her company, who left their horses lone, 500
And earthward streamed: therewith the Queen such words as this gave forth:

"Turnus, if any heart may trust in manly might and worth,
I dare to promise I will meet AEneas' war array,
And face the Tyrrhene knights alone, and deal them battle-play.
Let my hand be the first to try the perils of the fight,
The while the foot-men townward bide, and hold the walls aright."

Then Turnus answered, with his eyes fixed on the awful maid:
"O glory of Italian land, how shall the thanks be paid
Worthy thy part? but since all this thy great soul overflies,
To portion out our work today with me indeed it lies. 510
AEneas, as our spies sent out and rumour saith for sure,
The guileful one, his light-armed horse hath now sent on before
To sweep the lea-land, while himself, high on the hilly ground,
Across the desert mountain-necks on for our walls is bound.
But I a snare now dight for him in woodland hollow way
Besetting so the straitened pass with weaponed war-array.
But bear thy banners forth afield to meet the Tyrrhene horse,
With fierce Messapus joined to thee, the Latin battle-force,
Yea, and Tiburtus: thou thyself the leader's care shalt take."

So saith he, and with such-like words unto the war doth wake 520
Messapus and his brother-lords; then 'gainst the foeman fares.

There was a dale of winding ways, most meet for warlike snares
And lurking swords: with press of leaves the mountain bent is black
That shutteth it on either side: thence leads a scanty track;
By strait-jawed pass men come thereto, a very evil road:
But thereabove, upon the height, lieth a plain abode,
A mountain-heath scarce known of men, a most safe lurking-place,
Whether to right hand or to left the battle ye will face,
Or hold the heights, and roll a storm of mighty rocks adown.
Thither the war-lord wends his way by country road well known, 530
And takes the place, and bideth there within the wood accursed.

Meanwhile within the heavenly house Diana speaketh first
To Opis of the holy band, the maiden fellowship,
And words of grief most sorrowful Latonia's mouth let slip:
"Unto the bitter-cruel war the maid Camilla wends,
O maid: and all for nought indeed that dearest of my friends
Is girding her with arms of mine."

Nou