Then he took comfort and departed. But when they came near to the

river, the Boatman beheld them, and cried, “Stay thou, whoever thou

art, that comest armed to this river, and tell me what thou seekest.

This is the land of Shadows, of Sleep, and of Night. The living may not

be ferried in this boat. An evil day it was when I carried Hercules,

and Theseus, and Pirithoüs, though they were children of the gods. For

Hercules chained the Watch-dog of hell, and dragged him trembling from

his master’s seat. And Theseus and his friend sought to carry away the

Queen even from the chamber of her husband.”

Then the Sibyl made answer: “Be not troubled. We come not hither with

evil thoughts. Let the Watch-dog of hell make the pale ghosts afraid;

let your Queen abide in her husband’s palace; we will not harm them.

Æneas of Troy cometh down to hell that he may speak with his father.

And if thou takest no account of such piety, yet thou wilt know this

token.”

And she showed him the bough of gold. And when he saw it he laid aside

his anger, rejoicing to behold, now after many years, the marvellous

gift. Then he brought near his boat to the bank, and drave out the

souls that were therein, and took on board Æneas and the priestess.

Much did it groan with the weight, and the water poured apace through

the seams thereof. Yet did they come safe across.

Then they saw Cerberus, the Watch-dog, in his cave. And to him the

Sibyl gave a cake of honey and poppy-seed, causing sleep. And this he

swallowed, opening wide his three ravenous mouths, and straightway

stretched himself out asleep across the cave.

After this they heard a great wailing of infants, even the voices of

such as are taken away before they have had lot or part in life. And

near to these were such as have died by false accusation; yet lack they

not justice, for Minos trieth their cause. And yet beyond, they that,

being guiltless, have laid hands upon themselves. Fain would they now

endure hardships, being yet alive, but may not, for the river keeps

them in with his unlovely stream as in a prison. Not far from these are

the Mourning Fields, where dwell the souls of those that have died of

love, as Procris, whom Cephalus slew in error, and Laodamia, who died

of grief for her husband. And among these was Dido, fresh from the

wound wherewith she slew herself. And when Æneas saw her darkly through

the shadows, even as one who sees, or thinketh that he sees, the new

moon lately risen, he wept, and said, “O Dido, it was truth, then, that

they told me, saying that thou hadst slain thyself with the sword.

Tell me, Was I the cause of thy death? Loath was I, O Queen--I swear it

by all that is most holy in heaven or hell--to leave thy land. But the

gods, at whose bidding I come hither this day, constrained me; nor did

I think that thou wouldst take such sorrow from my departure. But stay;

depart not; for never again may I speak to thee but this once only.”

So he spake, and would fain have appeased her wrath. But she cast her

eyes to the ground, and her heart was hard against him, even as a rock.

And she departed into a grove that was hard by, wherein was her first

husband, Sichæus, who loved her even as he was loved. After this they

came to the land where the heroes dwell. And there they saw Tydeus,

who died before Thebes; and Adrastus, and also many men of Troy, as

the three sons of Antenor, and Idæus who was the armor-bearer of King

Priam, and bare the arms and drave the chariot yet. All these gathered

about him, and would fain know wherefore he had come. But when the

hosts of Agamemnon saw his shining arms through the darkness, they

fled, as in old days they had fled to the ships; and some would have

cried aloud, but could not, so thin are the voices of the dead.

Among these he saw Deïphobus, son of Priam. Cruelly mangled was he, for

his hands had been cut off, and his ears and his nostrils likewise.

Scarce did Æneas know him, and he himself in shame would have hidden

his wounds; but the son of Anchises spake to him, saying, “Who hath

dealt so foully with thee, great Deïphobus? Men told me that on the

last night of Troy thou didst fall dead on a heap of Greeks whom thou

hadst slain. Wherefore I built thee a tomb by the sea, and thrice

called aloud thy name. But thee I found not, that I might lay thee

therein.”

Then Deïphobus made answer: “Thou hast left nothing undone, but hast

paid me all due honor. But my ill fate and the accursed wickedness of

the Spartan woman have destroyed me. How we spent that last night in

idle rejoicings thou knowest. And she, while the women of Troy danced

before the gods, stood holding a torch on the citadel, as though she

were their leader, yet in truth she called therewith the Greeks from

Tenedos. But I lay overcome with weariness in my chamber. Then did

she, a noble wife, forsooth! take all the arms out of the house, and

my trusty sword also from under my head; and after brought thereunto

Menelaüs, so hoping to do away her sin against him; and Ulysses also,

always ready with evil counsels. What need of more? May the gods do so

and more also to them. But tell me why hast thou come hither?”

And it was now past noonday, and the two had spent in talk all the

allotted time. Therefore the Sibyl spake: “Night cometh, Æneas, and we

waste the day in tears. Lo! here are two roads. This on the right hand

leadeth to the palace of Pluto and to the Elysian plains; and that on

the left to Tartarus, the abode of the wicked.” And Deïphobus answered:

“Be not wroth, great priestess; I depart to my own place. Do thou, my

friend, go on and prosper.”

But as Æneas looked round he saw a great building, and a three-fold

wall about it, and round the wall a river of fire. Great gates there

were, and a tower of brass, and the fury Tisiphone sat as warder. Also

he heard the sound of those that smote upon an anvil, and the clanking

of chains. And he stood, and said, “What mean these things that I see

and hear?” Then the Sibyl made answer: “The foot of the righteous may

not pass that threshold. But when the Queen of hell gave me this

office she herself led me through the place and told me all. There

sitteth Rhadamanthus the Cretan, and judgeth the dead. And them that

be condemned Tisiphone taketh, and the gate which thou seest openeth

to receive them. And within is a great pit, and the depth thereof is

as the height of heaven. Herein lie the Titans, the sons of Earth,

whom Jupiter smote with the thunder; and herein the sons of Aloeus,

who strove to thrust the gods from heaven; and Salmoneus, who would

have mocked the thunder of Jupiter, riding in his chariot through the

cities of Elis, and shaking a torch, and giving himself out to be a

god. But the lightning smote him in his pride. Also I saw Tityos,

spread over nine acres of ground, and the vulture feeding on his heart.

And over some hangs a great stone ready to fall; and some sit at the

banquet, but when they would eat, the Fury at their side forbids, and

rises and shakes her torch and thunders in their ears. These are they

who while they were yet alive hated their brothers, or struck father

or mother, or deceived one that trusted to them, or kept their riches

for themselves, nor cared for those of their own household (a great

multitude are they), or stirred up civil strife. And of these some roll

a great stone and cease not, and some are bound to wheels, and some sit

forever crying, ‘Learn to do righteousness and to fear the gods.’”

And when the priestess had finished these words they hastened on their

way. And, after a while, she said, “Lo! here is the palace which the

Cyclopés built for Pluto and the Queen of hell. Here must we offer the

gift of the bough of gold.” And this being accomplished, they came to

the dwellings of the righteous. Here are green spaces, with woods about

them; and the light of their heaven is fuller and brighter than that

which men behold. Another sun they have and other stars. Some of them

contend together in wrestling and running; and some dance in measure,

singing the while a pleasant song; and Orpheus, clad in a long robe,

makes music, touching his harp, now with his fingers and now with an

ivory bow. Here did Æneas marvel to see the mighty men of old, such

as were Ilus, and Dardanus, builder of Troy. Their spears stood fixed

in the earth, and their horses fed about the plain; for they love

spear and chariot and horses, even as they loved them upon earth. And

others sat and feasted, sitting on the grass in a sweet-smelling grove

of bay, whence flows the river which men upon the earth call the Po.

Here were they who had died for their country, and holy priests, and

poets who had uttered nothing base, and such as had found out witty

inventions, or had done great good to men. All these had snow-white

garlands on their heads. Then spake the Sibyl to Musæus, who stood

in the midst, surpassing them all in stature: “Tell me, happy souls,

where shall we find Anchises.” And Musæus answered, “We have no certain

dwelling-place: but climb this hill, and ye can see the whole plain

below, and doubtless him whom ye seek.”

Then they beheld Anchises where he sat in a green valley, regarding the

spirits of those who should be born in after-time of his race. And when

he beheld Æneas coming, he stretched out his hands and cried, “Comest

thou, my son? Hast thou won thy way hither to me? Even so I thought

that it would be, and lo! my hope hath not failed me.”

And Æneas made answer, “Yea, I have come a long way to see thee, even

as thy spirit bade me. And now let me embrace thee with my arms.”

But when he would have embraced him it was as if he clasped the air.

Then Æneas looked and beheld a river, and a great company of souls

thereby, thick as the bees on a calm summer day in a garden of lilies.

And when he would know the meaning of the concourse, Anchises said,

“These are souls which have yet to live again in a mortal body, and

they are constrained to drink of the water of forgetfulness.” And Æneas

said, “Nay, my father, can any desire to take again upon them the body

of death?” Then Anchises made reply: “Listen, my son, and I will tell

thee all. There is one soul in heaven and earth and the stars and the

shining orb of the moon and the great sun himself; from which soul also

cometh the life of man and of beast, and of the birds of the air, and

of the fishes of the sea. And this soul is of a divine nature, but the

mortal body maketh it slow and dull. Hence come fear and desire, and

grief and joy, so that, being as it were shut in a prison, the spirit

beholdeth not any more the light that is without. And when the mortal

life is ended, yet are not men quit of all the evils of the body,

seeing these must needs be put away in many marvellous ways. For some

are hung up to the winds, and with some their wickedness is washed out

by water, or burnt out with fire. But a ghostly pain we all endure.

Then we that are found worthy are sent unto Elysium and the plains of

the blest. And when, after many days, the soul is wholly pure, it is

called to the river of forgetfulness, that it may drink thereof, and so

return to the world that is above.”

Then he led Æneas and the Sibyl to a hill whence they could see the

whole company, and regard their faces as they came; and he said, “Come,

and I will show thee them that shall come after thee. That youth who

leans upon a pointless spear is Silvius, thy youngest child, whom

Lavinia shall bear to thee in thy old age. He shall reign in Alba, and

shall be the father of kings. And many other kings are there who shall

build cities great and famous. Lo! there is Romulus, whom Ilia shall

bear to Mars. He shall build Rome, whose empire shall reach to the

ends of the earth and its glory to the heaven. Seest thou him with the

olive crown about his head and the white beard? That is he who shall

first give laws to Rome. And next to him is Tullus, the warrior. And

there are the Tarquins; and Brutus, who shall set the people free, aye,

and shall slay his own sons when they would be false to their country.

