thy joy grows old: the like fate looks for thee, 740
And thou the self-same lea shalt hold within a little while!"

To whom Mezentius spake, his wrath crossed by a gathering smile:
"Die thou! the Father of the Gods, the earth-abider's lord,
Will look to me."
He drew the spear from out him at the word,
And iron slumber fell on him, hard rest weighed down his eyes,
And shut were they for evermore by night that never dies.

Now Caedicus slays Alcathous; Sacrator ends outright
Hydaspes; then Parthenius stark and Orses fall in fight
By Rapo; and Messapus fells strong Clonius, and the son,
Of Lycaon; one laid alow, by his own steeds cast down, 750
One foot to foot. Lo Agis now, the Lycian, standeth forth,
Whom Valerus, that nothing lacked his grandsire's might and worth,
O'erthroweth: Salius Thronius slays; Nealces, Salius;
For skilled he was in dart and shaft, far-flying, perilous.

Now grief and death in Mavors' scales even for each they lie;
Victors and vanquished, here they slay, and here they fall and die,
But neither these nor those forsooth had fleeing in their thought.
But in Jove's house the Gods had ruth of rage that nothing wrought,
And such a world of troubles sore for men of dying days;
On this side Venus, and on that Saturnian Juno gaze; 760
And wan Tisiphone runs wild amid the thousands there.
But lo, Mezentius fierce and fell, shaking a mighty spear,
Stalks o'er the plain.--Lo now, how great doth great Orion sweep
Afoot across the Nereus' field, the mid sea's mightiest deep,
Cleaving his way, raised shoulder-high above the billowy wash;
Or when from off the mountain-top he bears an ancient ash
His feet are on the soil of earth, the cloud-rack hides his head:
--E'en so in mighty battle-gear afield Mezentius sped.

But now AEneas, noting him adown the battle-row,
Wendeth to meet him; undismayed he bideth for his foe, 770
Facing the great-souled man, and stands unmoved, a mighty mass:
Then measuring the space between if spear thereby may pass:
"Right hand," he cries, "my very God, and fleeing spear I shake,
To aid! Thee, Lausus, clad in arms that I today shall take
From body of the sea-thief here I vow for gift of war
Over AEneas slain."
He spake, and hurled the shaft afar