The Trojans peering from the lofty walls survey the foe, and arm for sure defence of every point exposed. They prove the gates with fearful care, bind bridge with tower, and bring good store of javelins. Serestus bold and Mnestheus to their labors promptly fly, whom Sire Aeneas bade in time of stress to have authority and free command over his warriars. Along the walls the legions, by the cast of lots, divide the pain and peril, giving each his due of alternating vigil and repose. Nisus kept sentry at the gate: a youth of eager heart for noble deeds, the son of Hyrtacus, whom in Aeneas' train Ida the huntress sent; swift could he speed the spear or light-winged arrow to its aim. Beside him was Euryalus, his friend: of all th' Aeneadae no youth more fair wore Trojan arms; upon his cheek unshorn the tender bloom of boyhood lingered still. Their loving hearts were one, and oft in war they battled side by side, as in that hour a common sentry at the gate they shared. Said Nisus: “Is it gods above that breathe this fever in my soul, Euryalus? or is the tyrant passion of each breast the god it serves? Me now my urgent mind to battles or some mighty deed impels, and will not give me rest. Look yonder, where the Rutuli in dull security the siege maintain. Yet are their lights but few. They are asleep or drunk, and in their line is many a silent space. O, hear my thought, and what my heart is pondering. To recall Aeneas is the dearest wish to-night of all, both high and low. They need true men to find him and bring tidings. If our chiefs but grant me leave to do the thing I ask (Claiming no reward save what honor gives), methinks I could search out by yonder hill a path to Pallanteum.” The amazed Euryalus, flushed warm with eager love for deeds of glory, instantly replied to his high-hearted friend: “Dost thou refuse, my Nisus, to go with me hand in hand when mighty deeds are done? Could I behold thee venturing alone on danger? Nay! Not thus my sire Opheltes, schooled in war, taught me his true child, 'mid the woes of Troy 
 and Argive terrors reared; not thus with thee have I proved craven, since we twain were leal to great Aeneas, sharing all his doom. In this breast also is a heart which knows contempt of life, and deems such deeds, such praise, well worth a glorious death.” Nisus to him: “I have not doubted thee, nor e'er could have one thought disloyal. May almighty Jove, or whatsoe'er good power my purpose sees, bring me triumphant to thy arms once more! But if, as oft in doubtful deeds befalls, some stroke of chance, or will divine, should turn to adverse, 't is my fondest prayer that thou shouldst live the longer of us twain. Thy years suit better with more life. Oh! let there be one mourner true to carry to its grave my corpse, recaptured in the desperate fray, or ransomed for a price. Or if this boon should be—'t is Fortune's common way—refused, then pay the debt of grief and loyal woe unto my far-off dust, and garlands leave upon an empty tomb. No grief I give to any sorrowing mother; one alone, of many Trojan mothers, had the heart to follow thee, her child, and would not stay in great Acestes' land.” His friend replied: “Thou weavest but a web of empty words and reasons vain, nor dost thou shake at all my heart's resolve. Come, let us haste away!” He answered so, and summoned to the gate a neighboring watch, who, bringing prompt relief, the sentry-station took; then quitted he his post assigned; at Nisus' side he strode, and both impatient sped them to the King. Now in all lands all creatures that have breath lulled care in slumber, and each heart forgot its load of toil and pain. But they who led the Teucrian cause, with all their chosen brave, took counsel in the kingdom's hour of need what action to command or whom dispatch with tidings to Aeneas. In mid-camp on long spears leaning and with ready shield to leftward slung, th' assembled warriors stood. Thither in haste arrived the noble pair, brave Nisus with Euryalus his friend, and craved a hearing, for their suit, they said, was urgent and well-worth a patient ear. Iulus to the anxious striplings gave a friendly welcome, bidding Nisus speak. The son of Hyrtacus obeyed: “O, hear, Princes of Teucria, with impartial mind, nor judge by our unseasoned youth the worth of what we bring. Yon Rutule watch is now in drunken sleep, and all is silent there. With our own eyes we picked out a good place to steal a march, that cross-road by the gate close-fronting on the bridge. Their lines of fire are broken, and a murky, rolling smoke fills all the region. If ye grant us leave by this good luck to profit, we will find Aeneas and the walls of Palatine , and after mighty slaughter and huge spoil ye soon shall see us back. Nor need ye fear we wander from the way. Oft have we seen that city's crest loom o'er the shadowy vales, where we have hunted all day long and know each winding of yon river.” Then uprose aged Aletes, crowned with wisdom's years: “Gods of our fathers, who forevermore watch over Troy , ye surely had no mind to blot out Teucria's name, when ye bestowed such courage on young hearts, and bade them be so steadfast and so leal.” Joyful he clasped their hands in his, and on their shoulders leaned, his aged cheek and visage wet with tears. “What reward worthy of such actions fair, dear heroes, could be given? Your brightest prize will come from Heaven and your own hearts. The rest Aeneas will right soon bestow; nor will Ascanius, now in youth's unblemished prime, ever forget your praise.” Forthwith replied