Speak, Song-maids: thou, Calliope, give thou the singer aid To tell what wise by Turnus' sword the field of fight was strown; What death he wrought; what man each man to Orcus sent adown. Fall to with me to roll abroad the mighty skirts of war, Ye, Goddesses, remember all, and ye may tell it o'er. There was a tower built high overhead, with gangways up in air, Set well for fight, 'gainst which the foe their utmost war-might bear, 530 And all Italians strive their most to work its overthrow: Gainst whom the Trojans ward it well, casting the stones below, And through the hollow windows speed the shot-storm thick and fast. There Turnus first of all his folk a flaming firebrand cast, And fixed it in the turret's flank: wind-nursed it caught great space Of planking, and amid the doors, consuming, kept its place. Then they within, bewildered sore, to flee their ills are fain, But all for nought; for while therein they huddle from the bane, And draw aback to place yet free from ruin, suddenly 539 O'erweighted toppleth down the tower, and thundereth through the sky. Half-dead the warders fall to earth by world of wrack o'erborne, Pierced with their own shafts, and their breasts with hardened splinters torn. Yea, Lycus and Helenor came alone of all their peers Alive to earth: Helenor, now in spring-tide of his years: Bond-maid Licymnia privily to that Mæonian king Had borne the lad, and sent him forth to Troy's beleaguering With arms forbidden, sheathless sword and churl's unpainted shield. But when he saw himself amidst the thousand-sworded field Of Turnus, Latins on each side, behind, and full in face, E'en as a wild beast hedged about by girdle of the chase 550 Rages against the point and edge, and, knowing death anear, Leaps forth, and far is borne away down on the hunter's spear; Not otherwise the youth falls on where thickest spear-points lie, And in the middle of the foe he casts himself to die.