Aeneid

While these affairs in distant places pass'd,

Atque ea diversa penitus dum parte geruntur,

The various Iris Juno sends with haste,

Irim de caelo misit Saturnia Iuno

To find bold Turnus, who, with anxious thought,

audacem ad Turnum. Luco tum forte parentis

The secret shade of his great grandsire sought.

Pilumni Turnus sacrata valle sedebat.

Retir'd alone she found the daring man,

Ad quem sic roseo Thaumantias ore locuta est:

And op'd her rosy lips, and thus began:

Turne, quod optanti divom promittere nemo

"What none of all the gods could grant thy vows,

auderet, volvenda dies en attulit ultro.

That, Turnus, this auspicious day bestows.

Aeneas urbe et sociis et classe relicta

Aeneas, gone to seek th' Arcadian prince,

sceptra Palatini sedemque petit Euandri.

Has left the Trojan camp without defense;

Nec satis: extremas Corythi penetravit ad urbes

And, short of succors there, employs his pains

Lydorumque manum collectos armat agrestis.

In parts remote to raise the Tuscan swains.

Quid dubitas? Nunc tempus equos, nunc poscere currus.

Now snatch an hour that favors thy designs;

Rumpe moras omnis et turbata arripe castra.

Unite thy forces, and attack their lines."

Dixit et in caelum paribus se sustulit alis

This said, on equal wings she pois'd her weight,

ingentemque fuga secuit sub nubibus arcum.

And form'd a radiant rainbow in her flight.

Adgnovit iuvenis duplicisque ad sidera palmas

The Daunian hero lifts his hands eyes,

sustulit ac tali fugientem est voce secutus:

And thus invokes the goddess as she flies:

Iri, decus caeli, quis te mihi nubibus actam

"Iris, the grace of heav'n, what pow'r divine

detulit in terras? Unde haec tam clara repente

Has sent thee down, thro' dusky clouds to shine?

tempestas? Medium video discedere caelum

See, they divide; immortal day appears,

palantisque polo stellas. Sequor omina tanta,

And glitt'ring planets dancing in their spheres!

quisquis in arma vocas. Et sic effatus ad undam

With joy, these happy omens I obey,

processit summoque hausit de gurgite lymphas,

And follow to the war the god that leads the way."

multa deos orans, oneravitque aethera votis.

Thus having said, as by the brook he stood,

Iamque omnis campis exercitus ibat apertis,

He scoop'd the water from the crystal flood;

dives equum, dives pictaï vestis et auri;

Then with his hands the drops to heav'n he throws,

Messapus primas acies, postrema coercent

And loads the pow'rs above with offer'd vows.

Tyrrhidae iuvenes, medio dux agmine Turnus,

Now march the bold confed'rates thro' the plain,

vertitur arma tenens et toto vertice supra est.

Well hors'd, well clad; a rich and shining train.

Ceu septem surgens sedatis amnibus altus

Messapus leads the van; and, in the rear,

per tacitum Ganges aut pingui flumine Nilus

The sons of Tyrrheus in bright arms appear.

cum refluit campis et iam se condidit alveo.

In the main battle, with his flaming crest,

Hic subitam nigro glomerari pulvere nubem

The mighty Turnus tow'rs above the rest.

prospiciunt Teucri ac tenebras insurgere campis.

Silent they move, majestically slow,

Primus ab adversa conclamat mole Caicus:

Like ebbing Nile, or Ganges in his flow.

Quis globus, o cives, caligine volvitur atra?

The Trojans view the dusty cloud from far,

Ferte citi ferrum, date tela, ascendite muros,

And the dark menace of the distant war.

hostis adest, heia! Ingenti clamore per omnis

Caicus from the rampire saw it rise,

condunt se Teucri portas et moenia complent.

Black'ning the fields, and thick'ning thro' the skies.

Namque ita discedens praeceperat optumus armis

Then to his fellows thus aloud he calls:

Aeneas: siqua interea fortuna fuisset,

"What rolling clouds, my friends, approach the walls?

neu struere auderent aciem neu credere campo;

Arm! arm! and man the works! prepare your spears

castra modo et tutos servarent aggere muros.

And pointed darts! the Latian host appears."

Ergo etsi conferre manum pudor iraque monstrat,

Thus warn'd, they shut their gates; with shouts ascend

obiciunt portas tamen et praecepta facessunt

The bulwarks, and, secure, their foes attend:

armatique cavis expectant turribus hostem.

For their wise gen'ral, with foreseeing care,

Turnus ut ante volans tardum praecesserat agmen

Had charg'd them not to tempt the doubtful war,

viginti lectis equitum comitatus, et urbi

Nor, tho' provok'd, in open fields advance,

improvisus adest; maculis quem Thracius albis

But close within their lines attend their chance.

portat equus cristaque tegit galea aurea rubra.

Unwilling, yet they keep the strict command,

Ecquis erit, mecum, iuvenes, qui primus in hostem?

And sourly wait in arms the hostile band.

En, ait et iaculum attorquens emittit in auras,

The fiery Turnus flew before the rest:

principium pugnae, et campo sese arduus infert.

A piebald steed of Thracian strain he press'd;

Clamore excipiunt socii fremituque sequuntur

His helm of massy gold, and crimson was his crest.

horrisono: Teucrum mirantur inertia corda,

With twenty horse to second his designs,

non aequo dare se campo, non obvia ferre

An unexpected foe, he fac'd the lines.

arma viros, sed castra fovere. Huc turbidus atque huc

"Is there," he said, "in arms, who bravely dare

lustrat equo muros aditumque per avia quaerit.

His leader's honor and his danger share?"

