[Scarce was the down upon his chin begun. One was their friendship, their desire was one; With minds united in the field they warr'd, [And now were both by choice upon the guard.] [Then Nisus thus:

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Or do the gods this warlike warmth inspire, [Or makes each man a god of his desire? A noble ardor boils within my breast, [Eager of action, enemy of rest; That urges me to fight, or undertake Some deed that may my fame immortal make. [Thou see'st the foe secure; how faintly shine] Their scatter'd fires! the most, in sleep supine,] Dissolv'd in ease, and drunk with victory; [The few awake the fuming flagon ply:

All hush'd around. Now hear what I revolve] Within my mind, and what my laboring thoughts resolve.

[Our absent lord both camp and council mourn; [By message both would hasten his return:] 130 The gifts propos'd if they confer on thee, (For fame is recompense enough to me,) Methinks, beneath yon hill, I have espied] A way that safely will my passage guide."] [Euryalus stood list'ning while he spoke,] [With love of praise and noble envy strook; Then to his ardent friend expos'd his mind:] ["All this, alone, and leaving me behind!] Am I unworthy, Nisus, to be join'd ?] 139 Think'st thou my share of honor I will yield, [Or send thee unassisted to the field?]

Not so my father taught my childhood arms;] [Born in a siege, and bred amongst alarms! [Nor is my youth unworthy of my friend,] Or of the heav'n-born hero I attend. The thing call'd life with ease I can disclaim,] And think it over-sold to purchase fame."] To whom his friend:

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I could not think, alas, thy tender years Would minister new matter to my fears;] Nor is it just thou shouldst thy wish obtain So Jove in triumph bring me back again To those dear eyes; or if a god there be To pious friends propitious more than he! [But if some one- as many sure there are Of adverse accidents in doubtful war [If one should reach my head, there let it fall,] And spare thy life; I would not perish all.] Thy youth is worthy of a longer date: [Do thou remain to mourn thy lover's fate, 160 To bear my mangled body from the foe,] [Or buy it back, and fun'ral rites bestow ;] Or, if hard fortune shall my corpse deny Those dues, with empty marble to supply. [O let not me the widow's tears renew!] Let not a mother's curse my name pursue: Thy pious mother, who, in love to thee, Left the fair coast of fruitful Sicily, [Her age committing to the seas and wind,] [When every weary matron stay'd behind." 170 To this, Euryalus: "Thou plead'st in vain, [And but delay'st the cause thou canst not gain. No more! 't is loss of time." With that he wakes

[The nodding watch: each to his office takes.] The guard reliev'd, in company they went To find the council at the royal tent.]

Now every living thing lay void of care, [And sleep, the common gift of nature, share :] Meantime the Trojan peers in council sate, And call'd their chief commanders, to debate

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[The weighty business of th' indanger'd state; What next was to be done, who to be sent T'inform Æneas of the foes' intent. In midst of all the quiet camp they held Nocturnal council; each sustains a shield Which his o'er-labor'd arm can hardly rear, And leans upon a long projected spear. [Now Nisus and his friend approach the guard,]

[And beg admittance, eager to be heard: [Th' affair important, not to be deferr'd.] 190 Ascanius bids them be conducted in ; Then thus, commanded, Nisus does begin: [Ye Trojan fathers, lend attentive ears; Nor judge our undertaking by our years. The foes, securely drench'd in sleep and wine, [Their watch neglect; their fires but thinly shine;

[And, where the smoke in thick'ning vapors flies,

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[Cov'ring the plain, and clouding all the skies, Betwixt the spaces we have mark'd a way, Close by the gate, and coasting by the sea. This passage undisturb'd, and unespied, Our steps will safely to Æneas guide: [Expect each hour to see him back again, Loaded with spoils of foes in battle slain.] [Snatch we the lucky minute while we may,] [Nor can we be mistaken in the way ;]

[For, hunting in the vale, we oft have seen [The rising turrets with the stream between, And know its winding course, with every ford." [Hepaus'd; and old Alethes took the word: 210 ["Our country gods, in whom our trust we place,]

[Will yet from ruin save the Trojan race,] While we behold such springing worth appear In youth so brave, and breasts so void of fear." With this he took the hand of either boy, Embrac'd them closely both, and wept for joy: ["Ye brave young men, what equal gifts can we,]

[What recompense for such desert, decree! The greatest, sure, and best you can receive,], The gods, your virtue, and your fame will

give.

