by Virgil
And on the midmost of the sand a giant there he stood.
tum satus Anchisa caestus pater extulit aequos
Wherewith Anchises’ seed brought forth gloves even-matched and good,
et paribus palmas amborum innexuit armis. 425
And so at last with gear alike the arms of each he bound,
constitit in digitos extemplo arrectus uterque
Then straightway each one stretched aloft on tip-toe from the ground:
bracchiaque ad superas interritus extulit auras.
They cast their mighty arms abroad, nor any fear they know,
abduxere retro longe capita ardua ab ictu
The while their lofty heads they draw abackward from the blow:
immiscentque manus manibus pugnamque lacessunt,
And so they mingle hands with hands and fall to wake the fight.
ille pedum melior motu fretusque iuuenta, 430
The one a-trusting in his youth and nimbler feet and light;
hic membris et mole ualens; sed tarda trementi
The other’s bulk of all avail, but, trembling, ever shrank
genua labant, uastos quatit aeger anhelitus artus.
His heavy knees, and breathing short for ever shook his flank.
multa uiri nequiquam inter se uulnera iactant,
Full many a stroke those mighty men cast each at each in vain;
multa cauo lateri ingeminant et pectore uastos
Thick fall they on the hollow sides; the breasts ring out again
dant sonitus, erratque auris et tempora circum 435
With mighty sound; and eager-swift the hands full often stray
crebra manus, duro crepitant sub uulnere malae.
Round ears and temples; crack the jaws beneath that heavy play:
stat grauis Entellus nisuque immotus eodem
In one set strain, not moving aught, heavy Entellus stands,
corpore tela modo atque oculis uigilantibus exit.
By body’s sway and watchful eye shunning the dart of hands:
ille, uelut celsam oppugnat qui molibus urbem
But Dares is as one who brings the gin ‘gainst high-built town,
aut montana sedet circum castella sub armis, 440
Or round about some mountain-hold the leaguer setteth down:
nunc hos, nunc illos aditus, omnemque pererrat
Now here now there he falleth on, and putteth art to pain
arte locum et uariis adsultibus inritus urget.
At every place, and holds them strait with onset all in vain.
ostendit dextram insurgens Entellus et alte
Entellus, rising to the work, his right hand now doth show
extulit, ille ictum uenientem a uertice uelox
Upreared; but he, the nimble one, foresaw the falling blow
praeuidit celerique elapsus corpore cessit; 445
Above him, and his body swift writhed skew-wise from the fall.
Entellus uiris in uentum effudit et ultro
Entellus spends his stroke on air, and, overborne withal,
ipse grauis grauiterque ad terram pondere uasto
A heavy thing, falls heavily to earth, a mighty weight:
concidit, ut quondam caua concidit aut Erymantho
As whiles a hollow-eaten pine on Erymanthus great,
aut Ida in magna radicibus eruta pinus.
Or mighty Ida, rooted up, to earthward toppling goes.
consurgunt studiis Teucri et Trinacria pubes; 450
Then Teucrian and Trinacrian folk with wondrous longing rose,
it clamor caelo primusque accurrit Acestes
And shouts went skyward: thither first the King Acestes ran,
aequaeuumque ab humo miserans attollit amicum.
And pitying his like-aged friend raised up the fallen man;
at non tardatus casu neque territus heros
Who neither slackened by his fall, nor smit by any fear,
acrior ad pugnam redit ac uim suscitat ira;
Gets back the eagerer to the fight, for anger strength doth stir,
tum pudor incendit uiris et conscia uirtus, 455
And shame and conscious valour lights his ancient power again.
praecipitemque Daren ardens agit aequore toto
In headlong flight his fiery wrath drives Dares o’er the plain,
nunc dextra ingeminans ictus, nunc ille sinistra.
And whiles his right hand showereth strokes, his left hand raineth whiles.
nec mora nec requies: quam multa grandine nimbi
No tarrying and no rest there is; as hail-storm on the tiles
culminibus crepitant, sic densis ictibus heros
Rattleth, so swift with either hand the eager hero now
creber utraque manu pulsat uersatque Dareta. 460
Beats on and batters Dares down, and blow is laid on blow.
Tum pater Aeneas procedere longius iras
But now the Father Æneas no longer might abide
et saeuire animis Entellum haud passus acerbis,
Entellus’ bitter rage of soul or lengthening anger’s tide,
sed finem imposuit pugnae fessumque Dareta
But laid an end upon the fight therewith, and caught away
eripuit mulcens dictis ac talia fatur:
Dares foredone, and soothing words in such wise did he say:
‘infelix, quae tanta animum dementia cepit? 465
“Unhappy man, what madness then hath hold upon thine heart?
non uiris alias conuersaque numina sentis?
Feel’st not another might than man’s, and Heaven upon his part?
cede deo.’ dixitque et proelia uoce diremit.
Yield to the Gods!” So ‘neath his word the battle sank to peace.
ast illum fidi aequales genua aegra trahentem
But Dares his true fellows took, trailing his feeble knees,
iactantemque utroque caput crassumque cruorem
Lolling his head from side to side, the while his sick mouth sent
ore eiectantem mixtosque in sanguine dentes 470
The clotted blood from out of it wherewith the teeth were blent.
ducunt ad nauis; galeamque ensemque uocati
They lead him to the ships; then, called, they take the helm and sword,
accipiunt, palmam Entello taurumque relinquunt.
But leave Entellus’ bull and palm, the victory’s due reward;
hic uictor superans animis tauroque superbus
Who, high of heart, proud in the beast his conquering hand did earn,
‘nate dea, uosque haec’ inquit ‘cognoscite, Teucri,
“O Goddess-born,” he said, “and ye, O Teucrians, look, and learn
et mihi quae fuerint iuuenali in corpore uires 475
What might was in my body once, ere youth it had to lack,
et qua seruetis reuocatum a morte Dareta.’
And what the death whence Dares saved e’en now ye draw aback.”
dixit, et aduersi contra stetit ora iuuenci
He spake, and at the great bull’s head straightway he took his stand,
qui donum astabat pugnae, durosque reducta
As there it bode the prize of fight, and drawing back his hand
librauit dextra media inter cornua caestus
Rose to the blow, and ‘twixt the horns sent forth the hardened glove,
arduus, effractoque inlisit in ossa cerebro: 480
And back upon his very brain the shattered skull he drove.
sternitur exanimisque tremens procumbit humi bos.
Down fell the beast and on the earth lay quivering, outstretched, dead,
ille super talis effundit pectore uoces:
While over him from his inmost breast such words Entellus said:
‘hanc tibi, Eryx, meliorem animam pro morte Daretis
“Eryx, this soul, a better thing, for Dares doomed to die,
persoluo; hic uictor caestus artemque repono.’
I give
thee, and victorious here my gloves and craft lay by.”
Protinus Aeneas celeri certare sagitta 485
Forth now Æneas biddeth all who have a mind to strive
inuitat qui forte uelint et praemia dicit,
At speeding of the arrow swift, and gifts thereto doth give,
ingentique manu malum de naue Seresti
And with his mighty hand the mast from out Serestus’ keel
erigit et uolucrem traiecto in fune columbam,
Uprears; and there a fluttering dove, mark for the flying steel,
quo tendant ferrum, malo suspendit ab alto.
Tied to a string he hangeth up athwart the lofty mast.
conuenere uiri deiectamque aerea sortem 490
Then meet the men; a brazen helm catches the lots down cast:
accepit galea, et primus clamore secundo
And, as from out their favouring folk ariseth up the shout,
Hyrtacidae ante omnis exit locus Hippocoontis;
Hippocoon, son of Hyrtacus, before the rest leaps out;
quem modo nauali Mnestheus certamine uictor
Then Mnestheus, who was victor erst in ship upon the sea,
consequitur, uiridi Mnestheus euinctus oliua.