See also the Decii; and Torquatus, with the cruel axe; and Camillus

winning back the standards of Rome. There standeth one who shall subdue

Corinth; and there another who shall avenge the blood of Troy upon the

race of Achilles. There, too, thou mayest see the Scipios, thunderbolts

of war, whom the land of Africa shall fear; and there Regulus, busy in

the furrows; and there the Fabii, chiefly him, greatest of the name,

who shall save thy country by wise delay. Such, my son, shall be thy

children’s children. Others with softer touch shall carve the face of

man in marble or mould the bronze; some more skilfully shall plead,

or map the skies, or tell the rising of the stars. ’Tis thine, man of

Rome, to subdue the world. This is thy work, to set the rule of peace

over the vanquished, to spare the humble, and to subdue the proud.”

Then he spake again: “Regard him who is the first of all the company

of conquerors. He is Marcellus; he shall save the state in the day of

trouble, and put to flight Carthaginian and Gaul.”

Then said Æneas, for he chanced to see by his side a youth clad in

shining armor, and very fair to look upon, but sad, and with downcast

eyes, “Tell me, father, who is this? How noble is he! What a company is

about him! but there is a shadow of darkness round his head.”

And Anchises made answer, “O my son, seek not to know the greatest

sorrow that shall befall thy children after thee. This youth the Fates

shall only show for a brief space to man. Rome would seem too mighty

to the gods should he but live! What mourning shall there be for him!

What a funeral shalt thou see, O river of Tiber, as thou flowest by the

new-made tomb! No youth of the race of Troy shall promise so much as

he. Alas! for his righteousness, and truth, and valor unsurpassed! O

luckless boy, if thou canst haply break thy evil doom thou shalt be a

Marcellus. Give handfuls of lilies. I will scatter the bright flowers

and pay the idle honors to my grandson’s shade.”

Thus did Anchises show his son things to be, and kindled his soul with

desire of glory. Also he showed him what wars he must wage, and how he

should endure, or, if it might be, avoid the evils to come.

There are two gates of Sleep, of horn the one, by which true dreams go

forth; of ivory the other, by which the false. Then did Anchises send

forth his son and the Sibyl by the ivory gate. And Æneas returned to

the ships, and making sail came to the cape which was afterwards called

Caieta.

CHAPTER IV.

While they tarried at Cumæ, Caieta, who was the nurse of Æneas, died

and was buried; and they called the cape after her name. And afterwards

they set sail, and passed by the island wherein dwelt Circé, who is the

daughter of the Sun. Pleasantly doth she sing, sitting at the loom, and

burneth torches of sweet-smelling cedar to give her light by night. And

round about her dwelling you may hear the growling of lions and wild

boars and bears and wolves, which are men whom the goddess with her

enchantments hath changed into the shapes of beasts. But Neptune would

not that the men of Troy, being fearers of the gods, should suffer such

things. Therefore did he send them favorable winds, so that they passed

quickly by that land.

Now when it was dawn, the wind being now lulled, they came to a great

wood upon the shore, and in the midst of the wood the river Tiber,

yellow with much abundance of sand, flowing into the sea. And on the

shore and in the wood were many birds. Thither the men of Troy brought

their ships safe to land.

Of this country Latinus was king, who was the son of Faunus, who was

the son of Picus, who was the son of Saturn. And King Latinus had not a

son, but a daughter only, Lavinia by name, who was now of an age to be

married. Many chiefs of Latium, and of all Italy, desired to have her

to wife; of whom the first was Turnus, a very comely youth, and of a

royal house. Now the Queen, the mother of the virgin, loved him, and

would fain have married her daughter to him, but the gods hindered the

marriage with ill omens and marvels. In the midst of the palace was a

great bay-tree, which the King who had builded the house had dedicated

to Phœbus. On this there lighted a great swarm of bees, and hung like

unto a cluster of grapes from a bough thereof. And the seers, beholding

the thing, cried, “There cometh a stranger who shall be husband to

Lavinia, and a strange people who shall bear rule in this place.” Also

when Lavinia lighted the fire upon the altar, standing by her father,

a flame leapt therefrom upon her hair, and burned the ornament that

was upon her head and the crown of jewels and gold, and spread with

smoke and fire over the whole palace. Whereupon the prophets spake,

saying, “The virgin indeed shall be famous and great, but there cometh

a dreadful war upon her people.” And King Latinus, fearing what these

things might mean, inquired of the oracle of Faunus, his father, which

is by the grove of Albunea. Now the custom is that the priest offereth

sacrifice in the grove and lieth down to sleep on the skins of the

sheep that he hath slain; and it cometh to pass that he seeth visions

in the night and heareth the voice of the gods. So King Latinus, being

himself a priest, made a great sacrifice, even of a hundred sheep, and

lay down to sleep upon the skins thereof. And when he was laid down,

straightway there came a voice from the grove, saying, “Seek not, my

son, to marry thy daughter to a chief of this land. There shall come a

son-in-law from beyond the sea, who shall exalt our name from the one

end of heaven to the other.” Nor did the King hide these things, but

noised them abroad, and the fame thereof was great in these days when

Æneas and his company came to the land of Italy.

Now it so chanced that Æneas and Iülus his son, and others of the

princes, sat down to eat under a tree; and they had platters of dough

whereupon to eat their meat. And when they had ended, and were not

satisfied, they ate their platters also, not thinking what they did.

Then said Iülus, making sport, “What! do we eat even our tables?”

And Æneas was right glad to hear this thing, and embraced the boy,

and said, “Now know I that we are come to the land which the gods

have promised to me and to my people, that they would give us. For

my father, Anchises, spake to me, saying, ‘My son, when thou shalt

come to a land that thou knowest not, and hunger shall constrain thee

to eat thy tables, then know that thou hast found thee a home.’ Now,

therefore, seeing that these things have an accomplishment, let us

pour out libations to Jupiter, and make our prayers also to my father,

Anchises, and make merry. And in the morning we will search out the

country, and see who they be that dwell herein.”

Then he bound a garland of leaves about his head, and made his prayers

to Mother Earth, and to the gods of the land, of whom indeed he knew

not who they were, and to Father Jupiter, and to the other gods also.

And when he had ended his prayer, Jupiter thundered thrice from the

sky. Then was it noised abroad among the men of Troy that now indeed

were they come to the land where they should build them a city; and

they eat and drank and made merry.

The next day those who should search out the country went forth. And

when it was told Æneas, saying that this river was the Tiber, and that

the people who dwelt in the land were the Latins, valiant men of war,

he chose out a hundred men who should go, with crowns of olive upon

their heads, to the city of the King, having also gifts in their hands,

and should pray that there might be peace between the men of Troy and

his people. And the men made haste to depart; and in the meanwhile

Æneas marked out for himself a camp, and bade that they should make a

rampart and a ditch.

Now when they that were sent came nigh to the city, they saw the young

men in the plain that was before it, riding upon horses and driving

chariots. Others shot with the bow or cast javelins, and some contended

in running or boxing. And one rode on horseback and told the king,

saying that certain men in strange raiment were come. Then the King

commanded that they should be brought into the palace, and sat upon the

throne of his fathers, and gave audience to them.

Now the palace stood on the hill that was in the midst of the

city, where King Picus had builded it, having woods about it very

sacred. Here did the kings first receive the sceptre, that they

should bear rule over the people. A senate-house also it was, and a

banqueting-house, where the princes sat feasting. Very great was it

and magnificent, having a hundred pillars; and in the halls were the

statues of ancient kings, carven in cedar, even Italus, and Sabinus the

vine-dresser, and Father Saturn, and Janus with the two faces. Also on

the wall hung trophies of war, chariots, and battle-axes, and helmets,

and the beaks of ships. And sitting on the throne was the image of King

Picus, clad in royal apparel, and bearing a shield on his left arm. But

the King himself his wife Circé had changed into a bird.

And King Latinus spake, saying, “Tell me, men of Troy, for I know you

who you are, what seek ye? For what cause are ye come to the land of

Italy? Have ye gone astray in your journey? or have the storms driven

you out of the way, as ofttimes befalleth men that sail upon the

sea? Ye are welcome. And know that we be of the race of Saturn, who

do righteously, not by constraint, but of our own will. From hence

also, even from Corythus, which is a city of the Etrurians, went forth

Dardanus, and abode in the land of Troy.”

Then Ilioneüs made answer, saying, “Great King, we have not gone

astray in our journey, nor have storms driven us out of our way. Of

set purpose are we come to this land. For we were driven away by

ill-fortune from our country, of which things we doubt not, O King,

that thou knowest the certainty. For who is there under the whole

heaven who knoweth not what a storm of destruction came forth from the

land of Greece and overthrew the great city of Troy, Europe and Asia

setting themselves in arms against each other? And now are we come to

ask for a parcel of land whereon we may dwell; and for air and water,

which indeed are common to all men. Nor shall we do dishonor to this

realm, nor be unthankful for these benefits. And be sure, O King, that

it will not repent thee that thou hast received us. For indeed many

nations and lands would fain have joined us to themselves. But the gods

laid a command upon us that we should come to this country of Italy.

For indeed, as thou sayest, Dardanus came forth from hence, and thither

his children, Apollo bidding them, would return. And now, behold,

Æneas sends thee these gifts of the things which remain to us of the

riches which we had aforetime. This sceptre King Priam held when he did

justice among his people; here is a crown also, and garments which the

women of Troy have worked with their hands.”

Then for awhile King Latinus kept silence, fixing his eyes upon

the ground. Deeply did he ponder in his heart upon the marriage of

his daughter, and upon the oracles of Faunus his father, whether

indeed this stranger that was now come to his land might haply be the

son-in-law of whom the prophets had spoken. At the last he spake,

saying, “May the gods prosper this matter between you and me. We grant,

men of Troy, that which ye ask. Also we regard these your gifts. Know

ye that while we reign in this land ye shall not want for riches, even

unto the measure of the riches of Troy. And for your King, Æneas, if he

desire, as ye say, to join himself with us, let him come and look upon

us, face to face. And also take ye back this message to your King. I

have a daughter, whom the gods suffer me not to marry to a husband of

this land. For they say that there shall come a stranger who shall be

my son-in-law, and that from his loins shall come forth those who shall

raise our name even unto the stars.”

