Book XXIII
  
     Thus did they make their moan throughout the city, while the
     Achaeans when they reached the Hellespont went back every man to his
     own ship. But Achilles would not let the Myrmidons go, and spoke to
     his brave comrades saying, "Myrmidons, famed horsemen and my own
     trusted friends, not yet, forsooth, let us unyoke, but with horse
     and chariot draw near to the body and mourn Patroclus, in due honour
     to the dead. When we have had full comfort of lamentation we will
     unyoke our horses and take supper all of us here." 
     
     On this they all joined in a cry of wailing and Achilles led them in
     their lament. Thrice did they drive their chariots all sorrowing
     round the body, and Thetis stirred within them a still deeper
     yearning. The sands of the seashore and the men's armour were wet
     with their weeping, so great a minister of fear was he whom they had
     lost. Chief in all their mourning was the son of Peleus: he laid his
     bloodstained hand on the breast of his friend. "Fare well," he
     cried, "Patroclus, even in the house of Hades. I will now do all
     that I erewhile promised you; I will drag Hector hither and let dogs
     devour him raw; twelve noble sons of Trojans will I also slay before
     your pyre to avenge you." 
     
     As he spoke he treated the body of noble Hector with contumely,
     laying it at full length in the dust beside the bier of Patroclus.
     The others then put off every man his armour, took the horses from
     their chariots, and seated themselves in great multitude by the ship
     of the fleet descendant of Aeacus, who thereon feasted them with an
     abundant funeral banquet. Many a goodly ox, with many a sheep and
     bleating goat did they butcher and cut up; many a tusked boar
     moreover, fat and well-fed, did they singe and set to roast in the
     flames of Vulcan; and rivulets of blood flowed all round the place
     where the body was lying. 
     
     Then the princes of the Achaeans took the son of Peleus to
     Agamemnon, but hardly could they persuade him to come with them, so
     wroth was he for the death of his comrade. As soon as they reached
     Agamemnon's tent they told the serving-men to set a large tripod
     over the fire in case they might persuade the son of Peleus 'to wash
     the clotted gore from this body, but he denied them sternly, and
     swore it with a solemn oath, saying, "Nay, by King Jove, first and
     mightiest of all gods, it is not meet that water should touch my
     body, till I have laid Patroclus on the flames, have built him a
     barrow, and shaved my head- for so long as I live no such second
     sorrow shall ever draw nigh me. Now, therefore, let us do all that
     this sad festival demands, but at break of day, King Agamemnon, bid
     your men bring wood, and provide all else that the dead may duly
     take into the realm of darkness; the fire shall thus burn him out of
     our sight the sooner, and the people shall turn again to their own
     labours." 
     
     Thus did he speak, and they did even as he had said. They made haste
     to prepare the meal, they ate, and every man had his full share so
     that all were satisfied. As soon as they had had had enough to eat
     and drink, the others went to their rest each in his own tent, but
     the son of Peleus lay grieving among his Myrmidons by the shore of
     the sounding sea, in an open place where the waves came surging in
     one after another. Here a very deep slumber took hold upon him and
     eased the burden of his sorrows, for his limbs were weary with
     chasing Hector round windy Ilius. Presently the sad spirit of
     Patroclus drew near him, like what he had been in stature, voice,
     and the light of his beaming eyes, clad, too, as he had been clad in
     life. The spirit hovered over his head and said- 
     
     "You sleep, Achilles, and have forgotten me; you loved me living,
     but now that I am dead you think for me no further. Bury me with all
     speed that I may pass the gates of Hades; the ghosts, vain shadows
     of men that can labour no more, drive me away from them; they will
     not yet suffer me to join those that are beyond the river, and I
     wander all desolate by the wide gates of the house of Hades. Give me
     now your hand I pray you, for when you have once given me my dues of
     fire, never shall I again come forth out of the house of Hades.
     Nevermore shall we sit apart and take sweet counsel among the
     living; the cruel fate which was my birth-right has yawned its wide
     jaws around me- nay, you too Achilles, peer of gods, are doomed to
     die beneath the wall of the noble Trojans. 
     
     "One prayer more will I make you, if you will grant it; let not my
     bones be laid apart from yours, Achilles, but with them; even as we
     were brought up together in your own home, what time Menoetius
     brought me to you as a child from Opoeis because by a sad spite I
     had killed the son of Amphidamas- not of set purpose, but in
     childish quarrel over the dice. The knight Peleus took me into his
     house, entreated me kindly, and named me to be your squire;
     therefore let our bones lie in but a single urn, the two-handled
     golden vase given to you by your mother." 
     
     And Achilles answered, "Why, true heart, are you come hither to lay
     these charges upon me? will of my own self do all as you have bidden
     me. Draw closer to me, let us once more throw our arms around one
     another, and find sad comfort in the sharing of our sorrows." 
     
     He opened his arms towards him as he spoke and would have clasped
     him in them, but there was nothing, and the spirit vanished as a
     vapour, gibbering and whining into the earth. Achilles sprang to his
     feet, smote his two hands, and made lamentation saying, "Of a truth
     even in the house of Hades there are ghosts and phantoms that have
     no life in them; all night long the sad spirit of Patroclus has
     hovered over head making piteous moan, telling me what I am to do
     for him, and looking wondrously like himself." 
     
     Thus did he speak and his words set them all weeping and mourning
     about the poor dumb dead, till rosy-fingered morn appeared. Then
     King Agamemnon sent men and mules from all parts of the camp, to
     bring wood, and Meriones, squire to Idomeneus, was in charge over
     them. They went out with woodmen's axes and strong ropes in their
     hands, and before them went the mules. Up hill and down dale did
     they go, by straight ways and crooked, and when they reached the
     heights of many-fountained Ida, they laid their axes to the roots of
     many a tall branching oak that came thundering down as they felled
     it. They split the trees and bound them behind the mules, which then
     wended their way as they best could through the thick brushwood on
     to the plain. All who had been cutting wood bore logs, for so
     Meriones squire to Idomeneus had bidden them, and they threw them
     down in a line upon the seashore at the place where Achilles would
     make a mighty monument for Patroclus and for himself. 
     
     When they had thrown down their great logs of wood over the whole
     ground, they stayed all of them where they were, but Achilles
     ordered his brave Myrmidons to gird on their armour, and to yoke
     each man his horses; they therefore rose, girded on their armour and
     mounted each his chariot- they and their charioteers with them. The
     chariots went before, and they that were on foot followed as a cloud
     in their tens of thousands after. In the midst of them his comrades
     bore Patroclus and covered him with the locks of their hair which
     they cut off and threw upon his body. Last came Achilles with his
     head bowed for sorrow, so noble a comrade was he taking to the house
     of Hades. 
     
     When they came to the place of which Achilles had told them they
     laid the body down and built up the wood. Achilles then bethought
     him of another matter. He went a space away from the pyre, and cut
     off the yellow lock which he had let grow for the river Spercheius.
     He looked all sorrowfully out upon the dark sea, and said,
     "Spercheius, in vain did my father Peleus vow to you that when I
     returned home to my loved native land I should cut off this lock and
     offer you a holy hecatomb; fifty she-goats was I to sacrifice to you
     there at your springs, where is your grove and your altar fragrant
     with burnt-offerings. Thus did my father vow, but you have not
     fulfilled his prayer; now, therefore, that I shall see my home no
     more, I give this lock as a keepsake to the hero Patroclus." 
     
     As he spoke he placed the lock in the hands of his dear comrade, and
     all who stood by were filled with yearning and lamentation. The sun
     would have gone down upon their mourning had not Achilles presently
     said to Agamemnon, "Son of Atreus, for it is to you that the people
     will give ear, there is a time to mourn and a time to cease from
     mourning; bid the people now leave the pyre and set about getting
     their dinners: we, to whom the dead is dearest, will see to what is
     wanted here, and let the other princes also stay by me." 
     
     When King Agamemnon heard this he dismissed the people to their
     ships, but those who were about the dead heaped up wood and built a
     pyre a hundred feet this way and that; then they laid the dead all
     sorrowfully upon the top of it. They flayed and dressed many fat
     sheep and oxen before the pyre, and Achilles took fat from all of
     them and wrapped the body therein from head to foot, heaping the
     flayed carcases all round it. Against the bier he leaned two-handled
     jars of honey and unguents; four proud horses did he then cast upon
     the pyre, groaning the while he did so. The dead hero had had
     house-dogs; two of them did Achilles slay and threw upon the pyre;
     he also put twelve brave sons of noble Trojans to the sword and laid
     them with the rest, for he was full of bitterness and fury. Then he
     committed all to the resistless and devouring might of the fire; he
     groaned aloud and callid on his dead comrade by name. "Fare well,"
     he cried, "Patroclus, even in the house of Hades; I am now doing all
     that I have promised you. Twelve brave sons of noble Trojans shall
     the flames consume along with yourself, but dogs, not fire, shall
     devour the flesh of Hector son of Priam." 
     
     Thus did he vaunt, but the dogs came not about the body of Hector,
     for Jove's daughter Venus kept them off him night and day, and
     anointed him with ambrosial oil of roses that his flesh might not be
     torn when Achilles was dragging him about. Phoebus Apollo moreover
     sent a dark cloud from heaven to earth, which gave shade to the
     whole place where Hector lay, that the heat of the sun might not
     parch his body. 
     
     Now the pyre about dead Patroclus would not kindle. Achilles
     therefore bethought him of another matter; he went apart and prayed
     to the two winds Boreas and Zephyrus vowing them goodly offerings.
     He made them many drink-offerings from the golden cup and besought
     them to come and help him that the wood might make haste to kindle
     and the dead bodies be consumed. Fleet Iris heard him praying and
     started off to fetch the winds. They were holding high feast in the
     house of boisterous Zephyrus when Iris came running up to the stone
     threshold of the house and stood there, but as soon as they set eyes
     on her they all came towards her and each of them called her to him,
     but Iris would not sit down. "I cannot stay," she said, "I must go
     back to the streams of Oceanus and the land of the Ethiopians who
     are offering hecatombs to the immortals, and I would have my share;
     but Achilles prays that Boreas and shrill Zephyrus will come to him,
     and he vows them goodly offerings; he would have you blow upon the
     pyre of Patroclus for whom all the Achaeans are lamenting." 
     
