Stories from Virgil Part 9

In another part of the battle Pallas fought with his Arcadians. And when he saw that they fled, not being wont to fight on foot (for by reason of the ground they had sent away their horses), he cried, "Now, by the name of your King Evander, and by my hope that I may win praise like unto his, I beseech you that ye trust not to your feet. Ye must make your way through the enemy with your swords. Where the crowd is the thickest follow me. Nor have ye now G.o.ds against you. These are but mortal men that ye see." And he rushed into the midst of the enemy. First he smote Lagus with his spear, even as he was lifting a great stone from the earth. In the back he smote him, and, having smitten him, strove to draw forth the spear, and while he strove, Hisbo would have slain him; but Pallas was aware of his coming, and pierced him in the breast with his sword. Next he slew the twin brothers, Larides and Thymber. Very like they were, and it pleased father and mother that they knew not the one from the other; but Pallas made a cruel difference between them, for from Thymber he struck off the head, and from Larides the right hand. And after these he slew Rhtus, as he fled past him in his chariot. And now, even as a shepherd sets fire to a wood, and the flames are borne along by the wind, so Pallas, and his Arcadians following, raged through the battle. And when Halaesus, the companion of Agamemnon, would have stayed them, Pallas, first praying to Father Tiber, smote him through the breast with a spear, that he died. Then came to the help of the Latins Lausus, the son of King Mezentius, and slew Abas of Populonia, and others also. Then the battle was equal for a s.p.a.ce, for Pallas supported it on the one side and Lausus on the other. Fair were they both to behold and of equal age, and for both it was ordained that they should not return to their native country. Yet they met not in battle, seeing that the doom of each was that he should fall by a greater hand.

And now the nymph Juturna, who was sister to Turnus, bade her brother haste to the help of Lausus. And when he was come, he cried to the Latins, "Give place: I only will deal with Pallas. I only would that his father were here to see." Much did Pallas marvel to behold him and to see the men give place. But, being no whit afraid, he went forth into the s.p.a.ce between the hosts, and the blood of the Arcadians ran cold when they saw him go. Then Turnus leapt from his chariot, for he would meet him on foot. And first Pallas prayed, saying, "O Hercules!

if thou wast indeed my father's guest, help me to-day!" And Hercules heard him where he sat in heaven, and wept because he could avail nothing. Then said Father Jupiter, "My son, the days of men are numbered; yet may they live for ever by n.o.ble deeds. This at least can valour do. Did not many sons of the G.o.ds fall at Troy? yea, and my own Sarpedon. And for Turnus, too, the day of doom is at hand." And he turned his eyes from the battle. Then Pallas cast his spear with all his might. Through the s.h.i.+eld of Turnus it pa.s.sed, and through the corslet, yea, and grazed the top of his shoulder. Then Turnus balanced his spear awhile, and said, "This, methinks, shall better make its way," and he cast it. Through the s.h.i.+eld, through the stout bull's hide, and through the folds of bronze it pa.s.sed, and through the corslet, and pierced the breast of Pallas from front to back. And Pallas tore from the wound the reeking steel, and the blood gushed out, and the life therewith. Then Turnus stood above the corpse, and said, "Men of Arcadia, tell these my words to Evander: 'Pallas I send him back, even as he deserved that I should send him. I grudge him not due honours of burial. Yet of a truth the friends.h.i.+p of aeneas hath cost him dear.'" Then he put his foot upon the body and dragged therefrom the belt. Great and heavy it was, and Clonius had wrought thereon in gold the deed of the fifty daughters of Danaus, how they slew their husbands in one night. But even then the time was very near when Turnus would wish that he had left that spoil untouched. And afterwards, with much groaning and weeping, the companions of Pallas laid him upon a s.h.i.+eld and bare him back.

And now tidings came to aeneas that it fared ill with his men, and that Pallas was slain. Across the field he sped, and all his heart was full of wrath against Turnus and pity for the old man Evander; and first he took alive eight youths, whom he should slay upon the tomb. Then he cast his spear at Lagus; but Lagus avoided it by craft, and rushed forward, and caught him by the knees, beseeching him by the spirit of his father and the hopes of Iulus that he would spare him, and take a ransom for his life. But aeneas made answer, "Talk not of sparing nor of ransom; for to all courtesy of war there is an end now that Turnus hath slain Pallas." And he caught the man's helmet with his left hand, and, bending back his neck, thrust in the sword up to the hilt.

