The Episode Of Nisus And Euryalus, A Paraphrase From The “Æneid” Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: ABCCDDEEFFGGHHIJKL MMNNKKOOPPQQRRSSTT FFUUVWXXYYZZA2A2B2B2 C2C2UUD2D2E2E2F2F2G2 G2H2H2I2I2J2J2K2K2L2 L2M2M2WW N2N2O2O2P2P2 Q2Q2R2R2S2S2CCNNZZT2 T2 Q2Q2U2U2V2V2W2W2N2N2 X2X2Y2Y2Z2Z2A3A3U2U2 B3B3FFC3C3D3D3NNNNE3 E3F3F3G3G3RR IIHHNNUUNNUUDDUUNNNN H3H3NNI3I3UUUUFF J3J3UUNNUUUUIIDDK3K3 N2N2UUL3L3J3J3NNN2F2 NNJ3J3UUM3M3NNN3N3N2 N2N2N2O2O3UUP3P3N2N2 NNMWUUUUHHE3E3F2F2NN NNQ3Q3N2N2N2N2R3R3NN WWS3MNNNNL2L2R3R3R3R 3 J3J3N2N2R3R3R3R3F2F2 NNNNJ3J3NNUU NNR3R3NNUUR3R3NN R3R3NNNNR3R3NNR3R3N2 N2NN UUNNR3R3NNNNR3R3NNR3 R3NNR3R3HHNNT3D3N2N2 VVU3U3R3R3NNV3V3NNR3 R3UUR3R3N2N2R3R3R3R3 R3R3UUNNNNJINNNNHHMM NN NNNNF2F2R3R3R3R3NNNN R3R3 J3J3S3S3J3J3

Nisus the guardian of the portal stood	A
Eager to gild his arms with hostile blood	B
Well skill'd in fight the quivering lance to wield	C
Or pour his arrows thro' th' embattled field	C
From Ida torn he left his sylvan cave	D
And sought a foreign home a distant grave	D
To watch the movements of the Daunian host	E
With him Euryalus sustains the post	E
No lovelier mien adorn'd the ranks of Troy	F
And beardless bloom yet grac'd the gallant boy	F
Though few the seasons of his youthful life	G
As yet a novice in the martial strife	G
'Twas his with beauty Valour's gifts to share	H
A soul heroic as his form was fair	H
These burn with one pure flame of generous love	I
In peace in war united still they move	J
Friendship and Glory form their joint reward	K
And now combin'd they hold their nightly guard	L
	-
What God exclaim'd the first instils this fire	M
Or in itself a God what great desire	M
My lab'ring soul with anxious thought oppress'd	N
Abhors this station of inglorious rest	N
The love of fame with this can ill accord	K
Be't mine to seek for glory with my sword	K
See'st thou yon camp with torches twinkling dim	O
Where drunken slumbers wrap each lazy limb	O
Where confidence and ease the watch disdain	P
And drowsy Silence holds her sable reign	P
Then hear my thought In deep and sullen grief	Q
Our troops and leaders mourn their absent chief	Q
Now could the gifts and promised prize be thine	R
The deed the danger and the fame be mine	R
Were this decreed beneath yon rising mound	S
Methinks an easy path perchance were found	S
Which past I speed my way to Pallas' walls	T
And lead neas from Evander's halls	T
	-
With equal ardour fir'd and warlike joy	F
His glowing friend address'd the Dardan boy	F
These deeds my Nisus shalt thou dare alone	U
Must all the fame the peril be thine own	U
Am I by thee despis'd and left afar	V
As one unfit to share the toils of war	W
Not thus his son the great Opheltes taught	X
Not thus my sire in Argive combats fought	X
Not thus when Ilion fell by heavenly hate	Y
I track'd neas through the walks of fate	Y
Thou know'st my deeds my breast devoid of fear	Z
And hostile life drops dim my gory spear	Z
Here is a soul with hope immortal burns	A2
And life ignoble life for Glory spurns	A2
Fame fame is cheaply earn'd by fleeting breath	B2
The price of honour is the sleep of death	B2
	-
Then Nisus Calm thy bosom's fond alarms	C2
Thy heart beats fiercely to the din of arms	C2
More dear thy worth and valour than my own	U
I swear by him who fills Olympus' throne	U
So may I triumph as I speak the truth	D2
And clasp again the comrade of my youth	D2
But should I fall and he who dares advance	E2
Through hostile legions must abide by chance	E2
If some Rutulian arm with adverse blow	F2
Should lay the friend who ever lov'd thee low	F2
Live thou such beauties I would fain preserve	G2
Thy budding years a lengthen'd term deserve	G2
When humbled in the dust let some one be	H2
Whose gentle eyes will shed one tear for me	H2
Whose manly arm may snatch me back by force	I2
Or wealth redeem from foes my captive corse	I2
Or if my destiny these last deny	J2