     With this she left them, and the two winds rose with a cry that rent
     the air and swept the clouds before them. They blew on and on until
     they came to the sea, and the waves rose high beneath them, but when
     they reached Troy they fell upon the pyre till the mighty flames
     roared under the blast that they blew. All night long did they blow
     hard and beat upon the fire, and all night long did Achilles grasp
     his double cup, drawing wine from a mixing-bowl of gold, and calling
     upon the spirit of dead Patroclus as he poured it upon the ground
     until the earth was drenched. As a father mourns when he is burning
     the bones of his bridegroom son whose death has wrung the hearts of
     his parents, even so did Achilles mourn while burning the body of
     his comrade, pacing round the bier with piteous groaning and
     lamentation. 
     
     At length as the Morning Star was beginning to herald the light
     which saffron-mantled Dawn was soon to suffuse over the sea, the
     flames fell and the fire began to die. The winds then went home
     beyond the Thracian sea, which roared and boiled as they swept over
     it. The son of Peleus now turned away from the pyre and lay down,
     overcome with toil, till he fell into a sweet slumber. Presently
     they who were about the son of Atreus drew near in a body, and
     roused him with the noise and tramp of their coming. He sat upright
     and said, "Son of Atreus, and all other princes of the Achaeans,
     first pour red wine everywhere upon the fire and quench it; let us
     then gather the bones of Patroclus son of Menoetius, singling them
     out with care; they are easily found, for they lie in the middle of
     the pyre, while all else, both men and horses, has been thrown in a
     heap and burned at the outer edge. We will lay the bones in a golden
     urn, in two layers of fat, against the time when I shall myself go
     down into the house of Hades. As for the barrow, labour not to raise
     a great one now, but such as is reasonable. Afterwards, let those
     Achaeans who may be left at the ships when I am gone, build it both
     broad and high." 
     
     Thus he spoke and they obeyed the word of the son of Peleus. First
     they poured red wine upon the thick layer of ashes and quenched the
     fire. With many tears they singled out the whitened bones of their
     loved comrade and laid them within a golden urn in two layers of
     fat: they then covered the urn with a linen cloth and took it inside
     the tent. They marked off the circle where the barrow should be,
     made a foundation for it about the pyre, and forthwith heaped up the
     earth. When they had thus raised a mound they were going away, but
     Achilles stayed the people and made them sit in assembly. He brought
     prizes from the ships-cauldrons, tripods, horses and mules, noble
     oxen, women with fair girdles, and swart iron. 
     
     The first prize he offered was for the chariot races- a woman
     skilled in all useful arts, and a three-legged cauldron that had
     ears for handles, and would hold twenty-two measures. This was for
     the man who came in first. For the second there was a six-year old
     mare, unbroken, and in foal to a he-ass; the third was to have a
     goodly cauldron that had never yet been on the fire; it was still
     bright as when it left the maker, and would hold four measures. The
     fourth prize was two talents of gold, and the fifth a two-handled
     urn as yet unsoiled by smoke. Then he stood up and spoke among the
     Argives saying- 
     
     "Son of Atreus, and all other Achaeans, these are the prizes that
     lie waiting the winners of the chariot races. At any other time I
     should carry off the first prize and take it to my own tent; you
     know how far my steeds excel all others- for they are immortal;
     Neptune gave them to my father Peleus, who in his turn gave them to
     myself; but I shall hold aloof, I and my steeds that have lost their
     brave and kind driver, who many a time has washed them in clear
     water and anointed their manes with oil. See how they stand weeping
     here, with their manes trailing on the ground in the extremity of
     their sorrow. But do you others set yourselves in order throughout
     the host, whosoever has confidence in his horses and in the strength
     of his chariot." 
     
     Thus spoke the son of Peleus and the drivers of chariots bestirred
     themselves. First among them all uprose Eumelus, king of men, son of
     Admetus, a man excellent in horsemanship. Next to him rose mighty
     Diomed son of Tydeus; he yoked the Trojan horses which he had taken
     from Aeneas, when Apollo bore him out of the fight. Next to him,
     yellow-haired Menelaus son of Atreus rose and yoked his fleet
     horses, Agamemnon's mare Aethe, and his own horse Podargus. The mare
     had been given to Agamemnon by echepolus son of Anchises, that he
     might not have to follow him to Ilius, but might stay at home and
     take his ease; for Jove had endowed him with great wealth and he
     lived in spacious Sicyon. This mare, all eager for the race, did
     Menelaus put under the yoke. 
     
     Fourth in order Antilochus, son to noble Nestor son of Neleus, made
     ready his horses. These were bred in Pylos, and his father came up
     to him to give him good advice of which, however, he stood in but
     little need. "Antilochus," said Nestor, "you are young, but Jove and
     Neptune have loved you well, and have made you an excellent
     horseman. I need not therefore say much by way of instruction. You
     are skilful at wheeling your horses round the post, but the horses
     themselves are very slow, and it is this that will, I fear, mar your
     chances. The other drivers know less than you do, but their horses
     are fleeter; therefore, my dear son, see if you cannot hit upon some
     artifice whereby you may insure that the prize shall not slip
     through your fingers. The woodman does more by skill than by brute
     force; by skill the pilot guides his storm-tossed barque over the
     sea, and so by skill one driver can beat another. If a man go wide
     in rounding this way and that, whereas a man who knows what he is
     doing may have worse horses, but he will keep them well in hand when
     he sees the doubling-post; he knows the precise moment at which to
     pull the rein, and keeps his eye well on the man in front of him. I
     will give you this certain token which cannot escape your notice.
     There is a stump of a dead tree-oak or pine as it may be- some six
     feet above the ground, and not yet rotted away by rain; it stands at
     the fork of the road; it has two white stones set one on each side,
     and there is a clear course all round it. It may have been a
     monument to some one long since dead, or it may have been used as a
     doubling-post in days gone by; now, however, it has been fixed on by
     Achilles as the mark round which the chariots shall turn; hug it as
     close as you can, but as you stand in your chariot lean over a
     little to the left; urge on your right-hand horse with voice and
     lash, and give him a loose rein, but let the left-hand horse keep so
     close in, that the nave of your wheel shall almost graze the post;
     but mind the stone, or you will wound your horses and break your
     chariot in pieces, which would be sport for others but confusion for
     yourself. Therefore, my dear son, mind well what you are about, for
     if you can be first to round the post there is no chance of any one
     giving you the goby later, not even though you had Adrestus's horse
     Arion behind you horse which is of divine race- or those of
     Laomedon, which are the noblest in this country." 
     
     When Nestor had made an end of counselling his son he sat down in
     his place, and fifth in order Meriones got ready his horses. They
     then all mounted their chariots and cast lots.- Achilles shook the
     helmet, and the lot of Antilochus son of Nestor fell out first; next
     came that of King Eumelus, and after his, those of Menelaus son of
     Atreus and of Meriones. The last place fell to the lot of Diomed son
     of Tydeus, who was the best man of them all. They took their places
     in line; Achilles showed them the doubling-post round which they
     were to turn, some way off upon the plain; here he stationed his
     father's follower Phoenix as umpire, to note the running, and report
     truly. 
     
     At the same instant they all of them lashed their horses, struck
     them with the reins, and shouted at them with all their might. They
     flew full speed over the plain away from the ships, the dust rose
     from under them as it were a cloud or whirlwind, and their manes
     were all flying in the wind. At one moment the chariots seemed to
     touch the ground, and then again they bounded into the air; the
     drivers stood erect, and their hearts beat fast and furious in their
     lust of victory. Each kept calling on his horses, and the horses
     scoured the plain amid the clouds of dust that they raised. 
     
     It was when they were doing the last part of the course on their way
     back towards the sea that their pace was strained to the utmost and
     it was seen what each could do. The horses of the descendant of
     Pheres now took the lead, and close behind them came the Trojan
     stallions of Diomed. They seemed as if about to mount Eumelus's
     chariot, and he could feel their warm breath on his back and on his
     broad shoulders, for their heads were close to him as they flew over
     the course. Diomed would have now passed him, or there would have
     been a dead heat, but Phoebus Apollo to spite him made him drop his
     whip. Tears of anger fell from his eyes as he saw the mares going on
     faster than ever, while his own horses lost ground through his
     having no whip. Minerva saw the trick which Apollo had played the
     son of Tydeus, so she brought him his whip and put spirit into his
     horses; moreover she went after the son of Admetus in a rage and
     broke his yoke for him; the mares went one to one side the course,
     and the other to the other, and the pole was broken against the
     ground. Eumelus was thrown from his chariot close to the wheel; his
     elbows, mouth, and nostrils were all torn, and his forehead was
     bruised above his eyebrows; his eyes filled with tears and he could
     find no utterance. But the son of Tydeus turned his horses aside and
     shot far ahead, for Minerva put fresh strength into them and covered
     Diomed himself with glory. 
     
     Menelaus son of Atreus came next behind him, but Antilochus called
     to his father's horses. "On with you both," he cried, "and do your
     very utmost. I do not bid you try to beat the steeds of the son of
     Tydeus, for Minerva has put running into them, and has covered
     Diomed with glory; but you must overtake the horses of the son of
     Atreus and not be left behind, or Aethe who is so fleet will taunt
     you. Why, my good fellows, are you lagging? I tell you, and it shall
     surely be- Nestor will keep neither of you, but will put both of you
     to the sword, if we win any the worse a prize through your
     carelessness, fly after them at your utmost speed; I will hit on a
     plan for passing them in a narrow part of the way, and it shall not
     fail me." 
     
     They feared the rebuke of their master, and for a short space went
     quicker. Presently Antilochus saw a narrow place where the road had
     sunk. The ground was broken, for the winter's rain had gathered and
     had worn the road so that the whole place was deepened. Menelaus was
     making towards it so as to get there first, for fear of a foul, but
     Antilochus turned his horses out of the way, and followed him a
     little on one side. The son of Atreus was afraid and shouted out,
     "Antilochus, you are driving recklessly; rein in your horses; the
     road is too narrow here, it will be wider soon, and you can pass me
     then; if you foul my chariot you may bring both of us to a
     mischief." 
     
     But Antilochus plied his whip, and drove faster, as though he had
     not heard him. They went side by side for about as far as a young
     man can hurl a disc from his shoulder when he is trying his
     strength, and then Menelaus's mares drew behind, for he left off
     driving for fear the horses should foul one another and upset the
     chariots; thus, while pressing on in quest of victory, they might
     both come headlong to the ground. Menelaus then upbraided Antilochus
     and said, "There is no greater trickster living than you are; go,
     and bad luck go with you; the Achaeans say not well that you have
     understanding, and come what may you shall not bear away the prize
     without sworn protest on my part." 
     
     Then he called on his horses and said to them, "Keep your pace, and
     slacken not; the limbs of the other horses will weary sooner than
     yours, for they are neither of them young." 
     
