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but see that your arms bide not the shock of his.' Thus,
gracious sire, have you heard at once the king's reply,
and the judgment he passed on this our mighty war."

The envoys had scarcely finished when a diverse murmur
runs along the quivering lips of the sons of Ausonia, as, 5
when rapid streams are checked by rocks in their course,
confused sounds rise from the imprisoned torrent, and
neighbouring banks reëcho with the babbling of the waves.
Soon as their passions were allayed, and their chafed countenances
settled in calm, the monarch, first invoking 10
heaven, begins from his lofty throne:

"To have taken your judgment, Latians, ere this on the
state of the common-weal, would have been my pleasure,
and our truer interest, rather than summon a council at a
crisis like this, when the foe has sat down before our walls. 15
A grievous war, my countrymen, we are waging with the
seed of heaven, a nation unsubdued, whom no battles
overtire, nor even in defeat can they be made to drop the
sword. For any hope ye have cherished in the alliance of
Ætolian arms, resign it forever. Each is his own hope; 20
and how slender is this ye may see for yourselves. As
to all beside, with what utter ruin it is stricken is palpable
to the sight of your eyes, to the touch of your hands. I
throw the blame on none: manly worth has done the utmost
it could: all the sinews of the realm have been strained 25
in the contest. Now then I will set forth what is the judgment
of my wavering mind, and show you it in few words,
if ye will lend me your attention. There is an ancient
territory of mine bordering on the Tuscan river, extending
lengthwise to the west, even beyond the Sicanian frontier; 30
Auruncans and Rutulians are its tillers, subduing with the
ploughshare its stubborn hills, and pasturing their flocks
on the rugged slopes. Let this whole district, with the
lofty mountain and its belt of pines, be our friendly gift
to the Teucrians; let us name equal terms of alliance, and 35
invite them to share our kingdom; let them settle here, if
their passion is so strong, and build them a city. But if
they have a mind to compass other lands and another