Comes after: Mnestheus garlanded with olive greenery.
tertius Eurytion, tuus, o clarissime, frater, 495
The third-come was Eurytion, thy brother, O renowned,
Pandare, qui quondam iussus confundere foedus
O Pandarus, who, bidden erst the peace-troth to confound,
in medios telum torsisti primus Achiuos.
Wert first amid Achæan host to send a wingèd thing.
extremus galeaque ima subsedit Acestes,
But last, at bottom of the helm, Acestes’ name did cling,
ausus et ipse manu iuuenum temptare laborem.
Who had the heart to try the toil amid the youthful rout.
tum ualidis flexos incuruant uiribus arcus 500
Then with their strength of all avail they bend the bows about
pro se quisque uiri et depromunt tela pharetris,
Each for himself: from quiver then the arrows forth they take:
primaque per caelum neruo stridente sagitta
And first from off the twanging string through heaven there went the wake
Hyrtacidae iuuenis uolucris diuerberat auras,
Of shaft of young Hyrtacides, and clave the flowing air,
et uenit aduersique infigitur arbore mali.
And, flying home, amid the mast that stood before it there
intremuit malus micuitque exterrita pennis 505
It stuck: the mast shook therewithal; the frighted, timorous bird,
ales, et ingenti sonuerunt omnia plausu.
Fluttered her wings; and mighty praise all round about was heard.
post acer Mnestheus adducto constitit arcu
Then stood forth Mnestheus keen, and drew his bow unto the head,
alta petens, pariterque oculos telumque tetendit.
Aiming aloft; and shaft and eyes alike therewith he sped;
ast ipsam miserandus auem contingere ferro
But, worthy of all pitying, the very bird he missed,
non ualuit; nodos et uincula linea rupit 510
But had the hap to shear the knots and lines of hempen twist
quis innexa pedem malo pendebat ab alto;
Whereby, all knitted to her foot, she to the mast was tied:
illa Notos atque atra uolans in nubila fugit.
But flying toward the winds of heaven and mirky mist she hied.
tum rapidus, iamdudum arcu contenta parato
Then swift Eurytion, who for long had held his arrow laid
tela tenens, fratrem Eurytion in uota uocauit,
On ready bow-string, vowed, and called his brother unto aid,
iam uacuo laetam caelo speculatus et alis 515
And sighted her all joyful now amidst the void of sky,
plaudentem nigra figit sub nube columbam.
And smote her as she clapped her wings ‘neath the black cloud on high:
decidit exanimis uitamque reliquit in astris
Then dead she fell, and mid the stars of heaven her life she left,
aetheriis fixamque refert delapsa sagittam.
And, falling, brought the shaft aback whereby her heart was cleft.
Amissa solus palma superabat Acestes,
Acestes now was left alone, foiled of the victory’s prize.
qui tamen aerias telum contendit in auras 520
No less the father sent his shot aloft unto the skies,
ostentans artemque pater arcumque sonantem.
Fain to set forth his archer-craft and loud-resounding bow.
hic oculis subitum obicitur magnoque futurum
Then to men’s eyes all suddenly a portent there did show,
augurio monstrum; docuit post exitus ingens
A mighty sign of things to come, the ending showed how great
seraque terrifici cecinerunt omina uates.
When seers, the shakers of men’s hearts, sang over it too late.
namque uolans liquidis in nubibus arsit harundo 525
For, flying through the flowing clouds, the swift reed burned about,
signauitque uiam flammis tenuisque recessit
And marked its road with flaming wake, and, eaten up, died out
consumpta in uentos, caelo ceu saepe refixa
Mid the thin air: as oft the stars fly loose from heaven’s roof,
transcurrunt crinemque uolantia sidera ducunt.
And run adown the space of sky with hair that flies aloof.
attonitis haesere animis superosque precati
Trinacrian men and Teucrian men, staring aghast they stood,
Trinacrii Teucrique uiri, nec maximus omen 530
Praying the Gods: but mightiest Æneas held for good
abnuit Aeneas, sed laetum amplexus Acesten
That tokening, and Acestes takes as one all glad at heart,
muneribus cumulat magnis ac talia fatur:
And loadeth him with many gifts, and suchwise speaks his part:
‘sume, pater, nam te uoluit rex magnus Olympi
“Take them, O father, for indeed by such a sign I wot
talibus auspiciis exsortem ducere honores.