     The horses feared the rebuke of their master, and went faster, so
     that they were soon nearly up with the others. 
     
     Meanwhile the Achaeans from their seats were watching how the horses
     went, as they scoured the plain amid clouds of their own dust.
     Idomeneus captain of the Cretans was first to make out the running,
     for he was not in the thick of the crowd, but stood on the most
     commanding part of the ground. The driver was a long way off, but
     Idomeneus could hear him shouting, and could see the foremost horse
     quite plainly- a chestnut with a round white star, like the moon, on
     its forehead. He stood up and said among the Argives, "My friends,
     princes and counsellors of the Argives, can you see the running as
     well as I can? There seems to be another pair in front now, and
     another driver; those that led off at the start must have been
     disabled out on the plain. I saw them at first making their way
     round the doubling-post, but now, though I search the plain of Troy,
     I cannot find them. Perhaps the reins fell from the driver's hand so
     that he lost command of his horses at the doubling-post, and could
     not turn it. I suppose he must have been thrown out there, and
     broken his chariot, while his mares have left the course and gone
     off wildly in a panic. Come up and see for yourselves, I cannot make
     out for certain, but the driver seems an Aetolian by descent, ruler
     over the Argives, brave Diomed the son of Tydeus." 
     
     Ajax the son of Oileus took him up rudely and said, "Idomeneus, why
     should you be in such a hurry to tell us all about it, when the
     mares are still so far out upon the plain? You are none of the
     youngest, nor your eyes none of the sharpest, but you are always
     laying down the law. You have no right to do so, for there are
     better men here than you are. Eumelus's horses are in front now, as
     they always have been, and he is on the chariot holding the reins." 
     
     The captain of the Cretans was angry, and answered, "Ajax you are an
     excellent railer, but you have no judgement, and are wanting in much
     else as well, for you have a vile temper. I will wager you a tripod
     or cauldron, and Agamemnon son of Atreus shall decide whose horses
     are first. You will then know to your cost." 
     
     Ajax son of Oileus was for making him an angry answer, and there
     would have been yet further brawling between them, had not Achilles
     risen in his place and said, "Cease your railing Ajax and Idomeneus;
     it is not you would be scandalised if you saw any one else do the
     like: sit down and keep your eyes on the horses; they are speeding
     towards the winning-post and will be bere directly. You will then
     both of you know whose horses are first, and whose come after." 
     
     As he was speaking, the son of Tydeus came driving in, plying his
     whip lustily from his shoulder, and his horses stepping high as they
     flew over the course. The sand and grit rained thick on the driver,
     and the chariot inlaid with gold and tin ran close behind his fleet
     horses. There was little trace of wheel-marks in the fine dust, and
     the horses came flying in at their utmost speed. Diomed stayed them
     in the middle of the crowd, and the sweat from their manes and
     chests fell in streams on to the ground. Forthwith he sprang from
     his goodly chariot, and leaned his whip against his horses' yoke;
     brave Sthenelus now lost no time, but at once brought on the prize,
     and gave the woman and the ear-handled cauldron to his comrades to
     take away. Then he unyoked the horses. 
     
     Next after him came in Antilochus of the race of Neleus, who had
     passed Menelaus by a trick and not by the fleetness of his horses;
     but even so Menelaus came in as close behind him as the wheel is to
     the horse that draws both the chariot and its master. The end hairs
     of a horse's tail touch the tyre of the wheel, and there is never
     much space between wheel and horse when the chariot is going;
     Menelaus was no further than this behind Antilochus, though at first
     he had been a full disc's throw behind him. He had soon caught him
     up again, for Agamemnon's mare Aethe kept pulling stronger and
     stronger, so that if the course had been longer he would have passed
     him, and there would not even have been a dead heat. Idomeneus's
     brave squire Meriones was about a spear's cast behind Menelaus. His
     horses were slowest of all, and he was the worst driver. Last of
     them all came the son of Admetus, dragging his chariot and driving
     his horses on in front. When Achilles saw him he was sorry, and
     stood up among the Argives saying, "The best man is coming in last.
     Let us give him a prize for it is reasonable. He shall have the
     second, but the first must go to the son of Tydeus." 
     
     Thus did he speak and the others all of them applauded his saying,
     and were for doing as he had said, but Nestor's son Antilochus stood
     up and claimed his rights from the son of Peleus. "Achilles," said
     he, "I shall take it much amiss if you do this thing; you would rob
     me of my prize, because you think Eumelus's chariot and horses were
     thrown out, and himself too, good man that he is. He should have
     prayed duly to the immortals; he would not have come in fast if he
     had done so. If you are sorry for him and so choose, you have much
     gold in your tents, with bronze, sheep, cattle and horses. Take
     something from this store if you would have the Achaeans speak well
     of you, and give him a better prize even than that which you have
     now offered; but I will not give up the mare, and he that will fight
     me for her, let him come on." 
     
     Achilles smiled as he heard this, and was pleased with Antilochus,
     who was one of his dearest comrades. So he said- 
     
     "Antilochus, if you would have me find Eumelus another prize, I will
     give him the bronze breastplate with a rim of tin running all round
     it which I took from Asteropaeus. It will be worth much money to
     him." 
     
     He bade his comrade Automedon bring the breastplate from his tent,
     and he did so. Achilles then gave it over to Eumelus, who received
     it gladly. 
     
