Page:The Aeneid of Virgil JOHN CONINGTON 1917 V2.pdf/252

 of my waning years, had the heart to leave me alone, un-*pitying? nor, when you ventured on such dangerous errand, might your wretched mother speak her farewell? Alas! on an unknown land you are lying, exposed to the ravin[o] of Latium's dogs and birds; nor have I, your                5 mother, followed your corpse to the tomb, or closed your eyes, or bathed your wounds, shrouding you with the robe which I worked so hard to finish day and night, and made the loom the medicine of an old wife's sorrow! Where shall I seek you? what land now contains those                 10 severed limbs, that mutilated corpse? is this the sole relic of yourself that you bring back to me, my son? is this what I followed over land and sea? Pierce me, if you have aught of human feeling—shower on me all your darts, ye Rutulians, let the sword make me its first meal; or do               15 thou, great sire of the gods, have mercy, and with thy lightning-bolt strike down to Tartarus this hated life, since I cannot otherwise end the cruel pain of being." Her wail shook every heart to its centre; a groan of sorrow passed through the ranks; their martial prowess flags                20 and faints. At last, as her agony flames higher, Idæus and Actor, bidden by Ilioneus and the tearful Iulus, lay hold of her, and carry in their arms within.

But the trumpet from its brazen throat uttered afar a tremendous blare; a shout ensues, and heaven returns the             25 roar. Quick speed the Volscians, carrying in level line their penthouse of shields, and strive to fill the moat and pluck down the palisade. Some look about for an access, and fain would scale the walls with ladders, where the line of defence is thin, and the ring of men, not too closely set,        30 shows a gleaming interval. The Teucrians, on their part, shower missiles of every sort, and repulse the assailants with strong poles, taught by a long war's experience how to guard their walls. Stones, too, they kept rolling of fatal bulk, in hope to break through the foe's sheltered ranks,            35 though beneath so firm a penthouse a soldier may well smile at all that can betide. Ay, and it ceases to avail them: for where a mighty mass threatens the rampart, the