(Ponderous with shaggy mane and golden paws) A lion's hide: to Salius this he gives: Nisus with envy sees the gift, and grieves. "If such rewards to vanquished men are due, (He said) and falling is to rise by you, What prize may Nisus from your bounty claim, Who merited the first rewards and fame? In falling, both an equal fortune tried; Would Fortune for my fall so well provide!" With this he pointed to his face, and showed His hands and all his habit smeared with blood. The indulgent father of the people smiled, And caused to be produced an ample shield, Of wondrous art, by Didymaon wrought, Long since from Neptune's bars in triumph brought. This given to Nisus, he divides the rest, And equal justice in his gifts expressed. The race thus ended, and rewards bestowed, Once more the prince bespeaks the attentive crowd:-- "If there be here, whose dauntless courage dare In gauntlet fight, with limbs and body bare, His opposite sustain in open view, Stand forth the champion, and the games renew. Two prizes I propose, and thus divide-- A bull with gilded horns, and fillets tied, Shall be the portion of the conquering chief: A sword and helm shall cheer the loser's grief." Then haughty Dares in the lists appears; Stalking he strides, his head erected bears: His nervous arms the weighty gauntlet wield, And loud applauses echo through the field. Dares alone in combat used to stand The match of mighty Paris, hand to hand; The same, at Hector's funerals, undertook Gigantic Butes, of the Amycian stock, And, by the stroke of his resistless hand, Stretched the vast bulk upon the yellow sand. Such Dares was; and such he strode along, And drew the wonder of the gazing throng. His brawny back and ample breast he shows; } His lifted arms around his head he throws, } And deals, in whistling air, his empty blows. } His match is sought: but, through the trembling band, Not one dares answer to the proud demand. Presuming of his force, with sparkling eyes Already he devours the promised prize. He claims the bull with awless insolence, And, having seized his horns, accosts the prince:-- "If none my matchless valour dares oppose, How long shall Dares wait his dastard foes? Permit me, chief, permit, without delay, To lead this uncontended gift away." The crowd assents, and, with redoubled cries, For the proud challenger demands the prize. Acestes, fired with just disdain, to see The palm usurped without a victory, Reproached Entellus thus, who sate beside, And heard and saw, unmoved, the Trojan's pride:-- "Once, but in vain, a champion of renown, So tamely can you bear the ravished crown, A prize in triumph borne before your sight, And shun, for fear, the danger of the fight? Where is our Eryx now, the boasted name, The god, who taught your thundering arm the game?