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Think on whose faith th' adult'rous youth rely'd;
Who promis'd, who procur'd, the Spartan bride?
When all th' united states of Greece combin'd,
To purge the world of the perfidious kind,
Then was your time to fear the Trojan fate: 145
Your quarrels and complaints are now too late."
Thus Juno. Murmurs rise, with mix'd applause,

Just as they favour or dislike the cause.

So winds, when yet unfledg'd in woods they lie,
In whispers first their tender voices try,
Then issue on the main with bellowing rage,
And storms to trembling mariners presage.
Then thus to both reply'd th' imperial god,
Who shakes heav'n's axles with his awful nod.
(When he begins, the silent senate stand,

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With rev'rence list'ning to the dread command:
The clouds dispel: the winds their breath restrain ;
And the hush'd waves lie flatted on the main.)
"Celestials! your attentive ears incline!

Since (said the god) the Trojans must not join 160
In wish'd alliance with the Latian line-
Since endless jarrings and immortal hate
Tend but to discompose our happy state-
The war henceforward be resign'd to fate:
Each to his proper fortune stand or fall :
Equal and unconcern'd I look on all.

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Rutulians, Trojans, are the same to me;

And both shall draw the lots their fates decree.
Let these assault, if Fortune be their friend;
And, if she favours those, let those defend:- 170
The Fates will find their way." The thund'rer said;
And shook the sacred honours of his head,
Attesting Styx, th' inviolable flood,

And the black regions of his brother god.

Trembled the poles of heav'n; and earth confess'd

the nod.

This end the sessions had: the senate rise,

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And to his palace wait their sov reign through the skies.

Meantime, intent upon their siege, the foes

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Within their walls the Trojan host inclose:
They wound, they kill, they watch at ev'ry gate;
Renew the fires, and urge their happy fate.

Th' Æneans wish in vain their wanted chief,
Hopeless of flight, more hopeless of relief.
Thin on the tow'rs they stand; and ev'n those 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 ;

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Young Hæmon, and, though young, resolv'd to die. With these were Clarus and Thymotes join'd; 190 Thymbris and Castor, both of Lycian kind.

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From Acmon's hands a rolling stone there came.
So large, it half deserv'd a mountain's name!
Strong-sinew'd was the youth, and big of bone:
His brother Mnestheus could not more have done,
Or the great father of th' intrepid son.
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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'er 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 jet.

Nor Ismarus was wanting to the war,

Directing ointed arrows from afar,

And death with poison arm'd-in Lydia born,

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Where plenteous harvests the fat fields adorn; 210

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.
Meantime the hero cuts the nightly tide:

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