Had sent him from his mother’s grove along Symaethus stream and Palicus’ rich altars. Mezentius saw him there, laid down his spear, Whirled the sling thrice around his head, let fly, And the slug of the sling-shot split the victim’s temples, Stretching his blue in the deep yellow sand. Then, so they say, was the first time Iulus Brought down a man in war; he had hunted only Wild beasts, before this time, with bow and arrows. There was a youngster, Remulus by name, Or, it might be, Numanus, lately married To Turnus’ younger sister, very proud And pleased with his new royalty. He strode Along the foremost battle-line, and taunted, Shouting indecencies, a swollen hero:-- “What, once again, O Phrygians twice-besieged? Have you no shame, to hide behind the ramparts A second time, a second time with walls To ward off death? Look at the silly warriors Who claim our brides with steel! What god, what madness, Brought you to Italy? No sons of Atreus Are here, no lying glib Ulysses. We Are a tough race, we bring our new-born sons To the ice-cold river, dip them in to make them Tough as their fathers, make them wake up early To hunt till they wear the forests out; they ride, They shoot, and love it; they tame the earth, they battle Till cities fall: and all our life is iron, The spear, reversed, prods on the ox; old age Pulls on the helmet over the whitest hair; We live on what we plunder, we revel in booty. But you--O wonderful in purple and saffron!-- Love doing nothing, you delight in dancing, And oh, those fancy clothes, sleeves on the tunics, And ribbons in the bonnets! Phrygian women, By God, not Phrygian men! Be gone forever Over the heights of Dindymus; pipe and timbrel Call you to female rites: leave arms to men, The sword to warriors!” But Ascanius loosened An arrow from the quiver, held the shaft Nocked to the bow-string, and with arms outspread For shot, made prayer:--“Almighty Jupiter, Favor my bold beginning. I shall offer The temple every year a snow-white bullock With gilded horns, a young one, but already Tall as his dam, butting with horn, and pawing The sand with restless hoof.” The father heard him, There was thunder on the left, and in that instant The fatal bow-string twanged. The shaft came flying Through air, and the steel split the hollow temples Of that young bragger Remulus. “Go on, Mock valor with arrogant words! This is the answer The Phrygians twice-besieged, the Phrygian women, Send back to Remulus.” The Trojans cheered him With joyful shouts and spirits raised to heaven.