his astonished companions as a call to him from heaven. His divine
mother, he said, had told him that she would send that sign, and that
she would bring him arms made by Vulcan. Then he offered the usual
sacrifices to the gods, after which he went to his ships, and chose
from his followers some to accompany him to Agylla, directing the
others to return to the camp at Laurentum, and inform Iulus of the
progress of their affairs at Pallanteum. Preparations for departure
were now made. Evander gave AEneas horses for himself and his
companions, and when all was ready, the king affectionately embraced
his son, and bade him a tender farewell, praying to the gods that
he might live to see him come back in safety.
The Trojan chief and his warriors, among whom were the faithful
Achates and Pallas at the head of his four hundred horsemen, then set
forth from the city, amid the acclamations of the people. They soon
came within sight of the camp of the Etrurians, who, under the command
of one of their chiefs named Tarchon, had pitched their tents on a
wide plain not many miles from Pallanteum.
But before joining his new allies, AEneas had a meeting with his
goddess mother. Down from the clouds she came, beautiful as the sun,
bearing with her the arms that Vulcan had made, and seeing her son
alone on the bank of a small stream, in a secluded vale, to which he
had retired for a brief rest, she presented herself before him. At his
feet she placed the gifts she had promised, telling him that now he
might not fear to meet his foes in battle.
"Behold! (she said) performed in every part,
My promise made, and Vulcan's labored art.
Now seek, secure, the Latian enemy.
And haughty Turnus to the field defy."
DRYDEN, _AEneid_, BOOK VIII.
Beautiful arms and armor they were, such as could be designed and
fashioned only by a god--a sword and a spear, and a helmet with a
blazing crest, and a breastplate of flaming bronze, and greaves of
gold and electrum. But most wonderful of all was the shield, upon
which were depicted the glories and triumphs in later ages of the
mighty men of Rome, the descendants of Iulus, for Vulcan, being a god,
had the gift of seeing into futurity.
There, embossed, the heavenly smith had wrought
(Not in the rolls of future fate untaught)
The wars in order; and the race divine
Of warriors issuing from the Julian line.
DRYDEN, _AEneid_, BOOK VIII.
[Illustration: AENEAS WITH HIS WONDERFUL ARMOR. (Drawn by Varian.)]
Vergil's description of this prophetic shield occupies the concluding
portion of the eighth book of the AEneid. It is a summary of notable
events in the history of Rome from the time of Romulus, who founded
the city, to the time of the Emperor Augustus. The achievements of
Augustus are particularly dwelt on, for he was the friend and patron
of the poet, and Vergil, therefore, gave special prominence to the
part taken by him in the extension of the great empire. At the famous
sea-battle of Ac'ti-um (B.C. 31) near the promontory of Leu-ca'te
in Greece, Augustus, aided by A-grip'pa, defeated the forces of Antony
and the celebrated Egyptian Queen Cle-o-pa'tra, and this victory made
him master of the Roman world. On the shield of AEneas the fight at
Actium was shown on a sea of molten gold, in the midst of which were
represented the fleets of ships with their brazen prows.
Betwixt the quarters, flows a golden sea;
But foaming surges there in silver play.
The dancing dolphins with their tails divide
The glittering waves, and cut the precious tide.
Amid the main, two mighty fleets engage;
Their brazen beaks opposed with equal rage,
Actium surveys the well-disputed prize;
Leucate's watery plain with foamy billows fries.
Young Caesar, on the stern in armor bright,
Here leads the Romans and their gods to fight;
Agrippa seconds him, with prosperous gales,
And, with propitious gods, his foes assails.
A naval crown, that binds his manly brows,
The happy fortune of the fight foreshows.
DRYDEN, _AEneid_, BOOK VIII.
On another part of the shield were shown scenes of the Emperor's three
days' Triumph in Rome after his great conquest--the procession of
vanquished nations, the games and the sacrifices to the gods, and
Augustus himself seated on a throne in front of the temple of Apollo.
The victor to the gods his thanks expressed;
And Rome triumphant with his presence blessed.
Three hundred temples in the town he placed;
With spoils and altars every temple graced.
Three shining nights and three succeeding days,
The fields resound with shouts, the streets with praise.
Great Caesar sits sublime upon his throne,
Before Apollo's porch of Parian stone;
Accepts the presents vowed for victory;
And hangs the monumental crowns on high.
Vast crowds of vanquished nations march along,
Various in arms, in habit, and in tongue.
DRYDEN, _AEneid_, BOOK VIII.
AEneas viewed these scenes with wonder and delight, though ignorant of
what they meant, and putting on the beautiful armor, he bore upon his
shoulder the fortunes of his descendants.
