groundhalf dead the warriors fell (the crushing masspiled over them) by their own pointed spearspierced to the heart, or wounded mortallyby cruel splinters of the wreck. Two men,Helenor one, and Lyeus at his side,alone get free. Helenor of the twainwas a mere youth; the slave Lycymniabore him in secret to the Lydian King,and, arming him by stealth, had sent awayto serve the Trojan cause. One naked swordfor arms had he, and on his virgin shieldno blazon of renown; but when he sawthe hosts of Turnus front him, and the linesthis way and that of Latins closing round, —as a fierce, forest-creature, brought to bayin circling pack of huntsmen, shows its teethagainst the naked spears, and scorning deathleaps upward on the javelins,—even so,not loth to die, the youthful soldier flewstraight at the centre of his foes, and wherethe shining swords looked thickest, there he sprung.But Lyeus, swifter-footed, forced his waypast the opposing spears and made escapefar as the ciity-wall, where he would fainclutch at the coping and climb up to claspsome friend above: but Turnus, spear in hand,had hotly followed, and exulting loudthus taunted him, “Hadst thou the hope, rash fool,beyond this grasp to fly?” So, as he clung,he tore him down; and with him broke and fella huge piece of the wall: not otherwisea frail hare, or a swan of snow-white wing,is clutched in eagle-talons, when the birdof Jove soars skyward with his prey; or tender lambfrom bleating mother and the broken foldis stolen by the wolf of Mars. Wild shoutson every side resound. In closer siegethe foe press on, and heap the trenches full,or hurl hot-flaming torches at the towers.Ilioneus with mountain-mass of stonestruck down Lucetius, as he crept with firetoo near the city-gate. Emathion fellby Liger's hand, and Corynteus' deathAsilas dealt: one threw the javelin well;th' insidious arrow was Asilas' skill.Ortygius was slain by Caeneus, thenvictorious Geneus fell by Turnus' ire.Then smote he Dioxippus, and laid lowItys and Promolus and Sagarisand Clonius, and from the lofty towershot Idas down. The shaft of Capys piercedPrivernus, whom Themilla's javelinbut now had lightly grazed, and he, too bold,casting his shield far from him, had outspreadhis left hand on the wound: then sudden flewthe feathered arrow, and the hand lay pinnedagainst his left side, while the fatal barbwas buried in his breathing life. The sonof Arcens now stood forth in glittering arms.His broidered cloak was red Iberian stain,and beautiful was he. Arcens his sirehad sent him to the war; but he was bredin a Sicilian forest by a streamto his nymph-mother dear, where rose the shrineof merciful Palicus, blest and fair.But, lo! Mezentius his spear laid by,and whirled three times about his head the thongof his loud sling: the leaden bullet clovethe youth's mid-forehead, and his towering formfell prostrate its full length along the ground.
Turris erat vasto suspectu et pontibus altis,opportuna loco, summis quam viribus omnesexpugnare Itali summaque evertere opum vicertabant, Troes contra defendere saxisperque cavas densi tela intorquere fenestras.Princeps ardentem coniecit lampada Turnuset flammam adfixit lateri, quae plurima ventocorripuit tabulas et postibus haesit adesis.Turbati trepidare intus frustraque malorumvelle fugam. Dum se glomerant retroque residuntin partem, quae peste caret, tum pondere turrisprocubuit subito et caelum tonat omne fragore.Semineces ad terram, immani mole secuta,confixique suis telis et pectora durotransfossi ligno veniunt. Vix unus Helenoret Lycus elapsi. Quorum primaevus Helenor,Maeonio regi quem serva Licymnia furtimsustulerat vetitisque ad Troiam miserat armis,ense levis nudo parmaque inglorius alba;isque ubi se