第71章

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;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 ev'ry weary matron stay'd 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' indanger'd state.

They vote a message to their absent chief, Shew their distress, and beg a swift relief.

Amid the camp a silent seat they chose, Remote from clamor, and secure from foes.

On their left arms their ample shields they bear, The 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 'em 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 vapors flies, Cov'ring the plain, and curling to the skies, Betwixt two paths, which at the gate divide, Close by the sea, a passage we have spied, Which will our way to great Aeneas 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 vale, 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 Alethes 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;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;And more, two tripods cast in antic mold, With two great talents of the finest gold;Beside a costly bowl, ingrav'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 victor shall obtain-Thou saw'st the courser by proud Turnus press'd:

That, Nisus, and his arms, and nodding crest, And shield, 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)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, wonderstruck to see That image of his filial piety:

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

Thy mother all the dues shall justly claim, Creusa had, and only want the name.

Whate'er event thy bold attempt shall have, 'T is 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 ivory scabbard sheath'd the blade.

This was his gift.Great Mnestheus gave his friend A lion's hide, his body to defend;And good Alethes furnish'd him, beside, With his own trusty helm, of temper tried.