auty;
Nisus, a brave warrior, who was his constant friend and companion; Diores,
Salius, and Patron, three other Trojans; and two Sicilian youths famous
for their speed, named Elymus and Panopes. AEneas announced that he would
give two Cretan javelins of bright steel and a carved battle-axe of silver
to each who took part in the race, and to the three who came in first
other rich prizes: to the first a war-horse with costly trappings; to the
second a quiver full of Thracian arrows, with a gold belt and jeweled
buckle; and to the third a Grecian helmet. The runners having been placed
in proper order, the signal was given, and they darted forward like a
tempest. Nisus led the way, Salius coming second, and Euryalus third, with
the rest following close behind. Already Nisus was near the goal, when
unluckily his foot slipped at a spot where some victims had been
sacrificed for the altar, and the blood soaking into the grass had made it
slippery. Down he fell into the puddle, and in a moment his chance of
victory had disappeared. But even then, in spite of his disappointment, he
was mindful of his affection for Euryalus, and resolved that since he
could not win the race, his friend should do so. He rose to his feet just
as Salius was coming up, and contrived to stand in his way so as to
overturn him. Euryalus, who had still kept the third place, now sprang
forward, and was easily victorious amid the applause of the crowd. Elymus
came in next, and close behind him Diores. But Salius loudly demanded that
the first prize of right belonged to him, because he had been deprived of
the victory by unfair means. The spectators, however, favored the claim of
Euryalus because of his youth and beauty; and Diores vehemently took the
same side, since, if Salius were adjudged the victory, he would not
receive a prize at all. AEneas speedily silenced all contention by
declaring that the promised rewards should go to the three who had arrived
first at the winning-post; but he added that he would show his sympathy
for the disaster which had befallen Salius, and therefore bestowed on him
the shaggy hide of a Getulian lion, still retaining the claws, which had
been gilt. Upon this, Nisus also merrily asked for some consolation, since
but for an accident the first prize would have been his, and he showed his
face and limbs all besmeared with mud. His chief entered into the jest,
and gave him a buckler, finely carved, which had once hung on the wall