Stories from Virgil

by Alfred John Church

CHAPTER XX.
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.

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.