Then the King commanded that they should bring forth horses from the

stalls. Now there stood in the stalls three hundred horses, very fleet

of foot. And of these they brought forth one hundred, one for each man

of Troy; and they were decked with trappings of purple, and champed on

bits of gold. And for Æneas himself he sent a chariot, and two horses

breathing fire from their nostrils, which were of the breed of the

horses of the Sun. So the men of Troy went back riding on horses, and

took to Æneas the gifts and the message of peace.

Now Juno beheld how the men of Troy were come to the land of Italy,

and were now building them houses to dwell in; and great wrath came

into her heart, and she spake to herself, saying, “Of a truth this

accursed race hath vanquished me. For the flames of Troy burned them

not, neither hath the sea devoured them. And, lo! they are come to the

place where they would be, even to the river of Tiber. Yet could Mars

destroy the whole nation of the Lapithæ, when he was wroth with them;

and Jupiter suffered Diana to prevail against the land of Calydon. Yet

had not the Lapithæ or Calydon done so great wickedness as hath this

nation of Troy. And I, who am the wife of Jupiter, am vanquished by

Æneas! Yet have I means yet remaining to me, for if the gods of heaven

will not help me, then will I betake me to the powers of hell. From the

kingdom of Latium I may not keep him, and the gods decree that he shall

have Lavinia to wife. Yet may I hinder the matter. Surely at a great

price shall they buy this alliance; and thy dowry, O virgin, shall be

the blood of Italy and of Troy.”

Then Juno descended to the lower parts of the earth, and called to her

Alecto from the dwellings of her sisters the Furies--Alecto who loveth

war and anger and treachery, and all evil deeds. Even Pluto hateth

her, aye, and her sisters likewise, so dreadful is she to behold. And

Juno spake to her, saying, “Now would I have thee help me, Daughter of

Night, that I lose not my proper honor. I will not that Æneas should

have the daughter of Latinus to wife, or dwell in the land of Italy.

Seeing therefore that thou canst set brother against brother, and bring

enmity into houses and kingdoms, that they should fall, break this

peace that they have made, and bring to pass some occasion of war.”

Then straightway Alecto betook herself to the dwelling of King Latinus.

There found she Amata, the Queen, in great trouble and wrath, for she

loved not the men of Troy, and would have Turnus for her son-in-law.

And the Fury took a snake from her hair, and thrust it into the bosom

of the Queen. About her breast it glided unfelt, and breathed poisonous

breath into her heart. And now it became a collar of twisted gold

about her neck, and now a crown about her head, binding her hair. At

the first indeed, when the poison began to work, and her whole heart

was not as yet filled with the fever, she spake gently and after the

wont of a mother, weeping much the while over her daughter. “Art thou

then ready, my husband, to give thy daughter to this exile of Troy?

Hast thou no pity for thyself, or thy daughter, or me? Well know I that

with the first north wind he will fly and carry her away over the sea.

And what of thy word, and of the faith that thou hast pledged so many

times to Turnus thy kinsman? If thou must seek a son-in-law from the

land of the stranger, I hold that they all be strangers who obey not

thy rule, and that the gods mean not other than this. And Turnus, if

thou wilt inquire more deeply into his descent, is of the lineage of

Inachus, and cometh in the beginning from the land of Mycenæ.”

But when she perceived that her husband heeded not these words, and

when also the poison of the serpent had now altogether prevailed

over her, she ran through the city like to one that is mad. Nay, she

feigned that the frenzy of Bacchus was upon her, and fled into the

woods, taking her daughter with her, to the end that she might hinder

the marriage. Many other women also, when they heard this thing, went

forth, leaving their homes. With bare necks and hair unbound they went,

crying aloud the while; and in their hands they held staves of pine,

and were clad in the skins of wild beasts. And in the midst of them

stood the Queen, holding a great pine torch in her hand, and singing

the marriage song of her daughter and Turnus; and her eyes were red as

blood.

Next after this the Fury, deeming that she had overthrown the counsels

of Latinus, sped to the city of Turnus the Rutulian. Now the name of

the city was called Ardea, and Danaë builded it in old time; Ardea is

it called to this day, but its glory hath departed. Now Turnus was

asleep in his palace, and Alecto took upon her the shape of an old

woman, even of Chalybé, who was the priestess of Juno; and she spake,

saying, “Turnus, wilt thou suffer all thy toil to be in vain, and thy

kingdom to be given to another? King Latinus taketh from thee thy

betrothed wife, and chooseth a stranger that he should inherit his

kingdom. Juno commanded that I should tell thee this in thy sleep.

Rise, therefore, and arm thy people. Consume these strangers and their

ships with fire. And if King Latinus yet will not abide by his promise,

let him know for himself what Turnus can do in the day of battle.”

But Turnus laughed her to scorn. “That the ships of the stranger have

come to the Tiber, I know full well. But tell me not these tales.

Queen Juno forgetteth me not, therefore I am not afraid; but thou,

mother, art old, and wanderest from the truth, and troublest thyself

for nought, and art mocked with idle fear. Thy business it is to tend

the temples of the gods and their images, but as for war, leave that to

men, seeing that it is their care.”

Greatly wroth was Alecto to hear such words. And even while he spake

the young man shuddered and stared with his eyes, for the Fury hissed

before him with a thousand snakes. And when he would have spoken more,

she thrust him back, and caught two snakes from her hair, and lashed

him therewith, and cried aloud, “Old am I! and wander from the truth!

and am mocked with idle fears! Nay, but I come from the dwelling of the

Furies, and war and death are in my hand!”

And she cast a torch at the youth, and fixed it smoking with baleful

light in his heart. Then, in great fear, he woke, and a cold sweat

burst forth upon him, and he cried aloud for his arms, and was

exceedingly mad for battle. Also he bade the youth arm themselves,

saying that he would thrust the men of Troy out of Italy, aye, and

fight, if need were, with the Latins also. And the people hearkened

unto him, so fair was he, and of noble birth, and great renown in war.

Then Alecto hied her to the place where Iülus was hunting the beasts of

the forest. Now there was a stag, very stately, with exceeding great

horns, which Tyrrheus and his children had brought up from a fawn. And

Silvia, a fair virgin who was his daughter, was wont to adorn it with

garlands, and to comb it, and to wash it with water. By day it would

wander in the woods, and at nightfall come back to the house. This

stag, then, the dogs of Iülus having scented pursued, and indeed Alecto

brought it to pass that this mischief shall befall; and Iülus also,

following hard upon his dogs, shot an arrow at it, nor missed (for

the Fury would have it so), but pierced it through. Then the wounded

beast flew back to the house which it knew, being covered with blood,

and filled it with a lamentable voice, as one that crieth for help.

And Silvia heard it, and cried to the country folk for aid, who came

forthwith, Alecto urging them (for the accursed thing lay hid in the

woods). And one had a charred firebrand and another a knotted stick,

each such weapon as came to his hand. And Tyrrheus, who chanced to be

splitting a tall oak with wedges, led the way, having a great axe in

his hand.

Then did Alecto climb upon the roof, and, sounding with hellish voice

through a clarion, sent abroad the shepherds’ signal. And all the

forest trembled at the sound, and Trivia’s lake and Nar, with his white

sulphurous wave, and the fountains of Velia; and trembling mothers

pressed their children to their breasts.

Then ran together all the country folk, and the youth of Troy hasted

also to the help of Iülus. And now they fought not with clubs and

charred stakes, but with swords and spears in battle array. Then Almo

fell, the eldest of the sons of Tyrrheus, stricken in the throat, with

many others round him, and among them the old man Galæsus, even as he

offered himself to be a mediator between the two. Most righteous of men

was he, and richest likewise, for he had five flocks of sheep and five

herds of cattle, and tilled the earth with a hundred ploughs.

But Alecto, when she had accomplished these things, hasted to Juno, and

spake, saying, “I have done thy bidding; and now, if thou wilt, I will

to the neighboring cities, spreading among them rumors of wars.” But

Juno answered, “It is enough; there hath been the shedding of blood. It

were not well that the Father should see thee wandering in the upper

air, wherefore depart, and if aught remain to be done, I will see to

it.”

After this the shepherds hasted back to the city, and bare with them

the dead, even the youth Almo and the old man Galæsus, and cried for

vengeance to the gods and to the King. And fiercest of all was Turnus,

complaining that men of Troy were called to reign over them, and that

he himself was banished. And all the multitude was urgent with the King

that he should make war against the strangers; neither did any man

regard the commands of the gods. But the King stood firm, even as a

great rock in the sea is not moved though the waves roar about it and

the seaweed is dashed upon its sides. But when he saw that he could

not prevail against these evil counsels, he called the gods to witness,

crying, “The storm strikes upon me, and I may not stand against it.

O foolish Latins, ye shall pay for this madness with your blood, and

thou, Turnus, shalt suffer the worst punishment of all; and when thou

shalt turn to the gods they shall not hear thee. But as for me, my rest

is at hand; I lose but the honors of my funeral.”

It was a custom in Latium, which Alba kept in after time, and mighty

Rome yet keepeth to this day, that when she beginneth to make war, be

it on the men of Thrace or the men of the East, Arab, or Indian, or

Parthian, they open the great gates of the temple (double they are, and

made strong with bolts of brass and iron), on the threshold whereof

sitteth Janus, the guardian. For the Consul himself, with robe and

girdle, so soon as the fathers give their sentence for war, throweth

them wide, and the people follow the Consul, and the horns blow a great

blast together. Even so they bade King Latinus, after the custom of his

country, declare war against the the men of Troy, and open the gates

of slaughter; but he would not, flying and hiding himself in darkness.

Then did great Juno herself come down and burst asunder the iron-bound

gates of war.

Then through the land of Italy men prepared themselves for battle,

making bright shield and spear, and sharpening the axe upon the

whetstone. And in five cities did they set up anvils to make arms

thereon, head-pieces, and shields of wicker, and breast-plates of

bronze, and greaves of silver. Nor did men regard any more the

reaping-hook nor the plough, making new for battle the swords of their

fathers.

