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passion, to try the issue with the steel. The altars are
stripped bare: through the whole sky drives a flickering
storm of weapons and an iron sleet comes thick: bowls
and hearths are carried away. King Latinus flies, bearing
away his gods in discomfiture, the truce unratified. 5
Others rein the chariot or vault on horseback, with swords
ready drawn.

Messapus, all on fire to annul the treaty, spurs his horse
full on the Tuscan Aulestes, a king and wearing kingly
cognizance: he draws quickly back, and gets entangled 10
in piteous sort with the altars that meet him behind,
falling on them head and shoulders. Up flashes Messapus
spear in hand, and towering on horseback brings down on
him the massy beam in the midst of his prayers, and delivers
himself thus: "He is sped: here is a better victim for the 15
mighty gods." The Italians cluster round, and strip the
yet warm body. As Ebusus comes up and aims a blow,
Corynæus meets him with a brand half-burnt from the
altar and dashes the fire in his face: his long beard burst
into a blaze and made a smell of burning hair: the enemy 20
presses on, grasps in his left hand the locks of the wildered
man and with the impact of his knee pins him to earth;
then buries the stark falchion in his side. Podalirius
gives chase to Alsus the shepherd as he rushed in the first
rank through a shower of darts, and hangs over him with 25
naked sword: he, swinging back his axe, splits full in front
the foe's forehead and chin, and splashes his arms right
and left with the blood. The heavy rest of iron slumber
settles down on the dying eyes, and their beams are curtained
in everlasting night. 30

But good Æneas, his head bare, was stretching forth
his unarmed hand and shouting to his men: "Whither are
you driving? what is this sudden outburst of strife? Oh,
curb your passions! the truce is stricken, and all the terms
arranged: none but I has a right to engage: give way to 35
me and have done with alarm: my sword shall ratify the
treaty: this sacrifice has put Turnus in my power."
While he is crying thus and uttering words like these, lo!