Page:The Aeneid of Virgil JOHN CONINGTON 1917 V2.pdf/243

 and tilt the brazen bowl. Bright shine the fires: the warders speed the wakeful night with sport and game.

The Trojans look forth on the scene from their earth-*works, as in arms they man the summit; with anxious fear they test the gates, and link bridge and bulwark,          5 their weapons in their hands. First in the work are Mnestheus and keen Serestus, whom father Æneas, should adverse crisis call for action, left to command the warriors and govern affairs at home. The whole army along the wall, dividing the danger, keeps guard, each relieving          10 each at the post assigned.

The warder of the gate was Nisus, a soldier of keenest mettle, Hyrtacus' son, whom Ida the huntress sent to attend Æneas, quick with the dart and the flying arrow: and at his side Euryalus, than who was none fairer among        15 Æneas' children, none that ever donned the arms of Troy, a stripling whose unrazored cheeks just showed the first bloom of youth. Theirs was a common love: side by side they wont[o] to rush into the battle: and even then they were keeping watch at the gate in joint duty. Nisus exclaims:        20 "Is it the gods, Euryalus, that make men's hearts glow thus? or does each one's ungoverned yearning become his god? My heart has long been astir to rush on war or other mighty deed, nor will peaceful quiet content it. You see the Rutulians there, delivered up to confidence         25 in the future: their line of lights gleams brokenly: unnerved with sleep and wine, yonder they lie: all around is still. Listen on, and learn on what I am brooding, and what thought is this moment uppermost. "Æneas should be recalled"—so cry people and leaders as one man;             30 "messengers should be sent to tell him the truth." If they pledge themselves to what I ask for you—for me the fame of the deed is sufficient—methinks under the mound yonder I could find a way to the city walls of Pallanteum." A thrill of generous ambition struck wonder into Euryalus,      35 as thus he addressed his glowing friend: "And would you shrink from taking me with you, Nisus, on this high occasion? Am I to send you out alone on such perilous