All other creatures over all the world Were easing their troubles in slumber, and hearts forgot Sorrow and pain; not so the Trojan leaders Meeting in council. Here were things of moment; What should they do? how would they reach Aeneas? They stood there, leaning on long spears, most gravely, Holding their shields. Euryalus and Nisus Crave instant audience; the matter is urgent, They say, and worth a little interruption. Iulus takes the lead, meets their impatience, Tells Nisus to speak out. “Give us a hearing, O men of Troy,” says Nisus, “do not hold Our years against us: we have something for you. All the Rutulians are drunk or sleeping, They are quiet now. There is a place, we know it, We have seen it with our eyes, a place that cunning Can take advantage of: you know the gate Nearest the sea, and how the road splits off there. The watchfires there die down, and the black smoke rises Dark to the sky out there. Give us a chance! Let us go to find Aeneas and Pallanteum. You will see us here again; it will not be long Till we come back, weighed down with spoil. We will kill them. We will not miss the way; we have seen the city Far in the distant valleys. We go hunting Along here often; we know all the river. We know it all by heart.” And old Aletes, A wise man in a council, gave the answer:-- “Gods of our ancestors, under whose guidance Troy is and has been, always, our destruction Must be far off, seeing your care has brought us Young men of such high heart and lofty spirit.” In deep emotion, his hands reached out for theirs, His arms went round their shoulders. “What can I give you, Young men,” he cried, “worthy your praise and glory? The best rewards come from the gods, the finest From your own character, but good Aeneas Will not forget your service, and your peer In age, Ascanius, surely will remember.” And that young man broke in, “Most truly, Nisus, I trust my fortune to you. My only safety Lies in my sire’s return. By all our gods, I beg you both, I pray, bring back my father. Our trouble goes when he is here. I promise Two silver wine-cups, captured from Arisba, A pair of tripods, two great talents of gold, An ancient bowl, the present of queen Dido. And if we capture Italy, if we live To wield the sceptre and divide the spoil, You know the horse that Turnus rides, the armor He carries on his back, all gold--that armor, The shield, the crimson plumes, and the war-horse, Nisus, Are your reward; even now, I so declare them. My father will give twelve women, beautiful captives, And captive men, equipped with arms, and land Now held by king Latinus; and I cherish With all my heart, Euryalus, your courage. Your years are near my own, and all my life Your glory will be mine; in peace or war, In word and deed, I trust in you, completely.” Euryalus replied:--“No day will ever Prove me unworthy of brave deeds, if fortune Is kind, not cruel, to me. I ask one thing Better than any gift: I have a mother Of Priam’s ancient line, and she came with me, Poor soul, from Troy, and king Acestes’ city Was powerless to keep her. I leave her now With never a word about what I am doing, Whatever its danger is, with no farewell. I cannot bear a mother’s tears. I beg you, Comfort her helplessness, relieve her sorrow. Let me take with me that much hope; it will help me Face any risk more boldly.” They were weeping At this, the Trojans, all of them, Iulus More deeply touched than any. And he spoke:-- “Be reassured, Euryalus; all we do Will prove as worthy as your glorious mission. Your mother shall be mine, in all but name; Great honor waits the mother of a son So great in honor. Whatever fortune follows, I vow and swear it, with an oath as solemn As any my father ever took, I promise, When you return to us, safe and successful, Your triumph and your glory and your prizes Shall be for her as well, for all your house.” He spoke with tears, and from his sword-belt took A present in farewell, the golden sword, The ivory scabbard, wonderfully fashioned By old Lycaon’s talent; Mnestheus gave A lion-skin to Nisus, and Aletes Exchanged his helmet with him. As they started, All the great company, young men and old ones, Went with them to the gate, and out beyond it The hopeful prayers attended them. Iulus, Mature beyond his years, gave many a message To carry to Aeneas, but the winds Bore these away and swept them off to cloudland.