As soon as they sight the goal, away goes Nisus first, and far in front of all darts forth, swifter than the winds or than winged thunderbolt. Next to him, but next by a long distance, follows Salius; then, with some space left between them, Euryalus third … and, after Euryalus, Helymus; then, close upon him, lo! Diores flies, now grazing foot with foot and pressing close at his shoulder. And had more of the course remained, he would have shot past him to the fore or left the issue in doubt. And now, with course well-nigh covered, panting they neared the very goal, when Nisus, luckless one, falls in some slippery blood, which, spilt by chance where steers were slain, had soaked the ground and greensward. Here, even in the joy of triumph, the youth could not hold his stumbling steps on the ground he trod, but fell prone, right in the filthy slime and blood of sacrifice. Yet not of Euryalus, not of his love was he forgetful; for as he rose amid the sodden ground he threw himself in the way of Salius, who, rolling over, fell prostrate on the clotted sand. Euryalus darts by and, winning by grace of his friend, takes first place, and flies on amid favouring applause and cheers. Behind come Helymus, and Diores, now third prize.

Hereupon Salius fills with loud clamour the whole concourse of the great theatre and the gazing elders in front, claiming that the prize wrested from him by fraud be given back. Good will befriends Euryalus, and his seemly tears and worth, that shows more winsome in a fair form. Diores backs him, making loud protest; he has reached the palm, but in vain won the last prize, if the highest honours are restored to Salius. Then said father Aeneas: “Your rewards remain assured to you, my lads, and no one alters the prizes’ order; be it mine to pity the mischance of a hapless friend!” So saying, he gives to Salius the huge hide of a Gaetulian lion, heavy with shaggy hair and gilded claws.

simul ultima signant, primus abit longeque ante omnia corpora Nisus emicat, et ventis et fulminis ocior alis; [320] proximus huic, longo sed proximus intervallo, insequitur Salius; spatio post deinde relicto tertius Euryalus . . . Euryalumque Helymus sequitur; quo deinde sub ipso ecce volat calcemque terit iam calce Diores, [325] incumbens umero; spatio et si plura supersint, transeat elapsus prior ambiguumve relinquat. iamque fere spatio extremo fessique sub ipsam finem adventabant, levi cum sanguine Nisus labitur infelix, caesis ut forte iuvencis [330] fusus humum viridisque super madefecerat herbas. hic iuvenis iam victor ovans vestigia presso haud tenuit titubata solo, sed pronus in ipso concidit immundoque fimo sacroque cruore, non tamen Euryali, non ille oblitus amorum: [335] nam sese opposuit Salio per lubrica surgens, ille autem spissa iacuit revolutus harena. emicat Euryalus et munere victor amici prima tenet plausuque volat fremituque secundo. post Helymus subit, et, nunc tertia palma, Diores.

[340] Hic totum caveae consessum ingentis et ora prima patrum magnis Salius clamoribus implet, ereptumque dolo reddi sibi poscit honorem. tutatur favor Euryalum lacrimaeque decorae, gratior et pulchro veniens in corpore virtus. [345] adiuvat et magna proclamat voce Diores, qui subiit palmae frustraque ad praemia venit ultima, si primi Salio reddentur honores. tum pater Aeneas, “vestra,” inquit, “munera vobis certa manent, pueri, et palmam movet ordine nemo; [350] me liceat casus miserari insontis amici.” sic fatus tergum Gaetuli immane leonis dat Salio, villis onerosum atque unguibus aureis.

Nisus was guardian of the gate, most valiant of warriors, son of Hyrtacus, whom Ida the huntress had sent in Aeneas’ train, quick with javelin and light arrows. At his side was Euryalus—none fairer was among the Aeneadae, or wore Trojan armour—a boy who showed on his unshaven cheek the first bloom of youth. A common love was theirs; side by side they would charge into battle; now too they were mounting sentry together at the gate. Nisus says: “Do the gods, Euryalus, put this fire into hearts, or does his own wild longing become to each man a god? Long has my heart been astir to dare battle or some great deed, and it is not content with peaceful quiet. You see what faith in their fortunes possesses the Rutulians. Their gleaming lights are far apart; relaxed with wine and slumber, they lie prone; silence reigns far and wide. Learn then what I ponder, and what purpose now rises in my mind. People and senate—all demand that Aeneas be summoned, and men be sent to bring him sure tidings. If they promise the boon I ask for you—for to me the glory of the deed is enough—I think that beneath that mound I can find a path to the walls and fortress of Pallanteum.” Euryalus was dazed, smitten with mighty love of praise, and at once speaks thus to his ardent friend: “Do you refuse then, Nisus, to let me join in this great endeavour? Am I to send you alone into such great perils? Not so did my father, the old warrior Opheltes, train me as his child among Argive terrors and the travails of Troy, nor at your side have I played my part so, following high-souled Aeneas and his ultimate fate. Mine is a heart that scorns the light, and believes that the glory that you strive for is cheaply bought with life.”