Turni media inter milia vidit,hinc acies atque hinc acies adstare Latinas:ut fera, quae densa venantum saepta coronacontra tela furit seseque haud nescia mortiinicit et saltu supra venabula fertur,haud aliter iuvenis medios moriturus in hostisinruit et, qua tela videt densissima, tendit.At pedibus longe melior Lycus inter et hostisinter et arma fuga muros tenet altaque certatprendere tecta manu sociumque attingere dextras.Quem Turnus, pariter cursu teloque secutus,increpat his victor: “Nostrasne evadere, demens,”“sperasti te posse manus?” Simul adripit ipsumpendentem et magna muri cum parte revellit.Qualis ubi aut leporem aut candenti corpore cycnumsustulit alta petens pedibus Iovis armiger uncisquaesitum aut matri multis balatibus agnumMartius a stabulis rapuit lupus. Undique clamortollitur: invadunt et fossas agere complent;ardentis taedas alii ad fastigia iactant.Ilioneus saxo atque ingenti fragmine montisLucetium portae subeuntem ignisque ferentem,Emathiona Liger, Corynaeum sternit Asilas,hic iaculo bonus, hic longe fallente sagitta,Ortygium Caeneus, victorem Caenea Turnus,Turnus Ityn Cloniumque, Dioxippum Promolumqueet Sagarim et summis stantem pro turribus Idan,Privernum Capys. Hunc primo levis hasta Themillaestrinxerat: ille manum proiecto tegmine demensad volnus tulit; ergo alis adlapsa sagittaet laevo infixa est lateri manus abditaque intusspiramenta animae letali volnere rupit.Stabat in egregiis Arcentis filius armis,pictus acu chlamydem et ferrugine clarus Hibera,insignis facie, genitor quem miserat Arcens,eductum Matris luco Symaethia circumflumina, pinguis ubi et placabilis ara Palici:stridentem fundam positis Mezentius hastisipse ter adducta circum caput egit habenaet media adversi liquefacto tempora plumbodiffidit ac multa porrectum extendit harena.
'T was then Ascanius first shot forth in warthe arrow swift from which all creatures wildwere wont to fly in fear: and he struck downwith artful aim Numanus, sturdy foe,called Remulus, who lately was espousedto Turnus' younger sister. He had stalkedbefore the van, and made vociferous noiseof truths and falsehoods foul and base, his heartpuffed up with new-found greatness. Up and downhe strode, and swelled his folly with loud words:“No shame have ye this second time to staycooped close within a rampart's craven siege,O Phrygians twice-vanquished? Is a wallyour sole defence from death? Are such the menwho ask our maids in marriage? Say what god,what doting madness, rather, drove ye hereto Italy? This way ye will not findthe sons of Atreus nor the trickster tongueof voluble Ulysses. Sturdy stockare we; our softest new-born babes we dipin chilling rivers, till they bear right wellthe current's bitter cold. Our slender ladshunt night and day and rove the woods at large,or for their merriment break stubborn steeds,or bend the horn-tipped bow. Our manly primein willing labor lives, and is inuredto poverty and scantness; we subdueour lands with rake and mattock, or in warbid strong-walled cities tremble. Our whole lifeis spent in use of iron; and we goadthe flanks of bullocks with a javelin's end.Nor doth old age, arriving late, impairour brawny vigor, nor corrupt the soulto frail decay. But over silvered browswe bind the helmet. Our unfailing joyis rapine, and to pile the plunder high.But ye! your gowns-are saffron needleworkor Tyrian purple; ye love shameful ease,or dancing revelry. Your tunics fiowlong-sleeved, and ye have soft caps ribbon-bound.Aye, Phrygian girls are ye, not Phrygian men!Hence to your hill of Dindymus! Go hearthe twy-mouthed piping ye have loved so long.The timbrel, hark! the Berecynthian flutecalls you away, and Ida's goddess calls.Leave arms to men, true men! and quit the sword!”
