Then had Tydides pass’d him, or had made
Decision dubious, but Apollo struck,
Resentful, from his hand the glittering scourge.
Fast roll’d the tears indignant down his cheeks,
For he beheld the mares with double speed, 485
Flying, and of the spur deprived, his own
569 Retarded steeds continual thrown behind.
But not unnoticed by Minerva pass’d
The art by Phœbus practised to impede
The son of Tydeus, whom with winged haste 490
Following, she gave to him his scourge again,
And with new force his lagging steeds inspired.
Eumelus, next, the angry Goddess, swift
Pursuing, snapt his yoke; wide flew the mares
Asunder, and the pole fell to the ground. 495
Himself, roll’d from his seat, fast by the wheel
With lacerated elbows, nostrils, mouth,
And batter’d brows lay prone; sorrow his eyes
Deluged, and disappointment chok’d his voice.
Then, far outstripping all, Tydides push’d 500
His steeds beyond, which Pallas fill’d with power
That she might make the glorious prize his own.
Him follow’d Menelaus amber-hair’d,
The son of Atreus, and his father’s steeds
Encouraging, thus spake Antilochus. 505
Away — now stretch ye forward to the goal.
I bid you not to an unequal strife
With those of Diomede, for Pallas them
Quickens that he may conquer, and the Chief
So far advanced makes competition vain. 510
But reach the son of Atreus, fly to reach
His steeds, incontinent; ah, be not shamed
For ever, foil’d by Æthe, by a mare!
Why fall ye thus behind, my noblest steeds?
I tell you both, and ye shall prove me true, 515
No favor shall ye find at Nestor’s hands,
My valiant sire, but he will thrust his spear
Right through you, should we lose, for sloth of yours,
Or by your negligence, the nobler prize.
Haste then — pursue him — reach the royal Chief — 520
And how to pass him in yon narrow way
Shall be my care, and not my care in vain.
He ended; they, awhile, awed by his voice,
With more exertion ran, and Nestor’s son
570 Now saw the hollow strait mark’d by his sire. 525
It was a chasm abrupt, where winter-floods,
Wearing the soil, had gullied deep the way.
Thither Atrides, anxious to avoid
A clash of chariots drove, and thither drove
Also, but somewhat devious from his track, 530
Antilochus. Then Menelaus fear’d,
And with loud voice the son of Nestor hail’d.
Antilochus, at what a madman’s rate
Drivest thou! stop — check thy steeds — the way is here
Too strait, but widening soon, will give thee scope 535
To pass me by; beware, lest chariot close
To chariot driven, thou maim thyself and me.
He said; but still more rapid and the scourge
Plying continual, as he had not heard,
Antilochus came on. Far as the quoit 540
By some broad-shoulder’d youth for trial hurl’d
Of manhood flies, so far Antilochus
Shot forward; but the coursers fell behind
Of Atreus’ son, who now abated much
By choice his driving, lest the steeds of both 545
Jostling, should overturn with sudden shock
Both chariots, and themselves in dust be roll’d,
Through hot ambition of the foremost prize.
Him then the hero golden-hair’d reproved.
Antilochus! the man lives not on earth 550
Like thee for love of mischief. Go, extoll’d
For wisdom falsely by the sons of Greece.
Yet, trust me, not without an oath, the prize
Thus foully sought shall even now be thine.
He said, and to his coursers call’d aloud. 555
Ah be not tardy; stand not sorrow-check’d;
Their feet will fail them sooner far than yours,
For years have pass’d since they had youth to boast.
So he; and springing at his voice, his steeds
Regain’d apace the vantage lost. Meantime 560
The Grecians, in full circus seated, mark’d
The steeds; they flying, fill’d with dust the air.
571 Then, ere the rest, Idomeneus discern’d
The foremost pair; for, on a rising ground
Exalted, he without the circus sat, 565
And hearing, though remote, the driver’s voice
Chiding his steeds, knew it, and knew beside
The leader horse distinguish’d by his hue,
Chestnut throughout, save that his forehead bore
A splendid blazon white, round as the moon. 570
He stood erect, and to the Greeks he cried.
Friends! Chiefs and senators of Argos’ host!
Discern I sole the steeds, or also ye?
The horses, foremost now, to me appear
Other than erst, and I descry at hand 575
A different charioteer; the mares of late
Victorious, somewhere distant in the race
Are hurt; I plainly saw them at the first
Turning the goal, but see them now no more;
And yet with eyes inquisitive I range 580
From side to side the whole broad plain of Troy.
Either the charioteer hath slipp’d the reins,
Or rounded not successfully the goal
Through want of guidance. Thrown, as it should seem,
Forth from his seat, he hath his chariot maim’d, 585
And his ungovern’d steeds have roam’d away.