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[The rest our grateful general will bestow,] [And young Ascanius till his manhood owe."] ["And I, whose welfare in my father lies,"] Ascanius adds, "by all the deities, [By our great country, and our household gods, [By hoary Vesta's rites and dark abodes,] Adjure you both (on you my fortune stands ;] That and my faith I plight into your hands),] Make me but happy in his safe return,] (For I no other loss but only his can mourn,) 230 Nisus, your gift shall two large goblets be, [Of silver, wrought with curious imagery,] [And high emboss'd, which, when old Priam reign'd,]

[My conquering sire at sack'd Arisba gain'd ;] [And more, two tripods cast in antique mold,]

Male slaves as many, well appointed all With vests and arms, shall to thy portion fall; And last, a fruitful field to thee shall rest, The large demesnes the Latian king possess'd. [But thou, whose years are more to mine allied-]

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[No fate my vow'd affection shall divide] [From thee, O wondrous youth! Be ever mine; Take full possession; all my soul is thine.] [My life's companion, and my bosom friend, [One faith, one fame, one fate, shall both attend.

My peace shall be committed to thy care,] And to thy conduct my concerns in war.' [Then thus the bold Euryalus replied: ["Whatever fortune, good or bad, betide,] The same shall be my age, as now my youth;] No time shall find me wanting to my truth.] 200 This only from your bounty let me gain [(And this not granted, all rewards are vain): Of Priam's royal race my mother came-] [And sure the best that ever bore the name -] Whom neither Troy nor Sicily could hold] [From me departing, but, o'erspent and old,] My fate she follow'd. Ignorant of this] [(Whatever) danger, neither parting kiss,] Nor pious blessing taken, her I leave,] And in this only act of all my life deceive.] 270 [By this your hand and conscious Night I swear, [My youth so sad a farewell could not bear. [Be you her patron; fill my vacant place

Permit me to presume so great a grace);] [Support her age, forsaken and distress'd.] [That hope alone will fortify my breast] [Against the worst of fortunes, and of fears."] He said. Th' assistants shed presaging tears; But, above all, Ascanius, mov'd to see [That image of paternal piety. Then thus replied:

"So great beginnings, in so green an age,] Exact that faith which firmly I engage. Thy mother all the privilege shall claim [Creusa had, and only want the name.] [Whate'er event thy enterprise shall have, 'Tis merit to have borne a son so brave.] [By this my head, a sacred oath, I swear,] (My father us'd it,) what, returning here] Crown'd with success, I for thyself prepare,] Thy parent and thy family shall share."

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[He said, and weeping, while he spoke the word,]

[From his broad belt he drew a shining sword,] [Magnificent with gold. Lycaon made,]

[And in an iv'ry scabbard sheath'd the blade.] [This was his gift; while Mnestheus did provide,

For Nisus' arms, a grisly lion's hide,

[And true Alethes chang'd with him his helm of temper tried.

[Thus arm'd they went. The noble Trojans wait]

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[Their going forth, and follow to the gate [With pray'rs and vows. Above the rest appears]

[Ascanius, manly far above his years,

[And messages committed to their care,] [Which all in winds were lost, and empty air. [The trenches first they pass'd; then took their way]

[Where their proud foes in pitch'd pavilions lay ;]

[To many fatal, e'er themselves were slain.] The careless host dispers'd upon the plain [They found, who, drunk with wine, supinely

snore.

[Unharness'd chariots stand upon the shore; 319 'Midst wheels and reins, and arms, the goblet by,

[A medley of debauch and war, they lie.] [Observing Nisus shew'd his friend the sight;] Then thus: " Behold a conquest without fight. Occasion calls the sword to be prepar'd; [Our way lies there: stand thou upon the guard, And look behind, while I securely go

[To cut an ample passage thro' the foe." [Softly he spoke; then stalking took his way, [With his drawn sword, where haughty Rham

nes lay:]

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[His head rais'd high on tapestry beneath,] [And heaving from his breast, he puff'd his breath;

[A king and prophet, by King Turnus lov'd:] [But fate by prescience cannot be remov'd.] [Three sleeping slaves he soon subdues; then spies

[Where Remus, with his proud retinue, lies. His armor-bearer first, and next he kills] [His charioteer, entrench'd betwixt the wheels] And his lov'd horses; last invades their lord ;] [Full on his neck he aims the fatal sword: The gasping head flies off; a purple flood] [Flows from the trunk, that wallows in the

blood,

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[Which, by the spurning heels dispers❜d around,] The bed besprinkles and bedews the ground.] Then Lamyrus with Lamus and the young Serranus, who with gaming did prolong The night: oppress'd with wine and slumber lay

[The beauteous youth, and dreamt of lucky play

[More lucky, had it been protracted till the day.

