Now, spent, unto the utmost reach and very end of all They came, when in the slippery blood doth luckless Nisus fall, E'en where the ground was all a-slop with bullocks slain that day, And all the topmost of the grass be-puddled with it lay: 330 There, as he went the victor now, exulting, failed his feet From off the earth, and forth he fell face foremost down to meet The midst of all the filthy slime blent with the holy gore: Yet for Euryalus his love forgat he none the more, For rising from the slippery place in Salius' way he thrust, Who, rolling over, lay along amid the thickened dust. Forth flies Euryalus, and flies to fame and foremost place, His own friend's gift, mid beat of hands and shouts that bear him grace. Next came in Helymus, and next the palm Diores bore. But over all the concourse set in hollow dale, and o'er 340 The heads of those first father-lords goes Salius' clamouring speech, Who for his glory reft away by guile doth still beseech. But safe goodwill and goodly tears Euryalus do bear, And lovelier seemeth valour set in body wrought so fair. Him too Diores backeth now, and crieth out on high, Whose palm of praise and third-won place shall fail and pass him by, If the first glory once again at Salius' bidding shift. Then sayeth Father Æneas: "O fellows, every gift Shall bide unmoved: the palm of praise shall no man now displace. Yet for my sackless friend's mishap give me some pity's grace." 350 He spake, and unto Salius gave a mighty lion's hide, Getulian born, with weight of hair and golden claws beside: Then Nisus spake: "If such great gifts are toward for beaten men, And thou must pity those that fall, what gift is worthy then Of Nisus? I, who should have gained the very victory's crown, If me, as Salius, Fate my foe had never overthrown." And even as he speaks the word he showeth face and limb Foul with the mud. The kindest lord, the Father, laughed on him, And bade them bring a buckler forth, wrought of Didymaon, Spoil of the Greeks, from Neptune's house and holy doors undone; 360 And there unto the noble youth he gives that noble thing. But now, the race all overpassed and all the gift-giving, Quoth he: "If any valour hath, or heart that may withstand, Let him come forth to raise his arm with hide-begirded hand."