But the cry that went up from the city came to the ears of Turnus where he fought in the farthest part of the plain.  And he caught the reins and said, “What meaneth this sound of trouble and wailing that I hear?” And the false Metiscus, who was in truth his sister, made answer, “Let us fight, O Turnus, here where the Gods give us victory.  There are enough to defend the city.”  But Turnus spake, saying, “Nay, my sister, for who thou art I have known even from the beginning; it must not be so.  Why camest thou down from heaven?  Was it to see thy brother die?  And now what shall I do?  Have I not seen Murranus die, and Ufens the AEquian?  And shall I suffer this city to be destroyed?  Shall this land see Turnus flee before his enemies?  Be ye kind to me, O gods of the dead, seeing that the gods of heaven hate me.  I come down to you a righteous spirit, and not unworthy of my fathers.”

And even as he spake came Saces, riding on a horse that was covered with foam, and on his face was the wound of an arrow.  And he cried, “O Turnus, our last hopes are in thee.  For AEneas is about to destroy the city, and the firebrands are cast upon the roofs.  And King Latinus is sore tried with doubt, and the Queen hath laid hands upon herself and is dead.  And now only Messapus and Atinas maintain the battle, and the fight grows fierce around them, whilst thou drivest thy chariot about these empty fields.”

Then for a while Turnus stood speechless, and shame and grief and madness were in his soul; and he looked to the city, and lo! the fire went up even to the top of the tower which he himself had builded upon the walls to be a defense against the enemy.  And when he saw it, he cried, “It is enough, my sister; I go whither the Gods call me.  I will meet with AEneas face to face, and endure my doom.”

And as he spake he leapt down from his chariot, and ran across the plain till he came near to the city, even where the blood was deepest upon the earth, and the arrows were thickest in the air.  And he beckoned with the hand and called to the Italians, saying, “Stay now your arrows.  I am come to fight this battle for you all.”  And when they heard it they left a space in the midst.  AEneas also, when he heard the name of Turnus, left attacking the city, and came to meet him, mighty as Athos, or Eryx, or Father Apenninus, that raiseth his snowy head to the heavens.  And the men of Troy and the Latins and King Latinus marveled to see them meet, so mighty they were.

First they cast their spears at each other, and then ran together, and their shields struck one against the other with a crash that went up to the sky.  And Jupiter held the balance in heaven, weighing their doom.  Then Turnus, rising to the stroke, smote fiercely with his sword.  And the men of Troy and the Latins cried out when they saw him strike.  But the treacherous sword brake in the blow.  And when he saw the empty hilt in his hand he turned to flee.  They say that when he mounted his chariot