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881—897 from [the mast]; but the people wondering, beheld, and were stupefied. Then Meriones took up all the ten battle-axes, and Teucer carried off the demi-axes to the hollow barks.

Then the son of Peleus indeed, bearing it into the circus, staked a long spear, and also a caldron, untouched by fire, worth an ox, adorned with flowers; and immediately the spearmen arose. The son of Atreus rose up, wide-ruling Agamemnon, and Meriones, the expert attendant of Idomeneus; whom also swift-footed, noble Achilles addressed:

"O son of Atreus, for we know how much thou dost surpass all, as well as how much thou excellest in strength and in the javelin, wherefore thou indeed mayest repair to the hollow barks, possessing this reward; but let us give the spear to the hero Meriones, if, truly, thou dost thus wish it in thy mind; for I on my part advise it."

Thus he spoke; nor did the king of men, Agamemnon, disobey: but he gave the brazen spear to Meriones; and the hero himself gave the very splendid prize to the herald Talthybius.