387At this grave Acestes rebukes Entellus with words, as he sat next to him on the green couch of grass: 'Entellus, once the bravest of heroes, all in vain, will you so meekly allow such gifts to be carried off without a contest? 391Where now is that god Eryx, your teacher, of whom you boast to no purpose? 392Where is your fame throughout all Sicily, and those spoils hanging in your house?' 394He replied to this: 'Love of praise has not gone, nor has my glory, driven out by fear; 395but my blood is chilled and dulled by slow old age, and the exhausted strength in my body is cold.
397If I had that youth which once I had, and in which that insolent fellow there exults in confidence, if I had it now, I would not have come induced by a prize and a fine bullock, nor do I care for gifts.' 400Having spoken thus, he then threw into the middle a pair of gauntlets of enormous weight, with which fierce Eryx used to bring his hand into battle, binding his arms with the tough hide. 404Their minds were stunned: the seven huge hides of such great oxen were stiff with lead and iron sewn in. 406Dares himself is astounded above all, and draws far back in refusal; 407and the great-hearted son of Anchises turns over this way and that both the weight and the vast coils of the thongs themselves.
409Then the old man uttered such words from his breast: 'What if someone had seen the gauntlets and arms of Hercules himself, and the grim fight on this very shore? 412These arms your brother Eryx once wore—you see them still stained with blood and spattered brains—with these he stood against great Alcides; 414to these I was used, while better blood gave me strength, and envious old age had not yet sprinkled grey on both my temples. 417But if Trojan Dares refuses these arms of ours, and dutiful Aeneas is resolved on it, and Acestes, my sponsor, approves, let us make the fight equal. 419I give up the hides of Eryx for you; 420put away your fears; 420and you, take off your Trojan gauntlets.'