Page:Aeneid (Conington 1866).djvu/170

Two polished darts of Gnossian craft,
An axe with silver-studded haft,
Such boon be each one's share:
The three who prove them first in speed
Shall boast a more conspicuous meed,
And olive chaplets wear:
First to the victor of the day
A horse be given with trappings gay:
A quiver shall the second grace,
True Amazon, with shafts from Thrace,
A belt withal of broad bright gold
With jewelled clasp to clench its hold:
These for the second: on the third
This Argive helmet be conferred.'

He said: at once they take their place,
And at the sign begin the race,
Pour from their base like rain-cloud dark,
And strain their eyes the goal to mark.
First, far before each flying form,
Comes Nisus rushing like the storm;
Then, nearest him where none are near,
Young Salius strains in full career;
Then with brief interval of space
Euryalus, the third in place;
Then Helymus: behind him, lo!
Diores, touching heel with toe,
Close hangs upon his rear,
And, had they run but few roods more,
Had passed him, shooting on before,
And made the vantage clear.

And now the race was all but o'er,
And panting to the goal they drew,
When Nisus trips in slippery gore
Chance-sprinkled on the grassy floor
From beasts the sacrificers slew: