happy Fate Th' Aeneans wish in vain their wanted Chief Hopeless of flight more hopeless of Relief Thin on the Tow'rs they stand and ev'n thofe few A feeble fainting and dejected Crew Yet in the face of Danger some there stood The two bold Brothers of Sarpedon's Blood Asius and Acmon both th' Assaraci Young Haemon and tho' young resolv'd to dye With these were Clarus and Thymaetes join'd Tibris and Castor both of Lycian Kind From Acmon's Hands a rowling Stone there came So large if half deserv'd a Mountain's Name Strong sinew'd was the Youth and big of Bone His Brother Mnestheus cou'd not more have done Or the great Father of th' intrepid Son Some Firebrands throw some flights of Arrows send And some with Darts and some with Stones defend Amid the Press appears the beauteous Boy The Care of Venus and the Hope of Troy His lovely Face unarm'd his Head was bare In ringlets o're his Shoulders hung his Hair His Forehead circled with a Diadem Distinguish'd from the Crowd he shines a Gem Enchas'd in Gold or Polish'd Iv'ry set Amidst the meaner foil of sable Jett Nor Ismarus was wanting to the War Directing Ointed Arrows from afar And Death with Poyson arm'd In Lydia born Where plenteous Harvests the fat Fields adorn Where proud Pactolus floats the fruitful Lands And leaves a rich manure of Golden Sands There Capys Author of the Capuan Name And there was Mnestheus too increas'd in Fame Since Turnus from the Camp He cast with shame Thus Mortal War was wag'd on either side Mean time the Heroe cuts the Nightly Tyde For anxious from Evander when he went He sought the Tyrrhene Camp and Tarchon's Tent Expos'd the Cause of coming to the Chief His Name and Country told and ask'd Relief Propos'd the Terms his own small strength declar'd What Vengeance proud Mezentius had prepar'd What Turnus bold and violent design'd Then shew'd the slippry state of Humane-kind And fickle Fortune warn'd him to beware And to his wholsom Counsel added Pray'r Tarchon without delay the Treaty signs And to the Trojan Troops the Tuscan joins They soon set sail nor now the Fates withstand Their Forces trusted with a Foreign Hand Aeneas leads upon his Stern appear Two Lyons carv'd which rising Ida bear Ida to wand'ring Trojans ever dear Under their grateful Shade Aeneas sate Revolving Wars Events and various Fate His left young Pallas kept fix'd to his side And oft of Winds enquir'd and of the Tyde Oft of the Stars and of their wat'ry Way And what he suffer'd both by Land and Sea Now sacred Sisters open all your Spring The Tuscan Leaders and their Army sing Which follow'd great Aeneas to the War Their Arms their Numbers and their Names declare A thousand Youths brave Massicus obey Born in the Tyger thro' the foaming Sea From Asium brought and Cosa by his Care For Arms light Quivers Bows and Shafts they bear Fierce Abas next his Men bright Armour wore His Stern Apollo's Golden Statue bore Six hundred Populonea sent along All skill'd in Martial Exercise and strong Three hundred more for Battel Ilva joins An Isle renown'd for Steel and unexhausted Mines Asylas on his Prow the third appears Who Heav'n interprets and the wand'ring Stars From offer'd Entrails Prodigies expounds And Peals of Thunder with presaging Sounds A thousand Spears in warlike Order stand Sent by the Pisans under his Command Fair Astur follows in the wat'ry Field Proud of his manag'd Horse and painted Shield Gravisca noisom from the neighb'ring Fen And his own Coere sent three hundred Men With those which Minio's Fields and Pyrgi gave All bred in Arms unanimous and brave Thou Muse the Name of Cyniras renew And brave Cupavo follow'd but by few Whose Helm confess'd the Lineage of the Man And bore with Wings display'd a silver Swan Love was the fault of his fam'd Ancestry Whose Forms and Fortunes in his Ensigns fly For Cycnus lov'd unhappy Phaeton And sung his Loss in Poplar Groves alone Beneath the Sister shades to sooth his Grief Heav'n heard his Song and hasten'd his Relief And chang'd to snowy Plumes his hoary Hair And wing'd his Flight to chant aloft in Air. His Son Cupavo brush'd the briny Flood Upon his Stern a brawny Centaur stood Who heav'd a Rock and threat'ning still to throw With lifted Hands alarm'd the Seas below They seem'd to fear the formidable Sight And rowl'd their Billows on to speed his Flight Ocnus was next who led his Native Train Of hardy Warriors thro' the wat'ry Plain The Son of Manto by the Tuscan Stream From whence the Mantuan Town derives the Name An ancient City but of mix'd Descent Three sev'ral Tribes compose the Government Four Towns are under each but all obey The Mantuan Laws and own the Tuscan Sway. Hate to Mezentius arm'd five hundred more Whom Mincius from his Sire Benacus bore Mincius with Wreaths of Reeds his forehead cover'd o're These grave Auletes leads A hundred sweep With stretching Oars at once the glassy deep Him and his Martial Train the Triton bears High on his Poop the Sea-green God appears Frowning he seems his crooked Shell to sound And at the Blast the Billows dance around A hairy Man above the Waste he shows A Porpoise Tail beneath his Belly grows And ends a Fish His Breast the Waves divides And Froth and Foam augment the murm'ring Tides Full thirty Ships transport the chosen Train For Troy's Relief and scour the briny Main Now was the World sorsaken by the Sun And Phoebe half her nightly Race had run The careful Chief who never clos'd his Eyes Himself the Rudder holds the Sails supplies A Choir of Nereids meet him on the Flood Once his own Gallies hewn from Ida's Wood But now as many Nymphs the Sea they sweep As rode before tall Vessels on the Deep They know him from afar and in a Ring Inclose the Ship that bore the Trojan King Cymodoce whose Voice excell'd the rest Above the Waves advanc'd her snowy Breast Her right Hand stops the Stern her left divides The curling Ocean and corrects the Tides She spoke for all the Choir and thus began With pleasing Words to warn th' unknowing Man Sleeps our lov'd Lord O Goddess-born awake Spread ev'ry Sail pursue your wat'ry Track And haste your Course Your Navy once were we From Ida's Height descending to the Sea 'Till Turnus as at Anchor fix'd we stood Presum'd to violate our holy Wood. Then loos'd from Shore we fled his Fires prophane Unwillingly we broke our Master's Chain And since have sought you thro' the Tuscan Main The mighty Mother chang'd our Forms to these And gave us Life Immortal in the Seas But young Ascanius in his Camp distress'd By your insulting Foes is hardly press'd Th' Arcadian Horsemen and Etrurian Hoast Advance in order on the Latian Coast To cut their way the Daunian Chief designs Before their Troops can reach the Trojan Lines Thou when the rosie Morn restores the Light First arm thy Souldiers
Fortune good or bad betide The same shall be my Age as now my Youth No time shall find me wanting to my Truth This only from your Goodness let me gain And this ungranted all Rewards are vain Of Priam's Royal Race my Mother came And sure the best that ever bore the Name Whom neither Troy nor Sicily cou'd hold From me departing but o'respent and old My Fate she follow'd ignorant of this Whatever Danger neither parting Kiss Nor pious Blessing taken her I leave And in this only Act of all my Life deceive By this right Hand and conscious Night I swear My Soul so sad a farewel could not bear Be you her Comfort fill my vacant place Permit me to presume so great a Grace Support her Age forsaken and distress'd That hope alone will fortifie my Breast Against the worst of Fortunes and of Fears He said The mov'd Assistants melt in Tears Then thus Ascanius wonder-struck to see That Image of his filial Piety So great Beginnings in so green an Age Exact the Faith which I again ingage Thy Mother all the Dues shall justly claim Creusa had and only want the Name Whate're Event thy bold Attempt shall have 'T is Merit to have born a Son so brave Now by my Head a sacred Oath I swear My Father us'd it what returning here Crown'd with Success I for thy self prepare That if thou fail shall thy lov'd Mother share He said and weeping while he spoke the Word From his broad Belt he drew a shining Sword Magnificent with Gold Lycaon made And in an Iv'ry Scabbard sheath'd the Blade This was his Gift Great Mnestheus gave his Friend A Lyon's Hide his Body to defend And good Alethes furnish'd him beside With his own trusty Helm of Temper try'd Thus arm'd they went The Noble Trojans wait Their issuing forth and follow to the Gate With Prayers and Vows above the rest appears Ascanius manly far beyond his Years And Messages committed to their Care Which all in Winds were lost and flitting Air. The Trenches first they pass'd Then took their Way Where their proud Foes in pitch'd Pavilions lay To many fatal e're themselves were slain They found the careless Hoast dispers'd upon the Plain Who gorg'd and drunk with Wine supinely snore Unharnass'd Chariots stand along the Shore Amidst the Wheels and Reins the Goblet by A Medly of Debauch and War they lye Observing Nisus shew'd his Friend the sight Behold a Conquest gain'd without a Fight To y e Hon ble Colonel George Cholmondeley Colonel of his Majestys Troop of Granadier Guards Groome of his Maj ties Bedchamber AE 