     But Menelaus got up in a rage, furiously angry with Antilochus. An
     attendant placed his staff in his hands and bade the Argives keep
     silence: the hero then addressed them. "Antilochus," said he, "what
     is this from you who have been so far blameless? You have made me
     cut a poor figure and baulked my horses by flinging your own in
     front of them, though yours are much worse than mine are; therefore,
     O princes and counsellors of the Argives, judge between us and show
     no favour, lest one of the Achaeans say, 'Menelaus has got the mare
     through lying and corruption; his horses were far inferior to
     Antilochus's, but he has greater weight and influence.' Nay, I will
     determine the matter myself, and no man will blame me, for I shall
     do what is just. Come here, Antilochus, and stand, as our custom is,
     whip in hand before your chariot and horses; lay your hand on your
     steeds, and swear by earth-encircling Neptune that you did not
     purposely and guilefully get in the way of my horses." 
     
     And Antilochus answered, "Forgive me; I am much younger, King
     Menelaus, than you are; you stand higher than I do and are the
     better man of the two; you know how easily young men are betrayed
     into indiscretion; their tempers are more hasty and they have less
     judgement; make due allowances therefore, and bear with me; I will
     of my own accord give up the mare that I have won, and if you claim
     any further chattel from my own possessions, I would rather yield it
     to you, at once, than fall from your good graces henceforth, and do
     wrong in the sight of heaven." 
     
     The son of Nestor then took the mare and gave her over to Menelaus,
     whose anger was thus appeased; as when dew falls upon a field of
     ripening corn, and the lands are bristling with the harvest- even
     so, O Menelaus, was your heart made glad within you. He turned to
     Antilochus and said, "Now, Antilochus, angry though I have been, I
     can give way to you of my own free will; you have never been
     headstrong nor ill-disposed hitherto, but this time your youth has
     got the better of your judgement; be careful how you outwit your
     betters in future; no one else could have brought me round so
     easily, but your good father, your brother, and yourself have all of
     you had infinite trouble on my behalf; I therefore yield to your
     entreaty, and will give up the mare to you, mine though it indeed
     be; the people will thus see that I am neither harsh nor
     vindictive." 
     
     With this he gave the mare over to Antilochus's comrade Noemon, and
     then took the cauldron. Meriones, who had come in fourth, carried
     off the two talents of gold, and the fifth prize, the two-handled
     urn, being unawarded, Achilles gave it to Nestor, going up to him
     among the assembled Argives and saying, "Take this, my good old
     friend, as an heirloom and memorial of the funeral of Patroclus- for
     you shall see him no more among the Argives. I give you this prize
     though you cannot win one; you can now neither wrestle nor fight,
     and cannot enter for the javelin-match nor foot-races, for the hand
     of age has been laid heavily upon you." 
     
     So saying he gave the urn over to Nestor, who received it gladly and
     answered, "My son, all that you have said is true; there is no
     strength now in my legs and feet, nor can I hit out with my hands
     from either shoulder. Would that I were still young and strong as
     when the Epeans were burying King Amarynceus in Buprasium, and his
     sons offered prizes in his honour. There was then none that could
     vie with me neither of the Epeans nor the Pylians themselves nor the
     Aetolians. In boxing I overcame Clytomedes son of Enops, and in
     wrestling, Ancaeus of Pleuron who had come forward against me.
     Iphiclus was a good runner, but I beat him, and threw farther with
     my spear than either Phyleus or Polydorus. In chariot-racing alone
     did the two sons of Actor surpass me by crowding their horses in
     front of me, for they were angry at the way victory had gone, and at
     the greater part of the prizes remaining in the place in which they
     had been offered. They were twins, and the one kept on holding the
     reins, and holding the reins, while the other plied the whip. Such
     was I then, but now I must leave these matters to younger men; I
     must bow before the weight of years, but in those days I was eminent
     among heroes. And now, sir, go on with the funeral contests in
     honour of your comrade: gladly do I accept this urn, and my heart
     rejoices that you do not forget me but are ever mindful of my
     goodwill towards you, and of the respect due to me from the
     Achaeans. For all which may the grace of heaven be vouchsafed you in
     great abundance." 
     
     Thereon the son of Peleus, when he had listened to all the thanks of
     Nestor, went about among the concourse of the Achaeans, and
     presently offered prizes for skill in the painful art of boxing. He
     brought out a strong mule, and made it fast in the middle of the
     crowd- a she-mule never yet broken, but six years old- when it is
     hardest of all to break them: this was for the victor, and for the
     vanquished he offered a double cup. Then he stood up and said among
     the Argives, "Son of Atreus, and all other Achaeans, I invite our
     two champion boxers to lay about them lustily and compete for these
     prizes. He to whom Apollo vouchsafes the greater endurance, and whom
     the Achaeans acknowledge as victor, shall take the mule back with
     him to his own tent, while he that is vanquished shall have the
     double cup." 
     
     As he spoke there stood up a champion both brave and great stature,
     a skilful boxer, Epeus, son of Panopeus. He laid his hand on the
     mule and said, "Let the man who is to have the cup come hither, for
     none but myself will take the mule. I am the best boxer of all here
     present, and none can beat me. Is it not enough that I should fall
     short of you in actual fighting? Still, no man can be good at
     everything. I tell you plainly, and it shall come true; if any man
     will box with me I will bruise his body and break his bones;
     therefore let his friends stay here in a body and be at hand to take
     him away when I have done with him." 
     
