The entire Episode of Nifus and Euryalus, tranflated from the Fifth and Ninth Books of Virgil's Aneids.

By Mr. DRYDEN.

Connection of the Firft Part of the EPISODE in the Fifth Book, with the reft of the foregoing POEM.

Eneas having buried his Father Anchifes in Sicily; and fetting fail from thence in fearch of Italy, is driven by a Storm on the fame Coafts from whence he departed: After a Year's wandring, he is hospitably receiv'd by his friend Aceftes, King of that part of the Island, who was born of Trojan Parentage: He applies himfelf to celebrate the memory of his Father with divine honours; and accordingly inftitutes Funeral Games, and appoints Prizes for those who should conquer in them. One of thefe Games was a Foot Race; in which Nifus and Euryalus were engaged amongst other Trojans and Sicilians.

'ROM thence his way the Trojan Hero bent,

FROM thence hain With Mountains pent,

Whofe Brows were fhaded with furrounding wood;
Full in the midft of this fair Valley, food
A native Theater, which rifing flow,

By juft degrees, o'er-look'd the ground below:
A numerous Train attend in folemn ftate:
High on the new rais'd Turf their Leader fate:
Here those, who in the rapid Race delight,
Defire of honour, and the Prize invite:
The Trojans and Sicilians mingled stand,

With Nifus and Euryalus, the foremost of the Band,
Euryalus with youth and beauty crown'd,
Nifus for friendship to the Boy renown'd.

Diores next of Friam's Regal Race,

Then Salius, join'd with Patron, took his place: But from Epirus one deriv'd his birth,

The other ow'd it to Arcadian Earth.

Then two Sicilian Youths; the name of this

Was Helimus, of that was Panopes:

Two jolly Huntsmen in the Forest bred, And owning old Aceftes for their Head. With many others of obfcuter name, Whom Time has not deliver'd o'er to Fame: To these Eneas in the midst arose, And pleasingly did thus his mind expofe. Not one of you fhall unrewarded go; On each I will two Cretan Spears bestow, Pointed with polifh'd Steel; a Battle-ax too, With Silver ftudded; thefe in common fhare. The foremost three fhall Olive Garlands wear: The Victor, who fhall firft the Race obtain, Shall for his Prize a well-breath'd Courfer gain, Adorn'd with Trappings; to the next in fame, The Quiver of an Amazonian Dame,

With feather'd Thracian Arrows well fupply'd,
Hung on a golden Belt, and with a Jewel ty'd :
The third this Grecian Helmet must content.
He faid: to their appointed Base they went..
With beating hearts th' expected Sign receive,
And ftarting all at once, the Station leave.
Spread out, as on the Wings of Winds they flew,
And feiz'd the diftant Goal with eager view:
Shot from the Crowd, fwift Nifus all o'erpak,
Not ftorms, nor thunder equal half his hafte.
The next, but tho' the next, yet far disjoin'd,
Came Salius, then; a diftant space behind,
Euryalus the third.

Next Helymus, whom young Diores ply'd,
Step after Step, and almost fide by fide;
His fhoulders preffing, and in longer space,
Had won, or left at least a doubtful Race,

Now spent, the Goal they almoft reach at laft, When eager Nifus, hapless in his hafte, Slipt firft, and flipping, fell upon the plain, Moift with the blood of Oxen lately flain; The careless Victor had not mark'd his way, But treading where the treacherous puddle lay, His heels flew up, and on the graffy floor He fell, befmear'd with filth and holy gore. Nor mindlefs then Euryalus of thee, Nor of the facred bonds of amity, He ftrove th' immediate Rival to oppose, And caught the foot of Salius as he rose; So Salius lay extended on the Plain : ·Euryalus springs out the prize to gain, And cuts the Crowd; applauding peals attend The Conqu❜ror to the Goal, who conquer'd thro' his Next Helimus, and then Diores came,

[friend,

By two misfortunes, now the third in fame.
But Salius enters, and exclaiming loud
For Juftice, deafens and disturbs the Crowd:
Urges his caufe may in the Court be heard,
And pleads the Prize is wrongfully conferr❜d.
But favour for Euryalus appears,

His blooming beauty and his graceful tears
Had brib'd the Judges to protect his claim :
Befides Diores does as loud exclaim,
Who vainly reaches at the last Reward,
If the firft Palm on Salius be conferr'd.
Then thus the Prince: Let no difputes arife;
Where Fortune plac'd it, I award the Prize.
But give me leave her Errors to amend,
At least to pity a deferving friend.

