meeting and deciding the outcome with their swords

*****

turnus ran to the city walls through the broken ranks
(where the soil was most drenched with blood)

*****

hearing the name of turnus, aeneas left the walls
and exultant with delight clashed her weapons fiercely

vast as old apennine
himself when he roars through the glittering holm-oaks

*****

they both dashed quickly forward
the earth groaned
they redoubled their intense
sword-strokes, chance and skill mingled together

*****

turnus leapt forward thinking herself safe, rose to the full height
of her body with uplifted sword, and struck

*****

[but the attack fails; turnus’ sword breaks against aeneas’ mighty armor]

*****

turnus ran madly this way and that over the plain, winding
aimless circles here and there

*****

aeneas, no less, though her knees (slowed at times
by the arrow wound) failed her and denied her speed,
pursued and pressed her anxious enemy hotly, foot to foot

*****

aeneas pressed on, brandishing her great spear like a tree,
and, angered at heart, she cried out in this way:
‘why now yet more delay? why do you still retreat, turnus?
we must compete hand to hand with fierce weapons, not by running

*****

like a black hurricane she flew on
bearing dire destruction, and
passed through the center of the thigh

*****

intermission

end intermission

*****

great turnus sank, her knee bent beneath her, under the blow.
She lowered her eyes in submission and stretched out her right hand:
‘I have earned this, I ask no mercy’ she said,
‘seize your chance.’

*****

aeneas, blazing with fury, and terrible in her anger,
buried her sword deep
and then turnus’s limbs grew slack