9. l. 435. Occasion offers and I stand prepar'd There lies our Way be thou upon the Guard And look around while I securely go And a hew Passage thro the sleeping Foe Softly he spoke then striding took his way With his drawn Sword where haughty Rhamnes lay His Head rais'd high on Tapestry beneath And heaving from his Breast he drew his Breath A King and Prophet by King Turnus lov'd But Fate by Prescience cannot be remov'd Him and his sleeping Slaves he slew Then spies Where Rhemus with his rich Retinue lies His Armor-bearer first and next he kills His Charioteer intrench'd betwixt the Wheels And his lov'd Horses Last invades their Lord Full on his Neck he drives the fatal Sword The gasping Head flies off a Purple flood Flows from the Trunk that welters in the Blood Which by the spurning Heels dispers'd around The Bed besprinkles and bedews the Ground Lamus the bold and Lamyrus the strong He slew and then Serranus fair and young From Dice and Wine the Youth retir'd to Rest And puff'd the fumy God from out his Breast Ev'n then he dreamt of Drink and lucky Play More lucky had it lasted 'till the Day The famish'd Lyon thus with Hunger bold O'releaps the Fences of the Nightly Fold And tears the peaceful Flocks With silent Awe Trembling they lye and pant beneath his Paw Nor with less Rage Euryalus employs The wrathful Sword or fewer Foes destroys But on th' ignoble Crowd his Fury flew He Fadus Hebesus and Rhaetus slew Oppress'd with heavy Sleep the former fall But Rhoetus wakeful and observing all Behind a spacious Jarr he slink'd for fear The fatal Iron found and reach'd him there For as he rose it pierc'd his naked side And reeking thence return'd in Crimson dy'd The Wound pours out a Stream of Wine and Blood The Purple Soul comes floating in the flood Now where Messapus Quarter'd they arrive The Fires were fainting there and just alive The Warriour-Horses ty'd in order fed Nisus observ'd the Discipline and said Our eager thirst of Blood may both betray And see the scatter'd Streaks of dawning day Foe to Nocturnal Thefts No more my Friend Here let our glutted Execution end A Lane through slaughter'd Bodies we have made The bold Euryalus tho' loath obey'd Of Arms and Arras and of Plate they find A precious load but these they leave behind Yet fond of gaudy Spoils the Boy wou'd stay To make the rich Caparison his prey Which on the steed of conquer'd Rhamnes lay Nor did his Eyes less longingly behold The Girdle-Belt with Nails of burnish'd Gold This Present Cedicus the Rich bestow'd On Remulus when Friendship first they vow'd And absent join'd in hospitable tyes He dying to his Heir bequeath'd the Prize Till by the Conqu'ring Ardean Troops oppress'd He fell and they the Glorious Gift possess'd These Glitt'ring Spoils now made the Victor's gain He to his body suits but suits in vain Messapus Helm he finds among the rest And laces on and wears the waving Crest Proud of their Conquest prouder of their Prey They leave the Camp and take the ready way But far they had not pass'd before they spy'd Three hundred Horse with Volscens for their Guide The Queen a Legion to King Turnus sent But the swift Horse the slower Foot outwent And now advancing sought the Leader's Tent. They saw the Pair for thro' the doubtful shade His shineing Helm Euryalus betray'd On which the Moon with full reflexion play'd 'T is not for nought cry'd Volscens from the Crow'd These Men go there then rais'd his Voice aloud Stand stand why thus in Arms and whither bent From whence to whom and on what Errand sent Silent they scud away and haste their flight To Neighb'ring Woods and trust themselves to night The speedy Horse all passages belay And spur their smoaking Steeds to Cross their way And watch each Entrance of the winding Wood Black was the Forest thick with Beech it stood Horrid with Fern and intricate with Thorn Few Paths of Humane Feet or Tracks of Beasts were worn The darkness of the Shades his heavy Prey And Fear mis-led the Younger from his way But Nisus hit the Turns with happier haste And thoughtless of his Friend the Forest pass'd And Alban Plains from Alba's Name so call'd Where King Latinus then his Oxen stall'd Till turning at the length he stood his ground And miss'd
went Of solid Brass of Linnen trebly rowl'd And three Bull-hides which round the Buckler rowl'd All these it pass'd resistless in the Course Transpierc'd his Thigh and spent its dying Force The gaping Wound gush'd out a Crimson Flood The Trojan glad with sight of hostile Blood His Fauchion drew to closer Fight address'd And with new Force his fainting Foe oppress'd His Father's Peril Lausus view'd with Grief He sigh'd he wept he ran to his Relief And here Heroick Youth 't is here I must To thy immortal Memory be just And sing an Act so noble and so new Posterity will scarce believe 't is true Pain'd with his Wound and useless for the Fight The Father sought to save himself by Flight Incumber'd slow he drag'd the Spear along Which pierc'd his thigh and in his Buckler hung The pious Youth resolv'd on Death below The lifted Sword springs forth to face the Foe Protects his Parent and prevents the Blow Shouts of Applause ran ringing thro' the Field To see the Son the vanquish'd Father shield All fir'd with gen'rous Indignation strive And with a storm of Darts to distance drive The Trojan Chief who held at Bay from far On his Vulcanian Orb sustain'd the War As when thick Hail comes ratling in the Wind The Plowman Passenger and lab'ring Hind For shelter to the neighb'ring Covert fly Or hous'd or safe in hollow Caverns lye But that o'reblown when Heav'n above 'em smiles Return to Travel and renew their Toils Aeneas thus o'rewhelm'd on ev'ry side The storm of Darts undaunted did abide And thus to Lausus loud with friendly threat'ning cry'd Why wilt thou rush to certain Death and Rage In rash Attempts beyond thy tender Age Betray'd by pious Love Nor thus forborn The Youth desists but with insulting Scorn Provokes the ling'ring Prince Whose Patience tyr'd Gave Place and all his Breast with Fury fir'd For now the Fates prepar'd their cruel Sheers And lifted high the flaming Sword appears Which full descending with a frightful sway Thro Shield and Corslet forc'd th' impetuous Way And bury'd deep in his fair Bosom lay The purple Streams thro' the thin Armour strove And drench'd th' imbroider'd Coat his Mother wove And Life at length forsook his heaving Heart Loath from so sweet a Mansion to depart But when with Blood and Paleness all o'respread The pious Prince beheld young Lausus dead He griev'd he wept the sight an Image brought Of his own filial Love a sadly pleasing Thought Then stretch'd his Hand to hold him up and said Poor hapless Youth what Praises can be paid To Love so great to such transcendent Store Of early Worth and sure Presage of more Accept what e're Aeneas can afford Untouch'd thy Arms untaken be thy Sword And all that pleas'd thee living still remain Inviolate and sacred to the slain Thy Body on thy Parents I bestow To rest thy Soul at least if Shadows know Or have a sense of human Things below There to thy fellow Ghosts with Glory tell 'T was by the great Aeneas hand I fell With this his distant Friends he beckons near Provokes their Duty and prevents their Fear Himself assists to lift him from the Ground With clotted Locks and Blood that well'd from out the Wound Mean time his Father now no Father stood And wash'd his Wounds by Tyber's yellow Flood Oppress'd with Anguish panting and o'respent His fainting Limbs against an Oak he leant A Bough his Brazen Helmet did sustain His heavier Arms lay scatter'd on the Plain A chosen Train of Youth around him stand His drooping Head was rested on his hand His grisly Beard his pensive Bosom sought And all on Lausus ran his restless thought Careful concern'd his Danger to prevent He much enquir'd and many a Message sent To warn him from the Field Alas in vain Behold his mournful Followers bear him slain O're his broad Shield still gush'd the yawning Wound And drew a bloody Trail along the Ground Far off he heard their Cries far off divin'd The dire Event with a foreboding Mind With Dust he sprinkled first his hoary Head Then both his lifted hands to Heav'n he spread Last the dear Corps embracing thus he said What Joys alas cou'd this frail Being give That I have been so covetous to live To see my Son and such a Son resign His Life a Ransom for preserving mine And am I then preserv'd and art thou lost How much too dear has that Redemption cost 'T is now my bitter Banishment I feel This is a Wound too deep for time to heal My Guilt thy growing Virtues did defame My Blackness blotted thy unblemish'd Name Chas'd from a Throne abandon'd and exil'd For foul Misdeeds were Punishments too mild I ow'd my People these and from their hate With less Resentment cou'd have born my Fate And yet I live and yet sustain the sight Of hated Men and of more hated Light But will not long With that he rais'd from Ground His fainting Limbs that stagger'd with his Wound Yet with a Mind resolv'd and unappal'd With Pains or Perils for his Courser call'd Well mouth'd well manag'd whom himself did dress With daily Care and mounted with Success His Aid in Arms his Ornament in Peace Soothing his