nation, and are free to quit our soil, let us build twenty ships of Italian timber, or more if they have men to fill them: there is the wood ready felled by the river side; let themselves prescribe the size and the number; let us provide brass, and hands, and naval trim. Moreover, to convey 5 our proffers and ratify the league, I would have an embassy of a hundred Latians of the first rank sent with peaceful branches in their hands, carrying also presents, gold and ivory, each a talent's weight, and the chair and striped robe that are badges of our royalty. Give free counsel 10 and help to support a fainting commonwealth."
Then Drances, hostile as ever, whom the martial fame of Turnus was ever goading with the bitter stings of side-*long envy, rich, and prodigal of his riches, a doughty warrior with the tongue, but a feeble hand in the heat of 15 battle, esteemed no mean adviser in debate, and powerful in the arts of faction: his mother's noble blood made proud a lineage which on his father's side was counted obscure:—he rises, and with words like these piles and heaps anger high: 20
"A matter obscure to none, and needing no voice of ours to make it plain is this that you propound, gracious king. All own that they know what is the bearing of the state's fortune; but their tongues can only mutter. Let him accord freedom of speech, and bate his angry blasts, to 25 whose ill-omened leadership and inauspicious temper—aye, I will speak, let him threaten me with duel and death as he may—we owe it that so many of our army's stars have set before our eyes, and the whole city is sunk in mourning, while he is making his essay of the Trojan camp, 30 with flight always in reserve, and scaring heaven with the din of his arms. One gift there is over and above that long catalogue which you would have us send and promise to the Dardans: add but this to them, most excellent sovereign, nor let any man's violence prevent you from 35 bestowing your daughter in the fulness of a father's right on a noble son-in-law and a worthy alliance, and basing the peace we seek on a covenant which shall last forever.