     They all held their peace, and no man rose save Euryalus son of
     Mecisteus, who was son of Talaus. Mecisteus went once to Thebes
     after the fall of Oedipus, to attend his funeral, and he beat all
     the people of Cadmus. The son of Tydeus was Euryalus's second,
     cheering him on and hoping heartily that he would win. First he put
     a waistband round him and then he gave him some well-cut thongs of
     ox-hide; the two men being now girt went into the middle of the
     ring, and immediately fell to; heavily indeed did they punish one
     another and lay about them with their brawny fists. One could hear
     the horrid crashing of their jaws, and they sweated from every pore
     of their skin. Presently Epeus came on and gave Euryalus a blow on
     the jaw as he was looking round; Euryalus could not keep his legs;
     they gave way under him in a moment and he sprang up with a bound,
     as a fish leaps into the air near some shore that is all bestrewn
     with sea-wrack, when Boreas furs the top of the waves, and then
     falls back into deep water. But noble Epeus caught hold of him and
     raised him up; his comrades also came round him and led him from the
     ring, unsteady in his gait, his head hanging on one side, and
     spitting great clots of gore. They set him down in a swoon and then
     went to fetch the double cup. 
     
     The son of Peleus now brought out the prizes for the third contest
     and showed them to the Argives. These were for the painful art of
     wrestling. For the winner there was a great tripod ready for setting
     upon the fire, and the Achaeans valued it among themselves at twelve
     oxen. For the loser he brought out a woman skilled in all manner of
     arts, and they valued her at four oxen. He rose and said among the
     Argives, "Stand forward, you who will essay this contest." 
     
     Forthwith uprose great Ajax the son of Telamon, and crafty Ulysses,
     full of wiles rose also. The two girded themselves and went into the
     middle of the ring. They gripped each other in their strong hands
     like the rafters which some master-builder frames for the roof of a
     high house to keep the wind out. Their backbones cracked as they
     tugged at one another with their mighty arms- and sweat rained from
     them in torrents. Many a bloody weal sprang up on their sides and
     shoulders, but they kept on striving with might and main for victory
     and to win the tripod. Ulysses could not throw Ajax, nor Ajax him;
     Ulysses was too strong for him; but when the Achaeans began to tire
     of watching them, Ajax said to ulysses, "Ulysses, noble son of
     Laertes, you shall either lift me, or I you, and let Jove settle it
     between us." 
     
     He lifted him from the ground as he spoke, but Ulysses did not
     forget his cunning. He hit Ajax in the hollow at back of his knee,
     so that he could not keep his feet, but fell on his back with
     Ulysses lying upon his chest, and all who saw it marvelled. Then
     Ulysses in turn lifted Ajax and stirred him a little from the ground
     but could not lift him right off it, his knee sank under him, and
     the two fell side by side on the ground and were all begrimed with
     dust. They now sprang towards one another and were for wrestling yet
     a third time, but Achilles rose and stayed them. "Put not each other
     further," said he, "to such cruel suffering; the victory is with
     both alike, take each of you an equal prize, and let the other
     Achaeans now compete." 
     
     Thus did he speak and they did even as he had said, and put on their
     shirts again after wiping the dust from off their bodies. 
     
     The son of Peleus then offered prizes for speed in running- a
     mixing-bowl beautifully wrought, of pure silver. It would hold six
     measures, and far exceeded all others in the whole world for beauty;
     it was the work of cunning artificers in Sidon, and had been brought
     into port by Phoenicians from beyond the sea, who had made a present
     of it to Thoas. Eueneus son of jason had given it to Patroclus in
     ransom of Priam's son Lycaon, and Achilles now offered it as a prize
     in honour of his comrade to him who should be the swiftest runner.
     For the second prize he offered a large ox, well fattened, while for
     the last there was to be half a talent of gold. He then rose and
     said among the Argives, "Stand forward, you who will essay this
     contest." 
     
     Forthwith uprose fleet Ajax son of Oileus, with cunning Ulysses, and
     Nestor's son Antilochus, the fastest runner among all the youth of
     his time. They stood side by side and Achilles showed them the goal.
     The course was set out for them from the starting-post, and the son
     of Oileus took the lead at once, with Ulysses as close behind him as
     the shuttle is to a woman's bosom when she throws the woof across
     the warp and holds it close up to her; even so close behind him was
     Ulysses- treading in his footprints before the dust could settle
     there, and Ajax could feel his breath on the back of his head as he
     ran swiftly on. The Achaeans all shouted applause as they saw him
     straining his utmost, and cheered him as he shot past them; but when
     they were now nearing the end of the course Ulysses prayed inwardly
     to Minerva. "Hear me," he cried, "and help my feet, O goddess." Thus
     did he pray, and Pallas Minerva heard his prayer; she made his hands
     and his feet feel light, and when the runners were at the point of
     pouncing upon the prize, Ajax, through Minerva's spite slipped upon
     some offal that was lying there from the cattle which Achilles had
     slaughtered in honour of Patroclus, and his mouth and nostrils were
     all filled with cow dung. Ulysses therefore carried off the
     mixing-bowl, for he got before Ajax and came in first. But Ajax took
     the ox and stood with his hand on one of its horns, spitting the
     dung out of his mouth. Then he said to the Argives, "Alas, the
     goddess has spoiled my running; she watches over Ulysses and stands
     by him as though she were his own mother." Thus did he speak and
     they all of them laughed heartily. 
     
