The thicket's depth, with hurried pace, they tread, While round the wood the hostile squadron spread.
With brakes entangled, scarce a path between, Dreary and dark appears the sylvan scene; Euryalus his heavy spoils impede,
The boughs and winding turns his steps mislead ;
But Nisus scours along the forest's maze,
To where Latinus' steeds, in safety graze,
Then backward o'er the plain his eyes extend,
On every side they seek his absent friend.
"O God! my boy," he cries, "of me bereft,
"In what impending perils art thou left!"
Listening he runs-above the waving trees,
Tumultuous voices swell the passing breeze;
The war-cry rises, thundering hoofs around
Wake the dark echoes of the trembling ground;
Again he turns-of footsteps hears the noise,
The sound elates-the sight his hope destroys,
The hapless boy a ruffian train surround,
While lengthening shades his weary way con-
found;
Him, with loud shouts, the furious knights pursue,
Struggling in vain, a captive to the crew.
What can his friend 'gainst thronging numbers
Ah! must he rush, his comrade's fate to share!
What force, what aid, what stratagem essay,
Back to redeem the Latian spoiler's prey!
His life a votive ransom nobly give,
Or die with him for whom he wish'd to live!
Poising with strength his lifted lance on high,
On Luna's orb he cast his phrenzied eye :
"Goddess serene, transcending every star!
"Queen of the sky! whose beams are seen afar,
"By night, Heaven owns thy sway, by day, the
"When, as chaste Dian, here thou deign'st to rove; "If e'er myself or sire have sought to grace
"Thine altars with the produce of the chace; "Speed, speed, my dart, to pierce yon vaunting
"To free my friend, and scatter far the proud." Thus having said, the hissing dart he flung; Through parted shades, the hurtling weapon sung; The thirsty point in Sulmo's entrails lay,
Transfix'd his heart, and stretch'd him on the clay :
He sobs, he dies,-the troop, in wild amaze,
Unconscious whence the death, with horror gaze;
While pale they stare, thro' Tagus' temples riven,
A second shaft with equal force is driven;
Fierce Volscens rolls around his lowering eyes,
Veil'd by the night, secure the Trojan lies.
Burning with wrath, he view'd his soldiers fall;
"Thou youth accurst! thy life shall pay for all."
Quick from the sheath his flaming glave he drew,
And, raging, on the boy defenceless flew.
Nisus no more the blackening shade conceals,
Forth, forth he starts, and all his love reveals;
Aghast, confused, his fears to madness rise,
And pour these accents, shrieking as he flies:
"Me, me, your vengeance hurl on me alone,
"Here sheathe the steel, my blood is all your
"Ye starry Spheres! thou conscious Heaven attest!
"He could not-durst not-lo! the guile con
All, all was mine-his early fate suspend,
"He only loved too well his hapless friend;
"Spare, spare, ye chiefs! from him your rage
"His fault was friendship, all his crime was love.”
He pray'd in vain, the dark assassin's sword
Pierced the fair side, the snowy bosom gored;
Lowly to earth inclines his plume-clad crest,
And sanguine torrents mantle o'er his breast:
As some young rose, whose blossom scents the air,
Languid in death, expires beneath the share;
Or crimson poppy, sinking with the shower,
Declining gently, falls a fading flower;
Thus, sweetly drooping, bends his lovely head,
And lingering Beauty hovers round the dead.
But fiery Nisus stems the battle's tide,
Revenge his leader, and Despair his guide;
Volscens he seeks, amidst the gathering host,
Volscens must soon appease his comrade's ghost;
Steel, flashing, pours on steel, foe crowds on foe,
Rage nerves his arm, Fate gleams in every blow;
In vain, beneath unnumber'd wounds he bleeds,
Nor wounds, nor death, distracted Nisus heeds;
In viewless circles wheel'd his falchion flies,
Nor quits the Hero's grasp, till Volscens dies;
Deep in his throat its end the weapon found,
The tyrant's soul fled groaning through the wound.
Thus Nisus all his fond affection proved,
Dying, revenged the fate of him he loved;
Then on his bosom, sought his wonted place,
And death was heavenly, in his friend's embrace!
Celestial pair! if aught my verse can claim, Wafted on Time's broad pinion, yours is fame! Ages on ages shall your fate admire;
No future day shall see your names expire;
While stands the Capitol, immortal dome!
And vanquish'd millions hail their Empress, Rome!
WHEN fierce conflicting passions urge
The breast, where love is wont to glow, What mind can stem the stormy surge,
Which rolls the tide of human woe?
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