Gama, [11] the great and brave,
With his adventurous fleet,

Thou seest the foe secure-how faintly shine,
Those scatter'd fires-the most in sleep supine,
Along the ground, an easy conquest lie,
The wakeful few the fuming flagon ply;

All hush'd around. Now hear what I resolve :
A thought unripe-and scarcely yet revolve.
Our absent prince both camp and council mourn,
By message both would hasten his return :
If they confer what I demand on thee,
For fame is recompense enough for me,
Methinks beneath yon hill I have espied,
A way that safely will my passage guide."

Euryalus stood listening while he spoke,
With love of praise and noble envy struck,
Then to his ardent friend expos'd his mind.
"All this alone, and leaving me behind?
Am I unworthy, Nisus, to be join'd?
Think'st thou I can my share of glory yield,
Or send thee unassisted to the field?

Not so my father taught my childhood arms-
Born in a siege, and bred among alarms.
Nor is my youth unworthy of my friend,
Nor of the heav'n-born hero I attend.
The thing call'd life, with ease I can disclaim,
And think it over-sold to purchase fame."

Then Nisus thus: "Alas! thy tender years
Would minister new matter to my fears.
So may the gods, who view this friendly strife,
Restore me to thy lov'd embrace with life,
Condemn'd to pay my vows (as sure I trust,)
This thy request is cruel and unjust.
But if some chance-as many chances are,
And doubtful hazards, in the deeds of war-
If one should reach my head, there let it fall,
And spare thy life: I would not perish all.
Thy bloomy youth deserves a longer date :
Live thou to mourn thy love's unhappy fate,

Rude Eolus and Neptune fought, In wind and wave,

And beat;

To bear my mangled body from the foe,
Or buy it back, and fun'ral rites bestow,
Or, if hard fortune shall those dues deny,
Thou canst at least an empty tomb supply.
O let not me the widow's tears renew;
Nor let a mother's curse my name pursue-
Thy pious parent, who, for love of thee,
Forsook the coasts of friendly Sicily,
Her age committing to the seas and wind,
When every weary matron staid behind."
To this, Euryalus: "You plead in vain,
And but protract the cause you cannot gain.
No more delays! but haste!" With that, he wakes
The nodding watch: each to his office takes.
The guard reliev'd, the gen'rous couple went
To find the council at the royal tent.
All creatures else forgot their daily care,
And sleep, the common gift of nature, share;
Except the Trojan peers, who wakeful sate
In nightly council for th' endanger'd state.
They vote a message to their absent chief,
Show their distress, and beg a swift relief.
Amid the camp a silent seat they chose,
Remote from clamour, and secure from foes ;
On their left arms their ample shields they bear,
Their right reclin'd upon the bending spear.
Now Nisus and his friend approach the guard,
And beg admission, eager to be heard-
Th' affair important, not to be deferr'd.
Ascanius bids them be conducted in,
Ord'ring the more experienc'd to begin.
Then Nisus thus: "Ye fathers, lend your ears ;
Nor judge our bold attempt beyond our years.
The foe, securely drench'd in sleep and wine,
Neglect their watch; the fires but thinly shine
And where the smoke in cloudy vapour flies.
Cov'ring the plain, and curling to the skies,

And thus the golden Indus got

And bought,

And laid them at his monarch's feet.

Betwixt two paths which at the gate divide,
Close by the sea, a passage we have spy'd,
Which will our way to great Eneas guide.
Expect each hour to see him safe again,
Loaded with spoils of foes in battle slain.
Snatch we the lucky minute while we may :
Nor can we be mistaken in the way :

For, hunting in the vales, we both have seen
The rising turrets, and the stream between ;
And know the winding course, with ev'ry ford."
He ceas'd and old Aletes took the word.
"Our country gods, in whom our trust we place,
Will yet from ruin save the Trojan race,
While we behold such dauntless worth appear
In dawning youth, and souls so void of fear."
Then into tears of joy the father broke :
Each in his longing arms by turns he took;
Panted and paus'd; and thus again he spoke :
"Ye brave young men, what equal gifts can we,
In recompense of such desert decree ?

