arments, while the
spectators roared with laughter at his misadventure. But now Mnestheus in
the Shark and Sergestus in the Centaur pushed forward with redoubled zeal
in the hope of obtaining the lead. Sergestus got a little in front of his
competitor, but Mnestheus, walking among his rowers, urged them to put
forth their utmost strength, and at least not to suffer the disgrace of
being last. In response to his appeal they bent to the oar with new vigor;
the ship trembled under their strokes and the water seemed to fly from
beneath her keel. Suddenly, while the Centaur, in full career, was
pressing close to the rock to prevent the Shark from passing on the inner
side, she ran upon a jutting point where she remained fast, while the oars
were shattered against the hard rocks. In a moment the Shark shot past,
and having rounded the goal, dashed on the homeward way. Ere long
Mnestheus had overtaken the Chimera, which had lost ground because she was
deprived of her steersman. Cloanthus in the Scylla was now alone in front
of the Shark; and though the race was nearly over, the frantic efforts of
Mnestheus' crew might have gained him the victory, but that Cloanthus
poured forth passionate prayers to the marine deities, and promised them
ample offerings if the first prize became his. They heard his vows, and
gathering underneath his vessel, pushed it forward, so that it entered the
harbor just in front of the Shark. Then AEneas proclaimed Cloanthus the
victor, and gave him a mantle embroidered with gold and ornamented with a
thick fringe of the costly Meliboean purple. On Mnestheus, who had so
gallantly gained the second place, he bestowed a ponderous coat of mail
worked in gold and brass, which he had himself taken from a famous Greek
warrior, Demoleus, whom he had slain before Troy. Gyas received two
caldrons of brass, and some silver bowls ornamented with rich carvings.
Lastly, when Sergestus had slowly brought back to port his crippled
galley, his chief bestowed on him, in reward for having rescued the vessel
from her perilous position, a Cretan female slave with her two children.

Thus ended the galley race; and the assembled multitude now proceeded to a
grassy plain a little way inland, where thrones were placed for Acestes,
AEneas, and the other leaders. Here the remaining games were to be
celebrated, and first of all a foot race. Among the competitors in this
were Euryalus, a Trojan youth distinguished for his personal be