Iliad by Homer - Join iZDOT

Homer’s Iliad
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 compliment 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.”
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