Latin poetry -- Adaptations; Virgil -- Adaptations
But Æneas came on, shaking his spear that was like unto a tree, and
said, "Why delayest thou, O Turnus? Why drawest thou back? Fly now if
thou canst through the air, or hide thyself in the earth." And Turnus
made answer, "I fear not thy threats, but the Gods and Jupiter, that
are against me this day." And as he spake he saw a great stone which
lay hard by, the landmark of a field. Scarce could twelve chosen men,
such as men are now, lift it on their shoulders. This he caught from
the earth and cast it at his enemy, running forward as he cast. But he
knew not, so troubled was he in his soul, that he ran or that he cast,
for his knees tottered beneath him and his blood grew cold with fear.
And the stone fell short, nor reached the mark. Even as in a dream,
when dull sleep is on the eyes of a man, he would fain run but cannot,
for his strength faileth him, neither cometh there any voice when he
would speak; so it fared with Turnus. For he looked to the Latins and
to the city, and saw the dreadful spear approach, nor knew how he
might fly, neither how he might fight, and could not spy anywhere his
chariot or his sister. And all the while Æneas shook his spear and
waited that his aim should be sure. And at the last he threw it with
all his might. Even as a whirlwind it flew, and brake through the
seven folds of the shield and pierced the thigh. And Turnus dropped
with his knee bent to the ground. And all the Latins groaned aloud to
see him fall. Then he entreated Æneas, saying, "I have deserved my
fate. Take thou that which thou hast won. Yet perchance thou mayest
have pity on the old man, my father, even Daunus, for such an one was
thy father Anchises, and give me back to my own people, if it be but
my body that thou givest. Yet hast thou conquered, and the Latins have
seen me beg my life of thee, and Lavinia is thine. Therefore, I pray
thee, stay now thy wrath."
Then for awhile Æneas stood doubting; aye, and might have spared the
man, when lo! he spied upon his shoulders the belt of Pallas, whom he
had slain. And his wrath was greatly kindled, and he cried with a
dreadful voice, "Shalt thou who art clothed with the spoils of my
friends escape me? 'Tis Pallas slays thee with this wound, and takes
vengeance on thy accursed blood." And as he spake he drave the steel
into his breast. And with a groan the wrathful spirit passed into
darkness.
THE END.
UNWIN BROTHERS, THE GRESHAM PRESS, CHILWORTH AND LONDON.
_Seventh Thousand, Crown 8vo, price 5s. cloth._
STORIES FROM HOMER.
BY THE
REV. ALFRED J. CHURCH, M.A.,
_Head Master of King Edward's School, Retford_;
Author of "Stories from Virgil."
THE ILIAD.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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