by Virgil
Who writhings wrought for helpless flight through all his length doth send,
parte ferox ardensque oculis et sibila colla
And one half fierce with burning eyes uprears a hissing crest,
arduus attollens; pars uulnere clauda retentat
The other half, with wounds all halt, still holding back the rest;
nexantem nodis seque in sua membra plicantem:
He knitteth him in many a knot and on himself doth slip.
tali remigio nauis se tarda mouebat; 280
— E’en such the crawling of the oars that drave the tarrying ship.
uela facit tamen et uelis subit ostia plenis.
But they hoist sail on her, and so the harbour-mouth make shift
Sergestum Aeneas promisso munere donat
To win: and there Æneas gives Sergestus promised gift,
seruatam ob nauem laetus sociosque reductos.
Blithe at his saving of the ship, and fellows brought aback:
olli serua datur operum haud ignara Mineruae,
A maid he hath, who not a whit of Pallas’ art doth lack.
Cressa genus, Pholoe, geminique sub ubere nati. 285
Of Crete she is, and Pholoë called, and twins at breast she bears.
Hoc pius Aeneas misso certamine tendit
Now all that strife being overpast, the good Æneas fares
gramineum in campum, quem collibus undique curuis
To grassy meads girt all about by hollow wooded hills,
cingebant siluae, mediaque in ualle theatri
Where theatre-wise the racing-course the midmost valley fills.
circus erat; quo se multis cum milibus heros
Thereto the hero, very heart of many a thousand men,
consessu medium tulit exstructoque resedit. 290
Now wendeth, and on seat high-piled he sits him down again.
hic, qui forte uelint rapido contendere cursu,
There whosoever may have will to strive in speedy race
inuitat pretiis animos, et praemia ponit.
He hearteneth on with hope of gift, and shows the prize and grace.
undique conueniunt Teucri mixtique Sicani,
So from all sides Sicilians throng, and Trojan fellowship.
Nisus et Euryalus primi,
Euryalus and Nisus first.
Euryalus forma insignis uiridique iuuenta, 295
Euryalus for goodliness and youth’s first blossom famed,
Nisus amore pio pueri; quos deinde secutus
Nisus for fair love of the youth; then after these are named
regius egregia Priami de stirpe Diores;
Diores, of the blood of kings from Priam’s glorious race;
hunc Salius simul et Patron, quorum alter Acarnan,
Salius and Patron next; the one of Acarnanian place,
alter ab Arcadio Tegeaeae sanguine gentis;
The other from Arcadian blood of Tegeæa outsprung:
tum duo Trinacrii iuuenes, Helymus Panopesque 300
Then two Trinacrians, Helymus and Panopes the young,
adsueti siluis, comites senioris Acestae;
In woodcraft skilled, who ever went by old Acestes’ side;
multi praeterea, quos fama obscura recondit.
And many others else there were whom rumour dimmed doth hide.
Aeneas quibus in mediis sic deinde locutus:
And now amidmost of all these suchwise Æneas spake:
‘accipite haec animis laetasque aduertite mentes.
“Now hearken; let your merry hearts heed of my saying take:
nemo ex hoc numero mihi non donatus abibit. 305
No man of all the tale of you shall henceforth giftless go;
Cnosia bina dabo leuato lucida ferro
Two Gnosian spears to each I give with polished steel aglow,
spicula caelatamque argento ferre bipennem;
An axe to carry in the war with silver wrought therein.
omnibus hic erit unus honos. tres praemia primi
This honour is for one and all: the three first prize shall win,
accipient flauaque caput nectentur oliua.
And round about their heads shall do the olive dusky-grey.
primus equum phaleris insignem uictor habeto; 310
A noble horse with trappings dight the first shall bear away;
alter Amazoniam pharetram plenamque sagittis
A quiver of the Amazons with Thracian arrows stored
Threiciis, lato quam circum amplectitur auro
The second hath; about it goes a gold belt broidered broad,
balteus et tereti subnectit fibula gemma;
With gem-wrought buckle delicate to clasp it at the end.
tertius Argolica hac galea contentus abito.’
