Vergils Aenied Essays - Roman Mythology, Aeneid, Euryalus, Virgil

Vergil's Aenied Within the Aeneid, there are many themes contained in the text. One of them is the death of the good and the young in battle. This recurring theme seems to be prevalent in Vergils epic because it most definitely occurs in all battles. When there is battle, there are consequences. Most often these consequence are the death of someone who is seen as not yet ready to die because they are good or young. In Book IX of the Aeneid, lines 402-545, a battle scene and the events leading to it are depicted. Ascanius is leading a troop of Trojan soldiers who want to pass through a place that was unrightfully conquered by Rhamnes. One Trojan decides to single handedly make a path through this place. As the Trojan passes through, he kills many Romans. The Trojan, Euryalus, kills Rhamnes and his slaves. He then kills Remus armor-bearer, charioteer, and horses. Lastly, Euryalus comes upon the lord, Remus. Vergil begins to describe the beheading of Remus, done by none other then Remus, Full on his neck he drives the fatal sword: the gasping head flies off; a purple flood flows from the trunk. Euryalus then kills Lamus, the bold, and Lamyrus, the strong. Euryalus also kills the young Serranus, a good-natured young man who may not have deserved to die. Vergil includes this certain murder in particular because it shows that war shows no mercy, no matter how young or how good. The slaughter in this scene is ended only at the hand of Nisus, Euryalus lover, who proclaims there has been enough blood lust and murder. The group leaves the battle scene with nothing, for they leave the precious load behind. Soon we see that a young boy is left behind because he wants to take some of the bounty that was left from the battle. As Euryalus and Nisus have been gone for some time, Euryalus realizes he has left the boy behind and he retraces his path. When he returns he sees the boy surrounded by three hundred horse lead by Volscens. Euryalus only choice is to shoot an arrow through the boy so that he would not have to suffer at the hands of his captors. Euryalus believes he is rightful in his decision. This again shows how the good and the young do die in battle. This, holding true to the old clich?, all is fair in love and war. In Book XI, lines 818-831, the tale of the turning of fate and the death of a young maiden, Camilla, is told. Camillas father, Metabus was forced from Privernum, and took his daughter so she wouldnt be harmed. While fleeing through the woods, Metabus comes within sight of his enemies. Not knowing what to do, he thinks of jumping into a stream, but stops to think. He decides to bound his daughter within a hollow wooden sheath, and gives his daughter up to the goddess, Phoebe. This story is told by Phoebe and says that once Metabus did this, Then she(Camilla)had been of my celestial train, and shunned the fate that dooms her to be slain. Unfortunately, an older Camilla decided to go into battle and was eventually murdered. Phoebe vows to avenge her murder and bear the brethless body of my maid: Unspoiled shall be her arms, and unprotaned her holy limbs with any human hand. Although Camilla was good and young, and had her fate diverted by the intervention of Phoebe, she was killed. This passage is truly an example of one of the Aeneids many themes: the death of the good and young in battle. Poetry Essays