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
But the thing pleased not the Latins; for before, indeed, they judged that
the battle would not be equal between two; and now were they the more
assured, seeing them when they came together, and that Turnus walked with
eyes cast to the ground, and was pale and wan. Wherefore there arose a
murmuring among the people, which when Juturna perceived, she took upon
herself the likeness of Camertus, who was a prince and a great warrior
among them, and passed through the host saying, "Are ye not ashamed, men
of Italy, that one man should do battle for you all? For count these men;
surely they are scarce one against two. And if he be vanquished, what
shame for you! As for him, indeed, though he die, yet shall his glory
reach to the heavens; but ye shall suffer disgrace, serving these
strangers forever."
And when she saw that the people were moved, she gave also a sign from
heaven. For lo! an eagle, that drave a crowd of sea-fowl before him,
swooped down to the water, and caught a great swan; and even while the
Italians looked, the birds that before had fled turned and pursued the
eagle, and drave him before them, so that he dropped the swan and fled
away. Which thing when the Italians perceived they shouted, and made them
ready for battle. And the augur Tolumnius cried, "This is the token that I
have looked for. For this eagle is the stranger, and ye are the birds,
which before, indeed, have fled, but shall now make him to flee."
And he ran forward and cast his spear, smiting a man of Arcadia below the
belt, upon the groin. One of nine brothers was he, sons of a Tuscan
mother, but their father was a Greek; and they, when they saw him slain,
caught swords and spears, and ran forward. And straightway the battle was
begun. First they brake down the altars, that they might take firebrands
therefrom; and King Latinus fled from the place. Then did Messapus drive
his horses against King Aulestes of Mantua, who, being fain to fly,
stumbled upon the altar and fell headlong on the ground. And Messapus
smote him with a spear that was like a weaver's beam, saying, "This, of a
truth, is a worthier victim." After this Coryneus, the Arcadian, when
Ebysus would have smitten him, snatched a brand from the altar and set
fire to the beard of the man, and, before he came to himself, caught him
by the hair, and thrusting him to the ground, so slew him. And when
Podalirius pursued Alsus the shepherd, and now held his sword over him
ready to strike, the other turned, and with a battle-axe cleft the man's
head from forehead to chin.
But all the while the righteous Æneas, having his head bare, and holding
neither spear nor sword, cried to the people, "What seek ye? what madness
is this? The covenant is established, and I only have the right to do
battle." But even while he spake an arrow smote him, wounding him. But who
let it fly no man knoweth; for who, of a truth, would boast that he had
wounded Æneas? And he departed from the battle.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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