Aeneid

Virgil

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

  1. But Sire Aeneas, hearing Turnus' name,
  2. down the steep rampart from the citadel
  3. unlingering tried, all lesser task laid by,
  4. with joy exultant and dread-thundering arms.
  5. Like Athos' crest he loomed, or soaring top
  6. of Eryx, when the nodding oaks resound,
  7. or sovereign Apennine that lifts in air
  8. his forehead of triumphant snow. All eyes
  9. of Troy, Rutulia, and Italy
  10. were fixed his way; and all who kept a guard
  11. on lofty rampart, or in siege below
  12. were battering the foundations, now laid by
  13. their implements and arms. Latinus too
  14. stood awestruck to behold such champions, born
  15. in lands far-sundered, met upon one field
  16. for one decisive stroke of sword with sword.
  17. Swift striding forth where spread the vacant plain,
  18. they hurled their spears from far; then in close fight
  19. the brazen shields rang. Beneath their tread
  20. Earth groaned aloud, as with redoubling blows
  21. their falchions fell; nor could a mortal eye
  22. 'twixt chance and courage the dread work divide.
  23. As o'er Taburnus' top, or spacious hills
  24. of Sila, in relentless shock of war,
  25. two bulls rush brow to brow, while terror-pale
  26. the herdsmen fly; the herd is hushed with fear;
  27. the heifers dumbly marvel which shall be
  28. true monarch of the grove, whom all the kine
  29. obedient follow; but the rival twain,
  30. commingling mightily wound after wound,
  31. thrust with opposing horns, and bathe their necks
  32. in streams of blood; the forest far and wide
  33. repeats their bellowing rage: not otherwise
  34. Trojan Aeneas and King Daunus' son
  35. clashed shield on shield, till all the vaulted sky
  36. felt the tremendous sound. The hand of Jove
  37. held scales in equipoise, and threw thereon
  38. th' unequal fortunes of the heroes twain:
  39. one to vast labors doomed and one to die.