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Notes Display Latin text | translated by Theodore C. Williams Book XII Chapter 13: The fight is renewed | Next chapter Return to index Previous chapter |
The Rutules then hailed the good omen with consenting cry, and grasped the sword and shield. Tolumnius the augur spake first: Lo, the sign I sought with many a prayer! I welcome and obey the powers divine. Take me for captain, me! And draw your swords, ye wretches, whom th' assault of yonder foreign scoundrel puts in fear like feeble birds, and with his violence lays waste your shore. He too shall fly away, spreading his ships' wings on the distant seas. Close up your ranks -- one soul in all our breasts! Defend in open war your stolen king [Note 1]. So saying, he hurled upon th' opposing foe his javelin, running forward. The strong shaft of corner whistled shrill, and clove the air unerring. Instantly vast clamor rose, and all th' onlookers at the spectacle leaped up amazed, and every heart beat high. The spear sped flying to the foeman's line, where stood nine goodly brethren, pledges all of one true Tuscan mother to her lord, Gylippus of Arcadia; it struck full on one of these at his gold-belted waist, and where the clasp clung, pierced the rib clean through. And stretched the fair youth in his glittering arms full length and lifeless on the yellow sand. His brothers then, bold band to wrath aroused by sorrow, seize the sword or snatch the spear and blindly charge. Opposing them, the host Laurentine makes advance, and close-arrayed the Trojans like a torrent pour, enforced by Tuscans and the gay-accoutred clans of Arcady. One passion moved in all to try the judgment of the sword. They tore the altars down: a very storm of spears rose angrily to heaven, in iron rain down-pouring: while the priests bore far away the sacrificial bowls and sacred fires. Even Latinus fled; his stricken gods far from his violated oath he bore. Note 1: king = Latinus Event: Renewal of the war. |
257-286 Tum uero augurium Rutuli clamore salutant expediuntque manus, primusque Tolumnius augur 'hoc erat, hoc uotis' inquit 'quod saepe petiui. accipio agnoscoque deos; me, me duce ferrum corripite, o miseri, quos improbus aduena bello territat inualidas ut auis, et litora uestra ui populat. petet ille fugam penitusque profundo uela dabit. uos unanimi densete cateruas et regem uobis pugna defendite raptum.' dixit, et aduersos telum contorsit in hostis procurrens; sonitum dat stridula cornus et auras certa secat. simul hoc, simul ingens clamor et omnes turbati cunei calefactaque corda tumultu. hasta uolans, ut forte nouem pulcherrima fratrum corpora constiterant contra, quos fida crearat una tot Arcadio coniunx Tyrrhena Gylippo, horum unum ad medium, teritur qua sutilis aluo balteus et laterum iuncturas fibula mordet, egregium forma iuuenem et fulgentibus armis, transadigit costas fuluaque effundit harena. at fratres, animosa phalanx accensaque luctu, pars gladios stringunt manibus, pars missile ferrum corripiunt caecique ruunt. quos agmina contra procurrunt Laurentum, hinc densi rursus inundant Troes Agyllinique et pictis Arcades armis: sic omnis amor unus habet decernere ferro. diripuere aras, it toto turbida caelo tempestas telorum ac ferreus ingruit imber, craterasque focosque ferunt. fugit ipse Latinus pulsatos referens infecto foedere diuos. |