by Virgil
Falling to watch, and plays its part in turn and turn about.
Nisus erat portae custos, acerrimus armis,
Nisus was warder of the gate, the eager under shield,
Hyrtacides, comitem Aeneae quem miserat Ida
The son of Hyrtacus, whom erst did huntress Ida yield
uenatrix iaculo celerem leuibusque sagittis,
Unto Æneas’ fellowship, keen with the shaft and spear.
et iuxta comes Euryalus, quo pulchrior alter
Euryalus, his friend, stood by, than whom none goodlier
non fuit Aeneadum Troiana neque induit arma, 180
Went with Æneas or did on the battle-gear of Troy:
ora puer prima signans intonsa iuuenta.
Youth’s bloom unshorn was on his cheek, scarce was he but a boy.
his amor unus erat pariterque in bella ruebant;
Like love the twain had each for each; in battle side by side
tum quoque communi portam statione tenebant.
They went; and now as gatewards twain together did abide.
Nisus ait: ‘dine hunc ardorem mentibus addunt,
Now Nisus saith: “Doth very God so set the heart on fire,
Euryale, an sua cuique deus fit dira cupido? 185
Euryalus, or doth each man make God of his desire?
aut pugnam aut aliquid iamdudum inuadere magnum
My soul is driving me to dare the battle presently,
mens agitat mihi, nec placida contenta quiete est.
Or some great deed; nor pleased with peace at quiet will it be.
cernis quae Rutulos habeat fiducia rerum:
Thou seest how those Rutulian men trust in their warding keep;
lumina rara micant, somno uinoque soluti
How wide apart the watch-fires shine; how slack with wine and sleep
procubuere, silent late loca. percipe porro 190
Men lie along; how far and wide the hush o’er all things lies.
quid dubitem et quae nunc animo sententia surgat.
Note now what stirreth in my mind, what thoughts in me arise:
Aenean acciri omnes, populusque patresque,
They bid call back Æneas now, fathers, and folk, and all,
exposcunt, mittique uiros qui certa reportent.
And send out men to bear to him sure word of what doth fall.
si tibi quae posco promittunt (nam mihi facti
Now if the thing I ask for thee they promise, — for to me
fama sat est), tumulo uideor reperire sub illo 195
The deed’s fame is enough, — meseems beneath yon mound I see
posse uiam ad muros et moenia Pallantea.’
A way whereby to Palianteum in little space to come.”
obstipuit magno laudum percussus amore
Euryalus, by mighty love of glory smitten home,
Euryalus, simul his ardentem adfatur amicum:
Stood all amazed, then answered thus his fiery-hearted friend:
‘mene igitur socium summis adiungere rebus,
“O Nisus, wilt thou yoke me not to such a noble end?
Nise, fugis? solum te in tanta pericula mittam? 200
And shall I send thee unto deeds so perilous alone?
non ita me genitor, bellis adsuetus Opheltes,
My sire Opheltes, wise in war, nourished no such an one,
Argolicum terrorem inter Troiaeque labores
Reared mid the terror of the Greeks and Troy-town’s miseries;
sublatum erudiit, nec tecum talia gessi
Nor yet with thee have I been wont to deedless deeds like these,
magnanimum Aenean et fata extrema secutus:
Following Æneas’ mighty heart through Fortune’s furthest way.
est hic, est animus lucis contemptor et istum 205
Here is a soul that scorns the light, and deems it good to pay
qui uita bene credat emi, quo tendis, honorem.’
With very life for such a fame as thou art brought anear.”
Nisus ad haec: ‘equidem de te nil tale uerebar,
Saith Nisus: “Nay, I feared of thee no such a thing, I swear,
nec fas; non ita me referat tibi magnus ouantem
No such ill thought; so may he bring thy friend back with the prize,
Iuppiter aut quicumque oculis haec aspicit aequis.
Great Jove, or whosoe’er beholds these things with equal eyes.
sed si quis (quae multa uides discrimine tali) 210
But if some hap (thou seest herein how many such may fall),
si quis in aduersum rapiat casusue deusue,
If any hap, if any God bear me the end of all,
te superesse uelim, tua uita dignior aetas.
