The Children's Hour, Volume 3 (of 10): Stories from the Classics
General
The Children's Hour, Volume 3 (of 10): Stories from the Classics
Children's stories; Classical literature -- Adaptations
Defend my remains, I entreat, from outrage, and grant me a grave along
with my son." He said no more, but extended his throat to receive the
fatal blow, which descended and drew forth his life as the blood poured
over his armor.
The shades of night were now gathering, and as the Rutulians and Latins
had quitted the field in confusion, the conflicts of that sanguinary day
were at last, ended.
ÆNEAS FINALLY CONQUERS THE LATINS
By Alfred J. Church
Prince Turnus was filled with rage. Even as a lion which a hunter hath
wounded breaketh the arrow wherewith he hath been stricken, and rouseth
himself to battle, shaking his mane and roaring, so Turnus arose. And
first he spake to King Latinus, saying, "I will meet this man face to
face, and slay him while ye look on; or, if the Gods will that he vanquish
me so, he shall rule over you, and have Lavinia to wife."
But King Latinus made answer, "Yet think awhile, my son. Thou hast the
kingdom of thy father Daunus; and there are other noble virgins in Latium
whom thou mayest have to wife. Wilt thou not then be content? For to give
my daughter to any husband of this nation I was forbidden, as thou
knowest. Yet did I disobey, being moved by love of thee, my wife also
beseeching me with many tears. Thou seest what troubles I and my people,
and thou more than all, have suffered from that time. Twice have we fled
in the battle, and now the city only is left to us. If I must yield me to
these men, let me yield whilst thou art yet alive. For what doth it profit
me that thou shouldst die? Nay, but all men would cry shame on me if I
gave thee to death!" Now for a space Turnus spake not for wrath. Then he
said, "Be not troubled for me, my father. For I, too, can smite with the
spear; and as for this Æneas, his mother will not be at hand to snatch him
in a cloud from my sight."
Then Amata cried to him, saying, "Fight not, I beseech thee, with these
men of Troy, my son; for surely what thou sufferest I also shall suffer.
Nor will I live to see Æneas my son-in-law."
And Lavinia heard the voice of her mother, and wept. As a man stains ivory
with crimson, or as roses are seen mixed with lilies, even so the virgin's
face burned with crimson. And Turnus, regarding her, loved her
exceedingly, and made answer, "Trouble me not with tears or idle words, my
mother, for to this battle I must go. And do thou, Idmon the herald, say
to the Phrygian king, 'To-morrow, when the sun shall rise, let the people
have peace, but we two will fight together. And let him that prevaileth
have Lavinia to wife.'"
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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