Balteus, et tereti subnectit fibula gemma:
Tertius Argolica hac galea contentus abito.'

Haec ubi dicta, locum capiunt, signoque repente 315
Corripiunt spatia audito, limenque relinquunt,
Effusi nimbo similes, simul ultima signant.
Primus abit, longeque ante omnia corpora Nisus
Emicat, et ventis et fulminis ocior alis.
Proximus huic, longo sed proximus intervallo, 320
Insequitur Salius: spatio post deinde relicto
Tertius Euryalus :
Euryalumque Helymus sequitur; quo deinde sub ipso
Ecce ! volat, calcemque terit jam calce Diores,
Incumbens humero; spatia et si plura supersint, 325
Transeat elapsus prior, ambiguumve relinquat.

Jamque fere spatio extremo, fessique, sub ipsam
Finem adventabant; levi cum sanguine Nisus
Labitur infelix, caesis ut forte juvencis
Fusus humum viridesque super madefecerat herbas. 330
Hic juvenis, jam victor ovans, vestigia presso
Haud tenuit titubata solo: sed pronus in ipso
Concidit immundoque fimo, sacroque cruore.
Non tamen Euryali, non ille oblitus amorum:
Nam sese opposuit Salio per lubrica surgens; 335
Ille autem spissa jacuit revolutus arena.
Emicat Euryalus, et, munere victor amici,
Prima tenet, plausuque volat fremituque secundo.
Post Helymus subit, et, nunc tertia palma, Diores.
Hic totum caveae consessum ingentis, et ora 340

316. Limen, the starting-post;' ultima, “the winning-post.' With ultima supply spatia.–317. Simul. So great was their speed, that at one and the same moment they leave the starting-post (limen), and mark the furthest point of the road (ultima). Signant; that is, animo or oculis designant metam. — 318. Primus abit, gets the start.' 320. The spondaic line seems employed to mark the interval.—323. Sub ipso expresses the closest proximity; sub ipsum is used only of what immediately follows.—325. These present subjunctives strengthen the probability. “Is there any distance still remaining? If so, he may, it is certain he will, pass him.' See A. 1, 58 ; 6, 293; 11, 912.

329. Ut = ubi : this is an infrequent poetic use.—330. Fusus sanguis. -332. Titubata, poetically, as if from a deponent verb.-334. Compare ille here with ille, verse 457. In both passages it emphasises the second particular of the series. Amores - affectus mutuus.—336. Ille Salius.337. Euryalūs, with ūs long by the arsis. — 339. See verse 111.340. Consessum caveae, the assemblage in the theatre-like valley. See

6

Prima patrum, magnis Salius clamoribus implet,
Ereptumque dolo reddi sibi poscit honorem.

Tutatur favor Euryalum, lacrimaeque decorae,
US

Gratior et pulchro veniens in corpore virtus.
Adjuvat, et magna proclamat voce Diores,

345
Qui subiit palmae, frustraque ad praemia venit
Ultima, si primi Salio redduntur honores.
Tum pater Aeneas: “Vestra, inquit,' munera vobis
Certa manent, pueri; et palmam movet ordine nemo:
Me liceat casus miserari insontis amici.'

350
Sic fatus, tergum Gaetuli immane leonis
Dat Salio, villis onerosum, atque unguibus aureis.
Hic Nisus, “Si tanta,' inquit, 'sunt praemia victis,
Et te lapsorum miseret; quae munera Niso
Digna dabis? primam merui qui laude coronam,

355
Ni me, quae et Salium, Fortuna inimica tulisset.'
Et simul his dictis faciem ostentabat, et udo
Turpia membra fimo. Risit pater optimus olli,
Et clipeum efferri jussit, Didymaonis artes,
Nuptuni sacro Danaïs de poste refixum.

360 Hoc juvenem egregium praestanti munere donat.

Post, ubi confecti cursus, et dona peregit:
'Nunc, si cui virtus, animusque in pectore praesens,
Adsit, et evinctis attollat brachia palmis.'
Sic ait, et geminum pugnae proponit honorem: 365
Victori velatum auro vittisque juvencum;
Ensem, atque insignem galeam, solatia victo.

Nec mora, continuo vastis cum viribus effert
Ora Dares, magnoque virûm se murmure tollit:

6

verse 287, &c. The cavea in theatres was the place where the spectators sat. Ora prima indicates the foremost seats, where sat the patres (see A. 1, 73), according to Roman usage. Ora prima patrum = patrum primas sedes tenantium.—344. Veniens, presenting itself.'—346. Subiit, has won.

