NISUS AND EURYALUS.
But Juno, ever seeking occasion against the men of Troy, sent Iris,
the messenger of the Gods, to Turnus, as he sat in the grove of
Pilumnus his father. Iris said, "That which none of the Gods had dared
to promise thee, lo! time itself hath brought. Æneas hath left his
companions and his ship, seeking the city of Evander, yea, and the
Tuscans also. Do thou, therefore, take the occasion and surprise the
camp while he is yet absent."
And she spread her wings and mounted to heaven by the arch of the
rainbow, and Turnus cried, "I know thee, goddess, and follow thy
sign." And having first washed his hands, he prayed and vowed his vows
to the Gods.
[Illustration: IRIS APPEARING TO TURNUS.]
So the army went forth to the battle. Messapus led the first line, and
the sons of Tyrrheus the rear; and in the midst was Turnus. And the
men of Troy saw a great cloud of dust upon the plain, and Caïcus
cried from the walls, "What meaneth this cloud that I see? To arms, my
friends. Climb the walls. The enemy is at hand." Then did the men of
Troy shut the gates and man the walls. For so had Æneas commanded
them, saying, "Fight not, whatever befall, in battle, nor trust
yourselves to the plain, but defend your walls." Therefore they shut
their gates, and waited till the enemy should come near. And Turnus,
on a horse of Thrace, rode first, and twenty youths with him; and he
cried, "Is there a man who will first venture the attack?" and he
threw his javelin, making a beginning of battle, and his companions
shouted aloud. Much they marvelled that the men of Troy kept them
within the walls and came not forth to the battle. And Turnus ever
regarded the walls, how he might enter therein. Even as a wolf
prowleth round the fold at midnight, while the lambs within bleat,
being safe by their mothers, but he rageth without to hear them, being
mad with wrath and hunger, and his tongue is athirst for blood, even
so did Turnus rage round the camp, and cast about how he might draw
forth the men of Troy into the plain. And at the last he bethought him
of the ships, which lay at the camp's side, and called for torches of
pine, and the people followed him with a shout, and the smoke rose up
to the heavens.
Then did a marvellous thing befall. Now in the days when Æneas was
building his ships upon Mount Ida, Cybelé, mother of the Gods, spake
to Jupiter, saying "Grant, my son, that these ships, which Æneas
buildeth of my pine-trees,--for these have I given to him freely,--may
be safe from winds and waves." But Jupiter answered, "What is this
that thou askest, my mother? Wouldst thou have immortality for mortal
ships? Not so. But this I grant: that whichsoever of these shall come
safe to the land of Italy shall become Nymphs of the sea." And now the
day was come. Wherefore there was heard an awful voice, saying, "Fear
not, men of Troy; nor care to defend your ships;" and to the ships,
"Go! henceforth ye are Nymphs of the sea." And lo! straightway the
cables brake, and where the ships had been were the shapes of women,
for each ship a woman.
Much did the Latins wonder to behold the thing, and Tiber stayed his
stream to see it. But Turnus trembled not, crying, "This marvel
meaneth evil for the men of Troy. Their ships abide not our attack.
Nor have they any longer that wherewith they may flee from us. And as
for fate, I heed it not. It was the fate of the men of Troy that they
should touch the land of Italy. It is my fate that I should destroy
the accursed race. They rob me of my wife. That wrong toucheth others
besides Menelaüs. Surely, it had been enough to perish once. But why,
then, will they sin again? It had been well had they loathed
thereafter all womankind. Or do they think that this rampart shall
protect them? Did they not see the walls which Neptune builded settle
down in the fire? And now, who cometh with me to storm their camp? I
need not arms from Vulcan's forge, or a thousand ships. Deeds of
darkness and of stealth they need not fear. We will not hide us in a
Horse of wood. In daylight will we burn their walls. For surely the
youth of Italy is not as the youth of Greece, whom Hector kept at bay
for ten years." Then he commanded that they should lay siege to the
camp; and Messapus he set to watch the gate, and fourteen Rutulian
chiefs, with each a hundred youths, kept guard on the walls. So all
the night they watched, and feasted, and drank, and made merry.
But the men of Troy laboured meanwhile, making strong the gates and
the towers of the walls. And Mnestheus and Sergestus were instant with
command and exhortation, for Æneas had appointed them to this thing
should any need arise, he being absent.
Now the keeper of the gate was Nisus, a valiant man of war, and with
him Euryalus, the goodliest youth among the men of Troy; and great
love was between them. And as they watched, Nisus said, "Whether it be
a bidding of the Gods, or prompting of my own heart, I know not, but I
have a great desire to do somewhat this night. Seest thou how the
enemy lie asleep and drunken? Can I not win some honour hence, and
carry the tidings of these things to Æneas? For yonder by the hill
lieth the way to the city of Evander."
Then Euryalus made answer: "Nay, but thou goest not alone, Nisus, nor
leavest me. My father Opheltes trained me not to such baseness, nor
have I so borne myself in thy company. And truly I should count life
well lost for such honour."
Then said Nisus: "I thought not so ill of thee. So may Jupiter bring
me back in safety and honour. Yet should some mischance befall I would
that thou yet shouldst live, to buy my body back, or, if that may not
be, to pay due honour to my spirit. Think, too, of thy mother, who,
alone of all the mothers of Troy, hath, for love of thee, come to this
land of Italy."
But Euryalus said: "Thou makest idle excuses, for I am steadfastly
purposed to go. Let us hasten, therefore." So they woke those who
should take their places at the gate, and sought speech of the chiefs.
