176Nisus was guard of the gate, most fierce in arms, son of Hyrtacus, whom Ida the huntress had sent as a companion to Aeneas, swift with the javelin and light arrows; 179beside him went his companion Euryalus, than whom no other of the Aeneadae was more handsome, nor any who put on Trojan armour, a boy whose unshaven cheeks showed the first bloom of youth. 182These two had one love, and side by side they rushed into battle: then too they were holding the gate on shared watch. 184Nisus says: 'Is it the gods who put this ardour into our minds, Euryalus, or does each man's fierce desire become his god?
186For a long while now my mind has been urging me to attempt either a fight or some great thing, and is not content with peaceful rest. 188You see what confidence in their fortunes holds the Rutulians. 189Their lights glimmer here and there; 189loosened by sleep and wine, they lie sprawled; 190far and wide the place is silent: hear further what I am pondering, and what plan now rises in my mind. 192All, people and fathers alike, demand that Aeneas be summoned and that men be sent to bring back sure news. 194If they promise what I ask for you (for the fame of the deed is enough for me), I think I can find beneath that mound a way to the walls and fortifications of Pallanteum.' 197Euryalus was stunned, struck with a great love of glory; 198at once he addresses his ardent friend with these words: 'Do you then shun taking me as your comrade in this supreme venture, Nisus?
200Am I to send you alone into such great dangers? 201Not so did my father Opheltes, used to wars, train me, raised amid the Argive terror and the toils of Troy, nor have I behaved so at your side, following great-hearted Aeneas and his utmost fortunes: here, here is a spirit that scorns the light, that thinks the honour you strive for well bought with a life.' 207To this Nisus: 'Indeed I feared nothing of the kind about you, nor would it be right, no; so may great Jupiter, or whoever looks on these things with favouring eyes, bring me back to you in triumph. 210But if anything (and you see many such things in a crisis like this), if any chance or god should sweep me to ruin, I would want you to survive; 212your youth is more worthy of life.
213Let there be someone to commit me to the earth in the customary way, rescued from the battle or ransomed for a price, or, if some Fortune forbids that, to pay rites to me in my absence and honour me with a tomb. 216Nor would I be the cause of such great grief to your poor mother, who alone of many mothers has dared to follow you, my boy, and cares nothing for the walls of great Acestes.' But he: 'In vain you weave empty excuses, nor does my resolve now change and give ground: let us hurry,' he says. 221At once he rouses the sentries; they come up and take over the watch: leaving his post, he walks as Nisus' companion, and they go in search of the prince.