Courage with a gentle Stroke The Steed seem'd sensible while thus he spoke O Rhaebus we have liv'd too long for me If Life and long were Terms that cou'd agree This Day thou either shalt bring back the Head And bloody Trophees of the Trojan dead This Day thou either shalt revenge my Woe For murther'd Lausus on his cruel Foe Or if inexorable Fate deny Our Conquest with thy conquer'd Master dye For after such a Lord I rest secure Thou wilt no foreign Reins or Trojan Load endure He said And straight th' officious Courser kneels To take his wonted Weight His Hands he fills With pointed Jav'lins On his Head he lac'd His glitt'ring Helm which terribly was grac'd With waving Horse-hair nodding from afar Then spurr'd his thund'ring Steed amidst the War Love Anguish Wrath and Grief to Madness wrought Despair and secret Shame and conscious thought Of inborn Worth his lab'ring Soul oppress'd Rowl'd in his Eyes and rag'd within his Breast Then loud he call'd Aeneas thrice by Name The loud repeated Voice to glad Aeneas came Great Jove he said and the far-shooting God Inspire thy Mind to make thy Challenge good He spoke no more but hasten'd void of Fear And threaten'd with his long protended Spear To whom Mezentius thus Thy Vaunts are vain My Lausus lies extended on the Plain He 's lost thy Conquest is already won The wretched Sire is murther'd in the Son Nor Fate I fear but all the Gods defy Forbear thy Threats my Bus'ness is to dye But first receive this parting Legacy He said And straight a whirling Dart he sent Another after and another went Round in a spacious Ring he rides the Field And vainly plies th' impenetrable Shield Thrice rode he round and thrice Aeneas wheel'd Turn'd
his Gally sav'd the grateful Prince Is pleas'd th' unhappy Chief to recompence Pholoe the Cretan Slave rewards his Care Beauteous her self with lovely Twins as fair From thence his way the Trojan Heroe bent Into the neighb'ring Plain with Mountains pent Whose sides were shaded with surrounding Wood Full in the midst of this fair Vally stood A Native Theatre which rising flow By just degrees o're-look'd the Ground below High on a Sylvan Throne the Leader sate A num'rous Train attend in Solemn State Here those that in the rapid Course delight Desire of Honour and the Prize invite The Rival Runners without Order stand The Trojans mix'd with the Sicilian Band. First Nisus with Euryalus appears Euryalus a Boy of blooming Years With sprightly Grace and equal Beauty crown'd Nisus for Friendship to the Youth renown'd Diores next of Priam's Royal Race Then Salius join'd with Patron took their Place But Patron in Arcadia had his Birth And Salius his from Acarnanian Earth Then two Sicilian Youths the Names of these Swift Helymus and lovely Panopes Both jolly Huntsmen both in Forests bred And owning old Acestes for their Head With sev'ral others of Ignobler Name Whom Time has not deliver'd o're to Fame To these the Heroe thus his Thoughts explain'd In Words which gen'ral Approbation gain'd One common Largess is for all design'd The Vanquish'd and the Victor shall be join'd Two Darts of polish'd Steel and Gnosian Wood A Silver'd studded Ax alike bestow'd The foremost three have Olive Wreaths decreed The first of these obtains a stately Steed Adorn'd with Trappings and the next in Fame The Quiver of an Amazonian Dame With feather'd Thracian Arrows well supply'd A Golden Belt shall gird his Manly side Which with a sparkling Diamond shall be ty'd The third this Grecian Helmet shall content He said to their appointed Base they went With beating Hearts th' expected Sign receive And starting all at once the Barrier leave Spread out as on the winged Winds they flew And seiz'd the distant Goal with greedy view Shot from the Crowd swift Nisus all o're-pass'd Nor Storms nor Thunder equal half his haste The next but tho' the next yet far dis-join'd Came Salius and Euryalus behind Then Helymus whom young Diores ply'd Step after step and almost side by side His Shoulders pressing and in longer Space Had won or left at least a dubious Race Now spent the Goal they almost reach at last When eager Nisus hapless in his haste Slip'd first and slipping fell upon the Plain Soak'd with the Blood of Oxen newly slain The careless Victor had not mark'd his way But treading where the treach'rous Puddle lay His Heels flew up and on the grassy Floor He fell besmear'd with Filth and Holy Gore Not mindless then Euryalus of thee Nor of the Sacred Bonds of Amity He strove th' immediate Rival's hope to cross And caught the Foot of Salius as he rose So Salius lay extended on the Plain Euryalus springs out the Prize to gain And leaves the Crowd applauding Peals attend The Victor to the Goal who vanquish'd by his Friend Next Helymus and then Diores came By two Misfortunes made the third in Fame But Salius enters and exclaiming loud For Justice deafens and disturbs the Crowd Urges his Cause may in the Court be heard And pleads the Prize is wrongfully conferr'd But Favour for Euryalus appears His blooming Beauty with his tender Tears To Anthony Hammond of Somersham in the County of Huntingdon Esqr. AE 5. l 425. Had brib'd the Judges to protect his Claim Besides Diores does as loud exclaim Who vainly reaches at the last Reward If the first Palm on Salius be conferr'd Then thus the Prince let no Disputes arise Where Fortune plac'd it I award the Prize But Fortune's Errors give me leave to mend At least to pity my deserving Friend He said and from among the Spoils he draws Pond'rous with shaggy Main and Golden Paws A Lyon's Hide to Salius this he gives Nisus with Envy sees the Gift and grieves If such Rewards to vanquish'd Men are due He said and Falling is to rise by you What Prize may Nisus from your Bounty claim Who merited the first Rewards and Fame In falling both an equal Fortune try'd Wou'd Fortune for my Fall so well provide With this he pointed to his Face and show'd His Hands and all his Habit smear'd with Blood Th' indulgent Father of the People smil'd And caus'd to be produc'd an ample Shield Of wond'rous Art by Didymaon wrought Long since from Neptune's Bars in Triumph brought This giv'n to Nisus he divides the rest And equal Justice in his Gifts express'd The Race thus ended and Rewards bestow'd Once more the Prince bespeaks th' attentive Crowd If there be here whose dauntless Courage dare In Gauntlet fight with Limbs and Body bare His Opposite sustain in open view Stand forth the Champion and the Games renew Two Prizes I propose and thus divide A Bull with gilded Horns and Fillets ty'd Shall be the Portion of the conqu'ring Chief A Sword and Helm shall chear the Loser's Grief Then haughty Dares in the Lists appears Stalking he strides his Head erected bears His nervous Arms the weighty Gauntlet weild And loud Applauses echo thro' the Field Dares alone in Combat us'd to stand The match of mighty Paris hand to hand The same at Hector's Fun'rals undertook Gygantick Butes of th' Amician Stock And by the Stroak of his resistless Hand Stretch'd the vast Bulk upon the yellow Sand. Such Dares was and such he strod along And drew the Wonder of the gazing Throng His brawny Back and ample Breast he shows His lifted Arms around his Head he throws And deals in whistling Air his empty Blows His Match is sought but thro' the trembling Band Not one dares answer to the proud Demand Presuming of his Force with sparkling Eyes Already he devours the promis'd Prize He claims the Bull with awless Insolence And having seiz'd his Horns accosts the Prince If none my matchless Valour dares oppose How long shall Dares wait his dastard Foes Permit me Chief permit without Delay To lead this uncontended Gift away The Crowd assents and with redoubled Cries For the proud Challenger demands the Prize Acestes fir'd with just Disdain to see The Palm usurp'd without a Victory Reproch'd Entellus thus who sate beside And heard and saw unmov'd the Trojan's Pride Once but in vain a Champion of Renown So tamely can you bear the ravish'd Crown A Prize in triumph born before your sight And shun for fear the danger of the Fight Where is our Eryx now the boasted Name The God who taught your thund'ring Arm the Game Where now your baffled Honour where the Spoil That fill'd your House and Fame that fill'd our Isle Entellus thus My Soul is still the same Unmov'd with Fear and mov'd with Martial Fame But my chill Blood is curdled in my Veins And scarce the Shadow of a Man remains Oh cou'd I turn to that fair Prime again