Ac veluti pleno lupus insidiatus ovili

Then spurring on, his brandish'd dart he threw,

cum fremit ad caulas, ventos perpessus et imbris,

In sign of war: applauding shouts ensue.

nocte super media; tuti sub matribus agni

Amaz'd to find a dastard race, that run

balatum exercent, ille asper et improbus ira

Behind the rampires and the battle shun,

saevit in absentis, collecta fatigat edendi

He rides around the camp, with rolling eyes,

ex longo rabies et siccae sanguine fauces:

And stops at ev'ry post, and ev'ry passage tries.

haud aliter Rutulo muros et castra tuenti

So roams the nightly wolf about the fold:

ignescunt irae, duris dolor ossibus ardet.

Wet with descending show'rs, and stiff with cold,

Qua temptet ratione aditus et quae via clausos

He howls for hunger, and he grins for pain,

excutiat Teucros vallo atque effundat in aequum?

(His gnashing teeth are exercis'd in vain,)

Classem, quae lateri castrorum adiuncta latebat,

And, impotent of anger, finds no way

aggeribus saeptam circum et fluvialibus undis,

In his distended paws to grasp the prey.

invadit sociosque incendia poscit ovantis

The mothers listen; but the bleating lambs

atque manum pinu flagranti fervidus implet.

Securely swig the dug, beneath the dams.

Tum vero incumbunt, urget praesentia Turni,

Thus ranges eager Turnus o'er the plain.

atque omnis facibus pubes accingitur atris.

Sharp with desire, and furious with disdain;

Diripuere focos; piceum fert fumida lumen

Surveys each passage with a piercing sight,

taeda et commixtam Volcanus ad astra favillam.

To force his foes in equal field to fight.

Quis deus, o musae, tam saeva incendia Teucris

Thus while he gazes round, at length he spies,

avertit? Tantos ratibus quis depulit ignes?

Where, fenc'd with strong redoubts, their navy lies,

Dicite. Prisca fides facto, sed fama perennis.

Close underneath the walls; the washing tide

Tempore quo primum Phrygia formabat in Ida

Secures from all approach this weaker side.

Aeneas classem et pelagi petere alta parabat,

He takes the wish'd occasion, fills his hand

With ready fires, and shakes a flaming brand.

Urg'd by his presence, ev'ry soul is warm'd,

And ev'ry hand with kindled firs is arm'd.

From the fir'd pines the scatt'ring sparkles fly;

Fat vapors, mix'd with flames, involve the sky.

What pow'r, O Muses, could avert the flame

Which threaten'd, in the fleet, the Trojan name?

Tell: for the fact, thro' length of time obscure,

Is hard to faith; yet shall the fame endure.

'T is said that, when the chief prepar'd his flight,

And fell'd his timber from Mount Ida's height,

The grandam goddess then approach'd her son,

And with a mother's majesty begun:

"Grant me," she said, "the sole request I bring,

Since conquer'd heav'n has own'd you for its king.

On Ida's brows, for ages past, there stood,

With firs and maples fill'd, a shady wood;

And on the summit rose a sacred grove,

Where I was worship'd with religious love.

Those woods, that holy grove, my long delight,

I gave the Trojan prince, to speed his flight.

Now, fill'd with fear, on their behalf I come;

Let neither winds o'erset, nor waves intomb

The floating forests of the sacred pine;

But let it be their safety to be mine."

Then thus replied her awful son, who rolls

The radiant stars, and heav'n and earth controls:

"How dare you, mother, endless date demand

For vessels molded by a mortal hand?

ipsa deum fertur genetrix Berecyntia magnum

What then is fate? Shall bold Aeneas ride,

vocibus his adfata Iovem: Da, nate, petenti,

Of safety certain, on th' uncertain tide?

quod tua cara parens domito te poscit Olympo.

Yet, what I can, I grant; when, wafted o'er,

Pinea silva mihi, multos dilecta per annos

The chief is landed on the Latian shore,

lucus in arce fuit summa, quo sacra ferebant,

Whatever ships escape the raging storms,

nigranti picea trabibusque obscurus acernis:

At my command shall change their fading forms

has ego Dardanio iuveni, cum classis egeret,

To nymphs divine, and plow the wat'ry way,

laeta dedi; nunc sollicitam timor anxius angit.

Like Dotis and the daughters of the sea."

Solve metus atque hoc precibus sine posse parentem:

To seal his sacred vow, by Styx he swore,

ne cursu quassatae ullo neu turbine venti

The lake of liquid pitch, the dreary shore,

vincantur, prosit nostris in montibus ortas.

And Phlegethon's innavigable flood,

Filius huic contra, torquet qui sidera mundi:

And the black regions of his brother god.

O genetrix, quo fata vocas, aut quid petis istis?

He said; and shook the skies with his imperial nod.

Mortaline manu factae immortale carinae

And now at length the number'd hours were come,

fas habeant certusque incerta pericula lustret

Prefix'd by fate's irrevocable doom,

Aeneas? Cui tanta deo permissa potestas?

When the great Mother of the Gods was free

Immo ubi defunctae finem portusque tenebunt

To save her ships, and finish Jove's decree.

Ausonios olim, quaecumque evaserit undis

First, from the quarter of the morn, there sprung

Dardaniumque ducem Laurentia vexerit arva,

A light that sign'd the heav'ns, and shot along;

mortalem eripiam formam magnique iubebo

Then from a cloud, fring'd round with golden fires,

aequoris esse deas, qualis Nereia Doto

Were timbrels heard, and Berecynthian choirs;

et Galatea secant spumantem pectore pontum.