If in the spoiler's power my ashes lie	J2
Thy pious care may raise a simple tomb	K2
To mark thy love and signalise my doom	K2
Why should thy doating wretched mother weep	L2
Her only boy reclin'd in endless sleep	L2
Who for thy sake the tempest's fury dar'd	M2
Who for thy sake war's deadly peril shar'd	M2
Who brav'd what woman never brav'd before	W
And left her native for the Latian shore	W
	-
In vain you damp the ardour of my soul	N2
Replied Euryalus it scorns controul	N2
Hence let us haste their brother guards arose	O2
Rous'd by their call nor court again repose	O2
The pair buoy'd up on Hope's exulting wing	P2
Their stations leave and speed to seek the king	P2
	-
Now o'er the earth a solemn stillness ran	Q2
And lull'd alike the cares of brute and man	Q2
Save where the Dardan leaders nightly hold	R2
Alternate converse and their plans unfold	R2
On one great point the council are agreed	S2
An instant message to their prince decreed	S2
Each lean'd upon the lance he well could wield	C
And pois'd with easy arm his ancient shield	C
When Nisus and his friend their leave request	N
To offer something to their high behest	N
With anxious tremors yet unaw'd by fear	Z
The faithful pair before the throne appear	Z
Iulus greets them at his kind command	T2
The elder first address'd the hoary band	T2
	-
With patience thus Hyrtacides began	Q2
Attend nor judge from youth our humble plan	Q2
Where yonder beacons half expiring beam	U2
Our slumbering foes of future conquest dream	U2
Nor heed that we a secret path have trac'd	V2
Between the ocean and the portal plac'd	V2
Beneath the covert of the blackening smoke	W2
Whose shade securely our design will cloak	W2
If you ye Chiefs and Fortune will allow	N2
We'll bend our course to yonder mountain's brow	N2
Where Pallas' walls at distance meet the sight	X2
Seen o'er the glade when not obscur'd by night	X2
Then shall neas in his pride return	Y2
While hostile matrons raise their offspring's urn	Y2
And Latian spoils and purpled heaps of dead	Z2
Shall mark the havoc of our Hero's tread	Z2
Such is our purpose not unknown the way	A3
Where yonder torrent's devious waters stray	A3
Oft have we seen when hunting by the stream	U2
The distant spires above the valleys gleam	U2
	-
Mature in years for sober wisdom fam'd	B3
Mov'd by the speech Alethes here exclaim'd	B3
Ye parent gods who rule the fate of Troy	F
Still dwells the Dardan spirit in the boy	F
When minds like these in striplings thus ye raise	C3
Yours is the godlike act be yours the praise	C3
In gallant youth my fainting hopes revive	D3
And Ilion's wonted glories still survive	D3
Then in his warm embrace the boys he press'd	N
And quivering strain'd them to his ag eacute d breast	N
With tears the burning cheek of each bedew'd	N
And sobbing thus his first discourse renew'd	N
What gift my countrymen what martial prize	E3
Can we bestow which you may not despise	E3
Our Deities the first best boon have given	F3
Internal virtues are the gift of Heaven	F3
What poor rewards can bless your deeds on earth	G3
Doubtless await such young exalted worth	G3
neas and Ascanius shall combine	R
To yield applause far far surpassing mine	R
	-
Iulus then By all the powers above	I
By those Penates who my country love	I
By hoary Vesta's sacred Fane I swear	H
My hopes are all in you ye generous pair	H
Restore my father to my grateful sight	N
And all my sorrows yield to one delight	N
Nisus two silver goblets are thine own	U
Sav'd from Arisba's stately domes o'erthrown	U
My sire secured them on that fatal day	N
Nor left such bowls an Argive robber's prey	N
Two massy tripods also shall be thine	U
Two talents polish'd from the glittering mine	U
An ancient cup which Tyrian Dido gave	D
While yet our vessels press'd the Punic wave	D
But when the hostile chiefs at length bow down	U
When great neas wears Hesperia's crown	U
The casque the buckler and the fiery steed	N
