Yield to the god! What madness blinds your vision To strength beyond your own?” They rescue Dares, And drag him to the ships, with his knees caving, Head rolling side to side, spitting out blood And teeth; he hardly sees the sword and helmet. They leave the palm and bullock for Entellus, Who, in the pride of victory, cries aloud: “Look, goddess-born! Watch, Trojans, and discover Two things--how strong I was when I was younger, And what a death you’ve kept away from Dares!” And, with the word, he faced his prize, the bullock, Drew back his right hand, poised it, sent it smashing Between the horns, shattering the skull, and splashing Brains on the bones, as the great beast came down, lifeless. “This life, a better one than Dares’, Eryx, I vow as sacrifice, and so, victorious, Retire, and lay aside the gloves forever.” Next comes an archery contest. Aeneas offers Prizes and summons; on Serestus’ vessel The mast is raised, and from its top a cord With a fluttering dove bound to it as the mark. Four enter; a bronze helmet takes the lots, Hippocoön’s leaps out first; then Mnestheus follows, Green with the olive garland, sign and token Of ship well driven; and third was Pandarus’ brother, Eurytion; Pandarus was the archer Who once broke truce with the Greeks, firing an arrow In the days of peace; and last came king Acestes, Willing to try his hand with younger men. They bend the pliant bows, each archer straining, Draw shaft from quiver. First from the twanging string Hippocoön’s arrow flew, through sky, through wind, Reaching its mark in the wood of the mast, which trembled And the bird flapped wings in terror, and the crowd Rang with applause. Mnestheus took his stand, Drawing the bow back, aiming a little higher, And missed the bird, but severed knot and tether, And the dove sped free to the south. Eurytion, waiting And ready, called in prayer upon his brother, Let the dart fly, brought down the bird, exulting, From under the dark of the cloud. She came down lifeless, Pierced by the arrow still. No prize was left For king Acestes, but he fired his arrow, High as he could, to prove his skill. And a wonder Came to their eyes; it proved an omen later When seers explained its meaning. The shaft caught fire Flying amid the clouds, a course of flame, Vanishing into space, as comets stream Sweeping across the heaven, their long train flying Behind them through the sky. All hearts were shaken, Sicilian, Trojan, both, and all men prayed To the powers on high. Aeneas hailed the omen, Embraced Acestes, loaded him with presents, Saying, “Receive them, father; for the king Of heaven has willed it so, unusual honors For skill surpassing. This bowl, with graven figures, Anchises owned, given him by a Thracian,