stem, that they might make the lists of battle clear:
And there AEneas' war-spear stood; his might had driven it there,
And held it now, set hard and fast in stubborn root and stout:
The Dardan son bent o'er it now to pluck the weapon out,
That he might follow him with shot whom running might not take.
But Turnus, wildered with his fear, cried out aloud and spake:

"O Faunus, pity me, I pray! and thou, O kindest Earth,
Hold thou the steel for me, who still have worshipped well thy worth,
Which ever those AEnean folk with battle would profane!"

He spake, and called the God to aid with vows not made in vain; 780
For o'er the tough tree tarrying long, struggling with utter might,
No whit AEneas could undo the gripping woody bite.
But while he struggleth hot and hard, and hangeth o'er the spear,
Again the Daunian Goddess, clad in shape of charioteer
Metiscus, Turnus' trusty sword unto his hand doth speed.
But Venus, wrathful that the Nymph might dare so bold a deed,
Came nigh, and from the deep-set root the shaft of battle drew.
So they, high-hearted, stored with hope and battle-gear anew,
One trusting in his sword, and one fierce with his spear on high,
Stand face to face, the glorious game of panting Mars to try. 790

Meanwhile the King of Heaven the great thus unto Juno saith,
As from a ruddy cloud she looked upon the game of death:
"What then shall end it, O my wife? what deed is left thine hand?
That Heaven shall gain AEneas yet, a Godhead of the land,
That Fate shall bear him to the stars thou know'st and hast allowed:
What dost thou then, or hoping what hang'st thou in chilly cloud?
What! was it right that mortal wound a God's own flesh should wrong?
Right to give Turnus--but for thee how was Juturna strong?--
The sword he lost? or vanquished men, to give their might increase?
I prithee yield unto my prayers, and from thy troubling cease. 800
Let not thine hushed grief eat thine heart, or bitter words of care
So often from thy sweetest mouth the soul within me wear.
The goal is reached: thou hast availed o'er earth and sea to drive
The Trojan men; to strike the spark of wicked war alive;
To foul their house, and woe and grief mid wedding-feast to bear,
And now I bid thee hold thine hand."
Thuswise said Jupiter,
And