Then saith the son of Hyrtacus: "Just-hearted, hearken now, Folk of Æneas, neither look upon the things we show As by our years. The Rutuli slackened by wine and sleep Lie hushed, and we have seen whereby upon our way to creep, E'en by the double-roaded gate that near the sea-strand lies: Their fires are slaked, and black the smoke goes upward to the skies. If ye will suffer us to use this fortune that doth fall We will go seek Æneas now and Pallanteum's wall: 240 Ye shall behold him and his spoils from mighty victory wrought Come hither presently: the way shall fail our feet in nought, For we have seen the city's skirts amid the valleys dim In daily hunt, whereby we learned the river's uplong brim." Then spake Aletes weighty-wise, heart-ripe with plenteous eld: "Gods of our fathers, under whom the weal of Troy is held, Ye have not doomed all utterly the Teucrian folk undone, When ye for us such souls of youth, such hardy hearts have won." So saying by shoulder and by hand he took the goodly twain, While all his countenance and cheeks were wet with plenteous rain, 250 "What gifts may I deem worthy, men, to pay such hearts athirst For utmost glory? certainly the fairest and the first The Gods and your own hearts shall grant: the rest your lord shall give, Godly Æneas; and this man with all his life to live, Ascanius here, no memory of such desert shall lack." "But I," Ascanius breaketh in, "whose father brought aback Is all my heal--Nisus, I pray by those great Gods of mine, By him of old, Assaracus, by hoary Vesta's shrine, Bring back my father! whatsoe'er is left with me today Of Fate or Faith, into your breasts I give it all away. 260 O give me back the sight of him, and grief is all gone by. Two cups of utter silver wrought and rough with imagery I give you, which my father took from wracked Arisbe's hold; Two tripods eke, two talents' weight of fire-beproven gold; A beaker of the time agone, Sidonian Dido's gift. But if we hap to win the day and spoil of battle shift, If we lay hand on Italy and staff of kingship bear,-- Ye saw the horse that bore today gold Turnus and his gear, That very same, the shield withal, and helm-crest ruddy dyed, Thy gifts, O Nisus, from the spoil henceforth I set aside. 270 Moreover of the mother-folk twice six most excellent My sire shall give, and captive men with all their armament, And therewithal the kingly field, Latinus' garden-place. But thou, O boy most worshipful, whom nigher in the race Mine own years follow, thee I take unto mine inmost heart, Embracing thee my very friend in all to have a part; Nor any glory of my days without thee shall I seek, Whether I fashion peace or war; all that I do or speak I trust to thee."