And many other valiant chiefs he slew, as Haemonides, priest of Phbus and Diana, and Tarquitus, son of Faunus, and dark Camers, son of Volscens. And now there met him two brethren on one chariot, Lucagus and Liger. And Liger, who indeed drave the horses, cried aloud, "These are not the horses of Diomed, nor this the chariot of Achilles, from which thou mayest escape. Lo! the end of thy battles and thy life is come." But aeneas spake not, but cast his spear, and even as Lucagus made himself ready for battle it sped through his s.h.i.+eld and pierced his thigh. Then he fell dying on the plain. And aeneas cried, mocking him, "Thy horses are not slow to flee, nor frightened by a shadow. Of thine own will thou leavest thy chariot."

And he caught the horses by the head. Then Liger stretched out his hands to him in supplication, saying, "I beseech thee, by thy parents, have pity upon me." But aeneas made answer, "Nay, but thou spakest not thus before. Die! and desert not thy brother." And he thrust the sword into his breast. Thus did aeneas deal death through the host, even as he had been the giant Typhoeus with the hundred hands. And when Iulus and the men of Troy beheld him they broke forth from the camp.

And now Juno bethought her how she might save Turnus, whom she loved.

So she caused that there should pa.s.s before his eyes an image as of aeneas, which seemed to defy him to battle. And when Turnus would have fought, lo! the false aeneas fled, and Turnus followed him. Now there chanced to be lying moored to a great rock a certain s.h.i.+p, on which King Asinius had come from Clusium. Into this the false aeneas fled, and Turnus followed hard upon him, but found not the man. And when he looked, Juno had burst the moorings of the s.h.i.+p, and the sea was about him on every side. Then he cried, "What have I done, great Jupiter, that I should suffer such shame? What think the Latins of my flight?

Drown me, ye winds and waves, or drive me where no man may see me more." Thrice he would have cast himself into the sea; thrice would he have slain himself with the sword; but Juno forbad, and brought him safe to the city of Daunus, his father.

In the meanwhile King Mezentius joined the battle. Nor could the men of Troy, nor yet the Tuscans, stay him. Many valiant men he slew, as Mimas, whom his mother Theano bare the same night that Hecuba bare Paris to King Priam; and Actor, a Greek, who had left his promised wife, and carried her purple favour in his helmet; and tall Orodes.

Orodes, indeed, was flying, but the king deigned not to slay him in his flight, but met him face to face and smote him. Also when Orodes cried, "Whoever thou art, thou goest not long unpunished: a like doom awaits thee; and in this land shalt thou find thy grave," Mezentius laughed, and made answer, "Die thou, but let the king of G.o.ds and men see to me."

But after awhile aeneas spied Mezentius as he fought, and made haste to meet him. Nor did the king give place, but cried, "Now may this right hand and the spear which I wield be my G.o.ds, and help me." And he cast his spear. It smote the s.h.i.+eld of aeneas, but pierced it not. Yet did it not fly in vain, for glancing off it smote Antores in the side--Antores who once had been comrade to Hercules, and afterwards followed Evander. Now he fell, and in his death remembered the city which he loved, even Argos. Then in his turn aeneas cast his spear.

Through the bull's-hide s.h.i.+eld it pa.s.sed, wounding the king in the groin, but not to death. And aeneas was right glad to see the blood flow forth, and drew his sword and pressed on; and Mezentius, much c.u.mbered with the spear and the wound, gave place. But when Lausus, his son, saw this, he groaned aloud and leapt forward, and took the blow upon his sword; and his companions followed him with a shout, and cast their spears at aeneas, staying him till Mezentius had gotten himself safe away. And aeneas stood awhile under the shower of spears, even as a traveller stands hiding himself from a storm. Then he cried to Lausus, "What seekest thou, madman? Why venturest thou that which thy strength may not endure?" But Lausus heeded him not at all, but still pressed on. Then the heart of aeneas was filled with wrath, and the day was come for Lausus that he should die. For the king smote him with his sword: through s.h.i.+eld it pa.s.sed and tunic woven with gold, and was hidden to the hilt in his body. And aeneas pitied him as he lay dead, bethinking him how he, too, would fain have died for his father, and spake, saying, "What shall aeneas give thee, unhappy boy, for this thy n.o.bleness? Keep thy arms, in which thou hadst such delight, and let thy father care as he will for thy body; and take this comfort in thy death, that thou fallest by the hand of the great aeneas." Then he lifted him from the earth, and bade his companions carry him away.