And, last, a voice, with more than mortal sounds,

Dixerat idque ratum Stygii per flumina fratris,

Both hosts, in arms oppos'd, with equal horror wounds:

per pice torrentis atraque voragine ripas

"O Trojan race, your needless aid forbear,

adnuit et totum nutu tremefecit Olympum.

And know, my ships are my peculiar care.

Ergo aderat promissa dies et tempora Parcae

With greater ease the bold Rutulian may,

debita complerant, cum Turni iniuria Matrem

With hissing brands, attempt to burn the sea,

admonuit ratibus sacris depellere taedas.

Than singe my sacred pines. But you, my charge,

Hic primum nova lux oculis offulsit et ingens

Loos'd from your crooked anchors, launch at large,

visus ab Aurora caelum transcurrere nimbus

Exalted each a nymph: forsake the sand,

Idaeique chori; tum vox horrenda per auras

And swim the seas, at Cybele's command."

excidit et Troum Rutulorumque agmina complet:

No sooner had the goddess ceas'd to speak,

Ne trepidate meas, Teucri, defendere navis

When, lo! th' obedient ships their haulsers break;

neve armate manus: maria ante exurere Turno

And, strange to tell, like dolphins, in the main

quam sacras dabitur pinus. Vos ite solutae,

They plunge their prows, and dive, and spring again:

ite deae pelagi: genetrix iubet. Et sua quaeque

As many beauteous maids the billows sweep,

continuo puppes abrumpunt vincula ripis

As rode before tall vessels on the deep.

delphinumque modo demersis aequora rostris

The foes, surpris'd with wonder, stood aghast;

ima petunt. Hinc virgineae (mirabile monstrum)

Messapus curb'd his fiery courser's haste;

quot prius aeratae steterant ad litora prorae

Old Tiber roar'd, and, raising up his head,

reddunt se totidem facies pontoque feruntur.

Call'd back his waters to their oozy bed.

Obstipuere animis Rutuli, conterritus ipse

Turnus alone, undaunted, bore the shock,

turbatis Messapus equis, cunctatur et amnis

And with these words his trembling troops bespoke:

rauca sonans revocatque pedem Tiberinus ab alto.

"These monsters for the Trojans' fate are meant,

At non audaci Turno fiducia cessit;

And are by Jove for black presages sent.

ultro animos tollit dictis atque increpat ultro:

He takes the cowards' last relief away;

Troianos haec monstra petunt, his Iuppiter ipse

For fly they cannot, and, constrain'd to stay,

auxilium solitum eripuit, non tela neque ignes

Must yield unfought, a base inglorious prey.

exspectans Rutulos. Ergo maria invia Teucris

The liquid half of all the globe is lost;

nec spes ulla fugae: rerum pars altera adempta est.

Heav'n shuts the seas, and we secure the coast.

Terra autem in nostris manibus, tot milia gentes

Theirs is no more than that small spot of ground

arma ferunt Italae. Nil me fatalia terrent,

Which myriads of our martial men surround.

siqua Phryges prae se iactant, responsa deorum:

Their fates I fear not, or vain oracles.

sat fatis Venerique datum, tetigere quod arva

'T was giv'n to Venus they should cross the seas,

fertilis Ausoniae Troes. Sunt et mea contra

And land secure upon the Latian plains:

fata mihi, ferro sceleratam exscindere gentem,

Their promis'd hour is pass'd, and mine remains.

coniuge praerepta: nec solos tangit Atridas

'T is in the fate of Turnus to destroy,

iste dolor solisque licet capere arma Mycenis.

With sword and fire, the faithless race of Troy.

Sed periisse semel satis est: peccare fuisset

Shall such affronts as these alone inflame

ante satis penitus modo non genus omne perosos

The Grecian brothers, and the Grecian name?

femineum. Quibus haec medii fiducia valli

My cause and theirs is one; a fatal strife,

fossarumque morae, leti discrimina parva,

And final ruin, for a ravish'd wife.

dant animos. At non viderunt moenia Troiae

Was 't not enough, that, punish'd for the crime,

Neptuni fabricata manu considere in ignis?

They fell; but will they fall a second time?

Sed vos, o lecti, ferro qui scindere vallum

One would have thought they paid enough before,

apparat et mecum invadit trepidantia castra.

To curse the costly sex, and durst offend no more.

Non armis mihi Volcani, non mille carinis

Can they securely trust their feeble wall,

est opus in Teucros; addant se protinus omnes

A slight partition, a thin interval,

Etrusci socios, tenebras et inertia furta

Betwixt their fate and them; when Troy, tho' built

Palladii caesis summae custodibus arcis

By hands divine, yet perish'd by their guilt?

ne timeant, nec equi caeca condemur in alvo:

Lend me, for once, my friends, your valiant hands,

luce palam certum est igni circumdare muros.

To force from out their lines these dastard bands.

Haud sibi cum Danais rem faxo et pube Pelasga

Less than a thousand ships will end this war,

esse ferant, decumum quos distulit Hector in annum.

Nor Vulcan needs his fated arms prepare.

Nunc adeo, melior quoniam pars acta diei,

Let all the Tuscans, all th' Arcadians, join!

quod superest, laeti bene gestis corpora rebus

Nor these, nor those, shall frustrate my design.

procurate, viri, et pugnam sperate parari.

Let them not fear the treasons of the night,

Interea vigilum excubiis obsidere portas

The robb'd Palladium, the pretended flight:

cura datur Messapo et moenia cingere flammis.

Our onset shall be made in open light.

Bis septem Rutuli, muros qui milite servent,

No wooden engine shall their town betray;

delecti; ast illos centeni quemque sequuntur

Fires they shall have around, but fires by day.

purpurei cristis iuvenes auroque corusci.

