(Both jolly huntsmen, both in forests bred, And owning old Acestes for their head,) With several others of ignobler name, Whom time has not delivered o'er to fame. To these the hero thus his thoughts explained, In words which general approbation gained:-- "One common largess is for all designed, (The vanquished and the victor shall be joined,) Two darts of polished steel and Gnossian wood, A silver-studded axe, alike bestowed. The foremost three have olive wreaths decreed: The first of these obtains a stately steed Adorned with trappings; and the next in fame, The quiver of an Amazonian dame, With feathered Thracian arrows well supplied: } A golden belt shall gird his manly side, } Which with a sparkling diamond shall be tied. } The third this Grecian helmet shall content." He said. To their appointed base they went; With beating hearts the expected sign receive, And, starting all at once, the barrier leave. Spread out, as on the winged winds, they flew, And seized the distant goal with greedy view. Shot from the crowd, swift Nisus all o'er-passed; Nor storms, nor thunder, equal half his haste. The next, but, though the next, yet far disjoined, Came Salius, and Euryalus behind; Then Helymus, whom young Diores plied, Step after step, and almost side by side, His shoulders pressing--and, in longer space, Had won, or left at least a dubious race. Now, spent, the goal they almost reach at last, When eager Nisus, hapless in his haste, Slipped first, and, slipping, fell upon the plain, Soaked with the blood of oxen newly slain. The careless victor had not marked his way; But, treading where the treacherous puddle lay, His heels flew up; and on the grassy floor He fell, besmeared with filth and holy gore. Not mindless then, Euryalus, of thee, Nor of the sacred bonds of amity, He strove the immediate rival's hope to cross, And caught the foot of Salius as he rose: So Salius lay extended on the plain: Euryalus springs out, the prize to gain, And leaves the crowd:--applauding peals attend The victor to the goal, who vanquished by his friend. Next Helymus; and then Diores came, By two misfortunes made the third in fame. But Salius enters, and, exclaiming loud For justice, deafens and disturbs the crowd; Urges his cause may in the court be heard; And pleads the prize is wrongfully conferred. But favour for Euryalus appears; His blooming beauty, with his tender years, Had bribed the judges for the promised prize; Besides, Diores fills the court with cries, Who vainly reaches at the last reward, If the first palm on Salius be conferred. Then thus the prince: "Let no disputes arise: Where Fortune placed it, I award the prize. But Fortune's errors give me leave to mend, At least to pity my deserving friend" He said, and, from among the spoils, he draws