Here  Tunnw  had  arrtired.  Draaeea,  an  ag«d  and  influential  oonnsellor,  aecnsea  him
of  be'mg  tiie  cause  of  the  war,  and  the  author  of  their  calamities;  and  urges  him  to
decide  the  dispute  by  single  combat.  Turnus  however  has  many  iViends,  who  recdvnt
his  noble  deeds  of  valor.  At  this  Juncture^  the  ambassadors,  who  had  been  sent  to  the
court  of  Diomcde  (Lib.  S.)  returned.  Latintis  calls  a  council  of  all  his  senators  and
nobles  Xa  receive  f he  i^ply,  and  to^  consult  upon  the  present  state  of  affairs.  Venulus,
the  chief  of  the  embaasy,  gives  a  fuU  aeeonnt  of  the  miasion ;  of  his  reception  by  Dio-
niede;  of  the  opinion  of  Uiat  monafob  concerning  the  war,  and  the  reason  of  his  dc<
dining  any  interference  in  it.  Latinus  gives  his  opinion  in  favor  of  peace,  and  proposes
to  send  ambassadors  with  rich  presents  to  iElneas,  bearing  proposals  of  peace  and  amity.
Drances  follows  in  a  speech  of  much  virulence  and  invective  against  Tumus,  accusing
hint  of  flight  and  cowardice,  and  proposed,  if  he  were  the  mighty  champion  he  claimed
to  be,  that  he  should  decide  the  dispute  by  single  combat  with  iEneas,  and  prevent
further  effusion  of  blood.
