Page:The Aeneid of Virgil JOHN CONINGTON 1917 V2.pdf/149

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throws up mounds round a high-walled town, or sits down with his army before a mountain fort, tries now this approach, now that, reconnoitres the whole stronghold, and plies him with manifold assaults, baffled in each. Rising to the stroke, Entellus put forth his right hand, and raised 5 it aloft; the other's quick eye foresaw the downcoming blow, and his lithe frame darts beyond its range. Entellus has flung his whole force on air; at once, untouched by his foe, the heavy giant, with heavy giant weight, falls to earth, even as one day falls hollow-hearted with hollow 10 crash on Erymanthus or lofty Ida, uptorn by the roots, a mighty pine. Eagerly start up at once the Teucrian and Trinacrian chivalry; up soars a shout to heaven; and first runs up Acestes, and soothingly raises from the ground his friend, aged as he. But not slackened by his overthrow, 15 nor daunted, the hero comes back fiercer to the field, with anger goading force; that mass of strength is enkindled at last by shame and conscious prowess. All on fire, he drives Dares headlong over the whole plain, now with his right hand showering blows, now with his giant 20 left. No stint, no stay; thick as the hail with which the storm-clouds rattle on the roof, so thick the blows with which the hero, crowding on with both hands, is battering and whirling Dares. Then father Æneas thought fit to stem the tide of fury, nor suffered Entellus' wounded spirit 25 to glut its rage further, but put an end to the fray, and rescued the gasping Dares with soothing words, and bespeaks him thus:—"My poor friend! what monstrous madness has seized you? See you not that strength has passed over—that the gods have changed their sides? 30 Give way to Heaven." He said, and his word closed the fight. But Dares is in the hands of his faithful comrades, dragging after him his feeble knees, dropping his head on this side and on that, discharging from his mouth clotted gore, teeth and blood together. Thus they lead him to 35 the ships; summoned, they receive for him the helmet and the sword; the palm and the bull they leave to Entellus. Hereon the conqueror, towering in pride of soul, and