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 t