THUS did they make their moan throughout the city, while the

Achaeans when they reached the Hellespont went back every man to his

own ship. But Achilles would not let the Myrmidons go, and spoke to

his brave comrades saying, "Myrmidons, famed horsemen and my own

trusted friends, not yet, forsooth, let us unyoke, but with horse

and chariot draw near to the body and mourn Patroclus, in due honour

to the dead. When we have had full comfort of lamentation we will

unyoke our horses and take supper all of us here."

On this they all joined in a cry of wailing and Achilles led them in

their lament. Thrice did they drive their chariots all sorrowing round

the body, and Thetis stirred within them a still deeper yearning.

The sands of the seashore and the men's armour were wet with their

weeping, so great a minister of fear was he whom they had lost.

Chief in all their mourning was the son of Peleus: he laid his

bloodstained hand on the breast of his friend. "Fare well," he

cried, "Patroclus, even in the house of Hades. I will now do all

that I erewhile promised you; I will drag Hector hither and let dogs

devour him raw; twelve noble sons of Trojans will I also slay before

your pyre to avenge you."

As he spoke he treated the body of noble Hector with contumely,

laying it at full length in the dust beside the bier of Patroclus. The

others then put off every man his armour, took the horses from their

chariots, and seated themselves in great multitude by the ship of

the fleet descendant of Aeacus, who thereon feasted them with an

abundant funeral banquet. Many a goodly ox, with many a sheep and

bleating goat did they butcher and cut up; many a tusked boar

moreover, fat and well-fed, did they singe and set to roast in the

flames of Vulcan; and rivulets of blood flowed all round the place

where the body was lying.

Then the princes of the Achaeans took the son of Peleus to

Agamemnon, but hardly could they persuade him to come with them, so

wroth was he for the death of his comrade. As soon as they reached

Agamemnon's tent they told the serving-men to set a large tripod

over the fire in case they might persuade the son of Peleus 'to wash

the clotted gore from this body, but he denied them sternly, and swore

it with a solemn oath, saying, "Nay, by King Jove, first and mightiest

of all gods, it is not meet that water should touch my body, till I

have laid Patroclus on the flames, have built him a barrow, and shaved

my head- for so long as I live no such second sorrow shall ever draw

nigh me. Now, therefore, let us do all that this sad festival demands,

but at break of day, King Agamemnon, bid your men bring wood, and

provide all else that the dead may duly take into the realm of

darkness; the fire shall thus burn him out of our sight the sooner,

and the people shall turn again to their own labours."

Thus did he speak, and they did even as he had said. They made haste

to prepare the meal, they ate, and every man had his full share so

that all were satisfied. As soon as they had had had enough to eat and

drink, the others went to their rest each in his own tent, but the son

of Peleus lay grieving among his Myrmidons by the shore of the

sounding sea, in an open place where the waves came surging in one

after another. Here a very deep slumber took hold upon him and eased

the burden of his sorrows, for his limbs were weary with chasing

Hector round windy Ilius. Presently the sad spirit of Patroclus drew

near him, like what he had been in stature, voice, and the light of

his beaming eyes, clad, too, as he had been clad in life. The spirit

hovered over his head and said-

"You sleep, Achilles, and have forgotten me; you loved me living,

but now that I am dead you think for me no further. Bury me with all

speed that I may pass the gates of Hades; the ghosts, vain shadows

of men that can labour no more, drive me away from them; they will not

yet suffer me to join those that are beyond the river, and I wander

all desolate by the wide gates of the house of Hades. Give me now your

hand I pray you, for when you have once given me my dues of fire,

never shall I again come forth out of the house of Hades. Nevermore

shall we sit apart and take sweet counsel among the living; the

cruel fate which was my birth-right has yawned its wide jaws around

me- nay, you too Achilles, peer of gods, are doomed to die beneath the

wall of the noble Trojans.

"One prayer more will I make you, if you will grant it; let not my

bones be laid apart from yours, Achilles, but with them; even as we

were brought up together in your own home, what time Menoetius brought

me to you as a child from Opoeis because by a sad spite I had killed

the son of Amphidamas- not of set purpose, but in childish quarrel

over the dice. The knight Peleus took me into his house, entreated

me kindly, and named me to be your squire; therefore let our bones lie

in but a single urn, the two-handled golden vase given to you by

your mother."

And Achilles answered, "Why, true heart, are you come hither to

lay these charges upon me? will of my own self do all as you have

bidden me. Draw closer to me, let us once more throw our arms around

one another, and find sad comfort in the sharing of our sorrows."