There were only three prizes ; see verse 308. Frustra, as he would then have been fourth. — 349. Ordine, sc. constituto.351. Tergum. See a similar use, A. 1, 361. Gaetuli. See A. 4, 41.352. Aureis, two syllables = aurutis.—354. Niso involves the first person, him who speaks, hence merui. — 355. Merui — tulisset. See A. 2, 55. -357. Simul with the ablative = cum, is a poetic usage.359. Of the artist Didymaon, or the particular exploit to which Virgil here refers, we know nothing. Artes = ars = artis opus.-360. Danaës refixum, taken from the Greeks, and unfastened. Danaïs, the dativus incommodi.

364. Alluding to the cestus. See verse 69.–366. Auro vittisque, auratis vittis,

Solus qui Paridem solitus contendere contra; 370
Idemque ad tumulum, quo maximus occubat Hector,
Victorem Buten immani corpore, qui se
Bebrycia veniens Amyci de gente ferebat,
Perculit, et fulva moribundum extendit arena.
Talis prima Dares caput altum in proelia tollit, 375
Ostenditque humeros latos, alternaque jactat
Brachia protendens, et verberat ictibus auras.
Quaeritur huic alius: nec quisquam ex agmine tanto
Audet adire virum, manibusque inducere cestus.
Ergo alacris, cunctosque putans excedere palma, 380
Aeneae stetit ante pedes; nec plura moratus,
Tum laeva taurum cornu tenet, atque ita fatur:
'Nate dea, si nemo audet se credere pugnae,
Quae finis standi? quo me decet usque teneri?
Ducere dona jube.' Cuncti simul ore fremebant 385
Dardanidae, reddique viro promissa jubebant.

Hic gravis Entellum dictis castigat Acestes,
Proximus ut viridante toro consederat herbae:
' Entelle, heroum quondam fortissime frustra,
Tantane tam patiens nullo certamine tolli

390
Dona sines ? ubi nunc nobis deus ille, magister,
Nequidquam memoratus, Eryx? ubi fama per omnem
Trinacriam, et spolia illa tuis pendentia tectis ?'
Ille sub haec: 'Non laudis amor, nec gloria cessit
Pulsa metu; sed enim gelidus tardante senecta

395
Sanguis hebet, frigentque effoetae in corpore vires.
Si mihi, quae quondam fuerat, quaque improbus iste
Exsultat fidens, si nunc foret illa juventas;
Haud equidem pretio inductus, pulchroque juvenco
Venissem; nec dona moror.' Sic deinde locutus, 400

In medium geminos immani pondere cestus 370. There is no mention elsewhere of Butes, nor of Paris as a boxer, nor of funeral-games in honour of Hector.--373. Amycus, king of the Bebryces, a tribe of Bithynia, was celebrated as a boxer. The construction seems to be, qui veniens Bebrycia ferebat se esse de gente (race) Amyci.—375. Prima proelia = quae primus initurus erat = Dares primus in proelia.

389. Frustra. Since his bravery was now to produce no fruits. Compare A. 2, 348.-391. Deus, the demigod or hero, Eryx.—392. Eryx. See verse 24. Eryx was celebrated as a boxer.–395. Sed enim. See A. 1, 19; 2, 164. The thought involved here seems to be, sed non sine causa cunctor, gelidus enim.—400. Moror, magni aestimo.

6

Projecit, quibus acer Eryx in proelia suetus
Ferre manum, duroque intendere brachia tergo.
Obstupuere animi: tantorum ingentia septem
Terga boum plumbo insuto ferroque rigebant. 405
Ante omnes stupet ipse Dares, longeque recusat:
Magnanimusque Anchisiades, et pondus, et ipsa
Huc illuc vinclorum immensa volumina versat.
Tum senior tales referebat pectore voces :
'Quid, si quis cestus ipsius et Herculis arma

410
Vidisset, tristemque hoc ipso in litore pugnam ?
Haec germanus Eryx quondam tuus arma gerebat-
Sanguine cernis adhuc fractoque infecta cerebro-
His magnum Alciden contra stetit; his ego suetus,
Dum melior vires sanguis dabat, aemula necdum 415
Temporibus geminis canebat sparsa senectus.
Sed, si nostra Dares haec Troïus arma recusat,
Idque pio sedet Aeneae, probat auctor Acestes;
Aequemus pugnas. Erycis tibi terga remitto;
Solve metus; et tu Trojanos exue cestus.'

