286This contest finished, dutiful Aeneas makes his way to a grassy plain, which woods ringed on all sides with curving hills, and in the middle of the valley was the circle of a theatre; 289there the hero went with many thousands into the middle of the gathering and sat down on a raised seat. 291Here, for any who might wish to compete in the swift race, he tempts their spirits with rewards and sets out prizes. 293From all sides Trojans gather mixed with Sicilians, Nisus and Euryalus first, Euryalus famous for his beauty and fresh youth, Nisus for his devoted love of the boy; 296after them followed royal Diores, of Priam's noble line; 298after him Salius and Patron together, one of them an Acarnanian, the other of Arcadian blood, of the Tegean race; 300then two Sicilian youths, Helymus and Panopes, used to the woods, companions of old Acestes; 302many besides, whom obscure fame hides.
303Then Aeneas, in their midst, spoke thus: 'Take this to heart, and turn your glad minds to it: no one of this number will go away without a gift from me. 306I shall give each two Cretan spears shining with polished iron and a double axe chased with silver to carry off; 308this one honour will be for all. 308The first three will receive prizes and have their heads crowned with pale-green olive. 310Let the first, the victor, have a horse splendid with trappings; 311the second an Amazonian quiver full of Thracian arrows, which a belt of broad gold encircles and a clasp with a polished gem fastens beneath; 314let the third go away content with this Argive helmet.'