Story of Aeneas Part 13

These words incited the Rutulians to a desire for war, but Juturna still further inflamed their minds by a singular omen. She caused to appear before them in the sky an eagle pursuing a flock of swans. The eagle swooped down upon the swans where they had alighted on the water of the river, and seizing one in its talons, was carrying it off. But suddenly the flock of swans arose, and darting in a solid body upon the eagle, attacked him with such force that he dropped his prey and flew off into the clouds.

The Rutulians understood the meaning of this spectacle, and with loud shouts they began to make preparations for battle. One of their number, the augur To-lum'ni-us, cried out to them to take up their swords and fall upon the Trojan foreigner after the example of the birds who, by united action, had just vanquished their enemy. Then rushing forward, Tolumnius cast a spear into the ranks of the Trojans.

Whizzing through the air it struck an Arcadian youth, one of nine brothers who were standing together in the Etrurian lines, and penetrating his side stretched him dead on the field.

Thus the truce was broken, and immediately a fierce battle began, warriors on both sides hurling their darts and plying their swords, the very altars being overthrown in the struggle. Latinus in deep grief and disappointment retired from the scene, now that all hope of peace was at an end. But the Trojan chief, with his head uncovered, stretched forth his unarmed hand, and earnestly appealed to his own people. "Whither do you rush?" he cried. "How has this discord arisen?

Restrain your rage, for the league is now formed, and all its terms settled." While thus endeavoring to restore peace, the pious AEneas himself was severely wounded.

--While he spoke, unmindful of defence, A winged arrow struck the pious prince.

But whether from some human hand it came, Or hostile G.o.d, is left unknown by fame; No human hand, or hostile G.o.d, was found, To boast the triumph of so base a wound.

DRYDEN, _AEneid_, BOOK XII.

AEneas was led away to his tent, bleeding from his wound. Then Turnus called for his war chariot and his arms, and drove furiously over the plain into the midst of the Trojans, dealing death around him on every side.

He drives impetuous, and, where'er he goes, He leaves behind a lane of slaughtered foes.

DRYDEN, _AEneid_, BOOK XII.

One brave Trojan warrior named Phe'geus made a gallant fight against Turnus. Leaping in front of the chariot, and seizing the bridles, he strove with all his might to bring the horses to a stand. While he was being dragged along, clinging to the pole, a thrust from the lance of Turnus pierced his coat of mail and inflicted a slight wound. Still the heroic Phegeus held on, and, turning towards his foe, endeavored to reach him with his sword, but just then, coming against the chariot wheels, he was hurled to the ground, and in a moment Turnus, with one blow, struck off his head.

Meanwhile, AEneas attended by Mnestheus, the faithful Achates, and the young Iulus, lay bleeding in his camp. The barb of the arrow by which he had been wounded still remained fixed in the flesh, and not even the skillful surgeon I-a'pis, whom Apollo himself had instructed in medicine, could extract it. But the G.o.ddess Venus once more came to the relief of her son. While Iapis was fomenting the wound with water, the G.o.ddess, unseen, dipped into the vessel a branch of dit'ta-ny, a plant famous for its healing qualities. At the same time she injected celestial ambrosia, and juice of the all-curing herb pan-a-ce'a.

Instantly the arrow dropped out, the wound healed up, and the Trojan chief recovered his full strength and vigor. Then Iapis exclaimed, "Not by human hand has this cure been effected. Some powerful G.o.d, AEneas, has saved you for great enterprises." Immediately the hero put on his armor; and before going out into the battle-field, he tenderly embraced his son and spoke to him words of counsel and encouragement.

In his mailed arms his child he pressed, Kissed through his helm, and thus addressed: "Learn of your father to be great, Of others to be fortunate.

This hand awhile shall be your shield And lead you safe from field to field; When grown yourself to manhood's prime, Remember those of former time, Recall each venerable name, And catch heroic fire From Hector's and AEneas' fame, Your uncle and your sire."

CONINGTON, _AEneid_, BOOK XII.

AEneas now went forth to the fight. The chiefs and their followers, encouraged by the appearance of their leader, slew numbers of the enemy, including the augur Tolumnius, who had first broken the truce.

But the Trojan hero himself sought only for Turnus, and he pursued him over the plain. Juturna seeing this, a.s.sumed the shape and likeness of Me-tis'cus, her brother's charioteer, and taking his place upon the chariot, drove rapidly through the field, now here now there, but ever keeping at a distance from the pursuing Trojan chief.

She steers a various course among the foes; Now here, now there, her conquering brother shows; Now with a straight, now with a wheeling flight, She turns and bends, but shuns the single fight.