Aeneas' son, “By all our household gods, by great Assaracus, and every shrine of venerable Vesta, I confide my hopes, my fortunes, and all future weal to your heroic hearts. O, bring me back my father! Set him in these eyes once more! That day will tears be dry; and I will give two silver wine-cups graven and o'erlaid with clear-cut figures, which my father chose out of despoiled Arisbe; also two full talents of pure gold, and tripods twain, and ancient wine-bowl, Tyrian Dido's token. But if indeed our destiny shall be to vanquish Italy in prosperous war, to seize the sceptre and divide the spoil, — saw you that steed of Turnus and the arms in which he rode, all golden? That same steed, that glittering shield and haughty crimson crest I will reserve thee, e'er the lots are cast, and, Nisus, they are thine. Hereto my sire will add twelve captive maids of beauty rare, and slaves in armor; last, thou hast the fields which now Latinus holds. But as for thee, to whom my youth but binds me closer still, thee, kingly boy, my whole heart makes my own, and through all changeful fortune we shall be inseparable peers: nor will I seek renown and glory, or in peace or war, forgetting thee: but trust thee from this day in deed and word.” To him in answer spoke euryalus, “O, may no future show this heart unworthy thy heroic call! And may our fortune ever prosperous prove, not adverse. But I now implore of thee a single boon worth all beside. I have a mother, from the venerated line of Priam sprung, whom not the Trojan shore nor King Acestes' city could detain, alas! from following me. I leave her now without farewell; nor is her love aware of my supposed peril. For I swear by darkness of this night and thy right hand, that all my courage fails me if I see a mother's tears. O, therefore, I implore, be thou her sorrow's comfort and sustain her solitary day. Such grace from thee equip me for my war, and I shall face with braver heart whatever fortune brings.” With sudden sorrow thrilled, the veteran lords of Teucria showed their tears. But most of all such likeness of his own heart's filial love on fair Iulus moved, and thus he spoke: “Promise thyself what fits thy generous deeds. Thy mother shall be mine, Creusa's name alone not hers; nor is the womb unblest that bore a child like thee. Whate'er success may follow, I make oath immutable by my own head, on which my father swore, that all I promise thee of gift or praise if home thou comest triumphing, shall be the glory of thy mother and thy kin.” Weeping he spoke, and from his shoulder drew the golden sword, well-wrought and wonderful, which once in Crete Lycaon's cunning made and sheathed in ivory. On Nisus then Mnestheus bestowed a shaggy mantle torn from a slain lion; good Aletes gave exchange of crested helms. In such array they hastened forth; and all the princely throng, young men and old, ran with them to the gates, praying all gods to bless. Iulus then, a fair youth, but of grave, heroic soul beyond his years, gave them in solemn charge full many a message for his sire, but these the hazard of wild winds soon scattered far, and flung them fruitless on the darkening storm. Forth through the moat they climb, and steal away through midnight shades, to where their foemen lie encamped in arms; of whom, before these fall, a host shall die. Along the turf were seen, laid low in heavy slumber and much wine, a prostrate troop; the horseless chariots stood tilted on the shore, 'twixt rein and wheel the drivers dozed, wine-cups and idle swords strewn round them without heed. The first to speak was Nisus. “Look, Euryalus,” he cried, “Now boldly strike. The hour to do the deed is here, the path this way. Keep wide-eyed watch that no man smite behind us. I myself will mow the mighty fieid, and lead thee on in a wide swath of slaughter.” With this word he shut his lips; and hurled him with his sword on haughty Rhamnes, who lay propped at ease on pillows huge, and from his heaving breast poured slumber loud: of royal stem was he and honored of King Turnus for his skill in augury; yet could no augur's charm that bloody stroke forefend. And Nisus slew three slaves near by, that lay in reckless sleep upon their spears; then him that bore the shield of Remus, then the driver of his car close to the horses caught; his sword cut through their prostrate necks; then their great master's head he lifted high, and left decapitate the huge corpse spilling forth its crimson gore o'er couch and ground. Like stroke on Lamus fell and Lamyrus, with young Serranus, who had gamed the midnight through and sleeping lay, his fair young body to the wine-god given; but happier now had that long-revelling night been merry till the dawn! Thus round full folds of sheep a famished lion fiercely prowls; mad hunger moves him; he devours and rends with bloody, roaring mouth, the feeble flock that trembles and is dumb. Nor was the sword of fair Euryalus less fatal found; but fiercely raging on his path of death, he pressed on through a base and nameless throng, Rhoetus, Herbesus, Fadus, Abaris; surprising all save Rhoetus, who awake saw every stroke, and crouched in craven fear behind a mighty wine-bowl; but not less clean through his bare breast as he started forth the youth thrust home his sword, then drew it back death-dripping, while the bursting purple stream of life outflowed, with mingling blood and wine. Then, flushed with stealthy slaughter, he crept near the followers of Messapus, where he saw their camp-fire dying down, and tethered steeds upon the meadow