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Notes Display Latin text | translated by Theodore C. Williams Book XII Chapter 30: The weapons are restored | Next chapter Return to index Previous chapter |
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But haply in that place a sacred tree, a bitter-leaved wild-olive, once had grown, to Faunus dear, and venerated oft by mariners safe-rescued from the waves, who nailed their gifts thereon, or hung in air their votive garments to Laurentum's god. But, heeding not, the Teucrians had shorn the stem away, to clear the field for war. T was here Aeneas' lance stuck fast; its speed had driven it firmly inward, and it clave to the hard, clinging root. Anchises' son bent o'er it, and would wrench his weapon free, and follow with a far-flung javelin the swift out-speeding foe. But Turnus then, bewildered and in terror, cried aloud: O Faunus, pity me and heed my prayer! Hold fast his weapon, O benignant Earth! If ere these hands have rendered offering due, where yon polluting Teucrians fight and slay. He spoke; invoking succor of the god, with no lost prayer. For tugging valiantly and laboring long against the stubborn stem, Aeneas with his whole strength could but fail to loose the clasping tree. While fiercely thus he strove and strained, Juturna once again, wearing the charioteer Metiscus' shape, ran to her brother's aid, restoring him his own true sword. But Venus, wroth to see what license to the dauntless nymph was given, herself came near, and plucked from that deep root the javelin forth. So both with lofty mien strode forth new-armed, new-hearted: one made bold by his good sword, the other, spear in hand, uptowered in wrath, and with confronting brows they set them to the war-god's [Note 1] breathles game. Note 1: war-god = Mars Events: The Duel of Turnus and Aeneas, The Gods interfere in the Aeneid |
766-790 Forte sacer Fauno foliis oleaster amaris hic steterat, nautis olim uenerabile lignum, seruati ex undis ubi figere dona solebant Laurenti diuo et uotas suspendere uestis; sed stirpem Teucri nullo discrimine sacrum sustulerant, puro ut possent concurrere campo. hic hasta Aeneae stabat, huc impetus illam detulerat fixam et lenta radice tenebat. incubuit uoluitque manu conuellere ferrum Dardanides, teloque sequi quem prendere cursu non poterat. tum uero amens formidine Turnus 'Faune, precor, miserere' inquit 'tuque optima ferrum Terra tene, colui uestros si semper honores, quos contra Aeneadae bello fecere profanos.' dixit, opemque dei non cassa in uota uocauit. namque diu luctans lentoque in stirpe moratus uiribus haud ullis ualuit discludere morsus roboris Aeneas. dum nititur acer et instat, rursus in aurigae faciem mutata Metisci procurrit fratrique ensem dea Daunia reddit. quod Venus audaci nymphae indignata licere accessit telumque alta ab radice reuellit. olli sublimes armis animisque refecti, hic gladio fidens, hic acer et arduus hasta, adsistunt contra certamina Martis anheli. |