Tum primum bello celerem intendisse sagittamdicitur ante feras solitus terrere fugacesAscanius fortemque manu fudisse Numanum,cui Remulo cognomen erat, Turnique minoremgermanam nuper thalamo sociatus habebat.Is primam ante aciem digna atque indigna relatuvociferans tumidusque novo praecordia regnoibat et ingentem sese clamore ferebat:“Non pudet obsidione iterum valloque teneri,”“bis capti Phryges, et morti praetendere muros?”“En qui nostra sibi bello conubia poscunt!”“Quis deus Italiam, quae vos dementia adegit”“Non hic Atridae nec fandi fictor Ulixes:”“durum a stirpe genus natos ad flumina primum”“deferimus saevoque gelu duramus et undis,”“venatu invigilant pueri silvasque fatigant,”“flectere ludus equos et spicula tendere cornu.”“At patiens operum parvoque adsueta iuventus”“aut rastris terram domat aut quatit oppida bello.”“Omne aevum ferro teritur, versaque iuvencum”“terga fatigamus hasta; nec tarda senectus”“debilitat vires animi mutatque vigorem:”“canitiem galea premimus, semperque recentis”“comportare iuvat praedas et vivere rapto.”“Vobis picta croco et fulgenti murice vestis,”“desidiae cordi, iuvat indulgere choreis,”“et tunicae manicas et habent redimicula mitrae.”“O vere Phrygiae, neque enim Phryges, ite per alta”“Dindyma ubi adsuetis biforem dat tibia cantum!”“Tympana vos buxusque vocat Berecyntia Matris”“Idaeae sinite arma viris et cedite ferro.”
Of such loud insolence and words of shameAscanius brooked no more, but laid a shaftathwart his bowstring, and with arms stretched widetook aim, first offering suppliant vow to Jove:“Almighty Jupiter, thy favor showto my bold deed! So to thy shrine I beargifts year by year, and to thine altars leada bull with gilded brows, snow-white, and tallas his own dam, what time his youth beginsto lower his horns and fling the sand in air.”The Father heard, and from a cloudless skythundered to leftward, while the deadly bowresounded and the arrow's fearful songhissed from the string; it struck unswervinglythe head of Remulus and clove its waydeep in the hollows of his brow. “Begone!Proud mocker at the brave! Lo, this replytwice-vanquished Phrygians to Rutulia send.”Ascanius said no more. The Teucrianswith deep-voiced shout of joy applaud, and lifttheir exultation starward.
Talia iactantem dictis ac dira canentemnon tulit Ascanius nervoque obversus equinocontendit telum diversaque bracchia ducensconstitit, ante Iovem supplex per vota precatus:“Iuppiter omnipotens, audacibus adnue coeptis.”“Ipse tibi ad tua templa feram sollemnia dona”“et statuam ante aras aurata fronte iuvencum”“candentem pariterque caput cum matre ferentem,”“iam cornu petat et pedibus qui spargat harenam.”Audiit et caeli Genitor de parte serenaintonuit laevum, sonat una fatifer arcus:effugit horrendum stridens adducta sagittaperque caput Remuli venit et cava tempora ferrotraicit. “I, verbis virtutem inlude superbis!”“His capti Phryges haec Rutulis responsa remittunt.”Hoc tantum Ascanius. Teucri clamore sequunturlaetitiaque fremunt animosque ad sidera tollunt.
Then from heaventhe flowing-haired Apollo bent his gazeupon Ausonia's host, and cloud-enthronedlooked downward o'er the city, speaking thusto fair Iulus in his victory:“Hail to thy maiden prowess, boy! This waythe starward path to dwelling-place divine.O sired of gods and sire of gods to come,all future storms of war by Fate ordainedshall into peace and lawful calm subsidebeneath the offspring of Assaracus.No Trojan destinies thy glory bound.”So saying, from his far, ethereal seathe hied him down, and, cleaving the quick windsdrew near Ascanius. He wore the guiseof aged Butes, who erewhile had borneAnchises, armor and kept trusty guardbefore his threshold, but attended nowAscanius, by commandment of his sire.Clad in this graybeard's every aspect, movedapollo forth,—his very voice and hue,his hoary locks and grimly sounding shield, —and to the flushed Iulus spoke this word:“Child of Aeneas, be content that nowNumanus unavenged thine arrows feels.Such dawn of glory great Apollo's willconcedes, nor envies thee the fatal shaftso like his own. But, tender youth, refrainhereafter from this war!” So said divineApollo, who, while yet he spoke, put byhis mortal aspect, and before their eyesmelted to viewless air. The Teucrians knewthe vocal god with armament divineof arrows; for his rattling quiver smotetheir senses as he fled. Obedientto Phoebus' voice they held back from the frayIulus' fury, and their eager soulsfaced the fresh fight and danger's darkest frown.From tower to tower along the bastioned walltheir war-cry flew: they bend with busy handthe cruel bow, or swing the whirling thongof javelins. The earth on every sideis strewn with spent shafts, the reverberant shieldand hollow helmet ring with blows; the fightmore fiercely swells; not less the bursting stormfrom watery Kid-stars in the western skylashes the plain, or multitudinous hailbeats upon shallow seas, when angry Joveflings forth tempestuous and-boundless rain,and splits the bellied clouds in darkened air.
