XXXV. A goodly hauberk to the next he gave,
With polished rings and triple chain of gold,
Torn by his own hands from Demoleos brave,
Beneath high Troy, where Simois swiftly rolled,
The warrior's glory and defence, to hold.
Phegeus and Sagaris, with all their might,
Two stalwart slaves, scarce bore it, fold on fold,
That coat of mail, wherein Demoleos dight,		307
Trod down the ranks of Troy, and put his foes to flight.
XXXVI. Last comes the third: two brazen caldrons fine,
Two cups of silver doth the prince bestow,
Rough-chased with imagery of choice design.
Each had his prize, and glorying forth they go,
With purple ribbons on their brows, when lo!
Scarce torn with effort from the rock's embrace,
Oarless, and short of oarsmen by a row,
Home comes Sergestus, and in rueful case		316
Drives his dishonoured bark, left hindmost in the race.
XXXVII. As when an adder, whom athwart the way
Some wheel hath crushed, or traveller, passing by,
Maimed with a stone, as unaware he lay,
And left sore mangled, on the point to die,
In vain his coils would lengthen, fain to fly:
One half erect, his burning eyes around
He darts, and lifts his hissing throat on high,
Defiant, half still writhes upon the ground,		325
Self-twined in tortuous knots, and crippled by the wound:
XXXVIII. So slowly rows the Centaur, yet anon
They set the sails, and loose the spreading sheet,
And crowd full canvas; and the port is won.
Glad is Æneas, and he joys to greet
His friends brought safely and his ships complete.
So to Sergestus, for his portion due,
He gives fair Pholöe, a slave of Crete,
Twins at her breast, two sons of loveliest hue,		334
And well Minerva's works, the weaving art, she knew.

XXXIX. This contest o'er, the good Æneas sought
A grassy plain, with waving forests crowned
And sloping hills—fit theatre for sport,
Where in the middle of the vale was found
A circus. Hither comes he, ringed around
With thousands, here, amidst them, throned on high
In rustic state, he seats him on a mound,
And all who in the footrace list to vie,		343
With proffered gifts invites, and tempts their souls to try.
XL. In crowds the Teucrians and Sicanians come,
First, Nisus and Euryalus. None so fair
As young Euryalus, in youthful bloom
And beauty; none with Nisus could compare
In pure affection for a youth so rare.
Here stood Diores, famous for his speed,
A prince of Priam's lineage; Salius there,
And Patron, this of Acarnanian seed,		352
That of Arcadian birth and Tegeæan breed.
XLI. Came from Trinacria two champions bold,
Young Helymus and Panopes, well-tried
In woodland craft, and followers of old
Acestes; came full many a youth beside,
Whose fame shines dimly, or whose name hath died.
Then cries Æneas 'mid the concourse: "Ho!
Give heed, for surely shall my word abide,
Blithe be your hearts, for none among you—no,		361
Not one of all this crowd—without a gift shall go.
XLII. "To each, a common largess, be a pair
Of Gnossian javelins and an axe decreed,
With haft of silver chasings. Three shall wear
Crowns of pale olive. For the victor's need,
Adorned with trappings, stands a noble steed.
A quiver, worn by Amazon of old,
With Thracian arrows, for the next in speed,
Clasped with a gem and belted with bright gold.		370
The third this Argive helm, fit recompense, shall hold."
XLIII. He spake, and at the signal forth they burst
Together, like a storm-cloud, from the base,
With eager eyes set goalward. Nisus first
Darts off, and, bounding with the South-wind's pace,
And swift as wingèd lightning, leads the race.
Next, but the next with many a length between,
Comes Salius; then, behind him, third in place,
Euryalus; then Helymus is seen;		379
And lo! Diores last, comes flying along the green.