420Fierce Volcens rages, and nowhere sees the thrower of the weapon, nor where he can hurl himself in his fury. 422'You, however, meanwhile, with your warm blood shall pay me the penalty for both,' he says; 423and with his sword drawn he went at Euryalus. 424Then indeed, terrified and out of his mind, Nisus cries out, and could no longer hide himself in the darkness or bear such great grief. 427'Me, me, here I am who did it, turn your steel on me, Rutulians; the whole trick is mine; 428he neither dared nor could do anything, I call this sky and the knowing stars to witness; he only loved his unhappy friend too much.' 431Such words he was speaking; 431but the sword, driven with force, passed through the ribs and breaks open the white breast.
433Euryalus rolls over in death, and the blood runs over his beautiful limbs, and his neck sinks and droops on his shoulders: as when a crimson flower, cut by the plough, languishes and dies, or poppies, their necks wearied, bow their heads when weighed down by rain. 438But Nisus rushes into the midst, and through them all seeks Volcens alone, and is set on Volcens alone. 440The enemy, massing round him, drive him back at close quarters on this side and that. 441He presses on no less and whirls his lightning sword, until he buried it in the face of the shouting Rutulian and, dying, took the life of his enemy.
444Then, pierced through, he threw himself on his lifeless friend, and there at last found rest in peaceful death.