their shields struck one against the other with a crash that went up to
the sky. And Jupiter held the balance in heaven, weighing their doom. Then
Turnus, rising to the stroke, smote fiercely with his sword. And the men
of Troy and the Latins cried out when they saw him strike. But the
treacherous sword brake in the blow. And when he saw the empty hilt in his
hand he turned to flee. They say that when he mounted his chariot that day
to enter the battle, not heeding the matter in his haste, he left his
father's sword behind him, and took the sword of Metiscus, which, indeed,
served him well while the men of Troy fled before him, but brake, even as
ice breaks, when it came to the shield which Vulcan had made. Thereupon
Turnus fled, and Æneas, though the wound which the arrow had made hindered
him, pursued. Even as a hound follows a stag that is penned within some
narrow space, for the beast flees hither and thither, and the staunch
Umbrian hound follows close upon him, and almost holds him, and snaps his
teeth, yet bites him not, so did Æneas follow hard on Turnus. And still
Turnus cried out that some one should give him his sword, and Æneas
threatened that he would destroy the city if any should help him. Five
times about the space they ran; not for some prize they strove, but for
the life of Turnus. Now there stood in the plain the stump of a wild
olive-tree. The tree was sacred to Faunus, but the men of Troy had cut it,
and the stump only was left. Herein the spear of Æneas was fixed, and now
he would have drawn it forth that he might slay Turnus therewith, seeing
that he could not overtake him by running. Which when Turnus perceived, he
cried to Faunus, saying, "O Faunus, if I have kept holy for thee that
which the men of Troy have profaned, hold fast this spear." And the god
heard him; nor could Æneas draw it forth. But while he strove, Juturna,
taking again the form of Metiscus, ran and gave to Turnus his sword. And
Venus, perceiving it, wrenched forth the spear from the stump. So the two
stood again face to face.
Then spake Jupiter to Juno, where she sat in a cloud watching the battle,
"How long wilt thou fight against fate? What purpose hast thou now in thy
heart? Was it well that Juturna--for what could she avail without thy
help?--should give back to Turnus his sword? Thou hast driven the men of
Troy over land and sea, and kindled a dreadful war, and mingled the song
of marriage with mourning. Further thou mayest not go."
And Juno humbly made answer, "This is thy will, great Father; else had I
not sat here, but stood in the battle smiting the men of Troy. And indeed
I spake to Juturna that she should help her brother; but aught else I know
not. And now I yield. Yet grant me this. Suffer not that the Latins should
be called after the name of Troy, nor change their speech, nor their garb.
Let Rome rule the world, but let Troy perish forever."
Then spake with a smile the Maker of all things, "Truly thou art a
daughter of Saturn, so fierce is the wrath of thy soul. And now what thou
prayest I give. The Italians shall not change name, nor speech, nor garb.
The men of Troy shall mingle with them, and I will give them a new
worship, and call them all Latins. Nor shall any race pay thee more honor
than they."
Then Jupiter sent a fury from the pit. And she took the form of a bird,
even of an owl that sitteth by night on the roof of a desolate house, and
flew before the face of Turnus and flapped her wings against his shield.
Then was Turnus stricken with great fear, so that his hair stood up and
his tongue clave to the roof of his mouth. And when Juturna knew the sound
of the false bird what it was, she cried aloud for fear, and left her
brother and fled, hiding herself in the river of Tiber.
But Æneas came on, shaking his spear that was like unto a tree, and said,
"Why delayest thou, O Turnus? Why drawest thou back? Fly now if thou canst
through the air, or hide thyself in the earth." And Turnus made answer, "I
fear not thy threats, but the Gods and Jupiter, that are against me this
day." And as he spake he saw-a great stone which lay hard by, the landmark
of a field. Scarce could twelve chosen men, such as men are now, lift it
on their shoulders. This he caught from the earth and cast it at his
enemy, running forward as he cast. But he knew not, so troubled was he in
his soul, that he ran or that he cast, for his knees tottered beneath him
and his blood grew cold with fear. And the stone fell short, nor reached
the mark. Even as in a dream, when dull sleep is on the eyes of a man, he
would fain run but cannot, for his strength faileth him, neither cometh
there any voice when he would speak; so it fared with Turnus. For he
looked to the Latins and to the city, and saw the dreadful spear approach,
nor knew how he might fly, neither how he might fight, and could not spy
anywhere his chariot or his sister. And all the while Æneas shook his
spear and waited that his aim should be sure. And at the last he threw it
with all his might. Even as a whirlwind it flew, and brake through the
seven folds of the shield and pierced the thigh. And Turnus dropped with
his knee bent to the ground. And all the Latins groaned aloud to see him
fall. Then he entreated Æneas, saying, "I have deserved my fate. Take thou
that which thou hast won. Yet perchance thou mayest have pity on the old
man, my father, even Daunus, for such an one was thy father Anchises, and
give me back to my own people, if it be but my body that thou givest. Yet
hast thou conquered, and the Latins have seen me beg my life of thee, and
Lavinia is thine. Therefore I pray thee, stay now thy wrath." Then for a
while Æneas stood doubting; aye, and might have spared the man, when lo!
he spied upon his shoulders the belt of Pallas, whom he had slain. And his
wrath was greatly kindled, and he cried with a dreadful voice, "Shalt thou
who art clothed with the spoils of my friends escape me? 'Tis Pallas
slays thee with this wound, and takes vengeance on thy accursed blood."
And as he spake he drave the steel into his breast. And with a groan the
wrathful spirit passed into darkness.
* * * * *
According to the old legends Æneas wedded the fair Lavinia, founded his
city of Lavinium, and ruled over it for three years. Then in a battle with
the Rutulians, or some other Italian people, he disappeared; and as his
body was not found after the conflict was over, it was believed that the
Gods had taken him up to heaven. His son Ascanius peacefully succeeded
him, and removed the capital of his kingdom to Alba Longa, which city
again, after the lapse of centuries, gave birth to mighty Rome.
END OF VOLUME III