“Son of Laertes, nobly born and trained To wise expedients, lift me up, or I Will lift up thee; and leave the rest to Jove.”
He spake, and raised Ulysses from the ground, Who dealt, with ready stratagem, a blow Upon the ham of Ajax, and the limb Gave way; the hero fell upon his back, And on his breast Ulysses, while the host Stood wondering and amazed. Ulysses strove, In turn, to lift his rival, but prevailed Only to move him from his place; he caught The knee of Ajax in his own, and both Came to the ground together, soiled with dust. They rose to wrestle still, but from his seat Achilles started, and forbade them thus:—
“Contend no longer, nor exhaust your strength With struggling; there is victory for both, And equal prizes. Now depart, and leave The field of contest to the other Greeks.”
He spake: they listened and obeyed, and wiped The dust away, and put their garments on. And then the son of Peleus placed in sight Prizes of swiftness—a wrought silver cup That held six measures, and in beauty far Excelled all others known; the cunning hands Of the Sidonian artisans had given Its graceful shape, and over the dark sea Men of Phoenicia brought it, with their wares, To the Greek harbors; they bestowed it there On Thoas. Afterward Euneüs, son Of Jason, gave it to the hero-chief, Patroclus, to redeem a captive friend, Lycaon, Priam’s son. Achilles now Brought it before the assembly as a prize, For which, in honor of the friend he loved, The swiftest runners of the host should strive. Next, for the second in the race, he showed A noble fatling ox; and for the last, Gold, half a talent. Then he stood and said To the Achaians: