Latin poetry -- Adaptations; Virgil -- Adaptations
But Queen Juno spake to Juturna, the sister of Turnus, saying, "Seest
thou how these two are now about to fight, face to face? And indeed
Turnus goeth to his death. As for me, I endure not to look upon this
covenant or this battle. But if thou canst do aught for thy brother,
lo! the time is at hand." And when the Nymph wept and beat her breast,
Juno said, "This is no time for tears. Save thy brother, if thou
canst, from death; or cause that they break this covenant."
After this came the kings, that they might make the covenant together.
And King Latinus rode in a chariot with four horses, and he had on his
head a crown with twelve rays of gold, for he was of the race of the
Sun; and Turnus came in a chariot with two white horses, having a
javelin in either hand; and Æneas had donned the arms which Vulcan had
made, and with him was the young Iülus. And after due offering Æneas
sware, calling on all the Gods, "If the victory shall fall this day to
Turnus, the men of Troy shall depart to the city of Evander, nor
trouble this land any more. But if it fall to me, I will not that the
Latins should serve the men of Troy. Let the nations be equal one with
the other. The gods that I bring we will worship together, but King
Latinus shall reign as before. A new city shall the men of Troy build
for me, and Lavinia shall call it after her own name."
Then King Latinus sware, calling on the Gods that are above and the
Gods that are below, saying, "This covenant shall stand for ever,
whatsoever may befall. As sure as this sceptre which I bear--once it
was a tree, but a cunning workman closed it in bronze, to be the glory
of Latium's kings--shall never again bear twig or leaf, so surely
shall this covenant be kept."
But the thing pleased not the Latins; for before, indeed, they judged
that the battle would not be equal between the two; and now were they
the more assured, seeing them when they came together, and that Turnus
walked with eyes cast to the ground, and was pale and wan. Wherefore
there arose a murmuring among the people, which when Juturna
perceived, she took upon herself the likeness of Camers, who was a
prince and a great warrior among them, and passed through the host,
saying, "Are ye not ashamed, men of Italy, that one man should do
battle for you all? For count these men: surely they are scarce one
against two. And if he be vanquished, what shame for you! As for him,
indeed, though he die, yet shall his glory reach to the heavens; but
ye shall suffer disgrace, serving these strangers for ever."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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