Page:The Aeneid of Virgil JOHN CONINGTON 1917 V2.pdf/241

 over and they gain one day the haven of Ausonia, from all such as escape the waves and convoy the Dardan chief safe to Laurentian soil, I will take away their perishable shape, and summon them to the state of goddesses of the mighty ocean, in form like Nereus' children, Doto and     5 Galatea, when they breast the foaming deep." He said; and by the river of his Stygian brother, by the banks that seethe with pitch and are washed by the murky torrent, he nodded confirmation, and with his nod made all Olympus tremble.                                                  10

So now the promised day was come, and the Destinies had fulfilled the time appointed, when Turnus' lawless violence gave warning to the mighty mother to ward off the firebrand from her consecrated ships. Now in a moment a strange light flashed on the eyes of all, and a great     15 cloud was seen from the quarter of the dawn-goddess running athwart the sky, with the choirs of Ida in its train; then came darting through the air a voice of terror, thrilling the ranks of Trojan and Rutulian from end to end: "Busy not yourselves, ye Teucrians, to defend my     20 ships, nor take weapons into your hands: Turnus shall have leave to burn up the ocean sooner than to consume my sacred pines. Go free, my favourites: go and be goddesses of the sea: it is the mother's voice that bids you." And at once each ship snaps her cable from the      25 bank, and like a dolphin dips her beak and makes for the bottom. Then all emerge in maiden forms, a marvel to behold, and breast the main, as many as stood a moment ago with their brazen prows to the shore.

Amazement seized the Rutulians; terror came on Messapus     30 himself, confusion on his steeds; even Tiber, the river, pauses, murmuring hoarsely, and retraces his seaward course. But bold Turnus' confidence felt no check; no, his words are ready to encourage and upbraid: "It is at the Trojans that these portents point: Jove himself     35 has robbed them of their wonted resource; they wait not for Rutulian fire and sword to do the work. Yes, the sea is impassable to the Teucrians; hope of flight have they