And hung thy holy roofs with savage spoils, Give me to scatter these." Then from his ear He poised, and aimed, and launched the trembling spear. The deadly weapon, hissing from the grove, Impetuous on the back of Sulmo drove; Pierced his thin armour, drank his vital blood, And in his body left the broken wood. He staggers round; his eyeballs roll in death, And with short sobs he gasps away his breath. All stand amazed:--a second javelin flies With equal strength, and quivers through the skies. This through thy temples, Tagus, forced the way, And in the brain-pan warmly buried lay. Fierce Volscens foams with rage, and, gazing round, Descried not him who gave the fatal wound, Nor knew to fix revenge:--"But thou," he cries, "Shalt pay for both," and at the prisoner flies With his drawn sword. Then, struck with deep despair, That cruel sight the lover could not bear; But from his covert rushed in open view, And sent his voice before him as he flew:-- "Me! me!" he cried--"turn all your swords alone On me--the fact confessed, the fault my own. He neither could nor durst, the guiltless youth-- Ye moon and stars, bear witness to the truth! His only crime (if friendship can offend) Is too much love to his unhappy friend." Too late he speaks:--the sword, which fury guides, Driven with full force, had pierced his tender sides. Down fell the beauteous youth: the yawning wound Gushed out a purple stream, and stained the ground. His snowy neck reclines upon his breast, Like a fair flower by the keen share oppressed-- Like a white poppy sinking on the plain, Whose heavy head is overcharged with rain. Despair, and rage, and vengeance justly vowed, Drove Nisus headlong on the hostile crowd. Volscens he seeks; on him alone he bends: Borne back and bored by his surrounding friends, Onward he pressed, and kept him still in sight, Then whirled aloft his sword with all his might: The unerring steel descended while he spoke, Pierced his wide mouth, and through his weazon broke. Dying, he slew; and, staggering on the plain, With swimming eyes he sought his lover slain; Then quiet on his bleeding bosom fell, Content, in death, to be revenged so well. O happy friends! for, if my verse can give Immortal life, your fame shall ever live, Fixed as the Capitol's foundation lies, And spread, where'er the Roman eagle flies! The conquering party first divide the prey, Then their slain leader to the camp convey. With wonder, as they went, the troops were filled, To see such numbers whom so few had killed. Saranus, Rhamnes, and the rest, they found; } Vast crowds the dying and the dead surround; } And the yet reeking blood o'erflows the ground. } All knew the helmet which Messapus lost, But mourned a purchase that so dear had cost.