[Ill.u.s.tration: aeNEAS AND THE BODY OF LAUSUS.]

In the mean time his father tended his wounds, leaning on the trunk of a tree by the Tiber bank. His helmet hung from a branch, and his arms lay upon the ground, while his followers stood around. And ever he asked tidings of Lausus, and sent those who should bid him return. But when they brought back his body on a s.h.i.+eld, his father knew it from afar, and threw dust upon his white hair, and fell upon the body, crying, "Had I such desire to live, my son, that I suffered thee to meet in my stead the sword of the enemy? Am I saved by these wounds?

Do I live by thy death? And indeed, my son, I did dishonour to thee by my misdeeds. Would that I had given my guilty life for thine! But indeed I die; nevertheless not yet, for I have first somewhat that I must do."

Then he raised himself on his thigh, and commanded that they should bring his horse. His pride it was and comfort, and had borne him conqueror from many fights. Very sad was the beast, and he spake to it, saying, "O Rhbus, thou and I have lived long enough, if indeed aught on earth be long. To-day thou shalt bring back the head and the arms of aeneas, and so avenge my Lausus; or thou shalt die with me. For a Trojan master thou wilt not, I know, endure."

Then he mounted the horse and took spears in both his hands, and so hasted to meet aeneas. Thrice he called him by name, and aeneas rejoiced to hear his voice, and cried, "Now may Jupiter and Apollo grant that this be true. Begin the fight." And Mezentius made answer: "Seek not to make afraid. Thou canst do me no harm now that thou hast slain my son. I am come to die, but take thou first this gift;" and he cast his spear, and then another, and yet another, as he rode in a great circle about the enemy. But they brake not the boss of gold. And aeneas stood firm, bearing the forest of spears in his s.h.i.+eld. But at last, issuing forth in anger from behind his s.h.i.+eld, he cast his spear and smote the war-horse Rhbus between his temples. Then the horse reared himself and lashed the air with his feet, and fell with his rider beneath him.

And the men of Troy and the Latins sent up a great shout. Then aeneas hasted and drew his sword, and stood above him, crying, "Where is the fierce Mezentius now?" And the king said, when he breathed again, "Why threatenest thou me with death? Slay me; thou wrongest me not. I made no covenant with thee for life, nor did my Lausus when he died for me.

Yet grant me this one thing. Thou knowest how my people hateth me.

Keep my body, I pray thee, from them, that they do it no wrong. And let my son be buried with me in my grave." And he gave his throat to the sword, and feared not.

CHAPTER XXIII.

THE COUNCIL.

So the battle had an end. And the next day, early in the morning, aeneas paid his vows. For he took an oak-tree, and lopped the branches round about, and set it on a mound. And thereon he hung, for a trophy to Mars, the arms of King Mezentius, the crest dripping with blood, and the headless spears, and the corslet pierced in twelve places.

Also he fastened on the left hand the s.h.i.+eld, and hung about the neck the ivory-hilted sword. And next, the chiefs being gathered about him, he spake, saying, "We have wrought a great deed. Here ye see all that remaineth of Mezentius. Now, therefore, let us make ready to carry the war against the city of Latinus. This, therefore, will we do with the first light to-morrow. And now let us bury the dead, doing such honour to them as we may, for indeed they have purchased a country for us with their own blood. But first will I send back Pallas to the city of Evander."

Then he went to the tent where the dead body was laid, and old Actes kept watch thereby--Actes, who had been armour-bearer to Evander, and now had followed his son, but with evil fortune; and the women of Troy, with their hair unbound, mourned about him. But when they saw aeneas they beat their b.r.e.a.s.t.s, and sent up a great cry even to heaven.