Now the greatest of the chiefs were these:--

First, Prince Mezentius, the Tuscan, who regarded not the gods; and

with him Lausus his son, than whom was none fairer in the host but

Turnus only. A thousand men followed him from Agylla. Worthy was he of

a better father.

Next came, with horses that none might surpass, Aventinus, son of

Hercules; and on his shield was the emblem of his father, the Hydra

with its hundred snakes. Long swords had his men and Sabine spears; and

he himself had about his head and shoulders a great lion’s skin, with

terrible mane and great white teeth.

And from Tibur came two youths of Argos, twin brothers, Catillus and

Coras, swift and strong as two Centaurs from the hills. And Cæculus,

who builded Præneste, was there, son of Vulcan, and a great company

of country folk with him, whereof many bare not shield nor spear, but

slings with bullets of lead, and javelins in either hand, and helmets

of wolf’s skin upon their heads.

After him marched Messapus, tamer of horses, Neptune’s son, whom no

man might lay low with fire or sword; and the people followed, singing

a war-song of their king, like to a great flock of swans, which flies

with many cries across the Asian marsh. And next Clausus the Sabine,

from whom is sprung the great Claudian house; and Halesus, companion of

Agamemnon, and enemy of Troy from of old, with many nations behind him;

clubs had they, fastened with thongs of leather, and wicker shields on

their left arms, and their swords were shaped as reaping-hooks. After

these came Œbalus, son of Telon, with the men of Campania, wearing

helmets of cork, and having shields and swords of bronze; also Ufens,

of Neresæ, with his robber bands; and Umbro, the Marsian priest, a

mighty wizard and charmer of serpents, who could also heal their bite;

but the wound of the Trojan spears he could not heal, nor did all his

charms and mighty herbs avail him.

With them also came Virbius, son of Hippolytus, from Egeria. For men

say that Hippolytus, when the curse of his father had fallen upon him,

and he had perished by the madness of his horses, was made alive by the

skill of Æsculapius, and that Jupiter, being wroth that a mortal should

return from the dead, slew the healer, the son of Phœbus, with his

thunderbolt; but that Hippolytus Diana hid in the grove of Africa, that

he might spend the rest of his days obscure and without offence. And

therefore do they yet hinder horses from coming near to the temple of

Diana. Nevertheless the youth Virbius drave horses in his chariot.

But chief among them all was Turnus, who moved in the midst, clad in

armor, and overtopping them all by his head. And he had a helmet with

three crests, and the Chimæra thereon for a sign; and on his shield

was Io, with her horns lifted to heaven, and Argus the herdsman, and

Inachus pouring a river from his urn. A great multitude of footmen

followed him, Rutulians and Sicanians, and they that dwelt about the

Tiber, and about Anxur, and about the green woods of Feronia.

Last of all came Camilla the Volscian, with a great company on horses,

clad in armor of bronze. She loved neither distaff nor the basket of

Minerva, but rather to fight and to outstrip the winds in running. And

a mighty runner was she, for she would run over the harvest-field nor

harm the corn, and when she sped across the waves of the sea she wetted

not her foot therein. All the youth marvelled to behold her, and the

women stood gazing upon her as she went. For a robe of royal purple

was about her shoulders, and a snood of gold about her hair; and she

carried a Syrian quiver and a pike of myrtle-wood, as the shepherds are

wont.

So the chiefs were gathered together, and much people with them,

Mezentius, and Ufens, and Messapus being their leaders. They sent an

embassy likewise to Diomed (for Diomed had built him a city in Italy,

even Arpi), to tell him that Æneas and the men of Troy were setting up

a kingdom in these parts, and to bid him take counsel for himself.

But Æneas was much troubled at these things, and cast about in his

mind where he should look for help. And while he meditated thereon he

slept. And lo! in his dreams the god of the river, even Father Tiber,

appeared to him. An old man was he, and clad in a blue linen robe, and

having a crown of reeds upon his head. And he spake, saying, “Thou art

welcome to this land, to which thou hast brought the gods of Troy. Be

not dismayed at wars and rumors of wars, nor cease from thy enterprise.

And this shall be a sign unto thee. Thou shalt find upon the shore a

white sow with thirty young, white also, about her teats. And it shall

come to pass that after thirty years Iülus shall build him the White

City. And now I will tell thee how thou shalt have victory in this

war. Certain men of Arcadia, following their King, Evander, have built

a city in this land, and called its name Pallantium. These wage war

continually with the Latins. To them therefore thou must go, making thy

way up the stream of the river. Rise therefore, and offer sacrifice to

Juno, appeasing her wrath. And to me thou shalt perform thy vows when

thou shalt have prevailed. For know that I am Tiber the river, and that

of all the rivers on earth none is dearer to the gods.”

Then Æneas roused him from sleep, and made his supplications to the

Nymphs and the river god, that they would be favorable to him. And when

he looked, lo! upon the shore a white sow with thirty young, white

also, about her teats. Of these he made a sacrifice to Juno. And after

this he commanded that they should make ready two ships, and so went on

his way. And Tiber stayed his stream so that the men might not toil in

rowing. Quickly they sped, and many trees were above their heads, and

the image thereof in the water beneath. And at noonday they beheld a

city with walls, and a citadel, and a few houses round about.

Now it chanced that Evander and his people were holding a sacrifice

that day to Hercules before the city. But when they saw through the

trees the ships approaching, they were astonished, and rose all from

the feast. But Pallas, who was the son of the King, commanded that they

should not interrupt the sacrifice, and snatching a spear, he cried

from the mound whereon the altar stood: “Strangers, why come ye? what

seek ye? Do ye bring peace or war?”

Then Æneas cried from the stern of his ship, holding out the while an

olive branch: “We be men of Troy, enemies of the Latins, and we seek

King Evander. Say, therefore, to him that Æneas, prince of Troy, is

come, seeking alliance with him.”

Much did Pallas marvel to hear this name, and said, “Approach thou,

whoever thou art, and hold converse with my father;” and he caught him

by the hand.

And when Æneas was set before King Evander he spake, saying, “I come to

thee, O King, not unwilling or fearful, though indeed thou art a Greek

and akin to the sons of Atreus. For between thee and me also there is

kindred. For Dardanus, builder of Troy, was the son of Electra, who

was the daughter of Atlas. And ye come from Mercurius, who was the

son of Cyllene, who was also the daughter of Atlas. Wherefore, I sent

not ambassadors to thee, but came myself, fearing nothing. Know thou

that the Daunian race, which warreth against thee, pursueth us also;

against whom if they prevail, without doubt they shall rule over Italy,

from the one sea even to the other. I would, therefore, that we make

alliance together.”

And as he spake, Evander ceased not to regard him, and, when he

had ended, spake, saying, “Welcome, great son of Troy. Gladly do I

recognize the voice and face of Anchises. For I remember how Priam came

of old time to the kingdom of his sister Hesioné, who was the wife of

Telamon; and many princes were with him, but the mightiest of them was

Anchises. Much did I love the man, and took him with me to Pheneus. And

he gave me when he departed a quiver and arrows of Lycia, and a cloak

with threads of gold, and two bridles of gold, which my son Pallas hath

to this day. The alliance that thou seekest I grant. To-morrow shalt

thou depart, with such help as I can give. But now, since ye be come at

such good time, join us in our sacrifice and feast.”

So they feasted together on the flesh of oxen and drank wine, and

were merry. And when they had made an end of eating and drinking,

King Evander spake, saying, “This great feast, my friend, we hold not

without good reason, which thou shalt now hear from me. Seest thou this

great ruin of rocks? Here in old time was a cave, running very deep

into the cliff, wherein Cacus dwelt, a monster but half man, whose

father was Vulcan. The ground thereof reeked with blood, and at the

mouth were fixed the heads of dead men. Very great of stature was he,

and breathed out fire from his mouth. To this land came Hercules,

driving before him the oxen of Geryon, whom he had slain. And when

he had left these to feed in the valley by the river, Cacus, that he

might fill up the measure of his wickedness, stole four bulls and four

heifers, the very chiefest of the herd. And that he might conceal the

thing, he dragged them by the tails backwards, so that the tracks lead

not to the cave. But it chanced that the herd made a great bellowing

when Hercules would have driven them away in the morning. And one of

the heifers which Cacus had hidden in the cave bellowed also, making

answer. Then was Hercules very wroth, and caught up in his hand his

great knotted club, and climbed to the top of the hill. Then was Cacus

sore afraid, and fled to his cave swift as the wind, fear giving wings

to his feet. And when he was come thither, he shut himself therein,

letting fall a great stone which he had caused to hang over the mouth

thereof by cunning devices that he had learned from his father. And

when Hercules was come he sought to find entrance and could not; but

at the last he saw one of the rocks that it was very high and leaned

to the river. This he pushed from the other side, so that it fell with

a great crash into the water. Then did the whole cave of Cacus lie

open to view, horrible to behold, as though the earth were to open her

mouth and show the regions of the dead. And first Hercules shot at the

monster with arrows, and cast boughs and great stones at him; and Cacus

vomited forth from his mouth fire and smoke, filling the whole cave.

And Hercules endured not to be so baffled, but plunged into the cave,

even where the smoke was thickest, and caught him, twining his arms and

legs about him, and strangled him, that he died. Of which deed, O my

friends, we keep the remembrance year by year. Do ye, therefore, join

in our feast, putting first wreaths of poplar about your heads, for the

poplar is the tree of Hercules.”

So they feasted; and the priests, even the Salii, being in two

companies, young and old, sang the great deeds of Hercules: how, being

yet an infant, he strangled the snakes that Juno sent to slay him, and

overthrew mighty cities, and endured many grievous labors, slaying

the Centaurs and the lion of Nemea; and how he went down to hell, and

dragged the dog Cerberus therefrom, and many other things likewise.

And at even they went back to the city, and as they went Evander told

Æneas many things concerning the country: how of old a savage race

dwelt therein, living even as the beasts, whom Saturn, flying from his

son Jupiter, first taught, giving them customs and laws; and how other

kings also had borne rule over them, and how he himself had come to the

land at the bidding of Apollo. Also he showed him the city which he had

founded, and the places thereof: very famous were they in aftertime,

when mighty Rome was builded, even on the selfsame ground. And when

they came to his palace he said, “Hercules entered this dwelling,

though indeed it be small and lowly. Think not, then, overmuch of

riches, and so make thyself worthy to ascend to heaven, as he also

ascended.”