[The famish'd lion thus, with hunger bold,] 540 [O'erleaps the fences of the nightly fold,] [The peaceful flock devours, and tears, and draws:

[Wrapp'd up in silent fear, they lie and pant beneath his paws.

[Nor with less rage Euryalus imploys] [The vengeful sword, nor fewer foes destroys; [But on th' ignoble crowd his fury flew,] [Which Fadus, Hebesus, and Rhoetus slew,

[Full as he rose he plung'd it in his side; The cruel sword return'd in crimson dyed. The wound a blended stream of wine and blood [Pours out; the purple soul comes floating in the flood.

[Now, where Messapus quarter'd, they arrive.] [The fires were fainting there, and just alive ;] The warlike horses, tied in order, fed. Nisus the discipline observ'd, and said:

Our eagerness of blood may both betray; 360 Behold the doubtful glimmering of the day, Foe to these nightly thefts. No more, my friend;

[Here let our glutted execution end.]

A lane thro' slaughter'd bodies we have made."]

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[The bold Euryalus, tho' loth, obey'd.] Rich arms and arras, which they scatter'd find, [And plate, a precious load, they leave behind. Yet, fond of gaudy spoils, the boy would stay] To make the proud caparisons his prey, Which deck'd a neighb'ring steed. [Nor did his eyes less longingly behold] The girdle, studded o'er with nails of gold, Which Rhamnes wore. This present long ago On Remulus did Cædicus bestow, [And, absent, join'd in hospitable ties:] [He, dying, to his heir bequeath'd the prize ;] Till, by the conquering Rutuli oppress'd, He fell, and they the glorious gift possess'd.] These gaudy spoils Euryalus now bears, And vainly on his brawny shoulders wears: [Messapus' helm he found amongst the dead, Garnish'd with plumes, and fitted to his head. [They leave the camp, and take the safest road. Meantime a squadron of their foes abroad, Three hundred horse with bucklers arm'd, they spied,

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Whom Volscens by the king's command did guide.

To Turnus these were from the city sent,
And to perform their message sought his tent.
Approaching, near their utmost lines they
draw;

When, bending tow'rds the left, their captain

[The darkness of the shades, his heavy prey, And fear, misled the younger from his way. But Nisus hit the turns with happier haste,] Who now, unknowing, had the danger pass'd, [And Alban lakes, from Alba's name

call'd,

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[Where King Latinus then his oxen stall'd ;] [Till, turning at the length, he stood his ground,]

[And vainly cast his longing eyes around For his lost friend!

["Ah wretch!" he cried, "where have I left behind?]

[Where shall I hope th' unhappy youth to

find?

[Or what way take?" Again he ventures back,]

[And treads the mazes of his former track] Thro' the wild wood; at last he hears the

noise

[Of trampling horses, and the riders' voice. 420 The sound approach'd; and suddenly he view'd] His foes inclosing, and his friend pursued, [Forelaid and taken, while he strove in vain] [The covert of the neighb'ring wood to gain. [What should he next attempt? what arms employ,]

[With fruitless force to free the captive boy? Or tempt unequal numbers with the sword, And die by him whom living he ador'd?

[Resolv'd on death, his dreadful spear he shook ;

[And, casting to the moon a mournful look: 430 Fair queen, ," said he, "who dost in woods delight,

[Grace of the stars, and goddess of the night,

[Be present, and direct my dart aright. [If e'er my pious father, for my sake,] [Did on thy altars grateful offerings make, Or I increas'd them with successful toils, And hung thy sacred roof with savage spoils, Thro' the brown shadows guide my flying spear To reach this troop." Then, poising from his ear

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The quiv'ring weapon with full force he threw. Thro' the divided shades the deadly javelin

flew ;

On Sulmo's back it splits; the double dart Drove deeper onward, and transfix'd his heart. [He staggers round; his eyeballs roll in death,] And with short sobs he gasps away his breath.] [All stand amaz'd -a second javelin flies] From his stretch'd arm, and hisses thro' the skies.

[The lance thro' Tagus' temples forc'd its way, [And in his brainpan warmly buried lay.

[Descried no author of the fatal wound, Nor where to fix revenge : "But thou," he cries,

["Shalt pay for both," and at the pris'ner flies] [With his drawn sword. Then, struck with deep despair,]

[That fatal sight the lover could not bear But from his covert rush'd in open view,] And sent his voice before him as he flew:]

Me, me, employ your sword on me alone: The crime confess'd; the fact was all my own. He neither could nor durst, the guiltless youth :]

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[Ye moon and stars, bear witness to the truth!] [His only fault (if that be to offend)

[Was too much loving his unhappy friend." [Too late, alas, he speaks:

The sword, which unrelenting fury guides, [Driv'n with full force, had pierc'd his tender sides.]

