Page:Virgil's Pastorals, Georgics and Aeneis - Dryden (1709) - volume 2.djvu/70

 Text in Daniel, where Belshazzar was put into the Balance, and found too light. This is digression, and I return to my Subject. I said above, that these two Machines of the Balance, and the Dira, were only Orna­mental, and that the success of the Duel had been the same without them. For when Æneas and Turnus stood fronting each other before the Altar, Turnus look'd dejected, and his Colour faded in his Face, as if he desponded of the Victory before the Fight; and not only he, but all his Party, when the strength of the two Champions was judg'd by the proportion of their Limbs, concluded it was impar pugna, and that their Chief was over-match'd: Whereupon Juturna (who was of the same Opinion) took his opportunity to break the Treaty and renew the War. Juno her self had plainly told the Nymph beforehand, that her Brother was to Fight

So that there was no need of an Apparition to fright Turnus, he had the presage within himself of his impending Destiny. The Dira only serv'd to confirm him in his first Opinion, that it was his Desti­ny to dye in the ensuing Combat. And in this sense are those words of Virgil to be taken;

I doubt not but the Adverb (solùm) is to be understood; tis not your Valour only that gives me this concernment; but I find also, by this Portent, that Jupiter is my Enemy. For Turnus fled before, when his first Sword was broken, till his Sister supply'd him with a better; which indeed he cou'd not use; because Æneas