Page:The Aeneid of Virgil JOHN CONINGTON 1917 V2.pdf/277

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huge weight and the crime thereon engraved[o]: that band
of youths slain foully all on one wedding night, and the
chambers dabbled with blood: Clonus Eurytides had
chased it on the broad field of gold: and now Turnus
triumphs in the prize, and exults in his winning. Blind 5
are the eyes of man's soul to destiny and doom to be, nor
knows it to respect the limit, when upborne by prosperous
fortune! Turnus shall see the day when he will fain
have paid a high price for Pallas unharmed, when he will
hate the spoils and the hour he won them! But Pallas' 10
followers, with many a groan and tear, are bearing off
their chief on his shield in long procession. Oh, vision of
sorrow and great glory, soon to meet thy father's eye!
this day first gave thee to battle, this day withdraws the
gift, yet vast are the heaps thou leavest of Rutulian 15
carnage!

And now not the mere rumour of a blow so dreadful,
but surer intelligence flies to Æneas, that his army is but
a hand-breadth's remove from death—that it is high
time to succour the routed Teucrians. With his sword he 20
mows down all that crosses him, and all on fire hews a
broad pathway through the ranks with the steel, seeking
thee, Turnus, fresh flushed with slaughter. Pallas, Evander,
the whole scene stands before his eyes—the board
where he had first sate as a stranger, the outstretched 25
hands of fellowship. At once he takes alive four youths
born of Sulmo, and other four reared by Ufens, that he
may offer them as victims to the dead, and sprinkle the
funeral flame with their captive gore. Next he had
levelled his spear from afar at Magus. Magus deftly runs 30
beneath, while the quivering spear flies over his head,
and clasping the enemy's knees, utters these words of
suppliance: "By your dead father's soul, and the dawning
promise of Iulus, I pray you spare my poor life for
my son and my sire. I have a lofty palace: deep in its 35
vaults lie talents of chased silver; masses of gold are
mine, wrought and unwrought both. The victory of Troy
hangs not on my fortunes, nor can a single life make