But gladdened with this Argive helm content the third shall wend.”
Haec ubi dicta, locum capiunt signoque repente 315
All said, they take their places due, and when the sign they hear,
corripiunt spatia audito limenque relinquunt,
Forthwith they leave the bar behind and o’er the course they bear,
effusi nimbo similes. simul ultima signant,
Like drift of storm-cloud; on the goal all set their eager eyes:
primus abit longeque ante omnia corpora Nisus
But far before all shapes of man shows Nisus, and outflies
emicat et uentis et fulminis ocior alis;
The very whistling of the winds or lightning on the wing.
proximus huic, longo sed proximus interuallo, 320
Then, though the space be long betwixt, comes Salius following;
insequitur Salius; spatio post deinde relicto
And after Salius again another space is left,
tertius Euryalus;
And then Euryalus is third;
Euryalumque Helymus sequitur; quo deinde sub ipso
And after him is Helymus: but lo, how hard on heel
ecce uolat calcemque terit iam calce Diores
Diores scuds! foot on his foot doth Helymus nigh feel,
incumbens umero, spatia et si plura supersint 325
Shoulder on shoulder: yea, and if the course held longer out,
transeat elapsus prior ambiguumque relinquat.
He would slip by him and be first, or leave the thing in doubt.
iamque fere spatio extremo fessique sub ipsam
Now, spent, unto the utmost reach and very end of all
finem aduentabant, leui cum sanguine Nisus
They came, when in the slippery blood doth luckless Nisus fall,
labitur infelix, caesis ut forte iuuencis
E’en where the ground was all a-slop with bullocks slain that day,
fusus humum uiridisque super madefecerat herbas. 330
And all the topmost of the grass be-puddled with it lay:
hic iuuenis iam uictor ouans uestigia presso
There, as he went the victor now, exulting, failed his feet
haud tenuit titubata solo, sed pronus in ipso
From off the earth, and forth he fell face foremost down to meet
concidit immundoque fimo sacroque cruore.
The midst of all the filthy slime blent with the holy gore:
non tamen Euryali, non ille oblitus amorum:
Yet for Euryalus his love forgat he none the more,
nam sese opposuit Salio per lubrica surgens; 335
For rising from the slippery place in Salius’ way he thrust,
ille autem spissa iacuit reuolutus harena,
Who, rolling over, lay along amid the thickened dust.
emicat Euryalus et munere uictor amici
Forth flies Euryalus, and flies to fame and foremost place,
prima tenet, plausuque uolat fremituque secundo.
His own friend’s gift, mid beat of hands and shouts that bear him grace.
post Helymus subit et nunc tertia palma Diores.
Next came in Helymus, and next the p
alm Diores bore.
hic totum caueae consessum ingentis et ora 340
But over all the concourse set in hollow dale, and o’er
prima patrum magnis Salius clamoribus implet,
The heads of those first father-lords goes Salius’ clamouring speech,
ereptumque dolo reddi sibi poscit honorem.
Who for his glory reft away by guile doth still beseech.
tutatur fauor Euryalum lacrimaeque decorae,
But safe goodwill and goodly tears Euryalus do bear,
gratior et pulchro ueniens in corpore uirtus.
And lovelier seemeth valour set in body wrought so fair.
adiuuat et magna proclamat uoce Diores, 345
Him too Diores backeth now, and crieth out on high,
qui subiit palmae frustraque ad praemia uenit
Whose palm of praise and third-won place shall fail and pass him by,
ultima, si primi Salio reddentur honores.
If the first glory once again at Salius’ bidding shift.
tum pater Aeneas ‘uestra’ inquit ‘munera uobis
Then sayeth Father Æneas: “O fellows, every gift
certa manent, pueri et palmam mouet ordine nemo;
Shall bide unmoved: the palm of praise shall no man now displace.
me liceat casus miserari insontis amici.’ 350
Yet for my sackless friend’s mishap give me some pity’s grace.”
sic fatus tergum Gaetuli immane leonis
He spake, and unto Salius gave a mighty lion’s hide,
dat Salio uillis onerosum atque unguibus aureis.