Arise and look ye forth yourselves, for I
With doubtful ken behold him; yet the man
Seems, in my view, Ætolian by descent,
A Chief of prime renown in Argos’ host, 590
The hero Tydeus’ son, brave Diomede,
But Ajax Oïliades the swift
Him sharp reproved. Why art thou always given
To prate, Idomeneus? thou seest the mares,
Remote indeed, but posting to the goal. 595
Thou art not youngest of the Argives here
So much, nor from beneath thy brows look forth
Quick-sighted more than ours, thine eyes abroad.
Yet still thou pratest, although silence more
Should suit thee, among wiser far than thou. 600
572 The mares which led, lead still, and he who drives
Eumelus is, the same who drove before.
To whom the Cretan Chief, angry, replied.
Ajax! whom none in wrangling can excel
Or rudeness, though in all beside thou fall 605
Below the Argives, being boorish-rough,
Come now — a tripod let us wager each,
Or caldron, and let Agamemnon judge
Whose horses lead, that, losing, thou may’st learn.
He said; then sudden from his seat upsprang 610
Swift Ajax Oïliades, prepared
For harsh retort, nor had the contest ceased
Between them, but had grown from ill to worse,
Had not himself, Achilles, interposed.
Ajax — Idomeneus — abstain ye both 615
From bitter speech offensive, and such terms
As ill become you. Ye would feel, yourselves,
Resentment, should another act as ye.
Survey the course, peaceable, from your seats;
The charioteers, by competition wing’d, 620
Will soon themselves arrive, then shall ye know
Dis
tinctly, both who follows and who leads.
He scarce had said, when nigh at hand appear’d
Tydides, lashing, as he came, his steeds
Continual; they with hoofs uplifted high 625
Their yet remaining ground shorten’d apace,
Sprinkling with dusty drops at every stroke
Their charioteer, while close upon their heels
Radiant with tin and gold the chariot ran,
Scarce tracking light the dust, so swift they flew. 630
He stood in the mid-circus; there the sweat
Rain’d under them from neck and chest profuse,
And Diomede from his resplendent seat
Leaping, reclined his scourge against the yoke.
Nor was his friend brave Sthenelus remiss, 635
But, seizing with alacrity the prize,
Consign’d the tripod and the virgin, first,
To his own band in charge; then, loosed the steeds.
573 Next came, by stratagem, not speed advanced
To that distinction, Nestor’s son, whom yet 640
The hero Menelaus close pursued
Near as the wheel runs to a courser’s heels,
Drawing his master at full speed; his tail
With its extremest hairs the felly sweeps
That close attends him o’er the spacious plain, 645
So near had Menelaus now approach’d
Antilochus; for though at first he fell
A full quoit’s cast behind, he soon retrieved
That loss, with such increasing speed the mare
Bright-maned of Agamemnon, Æthe, ran; 650
She, had the course few paces more to both
Afforded, should have clearly shot beyond
Antilochus, nor dubious left the prize.
But noble Menelaus threw behind
Meriones, companion in the field, 655
Of King Idomeneus, a lance’s flight,
For slowest were his steeds, and he, to rule
The chariot in the race, least skill’d of all.
Last came Eumelus drawing to the goal,
Himself, his splendid chariot, and his mares 660
Driving before him. Peleus’ rapid son
Beheld him with compassion, and, amid
The Argives, in wing’d accents thus he spake.
Here comes the most expert, driving his steeds
Before him. Just it were that he received 665
The second prize; Tydides claims the first.
He said, and all applauded the award.
Then had Achilles to Eumelus given
The mare (for such the pleasure seem’d of all)
Had not the son of mighty Nestor risen, 670
Antilochus, who pleaded thus his right.
Achilles! acting as thou hast proposed,
Thou shalt offend me much, for thou shalt take
The prize from me, because the Gods, his steeds
And chariot-yoke disabling, render’d vain 675
His efforts, and no failure of his own.
574 It was his duty to have sought the Gods
In prayer, then had he not, following on foot
His coursers, hindmost of us all arrived.
But if thou pity him, and deem it good, 680
Thou hast much gold, much brass, and many sheep
In thy pavilion; thou hast maidens fair,
And coursers also. Of thy proper stores
Hereafter give to him a richer prize
Than this, or give it now, so shall the Greeks 685
Applaud thee; but this mare yield I to none;
Stand forth the Grecian who desires to win
That recompense, and let him fight with me.
He ended, and Achilles, godlike Chief,
Smiled on him, gratulating his success, 690
Whom much he loved; then, ardent, thus replied.
Antilochus! if thou wouldst wish me give
Eumelus of my own, even so I will.
I will present to him my corslet bright
Won from Asteropæus, edged around 695
With glittering tin; a precious gift, and rare.