He opened his arms towards him as he spoke and would have clasped

him in them, but there was nothing, and the spirit vanished as a

vapour, gibbering and whining into the earth. Achilles sprang to his

feet, smote his two hands, and made lamentation saying, "Of a truth

even in the house of Hades there are ghosts and phantoms that have

no life in them; all night long the sad spirit of Patroclus has

hovered over head making piteous moan, telling me what I am to do

for him, and looking wondrously like himself."

Thus did he speak and his words set them all weeping and mourning

about the poor dumb dead, till rosy-fingered morn appeared. Then

King Agamemnon sent men and mules from all parts of the camp, to bring

wood, and Meriones, squire to Idomeneus, was in charge over them. They

went out with woodmen's axes and strong ropes in their hands, and

before them went the mules. Up hill and down dale did they go, by

straight ways and crooked, and when they reached the heights of

many-fountained Ida, they laid their axes to the roots of many a

tall branching oak that came thundering down as they felled it. They

split the trees and bound them behind the mules, which then wended

their way as they best could through the thick brushwood on to the

plain. All who had been cutting wood bore logs, for so Meriones squire

to Idomeneus had bidden them, and they threw them down in a line

upon the seashore at the place where Achilles would make a mighty

monument for Patroclus and for himself.

When they had thrown down their great logs of wood over the whole

ground, they stayed all of them where they were, but Achilles

ordered his brave Myrmidons to gird on their armour, and to yoke

each man his horses; they therefore rose, girded on their armour and

mounted each his chariot- they and their charioteers with them. The

chariots went before, and they that were on foot followed as a cloud

in their tens of thousands after. In the midst of them his comrades

bore Patroclus and covered him with the locks of their hair which they

cut off and threw upon his body. Last came Achilles with his head

bowed for sorrow, so noble a comrade was he taking to the house of

Hades.

When they came to the place of which Achilles had told them they

laid the body down and built up the wood. Achilles then bethought

him of another matter. He went a space away from the pyre, and cut off

the yellow lock which he had let grow for the river Spercheius. He

looked all sorrowfully out upon the dark sea, and said, "Spercheius,

in vain did my father Peleus vow to you that when I returned home to

my loved native land I should cut off this lock and offer you a holy

hecatomb; fifty she-goats was I to sacrifice to you there at your

springs, where is your grove and your altar fragrant with

burnt-offerings. Thus did my father vow, but you have not fulfilled

his prayer; now, therefore, that I shall see my home no more, I give

this lock as a keepsake to the hero Patroclus."

As he spoke he placed the lock in the hands of his dear comrade, and

all who stood by were filled with yearning and lamentation. The sun

would have gone down upon their mourning had not Achilles presently

said to Agamemnon, "Son of Atreus, for it is to you that the people

will give ear, there is a time to mourn and a time to cease from

mourning; bid the people now leave the pyre and set about getting

their dinners: we, to whom the dead is dearest, will see to what is

wanted here, and let the other princes also stay by me."

When King Agamemnon heard this he dismissed the people to their

ships, but those who were about the dead heaped up wood and built a

pyre a hundred feet this way and that; then they laid the dead all

sorrowfully upon the top of it. They flayed and dressed many fat sheep

and oxen before the pyre, and Achilles took fat from all of them and

wrapped the body therein from head to foot, heaping the flayed

carcases all round it. Against the bier he leaned two-handled jars

of honey and unguents; four proud horses did he then cast upon the

pyre, groaning the while he did so. The dead hero had had

house-dogs; two of them did Achilles slay and threw upon the pyre;

he also put twelve brave sons of noble Trojans to the sword and laid

them with the rest, for he was full of bitterness and fury. Then he

committed all to the resistless and devouring might of the fire; he

groaned aloud and callid on his dead comrade by name. "Fare well,"

he cried, "Patroclus, even in the house of Hades; I am now doing all

that I have promised you. Twelve brave sons of noble Trojans shall the

flames consume along with yourself, but dogs, not fire, shall devour

the flesh of Hector son of Priam."

Thus did he vaunt, but the dogs came not about the body of Hector,

for Jove's daughter Venus kept them off him night and day, and

anointed him with ambrosial oil of roses that his flesh might not be

torn when Achilles was dragging him about. Phoebus Apollo moreover

sent a dark cloud from heaven to earth, which gave shade to the

whole place where Hector lay, that the heat of the sun might not parch

his body.