And when the king saw the pillowed head and the great wound in the breast he wept, and said, "Ah! why did Fortune grudge me this, that thou shouldst see my kingdom, and go back in triumph to thy father's home? This is not what I promised to Evander when he gave thee to my charge, and warned me that the men of Italy were valiant and fierce.

And now haply, old man, thou makest offerings and prayers for him who now hath no part nor lot in the G.o.ds of heaven. Yet, at least, thou wilt see that he beareth an honourable wound. But what a son thou losest, O Italy! and what a friend, thou, Iulus!"

Then he chose a thousand men who should go with the dead and share the father's grief. After this they made a bier of arbutus boughs and oak, and put also over it a canopy of branches, and laid the dead thereon, like unto a flower of violet or hyacinth which a girl hath plucked, which still hath beauty and colour, but the earth nourisheth it no more. And aeneas took two robes of purple, which Dido had woven with thread of gold, and with one he wrapped the body and with the other the head. And behind were carried the arms which Pallas had won in fight; and they led the old man Actes, smiting on his breast and tearing his cheeks, and throwing himself upon the ground; and the war-horse aethon walked beside, with the great tears rolling down his cheeks. And also they bare behind him his helmet and s.h.i.+eld, for all else Turnus had taken; and then followed the whole company, the men of Troy, the Arcadians, and the Tuscans, with arms reversed. And aeneas said, "The same cares and sorrows of war call me elsewhere. Farewell, my Pallas, for ever!" And he departed to the camp.

And now there came amba.s.sadors from the city, having olive-branches about their heads, praying for a truce, that they might bury their dead. Then aeneas made answer, "Ye ask peace for the dead; fain would I give it to the living. I had not come to this land but for the bidding of the Fates. And if your king changeth from me and my friends.h.i.+p to Turnus, I am blameless. Yet methinks Turnus should rather have taken this danger upon himself. And even now, if he be willing to fight with me, man to man, so be it. But now bury ye your dead."

Then they made a truce for twelve days. And the men of Troy and the Latins laboured together, hewing wood upon the hills, pine and cedar and mountain ash. And the men of Troy built great piles upon the sh.o.r.e and burned the dead bodies of their companions thereon, and their arms with them. And the Latins did likewise. Also they that had been chosen to do this thing carried the body of Pallas to his city. And King Evander and the Arcadians made a great mourning for him.

But when they had made an end of burning the dead there arose a great tumult in the city, for many had lost husband, or brother, or son.

Wherefore they cried out that it was an evil war, and they cursed the marriage of Turnus, and would have him fight with aeneas, man to man, that there might be an end of these troubles. And lo! in the midst of the tumult there came back the amba.s.sadors that had been sent to Diomed, saying that their prayers and gifts had availed nothing. Then King Latinus called a council of the chiefs, and sat him down upon his throne, and bade the men say on. Then Venulus, who was the chiefest among them, spake, saying, "We went to Arpi, to the city of King Diomed. And the man received us, and asked us wherefore we had come, and when we had told him, he spake, saying, 'Men of Italy, why will ye thus tempt your fate? Know ye not that we, as many of us as lifted hand against the men of Troy, have suffered grievous things? For the Lesser Ajax perished on the rocks of Euba; and Menelaus was driven even to the island of Proteus, which is hard by the land of Egypt; and Ulysses scarcely escaped from the Cyclops; and as for King Agamemnon, an adulterer slew him in his palace. And us the G.o.ds suffered not to see wife or country again. But as for this which ye ask of me, I fight not against men of Troy any more. These gifts which ye bring to me, give rather to aeneas. We have fought together, and I know how mightily he rises to the stroke of his sword and casts his spear. I tell you this: if there had been in Troy two others such as he, the war had come to the gates of Argos, and Greece had suffered even what she wrought. 'Twas he and Hector who for ten years bore up against our arms: both valiant men and strong, and this man the dearer to the G.o.ds. Make peace with him, if ye may; but beware that ye meet him not in war.'"

