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Notes Display Latin text | translated by Theodore C. Williams Book XI Chapter 16: Aeneas marches | Next chapter Return to index Previous chapter |
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Thus in their doubtful cause the chieftains strove. Meanwhile Aeneas his assaulting line moved forward. The ill tidings wildly sped from royal hall to hall, and filled the town with rumors dark: for now the Trojan host o'er the wide plains from Tiber's wave was spread in close array of war. The people's soul was vexed and shaken, and its martial rage rose to the stern compulsion. Now for arms their terror calls; the youthful soldiery clamor for arms; the sires of riper days weep or repress their tears. On every side loud shouts and cries of dissonant acclaim trouble the air, as when in lofty grove legions of birds alight, or by the flood of Padus' fishy stream the shrieking swans far o'er the vocal marish fling their song. Then, seizing the swift moment, Turnus cried: Once more, my countrymen, -- ye sit in parle, lazily praising peace, while yonder foe speeds forth in arms our kingdom to obtain. He spoke no more, but hied him in hot haste, and from the housetop called, Volusus, go! Equip the Volscian companies! Lead forth my Rutules also! O'er the spreading plain, ye brothers Coras and Messapus range our host of cavalry! Let others guard the city's gates and hold the walls and towers: I and my followers elsewhere oppose the shock of arms. |
445-467 Illi haec inter se dubiis de rebus agebant certantes: castra Aeneas aciemque mouebat. nuntius ingenti per regia tecta tumultu ecce ruit magnisque urbem terroribus implet: instructos acie Tiberino a flumine Teucros Tyrrhenamque manum totis descendere campis. extemplo turbati animi concussaque uulgi pectora et arrectae stimulis haud mollibus irae. arma manu trepidi poscunt, fremit arma iuuentus, flent maesti mussantque patres. hic undique clamor dissensu uario magnus se tollit in auras, haud secus atque alto in luco cum forte cateruae consedere auium, piscosoue amne Padusae dant sonitum rauci per stagna loquacia cycni. 'immo,' ait 'o ciues,' arrepto tempore Turnus, 'cogite concilium et pacem laudate sedentes; illi armis in regna ruunt.' nec plura locutus corripuit sese et tectis citus extulit altis. 'tu, Voluse, armari Volscorum edice maniplis, duc' ait 'et Rutulos. equitem Messapus in armis, et cum fratre Coras latis diffundite campis. pars aditus urbis firment turrisque capessant; cetera, qua iusso, mecum manus inferat arma.' Ilicet in muros tota discurritur urbe. |