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Notes Display Latin text | translated by Theodore C. Williams Book XI Chapter 31: The siege begins | Next chapter Return to index Previous chapter |
Camilla's light-armed troop, its virgin chief now fallen, were the first to fly; in flight the panic-stricken Rutule host is seen and Atinas bold; his captains in dismay with shattered legions from the peril fly, and goad their horses to the city wall. Not one sustains the Trojan charge, or stands in arms against the swift approach of death. Their bows unstrung from drooping shoulder fall, and clatter of hoof-beats shakes the crumbling ground. On to the city in a blinding cloud the dust uprolls. From watch-towers looking forth, the women smite their breasts and raise to heaven shrill shouts of fear. Those fliers who first passed the open gates were followed by the foe, routed and overwhelmed. They could not fly a miserable death, but were struck down in their own ancient city, or expired before the peaceful shrines of hearth and home. Then some one barred the gates. They dared not now give their own people entrance, and were deaf to all entreaty. Woeful deaths ensued, both of the armed defenders of the gate, and of the foe in arms. The desperate band, barred from the city in the face and eyes of their own weeping parents, either dropped with headlong and inevitable plunge into the moat below; or, frantic, blind, battered with beams against the stubborn door and columns strong. Above in conflict wild even the (women (who for faithful love of home and country schooled them to be brave Camilla's way) rained weapons from the walls, and used oak-staves and truncheons shaped in flame, as if, well-armed in steel, each bosom bold would fain in such defence be first to die. |
868-895 Prima fugit domina amissa leuis ala Camillae, turbati fugiunt Rutuli, fugit acer Atinas, disiectique duces desolatique manipli tuta petunt et equis auersi ad moenia tendunt. nec quisquam instantis Teucros letumque ferentis sustentare ualet telis aut sistere contra, sed laxos referunt umeris languentibus arcus, quadripedumque putrem cursu quatit ungula campum. uoluitur ad muros caligine turbidus atra puluis, et e speculis percussae pectora matres femineum clamorem ad caeli sidera tollunt. qui cursu portas primi inrupere patentis, hos inimica super mixto premit agmine turba, nec miseram effugiunt mortem, sed limine in ipso, moenibus in patriis atque inter tuta domorum confixi exspirant animas. pars claudere portas, nec sociis aperire uiam nec moenibus audent accipere orantis, oriturque miserrima caedes defendentum armis aditus inque arma ruentum. exclusi ante oculos lacrimantumque ora parentum pars in praecipitis fossas urgente ruina uoluitur, immissis pars caeca et concita frenis arietat in portas et duros obice postis. ipsae de muris summo certamine matres (monstrat amor uerus patriae, ut uidere Camillam) tela manu trepidae iaciunt ac robore duro stipitibus ferrum sudibusque imitantur obustis praecipites, primaeque mori pro moenibus ardent. |