Which Turnus guides with more than mortal speed	N
Are thine no envious lot shall then be cast	N
I pledge my word irrevocably past	N
Nay more twelve slaves and twice six captive dames	H3
To soothe thy softer hours with amorous flames	H3
And all the realms which now the Latins sway	N
The labours of to night shall well repay	N
But thou my generous youth whose tender years	I3
Are near my own whose worth my heart reveres	I3
Henceforth affection sweetly thus begun	U
Shall join our bosoms and our souls in one	U
Without thy aid no glory shall be mine	U
Without thy dear advice no great design	U
Alike through life esteem'd thou godlike boy	F
In war my bulwark and in peace my joy	F
	-
To him Euryalus No day shall shame	J3
The rising glories which from this I claim	J3
Fortune may favour or the skies may frown	U
But valour spite of fate obtains renown	U
Yet ere from hence our eager steps depart	N
One boon I beg the nearest to my heart	N
My mother sprung from Priam's royal line	U
Like thine ennobled hardly less divine	U
Nor Troy nor king Acestes' realms restrain	U
Her feeble age from dangers of the main	U
Alone she came all selfish fears above	I
A bright example of maternal love	I
Unknown the secret enterprise I brave	D
Lest grief should bend my parent to the grave	D
From this alone no fond adieus I seek	K3
No fainting mother's lips have press'd my cheek	K3
By gloomy Night and thy right hand I vow	N2
Her parting tears would shake my purpose now	N2
Do thou my prince her failing age sustain	U
In thee her much lov'd child may live again	U
Her dying hours with pious conduct bless	L3
Assist her wants relieve her fond distress	L3
So dear a hope must all my soul enflame	J3
To rise in glory or to fall in fame	J3
Struck with a filial care so deeply felt	N
In tears at once the Trojan warriors melt	N
Faster than all Iulus' eyes o'erflow	N2
Such love was his and such had been his woe	F2
All thou hast ask'd receive the Prince replied	N
Nor this alone but many a gift beside	N
To cheer thy mother's years shall be my aim	J3
Creusa's style but wanting to the dame	J3
Fortune an adverse wayward course may run	U
But bless'd thy mother in so dear a son	U
Now by my life my Sire's most sacred oath	M3
To thee I pledge my full my firmest troth	M3
All the rewards which once to thee were vow'd	N
If thou should'st fall on her shall be bestow'd	N
Thus spoke the weeping Prince then forth to view	N3
A gleaming falchion from the sheath he drew	N3
Lycaon's utmost skill had grac'd the steel	N2
For friends to envy and for foes to feel	N2
A tawny hide the Moorish lion's spoil	N2
Slain 'midst the forest in the hunter's toil	N2
Mnestheus to guard the elder youth bestows	O2
And old Alethes' casque defends his brows	O3
Arm'd thence they go while all th' assembl'd train	U
To aid their cause implore the gods in vain	U
More than a boy in wisdom and in grace	P3
Iulus holds amidst the chiefs his place	P3
His prayer he sends but what can prayers avail	N2
Lost in the murmurs of the sighing gale	N2
	-
The trench is pass'd and favour'd by the night	N
Through sleeping foes they wheel their wary flight	N
When shall the sleep of many a foe be o'er	M
Alas some slumber who shall wake no more	W
Chariots and bridles mix'd with arms are seen	U
And flowing flasks and scatter'd troops between	U
Bacchus and Mars to rule the camp combine	U
A mingled Chaos this of war and wine	U
Now cries the first for deeds of blood prepare	H
With me the conquest and the labour share	H
Here lies our path lest any hand arise	E3
Watch thou while many a dreaming chieftain dies	E3
I'll carve our passage through the heedless foe	F2
And clear thy road with many a deadly blow	F2
His whispering accents then the youth repress'd	N
And pierced proud Rhamnes through his panting breast	N
Stretch'd at his ease th' incautious king repos'd	N
Debauch and not fatigue his eyes had clos'd	N
To Turnus dear a prophet and a prince	Q3