[Down fell the beauteous youth: the gaping wound

[Gush'd out a crimson stream, and stain'd the ground.

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[His nodding neck reclines on his white breast, Like a fair flow'r, in furrow'd fields oppress'd By the keen share; or poppy on the plain, [Whose heavy head is overcharg'd with rain.] [Disdain, despair, and deadly vengeance vow'd, [Drove Nisus headlong on the hostile crowd.] Volscens he seeks; at him alone he bends: [Borne back, and push'd by his surrounding friends,

[He still press'd on, and kept him still in sight; Then whirl'd aloft his sword with all his might:]

Th' unerring weapon flew; and, wing'd with

death,

THE ENTIRE EPISODE OF MEZENTIUS AND LAUSUS, TRANSLATED OUT OF THE TENTH BOOK OF VIRGIL'S ENEIDS

[See pages 667-671, lines 1071-1313.] Connection of the Episode with the foregoing story. Mezentius was King of Etruria, or Tuscany, from whence he was expell'd by his subjects, for his tyrannical government and cruelty, and a new king elected. Being thus banish'd, he applies himself to King Turnus, in whose court he and his son Lausus take sanctuary. Turnus for the love of Lavinia making war with Æneas, Mezentius ingages in the cause of his benefactor, and performs many great actions, particularly in revenging himself on his late subjects,

who now assisted Eneas, out of hatred to him. Mezentius is everywhere describ'd by Virgil as an atheist; his son Lausus is made the pattern of filial piety and virtue; and the death of those two is the subject of this noble episode.

[THUS equal deaths are dealt, and equal chance;

[1072-74]

[The gods from heav'n survey the doubtful strife,

[1077-79]

[Her scourge aloft, and hissing crest of snakes. [Once more Mezentius, with a proud disdain, [1082-83]

[Like vast Orion stalking o'er the flood. [1085-88]

Thus arm'd, he took the field.

[1100-14] [All these it pass'd with unresisted course, [1116-20]

[His father's danger Lausus view'd with grief;

[He sigh'd, he wept, he ran to his relief.] [And here, O wondrous youth, 't is here I must [1124-25]

[Posterity shall scarce believe it true.

[1127-30]

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[The pious youth, resolv'd to undergo The lifted sword, springs out to face his foe, [Protects his father, and prevents the blow. [1134-35]

[All, fir'd with noble emulation, strive,

[1137-54]

[For now the Fates prepar'd their cruel shears; And lifted high the conquering sword ap

pears,

[Which, full descending with a fearful sway, [Thro' shield and cuirass forc'd th' impetu

THE SPEECH OF VENUS TO VULCAN WHEREIN SHE PERSUADES HIM TO MAKE ARMS FOR HER SON ENEAS, THEN ENGAG'D IN A WAR AGAINST THE LATINS AND KING TURNUS: TRANSLATED OUT OF THE EIGHTH BOOK OF VIRGIL'S ENEIDS

[See pages 631, 632, lines 484-538.]

Now Night with sable wings the world o'erspread;

But Venus, not in vain, surpris'd with dread
Of Latian arms, before the tempest breaks,
Her husband's timely succor thus bespeaks,
[Couch'd in his golden bed;

[And, that her pleasing speech his mind may move,]

[Inspires it with diviner charms of love:

While adverse fate conspir'd with Grecian pow'is,

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[To level with the ground the Trojan tow'rs,] I begg'd no aid th" unhappy to restore, [Nor did thy succor, nor thy art implore; Nor sought, their sinking empire to sustain, To urge the labor of my lord in vain, [Tho' much I ow'd to Priam's house, and more] [The dangers of Eneas did deplore.] [But now, by Jove's command, and fate's de

cree,]

[His race is doom'd to reign in Italy:] [With humble suit I ask thy needful art, O still propitious pow'r, O sovereign of my

heart!

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[A mother stands a suppliant for a son. [By silver-footed Thetis thou wert won For fierce Achilles, and the rosy Morn Mov'd thee with arms her Memnon to adorn. Are these my tears less pow'rful on thy mind? [Behold, what warlike nations are combin'd With fire and sword my people to destroy,] And twice to triumph over me and Troy." [She said; and straight her arms, of snowy hue,]

[About her unresolving husband threw.] [Her soft embraces soon infuse desire;] [His bones and marrow sudden warmth in

spire ;]

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