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Notes Display Latin text | translated by Theodore C. Williams Book XII Chapter 19: Juturna keeps Turnus from Aeneas | Next chapter Return to index Previous chapter |
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The warrior-maid Juturna, seeing this, distraught with terror, strikes down from his place Metiscus, Turnus' charioteer, who dropped forward among the reins and off the pole. Him leaving on the field, her own hand grasped the loosely waving reins, while she took on Metiscus' shape, his voice, and blazoned arms. As when through some rich master's spacious halls speeds the black swallow on her lightsome wing, exploring the high roof, or harvesting some scanty morsel for her twittering brood, round empty corridors or garden-pools noisily flitting: so Juturna roams among the hostile ranks, and wings her way behind the swift steeds of the whirling car. At divers points she lets the people see her brother's glory, but not yet allows the final tug of war; her pathless flight keeps far away. Aeneas too must take a course circuitous, and follows close his foeman's track; loud o'er the scattered lines he shouts his challenge. But whene'er his eyes discern the foe, and fain he would confront the flying-footed steeds, Juturna veers the chariot round and flies. What can he do? Aeneas' wrath storms vainly to and fro, and wavering purposes his heart divide. Against him lightly leaped Messapus forth, bearing two pliant javelins tipped with steel; and, whirling one in air, he aimed it well, with stroke unfailing. Great Aeneas paused in cover of his shield and crouched low down upon his haunches. But the driven spear battered his helmet's peak and plucked away the margin of his plume. Then burst his rage: his cunning foes had forced him; so at last, while steeds and chariot in the distance fly, he plunged him in the fray, and called on Jove the altars of that broken oath to see. Now by the war-god's [Note 1] favor he began grim, never-pitying slaughter, and flung free the bridle of his rage. Note 1: war-god = Mars Event: Renewal of the war. |
468-499 Hoc concussa metu mentem Iuturna uirago aurigam Turni media inter lora Metiscum excutit et longe lapsum temone reliquit; ipsa subit manibusque undantis flectit habenas cuncta gerens, uocemque et corpus et arma Metisci. nigra uelut magnas domini cum diuitis aedes peruolat et pennis alta atria lustrat hirundo pabula parua legens nidisque loquacibus escas, et nunc porticibus uacuis, nunc umida circum stagna sonat: similis medios Iuturna per hostis fertur equis rapidoque uolans obit omnia curru, iamque hic germanum iamque hic ostentat ouantem nec conferre manum patitur, uolat auia longe. haud minus Aeneas tortos legit obuius orbis, uestigatque uirum et disiecta per agmina magna uoce uocat. quotiens oculos coniecit in hostem alipedumque fugam cursu temptauit equorum, auersos totiens currus Iuturna retorsit. heu, quid agat? uario nequiquam fluctuat aestu, diuersaeque uocant animum in contraria curae. huic Messapus, uti laeua duo forte gerebat lenta, leuis cursu, praefixa hastilia ferro, horum unum certo contorquens derigit ictu. substitit Aeneas et se collegit in arma poplite subsidens; apicem tamen incita summum hasta tulit summasque excussit uertice cristas. tum uero adsurgunt irae, insidiisque subactus, diuersos ubi sensit equos currumque referri, multa Iouem et laesi testatus foederis aras iam tandem inuadit medios et Marte secundo terribilis saeuam nullo discrimine caedem suscitat, irarumque omnis effundit habenas. |