Aeneid

Virgil

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

  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.”