Page:The Aeneid of Virgil JOHN CONINGTON 1917 V2.pdf/329

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addresses him thus: "Learn valour from me, my son, and genuine hardihood, success from others. To-day it is my hand that shall shield you in war and lead you through the walks of honour; be it your care, when your age has ripened into manhood, to bear the past in mind, seek 5 patterns among those of your own blood, and be stirred to action by Æneas your sire and Hector your uncle."

So having said, he passed towering through the gate, a huge spear quivering in his hand: Antheus and Mnestheus close their ranks and rush forth, and the whole 10 multitude streams from the empty camp. The field is clouded by blinding dust, and earth throbs and shudders with the tramp of feet. Turnus saw them coming towards him from their battlements, the Ausonians saw, and a cold shudder ran through their vitals: first before all the 15 Latians Juturna heard and knew the sound and shrank back in terror. As a storm-cloud bursting through the sky sweeps down to earth along the main: hapless husbandmen know it ere it comes, and shudder at heart; yes, it will bring havoc to their trees, devastation to their 20 crops, will lay all low far and wide; the winds fly before it and waft the sound to the shore: with as strong a rush the Rhœteian chief sweeps his army full on the foe; they close in firm masses and form severally at his side. Thymbræus' sword cuts down mighty Osiris, Mnestheus slays 25 Archetius, Achates Epulo, and Gyas Ufens; falls too the augur Tolumnius, the first to fling his javelin at the enemy. The din mounts to the sky, and the Rutulians routed in turn fly through the plains in a whirlwind of dust. The hero himself neither stoops to slaughter the 30 flying nor encounter such as would fain meet him foot to foot, weapon in hand: Turnus alone he tracks winding through the thick darkness, him alone he challenges to combat. The terror struck Juturna's manly mind: she plucks from his seat Metiscus, Turnus' charioteer, as he 35 drives the horses, and leaves him fallen at distance behind the car: herself takes his place and handles the flowing rein, assuming all that Metiscus had, voice and