Aeneid 12.903-952

What happens to Turnus?

sed neque currentem se nec cognoscit euntem

tollentemve manu saxumve immane moventem;

genua labant, gelidus concrevit frigore sanguis. 905

tum lapis ipse viri vacuum per inane volutus

nec spatium evasit totum neque pertulit ictum.

ac velut in somnis, oculos ubi languida pressit

nocte quies, nequiquam avidos extendere cursus

velle videmur et in mediis conatibus aegri 910

succidimus; non lingua valet, non corpore notae

sufficiunt vires nec vox aut verba sequuntur:

• He threw the rock but it doesn't go very far and he feels like a man asleep

• He accidentally drops the rock on his head, knocking himself out cold

• He throws the rock which narrowly misses Aeneas then a cold shiver goes through his limbs as the Fates begin to end his life

Then what happens?

sic Turno, quacumque viam virtute petivit,

successum dea dira negat. tum pectore sensus

vertuntur varii; Rutulos aspectat et urbem 915

cunctaturque metu letumque instare tremescit,

nec quo se eripiat, nec qua vi tendat in hostem,

nec currus usquam videt aurigamve sororem.

• Turnus doesn't know where to turn and doesn't see his sister anywhere

• He decides to run back to the city hoping that his sister will be there

• The Rutilians offer him help but they are prohibited and so Turnus to his sister disguised as the charioteer

What does Aeneas then do?

Cunctanti telum Aeneas fatale coruscat,

sortitus fortunam oculis, et corpore toto 920

eminus intorquet. murali concita numquam

tormento sic saxa fremunt nec fulmine tanti

dissultant crepitus. volat atri turbinis instar

exitium dirum hasta ferens orasque recludit

loricae et clipei extremos septemplicis orbis; 925

per medium stridens transit femur.

• He throws his spear at Turnus and it penetrates both Turnus' shield and leg

• He runs at Turnus like a black whirwind then stabs him in the leg with his sword

• He taunts Turnus and trips him as he runs back toward the city

What does Turnus do?

incidit ictus

ingens ad terram duplicato poplite Turnus.

consurgunt gemitu Rutuli totusque remugit

mons circum et vocem late nemora alta remittunt.

ille humilis supplex oculos dextramque precantem 930

protendens 'equidem merui nec deprecor' inquit;

'utere sorte tua. miseri te si qua parentis

tangere cura potest, oro (fuit et tibi talis

Anchises genitor) Dauni miserere senectae

et me, seu corpus spoliatum lumine mavis, 935

redde meis. vicisti et victum tendere palmas

Ausonii videre; tua est Lavinia coniunx,

ulterius ne tende odiis.'

• He doubles over then asks Aeneas to send his body back home

• He falls down and begs Aeneas for his life

• He yells at the Rutilians and the sound fills the forest. He then begs Aeneas to spare him

How does it all end?

stetit acer in armis

Aeneas volvens oculos dextramque repressit;

et iam iamque magis cunctantem flectere sermo 940

coeperat, infelix umero cum apparuit alto

balteus et notis fulserunt cingula bullis

Pallantis pueri, victum quem vulnere Turnus

straverat atque umeris inimicum insigne gerebat.

ille, oculis postquam saevi monimenta doloris 945

exuviasque hausit, furiis accensus et ira

terribilis: 'tune hinc spoliis indute meorum

eripiare mihi? Pallas te hoc vulnere, Pallas

immolat et poenam scelerato ex sanguine sumit.'

hoc dicens ferrum adverso sub pectore condit 950

fervidus; ast illi solvuntur frigore membra

vitaque cum gemitu fugit indignata sub umbras.

• Aeneas thinks about it but see Pallas' armor and enraged, kills Turnus

• Aeneas thinks about his own father and overcome with pity, spares Turnus who dies from his leg wound anyway

• Aeneas, compared to a raging bull, tells Turnus to stop talking then stabs him in the chest