Stealing out of the Trojan camp by night, these two heroes bravely thread their way through their sleeping foes, killing sundry famous warriors as they go, and appropriating choice bits of their spoil.  Leaving death in their wake, the two Trojans pass through the enemy’s ranks and finally enter a forest, where they are pursued by a troop of the Volscians, who surround and slay Euryalus.  But, although Nisus first manages to escape from their hands, he returns to defend his comrade and is slain too.  The Volscians therefore bear two bloody heads to the Rutules camp to serve as their war standards on the next day.  It is thus that Euryalus’ mother becomes aware of the death of her son, whom she mourns in touching terms.

        “Was it this, ah me,
  I followed over land and sea? 
  O slay me, Rutules! if ye know
  A mother’s love, on me bestow
    The tempest of your spears! 
  Or thou, great Thunderer, pity take,
  And whelm me ’neath the Stygian lake,
  Since otherwise I may not break
    This life of bitter tears!”

To recount all the deeds of valor performed on this day would require much space, but, although Mars inspires the party of Aeneas with great courage, it is evidently on the verge of defeat when Jupiter orders Turnus to withdraw.

Book X. Having convoked his Olympian council, Jupiter forbids the gods to interfere on either side, and decrees that the present quarrel shall be settled without divine aid.  Hearing this, Venus vehemently protests that, having promised her son should found a new realm in Italy, he is bound to protect him, while Juno argues with equal force that the Trojans should be further punished for kidnapping Helen.  Silencing both goddesses, Jupiter reiterates his orders and dissolves the assembly.

The scene now changes back to earth, where the Trojans, closely hemmed in by foes, long for Aeneas’ return.  He, on his way back, encounters the sea-nymphs, who explain they were once his ships and bid him hasten and rescue his son.  Thus admonished, Aeneas hurries back, to take part in a battle where many heroic deeds are performed, and where Turnus, Mezentius, and Lausus prove bravest on the enemy’s side, although they find their match in Aeneas, Pallas, and Iulus.  Among the brilliant duels fought, mention must be made of one between Pallas and Turnus, where notwithstanding his courage the Trojan prince succumbs.  After stripping his companion of his armor, Turnus abandons his corpse to his friends, who mourn to think that he lost his life while helping them.  Vowing to avenge him, Aeneas next attacks his foe with such fury that it seems as if Turnus’ last day has come, but Juno pleads so eloquently in his behalf, that, although Fate has decreed he shall perish, she grants him brief respite.