Aetheria tum forte plaga crinitus Apollodesuper Ausonias acies urbemque videbat,nube sedens, atque his victorem adfatur Iulum:“Macte nova virtute, puer: sic itur ad astra,”“dis genite et geniture deos. Iure omnia bella”“gente sub Assaraci fato ventura resident,”“nec te Troia capit.” Simul haec effatus ab altoaethere se misit, spirantis dimovet aurasAscaniumque petit. Forma tum vertitur orisantiquum in Buten; hic Dardanio Anchisaearmiger ante fuit fidusque ad limina custos,tum comitem Ascanio pater addidit. Ibat Apolloomnia longaevo similis, vocemque coloremqueet crinis albos et saeva sonoribus arma,atque his ardentem dictis adfatur Iulum:“Sit satis, Aenide, telis impune Numanum”“oppetiisse tuis; primam hanc tibi magnus, Apollo”“concedit laudem et paribus non invidet armis:”“cetera parce, puer, bello.” Sic orsus Apollomortalis medio aspectus sermone reliquitet procul in tenuem ex oculis evanuit auram.Agnovere deum proceres divinaque telaDardanidae pharetramque fuga sensere sonantem.Ergo avidum pugnae dictis ac numine PhoebiAscanium prohibent, ipsi in certamina rursussuccedunt animasque in aperta pericula mittunt.It clamor totis per propugnacula muris,intendunt acris arcus amentaque torquent.Sternitur omne solum telis, tum scuta cavaequedant sonitum flictu galeae, pugna aspera surgit:quantus ab occasu veniens pluvialibus Haedisverberat imber humum, quam multa grandine nimbiin vada praecipitant, cum Iuppiter horridus austristorquet aquosam hiemem et caelo cava nubila rumpit.
The brothers Pandarus and Bitias,of whom Alcanor was the famous sire,on Ida born, and whom Iaera bredin sacred wood of Jove, an oread she,twin warriors, like their native hills and treesof stature proud, now burst those portals wideto them in ward consigned, and sword in handchallenge the foe to enter. Side by side,steel-clad, their tall heads in bright crested helms,to left and right, like towers, the champions standas when to skyward, by the gliding wavesof gentle Athesis or Padus wide,a pair of oaks uprise, and lift in airtheir shaggy brows and nodding crests sublime.In burst the Rutules where the onward wayseemed open wide; Quercens no tarrying knows,nor proud Aquiculus in well-wrought arms;Tmarus sweeps on impetuous, and the hostof Haemon, child of Mars. Some routed fly;some lay their lives-down at the gate. Wild rageo'erflows each martial breast, and gathered fastthe Trojans rally to one point, and dareclose conflict, or long sallies o'er the plain.
Pandarus et Bitias, Idaeo Alcanore creti,quos Iovis eduxit luco silvestris Iaeraabietibus iuvenes patriis et montibus aequos,portam, quae ducis imperio commissa, recludunt,freti animis, ultroque invitant moenibus hostem.Ipsi intus dextra ac laeva pro turribus adstant,armati ferro et cristis capita alta corusci:quales aëriae liquentia flumina circum,sive Padi ripis Athesim seu propter amoenum,consurgunt geminae quercus intonsaque caeloattollunt capita et sublimi vertice nutant.inrumpunt aditus Rutuli ut videre patentiscontinuo Quercens et pulcher Aquiculus armiset praeceps animi Tmarus et Mavortius Haemonagminibus totis: at versi terga dedereaut ipso portae posuere in limine vitam.Tum magis increscunt animis discordibus irae;et iam collecti Troes glomerantur eodemet conferre manum et procurrere longius audent.