Then he led him within the palace, and bade him rest on a couch,

whereon was spread the skin of an African bear.

Very early the next morning the old man Evander rose up from his bed,

and donned his tunic, and bound his Tuscan sandals on his feet, and

girt his Tegean sword to his side, flinging a panther’s hide over his

left shoulder. Pallas, his son, also went with him. And two hounds,

which lay by his chamber, followed him. For he would fain have speech

with Æneas, whom, indeed, he found astir, and Achates with him. Then

spake Evander: “Great chief of Troy, good will have we, but scanty

means; for our folk are few and our bounds narrow. But I will tell

thee of a great people and a wealthy, with whom thou mayest make

alliance. Nigh to this place is the famous city Agylla, which the men

of Lydia, settling in this land of Etruria, builded aforetime. Now of

this Agylla Mezentius was King, who surpassed all men in wickedness.

For he would join a living man to a dead corpse, and so leave him

to perish miserably. But after awhile the citizens rebelled, saying

that he should not reign over them, and slew his guards and burnt his

palace. But on him they laid not hands, for he fled to Prince Turnus.

Therefore there is war between Turnus and Agylla. Now in this war thou

shalt be leader; for as yet, when they would have gone forth to battle,

the soothsayers have hindered them, saying, ‘Though your wrath against

Mezentius be just, yet must no man of Italy lead this people; but look

you for a stranger.’ And they would fain have had me for their leader,

but I am old and feeble. And my son Pallas also is akin to them, seeing

that he was born of a Sabine mother. But thou art in thy prime, and

altogether a stranger in race. Wherefore take this office upon thyself.

Pallas also shall go with thee, and learn from thee to bear himself as

a warrior. Also I will send with thee two hundred chosen horsemen, and

Pallas will give thee as many.”

And even before he had made an end of speaking, Venus gave them a sign,

even thunder in a clear sky; and there was heard a voice as of a Tuscan

trumpet, and when they looked to the heavens, lo! there was a flashing

of arms.

And Æneas knew the sign and the interpretation thereof, even that he

should prosper in that to which he set his hand. Therefore he bade

Evander be of good cheer. Then again they did sacrifice, and afterwards

Æneas returned to his companions, of whom he chose some, and them the

bravest, who should go with him to Agylla, and the rest he bade return

to Iülus, to the camp.

But when he was now ready to depart, Evander took him by the hand,

saying, “O that Jupiter would give me back the years that are gone,

when I slew, under Præneste, King Erulus, to whom at his birth his

mother, Feronia, gave three lives. Thrice must he needs be slain, and

thrice I slew him. Then had I not been parted from thee, my son, nor

had the wicked Mezentius slain so many of my people. And now, may the

gods hear my prayer: If it be their pleasure that Pallas should come

back, may I live to see it; but if not, may I die even now while I hold

thee in my arms, my son, my one and only joy.”

And his spirit left the old man, and they carried him into the palace.

Then the horsemen rode out from the gates, with Pallas in the midst,

adorned with mantle and blazoned arms, fair as the Morning Star, which

Venus loves beyond all others in the sky. The women stood watching them

from the walls, while they shouted aloud and galloped across the plain.

And after a while they came to a grove, near to which the Etruscans and

Tarchon, their leader, had pitched their camp.

Now in the meantime Venus had bestirred herself for her son, for

while he slept in the palace of Evander she spake to her husband,

even Vulcan, saying, “While the Greeks were fighting against Troy, I

sought not thy help, for I would not that thou shouldst labor in vain;

but now that Æneas is come to Italy by the command of the gods, I ask

thee that thou shouldst make arms and armor for my son. This Aurora

asked for Memnon; this Thetis for Achilles, and thou grantedst it to

them. And now thou seest how the nations join themselves to destroy

him. Wherefore I pray thee to help me.” And he hearkened to her voice.

Therefore when the morning was come, very early, even as a woman who

maketh her living by the distaff riseth and kindleth her fire, and

giveth tasks to her maidens, that she may provide for her husband and

her children, even so Vulcan rose betimes to his work. Now there is an

island, Liparé, nigh unto the shore of Sicily, and there the god had

set up his furnace and anvil, and the Cyclopés were at work, forging

thunderbolts for Jupiter, whereof one remained half wrought. Three

parts of hail had they used, and three of rain-cloud, and three of red

fire and the south wind; and now they were adding to it lightning, and

noise, and fear, and wrath, with avenging flames. And elsewhere they

wrought a chariot for Mars, and a shirt of mail for Minerva, even the

Ægis, with golden scales as of a serpent, and in the midst the Gorgon’s

head, lopped at the nape, with rolling eyes. But the god cried, “Cease

ye your toils. Ye must make arms for a hero.” Then they all bent them

to their toil. Then bronze, and gold, and iron flowed in streams; and

some plied the bellows, and others dipped the hissing mass in water,

and a third turned the ore in griping pincers.

A helmet they made with nodding crest, that blazed like fire, and a

sword, and a cuirass of ruddy bronze, and greaves of gold molten many

times, and a spear, and a shield whereon was wrought a marvellous story

of things to come. For the god had set forth all the story of Rome.

There lay the she-wolf in the cave of Mars, suckling the twin babes

that feared her not--and she, bending back her neck, licked them with

her tongue; and there the men of Rome carried off the Sabine virgins

to be their wives; and hard by the battle raged, and there again

the kings made peace together, with offerings and sacrifice. Also

there were wrought the chariots that tore asunder Mettus of Alba for

his treachery, and Porsenna bidding the Romans take back their King,

besieging the city, but the men of Rome stood in arms against him.

Angry and threatening stood the King to see how Cocles broke down the

bridge, and Clœlia burst her bonds to swim across the river. There

Manlius stood to guard the Capitol, and a goose of silver flapped his

wings in arcades of gold, and showed the Gauls at hand. And they, under

cover of the darkness, were climbing through the thickets even to

the ridge of the hill. Their hair was wrought in gold, in gold their

raiment; and their cloaks were of divers colors crossed; milk-white

their necks and clasped with gold; two spears had each and an oblong

shield. Likewise he wrought the dwellings of the dead, of the just

and of the unjust. Here Catiline hung from the rock while the Furies

threatened him; there Cato gave the people laws. And all about was the

sea wrought in gold; but the waves were blue, and white the foam, and

therein sported dolphins of silver. But in the midst was wrought a

great battle of ships at the cape of Actium. On the one side Augustus

led the men of Italy to battle, standing very high on the stern of the

ship. From either temple of his head blazed forth a fire. And Agrippa

also led on his array with a naval crown about his head. And on the

other side stood Antony, having with him barbarous soldiers arrayed in

divers fashions, and leading to battle Egypt and Persia and the armies

of the East; and lo! behind him--a shameful sight--his Egyptian wife.

But in another part the battle raged, and all the sea was in a foam

with oars and triple beaks. It seemed as though islands were torn

from their places, or mountain clashed against mountain, so great was

the shock of the ships. And all about flew javelins with burning tow,

and the sea was red with blood. In the midst stood Cleopatra, with a

timbrel in her hand, and called her armies to the battle: behind her

you might see the snakes by whose bite she should die. And on one side

the dog Anubis, with other monstrous shapes of gods, and over against

them Neptune, and Venus, and Minerva. And in the midst Mars was seen

to rage, embossed in steel; and the Furies hovered above, and Discord

stalked with garment rent, while high above Apollo stretched his bow,

and Egyptian and Indian and Arab fled before him. And in a third place

great Cæsar rode through Rome in triumph, and the city was full of joy,

and the matrons were gathered in the temples; and through the street

there passed a long array of nations that he had conquered, from the

east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south. Such

was the shield which Vulcan wrought.

And Venus, when she saw her son that none was with him,--for he had

wandered apart from his companions,--brought the arms and laid them

down before him, saying, “See the arms that I promised I would give

thee. These my husband, the Fire-god, hath wrought for thee. With these

thou needst shun no enemy; no, not Turnus himself.” Right glad was he

to see them, and fitted them upon him, and swung the shield upon his

shoulder, nor knew what mighty fates of his children he bare thereon.

CHAPTER V.

After this Æneas made a covenant with the men of Etruria, of whom one

Tarchon was chief. And a great company of these went with him to the

war.

But in the meanwhile Turnus had fought against the camp of the Trojans,

and had slain many of the people. And when they that remained were now

ready to despair, they looked up, and behold! Æneas was there, for he

stood upon the stern of his ship and lifted in his left hand a flashing

shield. Much did the men of Troy rejoice to see that sight, and shouted

amain. And Turnus and his companions marvelled, till they looked behind

them, and lo! the sea was covered with ships, and in the midst was

Æneas. And it was as if a flame poured forth from his helmet and his

shield, bright as is a comet when it shines in the night-time red as

blood, or as the Dog Star in the hot summer-tide with baleful light

bringing fevers to the race of men.

Yet did not Turnus lose heart, but would occupy the shore, and hinder

from landing those that came. Wherefore he cried, “Now have ye that

which ye wished for. Lo! the enemy hides not himself behind a wall, but

meets us face to face. Remember wife and child and home and the great

deeds of your fathers. Let us meet them on the shore ere yet their

footing is firm.” And he thought within himself who should watch the

walls, and who should meet the enemy when he would gain the shore.

But in the meanwhile Æneas landed his men on gangways from the ships.

And some leapt on shore, having watched for the ebb of the waves, and

some ran along the oars. Tarchon also, the Etrurian, having spied a

place where the sea broke not in waves, commanded his men that they

should beach the ships. Which indeed they did without harm. Only the

ship of Tarchon himself was caught upon a ridge and the men thrown

therefrom. Yet these also, after a while, got safe to the shore.

