Prayer to Diana

Nisus, having lost Euryalus on their night raid, calls on the Moon before hurling his spear.

The goddess is named by two of her offices at once: "glory of the stars and Latonian guardian of the groves". Nisus needs both. As the Moon she gives light to make out the enemy; as mistress of the woods she owns the very place in which he is hiding. He addresses not a person but two powers that are, at this moment, working for him.

Tu, dea, tu praesens — "you, goddess, you, present". In cult language praesens means precisely "manifest, acting here and now", as distinct from a god who exists in general. Nisus asks not for favour but for immediate intervention.

The spear will strike. It will not save Euryalus.