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Notes Display Latin text | translated by Theodore C. Williams Book XI Chapter 27: Tarchon | Next chapter Return to index Previous chapter |
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But now not blindly from Olympian throne the Sire [Note 1] of gods and men observant saw how sped the day. Then to the conflict dire the god thrust Tarchon forth, the Tyrrhene king, goading the warrior's rage. So Tarchon rode through slaughter wide and legions in retreat, and roused the ranks with many a wrathful cry: he called each man by name, and toward the foe drove back the routed lines. What terrors now, Tuscan cowards, dead to noble rage, have seized ye? or what laggard sloth and vile unmans your hearts, that now a woman's arm pursues ye and this scattered host confounds? Why dressed in steel, or to what purpose wear your futile swords? Not slackly do ye join the ranks of Venus in a midnight war; or when fantastic pipes of Bacchus call your dancing feet, right venturesome ye fly to banquets and the flowing wine -- what zeal, what ardor then! Or if your flattering priest begins the revel, and to lofty groves fat flesh of victims bids ye haste away! So saying, his steed he spurred, and scorning death dashed into the mid-fray, where, frenzy-driven, he sought out Venulus, and, grappling him with one hand, from the saddle snatched his foe, and, clasping strongly to his giant breast, exultant bore away. The shouting rose to heaven, and all the Latins gazed his way, as o'er the plain the fiery Tarchon flew bearing the full-armed man; then, breaking off the point of his own spear, he pried a way through the seam'd armor for the mortal wound; the other, struggling, thrust back from his throat the griping hand, full force to force opposing. As when a golden eagle high in air knits to a victim -- snake his clinging feet and deeply-thrusting claws; but, coiling back, the wounded serpent roughens his stiff scales and stretches high his hissing head; whereat the eagle with hooked beak the more doth rend her writhing foe, and with swift stroke of wing lashes the air: so Tarchon, from the ranks of Tibur's sons, triumphant snatched his prey. The Tuscans rallied now, well pleased to view their king's example and successful war. Then Arruns, marked for doom, made circling line around Camilla's path, his crafty spear seeking its lucky chance. Where'er the maid sped furious to the battle, Arruns there in silence dogged her footsteps and pursued; or where triumphant from her fallen foes she backward drew, the warrior stealthily turned his swift reins that way: from every side he circled her, and scanned his vantage here or vantage there, his skilful javelin stubbornly shaking. Note 1: Sire = Jupiter Event: Acts and death of Camilla |
725-767 At non haec nullis hominum sator atque deorum obseruans oculis summo sedet altus Olympo. Tyrrhenum genitor Tarchonem in proelia saeua suscitat et stimulis haud mollibus inicit iras. ergo inter caedes cedentiaque agmina Tarchon fertur equo uariisque instigat uocibus alas nomine quemque uocans, reficitque in proelia pulsos. 'quis metus, o numquam dolituri, o semper inertes Tyrrheni, quae tanta animis ignauia uenit? femina palantis agit atque haec agmina uertit! quo ferrum quidue haec gerimus tela inrita dextris? at non in Venerem segnes nocturnaque bella, aut ubi curua choros indixit tibia Bacchi. exspectate dapes et plenae pocula mensae (hic amor, hoc studium) dum sacra secundus haruspex nuntiet ac lucos uocet hostia pinguis in altos!' haec effatus equum in medios moriturus et ipse concitat, et Venulo aduersum se turbidus infert dereptumque ab equo dextra complectitur hostem et gremium ante suum multa ui concitus aufert. tollitur in caelum clamor cunctique Latini conuertere oculos. uolat igneus aequore Tarchon arma uirumque ferens; tum summa ipsius ab hasta defringit ferrum et partis rimatur apertas, qua uulnus letale ferat; contra ille repugnans sustinet a iugulo dextram et uim uiribus exit. utque uolans alte raptum cum fulua draconem fert aquila implicuitque pedes atque unguibus haesit, saucius at serpens sinuosa uolumina uersat arrectisque horret squamis et sibilat ore arduus insurgens, illa haud minus urget obunco luctantem rostro, simul aethera uerberat alis: haud aliter praedam Tiburtum ex agmine Tarchon portat ouans. ducis exemplum euentumque secuti Maeonidae incurrunt. Tum fatis debitus Arrun uelocem iaculo et multa prior arte Camillam circuit, et quae sit fortuna facillima temptat. qua se cumque furens medio tulit agmine uirgo, hac Arruns subit et tacitus uestigia lustrat; qua uictrix redit illa pedemque ex hoste reportat, hac iuuenis furtim celeris detorquet habenas. hos aditus iamque hos aditus omnemque pererrat undique circuitum et certam quatit improbus hastam. |