THE ARGUMENT. Eneis erects a trophy of the fpoils of Mezentius; grants a truce for burying the dead; and fends home the body of Pallas with great folemnity. Latius calls a council to propofe offers of peace to neas, which occafions great animofity betwixt Turnus and Drances in the mean time there is a fharp engagement of the horse; wherein Camilla fignalizes her- ` felf; is killed and the Latine troops are intirely defeated. : SCARG CARCE had the rofy morning rais'd her head Above the waves, and left her watery bed; The pious chief whom double cares attend For his unbury'd foldiers, and his friend: Yet first to heaven perform'd a victor's vow : He bar'd an ancient oak of all her boughs: Then on a rifing ground the trunk he plac'd ; Which with the spoils of his dead foe he grac'd. VOL. VII. B The The coat of arms by proud Mezentius worn, 25 Our toils, my friends, are crown'd with fure fuccefs: The greater part perform'd, atchieve the lefs. Now follow chearful to the trembling town; Prefs but an entrance, and presume it won. Fear is no more: for fierce Mezentius lics, As the first fruits of war, a facrifice. Turnus fhall stand extended on the pain; And in this omen is already flain. Prepar'd in arms, purfue your happy chance: That none unwarn'd, may plead his ignorance: And I, at heaven's appointed hour, may find Your walike enfigns waving in the wind. Mean time the rites and funeral pomps prepare, Due to your dead companions of the war: The laft refpect the living can bestow, 30 35 To fhield their shadows from contempt below. But But first the corpfe of our unhappy friend, way, -40 50 55 Thus, weeping while he spoke, he took his Where, now in death, lamented Pallas lay : Acœtes watch'd the corpse; whose youth deserv'd 45 The father's truft, and now the fon he ferv'd With equal faith, but lefs aufpicious care: Th' attendants of the flain his forrow share. A troop of Trojans mix'd with these appear, And mourning matrons with dishevel'd hair. Soon as the prince appears, they raise a cry; All beat their breafts, and echoes rend the sky. They rear his drooping forehead from the ground; But when Æneas view'd the grisly wound Which Pallas in his manly bofom bore, And the fair flesh diftain'd with purple gore: First, melting into tears, the pious man Deplor'd fo fad a fight, then thus began: Unhappy youth! when fortune gave the rest Of my full wishes, the refus'd the best! She came; but brought not thee along, to blefs My longing eyes, and share in my fuccefs: She grudg'd thy fafe return, the triumphs due To profperous valour, in the public view. Not thus I promis'd, when my father lent Thy needlefs fuccour with a fad confent; Embrac'd me parting for th' Etrurian land, And fent ine to poffefs a large command. 60 65 70 75 80 He warn'd, and from his own experience told, He dy'd no death to make thee wish, too late, 85 90 95 Then on their fhoulders the fad burden rear. The body on this rural herfe is born, Strew'd leaves and funeral greens the bier adorn. All |