Page:The Aeneid of Virgil JOHN CONINGTON 1917 V2.pdf/147

 Bebrycian blood—struck him down, and stretched him in death on the yellow sand. Such are Dares' powers, as he lifts high his crest for the battle, displays his broad shoulders, throws out his arms alternately, and strikes the air with his blows. How to find his match is the cry;                5 no one of all that company dares to confront such a champion, and draw on the gauntlets. So, with confident action, thinking that all were retiring from the prize, he stands before Æneas, and without further prelude grasps with his left hand the bull by the horn, and bespeaks him            10 thus:—"Goddess-born, if no one dares to take the risk of the fight, how long are we to stand still? How long is it seemly to keep me waiting? Give the word for me to carry off the prize." A simultaneous shout broke from the sons of Dardanus, all voting that their champion should          15 have the promised gift made good.

On this Acestes, with grave severity of speech, rebukes Entellus, just as he chanced to be seated next him on the verdant grassy couch. "Entellus, once known as the bravest of heroes, and all for nought, will you brook so             20 calmly that a prize so great be carried off without a blow? Where are we now to look for that mighty deity your master, Eryx, vaunted so often and so idly? Where is that glory which spread all Trinacria through, and those spoils that hang from your roof?" He replied: "It is                 25 not the love of praise, not ambition, that has died out, extinguished by fear. No, indeed; but my blood is dulled and chilled by the frost of age, and the strength in my limbs withered and ice-bound. Had I now what I once had, what is now the glory and the boast of that loud braggart        30 there; had I but the treasure of youth, I should not have needed the reward and the goodly bullock to bring me into the field; nor are gifts what I care for." So saying, he flung into the midst a pair of gauntlets of enormous weight, with which the fiery Eryx[o] was wont to                     35 deal his blows in combat, stringing his arms with the tough hide. Every heart was amazed, so vast were the seven huge bull-hides, hardened with patches of lead and iron.