To Turnus, who upon a distant fieldwas storming with huge havoc, came the newsthat now his foe, before a gate thrown wide,was red with slaughter. His own fight he stays,and speeds him, by enormous rage thrust on,to those proud brethren at the Dardan wall.There first Antiphates, who made his warfar in the van (a Theban captive's childto great Sarpedon out of wedlock born),he felled to earth with whirling javelin:th' Italic shaft of cornel lightly flewalong the yielding air, and through his throatpierced deep into the breast; a gaping woundgushed blood; the hot shaft to his bosom clung.Then Erymas and Merops his strong handlaid low: Aphidnus next, then came the turnof Bitias, fiery-hearted, furious-eyed:but not by javelin,—such cannot fallby flying javelin,—the ponderous beamof a phalaric spear, with mighty roar,like thunderbolt upon him fell; such shockneither the bull's-hides of his double shieldnor twofold corselet's golden scales could staybut all his towering frame in ruin fell.Earth groaned, and o'er him rang his ample shield.so crashes down from Baiae's storied shorea rock-built mole, whose mighty masonry,piled up with care, men cast into the sea;it trails its wreckage far, and fathoms downlies broken in the shallows, while the waveswhirl every way, and showers of black sandare scattered on the air: with thunder-soundsteep Prochyta is shaken, and that bedof cruel stone, Inarime, which liesheaped o'er Typhoeus by revenge of Jove.
Ductori Turno diversa in parte furentiturbantique viros perfertur nuntius, hostemfervere caede nova et portas praebere patentis.Deserit inceptum atque immani concitus iraDardaniam ruit ad portam fratresque superbos.Et primum Antiphaten, is enim se primus agebat,Thebana de matre nothum Sarpedonis alti,coniecto sternit iaculo; volat Itala cornusaëra per tenerum stomachoque infixa sub altumpectus abit: reddit specus atri volneris undamspumantem, et fixo ferrum in pulmone tepescit.Tum Meropem atque Erymanta manu, tum sternit Aphidnum,tum Bitian ardentem oculis animisque frementemnon iaculo, neque enim iaculo vitam ille dedisset,sed magnum stridens contorta phalarica venit,fulminis acta modo, quam nec duo taurea terganec duplici squama lorica fidelis et aurosustinuit: conlapsa ruunt immania membra.Dat tellus gemitum, et clipeum super intonat ingens.Talis in Euboico Baiarum litore quondamsaxea pila cadit, magnis quam molibus anteconstructam ponto iaciunt; sic illa ruinamprona trahit penitusque vadis inlisa recumbit:miscent se maria, et nigrae attolluntur harenae;tum sonitu Prochyta alta tremit durumque cubileInarime Iovis imperiis imposta Typhoeo.
Now to the Latins Mars, the lord of war,gave might and valor, and to their wild heartshis spur applied, but on the Teucrians breatheddark fear and flight. From every quarter cameauxiliar hosts, where'er the conflict called,and in each bosom pulsed the god of war.When Pandarus now saw his brother's corselow Iying, and which way the chance and tideof battle ran, he violently movedthe swinging hinges of the gate, and strainedwith both his shoulders broad. He shut outsidenot few of his own people, left exposedin fiercest fight but others with himselfhe barred inside and saved them as they fled;nor noted, madman, how the Rutule Kinghad burst in midmost of the line, and nowstood prisoned in their wall, as if he weresome monstrous tiger among helpless kine.His eyeballs strangely glared; his armor rangterrific, his tall crest shook o'er his browsblood-red, and lightnings glittered from his shieldfamiliar loomed that countenance abhorredand frame gigantic on the shrinking eyesof the Aeneadae. Then Pandarussprang towering forth, all fever to revengehis brother's slaughter. “Not this way,” he cried“Amata's marriage-gift! No Ardea heremews Turnus in his fathers' halls. Beholdthy foeman's castle! Thou art not allowedto take thy leave.” But Turnus looked his way,and smiled with heart unmoved. “Begin! if thouhast manhood in thee, and meet steel with steel!Go tell dead Priam thou discoverest hereAchilles!” For reply, the champion tallhurled with his might and main along the airhis spear of knotted wood and bark untrimmed.But all it wounded was the passing wind,for Saturn's daughter turned its course awry,and deep in the great gate the spear-point drove.“Now from the stroke this right arm means for theethou shalt not fly. Not such the sender ofthis weapon and this wound.” He said, and toweredaloft to his full height; the lifted swordclove temples, brows, and beardless cheeks clean throughwith loudly ringing blow; the ground beneathshook with the giant's ponderous fall, and, lo,with nerveless limbs, and brains spilt o'er his shield,dead on the earth he lay! in equal halvesthe sundered head from either shoulder swung.
