He spake, and they who feared their master’s threat Mended their speed awhile. The warlike son Of Nestor saw just then the narrow pass Within the hollow way, a furrow ploughed By winter floods, which there had torn the course And deepened it. Atrides, to avoid The clash of wheels, drave thither; thither too Antilochus—who turned his firm-paced steeds A little from the track in which they ran— Followed him close. Atrides saw with fear, And shouted to Antilochus aloud:—
“Antilochus, thou drivest rashly; rein Thy horses in. The way is narrow here, But soon will broaden, and thou then canst pass. Beware lest with thy chariot-wheels thou dash Against my own, and harm befall us both.”
He spake; but all the more Antilochus Urged on his coursers with the lash, as if He had not heard. As far as flies a quoit Thrown from the shoulder of a vigorous youth Who tries his strength, so far they ran abreast. The horses of Atrides then fell back; He slacked the reins; for much he feared the steeds Would dash against each other in the way, And overturn the