These indeed were holding counsel, and stood leaning on their spears
in the midst of the camp. And Nisus said that he had somewhat to say,
and that the matter pressed. Then Iülus bade him speak; and he made
answer: "The enemy lie sleeping and drunken about the walls, and the
fires are extinguished. If fortune favour us we will win a way to
Æneas, to the city of Evander, and slay many, and take much spoil
likewise. The way indeed we know, having learnt it while we hunted in
these parts." Then the old man Aletes said: "Surely, Troy hath not
altogether perished, having yet such hearts as yours." And he threw
his arms about them, weeping. And Iülus said, "Bring back my father,
and all shall be well. And I will give you two cups of silver embossed
with figures of men, which my father took from the city of Arisba. And
if we subdue this land of Italy, thou, Nisus, shalt have the horses
and the arms of Turnus, and twelve women-captives likewise, and twelve
men with their arms, and the domain of King Latinus. And thou,
Euryalus, who art nearer of age to me, shalt be next to myself in all
things."
Then Euryalus made answer: "One thing I ask thee more. I have a
mother, of the lineage of Priam. To her I say not farewell, not being
able to endure her tears. Do thou care for her, if she be bereaved of
me." And Iülus said: "She shall be as my mother to me."
Then he gave him his own sword, with its scabbard of ivory, and
Mnestheus gave to Nisus a lion's skin, and Aletes a helmet. And all
went with them to the gates, with many prayers and vows; also Iülus,
being wise beyond his years, sent many messages to his father.
Then they crossed the moat, and came upon the enemy as they slept,
Nisus being before, and Euryalus keeping watch lest any should assail
them from behind. And first Nisus slew Rhamnes as he slept: an augur
he was, whom Turnus most trusted, yet he knew not his own doom. Next
he slew the three servants and the armour-bearer and the charioteer of
Remus, and, after, Remus himself, cutting off his head. Others also he
slew, and among them Serranus, a fair youth, who had been foremost in
his sport that night. It had been well for him had he prolonged it
even unto dawn. Many also did Euryalus slay, all of them in their
sleep, save Rhœtus only, who, being awake, would fain have hidden
himself behind a great jar, but could not. But when he would have
assailed Messapus and his comrades, Nisus, seeing that he was mastered
by the love of slaughter, cried aloud, "Cease: the day approacheth.
It is enough that we have made us a way through the enemy." Much spoil
did they leave behind them; but Euryalus took a sword-belt with knobs
of gold from Rhamnes--Cædicus gave it to Remulus of Tibur, and he to
his grandson, from whom Rhamnes had won it in war--and put on his head
the helmet of Messapus. So they departed from the camp.
But it so chanced that three hundred horsemen, with Volscens their
leader, were riding to the camp from the city. And as they came nigh,
one of them espied, in the light of the moon, the helmet which
Euryalus, being but a youth and unwary, had put on him. And Volscens
cried, "Who are ye? Whither do ye go?"
[Illustration: NISUS AND EURYALUS.]
But they answered nothing, making haste to fly. Then Volscens
commanded that they should keep the wood on every side. Very thick it
was with dark ilex-trees and brambles. And Euryalus, indeed, being
laden with his spoil and fearful, wandered from the way, but Nisus got
himself clear. But when he came to the stalls where they kept the
cattle of King Latinus, he knew himself to be alone, and looked
round for his companion, but saw him not. Then returning he searched
through the wood till he heard the sound of horsemen approaching; and
lo! Euryalus was in the midst, seeking to get free, but could not.
Forthwith, having first prayed to Diana that she would help him, if
perchance he might scatter this company, he cast his spear. It pierced
the back of Sulmo, and passed even through his heart. And while they
all looked, lo! another spear, and it pierced the head of Tagus from
temple to temple. Very wroth was Volscens to see such slaughter, and
know not how it befell; and he cried, "Thou at least shalt suffer for
these deeds," and flew upon Euryalus. This could not Nisus endure to
see, but rushed from his hiding-place, and cried, "Lo! I am the man
who wrought this slaughter. Turn your swords against me. He did not,
nay, he could not do such deeds. He did but follow his friend." But
not the less did the sword of Volscens pierce the side of Euryalus;
and the blood gushed out over his fair body, and his head drooped,
even as a flower, which the ploughshare cuts in the field, or a poppy
whose stalk is broken. Then rushed Nisus into the midst, thinking only
how he might slay Volscens; nor could the enemy stay him, but that he
thrust his sword into his mouth and slew him. And afterwards, being
pierced with many wounds, he fell dead upon the body of his friend.
But when the horsemen were come to the camp, they found the slaughter
that had been done. And when the day dawned they set the battle in
array against the men of Troy, and the heads of Nisus and Euryalus
they fixed upon poles, and showed them.
But when the report of these things came to the ears of the mother of
Euryalus, she threw down her distaff, and hasted through the camp; and
coming to the wall, she cried, "Is it thus I see thee, my son? Why was
it not granted to me to bid thee farewell? And now I may not close
thine eyes or wrap thee in the garments which I have made, solacing my
cares with the labours of the loom. Slay me with your spears, ye
Latins; or thou, great Jupiter, smite me with thy thunder, since I may
not rid me otherwise of this hateful life."
[Illustration: THE MOTHER OF EURYALUS RECEIVING THE NEWS OF
HIS DEATH.]
But when with her wailing she touched the hearts of the men so that
they forgat their valour, Ilioneus and Iülus commanded Idæus and Actor
that they should lay hands upon her and carry her to her dwelling.