Page:Aeneid (Conington 1866).djvu/383

Rh His javelin then Æneas cast;

Through triple plate of bronze it passed,

Thick quilt, and hide three-fold,

Till in the groin it lodged at last,

But might not further hold.

Æneas sees with glistening eye

The Tuscan's life-blood flow,

Plucks forth the falchion from his thigh,

And threats the wounded foe.

When Lausus thus his sire beheld,

A heart-fetched groan he drew:

Hot tears within his eyelids swelled,

And trickled down in dew.

Now let me, glorious youth, relate

Your gallant deeds, your piteous fate:

Should after days my labours own,

I will not leave you all unknown.

The sire, encumbered and unstrung,

Moves backward o'er the field,

And trails the spear the Trojan flung

Still dangling from his shield.

Forth sprang the generous youth betwixt

And fearless with the combat mixed:

E'en as Æneas aimed a stroke

With upraised arm, its force he broke,

Himself sustained the lifted blade,

And, shield in hand, the conqueror stayed.

Loud clamouring, the confederate train

Protect the sire's retreat,

And on the foe at distance rain

Their driving arrowy sleet.

With gathering wrath Æneas glows,

And, cased in armour, shuns the blows.

As when the hail's chill stores descend

In tempest from the skies,