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Notes Display Latin text | translated by Theodore C. Williams Book XII Chapter 1: Turnus agrees on a duel with Aeneas | Next chapter Return to index Previous chapter |
When Turnus marks how much the Latins quail in adverse war, how on himself they call to keep his pledge, and with indignant eyes gaze all his way, fierce rage implacable swells his high heart. As when on Libyan plain a lion, gashed along his tawny breast by the huntsman's grievous thrust, awakens him unto his last grim fight, and gloriously shaking the great thews of his maned neck, shrinks not, but crushes the despoiler's spear with blood-sprent, roaring mouth, -- not less than so burns the wild soul of Turnus and his ire. Thus to the King [Note 1] he spoke with stormful brow: The war lags not for Turnus' sake. No cause constrains the Teucrian cowards and their King to eat their words and what they pledged refuse. On his own terms I come. Bring forward, sire, the sacrifice, and seal the pact I swear: either to deepest hell this hand shall fling yon Trojan runaway -- the Latins all may sit at ease and see! -- and my sole sword efface the general shame; or let him claim the conquest, and Lavinia be his bride. Note 1: King = Latinus Events: Turnus speaks with Lavinus and Amata, The Duel of Turnus and Aeneas |
1-17 Turnus ut infractos aduerso Marte Latinos defecisse uidet, sua nunc promissa reposci, se signari oculis, ultro implacabilis ardet attollitque animos. Poenorum qualis in aruis saucius ille graui uenantum uulnere pectus tum demum mouet arma leo, gaudetque comantis excutiens ceruice toros fixumque latronis impauidus frangit telum et fremit ore cruento: haud secus accenso gliscit uiolentia Turno. tum sic adfatur regem atque ita turbidus infit: 'nulla mora in Turno; nihil est quod dicta retractent ignaui Aeneadae, nec quae pepigere recusent: congredior. fer sacra, pater, et concipe foedus. aut hac Dardanium dextra sub Tartara mittam desertorem Asiae (sedeant spectentque Latini), et solus ferro crimen commune refellam, aut habeat uictos, cedat Lauinia coniunx.' |