FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   196   197   198   199   200   201   202   203   204   205   206   207   208   209   210   211   212   213   214   215   216   217   218   219   220  
221   222   223   224   225   226   227   228   229   230   231   232   233   234   235   236   237   238   239   240   241   242   243   244   245   >>   >|  
ht; "O Tiber!" was his prayer, "True to Halesus let this javelin go. His arms and spoils thy sacred oak shall bear." 'Twas heard: Halesus, shielding from the foe Imaon, leaves his breast unguarded to the blow. LVIII. Firm Lausus stands, bearing the battle's brunt, Nor lets Halesus' death his friends dismay. Dead falls the first who meets him front to front, Brave Abas, knot and holdfast of the fray. Down go Arcadia's chivalry that day, Down go the Etruscans, and the Teucrians, those Whom Grecian conquerors had failed to slay. Man locked with man, amid the conflict's throes, With strength and leaders matched, the rival armies close. LIX. On press the rearmost, crowding on the van, So thick, that neither hand can stir, nor spear Be wielded; each one struggles as he can. Here Pallas, there brave Lausus, charge and cheer, Two foes, in age scarce differing by a year. Both fair of form. Stern Fate to each forbade His home return. But Jove allowed not here A meeting; he who great Olympus swayed, Awhile for mightier foes their destined doom delayed. LX. Warned by his gracious sister, Turnus flies To take the place of Lausus. Driving through The ranks, "Stand off," he shouts to his allies, "I fight with Pallas; Pallas is my due. Would that his sire were here himself to view!" All clear the field. Then, pondering with surprise The proud command, as back the crowd withdrew, The youth, amazed at Turnus, rolls his eyes And scans his giant foe, and thus in scorn replies: LXI. "Or kingly spoils shall make me famed to-day, Or glorious death. Whatever end remain, My sire can bear it. Put thy threats away." Then forth he stepped; cold horror chills his train. Down from his car, close combat to darrain, Leapt Turnus. As a lion, who far away Has marked a bull, that butts the sandy plain For battle, springs to grapple with his prey; So dreadful Turnus looks, advancing to the fray. LXII. Him, deemed within his spear-throw, undismayed The youth prevents, if chance the odds should square, And aid his daring. To the skies he prayed, "O thou, my father's guest-friend, wont whilere A stranger's welcome at his board to share, Aid me, Alcides, prosper my emprise; Let Turnus fall, and, falling, see me tear His blood-stained arms, and may his swooning eyes Meet mine, and bear the
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   196   197   198   199   200   201   202   203   204   205   206   207   208   209   210   211   212   213   214   215   216   217   218   219   220  
221   222   223   224   225   226   227   228   229   230   231   232   233   234   235   236   237   238   239   240   241   242   243   244   245   >>   >|  



Top keywords:

Turnus

 

Halesus

 
Lausus
 
Pallas
 

battle

 
spoils
 

Whatever

 
threats
 

remain

 

glorious


replies
 

kingly

 

shouts

 

allies

 

amazed

 

withdrew

 

pondering

 

surprise

 

command

 

marked


friend
 

father

 
whilere
 

stranger

 

prayed

 
square
 

daring

 

stained

 

swooning

 

falling


Alcides

 

prosper

 

emprise

 

chance

 

darrain

 
horror
 

chills

 

combat

 

deemed

 

prevents


undismayed

 

advancing

 

springs

 

grapple

 

dreadful

 
stepped
 
meeting
 

Etruscans

 
chivalry
 

Teucrians