Page:Aeneid (Conington 1866).djvu/457

When from the towers the queen looked down
And saw the foe draw nigh,
The scaling-ladders climb the town,
The fire-brands roofward fly,
At once she deemed her favourite slain:
Keen anguish smites her wildered brain:
With many a curse her head she heaps,
Sole cause of all that Latium weeps,
And wailing oft and raving tears
The gay purpureal robe she wears:
Then fastens from a beam on high
A noose, in ghastly wise to die.
When Latium's maids and matrons hear
That news of wonderment and fear,
Lavinia first her bright hair rends
And wounds her rose-red cheeks:
Around her rave her mourning friends;
The courts repeat their shrieks.
From house to house wide spreads the tale:
The scant remains of valour fail.
Bowed to the earth with woe on woe,
His consort dead, his town brought low,
The hapless king his raiment tears
And soils with dust his silver hairs,
While oft himself he blames,
Who gave not to his crown an heir,
A bridegroom to his daughter fair,
Nor owned Æneas' claims.

Turnus meanwhile in fields afar
Drives straggling foes before his car,
Slower and more slow his coursers' stride,
And less and less their master's pride.
Lo! on the gale from distance sped
Come sounds of strange bewildering dread;