Iliad by Homer - Join iZDOT

Homer’s Iliad
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,
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