[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:] 66 All this, alone, and leaving me behind!] [Am I unworthy, Nisus, to be join'd?] [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 obtainSo 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 Eneas 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,]

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.] 260 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, ['T is 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; me '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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With Abaris: in sleep the rest did fall, [But Rhotus waking, and observing all. [Behind a mighty jar he slunk for fear; [The sharp-edg'd iron found and reach'd him there :

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[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: 380 [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,

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

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,

Enter'd his gaping mouth and stopp'd his breath.

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[Dying, he slew; and, stagg'ring on the plain,] [Sought for the body of his lover slain; [Then quietly on his dear breast he fell, [Content, in death, to be reveng'd so well.]

[O happy pair! for, if my verse can give [Eternity, your fame shall ever live, [Fix'd as the Capitol's foundation lies,] [And spread, where'er the Roman eagle flies.]

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

[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 Eneas, Mezentius ingages in the cause of his benefactor, and performs many great actions, particularly in revenging himself on his late subjects,

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 ÆNEIDS

[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,

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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;]

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His bones and marrow sudden warmth inspire ;]

[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?