had first broken the covenant, slaying a man with his spear. But AEneas
deigned not to turn his hand against any man, seeking only for Turnus,
that he might fight with him. But when the nymph Juturna perceived this
she was sore afraid. Therefore she came near to the chariot of her
brother, and thrust out Metiscus, his charioteer, where he held the reins,
and herself stood in his room, having made herself like to him in shape
and voice. Then as a swallow flies through the halls and arcades of some
rich man's house, seeking food for its young, so Juturna drave the chariot
of her brother hither and thither. And ever AEneas followed behind, and
called to him that he should stay; but whenever he espied the man, and
would have overtaken him by running, then again did Juturna turn the
horses about and flee. And as he sped Messapus cast a spear at him. But
AEneas saw it coming, and put his shield over him, resting on his knee. Yet
did the spear smite him on the helmet-top and shear off the crest. Then
indeed was his wrath kindled, and he rushed into the army of the enemy,
slaying many as he went.
Then was there a great slaughter made on this side and on that. But after
a while Venus put it into the heart of AEneas that he should lead his army
against the city. Therefore he called together the chiefs, and, standing
in the midst of them on a mound, spake, saying, "Hearken now to my words,
and delay not to fulfill them, for of a truth Jupiter is on our side. I am
purposed this day to lay this city of Latinus even with the ground, if
they still refuse to obey. For why should I wait for Turnus till it please
him to meet me in battle?"
Then did the whole array make for the walls of the city. And some carried
firebrands, and some scaling-ladders, and some slew the warders at the
gates, and cast javelins at them who stood on the walls. And then there
arose a great strife in the city, for some would have opened the gates
that the men of Troy might enter, and others made haste to defend the
walls. Hither and thither did they run with much tumult, even as bees in a
hive in a rock which a shepherd hath filled with smoke, having first shut
all the doors thereof.
Then also did other ill fortune befall the Latins, for when Queen Amata
saw from the roof of the palace that the enemy were come near to the
walls, and saw not anywhere the army of the Latins, she supposed Turnus to
have fallen in the battle. Whereupon, crying out that she was
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