Aeneid

Virgil

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

  1. Meanwhile th' unpitying messenger had flown
  2. to Turnus in the wood; the warrior heard
  3. from Acca of the wide confusion spread,
  4. the Volscian troop destroyed, Camilla slain,
  5. the furious foe increasing, and, with Mars
  6. to help him, grasping all, till in that hour
  7. far as the city-gates the panic reigned.
  8. Then he in desperate rage (Jove's cruel power
  9. decreed it) from the ambushed hills withdrew
  10. and pathless wild. He scarce had passed beyond
  11. to the bare plain, when forth Aeneas marched
  12. along the wide ravine, climbed up the ridge,
  13. and from the dark, deceiving grove stood clear.
  14. Then swiftly each with following ranks of war
  15. moved to the city-wall, nor wide the space
  16. that measured 'twixt the twain. Aeneas saw
  17. the plain with dust o'erclouded, and the lines
  18. of the Laurentian host extending far;
  19. Turnus, as clearly, saw the war array
  20. of dread Aeneas, and his ear perceived
  21. loud tramp of mail-clad men and snorting steeds.
  22. Soon had they sped to dreadful shock of arms,
  23. hazard of war to try; but Phoebus now,
  24. glowing rose-red, had dipped his wearied wheel
  25. deep in Iberian seas, and brought back night
  26. above the fading day. So near the town
  27. both pitch their camps and make their ramparts strong.
  1. When Turnus marks how much the Latins quail
  2. in adverse war, how on himself they call
  3. to keep his pledge, and with indignant eyes
  4. gaze all his way, fierce rage implacable
  5. swells his high heart. As when on Libyan plain
  6. a lion, gashed along his tawny breast
  7. by the huntsman's grievous thrust, awakens him
  8. unto his last grim fight, and gloriously
  9. shaking the great thews of his maned neck,
  10. shrinks not, but crushes the despoiler's spear
  11. with blood-sprent, roaring mouth,—not less than so
  12. burns the wild soul of Turnus and his ire.
  13. Thus to the King he spoke with stormful brow:
  14. “The war lags not for Turnus' sake. No cause
  15. constrains the Teucrian cowards and their King
  16. to eat their words and what they pledged refuse.
  17. On his own terms I come. Bring forward, sire,
  18. the sacrifice, and seal the pact I swear:
  19. either to deepest hell this hand shall fling
  20. yon Trojan runaway—the Latins all
  21. may sit at ease and see!—and my sole sword
  22. efface the general shame; or let him claim
  23. the conquest, and Lavinia be his bride.”