These figures, on the shield divinely wrought,
By Vulcan labored, and by Venus brought,
With joy and wonder fill the hero's thought.
Unknown the names, he yet admires the grace;
And bears aloft the fame and fortune of his race.
DRYDEN, _AEneid_, BOOK VIII.
Vergil's description of the shield of AEneas is in imitation of
Homer's beautiful description in the Iliad of the shield of Achilles,
also made by Vulcan.
VIII. TURNUS ATTACKS THE TROJAN CAMP--NISUS AND EURYALUS.
Arrayed in his new and splendid armor, the Trojan chief rejoined his
companions, and then proceeded to the Etrurian camp, where he formed
a league with Tarchon. Meanwhile his enemies were not inactive, for
Juno sent Iris down from heaven to the Rutulian king to urge him to
bestir himself against the Trojans. "Time has brought about in your
favor, O Turnus," said the messenger of Juno, "what even the gods did
not dare to promise. AEneas, having left his friends and his fleet has
gone to gather forces against you in the city of Evander and in
Etruria. Now is your opportunity. Why do you hesitate to take
advantage of it? Delay no longer, but seize the camp of the Trojans,
while their leader is absent." Turnus recognized Iris, yet he knew not
by whom she had been sent. But he replied that he would quickly obey,
whoever it was that thus called him to arms, and as he spoke, the
goddess vanished into the heavens, forming in her ascent the beautiful
rainbow, which was the sign of Juno's messenger.
On equal wings she poised her weight,
And formed a radiant rainbow in her flight.
DRYDEN, _AEneid_, BOOK IX.
Then the warriors were called to action, and soon the whole army
marched out into the open plain, Messapus, the Etrurian, commanding
the front lines, the sons of Tyrrhus in the rear, and in the center
Turnus himself. The Trojans within their camp, seeing the great cloud
of dust which the tread of the hosts of the Latians raised on the
plain, knew what it meant. Speedily they shut up their gates and set
guards upon the walls, for AEneas at his departure had ordered them
that in case of attack in his absence, they should not attempt a fight
in the open field, but defend themselves within their ramparts. Turnus
now tried to set fire to the Trojan fleet, which lay in the river
close at hand, but the ships of AEneas could not be destroyed for they
were made of wood cut from the forest of Cyb'e-le, the mother of the
gods. When the hero was building them at the foot of Mount Ida, Cybele
begged her son Jupiter, to grant that the vessels, being constructed
of pine trees sacred to her, might be forever safe from destruction.
"Grant me (she said) the sole request I bring,
Since conquered heaven has owned you for its king.
On Ida's brows, for ages past there stood,
With firs and maples filled, a shady wood;
And on the summit rose a sacred grove,
Where I was worshipped with religious love.
These woods, that holy grove, my long delight,
I gave the Trojan prince, to speed his flight.
Now filled with fear, on their behalf I come;
Let neither winds o'erset, nor waves entomb,
The floating forests of the sacred pine;
But let it be their safety to be mine."
DRYDEN, _AEneid_, BOOK XI.
This request, though coming from his mother, Jupiter was obliged to
refuse, for it could not be, he said, that vessels built by mortal
hands should be rendered immortal. He promised, however, that those of
the Trojan ships which safely reached their destination in Italy
should be transformed into goddesses or nymphs of the ocean.
Therefore, when Turnus and his men rushed to the river with flaming
torches, the time had come for the promise of the king of heaven to be
fulfilled. As they were about to cast their firebrands upon the
galleys a strange light flashed on the eyes of the Trojans, then a
bright cloud shot across the sky, and from out of it these words
uttered in a loud voice, were heard by the Trojans and Rutulians. "Men
of Troy, you have no need to defend the ships. Sooner shall Turnus
burn up the seas than those sacred pines. Glide on at your liberty,
you nymphs of the main. It is the parent of the gods who commands
you." No sooner were the words spoken than the ships all broke away
from their fastenings, plunged out of sight into the depths of the
river, and reappeared in a moment as beautiful maidens, moving
gracefully along on the surface of the water.
No sooner had the goddess ceased to speak,
When, lo! the obedient ships their halsers break;
And strange to tell, like dolphins in the main
They plunge their prows, and dive and spring again;
As many beauteous maids the billows sweep,
As rode before tall vessels on the deep.
DRYDEN, _AEneid_, BOOK IX.