And when they had made an end of speaking, there was a murmur in the council, some saying one thing, and some another. Then King Latinus said from his throne, "This is an ill time for counsel when the enemy is about our walls. Yet hearken to my words. Ye do ill to wage this war: for the men of Troy are dear to the G.o.ds, nor may any sword prevail against them. Ye have heard what saith King Diomed; ye see also how low our fortunes be brought. My sentence therefore is this: I have a domain near to the Tiber, stretching far to the west, a land of corn-fields and pasture. This, and the pine forests also on the hills, will I give to the men of Troy, and I will divide also my kingdom. But if they would rather seek some other land, let us build them twelve s.h.i.+ps, or more, if they be able to fill them, and let them depart in peace. Now therefore let us send amba.s.sadors, even a hundred men, and let them carry gifts, talents of gold, and ivory, and also a throne and a robe, which are the emblems of kings.h.i.+p."

Then spake Drances. (Now Drances had great jealousy of Turnus.

Bountiful was he, and eloquent, and skilful in counsel and debate, but feeble in fight.) "This matter about which thou askest us, O King, is manifest, and needeth not speech; for all men know what shall best profit the people, yet fear to say it. 'Tis this man that hindereth us from speech; this man for whose evil pride--aye, I will say it though he threaten me with death--so many valiant chiefs have fallen, while he makes a vain show of his valour. And now, O King, I would bid thee add one more to thy gifts. Give thy daughter to this great son-in-law, and make peace sure for ever. Yea, Turnus, yield thou this to thy country. Lo! we all ask it of thee, even I, whom thou holdest to be thine enemy. But if thou wilt not, counting a royal wife to be more than thy country, call not on us to die for thee, but meet thy rival face to face."

Then in great wrath Turnus made answer, "Thou hast always many words at command, O Drances, and, when the senators are called, art ever the first to come. But where is thy valour? Where are the trophies which thy right hand hath set up? Wilt thou make trial of it now? Lo! the enemy is at hand. Shall we go? Dost thou linger? Is all thy valour in thy boasting tongue and coward feet? And thou doubtest, forsooth, of my courage. What? hast thou not heard of Pallas slain, and Bitias and Pandarus, and all whom I laid low when they shut me within their walls? And now I would speak of thee and thy counsel, my father. If thou thinkest that one defeat is enough, and that fortune may not change, be it so: let us pray for peace. Happy then he who hath died before he saw such foul disgrace! But if we have yet strength remaining, and nations and cities that will yet help us; if these men of Troy have won their victory dear, why faint we at the threshold, and tremble before the trumpet sounds? Diomed will not help us. But we have Messapus, and the augur Tolumnius, and all the chiefs of Italy, yea and the Volscian Camilla, with her squadrons clad in bronze. And if they would have me fight man to man, I refuse not in such a cause.

Let him be mighty as Achilles, and don the arms which Vulcan hath made. I refuse not the battle, for my life is for you and for your king."

But while they disputed there came a messenger unto the palace bringing tidings of fear. For the men of Troy, he said, were marching in battle line from their camp. Then there arose a great uproar, some crying aloud for arms, and some weeping; loud was it as the clamour of birds that settle in some deep wood, or of swans by the mouth of Po.

And Turnus cried, "Call your councils, my friends, speak of peace as you sit. But the enemy is at the gate." And he made haste and rushed forth from the senate-house.

CHAPTER XXIV.

THE BATTLE AT THE CITY.

Then Turnus commanded that of the chiefs some should set the battle in array, and some should fortify the gates, and some should follow after himself. And men dug trenches before the gates, and gathered store of stones and stakes; and the women and children stood upon the walls.

But the queen and the chiefest of the matrons went to the temple of Pallas, and with them was the virgin Lavinia, from whom all these sorrows sprang, casting down her beautiful eyes to the ground. And they offered incense and prayer to the G.o.ddess, that she would break the Phrygian robber's spear, and lay him low before the walls of the city. Then Turnus armed himself for the battle, and ran down from the citadel, and lo! at the gate there met him Camilla, with a troop of virgins riding on horses. And when they had lighted down therefrom, the Queen spake, saying, "I promise thee, Turnus, to meet the hors.e.m.e.n of Troy and of the Tuscans. Do thou abide here on foot and guard the walls." And Turnus, steadfastly regarding her, made answer, "What thanks shall I give thee for such service? But now hearken to me.

