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Rh Which winding hills encompass round,

Their shaggy tops with forests crowned;

There, as the deepening vale descends,

A rustic theatre extends,

Where, ringed with thousands round, he sate

On high-heaped throne in rural state.

Whoe'er in speed of foot would vie

He here invites, their chance to try

And earn reward: from diverse parts

They come, swift limbs and generous hearts,

Trojan and Sicel interspersed:

Euryalus and Nisus first:

That for his beauty and his youth

Conspicuous 'mid the sons of Troy,

This for his pure affection's truth

Concentred on the lovely boy.

Diores next them takes his place,

A princely branch of Priam's race:

Salius and Patron too succeed,

The one of Acarnanian breed,

While Tegea gave the other birth,

And Arcady his parent earth:

Then Helymus and Panopes,

Trinacria's youthful offspring these,

Trained in the woods to chase the boar

And comrades of Acestes hoar:

With many a candidate besides

Whom dim-eyed fame in darkness hides.

Whom, as around his seat they pressed,

Æneas thus in brief addressed:

'Vouchsafe your audience, and receive

My words with glad regard.

None of this train the field shall leave

Unguerdoned by reward: