Iliad by Homer - Join iZDOT

Homer’s Iliad
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
fattened, 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 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
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