And if the course had been
still longer to both, he would surely have passed him by, nor left it
doubtful. Meriones again, the good attendant of Idomeneus, was left
behind a spear's throw by the illustrious Menelaus, for his fair-maned
steeds were the slowest, and he himself least skilful in driving a
chariot in the contest. But the son of Admetus came last of others,
dragging his beauteous chariot, driving his steeds before him. But him
swift-footed, noble Achilles seeing, pitied, and standing amongst the
Greeks, spoke [to him] winged words:

"The best man drives his solid-hoofed steeds the last. But come, let us
give him, as is right, the second prize; and let the son of Tydeus bear
away the first."

Thus he spoke; and all approved as he ordered. And now truly he had
given the mare to him (for the Greeks approved it), had not Antilochus,
the son of magnanimous Nestor, rising up, replied to Achilles, the son
of Peleus, on the question of justice:[758]

[Footnote 758: Not "with justice," as the translators, following
the Scholiast, have interpreted [Greek: dike]. That would have
required [Greek: sun dike], as in Soph. Antig. 23.]

"O Achilles, I shall be very indignant with thee, if thou fulfillest
this promise; for thou art about to deprive me of my reward, considering
these things, that his chariot and fleet steeds were injured, he himself
being skilful; but he should have prayed to the immortals, then would he
by no means have come up driving the last. But if thou pitiest him, and
it be agreeable to thy mind, thou hast much gold and brass in thy tent,
and cattle and maidens, and solid-hoofed steeds are thine. Taking from
these, give him afterwards even a greater reward, or even now forthwith,
that the Greeks may applaud thee. This, however, I will not resign, but
let him of the warriors strive for her, whoever wishes to contend with
me in strength of hands."

Thus he spoke; and swift-footed, noble Achilles smiled, favouring
Antilochus, for he was a dear companion to him; and, answering,
addressed to him winged words:

"O Antilochus, since thou now biddest me give something else to Eumelus
from my house, this will I indeed accomplish. I will give him the
corslet which I took from Asteropaeus, brazen, around which there is
entwined a rim of shining tin; and it is of great value."

He spoke; and ordered his dear comrade, Automedon, to bear it from the
tent: and he went and brought it to him; then he pla