AEneas, fired with fury, breaks the crowd, And seeks his foe, and calls by name aloud; He runs within a narrower ring, and tries To stop the chariot, but the chariot flies.

DRYDEN, _AEneid_, BOOK XII.

At length AEneas resolved to bring the battle and the war to a speedy end. While pursuing Turnus, he had noticed that the city was left without defence, all the Latian and Rutulian troops being engaged in the field. Calling his chiefs quickly together, he told them of his plan. "The city before us," said he, "is the center of the enemy's strength. It is now in our power. This day we may overturn it, and lay its smoking towers level with the ground. Am I to wait until it pleases Turnus to accept my challenge? Quickly bring firebrands, and very soon we shall establish peace."

The Trojan forces were at once marshalled, and led in a solid battalion to the walls, where a vigorous a.s.sault forthwith commenced.

Some rushed to the gates and slew the first they met, others hurled darts into the city, and others, by means of scaling ladders, sought to climb over the ramparts. AEneas in a loud voice called the G.o.ds to witness that he was now for the second time compelled to fight, and that for a second time a solemn league had been violated by the Latians. Within the town dissension broke out among the alarmed citizens, some urging that the gates should be opened to the Trojans, others taking up arms to defend the walls.

Turnus was in a distant part of the field when he heard of the attack on the city. A messenger rode up to him in haste with the intelligence that AEneas was about to overthrow the stately towers of Latium, and that already flaming torches had been applied to the roofs. Then Turnus saw that the moment for action had come, and he cried out to his sister (for notwithstanding her disguise he had known her from the first): "Now, now, sister, my destiny prevails. Forbear to further stop me. Let me follow whither the G.o.ds call. I am resolved to enter the lists with AEneas. No longer shall you see me in disgrace.

Whatever bitterness there is in death I am ready to endure it."

So saying, Turnus sprang from his chariot, and bounding over the plain, rushed into the midst of the combatants at the gates of the city. With outstretched arms he made a sign to his friends, and called upon them in a loud voice: "Rutulians and Latians, cease fighting. Whatever fortune of the war remains is mine. It is for me alone by my sword to put an end to this strife."

AEneas, hearing the challenge of Turnus, forsook the lofty walls and towers, and hastened to encounter his foe. The hosts on both sides laid down their arms. A s.p.a.ce was cleared on the open plain, and immediately the two heroes rushed to the combat, with hurling of darts and clashing of swords and shields.

They launch their spears; then hand to hand they meet; The trembling soil resounds beneath their feet; Their bucklers clash; thick blows descend from high, And flakes of fire from their hard helmets fly.

DRYDEN, _AEneid_, BOOK XII.

The great fight now began. Turnus aimed a mighty blow at AEneas, raising himself on tiptoes, and adding to the force of the stroke the whole weight of his body. But the blade snapped in two as it struck the armor of the Trojan hero, thus leaving the Rutulian chief at the mercy of his foe. The weapon was one he had hastily s.n.a.t.c.hed up instead of his own when mounting his chariot for the first fight of the day. It had served his purpose so long as he used it only on fleeing Trojans, but when it came against the armor made by Vulcan it broke like ice. The unfortunate Rutulian now turned and fled over the field, calling loudly on his friends to bring him his sword. AEneas followed in pursuit, threatening death to any one who should venture to approach, and thus five times round the lists they ran.

Five times they circle round the place, Five times the winding course retrace; No trivial game is here; the strife Is waged for Turnus' own dear life.

CONINGTON, _AEneid_, BOOK XII.

Finding that he could not overtake the fleeing Turnus, AEneas resolved again to make trial of his celestial spear. At the outset of the combat he had hurled this weapon with such force, that it fixed itself deep in the stump of a wild olive tree that stood in the field. The tree had been sacred to the deity Faunus, but the Trojans had cut it down to make a clear ground for their military movements. When AEneas attempted to wrench the spear out, Turnus prayed to Faunus to detain the weapon.

"O Faunus! pity! and thou, mother Earth, Where I thy foster-son received my birth, Hold fast the steel! If my religious hand Your plant has honored, which your foes profaned, Propitious hear my pious prayer."

DRYDEN, _AEneid_, BOOK XII.

But now the power of the G.o.ds was exercised on behalf of both heroes.

While AEneas struggled in vain to extricate the javelin, Juturna, again taking the form of Metiscus, ran forward to her brother and gave him his own sword. Then Venus came to the aid of her son, and the steel was easily drawn from the tough root. Once more the two chiefs stood ready for the combat, the one relying on his trusty sword, the other, on the spear which a G.o.d had made.