Master Skill must now be try'd Arms for a Heroe forge Arms that require Your Force your Speed and all your forming Fire He said They set their former Work aside And their new Toils with eager haste divide A Flood of molten Silver Brass and Gold And deadly Steel in the large Furnace rowl'd Of this their artful Hands a Shield prepare Alone sufficient to sustain the War Sev'n Orbs within a spacious round they close One stirs the Fire and one the Bellows blows The hissing Steel is in the Smithy drown'd The Grot with beaten Anvils groans around By turns their Arms advance in equal time By turns their Hands descend and Hammers chime They turn the glowing Mass with crooked Tongs The fiery Work proceeds with Rustick Songs While at the Lemnian God's Command they urge Their Labours thus and ply th' Eolian Forge The chearful Morn salutes Evander's Eyes And Songs of chirping Birds invite to rise He leaves his lowly Bed his Buskins meet Above his Ankles Sandals sheath his Feet He sets his trusty Sword upon his side And o're his Shoulder throws a Panther's Hide Two Menial Dogs before their Master press'd Thus clad and guarded thus he seeks his Kingly Guest Mindful of promis'd Aid he mends his Pace But meets Aeneas in the middle Space Young Pallas did his Father's Steps attend And true Achates waited on his Friend They join their Hands a secret Seat they chufe Th' Arcadian first their former Talk renews Undaunted Prince I never can believe The Trojan Empire lost while you survive Command th' Assistance of a faithful Friend But feeble are the Succours I can send Our narrow Kingdom here the Tyber bounds That other side the Latian State surrounds Insults our Walls and wastes our fruitful Grounds But mighty Nations I prepare to join Their Arms with yours and aid your just Design You come as by your better Genius sent And Fortune seems to favour your intent Not far from hence there stands a Hilly Town Of ancient Building and of high Renown Torn from the Tuscans by the Lydian Race Who gave the Name of Caere to the Place Once Agyllina call'd It flourish'd long In Pride of Wealth and warlike People strong 'Till curs'd Mezentius in a fatal Hour Assum'd the Crown with Arbitrary Pow'r What Words can paint those execrable Times The Subjects Suff'rings and the Tyrant's Crimes That Blood those Murthers O ye Gods replace On his own Head and on his impious Race The living and the Dead at his Command Were coupled Face to Face and Hand to Hand 'Till choak'd with Stench in loath'd Embraces ty'd The ling'ring Wretches pin'd away and dy'd Thus plung'd in Ills and meditating more The People's Patience tyr'd no longer bore The raging Monster But with Arms beset His House and Vengeance and Destruction threat They fire his Palace While the Flame ascends They force his Guards and execute his Friends He cleaves the Crowd and favour'd by the Night To Turnus's friendly Court directs his flight By just Revenge the Tuscans set on Fire With Arms their King to Punishment require Their num'rous Troops now muster'd on the Strand My Counsel shall submit to your Command Their Navy swarms upon the Coasts They cry To hoist their Anchors but the Gods deny An ancient Augur skill'd in future Fate With these foreboding Words restrains their Hate Ye brave in Arms ye Lydian Blood the Flow'r Of Tuscan Youth and choice of all their Pow'r Whom just Revenge against Mezentius arms To seek your Tyrant's Death by lawful Arms Know this no Native of our Land may lead This pow'rful People Seek a Foreign Head Aw'd with these Words in Camps they still abide And wait with longing Looks their promis'd Guide Tarchon the Tuscan Chief to me has sent Their Crown and ev'ry Regal Ornament The People join their own with his Desire And All my Conduct as their King require But the chill Blood that creeps within my Veins And Age and lifeless Limbs unfit for Pains And a Soul conscious of its own Decay Have forc'd me to refuse Imperial Sway. My Pallas were more fit to mount the Throne And shou'd but he 's a Sabine Mother's Son And half a Native But in you combine A Manly Vigour and a Foreign Line Where Fate and smiling Fortune shew the Way Pursue the ready Path to Sov'raign Sway. The Staff of my declining Days my Son Shall make your good or ill Success his own In fighting Fields from you shall learn to dare And serve the hard Apprentiship of War Your matchless Courage and your Conduct view And early shall begin t' admire and copy you Besides two hundred Horse he shall command Tho' few a warlike and well chosen Band. These in my Name are listed And my Son As many more has added in his own Scarce had he said Achates and his Guest With downcast Eyes their silent Grief exprest Who short of Succours and in deep Despair Shook at the dismal Prospect of the War But his bright Mother from a breaking Cloud To chear her Issue thunder'd thrice aloud Thrice forky Lightning flash'd along the Sky And Tyrrhene Trumpets thrice were heard on high Then gazing up repeated Peals they hear And in a Heav'n serene refulgent Arms appear Red'ning the Skies and glitt'ring all around The temper'd Metals clash and yield a Silver sound The rest stood trembling struck with awe divine Aeneas onely conscious to the Sign Presag'd th' Event and joyful view'd above Th' accomplish'd Promise of the Queen of Love Then to th' Arcadian King This Prodigy Dismiss your Fear belongs alone to me Heav'n calls me to the War Th' expected Sign Is giv'n of promis'd Aid and Arms Divine My Goddess-Mother whose Indulgent Care Foresaw the Dangers of the growing War This Omen gave when Bright Vulcanian Arms Fated from force of Steel by Stygian Charms Suspended shone on high She then foreshow'd Approaching Fights and Fields to float in Blood Turnus shall dearly pay for Faith forsworn And Corps and Swords and Shields on Tyber born Shall choak his Flood Now sound the loud Alarms And Latian Troops prepare your perjur'd Arms. He said and rising from his homely Throne The Solemn Rites of Hercules begun And on his Altars wak'd the sleeping Fires Then chearful to his Household-Gods retires There offers chosen Sheep Th' Arcadian King And Trojan Youth the same Oblations bring Next of his Men and Ships he makes review Draws out the best and ablest of the Crew Down with the falling Stream the Refuse run To raise with joyful News his drooping Son Steeds are prepar'd to mount the Trojan Band Who wait their Leader to the Tyrrhene Land A sprightly Courser fairer than the rest The King himself presents his Royal Guest A Lyons Hide his Back and Limbs infold Precious with studded work and Paws of Gold Fame through the little City spreads aloud Th' intended March amid the fearful Crowd The Matrons beat their Breasts dissolve in Tears And double their Devotion in their Fears The
War at hand appears with more affright And rises ev'ry Moment to the sight Then old Evander with a close embrace Strain'd his departing Friend and Tears o're-flow his Face Wou'd Heav'n said he my strength and youth recall Such as I was beneath Preneste's Wall Then when I made the foremost Foes retire And set whole heaps of conquer'd Shields on Fire When Herilus in single Fight I slew Whom with three lives Feronia did endue And thrice I sent him to the Stygian Shore Till the last Ebbing Soul return'd no more Such if I stood renew'd not these Alarms Nor Death shou'd rend me from my Pallas arms Nor proud Mezentius thus unpunish'd boast His Rapes and Murthers on the Tuscan Coast Ye Gods and mighty Jove in pity bring Relief and hear a Father and a King If Fate and you reserve these Eyes to see My Son return with peace and Victory If the lov'd Boy shall bless his Father's sight If we shall meet again with more delight Then draw my Life in length let me sustain In hopes of his Embrace the worst of Pain But if your hard Decrees which O I dread Have doom'd to death his undeserving head This O this very Moment let me die While Hopes and Fears in equal ballance lye While yet Possest of all his Youthful Charms I strain him close within these Aged Arms Before that fatal news my Soul shall wound He said and swooning sunk upon the ground His Servants bore him off And softly laid His languish'd Limbs upon his homely Bed The Horsemen march the Gates are open'd wide Aeneas at their head Achates by his side Next these the Trojan Leaders rode along Last follows in the Reer th' Arcadian Throng Young Pallas shone conspicuous o're the rest Guilded his Arms Embroider'd was his Vest So from the Seas exerts his radiant head The Star by whom the Lights of Heav'n are led Shakes from his rosie Locks the perly Dews Dispels the darkness and the Day renews The trembling Wives the Walls and Turrets crowd And follow with their Eyes the dusty Cloud Which Winds disperse by fits and shew from far The blaze of Arms and Shields and shining War The Troops drawn up in beautiful Array O're heathy Plains pursue the ready way Repeated peals of showts are heard around The Neighing Coursers answer to the sound And shake with horny Hoofs the solid ground A greenwood Shade for long Religion known Stands by the Streams that wash the Tuscan Town Incompass'd round with gloomy Hills above Which add a holy horrour to the Grove The first Inhabitants of Grecian Blood That sacred Forest to Sylvanus vow'd The Guardian of their Flocks and Fields and pay Their due Devotions on his annual day Not far from hence along the River's side In Tents secure the Tuscan Troops abide By Tarchon led Now from a rising ground Aeneas cast his wond'ring Eyes around And all the Tyrrhene Army had in sight Stretch'd on the spacious Plain from left to right Thether his warlike Train the Trojan led Refresh'd his Men and weary'd Horses fed Mean time the Mother Goddess crown'd with Charms Breaks through the Clouds and brings the fated Arms. Within a winding Vale she finds her Son On the cool Rivers ' Banks retir'd alone She shews her heav'nly Form without disguise And gives her self to his desiring Eyes Behold she said perform'd in ev'ry part My promise made and Vulcan's