Therewith Messapus hath the charge with outguards of the night To keep the gates, and all the town with watch-fires round to ring: Twice seven are chosen out to hold the town inleaguering 160 Of Rutuli: an hundred youths, they follow each of these; A purple-crested folk that gleam with golden braveries: They pace the round, they shift the turn, or scattered o'er the grass Please heart and soul with wine, and turn the empty bowl of brass: The watch-fires shine around in ring; through sport and sleeplessness Their warding weareth night away. The Trojans from their walls of war look down on all these things; They hold the heights in arms, and search the great gate's fastenings With hurrying fear; or, spear in hand, gangway to battlement 169 They yoke. There Mnestheus urged the work; there hot Serestus went; They whom Æneas, if perchance the time should call thereto, Had made first captains of the host, lords of all things to do. So all the host along the walls the peril shareth out, Falling to watch, and plays its part in turn and turn about. Nisus was warder of the gate, the eager under shield, The son of Hyrtacus, whom erst did huntress Ida yield Unto Æneas' fellowship, keen with the shaft and spear. Euryalus, his friend, stood by, than whom none goodlier Went with Æneas or did on the battle-gear of Troy: Youth's bloom unshorn was on his cheek, scarce was he but a boy. 180 Like love the twain had each for each; in battle side by side They went; and now as gatewards twain together did abide. Now Nisus saith: "Doth very God so set the heart on fire, Euryalus, or doth each man make God of his desire? My soul is driving me to dare the battle presently, Or some great deed; nor pleased with peace at quiet will it be. Thou seest how those Rutulian men trust in their warding keep; How wide apart the watch-fires shine; how slack with wine and sleep Men lie along; how far and wide the hush o'er all things lies. Note now what stirreth in my mind, what thoughts in me arise: 190 They bid call back Æneas now, fathers, and folk, and all, And send out men to bear to him sure word of what doth fall. Now if the thing I ask for thee they promise,--for to me The deed's fame is enough,--meseems beneath yon mound I see A way whereby to Pallanteum in little space to come."