No Grecian babes before their camp appear,

Whom Hector's arms detain'd to the tenth tardy year.

Now, since the sun is rolling to the west,

Give we the silent night to needful rest:

Refresh your bodies, and your arms prepare;

The morn shall end the small remains of war."

The post of honor to Messapus falls,

To keep the nightly guard, to watch the walls,

To pitch the fires at distances around,

And close the Trojans in their scanty ground.

Twice seven Rutulian captains ready stand,

And twice seven hundred horse these chiefs command;

All clad in shining arms the works invest,

Each with a radiant helm and waving crest.

Stretch'd at their length, they press the grassy ground;

They laugh, they sing, (the jolly bowls go round,)

With lights and cheerful fires renew the day,

And pass the wakeful night in feasts and play.

The Trojans, from above, their foes beheld,

And with arm'd legions all the rampires fill'd.

Seiz'd with affright, their gates they first explore;

Join works to works with bridges, tow'r to tow'r:

Thus all things needful for defense abound.

Mnestheus and brave Seresthus walk the round,

Commission'd by their absent prince to share

The common danger, and divide the care.

The soldiers draw their lots, and, as they fall,

By turns relieve each other on the wall.

Nigh where the foes their utmost guards advance,

To watch the gate was warlike Nisus' chance.

Discurrunt variantque vices fusique per herbam

His father Hyrtacus of noble blood;

indulgent vino et vertunt crateras aenos.

His mother was a huntress of the wood,

Conlucent ignes, noctem custodia ducit

And sent him to the wars. Well could he bear

insomnem ludo.

His lance in fight, and dart the flying spear,

Haec super e vallo prospectant Troes et armis

But better skill'd unerring shafts to send.

alta tenent, nec non trepidi formidine portas

Beside him stood Euryalus, his friend:

explorant pontisque et propugnacula iungunt,

Euryalus, than whom the Trojan host

tela gerunt. Instat Mnestheus acerque Serestus,

No fairer face, or sweeter air, could boast-

quos pater Aeneas, siquando adversa vocarent,

Scarce had the down to shade his cheeks begun.

rectores iuvenum et rerum dedit esse magistros.

One was their care, and their delight was one:

Omnis per muros legio, sortita periclum,

One common hazard in the war they shar'd,

excubat exercetque vices, quod cuique tuendum est.

And now were both by choice upon the guard.

Nisus erat portae custos, acerrimus armis,

Then Nisus thus: "Or do the gods inspire

Hyrtacides, comitem Aeneae quem miserat Ida

This warmth, or make we gods of our desire?

venatrix iaculo celerem levibusque sagittis;

A gen'rous ardor boils within my breast,

it iuxta comes Euryalus, quo pulchrior alter

Eager of action, enemy to rest:

non fuit Aeneadum Troiana neque induit arma,

This urges me to fight, and fires my mind

ora puer prima signans intonsa iuventa.

To leave a memorable name behind.

His amor unus erat, pariterque in bella ruebant:

Thou see'st the foe secure; how faintly shine

tum quoque communi portam statione tenebant.

Their scatter'd fires! the most, in sleep supine

Nisus ait: Dine hunc ardorem mentibus addunt,

Along the ground, an easy conquest lie:

Euryale, an sua cuique deus fit dira cupido?

The wakeful few the fuming flagon ply;

Aut pugnam aut aliquid iamdudum invadere magnum

All hush'd around. Now hear what I revolve-

mens agitat mihi nec placida contenta quietest.

A thought unripe- and scarcely yet resolve.

Cernis, quae Rutulos habeat fiducia rerum.

Our absent prince both camp and council mourn;

Lumina rara micant; somno vinoque soluti

By message both would hasten his return:

procubuere; silent late loca: percipe porro,

If they confer what I demand on thee,

quid dubitem et quae nunc animo sententia surgat.

(For fame is recompense enough for me,)

Aenean acciri omnes, populusque patresque,

Methinks, beneath yon hill, I have espied

exposcunt mittique viros, qui certa reportent.

A way that safely will my passage guide."

Si tibi quae posco promittunt (nam mihi facti

Euryalus stood list'ning while he spoke,

fama sat est), tumulo videor reperire sub illo

With love of praise and noble envy struck;

posse viam ad muros et moenia Pallantea.

Then to his ardent friend expos'd his mind:

Obstipuit magno laudum percussus amore

"All this, alone, and leaving me behind!

Euryalus; simul his ardentem adfatur amicum:

Am I unworthy, Nisus, to be join'd?

Mene igitur socium summis adiungere rebus,

Thinkist thou I can my share of glory yield,

Nise, fugis? Solum te in tanta pericula mittam?

Or send thee unassisted to the field?

Non ita me genitor, bellis adsuetus Opheltes,

Not so my father taught my childhood arms;

Argolicum terrorem inter Troiaeque labores

Born in a siege, and bred among alarms!

sublatum erudiit, nec tecum talia gessi,

Nor is my youth unworthy of my friend,

magnanimum Aenean et fata extrema secutus:

Nor of the heav'n-born hero I attend.

est hic, est animus lucis contemptor et istum

The thing call'd life, with ease I can disclaim,

qui vita bene credat emi, quo tendis, honorem.

And think it over-sold to purchase fame."

Nisus ad haec: Equidem de te nil tale verebar

Then Nisus thus: "Alas! thy tender years

nec fas, non, ita me referat tibi magnus ovantem

Would minister new matter to my fears.

Iuppiter aut quicumque oculis haec aspicit aequis.

So may the gods, who view this friendly strife,

Sed siquis, quae multa vides discrimine tali,

Restore me to thy lov'd embrace with life,

siquis in adversum rapiat casusve deusve,

Condemn'd to pay my vows, (as sure I trust,)

te superesse velim; tua vita dignior aetas.

