So he; and springing at his voice, his steeds
Regain’d apace the vantage lost. Meantime560
The Grecians, in full circus seated, mark’d
The steeds; they flying, fill’d with dust the air.
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 hand575
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 range580
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
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 fall605
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 upsprang610
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 both615
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
Distinctly, 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 high625
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.
Next came, by stratagem, not speed advanced
To that distinction, Nestor’s son, whom yet640
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 mares660
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 received665
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 vain675
His efforts, and no failure of his own.
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 Greeks685
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.