Next is a boxing-bout. “Whoever has courage And fighting spirit in his heart, step forward And put the gloves on!” There are double prizes, For the winner a bullock, decked with gold and ribbons, A sword and shining helmet for the loser. Without delay, Dares gets up; a murmur Runs through the crowd as this big man comes forward. They know that he was Paris’ sparring-partner, And they recall his famous match with Butes At Hector’s tomb, where he knocked out that champion And stretched him dying on the yellow sand. Now Dares holds his head up for the battle, Shakes his broad shoulders loose, warms up a little, A left, a right, a left, in shadow-boxing. Who will oppose him? No one puts the gloves on, No one, from all that throng, is in a hurry To take on Dares. So, exultant, thinking Himself a winner by default, he grabs The bullock by one horn, says to Aeneas:-- “If no man, goddess-born, is taking chances, How long must I keep standing here? How long Hang around waiting? Give the order, let me Lead home my prize!” The Trojans all applaud him. But king Acestes, sprawling on the greensward Beside Entellus, nudges him a little:-- “What was the use, Entellus, of being a hero, Of having been our bravest, under Eryx? Where is that old Sicilian reputation, And all those prizes hanging from the rafters? Does Dares get away with this, no contest, And all those prizes, and you sit here tamely?” Entellus answers, “Oh, I still love glory And praise; there’s nothing the matter with my courage, But I’m too old, the blood is slow and colder, The strength not what it used to be. That bragger Has one thing, youth, and how he revels in it! If I had what he has, I’d not need prizes, Bullocks or helmets either, to get me fighting.” From somewhere he produced the gloves of Eryx And tossed them into the ring, all stiff and heavy, Seven layers of hide, and insewn lead and iron. The people stand amazed, and Dares shudders, Wanting no part of gloves like these; Aeneas Inspects them, turning them slowly, over and over, And old Entellus adds a word of comment:-- “Why, these are nothing! What if you had seen The gloves of Hercules? He used to fight here. These are the gloves that Eryx wore against him. You still can see the blood and a splash of brains That stained them long ago. I used to wear them Myself when I was younger, and unchallenged By Time, that envious rival. But if Dares Declines these arms, all right, make matters equal, Don’t be afraid; I waive the gloves of Eryx, You put the Trojan gloves aside; Aeneas Will see fair play, Acestes be my second.” He throws the double cloak from off his shoulders, Strips down to the great limbs, great bones, great muscles A giant in the ring. Aeneas brings them Matched pairs of gloves.