This thy request is cruel and unjust.

Sit qui me raptum pugna pretiove redemptum

But if some chance- as many chances are,

mandet humo solita aut siqua id Fortuna vetabit,

And doubtful hazards, in the deeds of war-

absenti ferat inferias decoretque sepulchro.

If one should reach my head, there let it fall,

Neu matri miserae tanti sim causa doloris,

And spare thy life; I would not perish all.

quae te sola, puer, multis e matribus ausa

Thy bloomy youth deserves a longer date:

persequitur magni nec moenia curat Acestae,

Live thou to mourn thy love's unhappy fate;

Ille autem: Causas nequiquam nectis inanis,

To bear my mangled body from the foe,

nec mea iam mutata loco sententia cedit:

Or buy it back, and fun'ral rites bestow.

adceleremus, ait. Vigiles simul excitat, illi

Or, if hard fortune shall those dues deny,

succedunt servantque vices: statione relicta

Thou canst at least an empty tomb supply.

ipse comes Niso graditur, regemque requirunt.

O let not me the widow's tears renew!

Cetera per terras omnis animalia somno

Nor let a mother's curse my name pursue:

laxabant curas et corda oblita laborum:

Thy pious parent, who, for love of thee,

ductores Teucrum primi et delecta iuventus

Forsook the coasts of friendly Sicily,

consilium summis regni de rebus habebant,

Her age committing to the seas and wind,

quid facerent quisve Aeneae iam nuntius esset.

When ev'ry weary matron stay'd behind."

Stant longis adnixi hastis, et scuta tenentes,

To this, Euryalus: "You plead in vain,

castrorum et campi medio. Tum Nisus et una

And but protract the cause you cannot gain.

Euryalus confestim alacres admittier orant:

No more delays, but haste!" With that, he wakes

rem magnam, pretiumque morae fore. Primus Iulus

The nodding watch; each to his office takes.

accepit trepidos ac Nisum dicere iussit.

The guard reliev'd, the gen'rous couple went

Tum sic Hyrtacides: Audite O mentibus aequis,

To find the council at the royal tent.

Aeneadae, neve haec nostris spectentur ab annis,

All creatures else forgot their daily care,

quae ferimus. Rutuli somno vinoque soluti

And sleep, the common gift of nature, share;

conticuere; locum insidiis conspeximus ipsi,

Except the Trojan peers, who wakeful sate

qui patet in bivio portae, quae proxuma ponto;

In nightly council for th' indanger'd state.

interrupti ignes, aterque ad sidera fumus

They vote a message to their absent chief,

erigitur: si fortuna permittitis uti

Shew their distress, and beg a swift relief.

quaesitum Aenean et moenia Pallantea,

Amid the camp a silent seat they chose,

mox hic cum spoliis ingenti caede peracta

Remote from clamor, and secure from foes.

adfore cernetis. Nec nos via fallit euntis:

On their left arms their ample shields they bear,

vidimus obscuris primam sub vallibus urbem

The right reclin'd upon the bending spear.

venatu adsiduo et totum cognovimus amnem.

Now Nisus and his friend approach the guard,

And beg admission, eager to be heard:

Th' affair important, not to be deferr'd.

Ascanius bids 'em be conducted in,

Ord'ring the more experienc'd to begin.

Then Nisus thus: "Ye fathers, lend your ears;

Nor judge our bold attempt beyond our years.

The foe, securely drench'd in sleep and wine,

Neglect their watch; the fires but thinly shine;

And where the smoke in cloudy vapors flies,

Cov'ring the plain, and curling to the skies,

Betwixt two paths, which at the gate divide,

Close by the sea, a passage we have spied,

Which will our way to great Aeneas guide.

Expect each hour to see him safe 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 both have seen

The rising turrets, and the stream between,

And know the winding course, with ev'ry ford."

He ceas'd; and old Alethes took the word:

"Our country gods, in whom our trust we place,

Will yet from ruin save the Trojan race,

While we behold such dauntless worth appear

In dawning youth, and souls so void of fear."

Then into tears of joy the father broke;

Each in his longing arms by turns he took;

Panted and paus'd; and thus again he spoke:

Hic annis gravis atque animi maturus Aletes:

"Ye brave young men, what equal gifts can we,

Di patrii, quorum semper sub numine Troia est,

In recompense of such desert, decree?

non tamen omnino Teucros delere paratis,

The greatest, sure, and best you can receive,

cum talis animos iuvenum et tam certa tulistis

The gods and your own conscious worth will give.

pectora. Sic memorans umeros dextrasque tenebat

The rest our grateful gen'ral will bestow,

amborum et voltum lacrimis atque ora rigabat.

And young Ascanius till his manhood owe."

Quae vobis, quae digna, viri, pro laudibus istis

"And I, whose welfare in my father lies,"

praemia posse rear solvi? Pulcherrima primum

Ascanius adds, "by the great deities,

di moresque dabunt vestri; tum cetera reddet

By my dear country, by my household gods,

actutum pius Aeneas atque integer aevi

By hoary Vesta's rites and dark abodes,

Ascanius, meriti tanti non immemor umquam.

Adjure you both, (on you my fortune stands;

Immo ego vos, cui sola salus genitore reducto,

That and my faith I plight into your hands,)

excipit Ascanius, per magnos, Nise, penatis

Make me but happy in his safe return,

Assaracique larem et canae penetralia Vestae

Whose wanted presence I can only mourn;

obtestor; quaecumque mihi fortuna fidesque est,

Your common gift shall two large goblets be

in vestris pono gremiis: revocate parentem,

Of silver, wrought with curious imagery,

reddite conspectum; nihil illo triste recepto.

