Aeneid

to strike—the spear crashed through the under rim

of his resplendent shield and entered deep

in the left groin; then from the chariot fallen,

the youth rolled dying on the field, while thus

pious Aeneas paid him taunting words:

“O Lucagus, thy chariot did not yield

because of horses slow to fly, or scared

by shadows of a foe. It was thyself

leaped o'er the wheel and fled.” So saying, he grasped

the horses by the rein. The brother then,

spilled also from the car, reached wildly forth

his helpless hands: “O, by thy sacred head,

and by the parents who such greatness gave,

good Trojan, let me live! Some pity show

to prostrate me!” But ere he longer sued,

Aeneas cried, “Not so thy language ran

a moment gone! Die thou! Nor let this day

brother from brother part!” Then where the life

hides in the bosom, he thrust deep his sword.

Thus o'er the field of war the Dardan King

moved on, death-dealing: like a breaking flood

or cloudy whirlwind seemed his wrath. Straightway

the boy Ascanius from the ramparts came,

his warriors with him; for the siege had failed.

Now Jupiter to Juno thus began:

“O ever-cherished spouse and sister dear,

surely 't is Venus—as thy mind misgave—

whose favor props—O, what discernment thine!

Yon Trojan power; not swift heroic hands,

or souls of fury facing perilous war!”

Juno made meek reply: “O noblest spouse!

Why vex one sick at heart, who humbly fears

thy stern command? If I could claim to-day

what once I had, my proper right and due,

love's induence, I should not plead in vain

to thee, omnipotent, to give me power

to lead off Turnus from the fight unscathed,

and save him at his father Daunus' prayer.

Aye, let him die! And with his loyal blood

the Teucrians' vengeance feed! Yet he derives

from our Saturnian stem, by fourth remove

sprung from Pilumnus. Oft his liberal hands

have heaped unstinted offering at thy shrine.”

Thus in few words th' Olympian King replied:

“If for the fated youth thy prayer implores

delay and respite of impending doom,

if but so far thou bidst me interpose,—

go—favor Turnus' flight, and keep him safe

in this imperilled hour; I may concede

such boon. But if thy pleading words intend

some larger grace, and fain would touch or change

the issue of the war, then art thou fed

on expectation vain.” With weeping eyes

Juno made answer: “Can it be thy mind

gives what thy words refuse, and Turnus' life,

if rescued, may endure? Yet afterward

some cruel close his guiltless day shall see—

or far from truth I stray! O, that I were

the dupe of empty fears! and O, that thou

wouldst but refashion to some happier end

the things by thee begun—for thou hast power!”

She ceased; and swiftly from the peak of heaven

moved earthward, trailing cloud-wrack through the air,

and girdled with the storm. She took her way

to where Troy's warriors faced Laurentum's line.

There of a hollow cloud the goddess framed

a shape of airy, unsubstantial shade,

Aeneas' image, wonderful to see,

and decked it with a Dardan lance and shield,

a crested helmet on the godlike head;

and windy words she gave of soulless sound,

and motion like a stride—such shapes, they say,

the hovering phantoms of the dead put on,

or empty dreams which cheat our slumbering eyes.

Forth to the front of battle this vain shade

stalked insolent, and with its voice and spear

challenged the warrior. At it Turnus flew,

and hurled a hissing spear with distant aim;

the thing wheeled round and fled. The foe forthwith,

thinking Aeneas vanquished, with blind scorn

flattered his own false hope: “Where wilt thou fly,

Aeneas? Wilt thou break a bridegroom's word?

This sword will give thee title to some land

thou hast sailed far to find!” So clamoring loud

he followed, flashing far his naked sword;

nor saw the light winds waft his dream away.

By chance in covert of a lofty crag

a ship stood fastened and at rest; her sides

showed ready bridge and stairway; she had brought

Osinius, king of Clusium. Thither came

Aeneas' counterfeit of flight and fear,

and dropped to darkness. Turnus, nothing loth,

gave close chase, overleaping every bar,

and scaling the high bridge; but scarce he reached

the vessel's prow, when Juno cut her loose,

the cables breaking, and along swift waves

pushed her to sea. Yet in that very hour

Aeneas to the battle vainly called

the vanished foe, and round his hard-fought path

stretched many a hero dead. No longer now