His omens more than augur's skill evince	Q3
But he who thus foretold the fate of all	N2
Could not avert his own untimely fall	N2
Next Remus' armour bearer hapless fell	N2
And three unhappy slaves the carnage swell	N2
The charioteer along his courser's sides	R3
Expires the steel his sever'd neck divides	R3
And last his Lord is number'd with the dead	N
Bounding convulsive flies the gasping head	N
From the swol'n veins the blackening torrents pour	W
Stain'd is the couch and earth with clotting gore	W
Young Lamyrus and Lamus next expire	S3
And gay Serranus fill'd with youthful fire	M
Half the long night in childish games was pass'd	N
Lull'd by the potent grape he slept at last	N
Ah happier far had he the morn survey'd	N
And till Aurora's dawn his skill display'd	N
In slaughter'd folds the keepers lost in sleep	L2
His hungry fangs a lion thus may steep	L2
'Mid the sad flock at dead of night he prowls	R3
With murder glutted and in carnage rolls	R3
Insatiate still through teeming herds he roams	R3
In seas of gore the lordly tyrant foams	R3
	-
Nor less the other's deadly vengeance came	J3
But falls on feeble crowds without a name	J3
His wound unconscious Fadus scarce can feel	N2
Yet wakeful Rh sus sees the threatening steel	N2
His coward breast behind a jar he hides	R3
And vainly in the weak defence confides	R3
Full in his heart the falchion search'd his veins	R3
The reeking weapon bears alternate stains	R3
Through wine and blood commingling as they flow	F2
One feeble spirit seeks the shades below	F2
Now where Messapus dwelt they bend their way	N
Whose fires emit a faint and trembling ray	N
There unconfin'd behold each grazing steed	N
Unwatch'd unheeded on the herbage feed	N
Brave Nisus here arrests his comrade's arm	J3
Too flush'd with carnage and with conquest warm	J3
Hence let us haste the dangerous path is pass'd	N
Full foes enough to night have breath'd their last	N
Soon will the Day those Eastern clouds adorn	U
Now let us speed nor tempt the rising morn	U
	-
What silver arms with various art emboss'd	N
What bowls and mantles in confusion toss'd	N
They leave regardless yet one glittering prize	R3
Attracts the younger Hero's wandering eyes	R3
The gilded harness Rhamnes' coursers felt	N
The gems which stud the monarch's golden belt	N
This from the pallid corse was quickly torn	U
Once by a line of former chieftains worn	U
Th' exulting boy the studded girdle wears	R3
Messapus' helm his head in triumph bears	R3
Then from the tents their cautious steps they bend	N
To seek the vale where safer paths extend	N
	-
Just at this hour a band of Latian horse	R3
To Turnus' camp pursue their destin'd course	R3
While the slow foot their tardy march delay	N
The knights impatient spur along the way	N
Three hundred mail clad men by Volscens led	N
To Turnus with their master's promise sped	N
Now they approach the trench and view the walls	R3
When on the left a light reflection falls	R3
The plunder'd helmet through the waning night	N
Sheds forth a silver radiance glancing bright	N
Volscens with question loud the pair alarms	R3
Stand Stragglers stand why early thus in arms	R3
From whence to whom He meets with no reply	N2
Trusting the covert of the night they fly	N2
The thicket's depth with hurried pace they tread	N
While round the wood the hostile squadron spread	N
	-
With brakes entangled scarce a path between	U
Dreary and dark appears the sylvan scene	U
Euryalus his heavy spoils impede	N
The boughs and winding turns his steps mislead	N
But Nisus scours along the forest's maze	R3
To where Latinus' steeds in safety graze	R3
Then backward o'er the plain his eyes extend	N
On every side they seek his absent friend	N
O God my boy he cries of me bereft	N
In what impending perils art thou left	N
Listening he runs above the waving trees	R3
Tumultuous voices swell the passing breeze	R3
The war cry rises thundering hoofs around	N