And high emboss'd, which, when old Priam reign'd,

Bina dabo argento perfecta atque aspera signis

My conqu'ring sire at sack'd Arisba gain'd;

pocula, devicta genitor quae cepit Arisba,

And more, two tripods cast in antic mold,

et tripodas geminos, auri duo magna talenta,

With two great talents of the finest gold;

cratera antiquum, quem dat Sidonia Dido.

Beside a costly bowl, ingrav'd with art,

Si vero capere Italiam sceptrisque potiri

Which Dido gave, when first she gave her heart.

contigerit victori et praedae dicere sortem,

But, if in conquer'd Italy we reign,

vidisti quo Turnus equo, quibus ibat in armis

When spoils by lot the victor shall obtain-

aureus: ipsum illum, clipeum cristasque rubentis

Thou saw'st the courser by proud Turnus press'd:

excipiam sorti, iam nunc tua praemia, Nise.

That, Nisus, and his arms, and nodding crest,

Praeterea bis sex genitor lectissima matrum

And shield, from chance exempt, shall be thy share:

corpora captivosque dabit suaque omnibus arma,

Twelve lab'ring slaves, twelve handmaids young and fair

insuper his campi quod rex habet ipse Latinus.

All clad in rich attire, and train'd with care;

Te vero, mea quem spatiis propioribus aetas

And, last, a Latian field with fruitful plains,

insequitur, venerande puer, iam pectore toto

And a large portion of the king's domains.

accipio et comitem casus complector in omnis.

But thou, whose years are more to mine allied-

Nulla meis sine te quaeretur gloria rebus;

No fate my vow'd affection shall divide

seu pacem seu bella geram, tibi maxima rerum

From thee, heroic youth! Be wholly mine;

verborumque fides. Contra quem talia fatur

Take full possession; all my soul is thine.

Euryalus: Me nulla dies tam fortibus ausis

One faith, one fame, one fate, shall both attend;

dissimilem arguerit; tantum, fortuna secunda

My life's companion, and my bosom friend:

aut adversa cadat. Sed te super omnia dona

My peace shall be committed to thy care,

unum oro, genetrix Priami de gente vetusta

And to thy conduct my concerns in war."

est mihi, quam miseram tenuit non Ilia tellus

Then thus the young Euryalus replied:

mecum excedentem, non moenia regis Acestae.

"Whatever fortune, good or bad, betide,

Hanc ego nunc ignaram huius quodcumque pericli est

The same shall be my age, as now my youth;

inque salutatam linquo: nox et tua testis

No time shall find me wanting to my truth.

dextera, quod nequeam lacrumas perferre parentis

This only from your goodness let me gain

at tu, oro, solare inopem et succurre relictae.

(And, this ungranted, all rewards are vain)

Hanc sine me spem ferre tui: audentior ibo

Of Priam's royal race my mother came-

in casus omnis. Percussa mente dedere

And sure the best that ever bore the name-

Dardanidae lacrimas; ante omnis pulcher Iulus,

Whom neither Troy nor Sicily could hold

atque animum patriae strinxit pietatis imago.

From me departing, but, o'erspent and old,

Tum sic effatur:

My fate she follow'd. Ignorant of this

Sponde digna tuis ingentibus omnia coeptis.

(Whatever) danger, neither parting kiss,

Namque erit ista mihi genetrix nomenque Creusae

Nor pious blessing taken, her I leave,

solum defuerit, nec partum gratia talem

And in this only act of all my life deceive.

parva manet. Casus factum quicumque sequentur,

By this right hand and conscious Night I swear,

per caput hoc iuro, per quod pater ante solebat:

My soul so sad a farewell could not bear.

quae tibi polliceor reduci rebusque secundis,

Be you her comfort; fill my vacant place

haec eadem matrique tuae generique manebunt.

(Permit me to presume so great a grace)

Sic ait inlacrimans; umero simul exuit ensem

Support her age, forsaken and distress'd.

auratum, mira quem fecerat arte Lycaon

That hope alone will fortify my breast

Gnosius atque habilem vagina aptarat eburna.

Against the worst of fortunes, and of fears."

Dat Niso Mnestheus pellem horrentisque leonis

He said. The mov'd assistants melt in tears.

exuvias; galeam fidus permutat Aletes.

Then thus Ascanius, wonderstruck to see

Protinus armati incedunt; quos omnis euntis

That image of his filial piety:

primorum manus ad portas iuvenumque senumque

"So great beginnings, in so green an age,

prosequitur votis. Nec non et pulcher Iulus,

Exact the faith which I again ingage.

ante annos animumque gerens curamque virilem,

Thy mother all the dues shall justly claim,

multa patri mandata dabat portanda: sed aurae

Creusa had, and only want the name.

omnia discerpunt et nubibus inrita donant.

Whate'er event thy bold attempt shall have,

Egressi superant fossas noctisque per umbram

'T is merit to have borne a son so brave.

castra inimica petunt, multis tamen ante futuri

Now by my head, a sacred oath, I swear,

exitio. Passim somno vinoque per herbam

(My father us'd it,) what, returning here

corpora fusa vident, arrectos litore currus,

Crown'd with success, I for thyself prepare,

inter lora rotasque viros, simul arma iacere,

That, if thou fail, shall thy lov'd mother share."

vina simul. Prior Hyrtacides sic ore locutus:

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

Euryale, audendum dextra; nunc ipsa vocat res.

