Now all that strife being overpast, the good Æneas fares To grassy meads girt all about by hollow wooded hills, Where theatre-wise the racing-course the midmost valley fills. Thereto the hero, very heart of many a thousand men, Now wendeth, and on seat high-piled he sits him down again. 290 There whosoever may have will to strive in speedy race He hearteneth on with hope of gift, and shows the prize and grace. So from all sides Sicilians throng, and Trojan fellowship. Euryalus and Nisus first. Euryalus for goodliness and youth's first blossom famed, Nisus for fair love of the youth; then after these are named Diores, of the blood of kings from Priam's glorious race; Salius and Patron next; the one of Acarnanian place, The other from Arcadian blood of Tegeæa outsprung: Then two Trinacrians, Helymus and Panopes the young, 300 In woodcraft skilled, who ever went by old Acestes' side; And many others else there were whom rumour dimmed doth hide. And now amidmost of all these suchwise Æneas spake: "Now hearken; let your merry hearts heed of my saying take: No man of all the tale of you shall henceforth giftless go; Two Gnosian spears to each I give with polished steel aglow, An axe to carry in the war with silver wrought therein. This honour is for one and all: the three first prize shall win, And round about their heads shall do the olive dusky-grey. A noble horse with trappings dight the first shall bear away; 310 A quiver of the Amazons with Thracian arrows stored The second hath; about it goes a gold belt broidered broad, With gem-wrought buckle delicate to clasp it at the end. But gladdened with this Argive helm content the third shall wend." All said, they take their places due, and when the sign they hear, Forthwith they leave the bar behind and o'er the course they bear, Like drift of storm-cloud; on the goal all set their eager eyes: But far before all shapes of man shows Nisus, and outflies The very whistling of the winds or lightning on the wing. Then, though the space be long betwixt, comes Salius following; 320 And after Salius again another space is left, And then Euryalus is third; And after him is Helymus: but lo, how hard on heel Diores scuds! foot on his foot doth Helymus nigh feel, Shoulder on shoulder: yea, and if the course held longer out, He would slip by him and be first, or leave the thing in doubt.