the seaboard’s length their ships are swarming and panting

for the fray, and calling on the trumpet to sound, 30

while an aged soothsayer is holding them back by his

fateful utterance: ‘Chosen warriors of Mæonian land, the

power and soul of an ancient nation, whom just resentment

launches against the foe and Mezentius inflames with

righteous fury, no Italian may take the reins of a race so 35

proud: choose foreigners to lead you.’ At this the Etruscan

army settled down on yonder plain, awed by the

heavenly warning. Tarchon[o] himself has sent me ambassadors