Aeneid

The foot-race over and the gifts disbursed,

“Come forth!” he cries, “if any in his heart

have strength and valor, let him now pull on

the gauntlets and uplift his thong-bound arms

in challenge.” For the reward of this fight

a two-fold gift he showed: the victor's meed,

a bullock decked and gilded; but a sword

and glittering helmet to console the fallen.

Straightway, in all his pride of giant strength,

Dares Ioomed up, and wondering murmurs ran

along the gazing crowd; for he alone

was wont to match with Paris, he it was

met Butes, the huge-bodied champion

boasting the name and race of Amycus,

Bythinian-born; him felled he at a blow,

and stretched him dying on the tawny sand.

Such Dares was, who now held high his head,

fierce for the fray, bared both his shoulders broad,

lunged out with left and right, and beat the air.

Who shall his rival be? Of all the throng

not one puts on the gauntlets, or would face

the hero's challenge. Therefore, striding forth,

believing none now dare but yield the palm,

he stood before Aeneas, and straightway

seized with his left hand the bull's golden horn,

and cried, “O goddess-born, if no man dares

to risk him in this fight, how Iong delay?

how Iong beseems it I should stand and wait?

Bid me bear off my prize.” The Trojans all

murmured assent, and bade the due award

of promised gift. But with a brow severe

Acestes to Entellus at his side

addressed upbraiding words, where they reclined

on grassy bank and couch of pleasant green:

“O my Entellus, in the olden days

bravest among the mighty, but in vain!

Endurest thou to see yon reward won

without a blow? Where, prithee, is that god

who taught thee? Are thy tales of Eryx vain?

Does all Sicilia praise thee? Is thy roof

with trophies hung?” The other in reply:

“My jealous honor and good name yield not

to fear. But age, so cold and slow to move,

makes my blood laggard, and my ebbing powers

in all my body are but slack and chill.

O, if I had what yonder ruffian boasts—

my own proud youth once more! I would not ask

the fair bull for a prize, nor to the lists

in search of gifts come forth.” So saying, he threw

into the mid-arena a vast pair

of ponderous gauntlets, which in former days

fierce Eryx for his fights was wont to bind

on hand and arm, with the stiff raw-hide thong.

All marvelled; for a weight of seven bulls' hides

was pieced with lead and iron. Dares stared

astonished, and step after step recoiled;

high-souled Anchises' son, this way and that,

turned o'er the enormous coil of knots and thongs;

then with a deep-drawn breath the veteran spoke:

“O, that thy wondering eyes had seen the arms

of Hercules, and what his gauntlets were!

Would thou hadst seen the conflict terrible

upon this self-same shore! These arms were borne

by Eryx. Look; thy brother's!—spattered yet

with blood, with dashed-out brains! In these he stood

when he matched Hercules. I wore them oft

when in my pride and prime, ere envious age

shed frost upon my brows. But if these arms

be of our Trojan Dares disapproved,

if good Aeneas rules it so, and King

Acestes wills it, let us offer fight

on even terms. Let Eryx' bull's-hide go.

Tremble no more! But strip those gauntlets off —

fetched here from Troy.” So saying, he dropped down

the double-folded mantle from his shoulders,

stripped bare the huge joints, the huge arms and thews,

and towered gigantic in the midmost ring.

Anchises' son then gave two equal pairs

of gauntlets, and accoutred with like arms

both champions. Each lifted him full height

on tiptoe; each with mien unterrified

held both fists high in air, and drew his head

far back from blows assailing. Then they joined

in struggle hand to hand, and made the fray

each moment fiercer. One was light of foot

and on his youth relied; the other strong

in bulk of every limb, but tottering

on sluggish knees, while all his body shook

with labor of his breath. Without avail

they rained their blows, and on each hollow side,

each sounding chest, the swift, reverberate strokes

fell without pause; around their ears and brows

came blow on blow, and with relentless shocks

the smitten jaws cracked loud. Entellus stands

unshaken, and, the self-same posture keeping,

only by body-movement or quick eye

parries attack. Dares (like one in siege

against a mountain-citadel, who now will drive

with ram and engine at the craggy wall,

now wait in full-armed watch beneath its towers)