Hic Mars armipotens animum viresque Latinisaddidit et stimulos acris sub pectore vertitimmisitque Fugam Teucris atrumque Timorem.Undique conveniunt, quoniam data copia pugnaebellatorque animo deus incidit.Pandarus ut fuso germanum corpore cernitet quo sit fortuna loco, qui casus agat res,portam vi magna converso cardine torquet,obnixus latis umeris, multosque suorummoenibus exclusos duro in certamine linquit;ast alios secum includit recipitque ruentis,demens, qui Rutulum in medio non agmine regemviderit inrumpentem ultroque incluserit urbi,immanem veluti pecora inter inertia tigrim.Continuo nova lux oculis effulsit, et armahorrendum sonuere; tremunt in vertice cristaesanguineae, clipeoque micantia fulmina mittit:agnoscunt faciem invisam atque immania membraturbati subito Aeneadae. Tum Pandarus ingensemicat et mortis fraternae fervidus iraeffatur: “Non haec dotalis regia Amatae,”“nec muris cohibet patriis media Ardea Turnum.”“Castra inimica vides; nulla hinc exire potestas.”Olli subridens sedato pectore Turnus:“Incipe, siqua animo virtus, et consere dextram:”“hic etiam inventum Priamo narrabis Achillem.”Dixerat. Ille rudem nodis et cortice crudointorquet summis adnixus viribus hastam:excepere aurae volnus; Saturnia Iunodetorsit veniens, portaeque infigitur hasta.“At non hoc telum, mea quod vi dextera versat,”“effugies; neque enim is teli nec volneris auctor.”Sic ait et sublatum alte consurgit in ensemet mediam ferro gemina inter tempora frontemdividit inpubesque immani volnere malas.Fit sonus, ingenti concussa est pondere tellus:conlapsos artus atque arma cruenta cerebrosternit humi moriens, atque illi partibus aequishuc caput atque illuc umero ex utroque pependit.
In horror and amaze the Trojans alldispersed and fled; had but the conqueror thoughtto break the barriers of the gates and callhis followers through, that fatal day had seenan ending of the Teucrians and their war.But frenzied joy of slaughter urged him on,infuriate, to smite the scattering foe.First Phaleris he caught; then cut the kneesof Gyges; both their spears he snatched awayand hurled them at the rout; 't was Juno rousedhis utmost might of rage. Now Halys fell,and Phegeus, whom he pierced right through the shield:next, at the walls and urging reckless war,Alcander, Halius, and Noemon gavetheir lives, and Prytanis went down. In vainLynceus made stand and called his comrades brave:for Turnus from the right with waving swordcaught at him and lopped off with one swift blowthe head, which with its helmet rolled away.Next Amycus, destroyer of wild beasts,who knew full well to smear a crafty barbwith venomed oil; young Clytius he slew,son of the wind-god; then on Cretheus fell,a follower of the muses and their friend:Cretheus, whose every joy it was to sing,and fit his numbers to the chorded Iyre;steeds, wars, armed men were his perpetual song.
Diffugiunt versi trepida formidine Troes:et si continuo victorem ea cura subisset,rumpere claustra manu sociosque immittere portis,ultimus ille dies bello gentique fuisset;sed furor ardentem caedisque insana cupidoegit in adversos.Principio Phalerim et succiso poplite Gygenexcipit; hinc raptas fugientibus ingerit hastasin tergum, Iuno vires animumque ministrat;addit Halym comitem et confixa Phegea parma,ignaros deinde in muris Martemque cientisAlcandrumque Haliumque Noemonaque Prytanimque.Lyncea tendentem contra sociosque vocantemvibranti gladio conixus ab aggere dexteroccupat; huic uno desectum comminus ictucum galea longe iacuit caput. Inde ferarumvastatorem Amycum, quo non felicior alterungere tela manu ferrumque armare veneno,et Clytium Aeoliden et amicum Crethea Musis,Crethea Musarum comitem, cui carmina semperet citharae cordi numerosque intendere nervis.[Semper equos atque arma virum pugnasque canebat.]
