Page:Aeneid (Conington 1866).djvu/427

Rh 'Neath the high hill a barrow stood,

Dercennus' tomb, o'ergrown with wood

(A monarch he of elder blood

Who ruled Laurentum's land):

The goddess, lighting with a bound,

Paused here, and from the lofty mound

The guilty Arruns scanned.

She saw him insolent and gay,

And 'Why' she cries 'so far astray?

This way, doomed caitiff, come this way!

Shall vengeance vainly call?

Here, take Camilla's guerdon due:

Alas the day, when such as you

By Dian's arrows fall!'

Thus having said, the maid of Thrace

An arrow from the golden case

Draws out, and fits for flight:

Then at full stretch the bow she bends,

Till now she joins the horn's two ends,

And touches with her left the blade

Of the keen shaft transversely laid,

Her bosom with the right.

That instant Arruns heard the sound

And in his heart the weapon found.

Him gasping out his life with pain

His comrades on the dusty plain

Unheeded leave to die;

Triumphant Opis soars again

Back to the Olympian sky.

First turns to flight, its mistress slain,

Camilla's light-armed horseman train:

The Rutules and Atinas fly;

Lorn bands and chiefs astray

For safety to the city hie

In rout and disarray.