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Notes Display Latin text | translated by Theodore C. Williams Book XI Chapter 17: Laurentum threatened | Next chapter Return to index Previous chapter |
Now to and fro they run to man the walls. Father Latinus quits -- the place of council and his large design, vexed and bewildered by the hour's distress. He blames his own heart that he did not ask Trojan Aeneas for his daughter's lord, and gain him for his kingdom's lasting friend. They dig them trenches at the gates, or lift burden of stakes and stones. The horn's harsh note sounds forth its murderous signal for the war; striplings and women, in a motley ring, defend the ramparts; the decisive hour lays tasks on all. Upon the citadel a train of matrons, with the doleful Queen [Note 1], toward Pallas' temple moves, and in their hand are gifts and offerings. See, at their side the maid Lavinia, cause of all these tears, drops down her lovely eyes! The incense rolls in clouds above the altar; at the doors with wailing voice the women make this prayer: Tritonian virgin, arbitress of war! Break of thyself yon Phrygian robber's spear! Hurl him down dying in the dust! Spill forth his evil blood beneath our lofty towers! Fierce Turnus girds him, emulous to slay: a crimson coat of mail he wears, with scales of burnished bronze; beneath his knees are bound the golden greaves; upon his naked brow no helm he wears; but to his thigh is bound a glittering sword. Down from the citadel runs he, a golden glory, in his heart boldly exulting, while impatient hope fore-counts his fallen foes. He seemed as when, from pinfold bursting, breaking his strong chain, th' untrammelled stallion ranges the wide field, or tries him to a herd of feeding mares, or to some cooling river-bank he knows, most fierce and mettlesome; the streaming mane o'er neck and shoulder flies. Note 1: Queen = Amata |
468-497 concilium ipse pater et magna incepta Latinus deserit ac tristi turbatus tempore differt, multaque se incusat qui non acceperit ultro Dardanium Aenean generumque asciuerit urbi. praefodiunt alii portas aut saxa sudesque subuectant. bello dat signum rauca cruentum bucina. tum muros uaria cinxere corona matronae puerique, uocat labor ultimus omnis. nec non ad templum summasque ad Palladis arces subuehitur magna matrum regina caterua dona ferens, iuxtaque comes Lauinia uirgo, causa mali tanti, oculos deiecta decoros. succedunt matres et templum ture uaporant et maestas alto fundunt de limine uoces: 'armipotens, praeses belli, Tritonia uirgo, frange manu telum Phrygii praedonis, et ipsum pronum sterne solo portisque effunde sub altis.' Cingitur ipse furens certatim in proelia Turnus. iamque adeo rutilum thoraca indutus aenis horrebat squamis surasque incluserat auro, tempora nudus adhuc, laterique accinxerat ensem, fulgebatque alta decurrens aureus arce exsultatque animis et spe iam praecipit hostem: qualis ubi abruptis fugit praesepia uinclis tandem liber equus, campoque potitus aperto aut ille in pastus armentaque tendit equarum aut adsuetus aquae perfundi flumine noto emicat, arrectisque fremit ceruicibus alte luxurians luduntque iubae per colla, per armos. |