All this Aeneas Sees on his mother’s gift, the shield of Vulcan, And, without understanding, is proud and happy As he lifts to his shoulder all that fortune, The fame and glory of his children’s children.
While all this happened far away, queen Juno Sent Iris down from heaven to bold Turnus. She found him resting in a sacred valley, Pilumnus’ grove, his ancestor; all radiant She spoke to him:--“No god would promise, Turnus, This answer to your prayers, but the turn of time Has put it in your hands. Aeneas has gone, Leaving the town, the fleet, and his companions, Seeking the realm of Palatine Evander, And more than that: he has won some cities over, He calls the Etruscan countrymen to arms. What are you waiting for? Now is the time For chariot and horse. Break off delay, Take the bewildered camp!” She spoke, and rose Skyward on even wings, and under the clouds Cut her great soaring arc. And Turnus knew her, And raised his hands to the sky, and followed her flight:-- “O Iris, pride of heaven, who sent you to me Through clouds to earth? Whence comes this storm of brightness? I see the heavens part, and the stars wheeling Across the sky. I follow these great omens, Whoever calls to arms.” And, with the word, He went to the stream, took water up, prayed often, Making his vows to all the gods of heaven.
And now, over all the plain, the army was coming, Rich in caparison, and rich in horses, In gold and broidered robes, Messapus leading, And Turnus in the center, and Tyrrhus’ sons As captains in the rear: they stream as Ganges Streams when his seven quiet tides flood over, Or Nile resents his deep confining channel. The Trojans see the sudden cloud, black dust Thickening over the plain, and darkness rising, And Caicus cries from the rampart:--“What is this, O fellow-citizens, this rolling darkness? Bring the swords quickly, bring weapons, climb the walls, Here comes the enemy, yea! Hurry, hurry!” Trojans, and noise, pour through the gates together. Men fill the walls. For so, on his departure, Aeneas had given orders: if something happened, They should not risk a battle in the open, They should only guard the camp, protect the ramparts. So, much as they would love to mix in battle, Anger and shame give way to prompt obedience. They bar the gates; protected by their towers They wait while the foe comes on. And Turnus, riding Impatient past his dawdling column, is there Before the city knows it. He has twenty Fast riders with him, his mount a piebald Thracian, His helmet gold with crimson crest. He cries, “Who will be first with me? Will anybody Be first with me against them? Let them have it!” And with the word, he lets the javelin fly, First sign of battle; and they cheer and follow And wonder a little at the Trojans, cowards Who dare not fight in the open, man to man, Who hug their walls for comfort. Round and round, Turnus, a wild man, rides, seeking an entrance, But there is no way in. He is like a wolf Lurking about a sheep-fold, snarling at midnight Beside the pens, enduring wind and rain, While the bleating lambs are safe beneath the ewes, And he, unable to get at them, rages Fierce and dry-throated in the drive of hunger; So Turnus looks at wall and camp, and passion Burns hot within him, burns to his very bones. How to get in? or how to yank the Trojans Out of their cloister, smear them over the plain? Ah, but the fleet is there, beside the camp, Sheltered by earthworks and the flowing river: There lies the chance! He calls for fire, he hurls it, The burning torch, and his hand, almost, is burning, And all of them pitch in--Turnus has shown them, And Turnus eggs them on--they are armed with firebrands, They rob the hearths; the tar flares lurid yellow Against the grey of the cloud, the soot and ashes.