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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 two mighty men Polypoetes and Leonteus； with Ajax
son of Telamon and noble Epeus。 They stood up one after the other
and Epeus took the quoit； whirled it； and flung it from him；
which set all the Achaeans laughing。 After him threw Leonteus of
the race of Mars。 Ajax son of Telamon threw third； and sent the
quoit beyond any mark that had been made yet； but when mighty
Polypoetes took the quoit he hurled it as though it had been a
stockman's stick which he sends flying about among his cattle
when he is driving them； so far did his throw out…distance those
of the others。 All who saw it roared applause； and his rades
carried the prize for him and set it on board his ship。
Achilles next offered a prize of iron for archeryten
double…edged axes and ten with single edges： he set up a ship's
mast； some way off upon the sands； and with a fine string tied a
pigeon to it by the foot； this was what they were to aim at。
〃Whoever；〃 he said； 〃can hit the pigeon shall have all the axes
and take them away with him； he who hits the string without
hitting the bird will have taken a worse aim and shall have the
single…edged axes。〃
Then uprose King Teucer； and Meriones the stalwart squire of
Idomeneus rose also； They cast lots in a bronze helmet and the
lot of Teucer fell first。 He let fly with his arrow forthwith；
but he did not promise hecatombs of firstling lambs to King
Apollo； and missed his bird； for Apollo foiled his aim； but he
hit the string with which the bird was tied； near its foot； the
arrow cut the string clean through so that it hung down towards
the ground； while the bird flew up into the sky； and the Achaeans
shouted applause。 Meriones； who had his arrow ready while Teucer
was aiming； snatched the bow out of his hand； and at once
promised that he would sacrifice a hecatomb of firstling lambs to
Apollo lord of the bow； then espying the pigeon high up under the
clouds； he hit her in the middle of the wing as she was circling
upwards； the arrow went clean through the wing and fixed itself
in the ground at Meriones' feet； but the bird perched on the
ship's mast hanging her head and with all her feathers drooping；
the life went out of her； and she fell heavily from the mast。
Meriones； therefore； took all ten double…edged axes； while Teucer
bore off the single…edged ones to his ships。
Then the son of Peleus brought in a spear and a cauldron that had
never been on the fire； it was worth an ox； and was chased with a
pattern of flowers； and those that throw the javelin stood upto
wit the son of Atreus； king of men Agamemnon； and Meriones；
stalwart squire of Idomeneus。 But Achilles spoke saying； 〃Son of
Atreus； we know how far you excel all others both in power and in
throwing the javelin； take the cauldron back with you to your
ships； but if it so please you； let us give the spear to
Meriones； this at least is what I should myself wish。〃
King Agamemnon assented。 So he gave the bronze spear to Meriones；
and handed the goodly cauldron to Talthybius his esquire。
BOOK XXIV
Priam ransoms the body of HectorHector's funeral。
THE assembly now broke up and the people went their ways each to
his own ship。 There they made ready their supper； and then
bethought them of the blessed boon of sleep； but Achilles still
wept for thinking of his dear rade； and sleep； before whom all
things bow； could take no hold upon him。 This way and that did he
turn as he yearned after the might and manfulness of Patroclus；
he thought of all they had done together； and all they had gone
through both on the field of battle and on the waves of the weary
sea。 As he dwelt on these things he wept bitterly and lay now on
his side； now on his back； and now face downwards； till at last
he rose and went out as one distraught to wander upon the
seashore。 Then； when he saw dawn breaking over beach and sea； he
yoked his horses to his chariot； and bound the body of Hector
behind it that he might drag it about。 Thrice did he drag it
round the tomb of the son of Menoetius； and then went back into
his tent； leav