Nisus replied: “Indeed, of you I had no such fear, no—it would be wrong; so may great Jupiter, or whoever looks on this deed with favouring eyes, bring me back to you in triumph! But if—as you see often in like hazards—if some god or chance sweep me to disaster, I want you to survive; your youth is worthier of life. Let there be someone to commit me to earth, rescued from battle or ransomed at a price, or, if some chance denies the usual rites, to render them to me in my absence, and honour me with a tomb. And let me not, boy, be the cause of such grief to your poor mother, who, alone of many mothers, dared to follow you to the end, and does not care for great Acestes’ city.^[5] But he replied: “Vainly you weave idle pleas, nor does my purpose now change or give way. Let us hurry!” he said, and at once rouses the guards. They come up, and take their turn; quitting his post, he walks by Nisus’ side as they seek the prince.

All other creatures throughout all lands were soothing their cares in sleep, and their hearts were forgetful of sorrows, but the chief Teucrian captains, flower of their young men, held council on the people’s affairs, what they should do, and who now should be messenger to Aeneas. They stand, leaning on their long spears and grasping their shields, between camp and plain. Then Nisus and Euryalus together eagerly crave immediate audience; the matter, they say, is weighty and will repay the delay. Iülus was first to welcome the impatient pair, and bade Nisus speak. Then thus the son of Hyrtacus spoke: “Men of Aeneas, listen with kindly minds, and do not let our proposal be judged by our years. Buried in sleep and wine, the Rutulians lie silent; our own eyes have seen a place for an ambush that lies open in the forked way by the gate nearest the sea. The line of fires is broken and black smoke rises to the sky. If you permit us to use the chance, soon you will see us here again, laden with spoils after wreaking mighty slaughter. The road will not deceive us as we go to seek Aeneas and the walls of Pallanteum. Down the dim valleys in our frequent hunting we have seen the outskirts of the town and have come to know the whole river.”

Then said Aletes, stricken in years and sage in council: “Gods of our fathers, whose presence ever watches over Troy, despite all you do not intend utterly to blot out the Trojan race, since you have brought us such spirit in our youths and such unwavering souls.” So saying, he held them both by shoulder and hand, while tears rained down his cheeks and face. “What reward, men, shall I deem worthy to be paid you for deeds so glorious? The first and fairest the gods and your own hearts shall give; then the rest the good Aeneas will straightway repay, and the youthful Ascanius, never forgetful of service so noble.”

Nisus erat portae custos, acerrimus armis, Hyrtacides, comitem Aeneae quem miserat Ida venatrix iaculo celerem levibusque sagittis, et iuxta comes Euryalus, quo pulchrior alter [180] non fuit Aeneadum Troiana neque induit arma, ora puer prima signans intonsa iuventa. his amor unus erat pariterque in bella ruebant; tum quoque communi portam statione tenebant. Nisus ait: “dine hunc ardorem mentibus addunt,

[185] Euryale, an sua cuique deus fit dira cupido? aut pugnam aut aliquid iamdudum invadere magnum mens agitat mihi, nec placida contenta quiete est.cernis quae Rutulos habeat fiducia rerum: lumina rara micant, somno vinoque soluti [190] procubuere, silent late loca. percipe porro quid dubitem et quae nunc animo sententia surgat. Aenean acciri omnes, populusque patresque, exposcunt, mittique viros qui certa reportent. si tibi quae posco promittunt (nam mihi facti [195] fama sat est), tumulo videor reperire sub illo posse viam ad muros et moenia Pallantea.” obstipuit magno laudum percussus amore Euryalus, simul his ardentem adfatur amicum: “mene igitur socium summis adiungere rebus, [200] Nise, fugis? solum te in tanta pericula mittam? non ita me genitor, bellis adsuetus Opheltes, Argolicum terrorem inter Troiaeque labores sublatum erudiit, nec tecum talia gessi magnanimum Aenean et fata extrema secutus: [205] est hic, est animus lucis contemptor et istum qui vita bene credat emi, quo tendis, honorem.”