From his broad belt he drew a shining sword,

Hac iter est. Tu, ne qua manus se attollere nobis

Magnificent with gold. Lycaon made,

a tergo possit, custodi et consule longe;

And in an ivory scabbard sheath'd the blade.

haec ego vasta dabo et lato te limite ducam.

This was his gift. Great Mnestheus gave his friend

Sic memorat vocemque premit; simul ense superbum

A lion's hide, his body to defend;

Rhamnetem adgreditur, qui forte tapetibus altis

And good Alethes furnish'd him, beside,

exstructus toto proflabat pectore somnum.

With his own trusty helm, of temper tried.

Rex idem et regi Turno gratissimus augur,

Thus arm'd they went. The noble Trojans wait

Their issuing forth, and follow to the gate

With prayers and vows. Above the rest appears

Ascanius, manly far beyond his years,

And messages committed to their care,

Which all in winds were lost, and flitting air.

The trenches first they pass'd; then took their way

Where their proud foes in pitch'd pavilions lay;

To many fatal, ere themselves were slain.

They found the careless host dispers'd upon the plain,

Who, gorg'd, and drunk with wine, supinely snore.

Unharness'd chariots stand along the shore:

Amidst the wheels and reins, the goblet by,

A medley of debauch and war, they lie.

Observing Nisus shew'd his friend the sight:

"Behold a conquest gain'd without a fight.

Occasion offers, and I stand prepar'd;

There lies our way; be thou upon the guard,

And look around, while I securely go,

And hew a passage thro' the sleeping foe."

Softly he spoke; then striding took his way,

With his drawn sword, where haughty Rhamnes lay;

His head rais'd high on tapestry beneath,

And heaving from his breast, he drew his breath;

A king and prophet, by King Turnus lov'd:

But fate by prescience cannot be remov'd.

Him and his sleeping slaves he slew; then spies

Where Remus, with his rich retinue, lies.

His armor-bearer first, and next he kills

His charioteer, intrench'd betwixt the wheels

sed non augurio potuit depellere pestem.

And his lov'd horses; last invades their lord;

Tris iuxta famulos temere inter tela iacentis

Full on his neck he drives the fatal sword:

armigerumque Remi premit aurigamque sub ipsis

The gasping head flies off; a purple flood

nanctus equis ferroque secat pendentia colla;

Flows from the trunk, that welters in the blood,

tum caput ipsi aufert domino truncumque relinquit

Which, by the spurning heels dispers'd around,

sanguine singultantem; atro tepefacta cruore

The bed besprinkles and bedews the ground.

terra torique madent. Nec non Lamyrumque Lamumque

Lamus the bold, and Lamyrus the strong,

et iuvenem Serranum, illa qui plurima nocte

He slew, and then Serranus fair and young.

luserat, insignis facie, multoque iacebat

From dice and wine the youth retir'd to rest,

membra deo victus: felix, si protinus illum

And puff'd the fumy god from out his breast:

aequasset nocti ludum in lucemque tulisset.

Ev'n then he dreamt of drink and lucky play-

Impastus ceu plena leo per ovilia turbans

More lucky, had it lasted till the day.

(suadet enim vesana fames) manditque trahitque

The famish'd lion thus, with hunger bold,

molle pecus mutumque metu, fremit ore cruento:

O'erleaps the fences of the nightly fold,

nec minor Euryali caedes; incensus et ipse

And tears the peaceful flocks: with silent awe

perfurit ac multam in medio sine nomine plebem,

Trembling they lie, and pant beneath his paw.

Fadumque Herbesumque subit Rhoetumque Abarimque,

Nor with less rage Euryalus employs

ignaros, Rhoetum vigilantem et cuncta videntem,

The wrathful sword, or fewer foes destroys;

sed magnum metuens se post cratera tegebat;

But on th' ignoble crowd his fury flew;

pectore in adverso totum cui comminus ensem

He Fadus, Hebesus, and Rhoetus slew.

condidit adsurgenti et multa morte recepit.

Oppress'd with heavy sleep the former fell,

Purpuream vomit ille animam et cum sanguine mixta

But Rhoetus wakeful, and observing all:

vina refert moriens; hic furto fervidus instat.

Behind a spacious jar he slink'd for fear;

Iamque ad Messapi socios tendebat; ibi ignem

The fatal iron found and reach'd him there;

deficere extremum et religatos rite videbat

For, as he rose, it pierc'd his naked side,

carpere gramen equos: breviter cum talia Nisus.

And, reeking, thence return'd in crimson dyed.

sensit enim nimia caede atque cupidine ferri:

The wound pours out a stream of wine and blood;

Absistamus, ait, nam lux inimica propinquat.

The purple soul comes floating in the flood.

Poenarum exhaustum satis est, via facta per hostis.

Now, where Messapus quarter'd, they arrive.

Multa virum solido argento perfecta relinquunt

The fires were fainting there, and just alive;

armaque craterasque simul pulchrosque tapetas.

The warrior-horses, tied in order, fed.

Euryalus phaleras Rhamnetis et aurea bullis

Nisus observ'd the discipline, and said:

cingula, Tiburti Remulo ditissimus olim

"Our eager thirst of blood may both betray;

quae mittit dona hospitio cum iungeret absens

And see the scatter'd streaks of dawning day,

Caedicus, ille suo moriens dat habere nepoti,

Foe to nocturnal thefts. No more, my friend;

post mortem bello Rutuli pugnaque potiti

Here let our glutted execution end.

haec rapit atque umeris nequiquam fortibus aptat.

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

Tum galeam Messapi habilem cristisque decoram

The bold Euryalus, tho' loth, obey'd.

induit. Excedunt castris et tuta capessunt.

