CVII. Next come the shielded footmen in a cloud, Auruncan bands, Sicanians famed of yore, Argives, Rutulians, and Sacranians proud. Their painted shields the brave Labicians bore; From Tibur's glades, from blest Numicia's shore, From Circe's mount, from where great Jove presides O'er Anxur, from Feronia's grove they pour, From Satura's dark pool, where Ufens glides Cold through the deepening vales, and mingles with the tides. CVIII. Last came Camilla, with the Volscian bands, Fierce horsemen, each in glittering arms bedight, A warrior-virgin; ne'er her tender hands Had plied the distaff; war was her delight, Her joy to race the whirlwind and to fight. Swift as the breeze, she skimmed the golden grain, Nor bent the tapering wheatstalks in her flight, So swift, the billows of the heaving main Touched not her flying fleet, she scoured the watery plain. CIX. Forth from each field and homestead, hurrying, throng, With wonder, men and matrons, young and old, And greet the maiden as she moves along. Entranced with greedy rapture, they behold Her royal scarf, in many a purple fold, Float o'er her shining shoulders, and her hair Bound in a coronal of clasping gold, Her Lycian quiver, and her pastoral spear Of myrtle, tipt with steel, and her, the maid, how fair! BOOK EIGHT ARGUMENT Mustering of Italians, and embassage to Diomedes (1-18). Tiber in a dream heartens AEneas and directs him to Evander for succour. AEneas sacrifices the white sow and her litter to Juno, and reaches Evander's city Pallanteum--the site of Rome (19-117). AEneas and Evander meet and feast together. The story of Cacus and the praises of Hercules are told and sung. Evander shows his city to AEneas (118-432). Venus asks and obtains from Vulcan divine armour for her son (433-531). At daybreak Evander promises AEneas further succour. Their colloquy is interrupted by a sign from heaven (532-630). Despatches are sent to Ascanius and prayers for aid to the Tuscans. AEneas, his men and Evander's son Pallas are sent forth by Evander with prayers for their success (631-720). Venus brings to AEneas the armour wrought by Vulcan (721-738). Virgil describes the shield, on which are depicted, not only the trials and triumphs of Rome's early kings and champions, but the final conflict also at Actium between East and West and the world-wide empire of Augustus (739-846). I. When Turnus from Laurentum's tower afar Signalled the strife, and bade the war-horns bray, And stirred the mettled steeds, and woke the war, Hearts leaped at once; all Latium swore that day The oath of battle, burning for the fray. Messapus, Ufens, and Mezentius vain, Who scorned the Gods, ride foremost. Far away They scour the fields; the shepherd and the swain Rush to the war, and bare of ploughmen lies the plain.