The greatest, sure, and best you can receive,
The gods and your own conscious worth will give..
The rest our grateful gen'ral will bestow,

And young Ascanius, till his manhood, owe.”

And I, whose welfare in my father lies,”
Ascanius adds, "by the great deities,

By my dear country, by my household gods,.
By hoary Vesta's rites and dark abodes,
Adjure you both-(on you my fortune stands r
That and my faith I plight into your hands)—
Make me but happy in his safe return,
Whose wanted presence I can only mourn;
Your common gift shall two large goblets be
Of silver, wrought with curious imagery.

And high emboss'd, which, when old Priam reign'd
My conqu❜ring sire at sack'd Arisba gain'd;

There's Captain Jason [12] had some pulls,
And solemn bothers with his boat;

And, more, two tripods, cast in antique mould,
With two great talents of the finest gold :
Beside a costly bowl engrav'd with art,
Which Dido gave, when first she gave her heart.
But, if in conquer'd Italy we reign,

When spoils by lot the victors shall obtain-
Thou saw'st the courser by proud Turnus press'd,
That Nisus! and his arms and nodding crest,

And shields from chance exempt, shall be thy share;
Twelve lab'ring slaves, twelve handmaids young and fair
All clad in rich attire, and train'd with care :
And last a Latian field with fruitful plains,
And a large portion of the king's domains.
But thou, whose years are more to mine allied,
No fate my vow'd affection shall divide
From thee, heroic youth! Be wholly mine :
Take full possession: all my soul is thine.
One faith, one fame, one fate, shall both attend :
My life's companion, and my bosom friend-
My peace shall be committed to thy care;
And, to thy conduct, my concerns in war."
Then thus the young Euryalus replied:
"Whatever fortune, good or bad, betide,
The same shall be my age, as now my youth:
No time shall find me wanting to my truth.
This only from your goodness let me gain
(And, this ungranted, all rewards are vain :)—
Of Priam's royal race my mother came—
And sure the best that ever bore the name-
Whom neither Troy nor Sicily could hold
From me departing, but, o'erspent and old,
My fate she follow'd. Ignorant of this
(Whatever) danger, neither parting kiss
Nor pious blessing taken, her I leave,
And in this only act of all my life deceive.
By this right-hand, and conscious night, I swear,
My soul so sad a farewell could not bear.
Be you her comfort; fill my vacant place-
(Permit me to presume so great a grace ;)

That savour'd more of war than peace;
Eer he had yoke'd the flaming bulls,
Or cut the fiery dragon's throat,

Support her age, forsaken and distress'd.
That hope alone will fortify my breast
Against the worst of fortunes and of fears."
He said. The mov'd assistants melt in tears.
Then thus Ascanius, wonder-struck to see
That image of his filial piety:

"So great beginnings, in so green an age,
Exact the faith which I again engage.

Thy mother all the dues shall justly claim
Creusa had, and only want the name.
Whate'er event thy bold attempt shall have,
"Tis merit to have borne a son so brave.
Now by my head, a sacred oath, I swear
(My father us'd it,) what, returning here
Crown'd with success, I for thyself prepare,
That, if thou fail, shall thy lov'd mother share.”
He said, and, weeping while he spoke the word,
From his broad belt he drew a shining sword,
Magnificent with gold. Lycaon made,
And in an iv'ry scabbard sheath'd the blade.
This was his gift. Great Mnestheus
A lion's hide, his body to defend ;

gave his friend

And good Aletes furnished him, beside,
With his own trusty helm, of temper tried.

Thus arm'd they went. The noble Trojans wait
Their issuing forth, and follow to the gate

With pray'rs and vows. Above the rest appears
Ascanius, manly far beyond his years,

And messages committed to their care,

Which all in winds were lost, and flitting air.

The trenches first they pass'd; then took their way Where their proud foes in pitch'd pavilions lay;

To many fatal, ere themselves were slain.

They found the careless host dispers'd upon the plain
Who, gorg'd, and drunk with wine, supinely snore.
Unharness'd chariots stand along the shore: