Et fugit horrendum stridens elapsa sagitta, 635 640 645 650 Sit satis, Æneide, telis impunè Numanum Oppetiisse tuis: primam hanc tibi magnus Apollo 655 Cætera parce, puer, bello. Sic orsus Apollo, 660 655. Paribus armis. As Apollo, when a boy, slew the serpent Python with his arrows in defence of his mother, so Ascanius is here represented as killing Numanus in revenge of his country. of the sky thundered on the left. At the same time twangs the deadly bow; and whizzing dreadful flies the discharged arrow, and through the head of the Rutulian finds its way, and with the steel point transfixes his hollow temples. Go, insult valour in haughty terms. To the Rutulians your twice subdued Phrygians remit this auswer. Ascanius said no more. The Trojans second him with loud acclamation, ring with joyful applauses, and extol his valour to the stars. In the ethereal region Apollo, the god with golden locks, was then by chance surveying from above the Ausonian troops and city, seated on a cloud, and thus he bespeaks victorious Iülus: Go on, hopeful boy, improve in virtue early begun; thus mortals to the stars ascend, descendant of the gods, and from whom gods are to descend. Under the line of Assaracus all wars by fate ordained in justice shall subside; nor is Troy capable of containing thee. At the same time, having pronounced these words, he throws himself from the lofty sky, divides the whispering gales, and seeks Ascanius; then in the features of his face he is transformed into old Butes. To Dardanian Anchises this man had formerly been armour-bearer, and faithful guardian at the gate: then father Æneas assigned him the companion of Ascanius. Thus marched Apollo in every thing resembling the aged sire, both in voice and complexion, in silver locks, and arms fierce with rattling din: and in these words he addresses Iülus ardent for the fight: Great offspring of Eneas, let it suffice that by thy shafts Numanus hath fallen, thyself unhurt: to thee this first honour great Apollo vouchsafes, and envies not thy similar feats of arms. For what remains, illustrious boy, from fight abstain. This said, Apollo dropped his human appearance, in the midst of the interview, and into thin air far vanished out of sight. The Dardanian chiefs knew the god and his divine shafts, and in his flight perceived his rattling quiver. Therefore, by the mandate and divine authority of Phoebus, they restrain Ascanius panting for the fight themselves once more to the combat advance, 665 675 It clamor totis per propugnacula muris; 680 685 Aut ipso portæ posuere in limine vitam. Tum magis increscunt animis discordibus iræ ; Et jam collecti Troës glomerantur eodem, Et conferre manum, et procurrere longiùs audent, 690 Ductori Turno, diversâ in parte furenti, 695 665. Amentaque torquent. The amenta were properly thongs tied to a sort of javelin, by which they were darted. 688. Animis discordibus. In the hostile minds of the Trojans. 693. Fervere signifies, to be hot at work, to be as busy as possible. and on apparent dangers throw their lives. Along the battlements round the whole compass of the walls their acclamations run; they bend the valiant bows, and whirl the slings. All the ground is strewn with darts; then shields and hollow helmets in the conflict ring: a fierce engagement ensues: with such fury as a shower by the influence of the rainy Kids arising from the west lashes the ground; or as thick as storms of hail come rattling down precipitantly into the floods, when Jupiter in the south wind riding tremendous hurls a watery tempest, and bursts the hollow clouds in the sky. Pandarus and Bitias, sprung from Alcanor of mount Ida, whom sylvan Hiera trained up in Jupiter's sacred grove, youths tall as their native firs and mountains, on their arms relying, throw open the gate which by their general's command was committed to their charge, and from the ramparts forwardly challenge the foe. Themselves within, on right and left, before the turrets stand, armed with steel, and their heads with waving plumes adorned: as about the crystal streams, whether on the banks of Po, or by the pleasant Adige, two aerial oaks together rise, and shoot up to heaven their unshorn heads, and wave their towering tops. The Rutulians, soon as they saw a passage opened, rush in. Forthwith Quercens, Equicolus graceful in arms, and Tmarus in mind' precipitant, and martial Hæmon, with all their troops, either routed turned their backs, or at the very threshold of the gate laid down their lives. Then the hostile minds within grow more fierce with rage; and thither now the Trojans flock in thick embodied troops, and dare to encounter hand to hand, and make excursions on the foe. To Turnus the leader, in a different quarter spending his fury, and throwing the troops into disorder, intelligence is brought that the enemy raged with uncommon slaughter, and had set the gates wide open. He quits his present enterprize, and agitated with hideous rage, rushes forward to the Trojan gate, and the two haughty brothers; and first Antiphates (for he presented himself the first) the spurious issue of noble Sarpedon 700 Conjecto sternit jaculo. Volat Itala cornus Tum Bitían ardentem oculis, animisque frementem ; 705 710 Tum sonitu Prochyta alta tremit, durumque cubile 715 Pandarus, et fuso germanum corpore cernit, Demens! qui Rutulum in medio non agmine regem 720 725 730 705. Phalarica was an oblong kind of javelin, bound about with wildfire, which they shot out of an engine, especially against wooden towers. 718. Stimulos, etc. A metaphor from the application of a spur to a horse, to quicken his spirit and progress. |