315When this was said, they take their places, and suddenly, hearing the signal, dash over the course and leave the line, pouring out like a storm-cloud, and at once fix their eyes on the finish. 318Nisus is away first and flashes far ahead of all the others, swifter than the winds and the wings of the thunderbolt; 320next to him, but next by a long gap, follows Salius; 321then, a space left behind, Euryalus third: and Helymus follows Euryalus; 323and right behind him, look, Diores flies and grazes heel with heel now, pressing on his shoulder, and if more of the course remained, he would slip past and go ahead, or leave the issue in doubt.
327And now, almost at the final stretch and tired, they were coming up to the finish itself, when unlucky Nisus slips in slippery blood, where by chance bullocks had been slaughtered and it had poured out over the ground and soaked the green grass. 331Here the young man, already exulting in victory, could not keep his stumbling steps on the trodden ground, but fell headlong right in the filthy dung and sacred gore. 334Yet he did not forget Euryalus, nor his love; 335for, rising over the slippery ground, he threw himself in Salius' way; 336and Salius rolled over and lay on the thick sand. 337Euryalus flashes ahead, and, victor by his friend's gift, holds first place and flies on amid applause and cheering.
339Helymus comes in behind, and Diores, now winner of the third palm. 340At this Salius fills the whole gathering of the huge auditorium and the front rows of the elders with loud shouts, and demands that the honour snatched by trickery be given back to him. 343Favour protects Euryalus, and his graceful tears, and worth that is more pleasing when it comes in a beautiful body. 345Diores supports him and cries out loudly, he who had come up into the prizes, and has reached the last prize in vain if the first honours are given back to Salius.