Page:The Aeneid of Virgil JOHN CONINGTON 1917 V2.pdf/281

 might rather be the sport of lying terrors, and thou, who canst, lead back thy counsels by a better road!"

This said, from the lofty sky she shot forthwith, driving storm before her through the air and girt with the rain-cloud, and sought the army of Ilium and the camp of     5 Laurentum. Then, as goddesses may, she fashions a thin, strengthless shadow of hollow cloud in the likeness of Æneas, a marvel to the eyes, accoutres it with Dardan weapons, and counterfeits the shield and the crest of the god-like head, gives it empty words and tones without     10 soul, and renders to the life the step and the gait: even as the shapes that are said to flit when death is past, or the dreams that mock the sense of slumber. So the phantom strides triumphant in the van, goading the enemy with brandished weapons and defiant speech. Turnus     15 comes on, and hurls from far his hurtling spear; it turns its back and retires. Then, when Turnus thought Æneas flying in retreat, and snatched in the vehemence of his soul at the empty hope: "Whither so fast, Æneas?" cries he: "nay, leave not your promised bridal; this     20 hand shall give you the soil you have sought for the ocean over." So with loud shouts he follows, waving his drawn sword, nor sees that the winds are bearing off his triumph. It chanced that a ship was standing moored to the edge of a lofty rock, its ladder let down, its bridge     25 ready to cross—the ship which had carried king Osinius from the borders of Clusium. Hither, as in haste, the semblance of the flying Æneas plunged for shelter. Turnus follows as fast, bounds over all obstacles, and springs across the high-raised bridge. Scarce had he touched the     30 prow when Saturn's daughter breaks the mooring and sweeps the sundered ship along the receding flood. Æneas meanwhile is claiming the combat with his absent foe, and sending down to death many a warrior frame that crosses his way. Then the airy phantom seeks shelter no      35 longer, but soaring aloft blends with the murky atmosphere, while Turnus is borne by the wind down the middle of the tide. Ignorant of the event, and unthankful for