Getulian born, with weight of hair and golden claws beside:
hic Nisus ‘si tanta’ inquit ‘sunt praemia uictis,
Then Nisus spake: “If such great gifts are toward for beaten men,
et te lapsorum miseret, quae munera Niso
And thou must pity those that fall, what gift is worthy then
digna dabis, primam merui qui laude coronam 355
Of Nisus? I, who should have gained the very victory’s crown,
ni me, quae Salium, fortuna inimica tulisset?’
If me, as Salius, Fate my foe had never overthrown.”
et simul his dictis faciem ostentabat et udo
And even as he speaks the word he showeth face and limb
turpia membra fimo. risit pater optimus olli
Foul with the mud. The kindest lord, the Father, laughed on him,
et clipeum efferri iussit, Didymaonis artes,
And bade them bring a buckler forth, wrought of Didymaon,
Neptuni sacro Danais de poste refixum. 360
Spoil of the Greeks, from Neptune’s house and holy doors undone;
hoc iuuenem egregium praestanti munere donat.
And there unto the noble youth he gives that noble thing.
Post, ubi confecti cursus et dona peregit,
But now, the race all overpassed and all the gift-giving,
‘nunc, si cui uirtus animusque in pectore praesens,
Quoth he: “If any valour hath, or heart that may withstand,
adsit et euinctis attollat bracchia palmis’:
Let him come forth to raise his arm with hide-begirded hand.”
sic ait, et geminum pugnae proponit honorem, 365
So saying, for the fight to come he sets forth glories twain;
uictori uelatum auro uittisque iuuencum,
A steer gilt-horned and garlanded the conquering man should gain,
ensem atque insignem galeam solacia uicto.
A sword and noble helm should stay the vanquished in his woe.
nec mora; continuo uastis cum uiribus effert
No tarrying was there: Dares straight his face to all doth show,
ora Dares magnoque uirum se murmure tollit,
And riseth in his mighty strength amidst the murmur great:
solus qui Paridem solitus contendere contra, 370
He who alone of all men erst with Paris held debate,
idemque ad tumulum quo maximus occubat Hector
And he who at the mound wherein that mightiest Hector lay,
uictorem Buten immani corpore, qui se
Had smitten Butes’ body huge, the winner of the day,
Bebrycia ueniens Amyci de gente ferebat,
Who called him come of Amycus and that Bebrycian land:
perculit et fulua moribundum extendit harena.
But Dares stretched him dying there upon the yellow sand.
talis prima Dares caput altum in proelia tollit, 375
Such was the Dares that upreared his head against the fight,
ostenditque umeros latos alternaque iactat
And showed his shoulders’ breadth and drave his fists to left and right,
bracchia protendens et uerberat ictibus auras.
With arms cast forth, as heavy strokes he laid upon the air.
quaeritur huic alius; nec quisquam ex agmine tanto
But when they sought a man for him, midst all the concourse there
audet adire uirum manibusque inducere caestus.
Was none durst meet him: not a hand the fighting-glove would don:
ergo alacris cunctosque putans excedere palma 380
Wherefore, high-hearted, deeming now the prize from all was won,
Aeneae stetit ante pedes, nec plura moratus
He stood before Æneas’ feet nor longer tarrièd,
tum laeua taurum cornu tenet atque ita fatur:
But with his left hand took the steer about the horn and said:
‘nate dea, si nemo audet se credere pugnae,
“O Goddess-born, if no man dares to trust him in the play,
quae finis standi? quo me decet usque teneri?
What end shall be of standing here; must I abide all day?
ducere dona iube.’ cuncti simul ore fremebant 385
Bid them bring forth the gifts.” Therewith they cried out one and all,
Dardanidae reddique uiro promissa iubebant.
The Dardan folk, to give the gifts that due to him did fall.