labour'd Art Now seek secure the Latian Enemy And haughty Turnus to the Field defy She said And having first her Son embrac'd The radiant Arms beneath an Oak she plac'd Proud of the Gift he rowl'd his greedy sight Around the Work and gaz'd with vast delight He lifts he turns he poizes and admires The Crested Helm that vomits radiant Fires His hands the fatal Sword and Corslet hold One keen with temper'd Steel one stiff with Gold Both ample flaming both and beamy bright So shines a Cloud when edg'd with adverse Light He shakes the pointed Spear and longs to try The plated Cuishes on his manly thigh But most admires the Shields Mysterious mould And Roman Triumphs rising on the Gold To Sr. Godfry Kneller Knight Principall Painter to his Majesty AE 8. l. 805 For those emboss'd the Heav'nly Smith had wrought Not in the Rolls of future Fate untaught The Wars in Order and the Race Divine Of Warriors issuing from the Julian Line The Cave of Mars was dress'd with mossy Greens There by the Wolf were laid the Martial Twins Intrepid on her swelling Dugs they hung The foster Dam loll'd out her fawning Tongue They suck'd secure while bending Back her Head She lick'd their tender Limbs and form'd them as they fed Not far from thence new Rome appears with Games Projected for the Rape of Sabine Dames The Pit resounds with Shrieks A War succeeds For breach of Publick Faith and unexampl'd Deeds Here for Revenge the Sabine Troops contend The Romans there with Arms the Prey defend Weary'd with tedious War at length they cease And both the Kings and Kingdoms plight the Peace The friendly Chiefs before Jove's Altar stand Both arm'd with each a Charger in his Hand A fatted Sow for Sacrifice is led With Imprecations on the perjur'd Head Near this the Traytor Metius stretch'd between Four fiery Steeds is dragg'd along the Green By Tullus doom The Brambles drink his Blood And his torn Limbs are left the Vulture's Food There Porsena to Rome proud Tarquin brings And wou'd by Force restore the banish'd Kings One Tyrant for his fellow Tyrant fights The Roman Youth assert their Native Rights Before the Town the Tuscan Army lies To win by Famine or by Fraud surprise Their King half threat'ning half disdaining stood While Cocles broke the Bridge and stem'd the Flood The Captive Maids there tempt the raging Tide Scap'd from their Chains with Clelia for their Guide High on a Rock Heroick Manlius stood To guard the Temple and the Temple's God Then Rome was poor and there you might behold The Palace thatch'd with Straw now roof'd with Gold The Silver Goofe before the shining Gate There flew and by her Cackle sav'd the State She told the Gauls approach Th' approaching Gauls Obscure in Night ascend and seize the Walls The Gold dissembl'd well their yellow Hair And Golden Chains on their white Necks they wear Gold are their Vests Long Alpine Spears they wield And their left Arm sustains a length of Shield Hard by the leaping Salian Priests advance And naked thro' the Streets the mad Luperci dance In Caps of Wool The Targets dropt from Heav'n Here modest Matrons in soft Litters driv'n To pay their Vows in solemn Pomp appear And odorous Gums in their chast Hands they bear Far hence remov'd the Stygian Seats are seen Pains of the damn'd and punish'd Catiline Hung on a Rock the Traytor and around The Furies hissing from the neather Ground Apart from these the happy Souls he draws And Cato's holy Ghost dispensing Laws Betwixt the Quarters flows a Golden Sea But
his Friend and cast his Eyes around Ah Wretch he cry'd where have I left behind Th' unhappy Youth where shall I hope to find Or what way take again He ventures back And treads the Mazes of his former track He winds the Wood and list'ning hears the noise Of trampling Coursers and the Riders voice The sound approach'd and suddenly he view'd The Foes inclosing and his Friend pursu'd Forelay'd and taken while he strove in vain The shelter of the friendly Shades to gain What shou'd he next attempt what Arms employ What fruitless Force to free the Captive Boy Or desperate shou'd he rush and lose his Life With odds oppress'd in such unequal strife Resolv'd at length his pointed Spear he shook And casting on the Moon a mournful look Guardian of Groves and Goddess of the Night Fair Queen he said direct my Dart aright If e're my Pious Father for my sake Did grateful Off'rings on thy Altars make Or I increas'd them with my Silvan toils And hung thy Holy Roofs with Salvage Spoils Give me to scatter these Then from his Ear He poiz'd and aim'd and lanch'd the trembling Spear The deadly Weapon hiffing from the Grove Impetuous on the back of Sulmo drove Pierc'd his thin Armour drank his Vital Blood And in his Body left the broken Wood. He staggers round his Eyeballs rowl in Death And with short sobs he gasps away his Breath All stand amaz'd a second Jav'lin flies With equal strength and quivers through the Skies This through thy Temples Tagus forc'd the way And in the Brain-pan warmly bury'd lay Fierce Volscens foams with Rage and gazing round Descry'd not him who gave the Fatal Wound To S r Io n Percivalé Bart. of Barton in the County of Corke in Ireland AE 9. l. 590 Nor knew to fix Revenge but thou he cries Shalt pay for both and at the Pris'ner flies With his drawn Sword Then struck with deep Despair That cruel sight the Lover cou'd not bear But from his Covert rush'd in open view And sent his Voice before him as he flew Me me he cry'd turn all your Swords alone On me the Fact confess'd the Fault my own He neither cou'd nor durst the guiltless Youth Ye Moon and Stars bear Witness to the Truth His only Crime if Friendship can offend Is too much Love to his unhappy Friend Too late he speaks the Sword which Fury guides Driv'n with full Force had pierc'd his tender Sides Down fell the beauteous Youth the yawning Wound Gush'd out a Purple Stream and stain'd the Ground His snowy Neck reclines upon his Breast Like a fair Flow'r by the keen Share oppress'd Like a white Poppy sinking on the Plain Whose heavy Head is overcharg'd with Rain Despair and Rage and Vengeance justly vow'd Drove Nisus headlong on the hostile Crowd Volscens he seeks on him alone he bends Born back and bor'd by his surrounding Friends Onward he press'd and kept him still in sight Then whirl'd aloft his Sword with all his might Th' unnerring Steel descended while he spoke Pierc'd his wide Mouth and thro' his Weazon broke Dying he flew and stagg'ring on the Plain With smimming Eyes he sought his Lover slain Then quiet on his bleeding Bosom fell Content in Death to be reveng'd so well O happy Friends for if my Verse can give Immortal Life your Fame shall ever live Fix'd as the Capitol's Foundation lies And spread where e're the Roman Eagle flies The conqu'ring Party first divide the Prey Then their slain General to the Camp convey With Wonder as they went the Troops were fill'd To see such Numbers whom so few had kill'd Serranus Rhamnes and the rest they found Vast Crowds the dying and the dead surround And the yet reeking Blood o'reflows the Ground All knew the Helmet which Messapus lost But mourn'd a Purchase that so dear had cost Now rose the ruddy Morn from Tithon's Bed And with the Dawns of Day the Skies o'respread Nor long the Sun his daily Course withheld But added Colours to the World reveal'd When early Turnus wak'ning with the Light All clad in Armour calls his Troops to fight His Martial Men with fierce Harangues he fir'd And his own Ardor in their Souls inspir'd This done to give new Terror to his Foes The Heads of Nisus and his Friend he shows Rais'd high on pointed Spears A ghastly Sight Loud peals of Shouts ensue and barbarous Delight Mean time the Trojans run where Danger calls They line their Trenches and they man their Walls In Front extended to the left they stood Safe was the right surrounded by the Flood But casting from their Tow'rs a frightful view They saw the Faces which too well they knew Tho' then disguis'd in Death and smear'd all o're With Filth obscene and dropping putrid Gore Soon hasty Fame thro' the sad City bears The mournful Message to the Mother's Ears An icy Cold benums her Limbs She shakes Her Cheeks the Blood her Hand the Web forsakes She runs the Rampires round amidst the War Nor fears the flying Darts She rends her Hair And fills with loud Laments the liquid Air. Thus then my lov'd Euryalus appears Thus looks the Prop of my declining Years Was 't on this Face my famish'd Eyes I fed Ah how unlike the living is the dead And cou'dst thou leave me cruel thus alone Not one kind Kiss from a departing Son No Look no last adieu before he went In an ill-boding Hour to Slaughter sent Cold on the Ground and pressing foreign Clay To Latian Dogs and Fowls he lies a Prey Nor was I near to close his dying Eyes To wash his Wounds to weep his Obsequies To call about his Corps his crying Friends Or spread the Mantle made for other ends On his dear Body which I wove with Care Nor did my daily Pains or nightly labour spare Where shall I find his Corps what Earth sustains His Trunk dismember'd and his cold Remains For this alas I left my needful Ease Expos'd my Life to Winds and winter Seas If any pity touch Rutulian Hearts Here empty all your Quivers all your Darts Or if they fail thou Jove conclude my Woe And send me Thunder-struck to Shades below Her Shrieks and Clamours pierce the Trojans Ears Unman their Courage and augment their Fears Nor young Ascanius cou'd the sight sustain Nor old Ilioneus his Tears restrain But Actor and Idoeus jointly sent To bear the madding Mother to her Tent. And now the Trumpets terribly from far With rattling Clangor rouze the sleepy War The Souldiers Shouts succeed the Brazen Sounds And Heav'n from Pole to Pole the Noise rebounds The Volscians bear their Shields upon their Head And rushing forward from a moving Shed These fill the Ditch those pull the Bulwarks down Some raise the Ladders others scale the Town But where void Spaces on the Walls appear Or thin Defence they pour their Forces there With Poles and missive Weapons from afar The Trojans keep aloof the rising War Taught by their ten Years Siege
