545But father Aeneas, the contest not yet finished, calls to him Epytides, guardian and companion of young Iulus, and speaks thus into his faithful ear: 'Go now, and tell Ascanius, if he now has his troop of boys ready with him and has arranged the horses' manoeuvres, to lead out his squadrons in honour of his grandfather, and show himself in arms,' he says. 551He himself orders all the people who had flooded in to withdraw from the long course, and the field to be left open. 553The boys advance, and evenly, before their parents' eyes, shine on bridled horses; as they pass, all the youth of Sicily and Troy murmur in admiration.
556on all, the hair is pressed, as custom is, with a trimmed garland; 557they carry two cornel-wood spears tipped with iron; 558some have light quivers on their shoulders; 558a pliant circlet of twisted gold runs round the neck at the top of the chest. 560Three troops of horsemen in number, and three leaders ride about: each followed by twice six boys, they shine in divided column with matching captains. 563One line of young men, exulting, is led by little Priam, bearing his grandfather's name—your famous offspring, Polites, destined to increase the Italians—whom a Thracian horse carries, piebald with white spots, showing white pasterns on his forefeet and a white forehead held high.
568The second is Atys, from whom the Latin Atii have drawn their line, little Atys, a boy beloved by the boy Iulus. 570Last, and beautiful in looks above all, Iulus rode on a Sidonian horse, which radiant Dido had given him as a memorial of herself and a pledge of her love. 573The rest of the youth ride on the horses of old Sicilian Acestes.