Page:Aeneid (Conington 1866).djvu/270

246 The far-off whisper of the years

Scarce reaches our bewildered ears.

Mezentius first from Tyrrhene coast,

Who mocks at heaven, arrays his host,

And braves the battle's storm;

His son, young Lausus, at his side,

Excelled by none in beauty's pride,

Save Turnus' comely form:

Lausus, the tamer of the steed,

The conqueror of the silvan breed,

Leads from Agylla's towers in vain

A thousand youths, a valiant train:

Ah happy, had the son been blest

In hearkening to his sire's behest,

Or had the sire from whom he came

Had other nature, other name!

Next drives along the grassy meads

His palm-crowned car and conquering steeds

Fair Aventinus, princely heir

Of Hercules the brave and fair,

And for his proud escutcheon takes

His father's Hydra and her snakes.

'Twas he that priestess Rhea bare,

A stealthy birth, to upper air,

'Mid shades of woody Aventine

Mingling her own with heavenly blood,

When triumph-flushed from Geryon slain

Alcides touched the Latian plain,

And bathed Iberia's distant kine

In Tuscan Tiber's flood.

Long pikes and poles his bands uprear,

The shapely blade, the Sabine spear.

Himself on foot, with lion's skin,

Whose long white teeth with ghastly grin

Clasp like a helmet brow and chin,