Hic grauis Entellum dictis castigat Acestes,
But with hard words Acestes now Entellus falls to chide,
proximus ut uiridante toro consederat herbae:
As on the bank of grassy green they sat there side by side,
‘Entelle, heroum quondam fortissime frustra,
“Entellus, bravest hero once of all men, and for nought,
tantane tam patiens nullo certamine tolli 390
If thou wilt let them bear away without a battle fought
dona sines? ubi nunc nobis deus ille, magister
Such gifts as these. And where is he, thy master then, that God,
nequiquam memoratus, Eryx? ubi fama per omnem
That Eryx, told of oft in vain? where is thy fame sown broad
Trinacriam et spolia illa tuis pendentia tectis?’
Through all Trinacria, where the spoils hung up beneath thy roof?”
ille sub haec: ‘non laudis amor nec gloria cessit
“Nay,” said he, “neither love of fame nor glory holds aloof
pulsa metu; sed enim gelidus tardante senecta 395
Beaten by fear, but cold I grow with eld that holdeth back.
sanguis hebet, frigentque effetae in corpore uires.
My blood is dull, my might gone dry with all my body’s lack.
si mihi quae quondam fuerat quaque improbus iste
Ah, had I that which once I had, that which the rascal there
exsultat fidens, si nunc foret illa iuuentas,
Trusts in with idle triumphing, the days of youth the dear,
haud equidem pretio inductus pulchroque iuuenco
Then had I come into the fight by no gift-giving led,
uenissem, nec dona moror.’ sic deinde locutus 400
No goodly steer: nought heed I gifts.” And with the last word said,
in medium geminos immani pondere caestus
His fig
hting gloves of fearful weight amidst of them he cast,
proiecit, quibus acer Eryx in proelia suetus
Wherewith the eager Eryx’ hands amid the play had passed
ferre manum duroque intendere bracchia tergo.
Full oft; with hardened hide of them his arms he used to bind.
obstipuere animi: tantorum ingentia septem
Men’s hearts were mazed; such seven bull-hides each other in them lined,
terga boum plumbo insuto ferroque rigebant. 405
So stiff they were with lead sewn in and iron laid thereby;
ante omnis stupet ipse Dares longeque recusat,
And chief of all was Dares mazed, and drew back utterly.
magnanimusque Anchisiades et pondus et ipsa
But the great-souled Anchises’ seed that weight of gauntlets weighed,
huc illuc uinclorum immensa uolumina uersat.
And here and there he turned about their mighty folds o’erlaid.
tum senior talis referebat pectore uoces:
Then drew the elder from his breast words that were like to these:
‘quid, si quis caestus ipsius et Herculis arma 410
“Ah, had ye seen the gloves that armed the very Hercules,
uidisset tristemque hoc ipso in litore pugnam?
And that sad battle foughten out upon this country shore!
haec germanus Eryx quondam tuus arma gerebat
For these are arms indeed that erst thy kinsmen Eryx bore:
(sanguine cernis adhuc sparsoque infecta cerebro),
Lo, ye may see them even now flecked with the blood and brain.
his magnum Alciden contra stetit, his ego suetus,
With these Alcides he withstood; with these I too was fain
dum melior uiris sanguis dabat, aemula necdum 415
Of war, while mightier blood gave might, nor envious eld as yet
temporibus geminis canebat sparsa senectus.
On either temple of my head the hoary hairs had set.
sed si nostra Dares haec Troius arma recusat
But if this Dares out of Troy refuse our weapons still,
idque pio sedet Aeneae, probat auctor Acestes,
And good Æneas doom it so, and so Acestes will,
aequemus pugnas. Erycis tibi terga remitto
My fight-lord; make the weapons like: these gloves of Eryx here
(solue metus), et tu Troianos exue caestus.’ 420
I take aback: be not afraid, but doff thy Trojan gear.”
haec fatus duplicem ex umeris reiecit amictum
He spake, and from his back he cast his twifold cloak adown,
et magnos membrorum artus, magna ossa lacertosque
And naked his most mighty limbs and shoulders huge were shown,
exuit atque ingens media consistit harena.