The Rutulians were astonished at this spectacle, but Turnus was still
undismayed, and speaking to his people he declared that what they had
just seen was bad for the Trojans themselves, for that now they had no
longer means of escape, their ships having disappeared. "As for their
much talked of destiny," said he, "it has been fulfilled, since they
have reached the land of Italy. But I also have my destiny, and it is
to destroy the accursed race. They depend a great deal on their walls,
yet they have seen the walls of Troy go down in flames, though they
were built by the hands of Neptune. I do not need arms made by Vulcan,
nor shall we hide ourselves in a wooden horse. We shall fight the
Trojans openly, and we shall teach them that they have not now to do
with men like the Greeks, whom Hector baffled for ten years."
Turnus then laid siege to the Trojan camp. He placed sentinels outside
the gates, and had watch-fires kindled at different points around the
walls, after which his men lay down on the field to rest. But during
the night the guards fell asleep, for they were fatigued after the
labors of the day, and so the whole besieging army was now sunk in
deep repose. The Trojans on the other hand kept strict watch within
their camp, and adopted all necessary measures of defense.
All things needful for defence abound;
Mnestheus and brave Serestus walk the round,
Commissioned by their absent prince to share
The common danger, and divide the care.
DRYDEN, _AEneid_, BOOK IX.
The Trojan sentinels at one of the gates were Nisus and Euryalus--
already mentioned as having taken part in the foot race at the funeral
games.
Love made them one in every thought;
In battle side by side they fought;
And now in duty at the gate
The twain in common station wait.
CONINGTON, _AEneid_, BOOK IX.
Now Nisus had conceived the idea of making his way through the
Rutulian lines and conveying to AEneas at Pallanteum news of the
dangerous situation of his people in the besieged camp, and he thought
he would carry out his project while the enemy were all asleep outside
the walls. Euryalus approved of the enterprise, and he begged that he
himself might be permitted to take part in it. To this Nisus objected,
for he did not wish that his dear young friend should be exposed to
the danger of the undertaking. The mother of Euryalus had accompanied
him all the way from Troy, and so great was her love for him that she
refused to part from him even to share the good fortune of the other
Trojan women who had settled in Sicily. Nisus was very unwilling to be
the cause of grief to so devoted a mother, by permitting her son to
join in an expedition in which he might lose his life.
"Nor let me cause so dire a smart
To that devoted mother's heart,
Who, sole of all the matron train,
Attends her darling o'er the main,
Nor cares like others to sit down
An inmate of Acestes' town."
CONINGTON, _AEneid_, BOOK IX.
But Euryalus insisted on accompanying his friend, and so after
obtaining the consent of the chiefs in command, who highly praised
their courage and promised to reward them, they made ready to set
forth. Euryalus begged that they would comfort and assist his mother
if any evil should happen to him. To this request Iulus answered that
she should be to him as if she were his own mother. "Gratitude is due
to her," said he, "for having given birth to such a son. The reward I
promise to give to you, if you return in safety, I shall give to your
mother should ill fortune attend you."
Euryalus and Nisus now set out upon their mission. Passing through the
camp of the sleeping Rutulians, they soon reached the outside of the
enemy's lines. It happened that a body of Latian horsemen was just
then passing that way on the route from Laurentum to join the army of
Turnus. Catching sight of the two strangers, Volcens, the leader of
the troop, cried out to them to "stand," and demanded to know who they
were, and whither they were bound. The Trojans, making no answer, fled
into a wood close by. Then Volcens placed guards on the passes and at
the outlets of the wood to prevent the escape of the fugitives.
Meanwhile Euryalus, getting separated from his companion, and losing
his way in the thick shades of the forest, fell into the enemy's
hands.
Nisus might have escaped, and had in fact got out of the wood, but
finding that his friend had disappeared, he returned to search for
him. Presently he heard the tramp of the horses, and looking forth
from a thicket in which he had concealed himself, he saw Euryalus in
the midst of the Latians, who were dragging him violently along.
Deeply grieved at the sight, and resolving to rescue his comrade, or
die in the attempt, Nisus, after praying to Diana, the goddess of the
woods, to guide his weapon in its course, hurled a javelin at the
enemy. It pierced the body of one of the Latians named Sulmo, who fell
dead. His companions gazed around in amazement, not knowing whence the
attack had come. Nisus then cast another javelin, and again one of the
Latians fell to the ground. Enraged at seeing his men thus slain
before his eyes by an unseen assailant, Volcens, with sword in hand,
rushed upon Euryalus, crying out that his life should pay the penalty
for both. Great was the agony of Nisus at seeing his friend about to
be put to death, and starting from his concealment, he exclaimed
aloud, "I am he who did the deed. Turn your arms therefore on me."
