e sweat
poured down from their limbs, and bloody weals streaked their sides and
shoulders, as they struggled for the well-wrought tripod. But neither
could Ulysses throw the burly Ajax, nor Ajax him. And when the Achaians
grew tired of the futile contest, Ajax spake to Ulysses: "O thou offspring
of the Gods, Laertes' son! do thou lift me, or I will lift thee, and the
issue will be on the lap of Zeus!"

So saying, he raised Ulysses. But the Wily One did not forget his craft.
From behind, he struck the hollow of Ajax's knee, and threw him on his
back; and Ulysses fell upon him; and the people marveled. Then, in his
turn, Ulysses tried to lift huge Ajax, but could not; so he thrust his
crooked knee into the hollow of the other's; and they again both fell to
the ground, covered with dust. When they rose for a third bout, Achilles
restrained them. "No longer wear ye one another out, with toil and pain!
Ye both have won and shall receive equal prizes!" And they cleansed
themselves, and put on their doublets.

Then the noble son of Peleus offered prizes for the foot-race; the first,
a silver krater holding six measures, curiously chased by Sidonian
artists--by far the most beautiful mixing-cup in the whole world. For the
second he offered a stalled ox; and for the third, half a talent of gold.
The wondrous krater Phoenicians had brought by sea, and given it to Thoas,
the ruler of Lemnos; and Euneus, son of Jason, inherited it from Jason,
who received it from Thoas, his father-in-law; and Euneus gave it to the
hero Patroclus, as a ransom for Lycaon, son of Priam; this splendid goblet
was offered to the swiftest of foot.

Then three valiant heroes arose: Ajax, son of Oileus; Ulysses, the wily
one; and Antilochus, the best runner of the youths. Achilles ranged them
side by side, and showed them the goal. All started at full speed; but
Ajax soon took the lead; and Ulysses came close behind him, near as the
shuttle to the breast of a fair-girdled woman when she is weaving,--so
near that his breath was warm on the back of Ajax. But as they neared the
goal, the wily Ulysses prayed to the fierce-eyed Athene, "O goddess, come
and help my feet!" And Athene heard her favorite, and strengthened all his
limbs. But just as they were about to pounce upon the prize, Ajax slipped
in the blood of the slaughtered oxen, and fell; his mouth and nostrils
were filled with dirt and gore. So the patient Ulysses took the priceless
krater, and Ajax th