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and pity Turnus' cruel fate. And now Juturna gives them
one thing more, even a sign from heaven, no spell so potent
to work on Italian minds and make them dupes of the
marvel. Flying through the ruddy sky, Jove's golden
bird was chasing the river fowl, a winged noisy multitude, 5
when suddenly swooping on the water he carries off in
his tyrant claws a stately swan. The Italians are all
attention, when lo! the whole mass of birds face about with
a scream, marvellous to see, their wings darkening the air,
and in dense cloud press on their enemy, till overborne by 10
sheer weight he gives way, drops the booty from his talons
into the river, flying aloft, and vanishes in the distant sky.
Oh, then the Rutulians welcome the omen with a shout and
spread their hands on high; and first of all cries the augur
Tolumnius. "Here, here is the thing I have prayed for so 15
often. I embrace it, I own the hand of Heaven. Follow
me—yes, me—and seize your weapons, my poor countrymen,
whom the felon stranger is scaring with battle, as if
ye were feeble birds, and ravaging your coasts. He too
will turn to flight and sail far away on the deep. Close 20
your ranks with one accord, and rally round the prince
of whom the battle robs you." He spoke, and running forward
hurls his dart full at the enemy: the hurtling cornel
sounds, and cuts the air on no doubtful errand. A deafening
shout follows on the act, the ranks are confused, 25
and men's hearts stirred with mad bewilderment. On flew
the spear, just where nine goodly brethren chanced to
stand facing it, all born of one true Tuscan mother to
Gylippus the Arcadian. One of these just at the waist
where the quilted belt chafes against the belly and the 30
buckle presses the sides—a youth of goodly form and
clad in refulgent armour—it strikes through the ribs
and lays him grovelling on the yellow sand. But his
brothers, a gallant company and stung by grief, draw their
swords or seize their javelins, and charge in headlong fury. 35
To meet them rush the Laurentian columns: while from
their side surge forth in a flood Trojans and Agyllans and
Arcadians with inlaid harness. All are possessed by one