Fain were I thou wert left: thine age is worthier life-day’s gain;
sit qui me raptum pugna pretioue redemptum
Let there be one to buy me back snatched from amidst the slain,
mandet humo, solita aut si qua id Fortuna uetabit,
And give me earth: or if e’en that our wonted fortune ban,
absenti ferat inferias decoretque sepulcro. 215
Do thou the rites, and raise the tomb unto the missing man;
neu matri miserae tanti sim causa doloris,
Nor make me of thy mother’s woe the fashioner accurst:
quae te sola, puer, multis e matribus ausa
She who, O friend, alone of all our many mothers durst
persequitur, magni nec moenia curat Acestae.’
To follow thee, nor heeded aught of great Acestes’ town.”
ille autem: ‘causas nequiquam nectis inanis
He said: “For weaving of delay vain is thy shuttle thrown;
nec mea iam mutata loco sententia cedit. 220
Nor is my heart so turned about that I will leave the play:
acceleremus’ ait, uigiles simul excitat. illi
Let us be doing!” Therewithal he stirs the guards, and they
succedunt seruantque uices; statione relicta
Come up in turn, wherewith he leaves the warding-stead behind,
ipse comes Niso graditur regemque requirunt.
And goes with Nisus, and the twain set forth the prince to find.
Cetera per terras omnis animalia somno
All other creatures, laid asleep o’er all the earthly soil,
laxabant curas et corda oblita laborum: 225
Let slip the cares from off their hearts, forgetful of their toil,
ductores Teucrum primi, delecta iuuentus,
But still the dukes of Trojan men and chosen folk of war
consilium summis regni de rebus habebant,
Held counsel of that heavy tide that on the kingdom bore,
quid facerent quisue Aeneae iam nuntius esset.
What was to do, or who would go Æneas’ messenger.
stant longis adnixi hastis et scuta tenentes
There shield on arm, and leaned upon the length of shafted spear,
castrorum et campi medio. tum Nisus et una 230
They stand amid their stronghold’s mead: in eager haste the twain,
Euryalus confestim alacres admittier orant:
Nisus and young Euryalus, the presence crave to gain,
rem magnam pretiumque morae fore. primus Iulus
For matters great and worth the time: straight doth Iulus take
accepit trepidos ac Nisum dicere iussit.
Those hurried men to him, and bids that Nisus speech should wake.
tum sic Hyrtacides: ‘audite o mentibus aequis
Then saith the son of Hyrtacus: “Just-hearted, hearken now,
Aeneadae, neue haec nostris spectentur ab annis 235
Folk of Æneas, neither look upon the things we show
quae ferimus. Rutuli somno uinoque soluti
As by our years. The Rutuli slackened by wine and sleep
conticuere. locum insidiis conspeximus ipsi,
Lie hushed, and we have seen whereby upon our way to
creep,
qui patet in biuio portae quae proxima ponto.
E’en by the double-roaded gate that near the sea-strand lies:
interrupti ignes aterque ad sidera fumus
Their fires are slaked, and black the smoke goes upward to the skies.
erigitur. si fortuna permittitis uti 240
If ye will suffer us to use this fortune that doth fall
quaesitum Aenean et moenia Pallantea,
We will go seek Æneas now and Pallanteum’s wall:
mox hic cum spoliis ingenti caede peracta
Ye shall behold him and his spoils from mighty victory wrought
adfore cernetis. nec nos uia fallit euntis:
Come hither presently: the way shall fail our feet in nought,
uidimus obscuris primam sub uallibus urbem
For we have seen the city’s skirts amid the valleys dim
uenatu adsiduo et totum cognouimus amnem.’ 245
In daily hunt, whereby we learned the river’s uplong brim.”
hic annis grauis atque animi maturus Aletes:
Then spake Aletes weighty-wise, heart-ripe with plenteous eld:
‘di patrii, quorum semper sub numine Troia est,
“Gods of our fathers, under whom the weal of Troy is held,
non tamen omnino Teucros delere paratis,
Ye have not doomed all utterly the Teucrian folk undone,
cum talis animos iuuenum et tam certa tulistis
When ye for us such souls of youth, such hardy hearts have won.”
pectora.’ sic memorans umeros dextrasque tenebat 250
So saying by shoulder and by hand he took the goodly twain,
amborum et uultum lacrimis atque ora rigabat.