At last the Teucrian chiefs had heard the taleof so much slaughter; and in council metare Mnestheus and Serestus bold, who seetheir comrades routed and the conquering foewithin the gates. Cries Mnestheus, “Whither fly?What open way is yonder or what wall?Beyond these ramparts lost what stronger lie?Shall one lone man here in your walls confined,make havoc unavenged and feed the gravewith your best warriors? 0 cowards vile!For your sad country and her ancient godsand for renowned Aeneas, can ye feelno pity and no shame?” Enflamed to fightby words like these, they close the line, and standin strong array. So Turnus for a spaceout of the battle step by step withdrewto make the river-bank his rearguard strong;whereat the Teucrians, shouting loud, swept onthe fiercer, and in solid mass pressed round.as when a troop of hunters with keen spearsencircle a wild lion, who in fear,but glaring grim and furious, backward falls,valor and rage constrain him ne'er to ceasefronting the foe; yet not for all his irecan he against such serried steel make way:so Turnus backward with a lingering stepunwilling drew, and wrath his heart oterflowed.for twice already had he cloven a pathinto the foe's mid-press, and twice had driventheir flying lines in panic through the town.But now the whole throng from the camp he seesmassed to the onset. Nor will Juno nowdare give him vigor to withstand, for Jovehad sent aerial Iris out of heavenwith stern commandment to his sister-queenthat Turnus from the Teucrian walls retire.Therefore the warrior's shield avails no more,nor his strong arm; but he is overthrownby general assault. Around his browshis smitten helmet rings; the ponderous mailcracks under falling stones; the haughty plumesare scattered from his head, nor can the bossof his stout shield endure; the Trojans hurlredoubled rain of spears; and with them speedsMnestheus like thunderbolt. The hero's fleshdissolves in sweat; no room to breathe has he;his limbs are spent and weary; his whole frameshakes with his gasping breath: then bounding fortwith all his harness on, headlong he plungedinto the flowing stream; its yellow tideembraced him as he fell, and gentle wavesrestored him smiling to his friends in arms,with all the gore and carnage washed away.
Tandem ductores audita caede suorumconveniunt Teucri, Mnestheus acerque Serestus,palantisque vident socios hostemque receptum.Et Mnestheus: “Quo deinde fugam, quo tenditis?” inquit.“Quos alios muros, quae iam ultra moenia habetis?”“Unus homo et vestris, o cives, undique saeptus”“aggeribus tantas strages inpune per urbem”“ediderit, iuvenum primos tot miserit Orco?”“Non infelicis patriae veterumque deorum”“et magni Aeneae, segnes, miseretque pudetque?”Talibus accensi firmantur et agmine densoconsistunt. Turnus paulatim excedere pugnaet fluvium petere ac partem, quae cingitur unda;acrius hoc Teucri clamore incumbere magnoet glomerare manum. Ceu saevum turba leonemcum telis premit infensis, at territus ille,asper, acerba tuens, retro redit, et neque tergaira dare aut virtus patitur, nec tendere contraille quidem hoc cupiens potis est per tela virosque:haud aliter retro dubius vestigia Turnusimproperata refert, et mens exaestuat ira.Quin etiam bis tum medios invaserat hostis,bis confusa fuga per muros agmina vertit;sed manus e castris propere coit omnis in unum,nec contra vires audet Saturnia Iunosufficere, aëriam caelo nam Iuppiter Irimdemisit germanae haud mollia iussa ferentem,ni Turnus cedat Teucrorum moenibus altis.Ergo nec clipeo iuvenis subsistere tantumnec dextra valet: iniectis sic undique telisobruitur. Strepit adsiduo cava tempora circumtinnitu galea, et saxis solida aera fatiscunt,discussaeque iubae capiti, nec sufficit umboictibus: ingeminant hastis et Troes et ipsefulmineus Mnestheus. Tum toto corpore sudorliquitur et piceum, nec respirare potestas,flumen agit; fessos quatit aeger anhelitus artus.Tum demum praeceps saltu sese omnibus armisin fluvium dedit: ille suo cum gurgite flavoaccepit venientem ac mollibus extulit undiset laetum sociis abluta caede remisit.