So saying, he bade Automedon his friend
Produce it from the tent; he at his word
Departing, to Achilles brought the spoil,
Which at his hands Eumelus glad received. 700
Then, stung with grief, and with resentment fired
Immeasurable, Menelaus rose
To charge Antilochus. His herald gave
The sceptre to his hand, and (silence bidden
To all) the godlike hero thus began. 705
Antilochus! oh heretofore discreet!
What hast thou done? Thou hast dishonor’d foul
My skill, and wrong’d my coursers, throwing thine,
Although inferior far, by fraud before them.
Ye Chiefs and Senators of Argos’ host! 710
Impartial judge between us, lest, of these,
Some say hereafter, Menelaus bore
Antilochus by falsehood down, and led
The mare away, because, although his steeds
575 Were worse, his arm was mightier, and prevail’d. 715
Yet hold — myself will judge, and will to all
Contentment give, for I will judge aright.
Hither, Antilochus, illustrious youth!
And, as the law prescribes, standing before
Thy steeds and chariot, holding too the scourge 720
With which thou drovest, lay hand on both thy steeds,
And swear by Neptune, circler of the earth,
That neither wilfully, nor yet by fraud
Thou didst impede my chariot in its course.
Then prudent, thus Antilochus replied. 725
Oh royal Menelaus! patient bear
The fault of one thy junior far, in years
Alike unequal and in worth to thee.
Thou know’st how rash is youth, and how propense
To pass the bounds by decency prescribed, 730
Quick, but not wise. Lay, then, thy wrath aside;
The mare now given me I will myself
Deliver to thee, and if thou require
A larger recompense, will rather yield
A larger much than from thy favor fall 735
Deservedly for ever, mighty Prince!
And sin so heinously against the Gods.
So saying, the son of valiant Nestor led
The mare, himself, to Menelaus’ hand,
Who with heart-freshening joy the prize received. 740
As on the ears of growing corn the dews
Fall grateful, while the spiry grain erect
Bristles the fields, so, Menelaus, felt
Thy inmost soul a soothing pleasure sweet!
Then answer thus the hero quick return’d. 745
Antilochus! exasperate though I were,
Now, such no longer, I relinquish glad
All strife with thee, for that at other times
Thou never inconsiderate wast or light,
Although by youthful heat misled to-day. 750
Yet safer is it not to over-reach
Superiors, for no other Grecian here
576 Had my extreme displeasure calm’d so soon;
But thou hast suffer’d much, and much hast toil’d,
As thy good father and thy brother have, 755
On my behalf; I, therefore, yield, subdued
By thy entreaties, and the mare, though mine,
Will also give thee, that these Grecians all
May know me neither proud nor hard to appease.
So saying, the mare he to Noëmon gave, 760
Friend of Antilochus, and, well-content,
The polish’d caldron for his prize received.
The fourth awarded lot (for he had fourth
Arrived) Meriones asserted next,
The golden talents; but the phial still 765
Left unappropriated Achille
s bore
Across the circus in his hand, a gift
To ancient Nestor, whom he thus bespake.
Thou also, oh my father! this accept,
Which in remembrance of the funeral rites 770
Of my Patroclus, keep, for him thou seest
Among the Greeks no more. Receive a prize,
Thine by gratuity; for thou shalt wield
The cestus, wrestle, at the spear contend,
Or in the foot-race (fallen as thou art 775
Into the wane of life) never again.
He said, and placed it in his hands. He, glad,
Receiving it, in accents wing’d replied.
True, oh my son! is all which thou hast spoken.
These limbs, these hands, young friend! (their vigor lost) 780
No longer, darted from the shoulder, spring
At once to battle. Ah that I could grow
Young yet again, could feel again such force
Athletic, as when in Buprasium erst
The Epeans with sepulchral pomp entomb’d 785
King Amarynceus, where his sons ordain’d
Funereal games in honor of their sire!
Epean none or even Pylian there
Could cope with me, or yet Ætolian bold.
Boxing, I vanquish’d Clytomedes, son 790
577 Of Enops; wrestling, the Pleuronian Chief
Ancæus; in the foot-race Iphiclus,
Though a fleet runner; and I over-pitch’d
Phyleus and Polydorus at the spear.
The sons of Actor in the chariot-race 795
Alone surpass’d me, being two for one,
And jealous both lest I should also win
That prize, for to the victor charioteer
They had assign’d the noblest prize of all.
They were twin-brothers, and one ruled the steeds, 800
The steeds one ruled, the other lash’d them on.
Such once was I; but now, these sports I leave
To younger; me submission most befits
To withering age, who then outshone the best.
But go. The funeral of thy friend with games 805
Proceed to celebrate; I accept thy gift
With pleasure; and my heart is also glad
That thou art mindful evermore of one
Who loves thee, and such honor in the sight
Yield’st me of all the Greeks, as is my due. 810
May the Gods bless thee for it more and more!
He spake, and Peleus’ son, when he had heard
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