craven flight of your steeds that has played your car false; no empty shadow cast by the foe has turned them; no, it is you that spring down from the wheels, and leave the horses to their fate.” With these words he laid hold of the bridles, while the wretched brother, gliding down 35 from the car, was stretching his recreant hands: “Oh, by yourself, by the parents that gave such greatness birth, spare this poor life, brave hero of Troy, and let prayer find compassion.” Æneas cut short his entreaties; “Not such were your words a moment ago; die, and forsake not your brother, as brother should:” and cleaving the bosom with his sword, he laid bare the seat of breath. Such were the deaths that the Dardan leader dealt about 5 the plains, storming along like torrent wave or murky tempest. At length the prisoners burst forth and leave their camp, the young Ascanius and the soldiery beleaguered in vain. Jupiter meanwhile first addresses Juno: “Sister mine 10 and sweetest wife in one, Venus it is, even as thou didst suppose—for thy judgment is never at fault—that upholds the powers of the Trojans, not the warriors’ own keen right hand and the courageous soul that braves every peril.” Juno returned, meekly: “Why, my fairest 15 lord, dost thou vex a sick spirit that quails before thy cruel speeches? Had my love the force it once had, and which should still be its own, this at least thou wouldst not deny me, almighty as thou art, the power to withdraw Turnus from the fight and preserve him in safety 20 for Daunus his father. As it is, let him perish, and glut the Teucrian vengeance with his righteous blood. Yet he draws his name from our lineage, and Pilumnus is his grandsire’s grandsire: and often has thy temple been loaded with store of offerings from his bounteous hand.” 25 To whom, in brief reply, the lord of skyey Olympus: “If thy prayer for the doomed youth is respite and breathing space from present death, and so thou readest my will, bear thou Turnus away in flight, and snatch him from the destiny that presses on his heels. Thus far is room 30 for compliance. But if any deeper favour be hidden under these prayers of thine, and thou deemest that the war’s whole course can be moved or changed, thou art nursing an empty hope.” Juno answered with tears: “What if thy heart were to grant what thy tongue grudges, 35 and Turnus’ life were pledged to continue? As it is, a heavy doom hangs over his guiltless head, or I am void of truth and wandering in delusion. But oh, that I might rather be the sport of lying terrors, and thou, who canst, lead back thy counsels by a better road!”