how him "how
much we excel others in boxing, wrestling, leaping and running." The
quoit was also one of the games.

In like manner Achilles is diverted from his sorrows for his friend
Patroclus, by an elaborate exhibition of games, which are set forth in
Book Twenty-Third of the Iliad. Contests of strength and skill they
are, showing the body under control of mind and manifesting the same up
to a certain point. They have an artistic side and train the man
physically, requiring also no little mental alertness.

When the Phaeacian contestants had finished, there was an attempt to
bring Ulysses into the game and have him show what he was, but he
declined the courteous invitation; "cares are in my mind more than
games." Then Euryalus taunts him with being a merchant, or robber, and
no athlete. Ulysses makes a caustic reply, picks up the quoit, and
hurls it far beyond the marks of the others; then with some display of
temper he challenges any of the Phaeacians present to any kind of
contest. He even becomes boastful, and tells what he is ready to do in
the way of games; still further, he can shoot the bow and throw the
javelin in heroic fashion--which accomplishments he will employ with
telling effect against the suitors hereafter.

Alcinous pacifies him with gentle words, and proceeds to withdraw all
his previous claims extolling Phaeacian athletic skill. The soft arts of
peace are theirs; "in boxing and in wrestling we have small fame;" but
on the other hand "we delight in feasts, we love the harp and dance;"
new clothes are in favor, and "we like the warm bath and bed." Very
different is now the call of King Alcinous from that last one: let the
stranger see "how much we excel others in the dance and song," to which
is strangely added seamanship. Such is the preparation for the lay of
the loves of Mars and Venus.

Through these games the heroic strand in the stranger has been brought
to light, somewhat in contrast with the Phaeacians. As he had a contest
of mind with Achilles at Troy, so he has now a contest which shows his
physical might; he is no weakling in spite of his intellect. Pallas too
does not fail him, she marks his superiority in the throw of his quoit,
and thus inspires him with courage.

II.

We have now reached the second song of the bard, for the way has been
smoothed by the preceding description of the luxurious delights of the
Phaeacians. It is often called the Loves of Venus and Mars, or the
Ad