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Notes Display Latin text | translated by Theodore C. Williams Book XI Chapter 23: The battle continues | Next chapter Return to index Previous chapter |
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Now all is panic: holding their light shields behind their backs, the Latin horse wheel round, retreating to the wall, the Trojan foe in close pursuit. Asilas, chieftain proud, led on th' assault. Hard by the city gates the Latins wheeled once more and pressed the rein strong on the yielding neck; the charging foe took flight and hurried far with loose-flung rein. T was like the shock and onset of the sea that landward hurls the alternating flood and hides high cliffs in foam, -- the tawny sands upflinging as it rolls; then, suddenly whirled backward on the reingulfing waves, it quits the ledges, and with ebbing flow far from the shore retires. The Tuscans twice drive back the flying Rutules to the town; and twice repulsed, with shields to rearward thrown, glare back at the pursuer; but conjoined in the third battle-charge, both armies merge confusedly together in grim fight of man to man; then follow dying groans, armor blood-bathed and corpses, and strong steeds inextricably with their masters slain, so fierce the fray. Orsilochus -- afraid to front the warrior's arms -- launched forth a spear at Remulus' horse, and left the fatal steel clinging below its ear; the charger plunged madly, and tossed its trembling hoofs in air, sustaining not the wound; the rider fell, flung headlong to the ground. Catillus slew Iollas; and then struck Herminius down, great-bodied and great-hearted, who could wield a monster weapon, and whose yellow hair from naked head to naked shoulder flowed. By wounds unterrified he dared oppose his huge bulk to the foe: the quivering spear pierced to his broad back, and with throes of pain bowed the man double and clean clove him through. Wide o'er the field th' ensanguined horror flowed, where fatal swords were crossed and cut their way through many a wound to famous death and fair. |
618-647 Extemplo turbatae acies, uersique Latini reiciunt parmas et equos ad moenia uertunt; Troes agunt, princeps turmas inducit Asilas. iamque propinquabant portis rursusque Latini clamorem tollunt et mollia colla reflectunt; hi fugiunt penitusque datis referuntur habenis. qualis ubi alterno procurrens gurgite pontus nunc ruit ad terram scopulosque superiacit unda spumeus extremamque sinu perfundit harenam, nunc rapidus retro atque aestu reuoluta resorbens saxa fugit litusque uado labente relinquit: bis Tusci Rutulos egere ad moenia uersos, bis reiecti armis respectant terga tegentes. tertia sed postquam congressi in proelia totas implicuere inter se acies legitque uirum uir, tum uero et gemitus morientum et sanguine in alto armaque corporaque et permixti caede uirorum semianimes uoluuntur equi, pugna aspera surgit. Orsilochus Remuli, quando ipsum horrebat adire, hastam intorsit equo ferrumque sub aure reliquit; quo sonipes ictu furit arduus altaque iactat uulneris impatiens arrecto pectore crura, uoluitur ille excussus humi. Catillus Iollan ingentemque animis, ingentem corpore et armis deicit Herminium, nudo cui uertice fulua caesaries nudique umeri nec uulnera terrent; tantus in arma patet. latos huic hasta per armos acta tremit duplicatque uirum transfixa dolore. funditur ater ubique cruor; dant funera ferro certantes pulchramque petunt per uulnera mortem. |