Now the pyre about dead Patroclus would not kindle. Achilles

therefore bethought him of another matter; he went apart and prayed to

the two winds Boreas and Zephyrus vowing them goodly offerings. He

made them many drink-offerings from the golden cup and besought them

to come and help him that the wood might make haste to kindle and

the dead bodies be consumed. Fleet Iris heard him praying and

started off to fetch the winds. They were holding high feast in the

house of boisterous Zephyrus when Iris came running up to the stone

threshold of the house and stood there, but as soon as they set eyes

on her they all came towards her and each of them called her to him,

but Iris would not sit down. "I cannot stay," she said, "I must go

back to the streams of Oceanus and the land of the Ethiopians who

are offering hecatombs to the immortals, and I would have my share;

but Achilles prays that Boreas and shrill Zephyrus will come to him,

and he vows them goodly offerings; he would have you blow upon the

pyre of Patroclus for whom all the Achaeans are lamenting."

With this she left them, and the two winds rose with a cry that rent

the air and swept the clouds before them. They blew on and on until

they came to the sea, and the waves rose high beneath them, but when

they reached Troy they fell upon the pyre till the mighty flames

roared under the blast that they blew. All night long did they blow

hard and beat upon the fire, and all night long did Achilles grasp his

double cup, drawing wine from a mixing-bowl of gold, and calling

upon the spirit of dead Patroclus as he poured it upon the ground

until the earth was drenched. As a father mourns when he is burning

the bones of his bridegroom son whose death has wrung the hearts of

his parents, even so did Achilles mourn while burning the body of

his comrade, pacing round the bier with piteous groaning and

lamentation.

At length as the Morning Star was beginning to herald the light

which saffron-mantled Dawn was soon to suffuse over the sea, the

flames fell and the fire began to die. The winds then went home beyond

the Thracian sea, which roared and boiled as they swept over it. The

son of Peleus now turned away from the pyre and lay down, overcome

with toil, till he fell into a sweet slumber. Presently they who

were about the son of Atreus drew near in a body, and roused him

with the noise and tramp of their coming. He sat upright and said,

"Son of Atreus, and all other princes of the Achaeans, first pour

red wine everywhere upon the fire and quench it; let us then gather

the bones of Patroclus son of Menoetius, singling them out with

care; they are easily found, for they lie in the middle of the pyre,

while all else, both men and horses, has been thrown in a heap and

burned at the outer edge. We will lay the bones in a golden urn, in

two layers of fat, against the time when I shall myself go down into

the house of Hades. As for the barrow, labour not to raise a great one

now, but such as is reasonable. Afterwards, let those Achaeans who may

be left at the ships when I am gone, build it both broad and high."

Thus he spoke and they obeyed the word of the son of Peleus. First

they poured red wine upon the thick layer of ashes and quenched the

fire. With many tears they singled out the whitened bones of their

loved comrade and laid them within a golden urn in two layers of

fat: they then covered the urn with a linen cloth and took it inside

the tent. They marked off the circle where the barrow should be,

made a foundation for it about the pyre, and forthwith heaped up the

earth. When they had thus raised a mound they were going away, but

Achilles stayed the people and made them sit in assembly. He brought

prizes from the ships-cauldrons, tripods, horses and mules, noble

oxen, women with fair girdles, and swart iron.

The first prize he offered was for the chariot races- a woman

skilled in all useful arts, and a three-legged cauldron that had

ears for handles, and would hold twenty-two measures. This was for the

man who came in first. For the second there was a six-year old mare,

unbroken, and in foal to a he-ass; the third was to have a goodly

cauldron that had never yet been on the fire; it was still bright as

when it left the maker, and would hold four measures. The fourth prize

was two talents of gold, and the fifth a two-handled urn as yet

unsoiled by smoke. Then he stood up and spoke among the Argives

saying-

"Son of Atreus, and all other Achaeans, these are the prizes that

lie waiting the winners of the chariot races. At any other time I

should carry off the first prize and take it to my own tent; you

know how far my steeds excel all others- for they are immortal;

Neptune gave them to my father Peleus, who in his turn gave them to

myself; but I shall hold aloof, I and my steeds that have lost their

brave and kind driver, who many a time has washed them in clear

water and anointed their manes with oil. See how they stand weeping

here, with their manes trailing on the ground in the extremity of

their sorrow. But do you others set yourselves in order throughout the

host, whosoever has confidence in his horses and in the strength of

his chariot."

Thus spoke the son of Peleus and the drivers of chariots bestirred

themselves. First among them all uprose Eumelus, king of men, son of

Admetus, a man excellent in horsemanship. Next to him rose mighty

Diomed son of Tydeus; he yoked the Trojan horses which he had taken

from Aeneas, when Apollo bore him out of the 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 tree-oak or pine as it may be- some 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 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 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 coming 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 come in fast 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 come on."

  Achilles smiled as he heard this, and was pleased with Antilochus,

who was one of his dearest comrades. 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 comrade 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. Come 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