But father Æneas, ere the match was over, calls to his side the guardian and companion of Iulus’ tender years, Epytides, and thus speaks into his ear in secret:—“Go now and tell Ascanius, if his company of boys is ready, and the movements of his young cavalry duly marshalled, 5 to bring them into the field in his grandsire’s honour, and show himself in arms.” He, by his own voice, bids the whole surging crowd retire from the length of the circus, and leave the field clear. The boys come prancing in on well-reined steeds, in even lines of light brightening their 10 parents’ eyes; and as they pass, an admiring shout, breaks from the gathered chivalry of Sicily and Troy. All alike have their flowing hair duly cinctured with stripped leaves; each bears two cornel javelins tipped with steel; some have polished quivers at their backs; round the top of the chest 15 goes a pliant chain of twisted gold circling the neck. Three are the companies of horse, three the leaders that scour the plain; twelve boys follow each, a glittering show, in equal divisions and commanded alike. The first of the youthful bands is led as to victory by a young Priam, 20 who revives his grandsire’s name, thy princely offspring, Polites, destined to people Italy; him a Thracian steed carries, dappled with spots of white, with white on the extremes of his prancing feet, and white on his towering brow. Next is Atys, whence comes the house of Roman 25 Atii—Atys the young, the boyish friend of the boy Iulus. Last of all, and excelling all in beauty, Iulus rides in on a Sidonian steed, bestowed on him by Dido the fair, in remembrance of herself, and in testimony of her love. The remaining youth are borne on Trinacrian horses from 30 old Acestes’ stalls. The Dardans welcome them with reassuring plaudits, and gaze on them with rapture, and trace in their young faces the features of their old sires. Soon as the riders have made their joyous survey of the whole gazing crowd and of their friends’ loving eyes, 35 Epytides gives the expected signal with far-reaching shout and loud cracking whip. In regular order they gallop asunder, the three companies breaking and parting right and left; and again, at the word of command, they wheel round, and charge each other with levelled lances. Then they essay other advances and other retreats in quarters still opposite, each entangling each in circles within circles, and in their real armour raise an image of battle. Now they expose 5 their backs in flight, now they turn their spear-points in charge, now as in truce they ride along side by side. Even as men tell of that old labyrinth[193] in lofty Crete, its way cunningly woven with blind high walls, and the ambiguous mystery of its thousand paths, winding till the pursuer’s 10