"Me! me! (he cried) turn all your swords alone
On me--the fact confessed, the fault my own.
His only crime (if friendship can offend)
Is too much love to his unhappy friend."
DRYDEN, _AEneid_, BOOK IX.
But vain was the effort of Nisus to save his friend, for scarce had
his last word been spoken when Euryalus fell lifeless to the earth,
pierced by the weapon of Volcens. Filled with grief and rage, and
eager to avenge the death of his companion, Nisus rushed into the
midst of the foe, seeking only Volcens, and though blows showered upon
him from all sides, he pressed on until coming up to the Latian chief,
he slew him with a single thrust of his sword. Then covered with
wounds, the brave Trojan dropped dead, falling upon the body of the
friend he had so loved. Thus these two sons of Troy, companions in
life, were companions also in death. Their friendship, immortalized by
the Roman poet, became proverbial.
O happy friends! for, if my verse can give
Immortal life, your fame shall ever live,
Fixed as the Capitol's foundation lies,
And spread, where'er the Roman eagle flies!
DRYDEN, _AEneid_, BOOK IX.
Early in the morning Turnus called his men to arms, and with loud
shouts all rushed forward to the Trojan ramparts. Then a fierce
conflict took place during which many heroes fell on both sides, after
performing wonderful feats of valor. There was a wooden tower of great
height and strength which stood outside the wall, and was connected
with it by bridges. The Rutulians made great efforts to break down
this tower, while the Trojans defended it by hurling stones upon the
enemy, and casting darts at them through loopholes. So the struggle
continued until Turnus with a flaming torch set the building on fire.
Fierce Turnus first a firebrand flings;
It strikes the sides, takes hold, and clings;
The freshening breezes spread the blaze,
And soon on plank and beam it preys.
The inmates flutter in dismay
And vainly wish to fly;
There as they huddle and retire
Back to the part which 'scapes the fire,
Sudden the o'erweighted mass gives way,
And falling, shakes the sky.
CONINGTON, _AEneid_, BOOK IX.
Only two of the occupants of the tower--Hel'e-nor and Lycus--escaped
destruction in its fall, but on emerging from the ruins they found
themselves in the midst of the Rutulians. Helenor seeing no chance of
saving his life, faced his foes like a lion and died in the thick of
the fight. Lycus, who was a swift runner, fled towards the walls,
dashing through the lines of the enemy. He had almost grasped the
summit of the rampart and reached the outstretched hands of his
friends when Turnus, who had darted in pursuit, dragged him to the
ground, and slew him, while he taunted him, saying, "Fool, didst thou
hope to be able to escape our hands?"
The battle now became more furious. From every quarter were heard
shouts of fighting men and clashing of arms. Amongst the heroes of the
day was young Iulus, hitherto accustomed to use his weapons only in
the chase. His first arrow in war was now aimed against the brother-
in-law of Turnus, a chief named Nu-ma'nus, who fought not only with
sword but with his tongue, mocking at the Trojans in a loud voice, in
front of the Latian lines. "Are you not ashamed, Trojans," cried he,
"to be a second time shut up behind walls? What madness has brought
you to Italy? Know that it is not Grecians, nor the crafty Ulysses,
you have now to deal with. We are a hardy race. We dip our infants in
the rivers to inure them to cold. Our boys are trained to hunt in the
woods. Our whole life is spent in arms. Age does not impair our
courage or vigor. As for you, your very dress is embroidered with
yellow and purple; indolence is your delight; you love to indulge in
dancing and such frivolous pleasures. Women you are, and not men.
Leave fighting to warriors and handle not the sword."
"Leave men, like us, in arms to deal
Nor bruise your lily hands with steel."
CONINGTON, _AEneid_, BOOK IX.
The spirited young Trojan prince could not patiently endure these
insults, and so drawing his bow-string and praying to Father Jupiter,
he sent forth his steel-tipped arrow. Whizzing through the air the
weapon pierced the head of Numanus, and at the same moment Iulus
exclaimed, "Vain boaster, this is our answer to your insults." With
shouts of joy the Trojans applauded the deed, and loud were their
praises of the valor of their young chief. Even from on high came
approving words, for just then the fair-haired Apollo, seated on a
cloud, was watching the conflict. And thus spoke the god in a loud
voice, "Go on and increase in valor, O youth. Such is the path-way to
immortality, thou art the descendant of gods, and from whom gods are
to descend."
[Illustration with caption: APOLLO VANISHING AFTER CAUTIONING IULUS.
