THE ARGUMENT.

Aneis 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 propose offers of peace to Æneas, which occafions great animofity betwixt Turnus and Drances: in the mean time there is a fharp engagement of the horfe; wherein Camilla fignalizes herfelf; is killed and the Latine troops are intirely defeated.

SCARCE 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 firft 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.

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The

The coat of arms by proud Mezentius worn,
Now on a naked fhag in triumph borne,
Was hung on high; and glitter'd from afar:
A trophy facred to the god of war.
Above his arms, fix'd on the leafless wood,
Appear'd his plumy creft, befmear'd with blood;
His brazen buckler on the left was feen;
Truncheons of fhiver'd lances hung between:
And on the right was plac'd his corflet, bor'd;
And to the neck was ty'd his unavailing sword.
A crowd of chiefs inclofe the godlike man:
Who thus, confpicuous in the midft, began:

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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 prefume it won. Fear is no more: for fierce Mezentius lies, As the first fruits of war, a facrifice. Turnus shall stand extended on the plain; 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 warlike enfigns waving in the wind. Mean time the rites and funeral pomps prepare, Due to your dead companions of the war: The last respect the living can bestow,

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To fhield their fhadows from contempt below.

That conquer'd earth be theirs for which they fought; And which for us with their own blood they bought.

But