Then Numitor, from his brother's body having snatched a javelin, aims it at Æneas: but to him it is not permitted in his turn to transfix the hero, and it grazed on the thigh of great Achates. Here Clausus of Cures, confiding in his youthful person, comes up, and wounds Dryops at a distance with a rigid spear, under his chin with force driven home; and, transfixing his throat while the word is in his mouth, at once of speech and life bereaves him : but he with his front knocks the ground, and at his mouth disgorges clotted blood. Three Thracians too, of Boreas' exalted line, and three whom their father Idas and Ismara their parent soil sent to the war, by various catastrophe he overthrows. Him Halæsus encounters, and the Aurancian bands also approached him; Messapus too, the son of Neptune, with his steeds conspicuous comes up now these, now those, strive each other to beat off. In the very confines of Ausonia they combat. As in the spacious sky jarring winds with equal rage and force raise war; nor they to one another, nor clouds, nor sea, on either side give way: long is the combat dubious; all struggling against them stand: just so the Trojan and the Latin hosts encounter: foot to foot is fixed, and man to man closely joined. But in another quarter, where the torrent had far and wide dispersed whirling stones, and thickets from the banks uptorn, as soon as Pallas saw the Arcadians, unused to combat on foot, turning their backs to Latium fierce in the pursuit, since the rugged nature of the ground induced them to quit their steeds now with entreaty, now with bitter expostulation (the sole expedient left him in this distress), he rouses their valour: Whither, my fellow-soldiers, do you fly? By yourselves and your own gallant deeds, by the name of Evander your chief, by the battles you have won, and by my hopes, which now emulating my father's glory rise, trust not to your heels. With sword in hand you must burst a passage through your foes, where that globe of men in thickest array press on us: this way your ennobled country calls you and Pallas your leader. They are not gods who pursue us: mortal ourselves as we are, Mortales; totidem nobis animæque manusque. 380 Per medium quà spina dedit; hastamque receptat Semianimesque micant digiti, ferrumque retractant. per 390 395 400 405 378. Pelagus, etc. The common explanation is, Shall we repair to Troy, or shall we plunge into the sea? meaning, that both are equally impossible. The translation understands it thus, We must either plunge into the sea or face our foes, and cut our way to Troy; that is, to the Trojan camp, which we come to relieve. so by a mortal foe are we urged: to us as many souls, as many hands, as to them belong. Lo, the ocean, with his immense barrier of sea hems us in: now land too is wanting for us to fly to: whether into the bosom of the deep, or for Troy, shall we bend our course? He said, and into the midst of the thick-embodied foes bursts away. Him Lagus first opposes impelled by his inauspicious fate; him, while he is tugging a stone of enormous weight, he transfixes with a whirled lance, where along the middle of the back the chine divides the ribs; and forces away the spear fast sticking in the bones: whom stooping over the body, Hisbon prevents not with a blow, though this indeed he hoped; for, as he rushes on unguarded, while by the cruel death of his companion he is driven to madness, Pallas surprises him first, and buries the sword in his swollen lungs. Next Sthenelus he attacks, and, of the ancient race of Rhotus, Anchemolus, who dared to violate by incest his stepdame's bed. In the Rutulian plains likewise you twin-brothers fell, Laridus and Thymber, Daucus' exactly similar offspring, undistinguished by your own parents, and the objects of their pleasing error. But now Pallas on you fixed cruel marks of distinction; for from thee, O Thymbrus, the Evandrian blade lopped off the head; and thy dismembered hand, O Laridus, seeks for thee its owner; the dying fingers quiver, and gripe once more the steel. Against their foes mixed indignation and shame arm the Arcadians fired by these suggestions, and viewing the hero's glorious deeds. Then Pallas transfixes Rhoeteus flying across him in his chariot. This gave Ilus space to live, and just so long respite from death; for at İlus he had aimed from far the sturdy spear; which Rhoteus coming between intercepts, as thee he flies, most valiant Teuthras, and thy brother Tyres; and, rolled from his chariot, half dead, he spurns the Rutulian fields. And as in summer, the winds having risen to his wish, the shepherd lets loose scattered fires among the woods; in a trice Vulcan's squadrons, having seized the intermediate trees, are at once extended in horrid array over all the Hle sedens victor flammas despectat ovantes: 410 415 420 425 430 Tela manusque sinit. Hinc Pallas instat, et urget; Hinc contrà Lausus: nec multùm discrepat ætas ; Egregii formâ; sed queis fortuna negârat 435 In patriam reditus. Ipsos concurrere passus 440 412. Seque in sua colligit arma. Stoops and contracts his body behind the covert of his armour, particularly his buckler, as Aen. xii. 491. spacious plains; and the victorious shepherd sits viewing the flames triumphant; just so the whole valour of thy troops in one combines, and supports thee, O Pallas. But Halæsus, fierce in war, advances against the hostile bands, and within the covert of his arms himself collects. Ladon, Pheres, and Demodocus, he knocks down, and from Strymonius with his shining blade strikes off the right hand just raised against his throat; with a rock he batters Thoas' front, and dashes in pieces the bones mingled with bloody brains. His father in the woods had concealed Halæsus, presaging his fate. Soon as the aged sire in death relaxed his whitening eyes, the destinies laid hands on him, and devoted him to Evander's arms; whom Pallas approaches, thus addressing his prayer: Grant now, O father Tyber, to this missive steel I poise, success, and a passage through the breast of stern Halæsus; so shall thy oak possess these arms and spoils of the hero. To this address the god gave ear; while Halæsus screened Imaon, in an unhappy hour he exposes his defenceless breast to the Arcadian dart. But Lausus, no small portion of the war, suffers not his troops to be dispirited by the vast havoc which the hero made. First Abas to him opposed he kills, the champion and stay of the battle. Down drop Arcadia's sons, down drop the Tuscans, and you, ye Trojans, who escaped the havoc of the Greeks. Both hosts in hot encounter join, with leaders and with forces equal; those in the rear press on the ranks before; nor does the throng leave room for them to wield their hands or weapons. Here Pallas drives on and urges the attack; there, in opposition to him, Lausus; nor is there great difference in their ages; in comeliness they are both distinguished; but their return to their country fortune had denied. Yet he who reigns in heaven supreme permitted not that with each other they should engage; their destiny awaits them soon from the hand of a superior foe. Meanwhile Turnus, who through the midst of the host in his fleet chariot cuts his way, his gentle sister warns |