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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 manding part of the ground。 The driver was a long way
off； but Idomeneus could hear him shouting； and could see the
foremost horse quite plainlya 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 mand 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。 e
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； is it 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 here
directly。 You will then both of you know whose horses are first；
and whose e 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 rades 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 ing 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 e in last 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 e on。〃
Achilles smiled as he heard this； and was pleased with
Antilochus； who was one of his dearest rades。 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 rade 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。 e 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
harvesteven 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 h