Nisus ad haec: “equidem de te nil tale verebar, nec fas; non ita me referat tibi magnus ovantem Iuppiter aut quicumque oculis haec aspicit aequis. [210] sed si quis (quae multa vides discrimine tali) si quis in adversum rapiat casusve deusve, te superesse velim, tua vita dignior aetas. sit qui me raptum pugna pretiove redemptum mandet humo, aut solitas si qua Fortuna vetabit, [215] absenti ferat inferias decoretque sepulcro. neu matri miserae tanti sim causa doloris, quae te sola, puer, multis e matribus ausa persequitur, magni nec moenia curat Acestae.” ille autem: “causas nequiquam nectis inanis [220] nec mea iam mutata loco sententia cedit. acceleremus” ait, vigiles simul excitat. illi succedunt servantque vices; statione relicta ipse comes Niso graditur regemque requirunt. Cetera per terras omnis animalia somno [225] laxabant curas et corda oblita laborum: ductores Teucrum primi, delecta iuventus, consilium summis regni de rebus habebant, quid facerent quisve Aeneae iam nuntius esset. stant longis adnixi hastis et scuta tenentes [230] castrorum et campi medio. tum Nisus et una Euryalus confestim alacres admittier orant: rem magnam pretiumque morae fore. primus Iulus accepit trepidos ac Nisum dicere iussit. tum sic Hyrtacides: “audite o mentibus aequis [235] Aeneadae, neve haec nostris spectentur ab annis quae ferimus. Rutuli somno vinoque sepulti conticuere. locum insidiis conspeximus ipsi, qui patet in bivio portae quae proxima ponto. interrupti ignes aterque ad sidera fumus [240] erigitur. si fortuna permittitis uti, mox hic cum spoliis ingenti caede peracta adfore cernetis. nec nos via fallet euntis quaesitum Aenean et moenia Pallantea. vidimus obscuris primam sub vallibus urbem [245] venatu adsiduo et totum cognovimus amnem.”

Hic annis gravis atque animi maturus Aletes: “di patrii, quorum semper sub numine Troia est, non tamen omnino Teucros delere paratis, cum talis animos iuvenum et tam certa tulistis [250] pectora.” sic memorans umeros dextrasque tenebat amborum et vultum lacrimis atque ora rigabat. “quae vobis, quae digna, viri, pro laudibus istis praemia posse rear solvi? pulcherrima primum di moresque dabunt vestri: tum cetera reddet [255] actutum pius Aeneas atque integer aevi Ascanius meriti tanti non immemor umquam.”

So he speaks weeping; and at the same time strips from his shoulder the gilded sword, fashioned with wondrous art by Lycaon of Cnosus and fitted for use with ivory sheath. To Nisus Mnestheus gives a skin, spoil of a shaggy lion: faithful Aletes exchanges his helmet. At once they advance in arms and as they go all the company of princes, young and old, escorts them to the gate with vows. Likewise fair Iülus, with a man’s mind and a spirit beyond his years, gave many a charge to carry to his father. But the breezes scatter all and give them fruitless to the clouds.

They leave and cross the trenches, and through the shadow of night seek that fatal camp—yet destined first to be the doom of many. Everywhere they see bodies stretched along the grass in drunken sleep, chariots atilt on the shore, men lying among wheels and harness, their arms and flagons all about. First the son of Hyrtacus thus began: “Euryalus, now for a daring hand; now the occasion itself calls us; here lies our way. Watch that no arm be raised against us from behind, and keepwide outlook. Here I will deal destruction, and by a broad path show you the way.”

sic ait inlacrimans; umero simul exuit ensem auratum, mira quem fecerat arte Lycaon [305] Cnosius atque habilem vagina aptarat eburna. dat Niso Mnestheus pellem horrentisque leonis exuvias, galeam fidus permutat Aletes. protinus armati incedunt; quos omnis euntis primorum manus ad portas, iuvenumque senumque, [310] prosequitur votis. nec non et pulcher Iulus, ante annos animumque gerens curamque virilem, multa patri mandata dabat portanda; sed aurae omnia discerpunt et nubibus inrita donant.

Egressi superant fossas noctisque per umbram [315] castra inimica petunt, multis tamen ante futuri exitio. passim somno vinoque per herbam corpora fusa vident, arrectos litore currus, inter lora rotasque viros, simul arma iacere, vina simul. prior Hyrtacides sic ore locutus: [320] “Euryale, audendum dextra: nunc ipsa vocat res. hac iter est. tu, ne qua manus se attollere nobis a tergo possit, custodi et consule longe; haec ego vasta dabo et lato te limite ducam.”