for th' ensuing Fight Thy self the fated Sword of Vulcan wield And bear aloft th' impenetrable Shield To Morrow's Sun unless my Skill be vain Shall see huge heaps of Foes in Battel slain Parting she spoke and with Immortal Force Push'd on the Vessel in her wat'ry Course For well she knew the Way impell'd behind The Ship flew forward and outstrip'd the Wind. The rest make up Unknowing of the cause The Chief admires their Speed and happy Omens draws Then thus he pray'd and fix'd on Heav'n his Eyes Hear thou great Mother of the Deities With Turrets crown'd on Ida's holy Hill Fierce Tygers rein'd and curb'd obey thy Will Firm thy own Omens lead us on to fight And let thy Phrygians conquer in thy right He said no more And now renewing Day Had chas'd the Shadows of the Night away He charg'd the Souldiers with preventing Care Their Flags to follow and their Arms prepare Warn'd of th' ensuing Fight and bad'em hope the War Now from his lofty Poop he view'd below His Camp incompass'd and th' inclosing Foe His blazing Shield imbrac'd he held on high The Camp receive the sign and with loud Shouts reply Hope arms their Anger From their Tow'rs they throw Their Darts with double Force and drive the Foe Thus at the signal giv'n the Cranes arise Before the stormy South and blacken all the Skies King Turnus wonder'd at the Fight renew'd 'Till looking back the Trojan Fleet he view'd The Seas with swelling Canvass cover'd o're And the swift Ships descending on the Shore The Latians saw from far with dazl'd Eyes The radiant Crest that seem'd in Flames to rise And dart diffusive Fires around the Field And the keen glitt'ring of the Golden Shield Thus threatning Comets when by Night they rise Shoot sanguine Streams and sadden all the Skies So Sirius flashing forth sinister Lights Pale humane kind with Plagues and with dry Famine frights Yet Turnus with undaunted Mind is bent To man the Shores and hinder their Descent And thus awakes the Courage of his Friends What you so long have wish'd kind Fortune sends In equal Arms to meet th' invading Foe You find and find him at Advantage now Yours is the Day you need but only dare Your Swords will make you Masters of the War Your Sires your Sons your Houses and your Lands And dearest Wifes are all within your Hands Be mindful of the Race from whence you came And emulate in Arms your Fathers Fame Now take the Time while stagg'ring yet they stand With Feet unfirm and prepossess the Strand Fortune befriends the bold Nor more he said But ballanc'd whom to leave and whom to lead Then these elects the Landing to prevent And those he leaves to keep the City pent Mean time the Trojan sends his Troops ashore Some are by Boats expos'd by Bridges more With lab'ring Oars they bear along the Strand Where the Tide languishes and leap a-land Tarchon observes the Coast with careful Eyes And where no Foord he finds no Water fryes Nor Billows with unequal Murmurs roar But smoothly slide along and swell the Shoar That Course he steer'd and thus he gave command Here ply your Oars and at all hazard land Force on the Vessel that her Keel may wound This hated Soil and furrow hostile Ground Let me securely land I ask no more Then sink my Ships or shatter on the Shore This fiery Speech inflames his fearful Friends They tug at ev'ry Oar and ev'ry Stretcher bends They run their Ships aground the Vessels knock Thus forc'd ashore and tremble with the shock Tarchon's alone was lost that stranded stood Stuck on a Bank and beaten by the Flood She breaks her Back the loosen'd Sides give way And plunge the Tuscan Souldiers in the Sea Their broken Oars and floating Planks withstand Their Passage while they labour to the Land And ebbing Tides bear back upon th' uncertain Sand. Now Turnus leads his Troops without delay Advancing to the Margin of the Sea The Trumpets sound Aeneas first assail'd The Clowns new rais'd and raw and soon prevail'd To y e Right Hon ble S r Robert Howard Auditor of his Ma ties Exchequer and one of y e Lords of his Maj ties most Hon ble Prioy Councill AE 10. l. 450. Great Theron fell an Omen of the Fight Great Theron large of Limbs of Gyant height He first in open Field defy'd the Prince But Armour scal'd with Gold was no Defence Against the fated Sword which open'd wide His plated Shield and pierc'd his naked side Next Lycas fell who not like others born Was from his wretched Mother rip'd and torn Sacred O Phoebus from his Birth to thee For his beginning Life from biting Steel was free Not far from him was Gyas laid along Of monst'rous Bulk with Cisseus fierce and strong Vain Bulk and Strength for when the Chief assail'd Nor Valour nor Herculean Arms avail'd Nor their fam'd Father wont in War to go With great Alcides while he toil'd below The noisie Pharos next receiv'd his Death Aeneas writh'd his Dart and stopp'd his bawling Breath Then wretched Cydon had receiv'd his Doom Who courted Clytius in his beardless Bloom And sought with lust obscene polluted Joys The Trojan Sword had cur'd his love of Boys Had not his sev'n bold Brethren stop'd the Course Of the fierce Champion with united Force Sev'n Darts were thrown at once and some rebound From his bright Shield some on his Helmet sound The rest had reach'd him but his Mother's Care Prevented those and turn'd aside in Air. The Prince then call'd Achates to supply The Spears that knew the way to Victory Those fatal Weapons which inur'd to Blood In Grecian Bodies under Ilium stood Not one of those my Hand shall toss in vain Against our Foes on this contended Plain He said Then seiz'd a mighty Spear and threw Which wing'd with Fate thro' Maeon's Buckler flew Pierc'd all the brazen Plates and reach'd his Heart He stagger'd with intolerable Smart Alcanor saw and reach'd but reach'd in vain His helping Hand his Brother to sustain A second Spear which kept the former Course From the same Hand and sent with equal Force His right Arm pierc'd and holding on bereft His use of both and pinion'd down his left Then Numitor from his dead Brother drew Th' ill-omend Spear and at the Trojan threw Preventing Fate directs the Lance awry Which glancing only mark'd Achates Thigh In Pride of Youth the Sabine Clausus came And from afar at Driops took his Aim The Spear flew hissing thro' the middle Space And pierc'd his Throat directed at his Face It stop'd at once the Passage of his Wind And the free Soul to flitting Air resign'd His Forehead was the first that struck the Ground life-Life-blood and Life rush'd mingl'd thro' the Wound He slew three Brothers of the Borean Race And three whom Ismarus their Native Place Had sent to War but all the Sons of Thrace Halesus next the bold Aurunci leads The Son of Neptune to his
Aid succeeds Conspicuous on his Horse On either Hand These fight to keep and those to win the Land With mutual Blood th' Ausonian Soil is dy'd While on its Borders each their Claim decide As wint'ry Winds contending in the Sky With equal force of Lungs their Titles try They rage they roar the doubtful rack of Heav'n Stands without Motion and the Tyde undriv'n Each bent to conquer neither side to yield They long suspend the Fortune of the Field Both Armies thus perform what Courage can Foot set to Foot and crowded Man to Man But in another part th' Arcadian Horse With ill Success ingage the Latin Force For where th' impetuous Torrent rushing down Huge craggy Stones and rooted Trees had thrown They left their Coursers and unus'd to Fight On Foot were scatter'd in a shameful flight Pallas who with Disdain and Grief had view'd His Foes pursuing and his Friends pursu'd Us'd Threatnings mix'd with Pray'rs his last Ressource With these to move their Minds with those to fire their Force Which way Companions Whether wou'd you run By you your selves and mighty Battels won By my great Sire by his establish'd Name And early promise of my Future Fame By my Youth emulous of equal Right To share his Honours shun ignoble Flight Trust not your Feet your Hands must hew your way Thro' yon black Body and that thick Array 'T is thro' that forward Path that we must come There lies our Way and that our Passage home Nor Pow'rs above nor Destinies below Oppress our Arms with equal Strength we go With Mortal Hands to meet a Mortal Foe See on what Foot we stand A scanty Shore The Sea behind our Enemies before No Passage left unless we swim the Main Or forcing