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Notes Display Latin text | translated by Theodore C. Williams Book IX Chapter 20: Many killed | Next chapter Return to index Previous chapter |
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A tower was there, well-placed and looming large, with many a lofty bridge, which desperately th' Italians strove to storm, and strangely plied besieging enginery to cast it down: the Trojans hurled back stones, or, standing close, flung through the loopholes a swift shower of spears. But Turnus launched a firebrand, and pierced the wooden wall with flame, which in the wind leaped larger, and devoured from floor to floor, burning each beam away. The trembling guards sought flight in vain; and while they crowded close into the side unkindled yet, the tower bowed its whole weight and fell, with sudden crash that thundered through the sky. Along the ground half dead the warriors fell the crushing mass piled over them) by their own pointed spears pierced to the heart, or wounded mortally by cruel splinters of the wreck. Two men, Helenor one, and Lycus at his side, alone get free. Helenor of the twain was a mere youth; the slave Lycymnia bore him in secret to the Lydian king, and, arming him by stealth, had sent away to serve the Trojan cause. One naked sword for arms had he, and on his virgin shield no blazon of renown; but when he saw the hosts of Turnus front him, and the lines this way and that of Latins closing round, -- as a fierce, forest-creature, brought to bay in circling pack of huntsmen, shows its teeth against the naked spears, and scorning death leaps upward on the javelins, -- even so, not loth to die, the youthful soldier flew straight at the centre of his foes, and where the shining swords looked thickest, there he sprung. But Lyeus, swifter-footed, forced his way past the opposing spears and made escape far as the city-wall, where he would fain clutch at the coping and climb up to clasp some friend above: but Turnus, spear in hand, had hotly followed, and exulting loud thus taunted him, Hadst thou the hope, rash fool, beyond this grasp to fly? So, as he clung, he tore him down; and with him broke and fell a huge piece of the wall: not otherwise a frail hare, or a swan of snow-white wing, is clutched in eagle-talons, when the bird of Jove soars skyward with his prey; or tender lamb from bleating mother and the broken fold is stolen by the wolf of Mars. Wild shouts on every side resound. In closer siege the foe press on, and heap the trenches full, or hurl hot-flaming torches at the towers. Ilioneus with mountain-mass of stone struck down Lucetius, as he crept with fire too near the city-gate. Emathion fell by Liger's hand, and Corynaeus' death Asilas dealt: one threw the javelin well; th' insidious arrow was Asilas' skill. Ortygius was slain by Caeneus, then victorious Caeneus fell by Turnus' ire. Then smote he Dioxippus, and laid low Itys and Promolus and Sagaris and Clonius, and from the lofty tower shot Idas down. The shaft of Capys pierced Privernus, whom Themilla's javelin but now had lightly grazed, and he, too bold, casting his shield far from him, had outspread his left hand on the wound: then sudden flew the feathered arrow, and the hand lay pinned against his left side, while the fatal barb was buried in his breathing life. The son of Arcens now stood forth in glittering arms. His broidered cloak was red Iberian stain, and beautiful was he. Arcens his sire had sent him to the war; but he was bred in a Sicilian forest by a stream to his nymph-mother dear, where rose the shrine of merciful Palicus, blest and fair. But, lo! Mezentius his spear laid by, and whirled three times about his head the thong of his loud sling: the leaden bullet clove the youth's mid-forehead, and his towering form fell prostrate its full length along the ground. |
529-589 Turris erat uasto suspectu et pontibus altis, opportuna loco, summis quam uiribus omnes expugnare Itali summaque euertere opum ui certabant, Troes contra defendere saxis perque cauas densi tela intorquere fenestras. princeps ardentem coniecit lampada Turnus et flammam adfixit lateri, quae plurima uento corripuit tabulas et postibus haesit adesis. turbati trepidare intus frustraque malorum uelle fugam. dum se glomerant retroque residunt in partem quae peste caret, tum pondere turris procubuit subito et caelum tonat omne fragore. semineces ad terram immani mole secuta confixique suis telis et pectora duro transfossi ligno ueniunt. uix unus Helenor et Lycus elapsi; quorum primaeuus Helenor, Maeonio regi quem serua Licymnia furtim sustulerat uetitisque ad Troiam miserat armis, ense leuis nudo parmaque inglorius alba. isque ubi se Turni media inter milia uidit, hinc acies atque hinc acies astare Latinas, ut fera, quae densa uenantum saepta corona contra tela furit seseque haud nescia morti inicit et saltu supra uenabula fertur— haud aliter iuuenis medios moriturus in hostis inruit et qua tela uidet densissima tendit. at pedibus longe melior Lycus inter et hostis inter et arma fuga muros tenet, altaque certat prendere tecta manu sociumque attingere dextras. quem Turnus pariter cursu teloque secutus increpat his uictor: 'nostrasne euadere, demens, sperasti te posse manus?' simul arripit ipsum pendentem et magna muri cum parte reuellit: qualis ubi aut leporem aut candenti corpore cycnum sustulit alta petens pedibus Iouis armiger uncis, quaesitum aut matri multis balatibus agnum Martius a stabulis rapuit lupus. undique clamor tollitur: inuadunt et fossas aggere complent, ardentis taedas alii ad fastigia iactant. Ilioneus saxo atque ingenti fragmine montis Lucetium portae subeuntem ignisque ferentem, Emathiona Liger, Corynaeum sternit Asilas, hic iaculo bonus, hic longe fallente sagitta, Ortygium Caeneus, uictorem Caenea Turnus, Turnus Ityn Cloniumque, Dioxippum Promolumque et Sagarim et summis stantem pro turribus Idan, Priuernum Capys. hunc primo leuis hasta Themillae strinxerat, ille manum proiecto tegmine demens ad uulnus tulit; ergo alis adlapsa sagitta et laeuo infixa est alte lateri, abditaque intus spiramenta animae letali uulnere rupit. stabat in egregiis Arcentis filius armis pictus acu chlamydem et ferrugine clarus Hibera, insignis facie, genitor quem miserat Arcens eductum Martis luco Symaethia circum flumina, pinguis ubi et placabilis ara Palici: stridentem fundam positis Mezentius hastis ipse ter adducta circum caput egit habena et media aduersi liquefacto tempora plumbo diffidit ac multa porrectum extendit harena. |