To fights and wrastlings, leaping, speed-of race, As these our court-rites; and commend our grace In all to all superior.” Forth he led, The peers and people troop’d up to their head. Nor must Demodocus be left within; Whose harp the herald hung upon the pin, His hand in his took, and abroad he brought The heav’nly poet, out the same way wrought That did the princes, and what they would see With admiration, with his company They wish’d to honour. To the place of game These throng’d; and after routs of other came, Of all sort, infinite. Of youths that strove, Many and strong rose to their trial’s love. Up rose Acroneus, and Ocyalus, Elatreus, Prymneus, and Anchialus,[2] Nauteus, Eretmeus, Thoen, Proreüs, Pontëus, and the strong Amphialus Son to Tectonides Polyneüs. Up rose to these the great Euryalus, In action like the Homicide of War. Naubolides, that was for person far Past all the rest, but one he could not pass, Nor any thought improve, Laodamas. Up Anabesinëus then arose; And three sons of the Sceptre-state, and those Were Halius, the fore-prais’d Laodamas, And Clytonëus like a God in grace. These first the foot-game tried, and from the lists Took start together. Up the dust in mists They hurl’d about, as in their speed they flew; But Clytonëus first of all the crew A stitch’s length in any fallow field Made good his pace; when, where the judges yield The prize and praise, his glorious speed arriv’d. Next, for the boist’rous wrastling game they striv’d; At which Euryalus the rest outshone. At leap Amphialus, At the hollow stone Elatreüs excell’d. At buffets, last, Laodamas, the king’s fair son, surpast. When all had striv’d in these assays their fill, Laodamas said: “Come friends, let’s prove what skill This stranger hath attain’d to in our sport. Methinks, he must be of the active sort, His calves, thighs, hands, and well-knit shoulders show That Nature disposition did bestow To fit with fact their form. Nor wants he prime. But sour affliction, made a mate with time, Makes time the more seen. Nor imagine I, A worse thing to enforce debility Than is the sea, though nature ne’er so strong Knits one together.” “Nor conceive you wrong,” Replied Euryalus, “but prove his blood With what you question.” In the midst then stood Renown’d Laodamas, and prov’d him thus: “Come, stranger-father, and assay with us Your pow’rs in these contentions. If your show Be answer’d with your worth, ’tis fit that you Should know these conflicts. Nor doth glory stand On any worth more, in a man’s command, Than to be strenuous both of foot and hand. Come then, make proof with us, discharge your mind Of discontentments; for not far behind Comes your deduction, ship is ready now,[3] And men, and all things.” “Why,” said he, “dost thou Mock me, Laodamas, and these strifes bind My pow’rs to answer? I am more inclin’d To cares than conflict. Much sustain’d I have, And still am suff’ring. I come here to crave, In your assemblies, means to be dismist,