Page:The Aeneid of Virgil JOHN CONINGTON 1917 V2.pdf/324

 and pity Turnus' cruel fate. And now Juturna gives them one thing more, even a sign from heaven, no spell so potent to work on Italian minds and make them dupes of the marvel. Flying through the ruddy sky, Jove's golden bird was chasing the river fowl, a winged noisy multitude,           5 when suddenly swooping on the water he carries off in his tyrant claws a stately swan. The Italians are all attention, when lo! the whole mass of birds face about with a scream, marvellous to see, their wings darkening the air, and in dense cloud press on their enemy, till overborne by           10 sheer weight he gives way, drops the booty from his talons into the river, flying aloft, and vanishes in the distant sky. Oh, then the Rutulians welcome the omen with a shout and spread their hands on high; and first of all cries the augur Tolumnius. "Here, here is the thing I have prayed for so             15 often. I embrace it, I own the hand of Heaven. Follow me—yes, me—and seize your weapons, my poor countrymen, whom the felon stranger is scaring with battle, as if ye were feeble birds, and ravaging your coasts. He too will turn to flight and sail far away on the deep. Close              20 your ranks with one accord, and rally round the prince of whom the battle robs you." He spoke, and running forward hurls his dart full at the enemy: the hurtling cornel sounds, and cuts the air on no doubtful errand. A deafening shout follows on the act, the ranks are confused,                    25 and men's hearts stirred with mad bewilderment. On flew the spear, just where nine goodly brethren chanced to stand facing it, all born of one true Tuscan mother to Gylippus the Arcadian. One of these just at the waist where the quilted belt chafes against the belly and the              30 buckle presses the sides—a youth of goodly form and clad in refulgent armour—it strikes through the ribs and lays him grovelling on the yellow sand. But his brothers, a gallant company and stung by grief, draw their swords or seize their javelins, and charge in headlong fury. 35 To meet them rush the Laurentian columns: while from their side surge forth in a flood Trojans and Agyllans and Arcadians with inlaid harness. All are possessed by one