He said; and valiant Polypoetes rose, Epeius, and Leonteus’ godlike strength, And mighty Ajax, son of Telamon. In turns they took their stand; Epeius first Uprais’d the pond’rous mass, and through the air Hurl’d it, amid the laughter of the Greeks. Next came Leonteus, scion true of Mars; The third was Ajax; from whose stalwart hand Beyond the farthest mark the missile flew. But when the valiant Polypoetes took The quoit in hand, far as a herdsman throws His staff, that, whirling, flies among the herd; So far beyond the ring’s extremest bound He threw the pond’rous mass; loud were the shouts; And noble Polypoetes’ comrades rose, And to the ships the monarch’s gift convey’d. The archers’ prizes next, of iron hoar, Ten sturdy axes, double-edg’d, he plac’d, And single hatchets ten; then far away Rear’d on the sand a dark-prow’d vessel’s mast, On which, with slender string, a tim’rous dove Was fasten’d by the foot, the archers’ mark; That who should strike the dove should to his tent The axes bear away; but who the string Should sever, but should fail to strike the bird, As less in skill, the hatchets should receive. Thus spoke Achilles; straight uprose the might Of royal Teucer, and Meriones, The faithful follower of Idomeneus. They in a brass-bound helmet shook the lots. The first was Teucer’s; with impetuous force He shot; but vow’d not to the Archer-King Of firstling lambs a solemn hecatomb. The dove he struck not, for the Archer-God Withheld his aid; but close beside her foot The arrow sever’d the retaining string. The bird releas’d, soar’d heav’nward; while the string Dropp’d, from the mast suspended, tow’rds the earth, And loudly shouted their applause the Greeks. Then snatch’d Meriones in haste the bow From Teucer’s hand; his own already held His arrow, pointed straight; he drew the string, And to the far-destroying King he vow’d Of firstling lambs a solemn hecatomb. Aloft amid the clouds he mark’d the dove, And struck her, as she soar’d, beneath the wing; Right through the arrow pass’d; and to the earth Returning, fell beside Meriones. The bird upon the dark-prow’d vessel’s mast Lighted awhile; anon, with drooping head, And pinions flutt’ring vain, afar she fell, Lifeless; th’ admiring crowd with wonder gaz’d. Meriones the axes bore away, While Teucer to the ships the hatchets bore. Last, in the ring the son of Peleus laid A pond’rous spear, and caldron, burnish’d bright, Pric’d at an ox’s worth, untouch’d by fire, For those who with the jav’lin would contend. Uprose then Agamemnon, King of men, The son of Atreus, and Meriones, The faithful follower of Idomeneus: But Peleus’ godlike son address’d them thus: “How far, Atrides, thou excell’st us all, And with the jav’lin what thy pow’r and skill Pre-eminent, we know; take thou this prize, And bear it to thy ships; and let us give To brave Meriones the brazen spear; If so it please thee, such were my advice.”