ground raises up the youth, with his blood marring the beauty of those locks that were in comely order dressed. : Meanwhile the father at the stream of the river Tyber stanched his wounds with water, and gave a more easy posture to his body, leaning on the trunk of a tree. From the boughs apart his brazen helmet hangs, and his unwieldy arms rest on the mead. Chosen youths around him stand himself quite faint, and panting for breath, eases his drooping neck, having spread on his breast a length of waving beard. Of Lausus he incessantly inquires, and many messengers he sends again and again to recall him from the fight, and bear to him the orders of his afflicted father. But his weeping friends were carrying lifeless Lausus on their arms a mighty corpse, and with a mighty wound overthrown. The father's ill-boding mind at a distance understood their groans. His hoary locks with vile ashes he deforms, to heaven stretches both his hands, and fast to the body clings: 0 my son, was I with such fond desire of life possessed, to suffer him whom I begot to substitute himself for me to the foe's avenging arm? by these wounds of thine am I thy father saved, living by thy death? Ah! now at length on wretched me my exile heavy lies, now a wound is driven home deep into my heart. I too, my son, the same unhappy cause of thy death, have by my guilt sullied the glory of thy fame, for odious misdeeds driven from my throne and paternal sceptre. It is I that to my country satisfaction owed, and to the odium of my subjects ought to have paid the forfeit of my guilty life by a thousand deaths. And still I live, unworthy as I am; nor yet from men and this hated light withdraw but I will withdraw. Then with these words he raises himself on his maimed thigh; and, though the violent smart of the deep wound retards him, yet, not broken in mind, he orders his courser to be brought. This was his ornament, this his solace! by this he came off victorious in all his wars. The sympathizing animal he bespeaks, and thus begins: Long, Rhoebus, have we lived, if aught can be said to subsist long with mortals. : Viximus. Aut hodie victor spolia illa cruenta, 865 Sic cursum in medios rapidus dedit. Estuat ingens 870 875 880 885 Tantum effatus, et infestâ subit obvius hastà. 880. Nec Divum, etc. Parco has here the sense of aestimo, pretio habere. Mezentius either did not believe in the gods, or reckoned them his enemies; and would even have attacked them, had they appeared in the field, as some understand his words. 885. Laevos, etc. He coursed about to the left that he might reach Aeneas' right side, which was uncovered by the shield. Aeneas at the same time turned as he turned. To-day you shall either bear away in triumph the head of Æneas, and those spoils all bathed in his blood, and with me avenge the griefs of Lausus; or, if no efforts open a way to this, you shall fall with me: for never, I presume, wilt thou, most generous animal, deign to bear the commands of another, and Trojan lords. He said; and, received on his willing back, placed his limbs on the accustomed seat, and with pointed javelins loaded each hand, his head gleaming with brass, and roughly garnished with a crest of horse-hair. Thus with rapid speed he drove into the midst. Deep in his heart boils overwhelming shame; and frantic rage also arises, with intermingled grief, and love racked with furious despair, and conscious worth; and here thrice with loud voice he called Æneas. Æneas knew him well; and, pleased with the challenge, thus his prayer addresses: So may the great father of the gods, so may exalted Apollo influence thee to begin the combat. This only he said, and with his menacing spear advances against him. But he exclaimed, Most barbarous man, why thinkest thou to affright me, now that my son is from me snatched? This was the only way whereby thou couldst destroy me. I neither fear death, nor any of your gods regard. Your blustering threats forbear; now I am come to die, but first to thee these gifts I bring. He said, and hurled a dart against the foe; then after that another, and another he fixes fast, and flies over the field in a spacious circuit; but the golden boss sustains their shock. Thrice round Eneas, as he stood against him, he rode in circles to the left, still throwing javelins with his hand: thrice the Trojan hero, wheeling as he wheels, bears about with him in his brazen shield a frightful grove of spears. And now when he is tired with spinning out so long delays, and drawing out so many darts, and when he is severely harassed, being engaged in an unequal fight, revolving many thoughts in his mind, at length he springs forth to vengeance, and between the hollow temples of the warrior-steed darts his lance. The horse raises himself upright, then with his heels buffets the air, and falling upon his dismounted 895 Implicat, ejectoque incumbit cernuus armo. Hæc loquitur, juguloque haud inscius accipit ensem, 905 rider, keeps him down, and floundering forward, overlays his prostrate shoulder. The Trojans and Latins both with acclamations rend the sky. Eneas flies to him, and snatches his sword from the scabbard, and over him these words he pronounces: Where is now the stern Mezentius? where is that wild impetuosity of soul? On the other hand, the Tuscan, as soon as lifting up his eyes to heaven he began to breathe the air, and recover his senses, said, Despiteful foe, why insultest thou and threatenest death? There is no crime in shedding my blood, that either you should demur, or I be afraid of it; nor engaged I in the combat on such terms that you should spare my life, nor did my Lausus make such a contract with you on my behalf. One thing I implore, by that grace, if any grace to a vanquished foe belongs, suffer my body to be covered round with earth. I know the cruel resentment of my subjects besets me round, who want to deprive me of burial; defend me, I pray, from this outrage, and to a grave consign me in partnership with my son. He said, and in his throat, not unprepared, receives the blade, and pours forth life in the blood streaming on his armour. |