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
Now when Turnus saw that Æneas had departed from the battle he called for
his chariot. And when he had mounted thereon he drave it through the host
of the enemy, slaying many valiant heroes, as Sthenelus and Pholus, and
the two sons of Imbrasus the Lycian, Glaucus and Lades. Then he saw
Eumedes, son of that Dolon who would have spied out the camp of the
Greeks, asking as his reward the horses of Achilles (but Diomed slew him).
Him Turnus smote with a javelin from afar, and, when he fell, came near
and put his foot upon him, and taking his sword drave it into his neck,
saying, "Lo! now thou hast the land which thou soughtest. Lie there and
measure out Italy for thyself." Many others he slew, for the army fled
before him. Yet did one man, Phegeus by name, stand against him, and would
have stayed the chariot, clutching the bridles of the horses in his hand.
But as he clung to the yoke and was dragged along, Turnus broke his
cuirass with his spear, and wounded him. And when the man set his shield
before him, and made at Turnus with his sword, the wheels dashed him to
the ground, and Turnus struck him between the helmet and the breastplate
and smote off his head.
But in the meanwhile Mnestheus and Achates and Iulus led Æneas to the
camp, leaning on his spear. Very wroth was he, and strove to draw forth
the arrow. And when he could not, he commanded that they should open the
wound with the knife, and so send him back to the battle. Iapis also, the
physician, ministered to him. Now this Iapis was dearer than all other men
to Apollo, and when the god would have given him all his arts, even
prophecy and music and archery, he chose rather to know the virtues of
herbs and the art of healing, that so he might prolong the life of his
father, who was even ready to die. This Iapis, then, having his garments
girt about him in healer's fashion, would have drawn forth the arrow with
the pincers, but could not. And while he strove, the battle came nearer,
and the sky was hidden by clouds of dust, and javelins fell thick into the
camp. But when Venus saw how grievously her son was troubled, she brought
from Ida, which is a mountain of Crete, the herb dittany. A hairy stalk it
hath and a purple flower. The wild goats know it well if so be that they
have been wounded by arrows. This, then, Venus, having hidden her face,
brought and dipped into the water, and sprinkled there with ambrosia and
sweet-smelling panacea.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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