rs; for not
another man of the Greeks would have easily appeased me. But thou hast
already suffered much, and accomplished many deeds, as well as thy good
father and brother, for my sake: therefore will I be persuaded by thee,
supplicating, and will give the mare also, although being mine; that
these too may perceive that my soul is never overbearing or
unrelenting."

He spoke, and gave the steed to Noemon, the comrade of Antilochus, to
lead away; and then he received the shining goblet [himself]. But
Meriones, the fourth, took up the two talents of gold, in which order he
drove; but the fifth prize was left,[763] which Achilles, bearing
through the assembly of the Greeks, gave to Nestor, and standing by him,
said:

"Receive now, and let this be a keepsake to thee, a memorial of the
burial of Patroclus; for never more shalt thou behold him among the
Greeks. I give this prize to thee even thus;[764] for thou indeed wilt
not fight with the caestus, nor wrestle, nor engage in the contest of
hurling the javelin, nor run on the feet, for grievous old age now
oppresses thee."

[Footnote 763: Because Eumelus had received an extraordinary
prize.]

[Footnote 764: _I.e._ although thou hast not shared the contests.
See Kennedy.]

Thus speaking, he placed it in his hands; but he rejoicing, accepted it,
and addressing him, spoke in winged words:

"Assuredly, O my son, thou hast spoken all these things aright; for no
longer are my limbs firm, my friend, nor my feet, nor yet do my hands
move pliant on each side from my shoulders. Would that I were as young,
and my strength was firm to me, as when the Epeans buried king
Amarynceus at Byprasium, and his sons staked the prizes of the king.
There no man was equal to me, neither of the Epeans, nor of the Pelians
themselves, nor of the magnanimous AEtolians. In the caestus I conquered
Clytomedes, the son of Enops; and in wrestling, Ancaeus, the Pleuronian,
who rose up against me; and on foot I outstripped Iphiclus, though being
excellent; and with the spear hurled beyond Phyleus and Polydorus. The
two sons of Actor drove by me by their steeds only, exceeding me in
number, envying me the victory, for the greatest rewards were left for
that contest. But they were two; the one indeed steadily directed the
reins, whilst the other urged on with the lash. Thus I formerly was, but
now let younger men undertake such deeds, as it becomes me to obey sad
old age, though I then exc