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178

Which Turnus in his hour of joy

Stripped from the newly-slaughtered boy,

And on his bosom bore, to show

The triumph of a satiate foe.

Soon as his eyes at one fell draught

Remembrance and revenge had quaffed,

Live fury kindling every vein,

He cries with terrible disdain:

'What! in my friend's dear spoils arrayed,

To me for mercy sue?

'Tis Pallas, Pallas guides the blade;

From your cursed blood his injured shade

Thus takes the atonement due.'

Thus as he spoke, his sword he drave

With fierce and fiery blow

Through the broad breast before him spread;

The stalwart limbs grow cold and dead;

One groan the indignant spirit gave,

Then sought the shades below."

So closes the Æneid. Does any reader complain that the poet has not carried the story further? With the death of Turnus the catastrophe is complete. The princess of Latium is the prize of the victor; and the loves of Æneas and Lavinia are certainly not of that romantic character that we need care to follow them. The Trojans are settled in Italy—two races under one name. For so has Jupiter promised, as some indulgence to the feelings of his queen, that the old Latin name shall at least not be merged in the detested name of Trojan, and on such terms has the goddess reluctantly acquiesced in the settlement of the wanderers on Italian ground. Latins, not Trojans, are to rule