the unlucky chance which hath
befallen Eumelus and his horses; but he ought to have made prayer to the
deathless Gods, and then he would not have come in last of all. If thou
pitiest him, there is much treasure in thy house,--gold, and bronze, and
sheep, and handmaids, and horses. Give him, if it pleaseth thee and the
Achaians, a still richer prize. But I will not give up the mare; for she
is _mine_."

And Achilles smiled on his comrade Antilochus, whom he dearly loved, and
answered him, "Antilochus, I will do as thou sayest: I will give him the
bronze cuirass, edged with shining tin, which I took from Asteropaeus."

But the great Menelaus arose, filled with insatiable wrath against
Antilochus. The herald placed a sceptre in his hand, and called for
silence. Then the godlike king made harangue, and said, "Antilochus! thou
who wert once accounted wise--what is this that thou hast done? Thou hast
disgraced my skill, and discomfited my horses, by thrusting thine, which
are far worse, in front of them. Come then, great chiefs of the Argives!
give judgment, without favor, between him and me! That no one may say
hereafter, that ye favored me for my power and rank, I will myself set the
issue before you; so that no one may reproach me. Stand forth, Antilochus,
before thy chariot; and take thy whip, and lay thy hand upon thy horses,
and swear by the great Girdler and Shaker of the Earth, that thou didst
not, by set purpose and malice, hinder my chariot in the course!"

Then Antilochus made prudent answer, "Be patient with me, King Menelaus!
for I am younger, and thou art in all respects my better. Bear with me,
then: and I will myself give thee the mare, my prize, rather than lose my
place in thy heart, O thou beloved of Zeus!" Thus spake the noble-minded
son of Nestor; and he gave the mare to Menelaus, king of men.

And the heart of the son of Atreus rejoiced, as the ripe ears of corn,
when the dew descendeth upon them, in the glistening cornfield. And he
spake kindly to Antilochus, and said, "Lo! at once do I put away my anger;
for of old thou wert never rash or light-minded; but now thy reason was
overborne by the impetuosity of youth. Therefore I grant thy prayer, and
will even give thee the mare; for I am in no wise covetous or
unforgiving."

He spake, and gave the mare to Noemon, the comrade of Antilochus, to lead
away; but he took the bright caldron to himself. And Meriones, who came in
fourth, took the two talents