420
Haec fatus, duplicem ex humeris rejecit amictum;
Et magnos membrorum artus, magna ossa, lacertosque,
Exuit, atque ingens media consistit arena.

Tum satus Anchisa cestus pater extulit aequos,
Et paribus palmas amborum innexuit armis. 425
Constitit in digitos extemplo arrectus uterque,
Brachiaque ad superas interritus extulit auras.
Abduxere retro longe capita ardua ab ictu,
Immiscentque manus manibus, pugnamque lacessunt;
Ille pedum melior motu, fretusque juventa;

430 403. Tergo = corio crudo or bovino.-405. See verse 69.-407. Anchisiades, Anchisae filius, Aeneas. — 408. Vinclorum volumina, “gauntlets,' consisting of complicated plait-work of thongs.-FORBIGER. Versat (an instance of zeugma), examines,'. “ poises.'— 409. Senior ; that is,

Entellus.' — 410. Cestus et arma ipsius Herculis. See G. 2, 486. 413. Sanguine ; that is, advenurum ab Eryce occisorum.—415. Aemula = invida (juventuti).-416. Cānebat.--418. With auctor supply certaminis hujus, and see verse 387, &c. — 419. Pugnas; that is, arma, cestus. Tibi ; the dativus commodi. Terga, cestus. Remitto. See 4.4, 436.-420. Trojanos; that is, tuos.—421. Duplicem,'woven with double thread: cf. duplici amiculo circumdatus, C. Nepos, Dat. 3, 2; and Hor. Ep. 1, 17, 25.-422. Lacertosque ; the final e is elided before exuit. 423. Exuere, like our “to strip,' may be applied either to the garments or the limbs.

426. Digitos pedum ; this was to give effect to the descending blows. See arduus, verse 480. — 429. Lacessunt ineunt or movent,

6

Hic membris et mole valens, sed tarda trementi.
Genua labant, vastos quatit aeger anhelitus artus.
Multa viri nequidquam inter se vulnera jactant,
Multa cavo lateri ingeminant, et pectore vastos
Dant sonitus; erratque aures et tempora circum 435
Crebra manus; duro crepitant sub vulnere malae.
Stat gravis Entellus, nisuque immotus eodem,
Corpore tela modo, atque oculis vigilantibus, exit.
Ille, velut celsam oppugnat qui molibus urbem,
Aut montana sedet circum castella sub armis, 410
Nunc hos nunc illos aditus, omnemque pererrat
Arte locum, et variis assultibus irritus urguet.
Ostendit dextram insurgens Entellus, et alte
Extulit: ille ictum venientem a vertice velox
Praevidit, celerique elapsus corpore cessit.

445
Entellus vires in ventum effudit; et ultro,
Ipse gravis, graviterque, ad terram pondere vasto
Concidit: ut quondam cava concidit aut Erymantho,
Aut Ida in magna, radicibus eruta pinus.
Consurgunt studiis Teucri et Trinacria pubes : 450
It clamor coelo; primusque accurrit Acestes,
Aequaevumque ab humo miserans attollit amicum.
At, non tardatus casu, neque territus, heros
Acrior ad pugnam redit, ac vim suscitat ira.
Tum pudor incendit vires, et conscia virtus: 455
Praecipitemque Daren ardens agit aequore toto,
Nunc dextra ingeminans ictus, nunc ille sinistra.
Nec mora, nec requies : quam multa grandine nimbi

Culminibus crepitant, sic densis ictibus heros committere incipiunt.-432. Gēnua ; two syllables, pronouncing u as u.433. Nequidquam, “indecisive.' Vulnera, for ictus ad vulnera inferenda. -437. Entellus keeps the same position with his feet; he eludes (exit, a technical term) the blows (tela) aimed at him by shifting his body, his eye watching every movement of his antagonist.–438. Exit. As to this technical use of exeo, cf. A. 11, 750.–439. Ille, Dares. Moles,

warlike engines.'—445. Cessit, “moved from the spot.' --- 446. Ultro, as the result of his own movement.-448. Erymantho, a mountain in the north-west of Arcadia. — 449. Ida. See A. 2, 694.--451. Coelo = ad coelum.—456. Aequore = campo.—457. Ille. See verse 334. 458. Compare this passage with that of Scott

And showered his blows like wintry rain;
And as firm rock, or castle roof,
Against the winter shower is proof,' &c.

Lady of the Lake.