THE BATTLE AT THE CAMP.
And now the trumpet gave the signal for battle. First the Volscians
drew near to the wall. These held their shields over their heads,
joining them in close array so that they were like unto the shell of a
tortoise, and they that bare them filled the moat and pulled down the
wall. And some would have mounted the walls on ladders; while the men
of Troy cast spears at them and thrust at them with poles, being
indeed well used to the manner of such a fight from walls. But on the
covering of shields they threw down a huge block, breaking it through
and scattering the men, who would not indeed fight any more in such
fashion, but cast all manner of javelins and the like against the men
of Troy. And Mezentius the Tuscan came on, shaking a lighted torch of
pine in his hand, and Messapus tore down the rampart and called for a
scaling-ladder, that he might mount up into the breach.
Now there was a tower upon the wall, which the Italians sought to
take, and the men of Troy to defend it cast stones and darts through
the loopholes thereof. On to this Turnus cast a torch, setting fire to
the wall, and the flame, the wind fanning it, climbed from story to
story. And when they that were therein fled to the part that was yet
unconsumed, lo! the whole tower fell forward, and all perished, two
only escaping, Helenor and Lycus. And Helenor was the elder, and when
he saw that the enemy was about him on every side, then, even as a
beast which the hunters compass about with a great ring waxeth
desperate and flingeth himself over the nets upon their spears, so he
threw himself on the ranks of the Latins where the spears were
thickest, and so died. But Lycus was very swift of foot, and won even
as far as the wall, and would fain have climbed thereon. But Turnus
caught him, crying, "Thinkest thou to escape me?" and he laid hands
upon him as he hung from the wall, dragging down much wall likewise:
even as an eagle seizes a swan or a wolf a lamb, so he seized him.
Then did the battle wax fiercer and fiercer, and many fell on this
side and on that. For Ilioneus smote Lucetius when he would have set
fire to the gates, and Capys slew Privernus, and Mezentius, having
cast away his spear, smote the son of Arcens with a bullet of lead
from his sling.
And now Iülus, having used his bow aforetime on beasts of the field
only, now first drew it against a man, even against Numanus, who had
to wife the sister of Turnus. For this Numanus, thinking himself to be
some great one, stood in the front rank, and defied the men of Troy,
saying, "Are ye not ashamed, ye that have already been twice
conquered, now to be besieged again? What madness brought you to
Italy? We are a hardy race, for our new-born babes are dipped in the
stream, and our boys are hunters in the woods; and when we be men our
hands are ever on the ploughshare or the sword, yea, and old age
subdues us not, for when our hair is white yet do we cover it with the
helmet. But ye with your mantles of purple and saffron, and sleeved
tunics, and ribboned mitres, lovers of sleep and of the dance, ye
men, nay rather ye women, of Phrygia, what do ye here?"
But the young Iülus endured not to hear such boasting. He fixed an
arrow in his bow and drew the string, which was of horsehair, and ere
he let fly, he cried to Jupiter, "Help me now, great Father, so will I
bring, year by year, to thy temple a steer with gilded horns." And
Jupiter heard, and thundered on the left hand. And now, together with
the thunder, clanged the bow-string, sending death, and the arrow
hissed in the air and smote Numanus through the head, even from temple
to temple. "This is the answer that the twice-conquered men of Troy
send thee." So cried the young Iülus, and all the people shouted for
joy. And Apollo, where he sat in heaven and regarded the battle,
spake, "Go thou on as thou beginnest, child and father of gods: 'tis
thus that the race of Troy shall hereafter bring all wars to an end."
Then he came down from heaven into the camp of Troy, and took upon
himself the shape of the old man Butes: he had been aforetime the
armour-bearer of Anchises, and now followed Iülus. And the god spake,
saying, "It is enough that thou hast slain the boaster Numanus. The
archer Apollo envieth thee not this glory. But tempt the battle no
more." So saying he vanished out of their sight. But the chiefs knew
him who he was, yea, and heard the rattle of his quiver as he
departed. And they suffered not Iülus to draw his bow again. But all
the more the battle raged along the walls.
Now there were two youths, sons of Alcanor of Mount Ida, tall as
pine-trees; and their names were Pandarus and Bitias. These having
charge of the gate opened it, and standing on the right hand and on
the left, even as towers, bade the enemy enter. And many of these,
seeing the open gate, rushed forward, but fell slain upon the
threshold. And now the men of Troy took heart, and pressed on beyond
the walls.
But when Turnus heard tidings of these things he made haste to the
gate. And first he slew Antiphates, who was a son of Sarpedon, and
others also, and Bitias himself with them. Not with a javelin did he
slay him (no javelin had done such deed), but with a great spear of
Saguntum, having a point of a cubit's length. Through two bulls' hides
it passed and two folds of his coat of mail. With a great crash he
fell, and his shield upon him, even as falls a great pile which men
set up in the bay of Baiæ. So Bitias fell; and Pandarus, his brother,
seeing that things fared ill with the men of Troy, shut-to the gate,
thrusting it into its place with his broad shoulders. Many of his
companions he left without among their enemies, and many he shut in.
But being blind with haste and fear, he saw not that he shut in among
them Prince Turnus himself. But Turnus raged for blood, as a tiger
rageth among herds of cattle, and the men of Troy fled before him. But
Pandarus feared not to meet him, hoping also that he should have
vengeance for his brother. And he cried, "This is not thy city of
Ardea, but the camp of thy enemies. Hence thou goest not forth." But
Turnus made answer, "Begin, if thou hast any valour in thy heart. Thou
shalt find another Achilles here." Then Pandarus cast a great spear
with a knotted staff, whereon the bark was left; but Juno turned it
aside, so that it fixed itself in the gate. And Turnus said, "My
weapon thou escapest not thus, nor maketh my hand such error." And he
lifted his sword, rising to the blow, and cleft the man's head, so
that it fell divided upon his shoulders. Then, indeed, if only Turnus
had bethought him to open the gate that the Latins should come in,
there had come an end that day to the war and to the whole nation of
Troy. But he thought not of it, caring only to slay the enemy. Many
did he smite, some on the back as they fled, and some in front; among
them Amycus the hunter, and Clytius the singer, whom the Muses loved.
But now the chiefs of Troy, Mnestheus and Sergestus, began to gather
the people together, and to make head against Turnus. And Mnestheus
cried, "Whither will ye flee? Have ye any walls beside? Shall one man
work such slaughter in the city? Have you no thought, ye cowards, for
your king?" Then the men of Troy took heart again, and joined
themselves in close array, so that Turnus could not but give way
before them. Just so a lion is driven back by a crowd of men.
Frightened is he, yet fierce withal, and his courage suffereth him
not to flee, yet, so many are against him, he dareth not to stand.
Even thus did Turnus give way. Twice he turned and put the men of Troy
to flight, and twice they mastered him. For the helmet on his head
rang with the javelins, and was broken with stones; and the crest was
stricken off, and the shield was shattered with blows; and the sweat
poured off from him, and scarce could he breathe, till at the last,
having now come to the river, he plunged therein, and so returned to
his companions.
And still the battle grew fiercer and fiercer about the walls, and the
ring of them that defended the camp grew thinner and thinner. There
stood Asius, the son of Imbrasus, and Clarus and Themon, brothers of
Sarpedon the Lycian, and Acmon, the brother of Mnestheus, and others
with them. And in the midst stood the young Iülus, with his comely
head uncovered, like to a jewel that is set in gold or ivory, or that
is compassed about with boxwood or terebinth.