§9.294atque animum patriae strinxit pietatis imago.
and the image of fatherly love touched his soul.
Then thus he speaks: "Expect all things worthy of your mighty undertakings.
§9.297Namque erit ista mihi genetrix nomenque Creusae §9.298solum defuerit, nec partum gratia talem §9.299parva manet.
For she shall be a mother to me, and only the name of Creusa shall be lacking, nor does small gratitude await such an offspring.
Casus factum quicumque sequentur, §9.300per caput hoc iuro, per quod pater ante solebat: §9.301quae tibi polliceor reduci rebusque secundis, §9.302haec eadem matrique tuae generique manebunt. §9.303Sic ait inlacrimans; umero simul exuit ensem §9.304auratum, mira quem fecerat arte Lycaon §9.305Gnosius atque habilem vagina aptarat eburna.
Whatever fortunes shall follow the deed, I swear by this head, by which my father before was accustomed to swear: what I promise to you on your return and in prosperous times, these same things shall remain for both your mother and your family." Thus he speaks weeping; at the same time he strips from his shoulder the sword gilded, which Gnosian Lycaon had made with wondrous art and had fitted, easy to handle, in an ivory sheath.
Mnestheus gives to Nisus the skin and shaggy spoils of a lion; the spoils; faithful Aletes exchanges his helmet.
§9.308Protinus armati incedunt; quos omnis euntis §9.309primorum manus ad portas iuvenumque senumque §9.310prosequitur votis.
Straightway, armed, they advance; all the band of leaders both young and old, escort them as they go to the gates with prayers.
Nec non et pulcher Iulus, §9.311ante annos animumque gerens curamque virilem, §9.312multa patri mandata dabat portanda: sed aurae §9.313omnia discerpunt et nubibus inrita donant.
And also beautiful Iulus, bearing a manly mind and concern beyond his years, was giving many mandates to be carried to his father: but the breezes tear them all away and give them useless to the clouds.
§9.314Egressi superant fossas noctisque per umbram §9.315castra inimica petunt, multis tamen ante futuri §9.316exitio.
Having gone out, they cross the ditches, and through the shadow of the night they seek the hostile camp, yet destined first to be a destruction to many.
Passim somno vinoque per herbam §9.317corpora fusa vident, arrectos litore currus, §9.318inter lora rotasque viros, simul arma iacere, §9.319vina simul.
Everywhere through the grass, relaxed by sleep and wine, they see bodies stretched out, chariots tilted on the shore, men between reins and wheels, at the same time weapons lying, and wine-vessels likewise.
Prior Hyrtacides sic ore locutus: §9.320Euryale, audendum dextra; nunc ipsa vocat res.
First the son of Hyrtacus thus spoke: "Euryalus, we must dare with the right hand; now the thing itself calls.
§9.321Hac iter est.
Here is our path.
Tu, ne qua manus se attollere nobis §9.322a tergo possit, custodi et consule longe; §9.323haec ego vasta dabo et lato te limite ducam. §9.324Sic memorat vocemque premit; simul ense superbum §9.325Rhamnetem adgreditur, qui forte tapetibus altis §9.326exstructus toto proflabat pectore somnum.
You, lest any band be able to raise itself against us from behind, keep watch and look out far off; I will lay these waste and lead you on a broad path." Thus he speaks and checks his voice; at the same time with his sword he attacks proud Rhamnes, who by chance, piled on high carpets, was blowing out sleep from his whole breast.
At once a king and an augur most pleasing to king Turnus, but he could not drive away destruction with his augury.
§9.329Tris iuxta famulos temere inter tela iacentis §9.330armigerumque Remi premit aurigamque sub ipsis §9.331nanctus equis ferroque secat pendentia colla; §9.332tum caput ipsi aufert domino truncumque relinquit §9.333sanguine singultantem; atro tepefacta cruore §9.334terra torique madent.
Nearby he attacks three servants lying heedlessly among weapons, and the armor-bearer of Remus and the charioteer, found right under the horses and cuts their drooping necks with the sword; then he takes away the head of the lord himself and leaves the trunk gurgling with blood; warmed with black gore the earth and the couches are soaked.
Nec non Lamyrumque Lamumque §9.335et iuvenem Serranum, illa qui plurima nocte §9.336luserat, insignis facie, multoque iacebat §9.337membra deo victus: felix, si protinus illum §9.338aequasset nocti ludum in lucemque tulisset.
And also Lamyrus and Lamus and the young Serranus, who had played very much on that night, distinguished in face, and was lying, his limbs conquered by the heavy god: happy, if straightway he had made that play equal to the night and had prolonged it into the dawn.
§9.339Impastus ceu plena leo per ovilia turbans §9.340(suadet enim vesana fames) manditque trahitque §9.341molle pecus mutumque metu, fremit ore cruento: §9.342nec minor Euryali caedes; incensus et ipse §9.343perfurit ac multam in medio sine nomine plebem, §9.344Fadumque Herbesumque subit Rhoetumque Abarimque, §9.345ignaros, Rhoetum vigilantem et cuncta videntem, §9.346sed magnum metuens se post cratera tegebat; §9.347pectore in adverso totum cui comminus ensem §9.348condidit adsurgenti et multa morte recepit.
Just like a starving lion raging through full sheepfolds (for mad hunger urges him on) both chews and tears the gentle flock, mute with fear, and roars with bloody mouth: nor less is the slaughter of Euryalus; he too, inflamed, rages and attacks many nameless common folk in his path, and approaches Fadus and Herbesus and Rhoetus and Abaris, unsuspecting, except Rhoetus who was awake and seeing everything, but, fearing, was hiding himself behind a huge mixing-bowl; into whose confronting breast, as he rose, he buried his whole sword at close quarters, and drew it back with abundant death.
§9.349Purpuream vomit ille animam et cum sanguine mixta §9.350vina refert moriens; hic furto fervidus instat.
He vomits his purple life-blood, and, dying, brings back wine mixed with blood; the other, glowing, presses on with his stealthy work.
§9.351Iamque ad Messapi socios tendebat; ibi ignem §9.352deficere extremum et religatos rite videbat §9.353carpere gramen equos: breviter cum talia Nisus. §9.354sensit enim nimia caede atque cupidine ferri: §9.355Absistamus,
ait,
nam lux inimica propinquat.
And now he was moving toward the companions of Messapus; there he saw the last fire dying out, and the horses duly tied cropping the grass: when Nisus briefly spoke such things, (for he perceived that they were being carried away by too much slaughter and desire): "Let us depart," he said, "for the hostile light approaches.
§9.356Poenarum exhaustum satis est, via facta per hostis. §9.357Multa virum solido argento perfecta relinquunt §9.358armaque craterasque simul pulchrosque tapetas.
Enough of punishment has been drained, a way is made through the enemy." They leave behind many things of men, finished in solid silver, both arms and mixing-bowls likewise, and beautiful carpets.
§9.359Euryalus phaleras Rhamnetis et aurea bullis §9.360cingula, Tiburti Remulo ditissimus olim §9.361quae mittit dona hospitio cum iungeret absens §9.362Caedicus, ille suo moriens dat habere nepoti,
Euryalus snatches the trappings of Rhamnes and the belt golden with studs, which once the very wealthy Caedicus, while absent, sent as a gift of hospitality to Remulus of Tibur when he was joining him; the latter, dying, gave them to his grandson to have.
§9.364haec rapit atque umeris nequiquam fortibus aptat.
These he snatches and fits upon his in-vain strong shoulders.
Then the helmet of Messapus, easy to fit and beautiful with crests, he puts on.
Excedunt castris et tuta capessunt.
They depart from the camp and head for safety.