IN THE MEANTIME THAT ÆNEAS IS AWAY, TURNUS AND THE LATINS BESET THE TROJAN ENCAMPMENT, AND MISS BUT A LITTLE OF BRINGING ALL THINGS TO RUIN. Now while a long way off therefrom do these and those such deed, Saturnian Juno Iris sends from heaven aloft to speed To Turnus of the hardy heart, abiding, as doth hap, Within his sire Pilumnus' grove in shady valley's lap; Whom Thaumas' child from rosy mouth in suchwise doth bespeak: "Turnus, what no one of the Gods might promise, didst thou seek, The day of Fate undriven now hath borne about for thee: Æneas, he hath left his town, and ships, and company, And sought the lordship Palatine and King Evander's house; Nay more, hath reached the utmost steads, the towns of Corythus 10 And host of Lydians, where he arms the gathered carles for war. Why doubt'st thou? now is time to call for horse and battle-car. Break tarrying off, and make thy stoop upon their camp's dismay." She spake, and on her poisèd wings went up the heavenly way, And in her flight with mighty bow cleft through the cloudy land. The warrior knew her, and to heaven he cast up either hand, And with such voice of spoken things he followed as she fled: "O Iris, glory of the skies, and who thy ways hath sped Amidst the clouds to earth and me? Whence this so sudden clear Of weather? Lo, the midmost heaven I see departed shear, 20 And through the zenith stray the stars: such signs I follow on, Whoso ye be that call to war." And therewithal he won Unto the stream, and from its face drew forth the water fair, Praying the Gods, and laid a load of vows upon the air. And now the host drew out to war amid the open meads, With wealth of painted gear and gold, and wealth of noble steeds. Messapus leads the first array, and Tyrrheus' children ward The latter host, and in the midst is Turnus' self the lord. Such is the host as Ganges deep, arising mid the hush With sevenfold rivers' solemn flow, or Nile-flood's fruitful rush, 30 When he hath ebbed from off the fields and hid him in his bed.