Stories from Virgil

by Alfred John Church

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?”