While all his countenance and cheeks were wet with plenteous rain,
‘quae uobis, quae digna, uiri, pro laudibus istis
“What gifts may I deem worthy, men, to pay such hearts athirst
praemia posse rear solui? pulcherrima primum
For utmost glory? certainly the fairest and the first
di moresque dabunt uestri: tum cetera reddet
The Gods and your own hearts shall grant: the rest your lord shall give,
actutum pius Aeneas atque integer aeui 255
Godly Æneas; and this man with all his life to live,
Ascanius meriti tanti non immemor umquam.’
Ascanius here, no memory of such desert shall lack.”
‘immo ego uos, cui sola salus genitore reducto,’
“But I,” Ascanius breaketh in, “whose father brought aback
excipit Ascanius ‘per magnos, Nise, penatis
Is all my heal — Nisus, I pray by those great Gods of mine,
Assaracique larem et canae penetralia Vestae
By him of old, Assaracus, by hoary Vesta’s shrine,
obtestor, quaecumque mihi fortuna fidesque est, 260
Bring back my father! whatsoe’er is left with me today
in uestris pono gremiis. reuocate parentem,
Of Fate or Faith, into your breasts I give it all away.
reddite conspectum; nihil illo triste recepto.
O give me back the sight of him, and grief is all gone by.
bina dabo argento perfecta atque aspera signis
Two cups of utter silver wrought and rough with imagery
pocula, deuicta genitor quae cepit Arisba,
I give you, which my father took from wracked Arisbe’s hold;
et tripodas geminos, auri duo magna talenta, 265
Two tripods eke, two talents’ weight of fire-beproven gold;
cratera antiquum quem dat Sidonia Dido.
A beaker of the time agone, Sidonian Dido’s gift.
si uero capere Italiam sceptrisque potiri
But if we hap to win the day and spoil of battle shift,
contigerit uictori et praedae dicere sortem,
If we lay hand on Italy and staff of kingship bear, —
uidisti, quo Turnus equo, quibus ibat in armis
Ye saw the horse that bore today gold Turnus and his gear,
aureus; ipsum illum, clipeum cristasque rubentis 270
That very same, the shield withal, and helm-crest ruddy dyed,
excipiam sorti, iam nunc tua praemia, Nise.
Thy gifts, O Nisus, from the spoil henceforth I set aside.
praeterea bis sex genitor lectissima matrum
Moreover of the mother-folk twice six most excellent
corpora captiuosque dabit suaque omnibus arma,
My sire shall give, and captive men with all their armament,
insuper his campi quod rex habet ipse Latinus.
And therewithal the kingly field, Latinus’ garden-place.
te uero, mea quem spatiis propioribus aetas 275
But thou, O boy most worshipful, whom nigher in the race
insequitur, uenerande puer, iam pectore toto
Mine own years follow, thee I take unto mine inmost heart,
accipio et comitem casus complector in omnis.
Embracing thee my very friend in all to have a part;
nulla meis sine te quaeretur gloria rebus:
Nor any glory of my days without thee shall I seek,
seu pacem seu bella geram, tibi maxima rerum
Whether I fashion peace or war; all that I do or speak
uerborumque fides.’ contra quem talia fatur 280
I trust to thee.” In answer thus Euryalus ‘gan say:
Euryalus: ‘me nulla dies tam fortibus ausis
“No day henceforth of all my life shall prove me fallen away
dissimilem arguerit; tantum fortuna secunda
From this my deed: only may fate in kindly wise befall,
haud aduersa cadat. sed te super omnia dona
Nor stand against me: now one gift I ask thee over all:
unum oro: genetrix Priami de gente uetusta
I have a mother born on earth from Priam’s ancient race,
est mihi, quam miseram tenuit non Ilia tellus 285
Who wretched in the land of Troy had no abiding-place,
mecum excedentem, non moenia regis Acestae.