Then did Æneas do great deeds against the enemy. For first he slew

Theron, who surpassed all men in stature, smiting through his coat

of mail; and Cisseus and Gyas, who wielded clubs after the manner of

Hercules. Sons were they of Melampus, who had borne Hercules company

in all his labors. Then the sons of Phorcus came against him, seven in

number; and they cast at him seven spears, whereof some rebounded from

his shield and some grazed his body, but harmed him not. Then cried

Æneas to Achates, “Give me spears enough. Spears which have slain the

Greeks on the fields of Troy shall not be cast in vain against these

Latins.” Then of the seven he slew Mæon and Alcanor, for the spear

pierced the breast-plate and heart of Mæon, and when Alcanor would

have held him up, passed through his arm and yet kept on its way. And

many others fell on this side and on that, for they fought with equal

fortune. On the very threshold of Italy they fought, and neither would

the Italians give place nor yet the men of Troy, for foot was planted

close to foot, and man stood fast by man.

In another part of the battle Pallas fought with his Arcadians. And

when he saw that they fled, not being wont to fight on foot (for by

reason of the ground they had sent away their horses), he cried, “Now,

by the name of your King Evander, and by my hope that I may win praise

like unto his, I beseech you that ye trust not to your feet. Ye must

make your way through the enemy with your swords. Where the crowd is

the thickest follow me. Nor have ye now gods against you. These are but

mortal men that ye see.” And he rushed into the midst of the enemy.

First he smote Lagus with his spear, even as he was lifting a great

stone from the earth. In the back he smote him, and, having smitten

him, strove to draw forth the spear; and while he strove, Hisbo would

have slain him; but Pallas was aware of his coming, and pierced him

in the breast with his sword. Next he slew the twin brothers, Larides

and Thymber. Very like they were, and it pleased father and mother

that they knew not the one from the other; but Pallas made a cruel

difference between them, for from Thymber he struck off the head, and

from Larides the right hand. And after these he slew Rhœtus, as he

fled past him in his chariot. And now, even as a shepherd sets fire

to a wood, and the flames are borne along by the wind, so Pallas, and

his Arcadians following, raged through the battle. And when Halæsus,

the companion of Agamemnon, would have stayed them, Pallas, first

praying to Father Tiber, smote him through the breast with a spear,

that he died. Then came to the help of the Latins, Lausus, the son of

King Mezentius, and slew Abas of Populonia, and others also. Then the

battle was equal for a space, for Pallas supported it on the one side

and Lausus on the other. Fair were they both to behold and of equal

age, and for both it was ordained that they should not return to their

native country. Yet they met not in battle, seeing that the doom of

each was that he should fall by a greater hand.

And now the nymph Juturna, who was sister to Turnus, bade her brother

haste to the help of Lausus. And when he was come, he cried to the

Latins, “Give place: I only will deal with Pallas. I only would that

his father were here to see.” Much did Pallas marvel to behold him

and to see the men give place. But, being no whit afraid, he went

forth into the space between the hosts, and the blood of the Arcadians

ran cold when they saw him go. Then Turnus leapt from his chariot,

for he would meet him on foot. And first Pallas prayed, saying, “O

Hercules! if thou wast indeed my father’s guest, help me to-day!” And

Hercules heard him where he sat in heaven, and wept because he could

avail nothing. Then said Father Jupiter, “My son, the days of men are

numbered; yet may they live forever by noble deeds. This at least can

valor do. Did not many sons of the gods fall at Troy? yea, and my

own Sarpedon. And for Turnus, too, the day of doom is at hand.” And

he turned his eyes from the battle. Then Pallas cast his spear with

all his might. Through the shield of Turnus it passed, and through

the corselet, yea, and grazed the top of his shoulder. Then Turnus

balanced his spear awhile, and said, “This, methinks, shall better

make its way,” and he cast it. Through the shield, through the stout

bull’s hide, and through the folds of bronze it passed, and through

the corselet, and pierced the breast of Pallas from front to back. And

Pallas tore from the wound the reeking steel, and the blood gushed out,

and the life therewith. Then Turnus stood above the corpse, and said,

“Men of Arcadia, tell these my words to Evander: ‘Pallas I send him

back, even as he deserved that I should send him. I grudge him not due

honors of burial. Yet of a truth the friendship of Æneas hath cost him

dear.’” Then he put his foot upon the body and dragged therefrom the

belt. Great and heavy it was, and Clonius had wrought thereon in gold

the deed of the fifty daughters of Danaüs, how they slew their husbands

in one night. But even then the time was very near when Turnus would

wish that he had left that spoil untouched. And afterwards, with much

groaning and weeping, the companions of Pallas laid him upon a shield

and bare him back.

And now tidings came to Æneas that it fared ill with his men, and that

Pallas was slain. Across the field he sped, and all his heart was full

of wrath against Turnus and pity for the old man Evander; and first

he took alive eight youths, whom he should slay upon the tomb. Then

he cast his spear at Lagus; but Lagus avoided it by craft, and rushed

forward, and caught him by the knees, beseeching him by the spirit of

his father and the hopes of Iülus that he would spare him, and take a

ransom for his life. But Æneas made answer, “Talk not of sparing nor

of ransom; for to all courtesy of war there is an end now that Turnus

hath slain Pallas.” And he caught the man’s helmet with his left hand,

and, bending back his neck, thrust in the sword up to the hilt. And

many other valiant chiefs he slew, as Hæmonides, priest of Phœbus and

Diana, and Tarquitus, son of Faunus, and dark Camers, son of Volscens.

And now there met him two brethren on one chariot, Lucagus and Liger.

And Liger, who indeed drave the horses, cried aloud, “These are not the

horses of Diomed, nor this the chariot of Achilles, from which thou

mayest escape. Lo! the end of thy battles and thy life is come.” But

Æneas spake not, but cast his spear, and even as Lucagus made himself

ready for battle, it sped through his shield and pierced his thigh.

Then he fell dying on the plain. And Æneas cried, mocking him, “Thy

horses are not slow to flee, nor frightened by a shadow. Of thine own

will thou leavest thy chariot.” And he caught the horses by the head.

Then Liger stretched out his hands to him in supplication, saying,

“I beseech thee, by thy parents, have pity upon me.” But Æneas made

answer, “Nay, but thou speakest not thus before. Die! and desert not

thy brother.” And he thrust the sword into his breast. Thus did Æneas

deal death through the host, even as he had been the giant Typhœus with

the hundred hands. And when Iülus and the men of Troy beheld him they

brake forth from the camp.

And now Juno bethought her how she might save Turnus, whom she loved.

So she caused that there should pass before his eyes an image as of

Æneas, which seemed to defy him to battle. And when Turnus would have

fought, lo! the false Æneas fled, and Turnus followed him. Now there

chanced to be lying moored to a great rock a certain ship, on which

King Asinius had come from Clusium. Into this the false Æneas fled,

and Turnus followed hard upon him, but found not the man. And when he

looked, Juno had burst the moorings of the ship, and the sea was about

him on every side. Then he cried, “What have I done, great Jupiter,

that I should suffer such shame? What think the Latins of my flight?

Drown me, ye winds and waves, or drive me where no man may see me

more.” Thrice he would have cast himself into the sea; thrice would he

have slain himself with the sword; but Juno forbade, and brought him

safe to the city of Daunus, his father.

In the meanwhile King Mezentius joined the battle. Nor could the men

of Troy, nor yet the Tuscans, stay him. Many valiant men he slew, as

Mimas, whom his mother Theano bare the same night that Hecuba bare

Paris to King Priam; and Actor, a Greek, who had left his promised

wife, and carried her purple favor in his helmet; and tall Orodes.

Orodes, indeed, was flying, but the King deigned not to slay him in

his flight, but met him face to face and smote him. Also when Orodes

cried, “Whoever thou art, thou goest not long unpunished: a like doom

awaits thee; and in this land shalt thou find thy grave,” Mezentius

laughed, and made answer, “Die thou, but let the King of gods and men

see to me.”

But after awhile Æneas spied Mezentius as he fought, and made haste to

meet him. Nor did the King give place, but cried, “Now may this right

hand and the spear which I wield be my gods, and help me.” And he cast

his spear. It smote the shield of Æneas, but pierced it not. Yet did it

not fly in vain, for glancing off it smote Antores in the side--Antores

who once had been comrade to Hercules, and afterwards followed Evander.

Now he fell, and in his death remembered the city which he loved, even

Argos. Then in his turn Æneas cast his spear. Through the bull’s-hide

shield it passed, wounding the King in the groin, but not to death. And

Æneas was right glad to see the blood flow forth, and drew his sword

and pressed on; and Mezentius, much cumbered with the spear and the

wound, gave place. But when Lausus, his son, saw this, he groaned aloud

and leapt forward, and took the blow upon his sword; and his companions

followed him with a shout, and cast their spears at Æneas, staying him

till Mezentius had gotten himself safe away. And Æneas stood awhile

under the shower of spears, even as a traveller stands hiding himself

from a storm. Then he cried to Lausus, “What seekest thou, madman? Why

venturest thou that which thy strength may not endure?” But Lausus

heeded him not at all, but still pressed on. Then the heart of Æneas

was filled with wrath, and the day was come for Lausus that he should

die. For the King smote him with his sword: through shield it passed

and tunic woven with gold, and was hidden to the hilt in his body.

And Æneas pitied him as he lay dead, bethinking him how he, too, would

fain have died for his father, and spake, saying, “What shall Æneas

give thee, unhappy boy, for this thy nobleness? Keep thy arms, in which

thou hadst such delight, and let thy father care as he will for thy

body; and take this comfort in thy death, that thou fallest by the hand

of the great Æneas.” Then he lifted him from the earth, and bade his

companions carry him away.

In the meantime his father tended his wounds, leaning on the trunk of a

tree by the Tiber bank. His helmet hung from a branch, and his arms lay

upon the ground, while his followers stood around. And ever he asked

tidings of Lausus, and sent those who should bid him return. But when

they brought back his body on a shield, his father knew it from afar,

and threw dust upon his white hair, and fell upon the body, crying,

“Had I such desire to live, my son, that I suffered thee to meet in my

stead the sword of the enemy? Am I saved by these wounds? Do I live by

thy death? And indeed, my son, I did dishonor to thee by my misdeeds.

Would that I had given my guilty life for thine! But indeed I die;

nevertheless not yet, for I have first somewhat that I must do.”

Then he raised himself on his thigh, and commanded that they should

bring his horse. His pride it was and comfort, and had borne him

conqueror from many fights. Very sad was the beast, and he spake to it,

saying, “O Rhœbus, thou and I have lived long enough, if indeed aught

on earth be long. To-day thou shalt bring back the head and the arms of

Æneas, and so avenge my Lausus; or thou shalt die with me. For a Trojan

master thou wilt not, I know, endure.”

