without striking a blow, AEneas stepped forward, and hurled his spear against the charger, piercing its skull betwixt the ears.  The fiery horse reared upward in the death agony, and then fell backward upon his rider, pressing him to the earth.  The spectators of this fierce combat uplifted their voices in shouts, some in joy and others in sorrow, as AEneas rushed up to the fallen warrior, and lifting his sword to deal the fatal blow, cried, “Where is now the stern Mezentius?” The Etrurian, on the other hand, replied, “Spiteful foe, why dost thou threaten and insult before thou strikest?  Thou wilt do me no wrong in slaying me.  I sought thee expecting nothing else, and neither I nor my son has asked mercy at thy hands.  One favor alone I implore of thee, that thou wilt give burial to my corpse.  I know well that the hate of my former subjects would pursue me after death.  Defend my remains, I entreat, from outrage, and grant me a grave along with my son.”  He said no more, but extended his throat to receive the fatal blow, which descended and drew forth his life as the blood poured over his armor.

The shades of night were now gathering, and as the Rutulians and Latins had quitted the field in confusion, the conflicts of that sanguinary day were at last, ended.

AENEAS FINALLY CONQUERS THE LATINS

By Alfred J. Church

Prince Turnus was filled with rage.  Even as a lion which a hunter hath wounded breaketh the arrow wherewith he hath been stricken, and rouseth himself to battle, shaking his mane and roaring, so Turnus arose.  And first he spake to King Latinus, saying, “I will meet this man face to face, and slay him while ye look on; or, if the Gods will that he vanquish me so, he shall rule over you, and have Lavinia to wife.”

But King Latinus made answer, “Yet think awhile, my son.  Thou hast the kingdom of thy father Daunus; and there are other noble virgins in Latium whom thou mayest have to wife.  Wilt thou not then be content?  For to give my daughter to any husband of this nation I was forbidden, as thou knowest.  Yet did I disobey, being moved by love of thee, my wife also beseeching me with many tears.  Thou seest what troubles I and my people, and thou more than all, have suffered from that time.  Twice have we fled in the battle, and now the city only is left to us.  If I must yield me to these men, let me yield whilst thou art yet alive.  For what doth it profit me that thou shouldst die?  Nay, but all men would cry shame on me if I gave thee to death!” Now for a space Turnus spake not for wrath.  Then he said, “Be not troubled for me, my father.  For I, too, can smite with the spear; and as for this AEneas, his mother will not be at hand to snatch him in a cloud from my sight.”

Then Amata cried to him, saying, “Fight not, I beseech thee, with these men of Troy, my son; for surely what thou sufferest I also shall suffer.  Nor will I live to see AEneas my son-in-law.”