Meanwhile the G.o.ddess Juno, sitting in a yellow cloud, was watching the combat, and Jupiter, coming near, advised her to abandon her hopeless enmity to the Trojans, and forbade her to further resist the decree of heaven. Juno was now ready to yield, but on one condition-- "When by this marriage they establish peace, let the people of Latium retain their ancient name and language. Let Latium subsist. Let the sons of Rome rise to imperial power by means of Italian valor. Troy has perished. Let the name also perish." To this the king of heaven replied: "I grant what you desire. The Italians shall retain their native language and customs. The Trojans shall settle in Latium and mingle with its people and all shall be called Latins and have but one speech."

"All shall be Latium; Troy without a name; And her lost sons forget from whence they came.

From blood so mixed a pious race shall flow, Equal to G.o.ds, excelling all below.

No nation more respect to you shall pay, Or greater offerings on your altars lay."

Juno consents, well pleased that her desires Had found success, and from the cloud retires.

DRYDEN, _AEneid_, BOOK XII.

Then Jupiter sent one of the Furies down to the field of battle, in the form of an owl, and the evil bird flew backwards and forwards in the sight of Turnus, flapping its wings. The chief, knowing that this was an unfavorable omen, hesitated to advance, and AEneas calling to him aloud cried, "Turnus, why do you further decline to fight? It is not in running that we must now try our skill, but with arms in close conflict." "I have no fear of you, insulting foe," answered Turnus.

"My dread is of the G.o.ds, who are against me." As he spoke, he saw on the ground before him a huge stone, such as only a man of giant strength could lift. Seizing it and poising it over his head he rushed forward, and hurled it against the enemy.

But wildering fears his mind unman; Running, he knew not that he ran, Nor throwing that he threw; Heavily move his sinking knees; The streams of life wax dull and freeze; The stone, as through the void it pa.s.sed, Reached not the measure of its cast, Nor held its purpose true.

CONINGTON; _AEneid_, BOOK XII.

AEneas, now taking careful aim, and putting forth the whole strength of his body, hurled his fatal spear. Like a whirlwind it flew, and with mighty force breaking through the shield and corselet of the Rutulian chief, pierced his thigh. Down to the earth he sank on his knees, and the Trojan chief rushed forward sword in hand. Then the vanquished hero besought the conqueror: "I have deserved my fate, and I do not deprecate it, yet if any regard for an unhappy father can move you, have compa.s.sion on the aged Daunus. You too had such a father. You have triumphed. Lavinia is yours. Persist not further in hate."

AEneas was much affected by this appeal. It almost moved him to spare the life of his foe, but the belt of Pallas which the wounded man wore sealed his fate. As soon as it caught the eye of the Trojan he raised his sword and with one blow avenged the death of the brave son of Evander.

Then, roused anew to wrath, he loudly cries (Flames, while he spoke, came flashing from his eyes), "Traitor! dost thou, dost thou to grace pretend, Clad, as thou art, in trophies of my friend?

To his sad soul a grateful offering go!

'Tis Pallas, Pallas gives this deadly blow!"

He raised his arm aloft, and at the word, Deep in his bosom drove the shining sword.

The streaming blood distained his arms around; And the disdainful soul came rushing through the wound.

DRYDEN, _AEneid_, BOOK XII.

Here ends the story of AEneas as related by Vergil. There was no more to be told, that could properly come within the limits of the subject, as set forth in the opening lines of the AEneid:

Arms and the man I sing, who, forced by Fate, And haughty Juno's unrelenting hate, Expelled and exiled, left the Trojan sh.o.r.e.

Long labors, both by sea and land, he bore, And in the doubtful war, before he won The Latian realm, and built the destined town.

The poet undertook to tell about the wanderings of the hero, and his long labors both by sea and land, up to the time he won a settlement in Italy. This was accomplished by the death of Turnus, which put an end to the war. The brave Rutulian chief made a gallant fight, but the fates were against him. He would probably have been the victor had his antagonist been any other than the man of destiny, who had the decrees of heaven always on his side.

As to the subsequent history of AEneas, the Roman traditions tell us that he married the princess Lavinia, and built a city which was called after her name--Lavinium. Upon the death of his father-in-law, Latinus, he became king of Latium. But though he was then in possession of his long promised settlement, his wars were not entirely over, for we are told that he fought a battle with the Rutulians who, though their king was dead, were still unwilling to submit to a foreigner. In this battle, which took place on the bank of the river Numicus, the Trojan hero mysteriously disappeared and was seen no more. Some say he was drowned in the river, and that the Latins, not finding the body, supposed he had been taken up to heaven, and therefore offered him sacrifices as a G.o.d.

On the death of the hero, his son Iulus succeeded him, and built the city of Alba Longa, which was ruled for many centuries by kings of the line of AEneas, whose descendants were the founders of Rome.