Atinas; scattered captains, and troops left leaderless make for shelter, and, wheeling their horses, gallop to the walls. Nor can any with arms check the onset of death-dealing Trojans, nor stand against it, but their unstrung bows they cast on fainting shoulders, and in their galloping course the horsehoof shakes the crumbling plain. On rolls to the walls a cloud of dust, black and murky, and from the watch-towers mothers, beating their breasts, uplift to the stars of heaven their womanish cries. Upon such as first broke at full speed through the open gates, there presses hard a throng of foes, mingling with their ranks, nor escape they a piteous death, but on the very threshold, their native walls about them, and within the shelter of their homes, they are thrust through, and gasp away their lives. Some close the gates, and dare not open a way to their friends, nor receive them in the town, implore as they may; and slaughter most pitiful ensues, these guarding the entry sword in hand, and those rushing upon the sword. Shut out before the eyes and gaze of weeping parents, some, driven by the rout, roll headlong into the trenches; some, charging blindly with loosened rein, batter at the gates and stoutlybarred doors. The very mothers from the walls, in keenest rivalry (true love of country points the way), when they marked Camilla, flung weapons with trembling hands, and hastily do the work of the steel with stout oak-poles and seared stakes, and foremost are fain to die upon their walls. 896 Meanwhile among the forests the woeful tidings fill Turnus' ears, and Acca brings the warrior her tale of mighty turmoil: the Volscian ranks destroyed, Camilla fallen, the foe fiercely advancing and sweep 900 905 omnia corripuisse, metum iam ad moenia ferri. ille furens (et saeva Iovis sic numina poscunt) deserit obsessos collis, nemora aspera linquit. vix e conspectu exierat campumque tenebat, cum pater Aeneas, saltus ingressus apertos, exsuperatque iugum silvaque evadit opaca. sic ambo ad muros rapidi totoque feruntur agmine nec longis inter se passibus absunt; ac simul Aeneas fumantis pulvere campos prospexit longe Laurentiaque agmina vidit, et saevum Aenean adgnovit Turnus in armis adventumque pedum flatusque audivit equorum. continuoque ineant pugnas et proelia temptent, ni roseus fessos iam gurgite Phoebus Hibero tinguat equos noctemque die labente reducat. considunt castris ante urbem et moenia vallant. 915 901 poscunt] pellunt R. 903 campos M1. 910 911 adventus M. flatum R. ing the field in triumphant warfare, the panic now passing to the town. He, raging-and Jove's stern will so demands—quits the hills' ambush, and leaves the rough woodland. Scarce had he passed from view and gained the plain, when father Aeneas, entering the unguarded pass, scales the ridge, and issues from the shady wood. So both march toward the walls, swiftly and in full force, nor far distant from each other: and at the same moment Aeneas descried afar the plain smoking with dust, and saw the Laurentine hosts, and Turnus was aware of fell Aeneas in arms, and heard the coming of feet and the snorting of steeds. And straightway would they enter the fray and essay conflict, but ruddy Phoebus now laves his weary team in the Iberian flood, and, as day ebbs, brings back the night. Before the city they encamp and strengthen the ramparts. LIBER XII MPR 5 TURNUS ut infractos adverso Marte Latinos aut habeat victos, cedat Lavinia coniunx." 66 Olli sedato respondit corde Latinus : 10 o praestans animi iuvenis, quantum ipse feroci virtute exsuperas, tanto me impensius aequum est 20 consulere atque omnis metuentem expendere casus. sunt tibi regna patris Dauni, sunt oppida capta 16 crimen ferro Rc. 0 BOOK XII WHEN Turnus sees the Latins crushed and faint of heart through war's reverse, his own pledge now claimed, and himself the mark of every eye, forthwith he blazes with wrath unappeasable and raises high his spirit. As in Punic fields a lion, when wounded, lo! with grievous stroke of huntsmen in the breast, then only wakes to war, joyously tosses from his neck his shaggy main, and snaps, undaunted, the robber's implanted dart, roaring with blood-stained mouth: even so in Turnus' kindling soul the fury swells. Then thus he accosts the king, and with these wild words begins: 11" With Turnus lies no delay! no need is there for the coward sons of Aeneas to recall their words or to renounce their pact! I go to meet him. Bring the holy rites, sire, and frame the covenant. Either with this arm will I hurl to hell the Dardan, the Asian runaway-let the Latins sit and see itand with my single sword refute the nation's shame ; 1 or let him be lord of the vanquished, let Lavinia pass to him as bride!" 66 18 To him Latinus with unruffled soul replied: "O youth of matchless spirit, the more in fierce valour thou dost excel, all the more heedfully is it meet that I ponder and with fear weigh every chance. Thou hast thy father Daunus' realms, hast 1 All are under the slur of cowardice. |