ry skilfully with her hands,
drawing out the woof, [and inserting them] into the warp, and holds it
near her breast: so ran Ulysses near him; and with his feet trod on his
footsteps behind, before the dust was shed over them. But noble Ulysses,
constantly running swiftly, exhaled his breath upon his head; and all
the Greeks shouted to him, eager for victory, and encouraged him,
hastening rapidly. But when they were now completing their last course,
Ulysses forthwith prayed in his mind to azure-eyed Minerva:

[Footnote 771: See Kennedy, and on the race of the [Greek:
diaulos], Smith's Dict. of Antiquities.]

"Hear, O goddess, come a propitious assistant to my feet." Thus he
spoke, praying; but Pallas Minerva heard him; and she made his limbs
nimble, his feet and his hands above. But when they were just about to
fly in upon the prize, then Ajax slipped, while running (for Minerva did
the mischief), where the dung of the deep-lowing slaughtered oxen was
around, which swift-footed Achilles had slain in honour of Fatroclus.
Then much-enduring, noble Ulysses took up the goblet, as he came running
the first; and illustrious Ajax received the ox. But he stood, holding
the horn of the rustic ox in his hands; and, spitting out the dung,
spoke amongst the Greeks:

"Alas! surely a goddess injured my feet, who ever of old stands by
Ulysses as a mother, and assists him."

Thus he spoke; and they all then laughed heartily at him. But Antilochus
next bore away the last prize, smiling, and spoke among the Greeks:

"I will tell you all, my friends, though now knowing it, that even still
the immortals honour the aged. For Ajax, indeed, is a little older than
I am: but he is of a former generation, and former men; and they say
that he is of crude old age, and it is difficult for the Greeks to
contend in swiftness with him, except for Achilles."

Thus he spoke; and praised the swift-footed son of Peleus. But Achilles,
answering, addressed him with words:

"Thy praise, O Antilochus, shall not be spoken in vain, but for thee I
will add half a talent of gold."

So saying, he placed it in his hands; and he, rejoicing, received it.
But the son of Peleus, bearing into the circus, laid down a long spear,
and a shield, and helmet, the arms of Sarpedon, which Patroclus had
stripped him of; and stood upright, and spoke amongst the Greeks:

"We invite two warriors, whoever are bravest, having put; on these arms,
[and] seizing the flesh