Then he mounted the horse, and took spears in both his hands, and so

hasted to meet Æneas. Thrice he called him by name, and Æneas rejoiced

to hear his voice, and cried, “Now may Jupiter and Apollo grant that

this be true. Begin the fight.” And Mezentius made answer: “Seek not

to make afraid. Thou canst do me no harm now that thou hast slain my

son. I am come to die, but take thou first this gift; and he cast his

spear, and then another, and yet another, as he rode in a great circle

about the enemy. But they brake not the boss of gold. And Æneas stood

firm, bearing the forest of spears in his shield. But at last issuing

forth in anger from behind his shield, he cast his spear and smote the

war-horse Rhœbus between his temples. Then the horse reared himself

and lashed the air with his feet, and fell with his rider beneath him.

And the men of Troy and the Latins sent up a great shout. Then Æneas

hasted and drew his sword, and stood above him, crying, “Where is the

fierce Mezentius now?” And the King said, when he breathed again, “Why

threatenest thou me with death? Slay me; thou wrongest me not. I made

no covenant with thee for life, nor did my Lausus when he died for me.

Yet grant me this one thing. Thou knowest how my people hateth me. Keep

my body, I pray thee, from them, that they do it no wrong. And let

my son be buried with me in my grave.” And he gave his throat to the

sword, and feared not.

So the battle had an end. And the next day, early in the morning, Æneas

paid his vows. For he took an oak-tree, and lopped the branches round

about, and set it on a mound. And thereon he hung, for a trophy to

Mars, the arms of King Mezentius, the crest dripping with blood, and

the headless spears, and the corselet pierced in twelve places. Also

he fastened on the left hand the shield, and hung about the neck the

ivory-hilted sword. And next, the chiefs being gathered about him, he

spake, saying, “We have wrought a great deed. Here ye see all that

remaineth of Mezentius. Now, therefore, let us make ready to carry the

war against the city of Latinus. This therefore will we do with the

first light to-morrow. And now let us bury the dead, doing such honor

to them as we may, for indeed they have purchased a country for us

with their own blood. But first will I send back Pallas to the city of

Evander.”

Then he went to the tent where the dead body was laid, and old Acœtes

kept watch thereby--Acœetes, who had been armor-bearer to Evander, and

now had followed his son, but with evil fortune; and the women of Troy,

with their hair unbound, mourned about him. But when they saw Æneas

they beat their breasts, and sent up a great cry even to heaven. And

when the King saw the pillowed head, and the great wound in the breast,

he wept, and said, “Ah! why did Fortune grudge me this, that thou

shouldst see my kingdom, and go back in triumph to thy father’s home?

This is not what I promised to Evander when he gave thee to my charge,

and warned me that the men of Italy were valiant and fierce. And now

haply, old man, thou makest offerings and prayers for him who oweth

not service any more to the gods of heaven. Yet, at least, thou wilt

see that he beareth an honorable wound. But what a son thou losest, O

Italy! and what a friend, thou, Iülus!”

Then he choose a thousand men who should go with the dead and share the

father’s grief. After this they made a bier of arbutus boughs and oak,

and put also over it a canopy of branches, and laid the dead thereon,

like unto a flower of violet or hyacinth which a girl hath plucked,

which still hath beauty and color, but the earth nourisheth it no more.

And Æneas took two robes of purple, which Dido had woven with thread of

gold, and with one he wrapped the body and with the other the head. And

behind were carried the arms which Pallas had won in fight; and they

led the old man Acœtes, smiting on his breast and tearing his cheeks,

and throwing himself upon the ground; and the war-horse Æthon walked

beside, with the great tears rolling down his cheeks. And also they

bare behind him his helmet and shield, for all else Turnus had taken:

and then followed the whole company, the men of Troy, the Arcadians,

and the Tuscans, with arms reversed. And Æneas said, “The same cares

and sorrows of war call me elsewhere. Farewell, my Pallas, for ever!”

And he departed to the camp.

And now there came ambassadors from the city, having olive branches

about their heads, praying for a truce, that they might bury their

dead. Then Æneas made answer, “Ye ask peace for the dead; fain would I

give it to the living. I had not come to this land but for the bidding

of the Fates. And if your King changeth from me and my friendship to

Turnus, I am blameless. Yet methinks Turnus should rather have taken

this danger upon himself. And even now, if he be willing to fight with

me, man to man, so be it. But now bury ye your dead.”

Then they made a truce for twelve days. And the men of Troy and the

Latins labored together, hewing wood upon the hills, pine and cedar and

mountain ash. And the men of Troy built great piles upon the shore, and

burned the dead bodies of their companions thereon, and their arms with

them. And the Latins did likewise. Also they that had been chosen to do

this thing carried the body of Pallas to his city. And King Evander and

the Arcadians made a great mourning for him.

CHAPTER VI.

After these things there was again battle between the Trojans and the

Latins; and many were slain on either side, but at the last the men of

Troy prevailed. Then Prince Turnus, seeing that the Latins had fled

in the battle, and that men looked to him that he should perform that

which he had promised, even to meet Æneas face to face, was filled with

rage. Even as a lion which a hunter hath wounded breaketh the arrow

wherewith he hath been stricken, and rouseth himself to battle, shaking

his mane and roaring, so Turnus arose. And first he spake to King

Latinus, saying, “Not for me, my father, shall these cowards of Troy go

back from that which they have covenanted. I will meet this man face

to face, and slay him while ye look on; or, if the gods will that he

vanquish me so, he shall rule over you, and have Lavinia to wife.”

But King Latinus made answer: “Yet think awhile, my son. Thou hast the

kingdom of thy father Daunus; and there are other noble virgins in

Latium whom thou mayest have to wife. Wilt thou not then be content?

For to give my daughter to any husband of this nation I was forbidden,

as thou knowest. Yet did I disobey, being moved by love of thee, my

wife also beseeching me with many tears. Thou seest what troubles I and

my people, and thou more than all, have suffered from that time. Twice

have we fled in the battle, and now the city only is left to us. If I

must yield me to these men, let me yield whilst thou art yet alive. For

what doth it profit me that thou shouldst die? Nay, but all men would

cry shame on me if I gave thee to death!”

Now for a space Turnus spake not for wrath. Then he said, “Be not

troubled for me, my father. For I, too, can smite with the spear; and

as for this Æneas, his mother will not be at hand to snatch him in a

cloud from my sight.”

Then Amata cried to him, saying, “Fight not, I beseech thee, with

these men of Troy, my son; for surely what thou sufferest I also shall

suffer. Nor will I live to see Æneas my son-in-law.”

And Lavinia heard the voice of her mother, and wept. As a man stains

ivory with crimson, or as roses are seen mixed with lilies, even so the

virgin’s face burned with crimson. And Turnus, regarding her, loved her

exceedingly, and made answer: “Trouble me not with tears or idle words,

my mother, for to this battle I must go. And do thou, Idmon the herald,

say to the Phrygian king, ‘To-morrow, when the sun shall rise, let the

people have peace, but we two will fight together. And let him that

prevaileth have Lavinia to wife.’”

Then first he went to the stalls of his horses. The wife of the North

Wind gave them to Pilumnus. Whiter than snow were they, and swifter

than the wind. Then he put the coat of mail about his shoulders, and

fitted a helmet on his head, and took the great sword which Vulcan had

made for Daunus his father, and had dipped it when it was white-hot

in the river of Styx. His spear also he took where it stood against

a pillar, saying, “Serve me well, my spear, that has never failed me

before, that I may lay low this womanish robber of Phrygia, and soil

with dust his curled and perfumed hair.”

The next day the men of Italy and the men of Troy measured out a space

for the battle. And in the midst they builded an altar of turf. And the

two armies sat on the one side and on the other, having fixed their

spears in the earth and laid down their shields. Also the women and the

old men stood on the towers and roofs of the city, that they might see

the fight.

But Queen Juno spake to Juturna, the sister of Turnus, saying, “Seest

thou how these two are now about to fight, face to face? And indeed

Turnus goeth to his death. As for me, I endure not to look upon this

covenant or this battle. But if thou canst do aught for thy brother,

lo! the time is at hand.” And when the Nymph wept and beat her breast,

Juno said, “This is no time for tears. Save thy brother, if thou canst,

from death; or cause that they break this covenant.”

After this came the kings, that they might make the covenant together.

And King Latinus rode in a chariot with four horses, and he had on

his head a crown with twelve rays of gold, for he was of the race of

the Sun; and Turnus came in a chariot with two white horses, having a

javelin in either hand; and Æneas had donned the arms which Vulcan had

made, and with him was the young Iülus. And after due offering Æneas

sware, calling on all the gods, “If the victory shall fall this day

to Turnus, the men of Troy shall depart to the city of Evander, nor

trouble this land any more. But if it fall to me, I will not that the

Latins should serve the men of Troy. Let the nations be equal one with

the other. The gods that I bring we will worship together, but King

Latinus shall reign as before. A new city shall the men of Troy build

for me, and Lavinia shall call it after her own name.”

Then King Latinus sware, calling on the gods that are above and the

gods that are below, saying, “This covenant shall stand for ever,

whatsoever may befall. As sure as this sceptre which I bear--once it

was a tree, but a cunning workman closed it in bronze, to be the glory

of Latium’s kings--shall never again bear twig or leaf, so surely shall

this covenant be kept.”

But the thing pleased not the Latins; for before, indeed, they judged

that the battle would not be equal between the two; and now were they

the more assured, seeing them when they came together, and that Turnus

walked with eyes cast to the ground, and was pale and wan. Wherefore

there arose a murmuring among the people, which when Juturna perceived,

she took upon herself the likeness of Camers, who was a prince and a

great warrior among them, and passed through the host, saying, “Are ye

not ashamed, men of Italy, that one man should do battle for you all?

For count these men: surely they are scarce one against two. And if he

be vanquished, what shame for you! As for him, indeed, though he die,

yet shall his glory reach to the heavens; but ye shall suffer disgrace,

serving these strangers for ever.”