Of arms, and arras, and of plate, they find

Interea praemissi equites ex urbe Latina,

A precious load; but these they leave behind.

cetera dum legio campis instructa moratur,

Yet, fond of gaudy spoils, the boy would stay

ibant et Turno regi responsa ferebant,

To make the rich caparison his prey,

tercentum, scutati omnes, Volcente magistro.

Which on the steed of conquer'd Rhamnes lay.

Iamque propinquabant castris murosque subibant,

Nor did his eyes less longingly behold

cum procul hos laevo flectentis limite cernunt

The girdle-belt, with nails of burnish'd gold.

et galea Euryalum sublustri noctis in umbra

This present Caedicus the rich bestow'd

prodidit immemorem radiisque adversa refulsit.

On Remulus, when friendship first they vow'd,

Haud temere est visum. Conclamat ab agmine Volcens

And, absent, join'd in hospitable ties:

State, viri. Quae causa viae? Quive estis in armis?

He, dying, to his heir bequeath'd the prize;

Quove tenetis iter? Nihil illi tendere contra,

Till, by the conqu'ring Ardean troops oppress'd,

sed celerare fugam in silvas et fidere nocti.

He fell; and they the glorious gift possess'd.

Obiciunt equites sese ad divortia nota

These glitt'ring spoils (now made the victor's gain)

hinc atque hinc omnemque abitum custode coronant.

He to his body suits, but suits in vain:

Silva fuit late dumis atque ilice nigra

Messapus' helm he finds among the rest,

horrida, quam densi complerant undique sentes;

And laces on, and wears the waving crest.

rara per occultos lucebat semita calles.

Proud of their conquest, prouder of their prey,

Euryalum tenebrae ramorum onerosaque praeda

They leave the camp, and take the ready way.

impediunt fallitque timor regione viarum;

But far they had not pass'd, before they spied

Nisus abit, iamque imprudens evaserat hostis

Three hundred horse, with Volscens for their guide.

atque locos, qui post Albae de nomine dicti

The queen a legion to King Turnus sent;

Albani, tum rex stabula alta Latinus habebat,

But the swift horse the slower foot prevent,

ut stetit et frustra absentem respexit amicum.

And now, advancing, sought the leader's tent.

Euryale infelix, qua te regione reliqui?

They saw the pair; for, thro' the doubtful shade,

Quave sequar, rursus perplexum iter omne revolvens

His shining helm Euryalus betray'd,

fallacis silvae? Simul et vestigia retro

On which the moon with full reflection play'd.

observata legit dumisque silentibus errat.

"'T is not for naught," cried Volscens from the crowd,

Audit equos, audit strepitus et signa sequentum.

"These men go there;" then rais'd his voice aloud:

Nec longum in medio tempus, cum clamor ad auris

"Stand! stand! why thus in arms? And whither bent?

pervenit ac videt Euryalum, quem iam manus omnis

From whence, to whom, and on what errand sent?"

fraude loci et noctis, subito turbante tumultu,

Silent they scud away, and haste their flight

oppressum rapit et conantem plurima frustra.

To neighb'ring woods, and trust themselves to night.

Quid faciat? Qua vi iuvenem, quibus audeat armis

The speedy horse all passages belay,

eripere? An sese medios moriturus in enses

And spur their smoking steeds to cross their way,

inferat et pulchram properet per volnera mortem?

And watch each entrance of the winding wood.

Ocius adducto torquens hastile lacerto,

Black was the forest: thick with beech it stood,

suspiciens altam Lunam sic voce precatur:

Horrid with fern, and intricate with thorn;

Tu, dea, tu praesens nostro succurre labori,

Few paths of human feet, or tracks of beasts, were worn.

astrorum decus et nemorum Latonia custos.

The darkness of the shades, his heavy prey,

Siqua tuis umquam pro me pater Hyrtacus aris

And fear, misled the younger from his way.

dona tulit, siqua ipse meis venatibus auxi

But Nisus hit the turns with happier haste,

suspendive tholo aut sacra ad fastigia fixi:

And, thoughtless of his friend, the forest pass'd,

hunc sine me turbare globum et rege tela per auras.

And Alban plains, from Alba's name so call'd,

Where King Latinus then his oxen stall'd;

Till, turning at the length, he stood his ground,

And miss'd his friend, and cast his eyes around:

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

Th' unhappy youth? where shall I hope to find?

Or what way take?" Again he ventures back,

And treads the mazes of his former track.

He winds the wood, and, list'ning, hears the noise

Of tramping coursers, and the riders' voice.

The sound approach'd; and suddenly he view'd

The foes inclosing, and his friend pursued,

Forelaid and taken, while he strove in vain

The shelter of the friendly shades to gain.

What should he next attempt? what arms employ,

What fruitless force, to free the captive boy?

Or desperate should he rush and lose his life,

With odds oppress'd, in such unequal strife?

Resolv'd at length, his pointed spear he shook;

And, casting on the moon a mournful look:

"Guardian of groves, and goddess of the night,

Fair queen," he said, "direct my dart aright.

If e'er my pious father, for my sake,

Did grateful off'rings on thy altars make,

Or I increas'd them with my sylvan toils,

And hung thy holy roofs with savage spoils,

Give me to scatter these." Then from his ear

He pois'd, and aim'd, and launch'd the trembling spear.

The deadly weapon, hissing from the grove,

Impetuous on the back of Sulmo drove;

Dixerat, et toto conixus corpore ferrum

Pierc'd his thin armor, drank his vital blood,

conicit: hasta volans noctis diverberat umbras

And in his body left the broken

et venit aversi in tergum Sulmonis ibique

He staggers round; his eyeballs roll in death,

frangitur ac fisso transit praecordia ligno.

And with short sobs he gasps away his breath.