Page:The Aeneid of Virgil JOHN CONINGTON 1917 V2.pdf/260

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cuts down others as they stand unconscious on the walls
and stir up the battle, Alcander and Halius, and Noëmon
and Prytanis. As Lynceus moved to meet him and calls
on his comrades, with a sweep of his arm from the rampart
on his right he catches him with his whirling sword; swept 5
off by a single blow hand to hand, the head with the helmet
on it lay yards away. Next falls Amycus, the ravager of
the forest brood, than who was never man more skilled
to anoint the dart and arm the steel with venom, and
Clytius, son of Æolus, and Cretheus, darling of the Muses, 10
Cretheus the Muses' playmate, whose delight was ever in
minstrelsy and harp, and in stringing notes on the chord;
songs of chargers and warrior arms and battles were ever on
his lips.

At last the Teucrian leaders, hearing of the slaughter of 15
their men, come together to the spot, Mnestheus and keen
Serestus, when they see their comrades flying in confusion,
and the foe lodged in the camp. Out cries Mnestheus:
"Whither now, whither are ye making in flight? what
further city have ye, what walls beyond? Shall it be said 20
that a single man, and he too, my countrymen, hemmed in
on all hands by your ramparts, has spread unavenged
such havoc through your streets, has sent down to death so
many of your bravest? As ye think of your unhappy
country, your ancient gods, your great Æneas, is there no 25
pity, no shame in your sluggish hearts?" Roused by these
words they rally and halt in close array. Turnus step by
step withdraws from the fight, making for the river and
the part round which the water runs. All the more keenly
the Teucrians press on him with loud shouts and close their 30
ranks: as when a company of hunters bears down on a
savage lion javelin in hand: he, struck with fear, yet fierce
and glaring angrily, gives ground; wrath and courage
suffer him not to turn his back, nor yet may he charge,
though he fain would do so, through the huntsmen and the 35
spears. Not unlike to him Turnus in doubt retraces his
lingering footsteps, while his heart boils with rage. Even
then twice had he dashed on the thick of the foe, twice he