these the Trojan Trenches gain This said he strode with eager haste along And bore amidst the thickest of the Throng Lagus the first he met with Fate to Foe Had heav'd a Stone of mighty Weight to throw Stooping the Spear descended on his Chine Just where the Bone distinguish'd either Loin It stuck so fast so deeply bury'd lay That scarce the Victor forc'd the Steel away Hisbon came on but while he mov'd too slow To wish'd Revenge the Prince prevents his Blow For warding his at once at once he press'd And plung'd the fatal Weapon in his Breast Then leud Anchemolus he laid in Dust Who stain'd his Stepdam's Bed with impious Lust And after him the Daucian Twins were slain Laris and Thimbrus on the Latian Plain So wond'rous like in Feature Shape and Size As caus'd an Error in their Parents Eyes Grateful Mistake but soon the Sword decides The nice Distinction and their Fate divides For Thimbrus Head was lop'd and Laris Hand Dismember'd sought its Owner on the Strand The trembling Fingers yet the Fauchion strain And threaten still th' intended Stroke in vain Now to renew the Charge th' Arcadians came Sight of such Acts and sense of honest Shame And Grief with Anger mix'd their Minds inflame Then with a casual Blow was Rhaeteus slain Who chanc'd as Pallas threw to cross the Plain The flying Spear was after Ilus sent But Rhaeteus hapen'd on a Death unmeant From Teuthras and from Tyres while he fled The Lance athwart his Body laid him dead Rowl'd from his Chariot with a Mortal Wound And intercepted Fate he spurn'd the Ground As when in Summer welcome Winds arise The watchful Shepherd to the Forest flies And fires the midmost Plants Contagion spreads And catching Flames infect the neighb'ring Heads Around the Forest flies the furious Blast And all the leafie Nation sinks at last And Vulcan rides in Triumph o're the Wast The Pastor pleas'd with his dire Victory Beholds the satiate Flames in Sheets ascend the Sky So Pallas's Troops their scatter'd Strength unite And pouring on their Foes their Prince delight Halesus came fierce with desire of Blood But first collected in his Arms he stood Advancing then he ply'd the Spear so well Ladon Demodocus and Pheres fell Around his Head he toss'd his glitt'ring Brand And from Strimonius hew'd his better Hand Held up to guard his Throat Then hurl'd a Stone At Thoas ample Front and pierc'd the Bone It struck beneath the space of either Eye And Blood and mingled Brains together fly Deep skill'd in future Fates Halesus Sire Did with the Youth to lonely Groves retire But when the Father 's Mortal Race was run Dire Destiny laid hold upon the Son And haul'd him to the War to find beneath Th' Evandrian Spear a memorable Death Pallas th' Encounter seeks but e're he throws To Tuscan Tyber thus address'd his Vows O sacred Stream direct my flying Dart And give to pass the proud Halesus Heart His Arms and Spoils thy holy Oak shall bear Pleas'd with the Bribe the God receiv'd his Pray'r For while his Shield protects a Friend distress'd The Dart came driving on and pierc'd his Breast But Lausus no small portion of the War Permits not Panick Fear to reign too far Caus'd by the Death of so renown'd a Knight But by his own Example chears the Fight Fierce Abas first he slew Abas the stay Of Trojan Hopes and hind'rance of the Day The Phrygian Troops escap'd the Greeks in vain They and their mix'd Allies now load the Plain To the rude shock of War both Armies came Their Leaders equal and their Strength the same The Rear so press'd the Front they cou'd not wield Their angry Weapons to dispute the Field Here Pallas urges on and Lausus there Of equal Youth and Beauty both appear But both by Fate forbid to breath their Native Air. Their Congress in the Field great Jove withstands Both doom'd to fall but fall by greater Hands Mean time Juturna warns the Daunian Chief Of Lausus Danger urging swift Relief With his driv'n Chariot he divides the Crowd And making to his Friends thus calls aloud Let none presume his needless Aid to join Retire and clear the Field the Fight is mine To this right Hand is Pallas only due Oh were his Father here my just Revenge to view From the forbidden Space his Men retir'd Pallas their Awe and his stern Words admir'd Survey'd him o're and o're with wond'ring sight Struck with his haughty Meen and tow'ring Height Then to the King your empty Vaunts forbear Success I hope and Fate I cannot fear Alive or dead I shall deserve a Name Jove is impartial and to both the same He said and to the void advanc'd his Pace Pale Horror sate on each Arcadian Face Then Turnus from his Chariot leaping light Address'd himself on Foot to single Fight And as a Lyon when he spies from far A Bull that seems to meditate the War Bending his Neck and spurning back the Sand Runs roaring downward from his hilly Stand Imagine eager Turnus not more slow To rush from high on his unequal Foe Young Pallas when he saw the Chief advance Within due distance of his flying Lance Prepares to charge him first Resolv'd to try If
sacred Altars touch the Flames And all those Pow'rs attest and all their Names Whatever Chance befall on either Side No term of time this Union shall divide No Force no Fortune shall my Vows unbind Or shake the stedfast Tenour of my Mind Not tho' the circling Seas shou'd break their Bound O'reflow the Shores or sap the solid Ground Not tho' the Lamps of Heav'n their Spheres forsake Hurl'd down and hissing in the neather Lake Ev'n as this Royal Scepter for he bore A Scepter in his Hand shall never more Shoot out in Branches or renew the Birth An Orphan now cut from the Mother Earth By the keen Axe dishonour'd of its Hair And cas'd in Brass for Latian Kings to bear When thus in publick view the Peace was ty'd With solemn Vows and sworn on either side All dues perform'd which holy Rites require The Victim Beasts are slain before the Fire The trembling Entrails from their Bodies torn And to the fatten'd Flames in Chargers born Already the Rutulians deem'd their Man O'rematch'd in Arms before the Fight began First rising Fears are whisper'd thro' the Crowd Then gath'ring sound they murmur more aloud Now side to side they measure with their Eyes The Champions bulk their Sinews and their Sise The nearer they approach the more is known Th' apparent Disadvantage of their own Turnus himself appears in publick sight Conscious of Fate desponding of the Fight Slowly he moves and at his Altar stands With eyes dejected and with trembling hands And while he mutters undistinguish'd Pray'rs A livid deadness in his Cheeks appears With anxious Pleasure when Juturna view'd Th' increasing Fright of the mad Multitude When their short Sighs and thickning Sobs she heard And found their ready Minds for Change prepar'd Dissembling her immortal Form she took Camertus Meen his Habit and his Look A Chief of ancient Blood in Arms well known Was his great Sire and he his greater Son His Shape assum'd amid the Ranks she ran And humouring their first Motions thus began For shame Rutulians can you bear the sight Of one expos'd for all in single Fight Can we before the Face of Heav'n confess Our Courage colder or our Numbers less View all the Trojan Hoast th' Arcadian Band And Tuscan Army count 'em as they stand Undaunted to the Battel if we goe Scarce ev'ry second Man will share a Foe Turnus 't is true in this unequal Strife Shall lose with Honour his devoted Life Or change it rather for immortal Fame Succeeding to the Gods from whence he came But you a servile and inglorious Band For Foreign Lords shall sow your Native Land Those fruitful Fields your fighting Fathers gain'd Which have so long their lazy Sons sustain'd With Words like these she carry'd her Design A rising Murmur runs along the Line Then ev'n the City Troops and Latians tir'd With tedious War seem with new Souls inspir'd Their Champion's Fate with Pity they lament And of the League so lately sworn repent Nor fails the Goddess to foment the Rage With lying Wonders and a false Presage But adds a Sign which present to their Eyes Inspires new Courage and a glad Surprize For sudden in the fiery Tracts above Appears in Pomp th' Imperial Bird of Jove A plump of Fowl he spies that swim the Lakes And o're their Heads his sounding Pinions shakes Then stooping on the fairest of the Train In his strong Tallons truss'd a silver Swan Th' Italians wonder at th' unusual sight But while he lags and labours in his flight Behold the Dastard Fowl return anew And with united force the Foe pursue Clam'rous around the Royal Hawk they fly And thick'ning in a Cloud o'reshade the Sky They cuff they scratch they cross his airy Course Nor can th' incumber'd Bird sustain their Force But vex'd not vanquish'd drops the pond'rous Prey And lighten'd of his Burthen wings his Way Th' Ausonian Bands with Shouts salute the sight Eager of Action and demand the Fight Then King Tolumnius vers'd in Augur's Arts Cries out and thus his boasted Skill imparts At length 't is granted what I long desir'd This this is what my frequent Vows requir'd Ye Gods I take your Omen and obey Advance my Friends and charge I lead the Way These are the Foreign Foes whose impious Band Like that rapacious Bird infest our Land But soon like him they shall be forc'd