as an arrow, shot from string through a cloud, which, armed with gall of fell poison, a Parthian— a Parthian or a Cydonian-has launched, a shaft beyond all cure; whizzing, it leaps through the swift shadows, known of none: so sped the child of Night, and sought the earth. Soon as she sees the Ilian ranks and Turnus' troops, suddenly shrinking to the shape of that small bird which oft, perched at night on tombs or deserted roofs, chants her late, ill-omened lay amid the shadows, so changed in form before the face of Turnus the fiend flits screaming to and fro, and wildly beats his buckler with her wings. A strange numbness unknits his limbs with dread; his hair stood up in terror and the voice clave to his throat. 869 But when from afar Juturna knew the Dread One's whizzing wings, she rends, hapless one, her loosened tresses, marring, in sisterly grief, her face with nails and her breast with clenched hands: "What now, my Turnus, can thy sister avail thee? Or what more awaits me, that have endured so much? With what art may I prolong thy day? Can I face such a portent? Now, now I quit the field. Affright not my fluttering soul, ye ill-boding birds! I know your beating wings, and their dreadful sound, nor fail I to mark the haughty mandates of high-hearted Jove. Is this his requital for my maidenhood? Wherefore gave he me life eternal? Why of the law of death am I bereaved? Now surely could I end such anguish, and pass at my poor brother's side amid the shadows! I immortal! Nay, will aught of mine be sweet to me without thee, my brother? O what deepest earth can gape enough terra mihi Manisque deam demittat ad imos? 66 885 non cursu, saevis certandum est comminus armis. 890 verte omnis tete in facies et contrahe, quidquid sive animis sive arte vales; opta ardua pinnis astra sequi clausumque cava te condere terra." ille caput quassans non me tua fervida terrent dicta, ferox: di me terrent et Iuppiter hostis." nec plura effatus saxum circumspicit ingens, saxum antiquum, ingens, campo quod forte iacebat, limes agro positus, litem ut discerneret arvis ; vix illud lecti bis sex cervice subirent, 895 qualia nunc hominum producit corpora tellus : 900 ille manu raptum trepida torquebat in hostem, altior insurgens et cursu concitus heros. sed neque currentem se nec cognoscit euntem tollentemve manus saxumve immane moventem; genua labant, gelidus concrevit frigore sanguis. 905 tum lapis ipse viri, vacuum per inane volutus, nec spatium evasit totum neque pertulit ictum. ac velut in somnis, oculos ubi languida pressit nocte quies, nequiquam avidos extendere cursus velle videmur et in mediis conatibus aegri succidimus; non lingua valet, non corpore notae sufficiunt vires, nec vox aut verba sequuntur: sic Turno, quacumque viam virtute petivit, 360 884 demittit P1. 893 clausumque MRy: clausum ve inferior MSS. 904 tollentemque My1. manu Py2. saxumque yc. 913 910 for me, and send me down, a goddess, to the nethermost shades?" So saying, she veiled her head in mantle of grey and with many a moan the goddess plunged into the deep river. 887 Aeneas presses on against the foe, brandishing his massy, tree-like spear, and, in wrathful spirit, thus cries: "What more delay is there now? or why, Turnus, dost thou yet draw back? Not with swift foot, but hand to hand in fierce arms, must we contend. Change thyself into all shapes, yea, muster all thy powers of courage or of skill; wing thy flight, if thou wilt, to the stars aloft, or hide thee within earth's hollow prison!" The other, shaking his head: "Thy fiery words, fierce one, daunt me not 'tis the gods daunt me, and the enmity of Jove." No more he speaks, then glancing round, espies a giant stone, a giant stone and ancient, which haply lay upon the plain, set for a landmark, to ward dispute from the fields. This scarce twice six chosen men could uplift upon their shoulders, men of such frames as earth now begets: but the hero, with hurried grasp, seized and hurled it at his foe, rising to his height and at swiftest speed. But he knows not himself as he runs, nor as he moves, as he raises his hands, or throws the mighty stone; his knees totter, his blood is frozen cold. Yea, the hero's stone itself, whirled through the empty void, traversed not all the space, nor carried home its blow. And as in dreams of night, when languorous sleep has weighed down our eyes, we seem to strive vainly to press on our eager course, and in mid effort sink helpless: our tongue lacks power, our wonted strength fails our limbs, nor voice nor words ensue : Turnus, howsoe'er by valour he sought to win his so to <uction) obtained 915 920 muralis-e successum dea dira negat. tum pectore sensus 66 cantem a Na" 925 930 935 protendens "equidem merui, nec deprecor," inquit: god balteus et notis fulserunt cingula bullis 916 letumque P. MP L-ae rrament, stud 918 -ve] -que Ry way, the dread goddess denies fulfilment. Then through his soul shifting fancies whirl; he gazes on his Rutulians and the town, he falters in fear, and trembles at the threatening lance; neither sees he whither he may escape, nor with what force bear against the foe; nor anywhere is his car, nor his sister, the charioteer. 919 As he wavers, Aeneas brandishes the fateful spear, seeking with his eyes the happy chance, then hurls it from far with all his strength. Never stone shot from engine of siege roars so loud, never crash so great bursts from thunderbolt. Like black whirlwind on flies the spear, bearing fell destruction, and pierces the corslet's rim and the sevenfold shield's utmost circle whizzing it passes right through the thigh. Under the blow, with knee beneath him bent down to earth, huge Turnus sank. Up spring with a groan the Rutulians all; the whole hill reechoes round about, and far and near the wooded steeps send back the sound. He, in lowly suppliance, uplifting eyes and pleading hands: "Yea, I have earned it," he cries, "and I ask not mercy; use thou thy chance. If any thought of a parent's grief can touch thee, I pray thee-in Anchises thou, too, hadst such a father-pity Daunus' old age, and give back me, or, if so thou please, my lifeless body, to my kin. Victor thou art; and as vanquished, have the Ausonians seen me stretch forth my hands Lavinia is thine for wife; press not thy hatred further." 938 Fierce in his arms, Aeneas stood with rolling eyes, and stayed his hand; and now more and more, as he paused, these words began to sway him, when lo! high on the shoulder was seen the luckless baldric, and there flashed the belt with its well |