d they will stand aside; for they have lost a noble and gentle driver,
who oft-times washed them with clear water and then poured soft oil upon
their goodly manes! And now they stand with sorrow in their breasts, and
their full long manes are trailing on the earth. But now, let whoever of
you trusteth in his horses and his strong chariot take his place in the
lists!"

And first came forward Eumelus, son of Admetus; next came the mighty
Diomedes, with the famous horses of Tros, which he had taken from AEneas;
then arose Menelaus,--the fair-haired, godlike Menelaus, with Aithe,
Agamemnon's mare, and his own horse, Podargus; and the fourth was
Antilochus, son of the wise Nestor, who yoked swift Pylian horses to his
chariot.

His father Nestor, son of Neleus, stood by Antilochus, and gave him good
advice, although he himself was wise. "Antilochus, my son," he said,
"though thou art young, yet Zeus and Neptune have loved thee, and made
thee a perfect horseman; and there is little need for me to teach thee.
But the other horses are better than thine; and I fear that much trouble
is in store for thee. But skill and cunning are better than force, and so
one charioteer defeats another. Look well to the posts at either end, and
run closely by them. Now I will tell thee another thing. Some six feet
above the ground, there stands the withered stump of a tree, with two
white stones, on either side; this is the mark fixed by the swift-footed
Achilles. Do thou drive thy horses hard by this, and lean slightly to the
left, and lash the off horse and give him rein; but let the near horse so
closely skirt the post that the nave of the wheel of thy car may seem to
graze the stone; but beware of touching it!"

Next, Meriones made ready his chariot; and so did the others. Then they
mounted their cars, and drew lots for their places. Great Diomedes drew
the best. Achilles ranged them all side by side, and pointed to the
turning-post, in the plain, near which he posted old Phoenix, as umpire.

Then, at a signal from the son of Peleus, they raised their long whips,
together, standing upright, and lashed their horses, and encouraged them
by hand and voice. And the chariots now ran evenly on the ground, and now
bounded high in air. But when they entered the last part of the course,
driving towards the sea, the fleet mares of Eumelus, grandson of Pheres,
rushed to the front; and next came Diomedes, with the stallions of Tros,
so near that they