Meanwhile horsemen, sent forward from the Latin city, while the rest of the force halts drawn up on the plain, came bringing a reply to King Turnus—three hundred, all bearing shields, with Volcens as leader. And now they were nearing the camp and coming under the walls, when at a distance they see the two turning away by a pathway to the left; and in the glimmering shadows of night his helmet betrayed the thoughtless Euryalus, as it flashed back the light. Not in vain was it seen. From his column shouts Volcens: “Halt, men! What is the reason for your journey? Who are you in arms? And where are you going?” They offer no response, but speed their flight to the wood and trust to night. On this side and that the horsemen bar the well-known crossways, and with sentinels surround every outlet. The forest spread wide with thickets and dark ilex; dense briers filled it on every side; here and there the path glimmered through the hidden glades. Euryalus is hampered by the shadowy branches and the burden of his spoil, and fear misleads him in the line of the paths. Nisus gets clear; and now, in his heedless course, he had escaped the foe to the place later called Alban from Alba’s name (at that time King Latinus had there his stately stalls) when he halted and looked back in vain for his lost friend. “Unhappy Euryalus, where have I left you? Where shall I follow, again unthreading the whole tangled path of the treacherous wood?” At the same time he scans and retraces his footsteps, and wanders in the silent thickets. He hears the horses, hears the shouts and signals of pursuit. And the interval was not long, when a cry reaches his ears, and he sees Euryalus, whom, now betrayed by the ground and night and bewildered by the sudden turmoil, the whole band is dragging away overpowered and struggling violently in vain. What can he do? With what force, what arms dare he rescue the youth? Shall he cast himself on his doom among the swords and win with wounds a swift and glorious death?^[6] Quickly he draws back his arm with poised spear and, looking up to the moon on high, thus prays: “Goddess, be present and aid our endeavour, Latona’s daughter, glory of the stars and guardian of the groves; if ever my father Hyrtacus brought any gifts for me to your altars, if ever I have honoured you with any from my own hunting, have hung offerings in your dome, or fastened them on your holy roof, grant me to confound that troop, and guide my weapons through the air.” He ended, and with all his straining body flung the steel. The flying spear whistles through the shadows of night, strikes the turned back of Sulmo, then snaps, and with the broken wood pierces the midriff. Spouting a warm torrent from his breast he rolls over chill in death, and long gasps heave his sides. Turning this way and that they gaze round. All the fiercer now he balances another weapon close to his ear. While they hesitate, the spear goes whizzing through both of Tagus’ temples, and lodged warm in the cloven brain. Volcens storms with rage, but nowhere espies the sender of the dart, nor where to vent his rage. “Yet you, mean­while with your hot blood, will pay me vengeance for both,” he cried and, as he spoke, rushed with drawn sword on Euryalus. Then indeed, frantic with terror, Nisus shouts aloud; no longer could he hide himself in darkness or endure such agony: “On me—on me—here am I who did the deed—on me turn your steel, Rutulians! Mine is all the guilt; he neither dared nor could have done it; heaven be witness of this and the all-seeing stars! He but loved his hapless friend too well."

Interea praemissi equites ex urbe Latina, cetera dum legio campis instructa moratur, ibant et Turno regi responsa ferebant, [370] ter centum, scutati omnes, Volcente magistro. iamque propinquabant castris murosque subibant cum procul hos laevo flectentis limite cernunt, et galea Euryalum sublustri noctis in umbra prodidit immemorem radiisque adversa refulsit. [375] haud temere est visum. conclamat ab agmine Volcens: “state, viri. quae causa viae? quive estis in armis? quove tenetis iter?” nihil illi tendere contra, sed celerare fugam in silvas et fidere nocti. obiciunt equites sese ad divortia nota [380] hinc atque hinc, omnemque abitum custode coronant. silva fuit late dumis atque ilice nigra horrida, quam densi complerant undique sentes; rara per occultos lucebat semita callis. Euryalum tenebrae ramorum onerosaque praeda [385]impediunt, fallitque timor regione viarum. Nisus abit; iamque imprudens evaserat hostis atque locos qui post Albae de nomine dicti Albani (tum rex stabula alta Latinus habebat), ut stetit et frustra absentem respexit amicum: [390] “Euryale infelix, qua te regione reliqui? quave sequar?” rursus perplexum iter omne revolvens fallacis silvae simul et vestigia retro observata legit dumisque silentibus errat.audit equos, audit strepitus et signa sequentum; [395] nec longum in medio tempus, cum clamor ad auris pervenit ac videt Euryalum, quem iam manus omnis fraude loci et noctis, subito turbante tumultu, oppressum rapit et conantem plurima frustra. quid faciat? qua vi iuvenem, quibus audeat armis [400] eripere? an sese medios moriturus in enses inferat et pulchram properet per vulnera mortem? ocius adducto torquet hastile lacerto suspiciens altam Lunam et sic voce precatur: “tu, dea, tu praesens nostro succurre labori, [405] astrorum decus et nemorum Latonia custos. si qua tuis umquam pro me pater Hyrtacus aris dona tulit, si qua ipse meis venatibus auxi suspendive tholo aut sacra ad fastigia fixi, hunc sine me turbare globum et rege tela per auras.” [410] dixerat et toto conixus corpore ferrum conicit. hasta volans noctis diverberat umbras et venit aversi in tergum Sulmonis ibique frangitur, ac fisso transit praecordia ligno. volvitur ille vomens calidum de pectore flumen [415] frigidus et longis singultibus ilia pulsat. diversi circumspiciunt. hoc acrior idem ecce aliud summa telum librabat ab aure. dum trepidant, ît hasta Tago per tempus utrumque stridens traiectoque haesit tepefacta cerebro. [420] saevit atrox Volcens nec teli conspicit usquam auctorem nec quo se ardens immittere possit.“tu tamen interea calido mihi sanguine poenas persolves amborum” inquit; simul ense recluso ibat in Euryalum. tum vero exterritus, amens, [425] conclamat Nisus nec se celare tenebris amplius aut tantum potuit perferre dolorem: “me, me, adsum qui feci, in me convertite ferrum, o Rutuli! mea fraus omnis, nihil iste nec ausus nec potuit; caelum hoc et conscia sidera testor; [430] tantum infelicem nimium dilexit amicum.”

