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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　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　e　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　e　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　manding　part　of　the　ground。　The　driver　was　a　long　way
off；　but　Idomeneus　could　hear　him　shouting；　and　could　see　the
foremost　horse　quite　plainlya　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　mand　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。　e
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　betw