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Notes Display Latin text | translated by Theodore C. Williams Book XII Chapter 27: The duel starts | Next chapter Return to index Previous chapter |
But Sire Aeneas, hearing Turnus' name, down the steep rampart from the citadel unlingering tried, all lesser task laid by, with joy exultant and dread-thundering arms. Like Athos' crest he loomed, or soaring top of Eryx, when the nodding oaks resound, or sovereign Apennine that lifts in air his forehead of triumphant snow. All eyes of Troy, Rutulia, and Italy were fixed his way; and all who kept a guard on lofty rampart, or in siege below were battering the foundations, now laid by their implements and arms. Latinus too stood awestruck to behold such champions, born in lands far-sundered, met upon one field for one decisive stroke of sword with sword. Swift striding forth where spread the vacant plain, they hurled their spears from far; then in close fight the brazen shields rang. Beneath their tread Earth groaned aloud, as with redoubling blows their falchions fell; nor could a mortal eye 'twixt chance and courage the dread work divide. As o'er Taburnus' top, or spacious hills of Sila, in relentless shock of war, two bulls rush brow to brow, while terror-pale the herdsmen fly; the herd is hushed with fear; the heifers dumbly marvel which shall be true monarch of the grove, whom all the kine obedient follow; but the rival twain, commingling mightily wound after wound, thrust with opposing horns, and bathe their necks in streams of blood; the forest far and wide repeats their bellowing rage: not otherwise Trojan Aeneas and King Daunus' son clashed shield on shield, till all the vaulted sky felt the tremendous sound. The hand of Jove held scales in equipoise, and threw thereon th' unequal fortunes of the heroes twain: one to vast labors doomed and one to die. |
697-727 At pater Aeneas audito nomine Turni deserit et muros et summas deserit arces praecipitatque moras omnis, opera omnia rumpit laetitia exsultans horrendumque intonat armis: quantus Athos aut quantus Eryx aut ipse coruscis cum fremit ilicibus quantus gaudetque niuali uertice se attollens pater Appenninus ad auras. iam uero et Rutuli certatim et Troes et omnes conuertere oculos Itali, quique alta tenebant moenia quique imos pulsabant ariete muros, armaque deposuere umeris. stupet ipse Latinus ingentis, genitos diuersis partibus orbis, inter se coiisse uiros et cernere ferro. atque illi, ut uacuo patuerunt aequore campi, procursu rapido coniectis eminus hastis inuadunt Martem clipeis atque aere sonoro. dat gemitum tellus; tum crebros ensibus ictus congeminant, fors et uirtus miscetur in unum. ac uelut ingenti Sila summoue Taburno cum duo conuersis inimica in proelia tauri frontibus incurrunt, pauidi cessere magistri, stat pecus omne metu mutum, mussantque iuuencae quis nemori imperitet, quem tota armenta sequantur; illi inter sese multa ui uulnera miscent cornuaque obnixi infigunt et sanguine largo colla armosque lauant, gemitu nemus omne remugit: non aliter Tros Aeneas et Daunius heros concurrunt clipeis, ingens fragor aethera complet. Iuppiter ipse duas aequato examine lances sustinet et fata imponit diuersa duorum, quem damnet labor et quo uergat pondere letum. |