e midst. AEneas also, when he heard the name of Turnus, left
attacking the city, and came to meet him, mighty as Athos, or Eryx, or
Father Apenninus, that raiseth his snowy head to the heavens. And the men
of Troy and the Latins and King Latinus marveled to see them meet, so
mighty they were.

First they cast their spears at each other, and then ran together, and
their shields struck one against the other with a crash that went up to
the sky. And Jupiter held the balance in heaven, weighing their doom. Then
Turnus, rising to the stroke, smote fiercely with his sword. And the men
of Troy and the Latins cried out when they saw him strike. But the
treacherous sword brake in the blow. And when he saw the empty hilt in his
hand he turned to flee. They say that when he mounted his chariot that day
to enter the battle, not heeding the matter in his haste, he left his
father's sword behind him, and took the sword of Metiscus, which, indeed,
served him well while the men of Troy fled before him, but brake, even as
ice breaks, when it came to the shield which Vulcan had made. Thereupon
Turnus fled, and AEneas, though the wound which the arrow had made hindered
him, pursued. Even as a hound follows a stag that is penned within some
narrow space, for the beast flees hither and thither, and the staunch
Umbrian hound follows close upon him, and almost holds him, and snaps his
teeth, yet bites him not, so did AEneas follow hard on Turnus. And still
Turnus cried out that some one should give him his sword, and AEneas
threatened that he would destroy the city if any should help him. Five
times about the space they ran; not for some prize they strove, but for
the life of Turnus. Now there stood in the plain the stump of a wild
olive-tree. The tree was sacred to Faunus, but the men of Troy had cut it,
and the stump only was left. Herein the spear of AEneas was fixed, and now
he would have drawn it forth that he might slay Turnus therewith, seeing
that he could not overtake him by running. Which when Turnus perceived, he
cried to Faunus, saying, "O Faunus, if I have kept holy for thee that
which the men of Troy have profaned, hold fast this spear." And the god
heard him; nor could AEneas draw it forth. But while he strove, Juturna,
taking again the form of Metiscus, ran and gave to Turnus his sword. And
Venus, perceiving it, wrenched forth the spear from the stump. So the two
stood again face to face.

Then spake Jupiter to Juno, where she