There lieth a valley whereby aeneas purposeth to come against this city: in the mouth thereof will I lay an ambush; do thou, therefore, meet the Tuscan hors.e.m.e.n in battle, having with thee Messapus and the hors.e.m.e.n of Tibur." And when he had said this he departed and laid the ambush against aeneas.

In the mean time Diana, where she sat in heaven, spake to Opis, who was one of the nymphs that waited on her: "Camilla goeth forth to battle, who is dearer to me than all virgins beside, and hath been so even from a child. She is the daughter of King Metabus. Now Metabus, being banished from his city, even Privernum, by reason of his violence, fled, taking with him his daughter. Her he carried in his bosom, and the Volscians pressed hard upon him as he fled. And he came to the river Amasenus, and it chanced that the river was swollen with abundance of rain, and overflowed his banks. And the king, when he would have crossed it by swimming, feared for the child. Therefore he took the great spear which he carried in his hand, and bound the girl thereto with strips of bark, and balanced it in his hands, saying, 'I vow this child to thee, daughter of Latona, to be thy servant for ever.' And he cast the spear with all his might, so that it fell on the other side of the river. Then did he throw himself into the stream, and so escaped from the land of his enemies. Thereafter he dwelt not in house or city, but lived on the hills with the shepherds.

And the child he nourished with mare's milk, and the like. And when she could first put her feet upon the ground, he put a javelin in her hand, and gave her a bow also and arrows. No gold had she on her hair, nor wore she long garments such as women use, but was adorned with a tiger-skin. Also from a child she would cast the javelin from her hand, and whirl the sling above her head, and strike the crane or the wild swan even in the midst of the clouds. Many Tuscan mothers would have had her for their daughter-in-law, but marriage pleased her not.

I would she had not come to this war. Then had I made her one of my companions. But seeing that her doom is upon her, I give thee this charge concerning her. Pa.s.s thou down to the earth, to the Latin land, where they begin even now this evil battle. And take from thy quiver an avenging arrow, and whosoever shall harm the virgin, be he man of Troy or Italian, shall pay the penalty. But her will I carry back to her native country, neither shall any man spoil her of her arms."

In the meanwhile aeneas and his army were come near to the walls. And first the hors.e.m.e.n ran together against each other, holding their spears forth in front. In this battle Tyrrhenus the Tuscan met Aconteus, and drave him from his horse with the shock, as a thunderbolt is driven from the sky or a stone from an engine; and the ranks of the Latins were troubled and fled, and the men of Troy pursued them; but when they came near to the gates the Latins turned upon them, and the men of Troy fled in their turn. Even as a wave upon the sh.o.r.e floweth and ebbeth, so twice they fled and twice they pursued. But the third time they joined battle, and gave not place one to the other. Then fell many men and horses dying to the ground.

Orsilochus smote the horse of Remulus between the temples, and the beast reared and threw his rider to the earth. Next Catillus of Tibur slew Iollas, and Herminius, who fought with breast and shoulders bare, driving his spear through him from side to side. But fiercest of all was the virgin Camilla. With one breast bare she fought; and now she would shoot arrows from her bow, and now would ply the battle-axe. And the virgins that were her fellows, as Larina and Tulla and Tarpeia, followed close behind her. Like to the Amazons they were when, having their s.h.i.+elds shaped as is the moon, they throng around their Queen Penthesilea or Hippolyte. Euneus she slew, a man of Troy; and Pagasus and Liris, Etruscans; and others besides. With every arrow she slew a man. And the hunter Ornytus came against her, having for helmet the head of a wolf with white teeth, and in his hand a hunting spear. He was of greater stature than other men, but she slew him, and mocked him, saying, "Didst thou think, Tuscan, that thou wert hunting wild beasts this day? Lo! a woman's arms have brought thy boasts to nothing." Then she slew Orsilochus and Butes, mighty men of Troy.

Butes she smote as he fled from her, but from Orsilochus she made as she would flee; then, wheeling round, met him face to face, and cleft his head in twain. The son of Aunus, whose father dwelt amongst the Apennines, trembled to see the deed, and was fain to escape her by craft, after the fas.h.i.+on of his country, being a man of Liguria.

