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Notes Do not display Latin text | translated by Theodore C. Williams Book XII Chapter 24: Discourse of Turnus and Juturna | Next chapter Return to index Previous chapter |
Meanwhile the warrior Turnus far afield pursued a scattered few; but less his speed, for less and less his worn steeds worked his will; and now wind-wafted to his straining ear a nameless horror came, a dull, wild roar, the city's tumult and distressful cry. Alack, he cried, what stirs in yonder walls such anguish? Or why rings from side to side such wailing through the city? Asking so, he tightened frantic grasp upon the rein. To him his sister, [Note 1] counterfeiting still the charioteer Metiscus, while she swayed rein, steeds, and chariot, this answer made: Hither, my Turnus, let our arms pursue the sons of Troy. Here lies the nearest way to speedy triumph. There be other swords to keep yon city safe. Aeneas now storms against Italy in active war; we also on this Trojan host may hurl grim havoc. Nor shalt thou the strife give o'er in glory second, nor in tale of slain. Turnus replied, O sister, long ago I knew thee what thou wert, when guilefully thou didst confound their treaty, and enlist thy whole heart in this war. No longer now thy craft divine deceives me. But what god compelled thee, from Olympus fallen so far, to bear these cruel burdens? Wouldst thou see thy wretched brother slaughtered? For what else is in my power? What flattering hazard still holds forth deliverance? My own eyes have seen Murranus (more than any now on earth my chosen friend) who, calling on my name, died like a hero by a hero's sword. Ill-fated Ufens fell, enduring not to look upon my shame; the Teucrians divide his arms for spoil and keep his bones. Shall I stand tamely, till my hearth and home are levelled with the ground? For this would be the only blow not fallen. Shall my sword not give the lie to Drances' insolence? Shall I take flight and let my country see her Turnus renegade? Is death a thing so much to weep for? O propitious dead, O spirits of the dark, receive and bless me whom yon gods of light have cast away! Sacred and guiltless shall my soul descend to join your company; I have not been unworthy offspring of my kingly sires. Note 1: sister = Juturna Event: Renewal of the war. |
614-649 Interea extremo bellator in aequore Turnus palantis sequitur paucos iam segnior atque iam minus atque minus successu laetus equorum. attulit hunc illi caecis terroribus aura commixtum clamorem, arrectasque impulit auris confusae sonus urbis et inlaetabile murmur. 'ei mihi! quid tanto turbantur moenia luctu? quisue ruit tantus diuersa clamor ab urbe?' sic ait, adductisque amens subsistit habenis. atque huic, in faciem soror ut conuersa Metisci aurigae currumque et equos et lora regebat, talibus occurrit dictis: 'hac, Turne, sequamur Troiugenas, qua prima uiam uictoria pandit; sunt alii qui tecta manu defendere possint. ingruit Aeneas Italis et proelia miscet, et nos saeua manu mittamus funera Teucris. nec numero inferior pugnae neque honore recedes.' Turnus ad haec: 'o soror, et dudum agnoui, cum prima per artem foedera turbasti teque haec in bella dedisti, et nunc nequiquam fallis dea. sed quis Olympo demissam tantos uoluit te ferre labores? an fratris miseri letum ut crudele uideres? nam quid ago? aut quae iam spondet Fortuna salutem? uidi oculos ante ipse meos me uoce uocantem Murranum, quo non superat mihi carior alter, oppetere ingentem atque ingenti uulnere uictum. occidit infelix ne nostrum dedecus Vfens aspiceret; Teucri potiuntur corpore et armis. exscindine domos (id rebus defuit unum) perpetiar, dextra nec Drancis dicta refellam? terga dabo et Turnum fugientem haec terra uidebit? usque adeone mori miserum est? uos o mihi, Manes, este boni, quoniam superis auersa uoluntas. sancta ad uos anima atque istius inscia culpae descendam magnorum haud umquam indignus auorum.' |