He fought with courage, and he sung the fight:
Arms were his business, verses his delight.

The Trojan chiefs behold, with rage and grief,
Their slaughter'd friends, and hasten their relief.

Bold Mnestheus rallies first the broken train, 1050
Whom brave Serestus and his troop sustain.

To save the living, and revenge the dead,
Against one warrior's arms all Troy they led.

"O, void of sense and courage!" Mnestheus cry'd, "Where can you hope your coward heads to hide? Ah! where beyond these rampires can you run? 1056 One man, and in your camp inclos'd, you shun!

Shall then a single sword such slaughter boast,

And pass unpunish'd from a num'rous host?

1060

Forsaking honour, and renouncing fame,
Your gods, your country, and your king, you shame!"

This just reproach their virtue does excite:
They stand, they join, they thicken to the fight.

Now Turnus doubts, and yet disdains to yield, But with slow paces measures back the field, 1065 And inches to the walls, where Tyber's tide, Washing the camp, defends the weaker side. The more he loses, they advance the more, And tread in ev'ry step he trod before. They shout; they bear him back; and, whom by might They cannot conquer, they oppress with weight.

1069

As, compass'd with a wood of spears around,

The lordly lion still maintains his ground;

Grins horrible, retires, and turns again;

1074

Threats his distended paws, and shakes his mane ;

He loses while in vain he presses on,

Nor will his courage let him dare to run:

1080

So Turnus fares, and, unresolv'd of flight,
Moves tardy back, and just recedes from fight.
Yet twice, enrag'd, the combat he renews,
Twice breaks, and twice his broken foes pursues.
But now they swarm, and, with fresh troops supply'd,
Come rolling on, and rush from ev'ry side:
Nor Juno, who sustain'd his arms before,

1084

Dares with new strength suffice th' exhausted store;

For Jove, with sour commands, sent Iris down,

To force th' invader from the frighted town.

1089

With labour spent, no longer can he wield The heavy falchion, or sustain the shield, O'erwhelm'd with darts, which from afar they fling: The weapons round his hollow temples ring: His golden helm gives way, with stony blows Batter'd, and flat, and beaten to his brows. His crest is rash'd away; his ample shield Is falsify'd, and round with jav'lins fill'd.

The foe, now faint, the Trojans overwhelm ; And Mnestheus lays hard load upon his helm.

1095

Sick sweat succeeds; he drops at ev'ry pore;
With driving dust his cheeks are pasted o'er;
Shorter and shorter ev'ry gasp he takes;

1100

1104

And vain efforts and hurtless blows he makes.
Arm'd as he was, at length he leap'd from high,
Plung'd in the flood, and made the waters fly.
The yellow god the welcome burden bore,
And wip'd the sweat, and wash'd away the gore;
Then gently wafts him to the farther coast,
And sends him safe to cheer his anxious host.

Jupiter, calling a council of the gods, forbids them to engage in either party. At Æneas's return there is a bloody battle: Turnus killing Pallas; Æneas, Lausus and Mezentius, Mezentius is described as an atheist; Lausus as a pious and virtuous youth. The different actions and death of these two are the subject of a noble episode.

THE

E gates of heav'n unfold: Jove summons all The gods to council in the common hall. Sublimely seated, he surveys from far

The fields, the camp, the fortune of the war,
And all th' inferior world. From first to last,
The sov'reign senate in degrees are plac'd.

Then thus th' almighty sire began: "Ye gods, Natives or denizens of blest abodes!

5

From whence these murmurs, and this change of mind, This backward fate from what was first design'd? 10

Why this protracted war, when my commands Pronounc'd a peace, and gave the Latian lands? What fear or hope on either part divides

Our heav'ns, and arms our pow'rs on diff'rent sides? A lawful time of war at length will come,

15

(Nor need your haste anticipate the doom) When Carthage shall contend the world with Rome; Shall force the rigid rocks and Alpine chains,

And, like a flood, come pouring on the plains.
Then is your time for faction and debate,
For partial favour, and permitted hate.
Let now your immature dissension cease:
Sit quiet, and compose your souls to peace."
Thus Jupiter in few unfolds the charge:
But lovely Venus thus replies at large:
"O pow'r immense! eternal energy !
(For to what else protection can we fly?)
Seest thou the proud Rutulians, how they dare
In fields, unpunish'd, and insult my care?
How lofty Turnus vaunts amidst his train,
In shining arms triumphant on the plain?
Ev'n in their lines and trenches they contend;
And scarce their walls the Trojan troops defend :
The town is fill'd with slaughter, and o'erfloats,
With a red deluge, their increasing moats.

Eneas, ignorant, and far from thence,