Page 478 - the-iliad

both alike, take each of you an equal prize, and let the other
Achaeans now compete.’
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 run-
ning—a 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 comrade to him who should be the swiftest
runner. For the second prize he offered a large ox, well fat-
tened, 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 Ulysses—treading 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