hin which, in the distance,
stood also the mark chosen by Achilles, ver. 359. Others see in
this passage the course winding round the monument; but then it
must have been an old course regularly drawn out for the purpose;
whereas this monument was selected by Achilles for the goal or
mark quite arbitrarily, and by his own choice; and Nestor, ver.
332, only conjectures that it might have formerly served for a
goal."--Buttm. Lexil. p. 95.]

[Footnote 748: Such monumental stones were frequently placed in
public places. Cf. Theocrit. vi. 10; Virg. Eel. ix. 55;
Dicaearchus in Athen. xiii. p. 594.]

[Footnote 749: According to many authors, this horse was produced
from the earth by a stroke of Neptune's trident. See Serv. on
Virg. Georg. i. 12; Pausan. viii. p. 650; Apollodor. iii. 6, 8;
and Bernart. on Stat. Theb. iv. 43.]

Thus speaking, Neleian Nestor sat down again in his own place, when he
had mentioned the most important points of each matter to his son; and
Meriones, fifth, harnessed his beautiful-maned steeds. Then they
ascended their chariots, and cast lots into [the helmet]. Achilles
shook, and the lot of Antilochus, son of Nestor, leaped forth; after him
king Eumelus was allotted; but after him spear-renowned Menelaus, son of
Atreus, and Meriones was allotted to drive after him. But the son of
Tydeus, by far the bravest, was allotted to drive his coursers last.
Then they stood in order; and Achilles pointed out the goals,[750] far
off in the level plain; and near it placed godlike Phoenix as an umpire,
the armour-bearer of his own sire, that he might attend to the race, and
report the truth.

[Footnote 750: Cf. AEn. v. 129; Quintus Calab. iv. 193: [Greek:
Toisi de symaineske dromou telos okytatoio Atreides].]

Then they all at once raised their lashes over their steeds, and struck
them with the reins, and cheered them on with words incessantly; but
they rapidly flew over the plain, far away from the ships, swiftly, and
beneath their breasts the excited dust stood up, raised like a cloud or
a whirlwind; whilst their manes were tossed about by the breath of the
wind. Sometimes, indeed, the chariots approached the fruitful earth,
and at others bounded aloft; but the drivers stood erect in their
chariots, and the heart of each of them, eager for victory, palpitated:
and each animated his own steeds, but they flew along, stirring up dust
from the plain. But when now