Page:Homer - Iliad, translation Pope, 1909.djvu/418

416 "Thy tongue too hastily confers the prize.

Of those who view the course, not sharpest eyed,

Nor youngest, yet the readiest to decide.

Eumelus' steeds high-bounding in the chase,

Still, as at first, unrivalled lead the race;

I well discern him, as he shakes the rein,

And hear his shouts victorious o'er the plain."

Thus he. Idomeneus incensed rejoined:

"Barbarous of words! and arrogant of mind!

Contentious prince! of all the Greeks beside

The last in merit, as the first in pride!

To vile reproach what answer can we make?

A goblet or a tripod let us stake,

And be the king the judge. The most unwise

Will learn their rashness, when thy pay the price."

He said: and Ajax, by mad passion borne,

Stern had replied; fierce scorn enhancing scorn

To fell extremes. But Thetis' god-like son,

Awful, amidst them rose; and thus begun:

"Forbear, ye chiefs! reproachful to contend:

Much would ye blame, should others thus offend:

And lo! the approaching steeds your contest end."

No sooner had he spoke, but, thundering near,

Drives, through a stream of dust, the charioteer;

High o'er his head the circling lash he wields;

His bounding horses scarcely touch the fields:

His car amidst the dusty whirlwind rolled,

Bright with the mingled blaze of tin and gold,

Refulgent through the cloud: no eye could find

The track his flying wheels had left behind:

And the fierce coursers urged their rapid pace

So swift, it seemed a flight, and not a race.

Now victor at the goal Tydides stands,

Quits his bright car, and springs upon the sands;

From the hot steeds the sweaty torrents stream;

The well-plied whip is hung athwart the beam:

With joy brave Sthenelus receives the prize,

The tripod-vase, and dame with radiant eyes:

These to the ships his train triumphant leads,

The chief himself unyokes the panting steeds.

Young Nestor follows, who by art, not force,

O'erpassed Atrides, second in the course.

Behind, Atrides urged the race, more near

Than to the courser in his swift career.

The following car, just touching with his heel

And brushing with his tail the whirling wheel:

Such, and so narrow, now the space between

The rivals, late so distant on the green;

So soon swift Æthe her lost ground regained,