Aeneid

Virgil

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

  1. The turn of Butes and Orsilochus
  2. came next, who were the Trojans, hugest twain:
  3. yet Butes with her javelin-point she clove
  4. from rearward, 'twixt the hauberk and the helm,
  5. just where the horseman's neck showed white, and where
  6. from shoulder leftward slung the light-weight shield.
  7. From swift Orsilochus she feigned to fly,
  8. through a wide circle sweeping, craftily
  9. taking the inside track, pursuing so
  10. her own pursuer; then she raised herself
  11. to her full height, and through the warrior's helm
  12. drove to his very skull with doubling blows
  13. of her strong battle-axe,—while he implored
  14. her mercy with loud prayers: his cloven brain
  15. spilt o'er his face. Next in her pathway came—
  16. but shrank in startled fear—the warrior son
  17. of Aunus, haunter of the Apennine,
  18. not least of the Ligurians ere his doom
  19. cut short a life of lies. He, knowing well
  20. no flight could save him from the shock of arms
  21. nor turn the royal maid's attack, began
  22. with words of cunning and insidious guile:
  23. “What glory is it if a girl be bold,
  24. on sturdy steed depending? Fly me not!
  25. But, venturing with me on this equal ground,
  26. gird thee to fight on foot. Soon shalt thou see
  27. which one of us by windy boast achieves
  28. a false renown.” He spoke; but she, to pangs
  29. of keenest fury stung, gave o'er her steed
  30. in charge of a companion, and opposed
  31. her foe at equal vantage, falchion drawn,
  32. on foot, and, though her shield no blazon bore,
  33. of fear incapable. But the warrior fled,
  34. thinking his trick victorious, and rode off
  35. full speed, with reins reversed,—his iron heel
  36. goading his charger's flight. Camilla cried:
  37. “Ligurian cheat! In vain thy boastful heart
  38. puffs thee so large; in vain thou hast essayed
  39. thy father's slippery ways; nor shall thy trick
  40. bring thee to guileful Aunus safely home.”
  41. Herewith on winged feet that virgin bold
  42. flew past the war-horse, seized the streaming rein,
  43. and, fronting him, took vengeance on her foe
  44. in bloody strokes: with not less ease a hawk,
  45. dark bird of omen, from his mountain crag
  46. pursues on pinions strong a soaring dove
  47. to distant cloud, and, clutching with hooked claws,
  48. holds tight and rips,—while through celestial air
  49. the torn, ensanguined plumage floats along.