od as firmly against them as a great rock on the shore
meets all the fury of the winds and waves. Three warriors he overthrew in
quick succession: Hebrus he cut down with his sword, Latagus he slew by
hurling a great stone which battered in his face, and at Palmus he threw a
javelin which pierced his thigh and extended him helpless on the ground.
Then the raging king slew Evas the Phrygian, and a Trojan named Mimas, who
in former days had been the companion of Paris, having been born in Troy
on the same night that gave to the light the ill-starred son of Priam.
Paris now lay in eternal repose amid the ruins of his native city, while
to Mimas the sword of Mezentius assigned an unknown grave on the distant
shore of Italy. And just as when an old wild boar, chased from his retreat
amid the wooded Alps, stands at bay among the underwood, and the hunters,
afraid to approach him, ply him with darts from a distance, while he
gnashes his tusks with rage and faces them undaunted, so stood Mezentius;
while his former subjects, though filled with just anger against him, and
eager for his destruction, dare not come within reach of his dreaded
sword, but galled him with spears and useless clamor. It chanced that a
Greek from Corytus, named Acron, presented himself in the front,
conspicuous in nodding plumes, and in purple trappings that had been
worked for him by his betrothed wife. His gay attire caught the eye of
Mezentius, who rushed forward and smote down the luckless Greek; then, as
the others fell back, he cut off the retreat of an Etrurian chief, Orodes,
forced him to engage hand to hand, and speedily slew him. Pressing his
foot on the expiring warrior to draw out his lance from his body,
Mezentius cried to his followers, "Behold, friends! Orodes has fallen--not
the meanest of our foes." The Rutulians raised a joyful shout, but the
dying Orodes faintly answered, "Not long shall thou rejoice with impunity
over me; a similar fate awaits thyself, and soon shalt thou also be
stretched lifeless on this same field." Smiling scornfully, Mezentius
returned, "Die thou, and leave my fate to the Gods, in whose hands it
rests." His example inspired other of the Rutulians; they pressed fiercely
forward and drove back the troops of AEneas. Mezentius advanced at their
head, and as he strode along, the Trojan hero espied him, and hastened
towards him. Unawed by the prospect of an encounter even with so terrible
a foe, Mezentius stood firm, and