And now the trumpet gave the signal for battle. First the Volscians drew near to the wall. These held their shields over their heads, joining them in close array so that they were like unto the shell of a tortoise, and they that bare them filled the moat and pulled down the wall. And some would have mounted the walls on ladders; while the men of Troy cast spears at them and thrust at them with poles, being indeed well used to the manner of such a fight from walls. But on the covering of shields they threw down a huge block, breaking it through and scattering the men, who would not indeed fight any more in such fashion, but cast all manner of javelins and the like against the men of Troy. And Mezentius the Tuscan came on, shaking a lighted torch of pine in his hand, and Messapus tore down the rampart and called for a scaling-ladder, that he might mount up into the breach.

Now there was a tower upon the wall, which the Italians sought to take, and the men of Troy to defend it cast stones and darts through the loopholes thereof. On to this Turnus cast a torch, setting fire to the wall, and the flame, the wind fanning it, climbed from story to story. And when they that were therein fled to the part that was yet unconsumed, lo! the whole tower fell forward, and all perished, two only escaping, Helenor and Lycus. And Helenor was the elder, and when he saw that the enemy was about him on every side, then, even as a beast which the hunters compass about with a great ring waxeth desperate and flingeth himself over the nets upon their spears, so he threw himself on the ranks of the Latins where the spears were thickest, and so died. But Lycus was very swift of foot, and won even as far as the wall, and would fain have climbed thereon. But Turnus caught him, crying, “Thinkest thou to escape me?” and he laid hands upon him as he hung from the wall, dragging down much wall likewise: even as an eagle seizes a swan or a wolf a lamb, so he seized him. Then did the battle wax fiercer and fiercer, and many fell on this side and on that. For Ilioneus smote Lucetius when he would have set fire to the gates, and Capys slew Privernus, and Mezentius, having cast away his spear, smote the son of Arcens with a bullet of lead from his sling.

And now IÜlus, having used his bow aforetime on beasts of the field only, now first drew it against a man, even against Numanus, who had to wife the sister of Turnus. For this Numanus, thinking himself to be some great one, stood in the front rank, and defied the men of Troy, saying, “Are ye not ashamed, ye that have already been twice conquered, now to be besieged again? What madness brought you to Italy? We are a hardy race, for our new-born babes are dipped in the stream, and our boys are hunters in the woods; and when we be men our hands are ever on the ploughshare or the sword, yea, and old age subdues us not, for when our hair is white yet do we cover it with the helmet. But ye with your mantles of purple and saffron, and sleeved tunics, and ribboned mitres, lovers of sleep and of the dance, ye men, nay rather ye women, of Phrygia, what do ye here?”

But the young IÜlus endured not to hear such boasting. He fixed an arrow in his bow and drew the string, which was of horsehair, and ere he let fly, he cried to Jupiter, “Help me now, great Father, so will I bring, year by year, to thy temple a steer with gilded horns.” And Jupiter heard, and thundered on the left hand. And now, together with the thunder, clanged the bow-string, sending death, and the arrow hissed in the air and smote Numanus through the head, even from temple to temple. “This is the answer that the twice-conquered men of Troy send thee.” So cried the young IÜlus, and all the people shouted for joy. And Apollo, where he sat in heaven and regarded the battle, spake, “Go thou on as thou beginnest, child and father of gods: ’tis thus that the race of Troy shall hereafter bring all wars to an end.” Then he came down from heaven into the camp of Troy, and took upon himself the shape of the old man Butes: he had been aforetime the armour-bearer of Anchises, and now followed IÜlus. And the god spake, saying, “It is enough that thou hast slain the boaster Numanus. The archer Apollo envieth thee not this glory. But tempt the battle no more.” So saying he vanished out of their sight. But the chiefs knew him who he was, yea, and heard the rattle of his quiver as he departed. And they suffered not IÜlus to draw his bow again. But all the more the battle raged along the walls.

Now there were two youths, sons of Alcanor of Mount Ida, tall as pine-trees; and their names were Pandarus and Bitias. These having charge of the gate opened it, and standing on the right hand and on the left, even as towers, bade the enemy enter. And many of these, seeing the open gate, rushed forward, but fell slain upon the threshold. And now the men of Troy took heart, and pressed on beyond the walls.

But when Turnus heard tidings of these things he made haste to the gate. And first he slew Antiphates, who was a son of Sarpedon, and others also, and Bitias himself with them. Not with a javelin did he slay him (no javelin had done such deed), but with a great spear of Saguntum, having a point of a cubit’s length. Through two bulls’ hides it passed and two folds of his coat of mail. With a great crash he fell, and his shield upon him, even as falls a great pile which men set up in the bay of BaiÆ. So Bitias fell; and Pandarus, his brother, seeing that things fared ill with the men of Troy, shut-to the gate, thrusting it into its place with his broad shoulders. Many of his companions he left without among their enemies, and many he shut in. But being blind with haste and fear, he saw not that he shut in among them Prince Turnus himself. But Turnus raged for blood, as a tiger rageth among herds of cattle, and the men of Troy fled before him. But Pandarus feared not to meet him, hoping also that he should have vengeance for his brother. And he cried, “This is not thy city of Ardea, but the camp of thy enemies. Hence thou goest not forth.” But Turnus made answer, “Begin, if thou hast any valour in thy heart. Thou shalt find another Achilles here.” Then Pandarus cast a great spear with a knotted staff, whereon the bark was left; but Juno turned it aside, so that it fixed itself in the gate. And Turnus said, “My weapon thou escapest not thus, nor maketh my hand such error.” And he lifted his sword, rising to the blow, and cleft the man’s head, so that it fell divided upon his shoulders. Then, indeed, if only Turnus had bethought him to open the gate that the Latins should come in, there had come an end that day to the war and to the whole nation of Troy. But he thought not of it, caring only to slay the enemy. Many did he smite, some on the back as they fled, and some in front; among them Amycus the hunter, and Clytius the singer, whom the Muses loved.

But now the chiefs of Troy, Mnestheus and Sergestus, began to gather the people together, and to make head against Turnus. And Mnestheus cried, “Whither will ye flee? Have ye any walls beside? Shall one man work such slaughter in the city? Have you no thought, ye cowards, for your king?” Then the men of Troy took heart again, and joined themselves in close array, so that Turnus could not but give way before them. Just so a lion is driven back by a crowd of men. Frightened is he, yet fierce withal, and his courage suffereth him not to flee, yet, so many are against him, he dareth not to stand. Even thus did Turnus give way. Twice he turned and put the men of Troy to flight, and twice they mastered him. For the helmet on his head rang with the javelins, and was broken with stones; and the crest was stricken off, and the shield was shattered with blows; and the sweat poured off from him, and scarce could he breathe, till at the last, having now come to the river, he plunged therein, and so returned to his companions.

And still the battle grew fiercer and fiercer about the walls, and the ring of them that defended the camp grew thinner and thinner. There stood Asius, the son of Imbrasus, and Clarus and Themon, brothers of Sarpedon the Lycian, and Acmon, the brother of Mnestheus, and others with them. And in the midst stood the young IÜlus, with his comely head uncovered, like to a jewel that is set in gold or ivory, or that is compassed about with boxwood or terebinth.