The strokes, and bore about an iron wood. Impatient of delay, and weary grown, Still to defend, and to defend alone, To wrench the darts which in his buckler light, Urged, and o'er-laboured in unequal fight-- At length resolved, he throws, with all his force, Full at the temples of the warrior horse. Just where the stroke was aimed, the unerring spear Made way, and stood transfixed through either ear. Seized with unwonted pain, surprised with fright, The wounded steed curvets, and, raised upright, Lights on his feet before; his hoofs behind Spring up in air aloft, and lash the wind. Down comes the rider headlong from his height: His horse came after with unwieldy weight, And, floundering forward, pitching on his head, His lord's encumbered shoulder overlaid. From either host, the mingled shouts and cries Of Trojans and Rutulians rend the skies: Æneas, hastening, waved his fatal sword High o'er his head, with this reproachful word:-- "Now! where are now thy vaunts, the fierce disdain, Of proud Mezentius, and the lofty strain?" Struggling, and wildly staring on the skies With scarce recovered sight, he thus replies:-- "Why these insulting words, this waste of breath, To souls undaunted, and secure of death? 'Tis no dishonour for the brave to die: Nor came I here with hope of victory; Nor ask I life, nor fought with that design. As I had used my fortune, use thou thine. My dying son contracted no such band: The gift is hateful from his murderer's hand. For this, this only favour let me sue, If pity can to conquered foes be due, Refuse it not; but let my body have The last retreat of human kind, a grave. Too well I know the insulting people's hate; Protect me from their vengeance after fate: This refuge for my poor remains provide, } And lay my much-loved Lausus by my side." } He said, and to the sword his throat applied. } The crimson stream distained his arms around, And the disdainful soul came rushing through the wound. FOOTNOTES: [Footnote 6: Note II.] [Footnote 7: _Assium_, according to the old editions; but Virgil bears, ----_qui mœnia Clusi, Quique urbem liquere Cosas_---- Accordingly Carey's edition reads _Clusium_, and is here followed.] [Footnote 8: This conceit is not Virgil's: The original runs thus: ---- ---- ---- ----_ille Instat aguæ, saxumque undis immane minatur Arduus, et longa sulcat maria alta carina_. ] [Footnote 9: Note I.] [Footnote 10: Note III.] [Footnote 11: Dr Carey reads, "of fate," without authority, and, as I think, without necessity.] [Footnote 12: Dr Carey proposes to read _lord_, which is doubtless the more close translation of ----_dominos dignabere Teucros_. But all the old editions have _load_, which is excellent good sense.] NOTES ON ÆNEÏS, BOOK X. Note I.