held, Steadily held, the reins, the other swung The lash. Such was I once. Now feats like these Belong to other, younger men, and I, Though eminent among the heroes once, Must do as sad old age admonishes. Go thou, and honor thy friend’s funeral With games. Thy gift I willingly accept, Rejoicing that thy thoughts revert to one Who loves thee, and that thou forgettest not To pay the honor due to me among The Greeks. The gods will give thee thy reward.”
He ceased. The son of Peleus, having heard This praise from Nestor, left him, and passed through The mighty concourse of the Greeks. He laid Before them prizes for the difficult strife Between the boxers. To the middle space He led a mule, and bound him, six years old And strong for toil, unbroken and most hard To break, while to the vanquished he assigned A goblet. Rising, he addressed the host:—
“Ye sons of Atreus and ye well-armed Greeks, We call for two of the most skilled to strive For these, by striking with the lifted fist; And he to whom Apollo shall decree The victory, acknowledged by you all, Shall have this sturdy mule to lead away. The vanquished takes this goblet as his meed.”
He spake. A warrior strong and huge of limb, Skilled in the cestus, named Epeius, son Of Panopeus, rose at the word, and laid His hand upon the sturdy mule, and said:—
“Let him appear whose lot will be to take The goblet. No man of the Grecian host Will get the mule by overcoming me In combat with the cestus—so I deem. In that I claim to be the best man here. And should it not suffice that in the war Others surpass me? All cannot excel In everything alike. I promise this, And shall fulfil my word—that I will crush His body, and will break his bones. His friend Should all remain upon the ground to bear Their comrade off when beaten by my hand.”
He spake, and all were silent. Only rose Euryalus, whose father was the king Mecisteus of Talaion’s line, the same Who went to Thebes and