Page:The Aeneid of Virgil JOHN CONINGTON 1917 V2.pdf/323

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or shade, now that once cut down in the woods it is orphaned
of that which gave it life, and has resigned to the
axe its leaves and its sprays—once a tree, now the workman's
hand has cased it with seemly brass, and given it to
be wielded by Latium's elders." With words like these 5
were they ratifying the treaty, all the nobles looking on.
Then, as the rite ordains, they cut the throats of the
hallowed' victims into the fire, flay the yet breathing flesh,
and pile the altars with laden chargers.

But the Rutulians have long been thinking the combat 10
unequal: their bosoms are swayed by rival emotions,
all the more, the nearer they observe the ill-matched
champions. Turnus aids the feeling by the quietness of
his step and the downcast reverential look which he turns
on the altar, his wan cheeks, and the pallor of his youthful 15
frame. Soon as his sister Juturna heard such whispers
spreading, and saw the hearts of the multitude wavering
to and fro, she plunges among the ranks, taking the form
of Camers, great in ancestral dignity, great in the name of
his father's worth, and himself a valiant warrior—plunges 20
among the ranks, knowing well what she would have, and
scatters her sayings abroad in words like these: "Blush
ye not, Rutulians, with souls such as yours, to make one a
sacrifice for all? are we not equal to our foes in strength or
in numbers? See, here is their whole army, Trojan 25
and Arcadian, aye, and that fated band of Eturia, which
seeks Turnus' life. Though but half of us should engage,
each would scarce have an enemy to fight with. He, no
doubt, will rise on the wings of fame to the gods for whose
altars he gives himself to die, and will live in the mouths 30
of men: we, stripped of our country, shall be the slaves of
haughty masters, we, I say, now seated passively on the
ground." By such words the flame is fanned more and
more in those young warrior hearts, and murmurs run
from rank to rank: not Rutulian alone, but Laurentian and 35
Latian are changed men. They who a short while since
were hoping for their own repose and their state's prosperity,
now burn for arms, would have the treaty undone,