Olympus’ King will have thee win all honour without lot.
ipsius Anchisae longaeui hoc munus habebis, 535
This gift thou hast, Anchises’ self, the ancient, had before,
cratera impressum signis, quem Thracius olim
A bowl all stamped with images, which Cisseus once of yore,
Anchisae genitori in magno munere Cisseus
The Thracian, to my father gave, that he might bear the same
ferre sui dederat monimentum et pignus amoris.’
A very tokening of his love and memory of his name.”
sic fatus cingit uiridanti tempora lauro
So saying, a garland of green bay he doth his brows about,
et primum ante omnis uictorem appellat Acesten. 540
And victor over all the men Acestes giveth out:
nec bonus Eurytion praelato inuidit honori,
Nor did the good Eurytion grudge his honour so preferred,
quamuis solus auem caelo deiecit ab alto.
Though he alone from height of heaven had brought adown the bird:
proximus ingreditur donis qui uincula rupit,
But he came next in gift-giving who sheared the string, and last
extremus uolucri qui fixit harundine malum.
Was he who set his wingèd reed amidmost of the mast.
At pater Aeneas nondum certamine misso 545
Now had Æneas called to him, ere yet the match was done,
custodem ad sese comitemque impubis Iuli
The child of Epytus, the guard, and fellow of his son,
Epytiden uocat, et fidam sic fatur ad aurem:
Beardless Iu
lus, and so spake into his faithful ear:
‘uade age et Ascanio, si iam puerile paratum
“Go thou and bid Asoenius straight, if ready dight with gear
agmen habet secum cursusque instruxit equorum,
He hath that army of the lads, and fair array of steeds,
ducat auo turmas et sese ostendat in armis 550
To bring unto his grandsire now, himself in warlike weeds,
dic’ ait. ipse omnem longo decedere circo
That host of his.” The lord meanwhile biddeth all folk begone
infusum populum et campos iubet esse patentis.
Who into the long course had poured, and leave the meadow lone.
incedunt pueri pariterque ante ora parentum
Then come the lads: in equal ranks before their fathers’ eyes
frenatis lucent in equis, quos omnis euntis
They shine upon their bitted steeds, and wondering murmurs rise
Trinacriae mirata fremit Troiaeque iuuentus. 555
From men of Troy and Sicily as on their ways they fare.
omnibus in morem tonsa coma pressa corona;
Due crown of well-ordainèd leaves bindeth their flowing hair,
cornea bina ferunt praefixa hastilia ferro,
And each a pair of cornel shafts with iron head doth hold;
pars leuis umero pharetras; it pectore summo
And some the polished quiver bear at shoulder: limber gold,
flexilis obtorti per collum circulus auri.
Ringing the neck with twisted stem, high on the breast is shown.
tres equitum numero turmae ternique uagantur 560
Three companies of horse they are by tale, and up and down
ductores; pueri bis seni quemque secuti
Three captains ride, and twice six lads each leadeth to the war:
agmine partito fulgent paribusque magistris.
In bands of even tale they shine, and like their leaders are.
una acies iuuenum, ducit quam paruus ouantem
Their first array all glad at heart doth little Priam lead,
nomen aui referens Priamus, tua clara, Polite,
Who from his grandsire had his name, thy well-renowned seed,
progenies, auctura Italos; quem Thracius albis 565
Polites, fated to beget Italian folk: him bore
portat equus bicolor maculis, uestigia primi
A Thracian piebald flecked with white, whose feet were white before,
alba pedis frontemque ostentans arduus albam.
And white withal the crest of him that high aloft he flung.
alter Atys, genus unde Atii duxere Latini,
Next Atys came, from whence the stem of Latin Atii sprung;
paruus Atys pueroque puer dilectus Iulo.