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428 Then surges fury high, to know

The baseness of the treacherous foe,

As horse and car he sees afar

Careering o'er the plain:

To the just gods appeal he makes

Who watch the league that Turnus breaks:

Then charges resolute to kill,

Lets reckless slaughter rage her fill,

And gives his wrath the rein.

O that some god would prompt my strain

And all those horrors tell,

What gallant chiefs throughout the plain

By Turnus now, pursued and slain,

Now by Æneas fell!

Was it thy will, almighty Jove,

To such extreme of conflict drove

Two nations, doomed in peace and love

Through after years to dwell?

First of the Rutules Sucro tried

To stem the foe's advancing tide;

But vain that brief delay;

Æneas caught him on the side,

And, opening ribs and bosom wide

With the fell sword his fury plied,

Brought death the swiftest way.

By Turnus' hand Diores bleeds;

His brother Amycus succeeds;

One from his steed by spear brought low,

One, hand to hand, by falchion's blow:

Their severed heads the victor bore

Fixed to his car, distilling gore.

That sends down Talos to the grave

With Tanais and Cethegus brave,

Three chiefs at once struck dead,