feeding. Nisus then knew the hot lust of slaughter had swept on too far, and cried, “Hold off! For, lo, the monitory dawn is nigh. Revenge has fed us to the full. We have achieved clean passage through the foe.” Full many a prize was left untaken: princely suits of mail enwrought with silver pure, huge drinking-bowls, and broideries fair. Yet grasped Euryalus the blazonry at Rhamnes' corselet hung, and belt adorned with gold: which were a gift to Remulus of Tibur from the store of opulent Caedicus, who sued from far to be a friend; and these in death he gave to his son's son, who slain in battle fell, and proud Rutulians seized them with the spoil. Euryalus about his shoulder strong this booty slung—unprofitable gain! — and fitted on a gorgeous, crested helm which once Messapus wore. So from the camp, escaping danger, the two champions ran. But horsemen from the Latin city sent to join the serried legions of the plain had come at Turnus' call, three hundred strong all bearing shields, and under the command of Volscens. Nigh the camp and walls they drew; and soon they spied upon the leftward path th' heroic pair, where in dim shades of night the helmet of Euryalus betrayed the heedless boy, and with a glancing beam flashed on the foe. Nor was it seen in vain. Loud from the line the voice of Volscens called: “Stand, gentlemen! What business brings you here? Whose your allegiance? Whither speed so fast?” No answer gave they save to fly in haste to cover of the forest and deep gloom of the defensive night. The horsemen then blocked every crossway known, and, scattering wide, kept sentry at the entrance. The great wood was all of tangled brush and blinding shade of flex-boughs. Impenetrable thorns had thickly overgrown, and seldom showed a pathway through the maze. Euryalus, by the black branches and his ponderous spoil impeded, groped along in fearful doubt, deceived and quite astray. Nisus his friend had quit him, and incautiously had forced a sally through the close-encircling foe, into that region which should after bear the name of Alba—a rude shelter then for King Latinus' herds. He stayed him there and looked, but vainly, for the comrade gone. “Euryalus, ill-fated boy!” he cried, “Where have I lost thee in the pathless wild? How find thee? How retrace the blinding maze of yonder treacherous wood?” Yet ere he said, on his own path he turns him back, and scans his own light footprints through the tangled thorn, so dark and still. But suddenly he hears the tread of horses, with confusing din and tumult of pursuit. Nor was it long he tarried ere upon his anguished ear smote a great cry: and, lo! Euryalus, trapped by the dark night, the deceptive ground, faced the whole onset, and fell back o'erwhelmed by a loud mob of foes, while his sole sword tried many a thrust in vain. O, what defence may Nisus bring? With what audacious arms his chosen comrade save? Shall he make bare his dying breast to all their swords, and run to honorable death that bloody way? he swung his spear with lifted arm, then looked to the still moon, in heaven, and thus implored: “O goddess, aid me in my evil case. O glory of the stars, Latona's child! O guardian of groves, if in my name my father Hyrtacus made offerings on burning altars, if my own right hand, successful in the chase, ere hung its gift beneath thy dome or on thy sacred wall, grant me yon troop to scatter. Guide my spear along its path in air.” He spoke, and hurled with all his gathered strength the shaft of steel. the swift spear clove the shades of night, and struck full in the back of Sulmo, where it split, but tore through to his very heart. The breast poured forth life's glowing stream, and he, o'erthrown lay cold in death, while his huge, heaving sides gave lingering throes. The men about him stared this way and that. But Nisus, fiercer still, poised level with his ear a second shaft, and, while the foeman paused, the whizzing spear straight through the brows of Tagus drove, and clung deep in the cloven brain. In frenzy rose Volscens, but nowhere could espy what hand the shaft had hurled, nor whither his wild rage could make reply. “But thou,” he cried, “shalt feed with thy hot blood my honor and revenge for both the slain.” Then with a sword unsheathed upon Euryalus he fell. Loud shrieked Nisus, of reason reft, who could not bear such horror, nor in sheltering gloom of night longer abide: “'T is I, 't is I!” he said. look on the man who slew them! Draw on me your swords, Rutulians! The whole stratagem was mine, mine only, and the lad ye slay dared not, and could not. O, by Heaven above and by the all-beholding stars I swear, he did but love his hapless friend too well.” But while he spoke, the furious-thrusting sword had pierced the tender body, and run through the bosom white as snow. Euryalus sank prone in death; upon his goodly limbs the life-blood ran unstopped, and low inclined the drooping head; as when some purpled flower, cut by the ploughshare, dies, or poppies proud with stem forlorn their ruined beauty bow before the pelting storm. Then Nisus flew straight at his foes; but in their throng would find Volscens alone, for none but Volscens stayed: they gathered thickly round and grappled him in shock of steel with steel. But on he plunged, swinging in ceaseless circles round his head his lightning-sword, and thrust it through the face of shrieking Volscens, with his own last breath striking his foeman down; then cast himself upon his fallen comrade's breast; and there, stabbed through, found tranquil death and sure repose.