Therefore he said, "What glory is it if thou prevailest by reason of the swiftness of thy horse? Fight with me now on foot, and let us see who shall gain the victory." And when the virgin leapt to the ground, giving her horse to her companions, he turned his horse to flee. But the virgin cried, "Thinkest thou to escape me thus, thou fool? Never shalt thou see thy father, the crafty Aunus, again." And she made haste and outran the horse, and catching the reins in her hands, stood before him and slew him.

[Ill.u.s.tration: CAMILLA AND THE SON OF AUNUS.]

Then did Tarchon the Tuscan rebuke his hors.e.m.e.n, calling each by his name, and saying, "What fear, what baseness, is this, ye Tuscans?

Shall a woman drive you before her? Ready enough are ye for the dance, and the feast, and the sacrifice; but ye lag behind in war." And he drave his horse at Venulus of Tibur, and caught him in his arms, and carried him away. As an eagle carries a snake which he hath caught, and the snake, winding his coils about the bird, struggles and hisses, so did Tarchon carry him off, and spy out a place where he might smite him, and Venulus strove amain to keep the sword from his throat. And all the men of Troy and the Tuscans charged again when they saw their chief do so valiantly.

But all the while Arruns watched the virgin Camilla, that he might take her unawares. Now there was a certain Chloreus, priest of Cybele, who rode through the battle, very splendid to behold. For his horse was clad in bronze mail, that was clasped with gold; and he himself was clad in purple from beyond the seas; his bow was of Lycia and his arrows of Crete; of gold was his bow, and of gold the helmet; and his saffron scarf was clasped with gold; and his tunic was embroidered with needlework, and his trews were of divers colours. Him alone the virgin followed, blind to all beside, with a woman's love of beautiful spoil. And Arruns watched her from the ambush where he lay; and when the time was come, he cried, "Apollo, lord of Soracte, help me now; if ever I and my people have pa.s.sed over the burning coals in thy honour, help me now. I seek not spoil nor glory; let me return without honour to my country, so but I slay this fury." And part of his prayer the G.o.d heard, and part was scattered by the winds. Camilla, indeed, he slew, but to his country he went not back. But when the bow tw.a.n.ged, all the Volscians turned their eyes to the queen; but she was not aware of the arrow, even till it smote her under her breast. Then her companions ran together and caught her as she fell. And she would have drawn forth the arrow, but it was deep in her side. Then did her eyes swim cold in death, and the colour, that was as the colour of a rose, faded from her cheek. And as she died, she said to Acca, who was dearest to her of all her companions, "Acca, my sister, my strength faileth me. Bid Turnus that he join the battle, and keep the men of Troy from the city." And she loosed hold of the reins, and fell to the earth; and the battle grew fiercer as she lay.

[Ill.u.s.tration: THE DEATH OF CAMILLA.]

But when the nymph Opis saw that she was dead, she groaned, and cried, "O Virgin, thou hast paid the penalty of thy deed, in that thou defiedst the men of Troy. Neither hath it profited thee to be the servant of Diana. Yet will she not have thee unhonoured in thy death; for whosoever hath harmed thee shall surely die." Then she flew through the air, and lighted on a mound that was the tomb of Laurens, that had once been king of the land. And when she saw Arruns boasting of his deed--for at first he had fled stricken with fear, but had now taken heart again--she cried, "Come hither, that thou mayest suffer thy doom, in that thou hast slain the virgin Camilla." And she drew the bow till the ends thereof came close together, and her left hand was on the arrowhead and her right hand on the string. And even as Arruns heard the clang of the bow the arrow smote him that he died.

But when Camilla was dead her companions fled, and the Rutulians also, and the chiefs were scattered and the battalions left desolate.

And there rose a great cloud of dust that rolled ever nearer the city; and a dreadful shout went up to heaven. Then those that first came to the gates were trodden down by the crowd behind them, that they died, yea, even in the sight of their homes. And those that were within shut the gates and drave back with arms such as would have entered. And then was slaughter and confusion without end. And even the women upon the walls cast javelins with their hands, and thrust with stakes of wood that had been charred with fire, even as with spears.