Page:Aeneid (Conington 1866).djvu/460

O'erwhelmcd by surging thoughts of ill
Turnus in mute amaze stood still:
Fierce boils in every vein
Indignant shame and passion blind,
The tempest of the lover's mind,
The soldier's high disdain.
Soon as apart the shadows roll,
And light once more illumes his soul,
Backward his kindling eyes he threw
And grasped the town in one wide view.
Lo! tongues of flame to heaven aspire:
The turret's floors are wrapped in fire,
The tower he made to vex the foe
With bridge above and wheels below.
'The Fates, the Fates must have their way:
O sister! cease to breed delay:
Where Heaven and cruel Fortune call,
There let me follow to my fall.
I stand to meet my foe, to bear
The pangs of death, how keen soe'er:
Disgraced you shall not see me more:
Let frenzy fill the space before.'
He said, and vaulting from his car
Plunged headlong through the opposing war,
His sister in her sorrow left,
And fierce and fast the squadrons cleft.
Look how from mountain summit borne
By wind or furious rain down-torn
Or gentler lapse of ages worn
Comes down a thundering stone;
Headlong it falls with impulse strong,
The unpitying rock, and whirls along
Woods, cattle, swains o'erthrown:
So bounding onward, scattering all,
Comes Turnus to the city-wall,