And when she saw that the people were moved, she gave also a sign from

heaven. For lo! an eagle that drave a crowd of sea-fowl before him,

swooped down to the water, and caught a great swan; and even while the

Italians looked, the birds that before had fled turned and pursued the

eagle, and drave him before them, so that he dropped the swan and fled

away. Which thing when the Italians perceived, they shouted, and made

them ready for battle. And the augur Tolumnius cried, “This is the

token that I have looked for. For this eagle is the stranger and ye are

the birds, which before, indeed, have fled, but shall now make him to

flee.”

And he ran forward and cast his spear, smiting a man of Arcadia below

the belt, upon the groin. One of nine brothers was he, sons of a Tuscan

mother, but their father was a Greek; and they, when they saw him

slain, caught swords and spears, and ran forward. And straightway the

battle was begun. First they brake down the altars, that they might

take firebrands therefrom; and King Latinus fled from the place. Then

did Messapus drive his horses against King Aulestes of Mantua, who,

being fain to fly, stumbled upon the altar and fell headlong on the

ground. And Messapus smote him with a spear that was like a weaver’s

beam, saying, “This, of a truth, is a worthier victim.” After this

Coryneüs the Arcadian, when Ebysus would have smitten him, snatched a

brand from the altar and set fire to the beard of the man, and, before

he came to himself, caught him by the hair, and thrusting him to the

ground, so slew him. And when Podalirius pursued Alsus the shepherd,

and now held his sword over him ready to strike, the other turned, and

with a battle-axe cleft the man’s head from forehead to chin.

But all the while the righteous Æneas, having his head bare, and

holding neither spear nor sword, cried to the people, “What seek ye?

what madness is this? The covenant is established, and I only have

the right to do battle.” But even while he spake an arrow smote him,

wounding him. But who let it fly no man knoweth; for who, of a truth,

would boast that he had wounded Æneas? And he departed from the battle.

Now when Turnus saw that Æneas had departed from the battle he called

for his chariot. And when he had mounted thereon he drave it through

the host of the enemy, slaying many valiant heroes, as Sthenelus and

Pholus, and the two sons of Imbrasus the Lycian, Glaucus and Lades.

Then he saw Eumedes, son of that Dolon who would have spied out the

camp of the Greeks, asking as his reward the horses of Achilles (but

Diomed slew him). Him Turnus smote with a javelin from afar, and, when

he fell, came near and put his foot upon him, and taking his sword

drave it into his neck, saying, “Lo! now thou hast the land which thou

soughtest. Lie there, and measure out Italy for thyself.” Many others

he slew, for the army fled before him. Yet did one man, Phegeus by

name, stand against him, and would have stayed the chariot, catching

the bridles of the horses in his hand. But as he clung to the yoke and

was dragged along, Turnus broke his cuirass with his spear, and wounded

him. And when the man set his shield before him, and made at Turnus

with his sword, the wheels dashed him to the ground and Turnus struck

him between the helmet and the breast-plate, and smote off his head.

But in the meanwhile Mnestheus and Achates and Iülus led Æneas to the

camp, leaning on his spear. Very wrath was he and strove to draw forth

the arrow. And when he could not, he commanded that they should open

the wound with the knife, and so send him back to the battle. Iapis

also, the physician, ministered to him. Now this Iapis was dearer than

all other men to Apollo, and when the god would have given him all his

arts, even prophecy and music and archery, he chose rather to know the

virtues of herbs and the art of healing, that so he might prolong the

life of his father, who was even ready to die. This Iapis, then, having

his garments girt about him in healer’s fashion, would have drawn

forth the arrow with the pincers but could not. And while he strove,

the battle came nearer, and the sky was hidden by clouds of dust, and

javelins fell thick into the camp. But when Venus saw how grievously

her son was troubled, she brought from Ida, which is a mountain of

Crete, the herb dittany. A hairy stalk it hath and a purple flower. The

wild goats know it well if so be that they have been wounded by arrows.

This, then, Venus, having hidden her face, brought and dipped into the

water, and sprinkled there with ambrosia and sweet-smelling panacea.

And Iapis, unawares, applied the water that had been healed; and lo!

the pain was stayed and the blood was staunched, and the arrow came

forth, though no man drew it, and Æneas’s strength came back to him as

before. Then said Iapis, “Art of mine hath not healed thee, my son.

The gods call thee to thy work.” Then did Æneas arm himself again, and

when he had kissed Iülus and bidden him farewell, he went forth to the

battle. And all the chiefs went with him, and the men of Troy took

courage and drave back to the Latins. Then befell a great slaughter,

for Gyas slew Ufens who was the leader of the Æquians; also Tolumnius,

the great augur, was slain, who had first broken the covenant, slaying

a man with his spear. But Æneas deigned not to turn his hand against

any man, seeking only for Turnus, that he might fight with him. But

when the nymph Juturna perceived this she was sore afraid. Therefore

she came near to the chariot of her brother, and thrust out Metiscus,

his charioteer, where he held the reins, and herself stood in his room,

having made herself like to him in shape and voice. Then as a swallow

flies through the halls and arcades of some rich man’s house, seeking

food for its young, so Juturna drave the chariot of her brother hither

and thither. And ever Æneas followed behind, and called to him that he

should stay; but whenever he espied the man, and would have overtaken

him by running, then again did Juturna turn the horses about and flee.

And as he sped Messapus cast a spear at him. But Æneas saw it coming,

and put his shield over him, resting on his knee. Yet did the spear

smite him on the helmet-top and shear off the crest. Then indeed was

his wrath kindled, and he rushed into the army of the enemy, slaying

many as he went.

Then there was a great slaughter made on this side and on that. But

after a while Venus put it into the heart of Æneas that he should lead

his army against the city. Therefore he called together the chiefs,

and, standing in the midst of them on a mound, spake, saying, “Hearken

now to my words, and delay not to fulfil them, for of a truth Jupiter

is on our side. I am purposed this day to lay this city of Latinus even

with the ground, if they still refuse to obey. For why should I wait

for Turnus till it please him to meet me in battle?”

Then did the whole array make for the walls of the city. And some

carried firebrands, and some scaling-ladders, and some slew the warders

at the gates, and cast javelins at them who stood on the walls. And

then there arose a great strife in the city, for some would have opened

the gates that the men of Troy might enter, and others made haste to

defend the walls. Hither and thither did they run with much tumult,

even as bees in a hive in a rock which a shepherd hath filled with

smoke, having first shut all the doors thereof.

Then also did other ill fortune befall the Latins, for when Queen

Amata saw from the roof of the palace that the enemy were come near to

the walls, and saw not anywhere the army of the Latins, she supposed

Turnus to have fallen in the battle. Whereupon, crying out that she was

the cause of all these woes, she made a noose of the purple garment

wherewith she was clad, and hanged her self from a beam of the roof.

Then did lamentation go through the city, for the women wailed and

tore their hair, and King Latinus rent his clothes and threw dust upon

his head.

But the cry that went up from the city came to the ears of Turnus where

he fought in the furthest part of the plain. And he caught the reins

and said, “What meaneth this sound of trouble and wailing that I hear?”

And the false Metiscus, who was in truth his sister, made answer, “Let

us fight, O Turnus, here where the gods give us victory. There are

enough to defend the city.” But Turnus spake, saying, “Nay, my sister,

for who thou art I have known even from the beginning, it must not be

so. Why camest thou down from heaven? Was it to see thy brother die?

And now what shall I do? Have I not seen Murranus die and Ufens the

Æquian? And shall I suffer this city to be destroyed? Shall this land

see Turnus flee before his enemies? Be ye kind to me, O gods of the

dead, seeing that the gods of heaven hate me. I come down to you a

righteous spirit, and not unworthy of my fathers.”

And even as he spake came Saces, riding on a horse that was covered

with foam, and on his face was the wound of an arrow. And he cried, “O

Turnus, our last hopes are in thee. For Æneas is about to destroy the

city, and the firebrands are cast upon the roofs. And King Latinus is

sore tried with doubt, and the Queen hath laid hands upon herself and

is dead. And now only Messapus and Atinas maintain the battle, and the

fight grows fierce around them, while thou drivest thy chariot about

these empty fields.”

Then for a while Turnus stood speechless, and shame and grief and

madness were in his soul; and he looked to the city, and lo! the fire

went up even to the top of the tower which he himself had builded upon

the walls to be a defence against the enemy. And when he saw it, he

cried, “It is enough, my sister; I go whither the gods call me. I will

meet with Æneas face to face, and endure my doom.”

And as he spake he leapt down from his chariot, and ran across the

plain till he came near to the city, even where the blood was deepest

upon the earth and the arrows were thickest in the air. And he beckoned

with the hand and called to the Italians, saying, “Stay now your

arrows. I am come to fight this battle for you all.” And when they

heard it they left a space in the midst. Æneas also, when he heard the

name of Turnus, left attacking the city, and came to meet him, mighty

as Athos, or Eryx, or Father Apenninus, that raiseth his snowy head

to the heavens. And the men of Troy and the Latins and King Latinus

marvelled to see them meet, so mighty they were.

First they cast their spears at each other, and then ran together, and

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 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 awhile 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.

Transcriber’s Notes:

Punctuation and spelling were made consistent when a predominant

preference was found in this book; otherwise they were not changed.

Simple typographical errors were corrected; occasional unbalanced

quotation marks retained.

Ambiguous hyphens at the ends of lines were retained. Missing hyphens

assumed to be implied when there was space for them.

Illustrations have been moved closer to the relevant text.

Text uses both “Lybia” and “Libya”; both retained here.

Page 30: “when he first took” was printed as “when the first took”.

Page 50: “Golden Helmet” was printed as “Golden Hemlet”.

Page 100: “let these things be my care.” ended with a gap where the

punctuation belonged. Period added by Transcriber, but a semi-colon

might be more appropriate.

Page 117: “Mestor” is correct: he was a Trojan; Nestor was a Greek.

Page 123: Closing quote mark added at end of “would slay us altogether.”

Page 128: “let me put thy armor on me” was printed as “or me”.

Page 339: Missing closing quote mark in paragraph that begins, “Then he

mounted the horse”. It probably belongs at the end of “take thou first

this gift;”, but has not been added.

Page 348: “healed; and lo!” was printed as “healed; and low!”.

End of Project Gutenberg's Stories of the Old world, by Alfred John Church