XCVII. So Turnus flies, and, doubling, but in vain,
Now here, now there, weaves many an aimless round;
For all about him, as he scours the plain,
The swarming legions of the foe are found,
And here the marsh, and there the bulwarks bound.
Nor less Æneas, though his stiff knee feels
The rankling arrow, and the hampering wound
Retards his pace, pursues him, as he wheels,		865
And dogs the flying foe, and presses on his heels.
XCVIII. As when some stag, a river in his face,
Or toils with scarlet feathers, set to scare,
A huntsman with his braying hounds doth chase.
Awed by the steep bank and the threatening snare,
A thousand ways he doubles here and there;
But the keen Umbrian, all agape, is by,
Now grasps,—now holds him,—and now thinks to tear,
And snaps his teeth on nothing; and a cry		874
Rings back from shore and stream, and rolls along the sky.
XCIX. Chiding by name his comrades, as he flies,
Fierce Turnus for his trusty sword doth cry.
Nor less Æneas with his threat defies,
"Stand off," he shouts, "who ventures to draw nigh,
His town shall perish, and himself shall die."
Onward, though maimed, he presses to his prey.
Twice five times circling round the field they fly;
For no mean stake or sportive prize they play,		883
Lo, Turnus' life and blood are wagered in the fray.
C. A wilding olive on the sward had stood,
Sacred to Faunus. Mariners of yore
In worship held the venerable bough,
When to Laurentum's guardian, safe on shore
Their votive raiment and their gifts they bore.
That sacred tree, the lists of fight to clear,
Troy's sons had lopped. There, in the trunk's deep core,
The Dardan javelin, urged with impulse sheer,		892
Stuck fast; the stubborn root, retentive, grasped the spear.
CI. Stooping, Æneas with his hands essayed
To pluck the steel, and follow with the spear
The foe his feet o'ertook not. Sore dismayed
Then Turnus cried, "O Faunus, heed and hear,
And thou, kind Earth, hold fast the steel, if dear
I held the plant, which Trojan hands profaned."
He prayed, nor Heaven refused a kindly ear.
Long while Æneas at the tough root strained;		901
Vain was his utmost strength; the biting shaft remained.
CII. While thus he stooped and struggled, prompt to aid,
Juturna, to Metiscus changed anew,
Ran forth, and to her brother reached his blade.
Then Venus, wroth the daring Nymph to view,
Came, and the javelin from the stem withdrew,
Thus, armed afresh, each eager for his chance,
The Daunian trusting to his falchion true,
The Dardan towering with uplifted lance,		910
High-hearted, face to face, the breathless chiefs advance.

CIII. Then Jove, as from a saffron cloud above
Looked Juno, pleased the doubtful strife to view,
"When shall this end, sweet partner of my love?
What more? Thou know'st it, and hast owned it too,
Divine Æneas to the skies is due.
What wilt thou, chill in cloudland? Was it right
A god with mortal weapons to pursue?
Or give—for thine was all Juturna's might—		919
Lost Turnus back his sword, and renovate the fight?
CIV. "Desist at length, and hearken to my prayer.
Feed not in silence on a grief so sore,
Nor spoil those sweet lips with unlovely care.
The end is come; 'twas thine on sea and shore
Troy's sons to vex, to wake the war's uproar,
To cloud a home, a marriage-league untie,
And mar with grief a bridal. Cease, and more
Attempt not." Thus the ruler of the sky,		928
And thus, with down-cast look, Saturnia made reply.
CV. "E'en so, great Jove, because thy will was known,
I left, reluctant, Turnus and his land.
Else ne'er should'st thou behold me here alone,
Thus shamed and suffering, but, torch in hand,
To smite these hateful Teucrians would I stand.
I made Juturna rescue from the foe
Her hapless brother,—mine was the command,—
Approved her daring for his sake, yet so		937
As not to wield the spear, or meddle with the bow.