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 others, whom dim tradition leaves in darkness. As they crowd round him, Æneas bespeaks them thus:—"Hear what I have to say, and give the heed of a glad heart. No one of this company shall go away unguerdoned by me. I will give a pair of Gnossian darts, shining with polished     5 steel, and an axe chased with silver for the hand to wield. This honour all shall obtain alike. The three first shall receive prizes, and shall wear also wreaths of yellow-green olive. Let the first, as conqueror, have a horse, full decorated with trappings; the second an Amazonian      10 quiver, full of Thracian shafts, with a belt of broad gold to encompass it, and a buckle of a polished jewel to fasten it; let the third go away content with this Argive helmet." This said, they take their places, and suddenly, on hearing the signal, dash into the course, and leave the barrier     15 behind, pouring on like a burst of rain, their eyes fixed on the goal. First of all, away goes Nisus, his limbs flying far before all the rest, swifter than wind and winged thunderbolt; next to him, but next at a long distance follows Salius; then, at a shorter space, Euryalus third. 20 After Euryalus comes Helymus; close on him, see! flies Diores, heel touching heel and shoulder shoulder: were the course but longer, he would be shooting on and darting beyond him, and turning a doubtful race to a victory.

Now they were just at the end of the course, all panting     25 as they reached the goal, when Nisus, the ill-starred, slides in a puddle of blood, which lay there just as it had been spilt after a sacrifice of bullocks, soaking the ground and the growing grass. Poor youth! just in the moment of triumph, he could not keep his sliddery footing on the soil     30 he trod, but fell flat in the very middle of unclean ordure and sacrificial gore. But he forgot not Euryalus—forgot not his love—no! he threw himself in Salius' way, rising in that slippery place—and Salius lay there too, flung on the puddled floor. Forth darts Euryalus, and gains     35 the first place, a winner, thanks to his friend, cheered in his flight by plaudit and shouting. Next comes in Helymus and Diores, thus made the third prize. But now