Iliad by Homer - Join iZDOT

Homer’s Iliad
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
454