He slew three brothers of the Borean race, } And three, whom Ismarus, their native place, } Had sent to war, but all the sons of Thrace. } Halesus, next, the bold Aurunci leads: The son of Neptune to his aid succeeds, Conspicuous on his horse. On either hand, These fight to keep, and those to win, the land. With mutual blood the Ausonian soil is dyed, While on its borders each their claim decide. As wintery winds, contending in the sky, With equal force of lungs their titles try: They rage, they roar; the doubtful rack of heaven Stands without motion, and the tide undriven: Each bent to conquer, neither side to yield, They long suspend the fortune of the field. Both armies thus perform what courage can; Foot set to foot, and mingled, man to man. But, in another part, the Arcadian horse With ill success engage the Latin force: For, where the impetuous torrent, rushing down, Huge craggy stones and rooted trees had thrown, They left their coursers, and, unused to fight On foot, were scattered in a shameful flight. Pallas, who, with disdain and grief, had viewed His foes pursuing, and his friends pursued, Used threatenings mixed with prayers, his last resource, With these to move their minds, with those to fire their force. "Which way, companions? whither would you run? By you yourselves, and mighty battles won, By my great sire, by his established name, And early promise of my future fame; By my youth, emulous of equal right To share his honours--shun ignoble flight! Trust not your feet: your hands must hew your way Through yon black body, and that thick array: 'Tis through that forward path that we must come; There lies our way, and that our passage home. Nor powers above, nor destinies below, } Oppress our arms: with equal strength we go, } With mortal hands to meet a mortal foe. } See on what foot we stand! a scanty shore-- The sea behind, our enemies before; No passage left, unless we swim the main; Or, forcing these, the Trojan trenches gain." This said, he strode with eager haste along, And bore amidst the thickest of the throng. Lagus, the first he met, with fate to foe, Had heaved a stone of mighty weight, to throw: Stooping, the spear descended on his chine, Just where the bone distinguished either loin: It stuck so fast, so deeply buried lay, That scarce the victor forced the steel away. Hisbo came on: but, while he moved too slow To wished revenge, the prince prevents his blow; For, warding his at once, at once he pressed, And plunged the fatal weapon in his breast. Then lewd Anchemolus he laid in dust, Who stained his stepdame's bed with impious lust. And, after him, the Daunian twins were slain, Laris and Thymbrus, on the Latian plain;