Custom Search
| Home | Introduction | Persons | Geogr. | Sources | Events | Mijn blog(Nederlands) |
| Religion | Subjects | Images | Queries | Links | Contact | Do not fly Iberia |
|
Notes Display Latin text | translated by Theodore C. Williams Book V Chapter 17: The fight | Next chapter Return to index Previous chapter |
|
So saying, he dropped down the double-folded mantle from his shoulders, stripped bare the huge joints, the huge arms and thews, and towered gigantic in the midmost ring. Anchises' son then gave two equal pairs of gauntlets, and accoutred with like arms both champions. Each lifted him full height on tiptoe; each with mien unterrified held both fists high in air, and drew his head far back from blows assailing. Then they joined in struggle hand to hand, and made the fray each moment fiercer. One was light of foot and on his youth relied; the other strong in bulk of every limb, but tottering on sluggish knees, while all his body shook with labor of his breath. Without avail they rained their blows, and on each hollow side, each sounding chest, the swift, reverberate strokes fell without pause; around their ears and brows came blow on blow, and with relentless shocks the smitten jaws cracked loud. Entellus stands unshaken, and, the self-same posture keeping, only by body-movement or quick eye parries attack. Dares (like one in siege against a mountain-citadel, who now will drive with ram and engine at the craggy wall, now wait in full-armed watch beneath its towers) tries manifold approach, most craftily invests each point of vantage, and renews his unsuccessful, ever various war. Then, rising to the stroke, Entellus poised aloft his ponderous right; but, quick of eye, the other the descending wrath foresaw and nimbly slipped away; Entellus so wasted his stroke on air, and, self-o'erthrown, dropped prone to earth his monstrous length along, as when on Erymanth or Ida falls a hollowed pine from giant roots uptorn. Alike the Teucrian and Trinacrian throng shout wildly; while Acestes, pitying, hastes to lift his gray companion. But, unchecked, undaunted by his fall, the champion brave rushed fiercer to the fight, his strength now roused by rage, while shame and courage confident kindle his soul; impetuous he drives Dares full speed all round the ring, with blows redoubled right and left. No stop or stay gives he, but like a storm of rattling hail upon a house-top, so from each huge hand the champion's strokes on dizzy Dares fall. |
421- haec fatus duplicem ex umeris reiecit amictum et magnos membrorum artus, magna ossa lacertosque exuit atque ingens media consistit harena. tum satus Anchisa caestus pater extulit aequos et paribus palmas amborum innexuit armis. constitit in digitos extemplo arrectus uterque bracchiaque ad superas interritus extulit auras. abduxere retro longe capita ardua ab ictu immiscentque manus manibus pugnamque lacessunt, ille pedum melior motu fretusque iuuenta, hic membris et mole ualens; sed tarda trementi genua labant, uastos quatit aeger anhelitus artus. multa uiri nequiquam inter se uulnera iactant, multa cauo lateri ingeminant et pectore uastos dant sonitus, erratque auris et tempora circum crebra manus, duro crepitant sub uulnere malae. stat grauis Entellus nisuque immotus eodem corpore tela modo atque oculis uigilantibus exit. ille, uelut celsam oppugnat qui molibus urbem aut montana sedet circum castella sub armis, nunc hos, nunc illos aditus, omnemque pererrat arte locum et uariis adsultibus inritus urget. ostendit dextram insurgens Entellus et alte extulit, ille ictum uenientem a uertice uelox praeuidit celerique elapsus corpore cessit; Entellus uiris in uentum effudit et ultro ipse grauis grauiterque ad terram pondere uasto concidit, ut quondam caua concidit aut Erymantho aut Ida in magna radicibus eruta pinus. consurgunt studiis Teucri et Trinacria pubes; it clamor caelo primusque accurrit Acestes aequaeuumque ab humo miserans attollit amicum At non tardatus casu neque territus heros acrior ad pugnam redit ac uim suscitat ira; tum pudor incendit uiris et conscia uirtus, praecipitemque Daren ardens agit aequore toto nunc dextra ingeminans ictus, nunc ille sinistra. nec mora nec requies: quam multa grandine nimbi culminibus crepitant, sic densis ictibus heros creber utraque manu pulsat uersatque Dareta. |