4.45 450 Ut vidit socios: Tempus desistere pugnæ: 455 Corde premit gemitum, lacrymasque effudit inanes. 465 Stat sua cuique dies: breve et irreparabile tempus 470 482. Tol ferri terga. Literally, so many hides of iron; because the bulls' hides were stuck full of iron or brass nails. : to fly to Lausus' relief. Soon as his friends he viewed, he exclaimed, It is time for others from battle to desist : against Pallas I alone am bound; to me alone is Pallas doomed would to heaven his sire himself were spectator of the combat. He said; and from the plain the troops at his command retired. But the youth, struck with the retreat of the Rutulians, and such imperious orders, on Turnus gazes with astonishment; over his huge body he rolls his eyes, and with ferocious aspect all the man aloof surveys. Then with these words in return to the tyrant's speech moves up: Now, or by bearing away triumphal spoils, or by illustrious death, shall I be signalized. For either chance my sire is equally fortified. Away then with your vain-glorious threats. This said, he advances into the middle of the plain. Round the Arcadian hearts the cold blood congeals. Down from his chariot Turnus sprang; on foot prepares to meet him hand to hand. And as a lion, when from his lofty watch-tower he hath espied a bull standing on the plains aloof, meditating the fight, to him flies up; such is the image of Turnus rushing to the combat. Soon as Pallas supposed him to be within reach of the darted lance, he makes the first advance, with strength unequal, trying if fortune by any means will aid his bold enterprise; and thus to the lofty heavens himself addresses: By my father's hospitality, and those boards which thou his guest didst visit, Alcides, aid, I thee implore, my arduous attempt: may Turnus in the pangs of death behold me strip him of his bloody armour, and let his dying eyes endure the painful sight of a victorious foe, Alcides heard the youth, and deep in the bottom of his heart a heavy groan suppresses, and pours forth unavailing tears. Then the almighty sire with these kind words his son bespeaks: To every one his day is fixed: a short and irretrievable term of life is given to all; but by great actions to lengthen out fame, this is virtue's task. Under the lofty walls of Troy so many sons of gods have fallen: with them even Sarpedon, my own offspring fell: Turnus too his destiny calls, and Sic ait, atque oculos Rutulorum rejicit arvis, 475 In Pallanta diu librans jacit, atque ita fatur; 480 Vibranti cuspis medium transverberat ictu, 485 Unâ eademque viâ sanguisque animusque sequuntur. Corruit in vulnus: sonitum super arma dedere; Et terram hostilem moriens petit ore cruento. Quem Turnus super assistens, 490 Arcades, hæc, inquit, memores mea dicta referte Evandro: qualem meruit, Pallanta remitto. Quisquis honos tumuli, quicquid solamen humandi est, Largior. Haud illi stabunt Eneïa parvo Hospitia. Et lævo pressit pede, talia fatus, 495 Exanimum, rapiens immania pondera baltei, 500 505 497. Una sub n. etc. The story of the fifty Danaids who mur dered their husbands the first night after their marriage. to the utmost verge of life he is arrived. He said; and from the fields of the Rutulians he averts his eyes. But Pallas with vast force hurls a spear, and from the hollow scabbard tears his shining blade. The weapon flying lighted where the high armour rises on the shoulders, and, opening its way through the extremity of the shield, at length too on the great body of Turnus grazed. At this Turnus, long poising a javelin tipped with sharpened steel, darts it at Pallas, and thus speaks: See whether ours be not the more penetrating dart. He said: and with a quivering stroke the steely point pierces through the mid-shield, through so many plates of iron, so many of brass, while the bull's hide so many times encompasses it, and through the corslet's cumbrous folds transfixes his breast with a hideous gash. He in vain wrenches out the reeking weapon from the wound: at one and the same passage the blood and soul issue forth. Down on his wound he rushes: over him his armour gave a clang; and in death with bloody jaws he bites the hostile ground. Whom Turnus bestriding, says, Ye Arcadians, to Evander faithfully these my words record: in such plight as he deserved I send his Pallas back, Whatever honour is in a tomb, whatever solace in interment, I freely give him. His league of friendship with Eneas shall cost him not a little. And thus having spoken, he pressed with his left foot the breathless corpse, tearing away his belt's enormous weight, and the horrid story with which it was embossed (in one nuptial night a band of youths barbarously murdered, and their bridal beds bathed in blood), which the ingenious Eurytion had carved in copious gold; in which spoil Turnus now triumphs, and exults in the possession. How blind are the minds of men to fate and future events! how unwilling to practise moderation, and still with prosperity elated! The time will come when Turnus shall wish with all his soul that Pallas by him had not been touched, and when these spoils and this day he shall detest. But Pallas, stretched on his shield, a numerous retinue of his friends with many a groan and tear back to the O dolor, atque decus magnum rediture parenti! Nec jam fama mali tanti, sed certior auctor 510 515 520 Te precor hanc animam serves natoque patrique, 525 Infectique mihi: non hìc victoria Teucrâm Vertitur: haud anima una dabit discrimina tanta. 530 Argenti atque auri memoras quæ multa talenta, 535 527. Auri facti. Gold wrought into statues, vases, etc. Infecti is bullion. 538. Infula vitta. The infula was a sort of diadem worn by priests and illustrious persons; the vitta was the label or fillet that hung down from it on each side. |