Page:The Aeneid of Virgil JOHN CONINGTON 1917 V2.pdf/259

 him wantonly within the walls, like monstrous tiger among a herd of helpless cattle! On the instant a strange light flashed from the eyes of the foe, and his arms gave a fearful clang; on his helm quivers his crest, red as blood, and from his shield he darts gleaming lightnings. With               5 sudden confusion the children of Æneas recognize that hated form and those giant limbs. Then forth springs mighty Pandarus, and with all the glow of wrath for his brother's death bespeaks him thus: "This is not the bridal palace of Amata, nor is it Ardea that embraces                10 Turnus in the walls of his fathers; the enemy's camp is before you; all escape is barred." To him Turnus, smiling in quiet mood: "Begin, if you have courage, and engage in combat. Priam shall learn from you that here too you have found an Achilles." Thus he: Pandarus, with the                 15 full strain of his power, hurls his spear, rugged with knots and unpeeled bark. It was launched on the air; but Saturnian Juno turned aside the coming wound, and the spear lodged in the gate. "But this my weapon you shall not escape, swayed as it is by my hand's full force;           20 he from whom wound and weapon come is too strong for that." So cries Turnus, and rises high upon his lifted sword, and cleaves with the steel the forehead in twain full between the temples, parting beardless cheek from cheek with a ghastly wound. A crash is heard: earth is shaken              25 by the enormous weight: the unnerved limbs, the arms splashed with gore and brain are stretched in death on the ground; and the head, shared in equal parts, hangs right and left from either shoulder. The routed Trojans fly here and there in wildering terror; and had the thought at           30 once seized the conqueror, to burst the gates by main force and give entrance to his friends, that day would have ended a war and a nation both. But rage and mad thirst for blood drove him in fury on the foe before him. First he surprises Phalaris and hamstrings Gyges; plucks forth             35 spears and hurls them on the backs of the fliers; Juno gives supplies of strength and courage. He sends Halys to join them and Phegeus, pierced through the shield, and