(Drawn by Trautschold)]
Uttering these words Apollo came down from the sky, and taking the
appearance of Bu'tes, formerly the armor-bearer of Anchises, but now
the guardian of Iulus, walked by the young prince's side and addressed
him, saying, "Son of AEneas, let it be enough for thee that by thine
arrow Numanus has fallen. Apollo has granted to thee this glory; but
take no further part in the conflict." Then the god, throwing off his
disguise, ascended to the heavens. The Trojan chiefs recognized him as
he departed, and thus knowing that it was the divine will, they caused
Iulus to retire, while they themselves again rushed forward to the
battle--
They bend their bows; they whirl their slings around;
Heaps of spent arrows fall, and strew the ground;
And helms, and shields, and rattling arms, resound.
DRYDEN, _AEneid_, BOOK IX.
At this point two brothers, Pan'da-rus and Bit'i-as, sons of the
Trojan Al-ca'non, of Mount Ida, tall and powerful youths, threw open
the gate at which they were posted as sentinels, and standing within,
one on each side, they challenged the foe to enter. The Rutulians
rushed forward as soon as they saw the passage open. Several of them
were slain at the threshold by the valiant brothers. Then some of the
Trojans sallied out beyond the rampart, and a fierce fight took place.
King Turnus, hearing of these events, hurried to the gate, and joining
in the battle, slew many of the Trojan warriors. He hurled a dart at
Bitias, and so great was the force of the blow that not even the huge
sentinel's shield, formed of two bull's hides, nor his breastplates
with double scales of gold, could resist it.
Not two bull-hides the impetuous force withhold,
Nor coat of double mail, with scales of gold.
Down sunk the monster-bulk, and pressed the ground,
His arms and clattering shield on the vast body sound
DRYDEN, _AEneid_, BOOK IX.
When Pandarus beheld his brother stretched dead on the ground, and saw
that the battle was going against the Trojans, he closed the gate,
moving it upon its hinges and fastening it in its place with the
strength of his broad shoulders. Some of his own people were thus shut
out and left in the midst of the enemy, but in his hurry Pandarus did
not notice that amongst those who were shut in was the fierce King
Turnus.
Fond fool! amidst the noise and din
He saw not Turnus rushing in,
But closed him in the embattled hold,
A tiger in a helpless fold.
CONINGTON, _AEneid_, BOOK IX.
As soon as Pandarus saw what had happened, he hurled a spear with
mighty force at the Rutulian king, eager to avenge his brother's
death, but Juno turning the weapon aside, it struck into the gate,
where it remained fixed. Then Turnus slew Pandarus with a swift stroke
of his sword, exclaiming, "Not so shall you escape." The Trojans who
witnessed the deed, fled terrified from the spot, and if Turnus at
this moment had opened the gate and admitted his Rutulian warriors,
that day would have been the last of the war and of the Trojan race.
The Trojans fly in wild dismay,
O, then had Turnus thought
To force the fastenings of the gates
And call within his valiant mates,
The nation and the war that day
Alike to end had brought!
CONINGTON, _AEneid_, BOOK IX.
But Turnus thought only of slaying his foes who were at hand and so he
speedily put many of them to the sword. The Trojan chiefs Mnestheus
and Sergestus, as soon as they heard that their people were fleeing
before the Rutulian king, hastened up and reproved them in severe
words. "Whither do you flee?" cried Mnestheus. "What other
fortifications have you but this? Shall one man be permitted to work
such destruction in our camp? Are you not ashamed? Have you no regard
for your unhappy country, your ancient gods, or your great leaders?"
Touched by these words, and inspired with fresh courage, the Trojans
formed themselves into a solid body. Then turning round they made a
firm stand against the Rutulian chief, who now began to retreat
towards that part of the camp which was bounded by the river. The
Trojans advanced upon him with loud shouts, yet the brave king would
fain have resisted. As when a troop of hunters press upon a fierce
lion, the savage animal, too courageous to fly, yet dares not face the
numbers and weapons of his assailants, so Turnus with reluctant steps
drew backwards; yet twice again he attacked the Trojans and twice
drove them along the walls. At length gathering from all parts of the
camp, the Trojans made a united advance and Turnus, no longer able to
withstand the assaults of his foes, fled to the river, and plunging
in, was soon in the midst of his friends who received him with joyous
acclamation.
O'er all his limbs dark sweat-drops break;
No time to breathe; thick pantings shake
His vast and laboring frame.
At length, accoutred as he stood,
Headlong he plunged into the flood.
The yellow flood the charge received,
With buoyant tide his weight upheaved,
And cleansing off the encrusted gore,
Returned him to his friends once more.
CONINGTON, _AEneid_, BOOK IX.