Mythology, Greek -- Juvenile literature; Mythology, Roman -- Juvenile literature
Then Alecto hied her to the place where Iülus was hunting the beasts of
the forest. Now there was a stag, very stately, with exceeding great
horns, which Tyrrheus and his children had brought up from a fawn. And
Silvia, a fair virgin who was his daughter, was wont to adorn it with
garlands, and to comb it, and to wash it with water. By day it would
wander in the woods, and at nightfall come back to the house. This
stag, then, the dogs of Iülus having scented pursued, and indeed Alecto
brought it to pass that this mischief shall befall; and Iülus also,
following hard upon his dogs, shot an arrow at it, nor missed (for
the Fury would have it so), but pierced it through. Then the wounded
beast flew back to the house which it knew, being covered with blood,
and filled it with a lamentable voice, as one that crieth for help.
And Silvia heard it, and cried to the country folk for aid, who came
forthwith, Alecto urging them (for the accursed thing lay hid in the
woods). And one had a charred firebrand and another a knotted stick,
each such weapon as came to his hand. And Tyrrheus, who chanced to be
splitting a tall oak with wedges, led the way, having a great axe in
his hand.
Then did Alecto climb upon the roof, and, sounding with hellish voice
through a clarion, sent abroad the shepherds’ signal. And all the
forest trembled at the sound, and Trivia’s lake and Nar, with his white
sulphurous wave, and the fountains of Velia; and trembling mothers
pressed their children to their breasts.
Then ran together all the country folk, and the youth of Troy hasted
also to the help of Iülus. And now they fought not with clubs and
charred stakes, but with swords and spears in battle array. Then Almo
fell, the eldest of the sons of Tyrrheus, stricken in the throat, with
many others round him, and among them the old man Galæsus, even as he
offered himself to be a mediator between the two. Most righteous of men
was he, and richest likewise, for he had five flocks of sheep and five
herds of cattle, and tilled the earth with a hundred ploughs.
But Alecto, when she had accomplished these things, hasted to Juno, and
spake, saying, “I have done thy bidding; and now, if thou wilt, I will
to the neighboring cities, spreading among them rumors of wars.” But
Juno answered, “It is enough; there hath been the shedding of blood. It
were not well that the Father should see thee wandering in the upper
air, wherefore depart, and if aught remain to be done, I will see to
it.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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