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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
armsand 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 pete。〃
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 runninga
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 rade 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 Ulyssestreading 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 pliment 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 bat。 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