mortal to achieve such deeds as AEneas is now accomplishing?” “Why,” submissively answered Juno, “dost thou tease me, who am already oppressed with anguish for the fate of the people I befriend?  Had I that share in your love which I once enjoyed, and which it is fitting for me to possess, thou surely couldst not refuse me this much, that I might have permission to rescue Turnus from the fate that threatens him, and restore him safe to his father Daunus.  But since that cannot be, let him die, and glut the vengeance of the Trojan with his blood; yet his origin is divine, and often has he piled thy altars with sacrifices.”  Not unmoved, the ruler of the Gods replied, “If you plead for a respite from immediate death, and a little breathing-time for the youth, I grant you to bear him from the field, and for a short time to preserve him.  So far I will indulge you; but if you hope to gain any greater favor, and imagine that the whole predetermined course of the war is to be altered at your entreaty, you delude yourself with empty hopes.”  With tears Juno responded, “What if thou shouldst grant in thy heart what in words thou dost refuse, and continue the life of Turnus for its natural duration?  I fear much that a speedy end awaits the brave youth; but oh!  I pray that I may be misled by groundless alarms, and that thou, to whom all power belongs, may alter thy purpose for the better.”

Not daring to say more, the queen of heaven hastily descended from Olympus towards the contending armies.  Then she devised an airy phantom, wearing armor which exactly resembled that of AEneas, and imitating to the life his walk and mien.  This shadow she caused to flutter in the forefront of the battle, full in the view of Turnus, and to provoke him with darts and insolent words.  The enraged Rutulian eagerly pressed upon it, and from a distance hurled against it a spear.  Immediately the spectre, wheeling about, took to flight.  Turnus, imagining that in very truth it was the Trojan chief who feared to meet him, and filled with baseless exultation, cried out, “AEneas, whither dost thou fly?  Desert not thus thy promised bride; with this right hand will I bestow upon thee the settled abode thou hast sought in vain through so many lands and seas.”  Thus vociferating, he madly pursued the deceitful phantom.  It chanced that near the shore there lay a vessel, joined to the land by a temporary bridge of planks.  Hither Juno led the shadow, and caused it in seeming fear to leap on board and throw itself into a hiding-place.  With not less speed Turnus followed, bounded along the bridge, and mounted to the lofty prow of the ship in search of the supposed fugitive.  Instantly the goddess severed the cable, and drove the vessel over the foaming waves.  Then the phantom melted into the air, and the Rutulian, utterly bewildered, gazed about him in despair, nor did he feel at all thankful to the guardian deity for having thus preserved him from the arms of AEneas.  “Almighty Father,”