Page:The Aeneid of Virgil JOHN CONINGTON 1917 V2.pdf/332

 Priam's realm: here was your fatal goal: a princely home under Ida's shade: at Lyrnesus a princely hope, in Laurentian soil a sepulchre. The two armies are in hot conflict: all the Latians, all the sons of Dardanus, Mnestheus,      5 and keen Serestus, and Messapus tamer of the steed, and brave Asilas, the Tuscan band, and Evander's Arcad cavalry, each man for himself straining every nerve: no stint, no stay; they strive with giant tension.

And now Æneas had a thought inspired by his beauteous mother, to march to the walls, throw his force                       10 rapidly on the town, and stun the Latians with a sudden blow. Tracking Turnus through the ranks he swept his eyes round and round, and beholds the city enjoying respite from all that furious war, and lying in unchallenged repose. At once his mind is fired with the vision of a               15 grander battle: Mnestheus he summons and Sergestus and brave Serestus, the first in command, and mounts an eminence round which the rest of the Teucrian army gathers in close ranks, not laying shield or dart aside. Standing on the tall mound, he thus bespeaks them:                   20 "Let nothing stay my orders; the hand of Jove is here; nor let any move slower because the enterprise is sudden. The town, the cause of the war, the royal home of the Latian king, unless they submit the yoke and confess themselves vanquished, I will overthrow this day, and lay            25 its smoking turrets level with the ground. What? am I to wait till Turnus choose to bide the combat, and once conquered, meet me a second time? This, my men, is the well-spring, this the head and front of the monstrous war. Bring torches with speed, and reclaim the treaty                 30 fire in hand." He said, and all with emulous spirit of union close their ranks and stream to the walls in compact mass. Scaling ladders and brands are produced suddenly and in a moment. Some run to the several gates and slay those stationed there: some hurl the steel            35 and overshadow the sky with javelins. Æneas himself among the foremost lifts up his hand under the city wall, loudly upbraids the king, and calls the gods to witness