Shrieks, clamours, murmurs, fill the frighted town. Ambitious Turnus in the press appears, And, aggravating crimes, augments their fears; Proclaims his private injuries aloud, } A solemn promise made, and disavowed; } A foreign son is sought, and a mixed mongrel brood. } Then they, whose mothers, frantic with their fear, } In woods and wilds the flags of Bacchus bear, } And lead his dances with dishevelled hair, } Increase the clamour, and the war demand, (Such was Amata's interest in the land,) Against the public sanctions of the peace, Against all omens of their ill success. With fates averse, the rout in arms resort, To force their monarch, and insult the court. But, like a rock unmoved, a rock that braves The raging tempest and the rising waves-- Propped on himself he stands; his solid sides Wash off the sea-weeds, and the sounding tides-- So stood the pious prince unmoved, and long Sustained the madness of the noisy throng. But, when he found that Juno's power prevailed, And all the methods of cool counsel failed, He calls the gods to witness their offence, Disclaims the war, asserts his innocence. "Hurried by fate," he cries, "and borne before A furious wind, we leave the faithful shore! O more than madmen! you yourselves shall bear The guilt of blood and sacrilegious war: Thou, Turnus, shalt atone it by thy fate, And pray to heaven for peace, but pray too late. For me, my stormy voyage at an end, I to the port of death securely tend. The funeral pomp which to your kings you pay, Is all I want, and all you take away." He said no more, but, in his walls confined, Shut out the woes which he too well divined; Nor with the rising storm would vainly strive, But left the helm, and let the vessel drive. A solemn custom was observed of old, Which Latium held, and now the Romans hold, Their standard when in fighting fields they rear } Against the fierce Hyrcanians, or declare } The Scythian, Indian, or Arabian war-- } Or from the boasting Parthians would regain Their eagles, lost in Carræ's bloody plain. Two gates of steel (the name of Mars they bear, And still are worshipped with religious fear) Before his temple stand: the dire abode, And the feared issues of the furious god, Are fenced with brazen bolts; without the gates, The wary guardian Janus doubly waits Then, when the sacred senate votes the wars, } The Roman consul their decree declares, } And in his robes the sounding gates unbars. } The youth in military shouts arise, And the loud trumpets break the yielding skies. These rites, of old by sovereign princes used, Were the king's office: but the king refused, Deaf to their cries, nor would the gates unbar