So either toward the city fares with all their battle-might, And no long space of way indeed there was betwixt the twain, For e'en so soon as far away Æneas saw the plain Through dusty reek, and saw withal Laurentum's host afar, Turnus the fierce Æneas knew in all array of war, 910 And heard the marching footmen tramp, and coming horses neigh. Then had they fallen to fight forthwith and tried the battle-play, But rosy Phoebus sank adown amidst Iberian flood His weary steeds, and brought back Night upon the failing day. So there they pitch before the town and make their ramparts good. BOOK XII. ARGUMENT. HEREIN ARE ÆNEAS AND TURNUS PLEDGED TO FIGHT THE MATTER OUT IN SINGLE COMBAT; BUT THE LATINS BREAK THE PEACE AND ÆNEAS IS WOUNDED: IN THE END ÆNEAS MEETETH TURNUS INDEED, AND SLAYETH HIM. When Turnus sees the Latin men all failing from the sword, Broken by Mars, and that all folk bethink them of his word, And fall to mark him with their eyes, then fell he burns indeed, And raises up his heart aloft; e'en as in Punic mead The smitten lion, hurt in breast by steel from hunters' ring, Setteth the battle in array, and joyfully doth fling The mane from off his brawny neck, and fearless of his mood Breaks off the clinging robber-spear, and roars from mouth of blood; E'en so o'er Turnus' fiery heart the tide of fury wins, And thus he speaketh to the King, and hasty speech begins: 10 "No hanging back in Turnus is, and no Ænean thrall Hath aught to do to break his word or plighted troth recall: I will go meet him: Father, bring the Gods, the peace-troth plight; Then either I this Dardan thing will send adown to night,-- This rag of Asia,--Latin men a-looking on the play, And all alone the people's guilt my sword shall wipe away; Or let him take us beaten folk, and wed Lavinia then!"