     Antilochus carried off the last prize and smiled as he said to the
     bystanders, "You all see, my friends, that now too the gods have
     shown their respect for seniority. Ajax is somewhat older than I am,
     and as for Ulysses, he belongs to an earlier generation, but he is
     hale in spite of his years, and no man of the Achaeans can run
     against him save only Achilles." 
     
     He said this to pay a compliment to the son of Peleus, and Achilles
     answered, "Antilochus, you shall not have praised me to no purpose;
     I shall give you an additional half talent of gold." He then gave
     the half talent to Antilochus, who received it gladly. 
     
     Then the son of Peleus brought out the spear, helmet and shield that
     had been borne by Sarpedon, and were taken from him by Patroclus. He
     stood up and said among the Argives, "We bid two champions put on
     their armour, take their keen blades, and make trial of one another
     in the presence of the multitude; whichever of them can first wound
     the flesh of the other, cut through his armour, and draw blood, to
     him will I give this goodly Thracian sword inlaid with silver, which
     I took from Asteropaeus, but the armour let both hold in
     partnership, and I will give each of them a hearty meal in my own
     tent." 
     
     Forthwith uprose great Ajax the son of Telamon, as also mighty
     Diomed son of Tydeus. When they had put on their armour each on his
     own side of the ring, they both went into the middle eager to
     engage, and with fire flashing from their eyes. The Achaeans
     marvelled as they beheld them, and when the two were now close up
     with one another, thrice did they spring forward and thrice try to
     strike each other in close combat. Ajax pierced Diomed's round
     shield, but did not draw blood, for the cuirass beneath the shield
     protected him; thereon the son of Tydeus from over his huge shield
     kept aiming continually at Ajax's neck with the point of his spear,
     and the Achaeans alarmed for his safety bade them leave off fighting
     and divide the prize between them. Achilles then gave the great
     sword to the son of Tydeus, with its scabbard, and the leathern belt
     with which to hang it. 
     
     Achilles next offered the massive iron quoit which mighty Eetion had
     erewhile been used to hurl, until Achilles had slain him and carried
     it off in his ships along with other spoils. He stood up and said
     among the Argives, "Stand forward, you who would essay this contest.
     He who wins it will have a store of iron that will last him five
     years as they go rolling round, and if his fair fields lie far from
     a town his shepherd or ploughman will not have to make a journey to
     buy iron, for he will have a stock of it on his own premises." 
     
     Then uprose the two mighty men Polypoetes and Leonteus, with Ajax
     son of Telamon and noble Epeus. They stood up one after the other
     and Epeus took the quoit, whirled it, and flung it from him, which
     set all the Achaeans laughing. After him threw Leonteus of the race
     of Mars. Ajax son of Telamon threw third, and sent the quoit beyond
     any mark that had been made yet, but when mighty Polypoetes took the
     quoit he hurled it as though it had been a stockman's stick which he
     sends flying about among his cattle when he is driving them, so far
     did his throw out-distance those of the others. All who saw it
     roared applause, and his comrades carried the prize for him and set
     it on board his ship. 
     
     Achilles next offered a prize of iron for archery- ten double-edged
     axes and ten with single eddies: he set up a ship's mast, some way
     off upon the sands, and with a fine string tied a pigeon to it by
     the foot; this was what they were to aim at. "Whoever," he said,
     "can hit the pigeon shall have all the axes and take them away with
     him; he who hits the string without hitting the bird will have taken
     a worse aim and shall have the single-edged axes." 
     
     Then uprose King Teucer, and Meriones the stalwart squire of
     Idomeneus rose also, They cast lots in a bronze helmet and the lot
     of Teucer fell first. He let fly with his arrow forthwith, but he
     did not promise hecatombs of firstling lambs to King Apollo, and
     missed his bird, for Apollo foiled his aim; but he hit the string
     with which the bird was tied, near its foot; the arrow cut the
     string clean through so that it hung down towards the ground, while
     the bird flew up into the sky, and the Achaeans shouted applause.
     Meriones, who had his arrow ready while Teucer was aiming, snatched
     the bow out of his hand, and at once promised that he would
     sacrifice a hecatomb of firstling lambs to Apollo lord of the bow;
     then espying the pigeon high up under the clouds, he hit her in the
     middle of the wing as she was circling upwards; the arrow went clean
     through the wing and fixed itself in the ground at Meriones' feet,
     but the bird perched on the ship's mast hanging her head and with
     all her feathers drooping; the life went out of her, and she fell
     heavily from the mast. Meriones, therefore, took all ten
     double-edged axes, while Teucer bore off the single-edged ones to
     his ships. 
     
     Then the son of Peleus brought in a spear and a cauldron that had
     never been on the fire; it was worth an ox, and was chased with a
     pattern of flowers; and those that throw the javelin stood up- to
     wit the son of Atreus, king of men Agamemnon, and Meriones, stalwart
     squire of Idomeneus. But Achilles spoke saying, "Son of Atreus, we
     know how far you excel all others both in power and in throwing the
     javelin; take the cauldron back with you to your ships, but if it so
     please you, let us give the spear to Meriones; this at least is what
     I should myself wish." 
     
     King Agamemnon assented. So he gave the bronze spear to Meriones,
     and handed the goodly cauldron to Talthybius his esquire.