But, rough, in open air he chose to lie; Earth was his couch, his covering was the sky. On hills unshorn, or in a desert den, He shunned the dire society of men. A shepherd's solitary life he led; His daughter with the milk of mares he fed. The dugs of bears, and every savage beast, He drew, and through her lips the liquor pressed. The little Amazon could scarcely go-- He loads her with a quiver and a bow; And, that she might her staggering steps command, He with a slender javelin fills her hand. Her flowing hair no golden fillet bound; Nor swept her trailing robe the dusty ground. Instead of these, a tyger's hide o'erspread Her back and shoulders, fastened to her head. The flying dart she first attempts to fling, And round her tender temples tossed the sling; Then, as her strength with years increased, began } To pierce aloft in air the soaring swan, } And from the clouds to fetch the heron and the crane. } The Tuscan matrons with each other vied, To bless their rival sons with such a bride: But she disdains their love, to share with me The sylvan shades, and vowed virginity. And, oh! I wish, contented with my cares Of savage spoils, she had not sought the wars: Then had she been of my celestial train, And shunned the fate that dooms her to be slain. But since, opposing heaven's decree, she goes To find her death among forbidden foes, Haste with these arms, and take thy steepy flight, Where, with the gods adverse, the Latins fight. This bow to thee, this quiver, I bequeath, This chosen arrow, to revenge her death: By whate'er hand Camilla shall be slain, } Or of the Trojan or Italian train, } Let him not pass unpunished from the plain. } Then, in a hollow cloud, myself will aid To bear the breathless body of my maid: Unspoiled shall be her arms, and unprofaned } Her holy limbs with any human hand, } And in a marble tomb laid in her native land." } She said. The faithful nymph descends from high } With rapid flight, and cuts the sounding sky: } Black clouds and stormy winds around her body fly. } By this, the Trojan and the Tuscan horse, Drawn up in squadrons, with united force Approach the walls: the sprightly coursers bound, Press forward on their bits, and shift their ground. Shields, arms, and spears, flash horribly from far; And the fields glitter with a waving war. Opposed to these, come on with furious force Messapus, Coras, and the Latian horse; These in the body placed, on either hand Sustained and closed by fair Camilla's band. Advancing in a line, they couch their spears; And less and less the middle space appears. Thick smoke obscures the field; and scarce are seen The neighing coursers, and the shouting men.