Mythology, Greek -- Juvenile literature; Mythology, Roman -- Juvenile literature
And now the nymph Juturna, who was sister to Turnus, bade her brother
haste to the help of Lausus. And when he was come, he cried to the
Latins, “Give place: I only will deal with Pallas. I only would that
his father were here to see.” Much did Pallas marvel to behold him
and to see the men give place. But, being no whit afraid, he went
forth into the space between the hosts, and the blood of the Arcadians
ran cold when they saw him go. Then Turnus leapt from his chariot,
for he would meet him on foot. And first Pallas prayed, saying, “O
Hercules! if thou wast indeed my father’s guest, help me to-day!” And
Hercules heard him where he sat in heaven, and wept because he could
avail nothing. Then said Father Jupiter, “My son, the days of men are
numbered; yet may they live forever by noble deeds. This at least can
valor do. Did not many sons of the gods fall at Troy? yea, and my
own Sarpedon. And for Turnus, too, the day of doom is at hand.” And
he turned his eyes from the battle. Then Pallas cast his spear with
all his might. Through the shield of Turnus it passed, and through
the corselet, yea, and grazed the top of his shoulder. Then Turnus
balanced his spear awhile, and said, “This, methinks, shall better
make its way,” and he cast it. Through the shield, through the stout
bull’s hide, and through the folds of bronze it passed, and through
the corselet, and pierced the breast of Pallas from front to back. And
Pallas tore from the wound the reeking steel, and the blood gushed out,
and the life therewith. Then Turnus stood above the corpse, and said,
“Men of Arcadia, tell these my words to Evander: ‘Pallas I send him
back, even as he deserved that I should send him. I grudge him not due
honors of burial. Yet of a truth the friendship of Æneas hath cost him
dear.’” Then he put his foot upon the body and dragged therefrom the
belt. Great and heavy it was, and Clonius had wrought thereon in gold
the deed of the fifty daughters of Danaüs, how they slew their husbands
in one night. But even then the time was very near when Turnus would
wish that he had left that spoil untouched. And afterwards, with much
groaning and weeping, the companions of Pallas laid him upon a shield
and bare him back.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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