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Story of Aeneas

M >> Michael Clarke >> Story of Aeneas




AEneas, now taking careful aim, and putting forth the whole strength
of his body, hurled his fatal spear. Like a whirlwind it flew, and
with mighty force breaking through the shield and corselet of the
Rutulian chief, pierced his thigh. Down to the earth he sank on his
knees, and the Trojan chief rushed forward sword in hand. Then the
vanquished hero besought the conqueror: "I have deserved my fate, and
I do not deprecate it, yet if any regard for an unhappy father can
move you, have compassion on the aged Daunus. You too had such a
father. You have triumphed. Lavinia is yours. Persist not further in
hate."

AEneas was much affected by this appeal. It almost moved him to spare
the life of his foe, but the belt of Pallas which the wounded man wore
sealed his fate. As soon as it caught the eye of the Trojan he raised
his sword and with one blow avenged the death of the brave son of
Evander.

Then, roused anew to wrath, he loudly cries
(Flames, while he spoke, came flashing from his eyes),
"Traitor! dost thou, dost thou to grace pretend,
Clad, as thou art, in trophies of my friend?
To his sad soul a grateful offering go!
'Tis Pallas, Pallas gives this deadly blow!"
He raised his arm aloft, and at the word,
Deep in his bosom drove the shining sword.
The streaming blood distained his arms around;
And the disdainful soul came rushing through the wound.
DRYDEN, _AEneid_, BOOK XII.


Here ends the story of AEneas as related by Vergil. There was no more
to be told, that could properly come within the limits of the subject,
as set forth in the opening lines of the AEneid:

Arms and the man I sing, who, forced by Fate,
And haughty Juno's unrelenting hate,
Expelled and exiled, left the Trojan shore.
Long labors, both by sea and land, he bore,
And in the doubtful war, before he won
The Latian realm, and built the destined town.


The poet undertook to tell about the wanderings of the hero, and his
long labors both by sea and land, up to the time he won a settlement
in Italy. This was accomplished by the death of Turnus, which put an
end to the war. The brave Rutulian chief made a gallant fight, but the
fates were against him. He would probably have been the victor had his
antagonist been any other than the man of destiny, who had the decrees
of heaven always on his side.

As to the subsequent history of AEneas, the Roman traditions tell us
that he married the princess Lavinia, and built a city which was
called after her name--Lavinium. Upon the death of his father-in-law,
Latinus, he became king of Latium. But though he was then in
possession of his long promised settlement, his wars were not entirely
over, for we are told that he fought a battle with the Rutulians who,
though their king was dead, were still unwilling to submit to a
foreigner. In this battle, which took place on the bank of the river
Numicus, the Trojan hero mysteriously disappeared and was seen no
more. Some say he was drowned in the river, and that the Latins, not
finding the body, supposed he had been taken up to heaven, and
therefore offered him sacrifices as a god.

On the death of the hero, his son Iulus succeeded him, and built the
city of Alba Longa, which was ruled for many centuries by kings of the
line of AEneas, whose descendants were the founders of Rome.

From whence the race of Alban Fathers come,
And the long glories of majestic Rome.

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