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Notes Display Latin text | translated by Theodore C. Williams Book IX Chapter 11: The sortie starts | Next chapter Return to index Previous chapter |
Forth through the moat they climb, and steal away through midnight shades, to where their foemen lie encamped in arms; of whom, before these fall, a host shall die. Along the turf were seen, laid low in heavy slumber and much wine, a prostrate troop; the horseless chariots stood tilted on the shore, 'twixt rein and wheel the drivers dozed, wine-cups and idle swords strewn round them without heed. The first to speak was Nisus. Look, Euryalus, he cried, Now boldly strike. The hour to do the deed is here, the path this way. Keep wide-eyed watch that no man smite behind us. I myself will mow the mighty field, and lead thee on in a wide swath of slaughter. With this word he shut his lips; and hurled him with his sword on haughty Rhamnes, who lay propped at ease on pillows huge, and from his heaving breast poured slumber loud: of royal stem was he and honored of king Turnus for his skill in augury; yet could no augur's charm that bloody stroke forefend. And Nisus slew three slaves near by, that lay in reckless sleep upon their spears; then him that bore the shield of Remus, then the driver of his car close to the horses caught; his sword cut through their prostrate necks; then their great master's head he lifted high, and left decapitate the huge corpse spilling forth its crimson gore o'er couch and ground. Like stroke on Lamus fell and Lamyrus, with young Serranus, who had gamed the midnight through and sleeping lay, his fair young body to the wine-god given; but happier now had that long-revelling night been merry till the dawn! Thus round full folds of sheep a famished lion fiercely prowls; mad hunger moves him; he devours and rends with bloody, roaring mouth, the feeble flock that trembles and is dumb. Nor was the sword of fair Euryalus less fatal found; but fiercely raging on his path of death, he pressed on through a base and nameless throng, Rhoetus, Herbesus, Fadus, Abaris; surprising all save Rhoetus, who awake saw every stroke, and crouched in craven fear behind a mighty wine-bowl; but not less clean through his bare breast as he started forth the youth thrust home his sword, then drew it back death-dripping, while the bursting purple stream of life outflowed, with mingling blood and wine. Then, flushed with stealthy slaughter, he crept near the followers of Messapus, where he saw their camp-fire dying down, and tethered steeds upon the meadow feeding. Nisus then knew the hot lust of slaughter had swept on too far, and cried, Hold off! For, lo, the monitory dawn is nigh. Revenge has fed us to the full. We have achieved clean passage through the foe. Full many a prize was left untaken: princely suits of mail enwrought with silver pure, huge drinking-bowls, and broideries fair. Yet grasped Euryalus the blazonry at Rhamnes' corselet hung, and belt adorned with gold: which were a gift to Remulus of Tibur from the store of opulent Caedicus, who sued from far to be a friend; and these in death he gave to his son's son, who slain in battle fell, and proud Rutulians seized them with the spoil. Euryalus about his shoulder strong this booty slung -- unprofitable gain! -- and fitted on a gorgeous, crested helm which once Messapus wore. So from the camp, escaping danger, the two champions ran. Event: Sortie of Nisus and Euryalis |
314-366 Egressi superant fossas noctisque per umbram castra inimica petunt, multis tamen ante futuri exitio. passim somno uinoque per herbam corpora fusa uident, arrectos litore currus, inter lora rotasque uiros, simul arma iacere, uina simul. prior Hyrtacides sic ore locutus: 'Euryale, audendum dextra: nunc ipsa uocat res. hac iter est. tu, ne qua manus se attollere nobis a tergo possit, custodi et consule longe; haec ego uasta dabo et lato te limite ducam.' sic memorat uocemque premit, simul ense superbum Rhamnetem adgreditur, qui forte tapetibus altis exstructus toto proflabat pectore somnum, rex idem et regi Turno gratissimus augur, sed non augurio potuit depellere pestem. tris iuxta famulos temere inter tela iacentis armigerumque Remi premit aurigamque sub ipsis nactus equis ferroque secat pendentia colla. tum caput ipsi aufert domino truncumque relinquit sanguine singultantem; atro tepefacta cruore terra torique madent. nec non Lamyrumque Lamumque et iuuenem Serranum, illa qui plurima nocte luserat, insignis facie, multoque iacebat membra deo uictus—felix, si protinus illum aequasset nocti ludum in lucemque tulisset: impastus ceu plena leo per ouilia turbans (suadet enim uesana fames) manditque trahitque molle pecus mutumque metu, fremit ore cruento. nec minor Euryali caedes; incensus et ipse perfurit ac multam in medio sine nomine plebem, Fadumque Herbesumque subit Rhoetumque Abarimque ignaros; Rhoetum uigilantem et cuncta uidentem, sed magnum metuens se post cratera tegebat. pectore in aduerso totum cui comminus ensem condidit adsurgenti et multa morte recepit. purpuream uomit ille animam et cum sanguine mixta uina refert moriens, hic furto feruidus instat. iamque ad Messapi socios tendebat; ibi ignem deficere extremum et religatos rite uidebat carpere gramen equos, breuiter cum talia Nisus (sensit enim nimia caede atque cupidine ferri) 'absistamus' ait, 'nam lux inimica propinquat. poenarum exhaustum satis est, uia facta per hostis.' multa uirum solido argento perfecta relinquunt armaque craterasque simul pulchrosque tapetas. Euryalus phaleras Rhamnetis et aurea bullis cingula, Tiburti Remulo ditissimus olim quae mittit dona, hospitio cum iungeret absens, Caedicus; ille suo moriens dat habere nepoti; post mortem bello Rutuli pugnaque potiti: haec rapit atque umeris nequiquam fortibus aptat. tum galeam Messapi habilem cristisque decoram induit. excedunt castris et tuta capessunt. |