§23.761στήθεός ἐστι κανών, ὅν τʼ εὖ μάλα χερσὶ τανύσσῃ §23.762πηνίον ἐξέλκουσα παρὲκ μίτον, ἀγχόθι δʼ ἴσχει §23.763στήθεος· ὣς Ὀδυσεὺς θέεν ἐγγύθεν, αὐτὰρ ὄπισθεν §23.764ἴχνια τύπτε πόδεσσι πάρος κόνιν ἀμφιχυθῆναι· §23.765κὰδ δʼ ἄρα οἱ κεφαλῆς χέʼ ἀϋτμένα δῖος Ὀδυσσεὺς §23.766αἰεὶ ῥίμφα θέων· ἴαχον δʼ ἐπὶ πάντες Ἀχαιοὶ §23.767νίκης ἱεμένῳ, μάλα δὲ σπεύδοντι κέλευον.
by her chest is the weaving rod, which she pulls very well with her hands, drawing the bobbin past the warp-thread, and holds it close to her chest; so Odysseus ran close to him, and from behind he struck his footprints with his feet before the dust could spread over them; and noble Odysseus poured his breath upon Ajax's head as he ever ran swiftly; and all the Achaeans shouted to him as he strove for victory, and urged him on as he made great haste.
§23.768ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ πύματον τέλεον δρόμον, αὐτίκʼ Ὀδυσσεὺς §23.769εὔχετʼ Ἀθηναίῃ γλαυκώπιδι ὃν κατὰ θυμόν· §23.770κλῦθι θεά, ἀγαθή μοι ἐπίρροθος ἐλθὲ ποδοῖιν. §23.771ὣς ἔφατʼ εὐχόμενος· τοῦ δʼ ἔκλυε Παλλὰς Ἀθήνη, §23.772γυῖα δʼ ἔθηκεν ἐλαφρά, πόδας καὶ χεῖρας ὕπερθεν.
But when they were now completing the last part of the course, straightway Odysseus prayed to flashing-eyed Athena in his heart: “Hear me, Goddess, come as a good helper to my feet.” So he spoke in prayer; and Pallas Athena heard him, and she made his limbs light, his feet and his hands above.
§23.773ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ τάχʼ ἔμελλον ἐπαΐξασθαι ἄεθλον, §23.774ἔνθʼ Αἴας μὲν ὄλισθε θέων, βλάψεν γὰρ Ἀθήνη, §23.775τῇ ῥα βοῶν κέχυτʼ ὄνθος ἀποκταμένων ἐριμύκων, §23.776οὓς ἐπὶ Πατρόκλῳ πέφνεν πόδας ὠκὺς Ἀχιλλεύς· §23.777ἐν δʼ ὄνθου βοέου πλῆτο στόμα τε ῥῖνάς τε·
But when they were just about to rush upon the prize, there Ajax slipped as he ran, for Athena tripped him, where the dung of bellowing slaughtered bulls was scattered, which swift-footed Achilles had slain in honor of Patroclus; and Ajax's mouth and nostrils were filled with the bull's dung.
§23.778κρητῆρʼ αὖτʼ ἀνάειρε πολύτλας δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς, §23.779ὡς ἦλθε φθάμενος· ὃ δὲ βοῦν ἕλε φαίδιμος Αἴας.
So much-enduring noble Odysseus lifted and took the mixing bowl, since he came first; and illustrious Ajax took the ox.
§23.780στῆ δὲ κέρας μετὰ χερσὶν ἔχων βοὸς ἀγραύλοιο §23.781ὄνθον ἀποπτύων, μετὰ δʼ Ἀργείοισιν ἔειπεν· §23.782ὢ πόποι ἦ μʼ ἔβλαψε θεὰ πόδας, ἣ τὸ πάρος περ §23.783μήτηρ ὣς Ὀδυσῆϊ παρίσταται ἠδʼ ἐπαρήγει. §23.784ὣς ἔφαθʼ, οἳ δʼ ἄρα πάντες ἐπʼ αὐτῷ ἡδὺ γέλασσαν.
He stood holding the horn of the wild ox in his hands, spitting out the dung, and spoke among the Argives: “Ah, surely the Goddess tripped my feet, she who ever stands by Odysseus like a mother and helps him.” So he spoke, and they all laughed merrily at him.
§23.785Ἀντίλοχος δʼ ἄρα δὴ λοισθήϊον ἔκφερʼ ἄεθλον §23.786μειδιόων, καὶ μῦθον ἐν Ἀργείοισιν ἔειπεν· §23.787εἰδόσιν ὔμμʼ ἐρέω πᾶσιν φίλοι, ὡς ἔτι καὶ νῦν §23.788ἀθάνατοι τιμῶσι παλαιοτέρους ἀνθρώπους.
And then Antilochus took the last prize, smiling, and spoke a word among the Argives: “I will tell you all, my friends, who already know, how even now the immortals honor the older men.
§23.789Αἴας μὲν γὰρ ἐμεῖʼ ὀλίγον προγενέστερός ἐστιν, §23.790οὗτος δὲ προτέρης γενεῆς προτέρων τʼ ἀνθρώπων· §23.791ὠμογέροντα δέ μίν φασʼ ἔμμεναι· ἀργαλέον δὲ §23.792ποσσὶν ἐριδήσασθαι Ἀχαιοῖς, εἰ μὴ Ἀχιλλεῖ. §23.793ὣς φάτο, κύδηνεν δὲ ποδώκεα Πηλεΐωνα.
For Ajax is but a little older than I, but this man is of an earlier generation and of earlier men; they say he is a vigorous old man; and it is hard for the Achaeans to compete with him in speed, except for Achilles.” So he spoke, and gave glory to swift-footed Achilles.
§23.794τὸν δʼ Ἀχιλεὺς μύθοισιν ἀμειβόμενος προσέειπεν· §23.795Ἀντίλοχʼ οὐ μέν τοι μέλεος εἰρήσεται αἶνος, §23.796ἀλλά τοι ἡμιτάλαντον ἐγὼ χρυσοῦ ἐπιθήσω. §23.797ὣς εἰπὼν ἐν χερσὶ τίθει, ὃ δʼ ἐδέξατο χαίρων.
And Achilles answered him with words and spoke: “Antilochus, your praise shall not be spoken in vain, but I will add half a talent of gold to your prize.” So saying, he placed it in his hands, and he received it gladly.
§23.798αὐτὰρ Πηλεΐδης κατὰ μὲν δολιχόσκιον ἔγχος §23.799θῆκʼ ἐς ἀγῶνα φέρων, κατὰ δʼ ἀσπίδα καὶ τρυφάλειαν §23.800τεύχεα Σαρπήδοντος, ἅ μιν Πάτροκλος ἀπηύρα.
Then the son of Peleus brought a far-shadowing spear and set it in the ring, and a shield and a helmet, the armor of Sarpedon, which Patroclus had stripped from him.
§23.801στῆ δʼ ὀρθὸς καὶ μῦθον ἐν Ἀργείοισιν ἔειπεν· §23.802ἄνδρε δύω περὶ τῶνδε κελεύομεν, ὥ περ ἀρίστω, §23.803τεύχεα ἑσσαμένω ταμεσίχροα χαλκὸν ἑλόντε §23.804ἀλλήλων προπάροιθεν ὁμίλου πειρηθῆναι.
He stood upright and spoke a word among the Argives: “We invite two men, whoever are the best, to contend for these, clothed in armor and taking flesh-cutting bronze, to make trial of each other before the crowd.
§23.805ὁππότερός κε φθῇσιν ὀρεξάμενος χρόα καλόν, §23.806ψαύσῃ δʼ ἐνδίνων διά τʼ ἔντεα καὶ μέλαν αἷμα, §23.807τῷ μὲν ἐγὼ δώσω τόδε φάσγανον ἀργυρόηλον §23.808καλὸν Θρηΐκιον, τὸ μὲν Ἀστεροπαῖον ἀπηύρων· §23.809τεύχεα δʼ ἀμφότεροι ξυνήϊα ταῦτα φερέσθων· §23.810καί σφιν δαῖτʼ ἀγαθὴν παραθήσομεν ἐν κλισίῃσιν. §23.811ὣς ἔφατʼ, ὦρτο δʼ ἔπειτα μέγας Τελαμώνιος Αἴας, §23.812ἂν δʼ ἄρα Τυδεΐδης ὦρτο, κρατερὸς Διομήδης.
Whichever of the two shall first reach the other’s fair flesh, and touch the inner parts through the armor and draw black blood, to him I will give this silver-studded sword, beautiful and Thracian, which I took from Asteropaeus; and let both carry away these arms to be shared between them; and we shall set a fine feast for them in our tents.” So he spoke, and then arose great Telamonian Ajax, and up rose the son of Tydeus, strong Diomedes.
§23.813οἳ δʼ ἐπεὶ οὖν ἑκάτερθεν ὁμίλου θωρήχθησαν, §23.814ἐς μέσον ἀμφοτέρω συνίτην μεμαῶτε μάχεσθαι §23.815δεινὸν δερκομένω· θάμβος δʼ ἔχε πάντας Ἀχαιούς.
When they had armed themselves on either side of the crowd, both went into the midst, eager to fight, glaring terribly; and amazement held all the Achaeans.
§23.816ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ σχεδὸν ἦσαν ἐπʼ ἀλλήλοισιν ἰόντες, §23.817τρὶς μὲν ἐπήϊξαν, τρὶς δὲ σχεδὸν ὁρμήθησαν.
But when they had come near, advancing against each other, three times they rushed on, and three times they lunged from close range.
§23.818ἔνθʼ Αἴας μὲν ἔπειτα κατʼ ἀσπίδα πάντοσʼ ἐΐσην §23.819νύξʼ, οὐδὲ χρόʼ ἵκανεν· ἔρυτο γὰρ ἔνδοθι θώρηξ·
Then Ajax thrust at the shield, equal on all sides, but did not reach the flesh; for the breastplate inside protected him.
§23.820Τυδεΐδης δʼ ἄρʼ ἔπειτα ὑπὲρ σάκεος μεγάλοιο §23.821αἰὲν ἐπʼ αὐχένι κῦρε φαεινοῦ δουρὸς ἀκωκῇ.
But the son of Tydeus then, over the great shield, was ever reaching at the neck with the point of his shining spear.
§23.822καὶ τότε δή ῥʼ Αἴαντι περιδείσαντες Ἀχαιοὶ §23.823παυσαμένους ἐκέλευσαν ἀέθλια ἶσʼ ἀνελέσθαι.
And then the Achaeans, fearing greatly for Ajax, ordered them to cease and to take equal prizes.
But the hero gave the great sword to the son of Tydeus, bringing it with its scabbard and well-cut strap.
§23.826αὐτὰρ Πηλεΐδης θῆκεν σόλον αὐτοχόωνον §23.827ὃν πρὶν μὲν ῥίπτασκε μέγα σθένος Ἠετίωνος· §23.828ἀλλʼ ἤτοι τὸν ἔπεφνε ποδάρκης δῖος Ἀχιλλεύς, §23.829τὸν δʼ ἄγετʼ ἐν νήεσσι σὺν ἄλλοισι κτεάτεσσι.
Then the son of Peleus set forth a raw-cast iron block, which in former times the great strength of Eetion used to throw; but swift-footed noble Achilles had slain him, and carried it away in his ships with his other possessions.