"If sense of honour, if a soul secure

Of inborn worth, that can all tests endure,

Can promise aught, or on itself rely

Greatly to dare to conquer or to die;

Then, I alone, sustained by these, will meet

The Tyrrhene troops, and promise their defeat.

Ours be the danger, ours the sole renown:

You, general, stay behind, and guard the town."

Turnus a while stood mute with glad surprise,

And on the fierce virago fixed his eyes,