Aeneid

Virgil

Vergil. The Aeneid of Virgil. Williams, Theodore, C, translator. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1910.

  1. Meanwhile the Teucrian legions to the wall
  2. draw near, with Tuscan lords and cavalry
  3. in numbered troops arrayed. Loud-footed steeds
  4. prance o'er the field, to manage of the rein
  5. rebellious, but turned deftly here or there.
  6. The iron harvest of keen spears spreads far,
  7. and all the plain burns bright with lifted steel.
  8. Messapus and swift Latin cavalry,
  9. Coras his brother, and th' attending train
  10. of the fair maid Camilla, form their lines
  11. in the opposing field. Their poised right hands
  12. point the long lances forward, and light shafts
  13. are brandished in the air; the warrior hosts
  14. on steeds of fire come kindling as they ride.
  15. One instant, at a spear-throw's space, each line
  16. its motion stays; then with one sudden cry
  17. they rush forth, spurring on each frenzied steed.
  18. From-every side the multitudinous spears
  19. pour down like snowflakes, mantling heaven in shade.
  20. Now with contending spears and straining thews,
  21. Tyrrhenus, and Aconteus, champion bold,
  22. ride forward; with the onset terrible
  23. loudly their armor rings; their chargers twain
  24. crash breast to breast, and like a thunderbolt
  25. Aconteus drops, or like a ponderous stone
  26. hurled from a catapult; full length he falls,
  27. surrend'ring to the winds his fleeting soul.