Aeneid

Virgil

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

  1. Aeneas now is near; and waving wide
  2. a spear like some tall tree, he called aloud
  3. with unrelenting heart: “What stays thee now?
  4. Or wherefore, Turnus, backward fly? Our work
  5. is not a foot-race, but the wrathful strife
  6. of man with man. Aye, hasten to put on
  7. tricks and disguises; gather all thou hast
  8. of skill or courage; wish thou wert a bird
  9. to fly to starry heaven, or hide thy head
  10. safe in the hollow ground!” The other then
  11. shook his head, saying: “It is not thy words,
  12. not thy hot words, affright me, savage man!
  13. Only the gods I fear, and hostile Jove.”
  14. Silent he stood, and glancing round him saw
  15. a huge rock Iying by, huge rock and old,
  16. a landmark justly sundering field from field,
  17. which scarce six strong men's shoulders might upraise,
  18. such men as mother-Earth brings forth to-day:
  19. this grasped he with impetuous hand and hurled,
  20. stretched at full height and roused to all his speed,
  21. against his foe. Yet scarcely could he feel
  22. it was himself that ran, himself that moved
  23. with lifted hand to fling the monster stone;
  24. for his knees trembled, and his languid blood
  25. ran shuddering cold; nor could the stone he threw,
  26. tumbling in empty air, attain its goal
  27. nor strike the destined blow. But as in dreams,
  28. when helpless slumber binds the darkened eyes,
  29. we seem with fond desire to tread in vain
  30. along a lengthening road, yet faint and fall
  31. when straining to the utmost, and the tongue
  32. is palsied, and the body's wonted power
  33. obeys not, and we have no speech or cry:
  34. so unto Turnus, whatsoever way
  35. his valiant spirit moved, the direful Fiend
  36. stopped in the act his will. Swift-changing thoughts
  37. rush o'er his soul; on the Rutulian host,
  38. then at the town he glares, shrinks back in fear,
  39. and trembles at th' impending lance; nor sees
  40. what path to fly, what way confront the foe:—
  41. no chariot now, nor sister-charioteer!