Thus having faid,

A Lion's Hide, amazing to behold,

Pond'rous with briftles, and with paws of gold,
He gave the Youth; which Nifus griev'd to view:
If fuch rewards to vanquish'd men are due,
Said he, and falling is to rise by you,

view :}

What prize may Nifus from your bounty claim,
Who merited the first rewards and fame!
In falling both did equal fortune try,
Would fortune make me fall as happily !
With this he pointed to his face, and show'd
His hands and body all befmear'd with blood:
Th' indulgent Father of the people fiil'd,
And caus'd to be produc'd a maffie Shield
Of wond'rous art by Didymaon wrought,
Long fince from Neptune's bars in triumph brought;
With this, the graceful Youth he gratify'd:
Then the remaining presents did divide.

Connection of the remaining part of the
Epifode, tranflated out of the Ninth
Book of Virgil's Ancids, with the fore-
going part of the Story..

The War being now broke out betwixt the Trojans and Latins; and Eneas being overmatch'd in numbers by his Enemies, who were aided by King Turnus, he fortifies his Camp, and leaves in it his young Son Afcanius, under the direction of his chief Counsellors and Captains; while he goes in perfon, to beg Succours from King Evander and the Tufcans. Turnus takes advantage of his absence, and assaults his Camp: The Trojans in it, are reduc'd to great extremities; which gives the Poet the occafion of continuing this admirable Episode, wherein he defcribes the friendship, the generofity, the adventures, and the death of Nifus and Euryalus.

TH

HE Trojan Camp the common danger shar'd ; By turns they watch'd the Walls; and kept the Nightly Guard:

To Warlike Nifus fell the Gate by Lot, (Whom Hyrtacus on Huntress Ida got:

And fent to Sea Aneas to attend,) [fend.
Well could he dart the Spear, and Shafts unerring
Befide him ftood Euryalus, his ever faithful Friend.
No Youth in all the Trojan Hoft was feen

More beautiful in arms, or of a Nobler meen;
Scarce was the Down upon his Chin begun;
One was their Friendship, their Defire was one:
With minds united in the Field they warr'd,
And now were both by Choice upon the Guard.
Then Nifas thus:

Or do the Gods this warlike Warmth infpire,
Or makes each Man a God of his defire?
A noble Ardour boils within my Breast,
Eager of Action, Enemy of Rest

That urges me to Fight, or undertake

Some Deed that may my Fame. immortal make.
Thou feeft the Foe fecure: How faintly fhine
Their fcatter'd Fires the most in Sleep fupine;
Diffolv'd in Ease, and drunk with Victory:
The few awake the fuming Flaggon ply;

All hush'd around: Now hear what I revolve [refolve.
Within my mind, and what my labouring thoughts
Our abfent Lord both Camp and Council moura ;
By Meffage both would haften his return:
The gifts propos'd if they confer on thee,
(For Fame is recompence enough to me)
Methinks beneath yon Hill, I have efpy'd
A way that fafely will my Paffage guide.
Euryalus food liftning while he spoke,
With Love of Praise and noble Envy ftrook ;
Then to his ardent Friend expos'd his mind:
All this alone, and leaving me behind!
Am I unworthy, Nifus, to be join'd?
Think'st thou my Share of honour I will yield,
Or fend thee unaffifted to the Field?
Not fo my Father taught my Childhood Arms,
Born in a Siege, and bred amongst Alarms:

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