to Sea By Strength united and forego the Prey Your timely Succour to your Country bring Haste to the Rescue and redeem your King He said And pressing onward thro' the Crew Poiz'd in his lifted Arm his Lance he threw The winged Weapon whistling in the Wind Came driving on nor miss'd the Mark design'd At once the Cornel rattled in the Skies At once tumultuous Shouts and Clamours rise Nine Brothers in a goodly Band there stood Born of Arcadian mix'd with Tuscan Blood Gylippus Sons The fatal Jav'lin flew Aim'd at the midmost of the friendly Crew A Passage thro' the jointed Arms it found Just where the Belt was to the Body bound And struck the gentle Youth extended on the Ground Then fir'd with pious Rage the gen'rous Train Run madly forward to revenge the slain And some with eager haste their Jav'lins throw And some with Sword in hand assault the Foe The wish'd Insult the Latine Troops embrace And meet their Ardour in the middle Space The Trojans Tuscans and Arcadian Line With equal Courage obviate their Design Peace leaves the violated Fields and Hate Both Armies urges to their mutual Fate With impious Haste their Altars are o'return'd The Sacrifice half broil'd and half unburn'd Thick Storms of Steel from either Army fly And Clouds of clashing Darts obscure the Sky Brands from the Fire are missive Weapons made With Chargers Bowls and all the Priestly Trade Latinus frighted hastens from the Fray And bears his unregarded Gods away These on their Horses vault those yoke the Car The rest with Swords on high run headlong to the War Messapus eager to confound the Peace Spurr'd his hot Courser thro' the fighting Preace At King Aulestes by his Purple known A Tuscan Prince and by his Regal Crown And with a Shock encount'ring bore him down Backward he fell and as his Fate design'd The Ruins of an Altar were behind There pitching on his Shoulders and his Head Amid the scatt'ring Fires he lay supinely spread The beamy Spear descending from above His Cuirass pierc'd and thro' his Body drove Then with a scornful Smile the Victor cries The Gods have found a fitter Sacrifice Greedy of Spoils th' Italians strip the dead Of his rich Armour and uncrown his Head Priest Chorinaeus arm'd his better Hand From his own Altar with a blazing Brand And as Ebusus with a thund'ring Pace Advanc'd to Battel dash'd it on his Face His bristly Beard shines out with sudden Fires The crackling Crop a noisom scent expires Following the blow he seiz'd his curling Crown With his left Hand his other cast him down The prostrate Body with
his Knees he press'd And plung'd his holy Ponyard in his Breast While Podalirius with his Sword pursu'd The Shepherd Alsus thro' the flying Crowd Swiftly he turns and aims a deadly blow Full on the Front of his unwary Foe The broad Axe enters with a crashing Sound And cleaves the Chin with one continu'd Wound Warm Blood and mingled Brains besmear his Arms around An Iron Sleep his stupid Eyes oppress'd And seal'd their heavy Lids in endless rest But good Aeneas rush'd amid the Bands Bare was his Head and naked were his Hands In sign of Truce Then thus he cries aloud What sudden Rage what new Desire of Blood Inflames your alter'd Minds O Trojans cease From impious Arms nor violate the Peace By Human Sanctions and by Laws Divine The Terms are all agreed the War is mine Dismiss your Fears and let the Fight ensue This Hand alone shall right the Gods and you Our injur'd Altars and their broken Vow To this avenging Sword the faithless Turnus owe. Thus while he spoke unmindful of Defence A winged Arrow struck the Pious Prince But whether from some Human Hand it came Or Hostile God is left unknown by Fame No Human Hand or Hostile God was found To boast the Triumph of so base a Wound When Turnus saw the Trojan quit the Plain His Chiefs dismay'd his Troops a fainting Train Th' unhop'd Event his heighten'd Soul inspires At once his Arms and Coursers he requires Then with a leap his lofty Chariot gains And with a ready hand assumes the Reins He drives impetuous and where e're he goes He leaves behind a Lane of slaughter'd Foes These his Lance reaches over those he rowls His rapid Car and crushes out their Souls In vain the vanquish'd fly the Victor sends The dead Mens Weapons at their living Friends Thus on the Banks of Hebrus freezing Flood The God of Battel 's in his angry Mood Clashing his Sword against his brazen Shield Le ts loose the Reins and scours along the Field Before the Wind his fiery Coursers fly Groans the sad Earth resounds the ratling Sky Wrath Terror Treason Tumult and Despair Dire Faces and deform'd surround the Car Friends of the God and Followers of the War With Fury not unlike nor less Disdain Exulting Turnus flies along the Plain His smoaking Horses at their utmost Speed He lashes on and urges o're the dead Their Fetlocks run with Blood and when they bound The Gore and gath'ring Dust are dash'd around Thamyris and Pholus Masters of the War He kill'd at hand but Sthelenus afar From far the Sons of Imbracus he slew Glaucus and Lades of the Lycian Crew Both taught to fight on Foot in Battel join'd Or mount the Courser that outstrips the Wind. Mean time Eumedes vaunting in the Field New fir'd the Trojans and their Foes repell'd This Son of Dolon bore his Grandsire's Name But emulated more his Father's Fame His guileful Father sent a nightly Spy The Grecian Camp and Order to descry Hard Enterprise and well he might require Achilles Carr and Horses for his hire But met upon the Scout th' Etolian Prince In Death bestow'd a juster Recompence Fierce Turnus view'd the Trojan from afar And lanch'd his Jav'lin from his lofty Carr Then lightly leaping down pursu'd the Blow And pressing with his Foot his prostrate Foe Wrench'd from his feeble hold the shining Sword And plung'd it in the Bosom of its Lord. Possess said he the fruit of all thy Pains And measure at thy length our Latian Plains Thus are my Foes rewarded by my hand Thus may they build their Town and thus enjoy the Land Then Dares Butes Sybaris he slew Whom o're his Neck his flound'ring Courser threw As when loud Boreas with his blust'ring Train Stoops from above incumbent on the Main Where e're he flies he drives the Rack before And rowls the Billows on th' Aegean Shore So where resistless Turnus takes his Course The scatter'd Squadrons bend before his force His Crest of Horses Hair is blown behind By adverse Air and rustles in the Wind. This haughty Phegeus saw with high Disdain And as the Chariot rowl'd along the Plain Light from the Ground he leapt and seiz'd the Rein. Thus hung in Air he still retain'd his hold The Coursers frighted and their Course control'd The Lance of Turnus reach'd him as he hung And pierc'd his plated Arms but pass'd along And only raz'd the Skin he turn'd and held Against his threat'ning Foe his ample Shield To Thomas Hobbs D r in Phisic En 12. l 570. Then call'd for Aid but while he cry'd in vain The Chariot bore him backward on the Plain He lies revers'd the Victor King descends And strikes so justly where his Helmet ends He lops the Head The Latian Fields are drunk With streams that issue from the bleeding Trunk While he triumphs and while the Trojans yield The wounded Prince is forc'd to leave the Field Strong Mnestheus and Achates often try'd And young Ascanius weeping by his side Conduct him to his Tent Scarce can he rear His Limbs from Earth supported on his Spear Resolv'd in Mind regardless of the Smart He tugs with both his Hands and breaks the Dart. The Steel remains No readier way he found To draw the Weapon than t' inlarge the Wound Eager of Fight impatient of delay He begs and his unwilling Friends obey Iapis was at hand to prove his Art Whose blooming Youth so fir'd Apollo's Heart That for his Love he proffer'd to bestow His tuneful Harp and his unerring Bow The pious Youth more studious how to save His aged Sire now sinking to the Grave Prâ—ferr'd the pow'r of Plants and silent Praise Of healing Arts before Phoebeian Bays Prop'd on his Lance the pensive Heroe stood And heard and saw unmov'd the mourning Crowd The fam'd Physician tucks his Robes around With ready Hands and hastens to the Wound With gentle Touches he performs his part This way and that solliciting the Dart And exercises all his Heav'nly Art All softning Simples known of Sov'raign Use He presses out and pours their noble Juice These first infus'd to lenifie the Pain He tugs with Pincers but he tugs in vain Then to the Patron of his Art he pray'd The Patron of his Art refus'd his Aid Mean time the War approaches to the Tents Th' Allarm grows hotter and the Noise augments The driving Dust proclaims the Danger near And first their Friends and then their Foes appear Their Friends retreat their Foes pursue the Rear The Camp is fill'd with Terror and Affright The hissing Shafts within the Trench alight An undistinguish'd Noise ascends the Sky The Shouts of those who kill and Groans of those who dye But now the Goddess Mother mov'd with Grief And pierc'd with Pity hastens her Relief A Branch of healing Dittany she brought Which in the Cretan Fields with Care she sought Rough is the Stem which woolly Leafs surround The Leafs with Flow'rs the Flow'rs with Purple crown'd Well known to wounded Goats a sure