Thus was he pleading; but the sword, driven with force, passes through the ribs and rends the snowy breast. Euryalus rolls over in death; over his lovely limbs runs the blood, and his drooping neck sinks on his shoulder, as when a purple flower, severed by the plough, droops in death; or as poppies, with weary neck, bow the head, when weighted by a chance shower. But Nisus rushes among them, and among them all seeks only Volcens, to Volcens alone gives heed. Round him the foe cluster, and on every side try to hurl him back. Onward none the less he presses, whirling his lightning blade, till he plunged it full in the face of the shrieking Rutulian and, dying, bereft his foe of life. Then, pierced through and through, he flung himself on his lifeless friend, and there at length, in the peace of death, found rest.^[7]

Happy pair! If my poetry has any power, no day shall ever blot you from the memory of time, so long as the house of Aeneas dwells on the Capitol’s unshaken rock, and the Father of Rome holds sovereign sway!^[8]

talia dicta dabat, sed viribus ensis adactus transabiit costas et candida pectora rumpit. volvitur Euryalus leto, pulchrosque per artus it cruor inque umeros cervix conlapsa recumbit: [435] purpureus veluti cum flos succisus aratro languescit moriens, lassove papavera collo demisere caput pluvia cum forte gravantur. at Nisus ruit in medios solumque per omnis Volcentem petit, in solo Volcente moratur. [440] quem circum glomerati hostes hinc comminus atque hinc proturbant. instat non setius ac rotat ensem fulmineum, donec Rutuli clamantis in ore condidit adverso et moriens animam abstulit hosti. tum super exanimum sese proiecit amicum [445] confossus, placidaque ibi demum morte quievit.

Fortunati ambo! si quid mea carmina possunt, nulla dies umquam memori vos eximet aevo, dum domus Aeneae Capitoli immobile saxum accolet imperiumque pater Romanus habebit.

Nor would I pass you by, Cunerus, bravest in war of Ligurian captains, or you, Cupavo, with your scanty train, from whose crest rise the swan plumes—a reproach, Cupid, to you and yours^[9] —the badge of his father’s form.

For they tell that Cycnus, in grief for his loved Phaëthon, while he is singing and with music solacing his woeful love amid the shade of his sisters’ leafy poplars^[10], drew over his form the soft plumage of white old age, leaving earth and seeking the stars with his cry. His son, following on shipboard with a band of like age, drives with oars the mighty Centaur; over the water towers the monster, and threatens to hurl a mighty rock into the waves from above, while with long keel he furrows the deep seas.

Non ego te, Ligurum ductor fortissime bello, transierim, Cunere, et paucis comitate Cupavo, cuius olorinae surgunt de vertice pennae (crimen, Amor, vestrum) formaeque insigne paternae.

namque ferunt luctu Cycnum Phaëthontis amati, [190] populeas inter frondes umbramque sororum dum canit et maestum Musa solatur amorem, canentem molli pluma duxisse senectam linquentem terras et sidera voce sequentem. filius aequalis comitatus classe catervas [195] ingentem remis Centaurum promovet: ille instat aquae saxumque undis immane minatur arduus, et longa sulcat maria alta carina.