第106章

This, while the Trojans fled, the toughness held;But, vain against the great Vulcanian shield, The mortal-temper'd steel deceiv'd his hand:

The shiver'd fragments shone amid the sand.

Surpris'd with fear, he fled along the field, And now forthright, and now in orbits wheel'd;For here the Trojan troops the list surround, And there the pass is clos'd with pools and marshy ground.

Aeneas hastens, tho' with heavier pace-

His wound, so newly knit, retards the chase, And oft his trembling knees their aid refuse-Yet, pressing foot by foot, his foe pursues.

Thus, when a fearful stag is clos'd around With crimson toils, or in a river found, High on the bank the deep-mouth'd hound appears, Still opening, following still, where'er he steers;The persecuted creature, to and fro, Turns here and there, to scape his Umbrian foe:

Steep is th' ascent, and, if he gains the land, The purple death is pitch'd along the strand.

His eager foe, determin'd to the chase, Stretch'd at his length, gains ground at ev'ry pace;Now to his beamy head he makes his way, And now he holds, or thinks he holds, his prey:

Just at the pinch, the stag springs out with fear;He bites the wind, and fills his sounding jaws with air:

The rocks, the lakes, the meadows ring with cries;The mortal tumult mounts, and thunders in the skies.

Thus flies the Daunian prince, and, flying, blames His tardy troops, and, calling by their names, Demands his trusty sword.The Trojan threats The realm with ruin, and their ancient seats To lay in ashes, if they dare supply With arms or aid his vanquish'd enemy:

Thus menacing, he still pursues the course, With vigor, tho' diminish'd of his force.

Ten times already round the listed place One chief had fled, and t' other giv'n the chase:

No trivial prize is play'd; for on the life Or death of Turnus now depends the strife.

Within the space, an olive tree had stood, A sacred shade, a venerable wood, For vows to Faunus paid, the Latins' guardian god.

Here hung the vests, and tablets were ingrav'd, Of sinking mariners from shipwrack sav'd.

With heedless hands the Trojans fell'd the tree, To make the ground inclos'd for combat free.

Deep in the root, whether by fate, or chance, Or erring haste, the Trojan drove his lance;Then stoop'd, and tugg'd with force immense, to free Th' incumber'd spear from the tenacious tree;That, whom his fainting limbs pursued in vain, His flying weapon might from far attain.

Confus'd with fear, bereft of human aid, Then Turnus to the gods, and first to Faunus pray'd:

"O Faunus, pity! and thou Mother Earth, Where I thy foster son receiv'd my birth, Hold fast the steel! If my religious hand Your plant has honor'd, which your foes profan'd, Propitious hear my pious pray'r!" He said, Nor with successless vows invok'd their aid.

Th' incumbent hero wrench'd, and pull'd, and strain'd;But still the stubborn earth the steel detain'd.

Juturna took her time; and, while in vain He strove, assum'd Meticus' form again, And, in that imitated shape, restor'd To the despairing prince his Daunian sword.

The Queen of Love, who, with disdain and grief, Saw the bold nymph afford this prompt relief, T' assert her offspring with a greater deed, From the tough root the ling'ring weapon freed.

Once more erect, the rival chiefs advance:

One trusts the sword, and one the pointed lance;And both resolv'd alike to try their fatal chance.

Meantime imperial Jove to Juno spoke, Who from a shining cloud beheld the shock:

"What new arrest, O Queen of Heav'n, is sent To stop the Fates now lab'ring in th' event?

What farther hopes are left thee to pursue?

Divine Aeneas, (and thou know'st it too,)Foredoom'd, to these celestial seats are due.

What more attempts for Turnus can be made, That thus thou ling'rest in this lonely shade?

Is it becoming of the due respect And awful honor of a god elect, A wound unworthy of our state to feel, Patient of human hands and earthly steel?

Or seems it just, the sister should restore A second sword, when one was lost before, And arm a conquer'd wretch against his conqueror?

For what, without thy knowledge and avow, Nay more, thy dictate, durst Juturna do?

At last, in deference to my love, forbear To lodge within thy soul this anxious care;Reclin'd upon my breast, thy grief unload:

Who should relieve the goddess, but the god?

Now all things to their utmost issue tend, Push'd by the Fates to their appointed While leave was giv'n thee, and a lawful hour For vengeance, wrath, and unresisted pow'r, Toss'd on the seas, thou couldst thy foes distress, And, driv'n ashore, with hostile arms oppress;Deform the royal house; and, from the side Of the just bridegroom, tear the plighted bride:

Now cease at my command." The Thund'rer said;And, with dejected eyes, this answer Juno made:

"Because your dread decree too well I knew, From Turnus and from earth unwilling I withdrew.

Else should you not behold me here, alone, Involv'd in empty clouds, my friends bemoan, But, girt with vengeful flames, in open sight Engag'd against my foes in mortal fight.

'T is true, Juturna mingled in the strife By my command, to save her brother's life-At least to try; but, by the Stygian lake, (The most religious oath the gods can take,)With this restriction, not to bend the bow, Or toss the spear, or trembling dart to throw.

And now, resign'd to your superior might, And tir'd with fruitless toils, I loathe the fight.

This let me beg (and this no fates withstand)Both for myself and for your father's land, That, when the nuptial bed shall bind the peace, (Which I, since you ordain, consent to bless,)The laws of either nation be the same;

But let the Latins still retain their name, Speak the same language which they spoke before, Wear the same habits which their grandsires wore.

Call them not Trojans: perish the renown And name of Troy, with that detested town.