Nor in Acesta’s steadfast wall; with me she still must wend:
hanc ego nunc ignaram huius quodcumque pericli
Her, who knows nought of this my risk, whatever may be the end
inque salutatam linquo (nox et tua testis
Unto thy safeguard do I leave: Night and thy right hand there
dextera), quod nequeam lacrimas perferre parentis.
Be witness that my mother’s tears I had no heart to bear.
at tu, oro, solare inopem et succurre relictae. 290
But solace thou her lack, I pray; comfort her desert need;
hanc sine me spem ferre tui, audentior ibo
Yea let me bear this hope with me, and boldlier shall I speed
in casus omnis.’ percussa mente dedere
Amid all haps.” Touched to the heart the Dardans might not keep
Dardanidae lacrimas, ante omnis pulcher Iulus,
Their tears aback, and chief of all did fair Iulus weep,
atque animum patriae strinxit pietatis imago.
The image of his father’s love so flashed upon his soul:
tum sic effatur: 295
And therewithal he spake the word: “All things I duly answer for worthy thy deed of fame;
‘sponde digna tuis ingentibus omnia coeptis.
Thy mother shall my mother be, nor lack but e’en the name
namque erit ista mihi genetrix nomenque Creusae
To be Creusa: store of thanks no little hath she won
solum defuerit, nec partum gratia talem
That bore thee. Whatsoever hap thy valorous deed bear on,
parua manet. casus factum quicumque sequentur,
By this my head, whereon my sire is wont the troth to plight,
per caput hoc iuro, per quod pater ante solebat: 300
Whatever I promised
thee come back, with all things wrought aright,
quae tibi polliceor reduci rebusque secundis,
Thy mother and thy kin shall bide that very same reward.”
haec eadem matrique tuae generique manebunt.’
So spake he, weeping, and did off his shoulder-girded sword
sic ait inlacrimans; umero simul exuit ensem
All golden, that with wondrous craft Lycaon out of Crete
auratum, mira quem fecerat arte Lycaon
Had fashioned, fitting it withal in ivory scabbard meet.
Cnosius atque habilem uagina aptarat eburna. 305
And Mnestheus unto Nisus gives a stripped-off lion’s hide
dat Niso Mnestheus pellem horrentisque leonis
And shaggy coat; and helm for helm giveth Aletes tried.
exuuias, galeam fidus permutat Aletes.
Then forth they wend in weed of war, and they of first estate,
protinus armati incedunt; quos omnis euntis
Young men and old, went forth with them, and leave them at the gate
primorum manus ad portas, iuuenumque senumque,
With following vows; and therewithal Iulus, goodly-wrought,
prosequitur uotis. nec non et pulcher Iulus, 310
Who far beyond his tender years had mind of manly thought,
ante annos animumque gerens curamque uirilem,
Charged them with many messages unto his father’s ear, —
multa patri mandata dabat portanda; sed aurae
Vain words the night-winds bore away and gave the clouds to bear.
omnia discerpunt et nubibus inrita donant.
Forth now they wend and pass the ditch, and through the mirk night gain
Egressi superant fossas noctisque per umbram
The baneful camp: yet ere their death they too shall be the bane
castra inimica petunt, multis tamen ante futuri 315
Of many: bodies laid in sleep and wine they see strewed o’er
exitio. passim somno uinoque per herbam
The herbage, and the battle-cars upreared along the shore;
corpora fusa uident, arrectos litore currus,
And mid the reins and wheels thereof are men and weapons blent
inter lora rotasque uiros, simul arma iacere,
With wine-jars: so Hyrtacides such word from tooth-hedge sent:
uina simul. prior Hyrtacides sic ore locutus:
“Euryalus, the hand must dare, the time cries on the deed;
‘Euryale, audendum dextra: nunc ipsa uocat res. 320
Here lies the way: do thou afar keep watch and have good heed,
hac iter est. tu, ne qua manus se attollere nobis
Lest any hand aback of us arise ‘gainst thee and me:
a tergo possit, custodi et consule longe;
