[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."]

370

[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,

380

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

[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,

439

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.

471

[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 Banctuary. Turnus for the love of Lavinia making war with Eneas, Mezentius ingages in the cause of his benefactor, and performs many great actions, particularly in revenging himself on his late subjects,

[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]

61

[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 appears,

[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'rs,

10

[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!

20

[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:]

30

[And all the godhead feels the wonted

fire.]

[Not half so swift the rolling thunder flies, Or streaks of lightning flash along the skies. The goddess, pleas'd with her successful wiles, [And conscious of her conqu'ring beauty, smiles. [Then thus the good old god, sooth'd with her charms,

[Panting, and half dissolving in her arms :]

Why seek you reasons for a cause so just,] [Or your own beauty or my love distrust?

[Long since, had you requir'd my helpful hand,] [You might the artist and his art command, To arm your Trojans: nor did Jove or fate [Confine their empire to so short a date. [And, if you now desire new wars to wage,] My care, my skill, my labor I ingage. Whatever melting metals can conspire,]

[Or breathing bellows, or the forming fire,] 1 freely promise: all your doubts remove, [And think no task is difficult to love."] [He said; and, eager to enjoy her charms, He snatch'd the lovely goddess to his arms; Till, all infus'd in joy, he lay possess'd [Of full desire, and sunk to pleasing rest.]