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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 treeoak or pine as it may
besome 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 go…by later； not even though you had Adrestus's
horse Arion behind youa horse which is of divine raceor 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 of 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 beNestor 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