Wake the dark echoes of the trembling ground	N
Again he turns of footsteps hears the noise	R3
The sound elates the sight his hope destroys	R3
The hapless boy a ruffian train surround	N
While lengthening shades his weary way confound	N
Him with loud shouts the furious knights pursue	R3
Struggling in vain a captive to the crew	R3
What can his friend 'gainst thronging numbers dare	H
Ah must he rush his comrade's fate to share	H
What force what aid what stratagem essay	N
Back to redeem the Latian spoiler's prey	N
His life a votive ransom nobly give	T3
Or die with him for whom he wish'd to live	D3
Poising with strength his lifted lance on high	N2
On Luna's orb he cast his frenzied eye	N2
	-
Goddess serene transcending every star	V
Queen of the sky whose beams are seen afar	V
By night Heaven owns thy sway by day the grove	U3
When as chaste Dian here thou deign'st to rove	U3
If e'er myself or Sire have sought to grace	R3
Thine altars with the produce of the chase	R3
Speed speed my dart to pierce yon vaunting crowd	N
To free my friend and scatter far the proud	N
Thus having said the hissing dart he flung	V3
Through parted shades the hurtling weapon sung	V3
The thirsty point in Sulmo's entrails lay	N
Transfix'd his heart and stretch'd him on the clay	N
He sobs he dies the troop in wild amaze	R3
Unconscious whence the death with horror gaze	R3
While pale they stare thro' Tagus' temples riven	U
A second shaft with equal force is driven	U
Fierce Volscens rolls around his lowering eyes	R3
Veil'd by the night secure the Trojan lies	R3
Burning with wrath he view'd his soldiers fall	N2
Thou youth accurst thy life shall pay for all	N2
Quick from the sheath his flaming glaive he drew	R3
And raging on the boy defenceless flew	R3
Nisus no more the blackening shade conceals	R3
Forth forth he starts and all his love reveals	R3
Aghast confus'd his fears to madness rise	R3
And pour these accents shrieking as he flies	R3
Me me your vengeance hurl on me alone	U
Here sheathe the steel my blood is all your own	U
Ye starry Spheres thou conscious Heaven attest	N
He could not durst not lo the guile confest	N
All all was mine his early fate suspend	N
He only lov'd too well his hapless friend	N
Spare spare ye Chiefs from him your rage remove	J
His fault was friendship all his crime was love	I
He pray'd in vain the dark assassin's sword	N
Pierced the fair side the snowy bosom gor'd	N
Lowly to earth inclines his plume clad crest	N
And sanguine torrents mantle o'er his breast	N
As some young rose whose blossom scents the air	H
Languid in death expires beneath the share	H
Or crimson poppy sinking with the shower	M
Declining gently falls a fading flower	M
Thus sweetly drooping bends his lovely head	N
And lingering Beauty hovers round the dead	N
	-
But fiery Nisus stems the battle's tide	N
Revenge his leader and Despair his guide	N
Volscens he seeks amidst the gathering host	N
Volscens must soon appease his comrade's ghost	N
Steel flashing pours on steel foe crowds on foe	F2
Rage nerves his arm Fate gleams in every blow	F2
In vain beneath unnumber'd wounds he bleeds	R3
Nor wounds nor death distracted Nisus heeds	R3
In viewless circles wheel'd his falchion flies	R3
Nor quits the hero's grasp till Volscens dies	R3
Deep in his throat its end the weapon found	N
The tyrant's soul fled groaning through the wound	N
Thus Nisus all his fond affection prov'd	N
Dying revenged the fate of him he lov'd	N
Then on his bosom sought his wonted place	R3
And death was heavenly in his friend's embrace	R3
	-
Celestial pair if aught my verse can claim	J3
Wafted on Time's broad pinion yours is fame	J3
Ages on ages shall your fate admire	S3
No future day shall see your names expire	S3
While stands the Capitol immortal dome	J3
And vanquished millions hail their Empress Rome	J3

George Gordon Lord Byron

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