_Amycus_. Put up thy hands and stand in single combat, man to man. _Polydeuces_. A boxing-match, or is kicking fair, when we meet eye to eye? _Amycus_. Do thy best with thy fists and spare not thy skill! _Polydeuces_. And who is the man on whom I am to lay my hands and gloves? _Amycus_. Thou see’st him close enough, the boxer will not prove a maiden! _Polydeuces_. And is the prize ready, for which we two must fight? _Amycus_. Thy man shall I be called (shouldst thou win), or thou mine, if I be victor. _Polydeuces_. On such terms fight the red-crested birds of the game. _Amycus_. Well, be we like birds or lions, we shall fight for no other stake. So Amycus spoke, and seized and blew his hollow shell, and speedily the long-haired Bebryces gathered beneath the shadowy planes, at the blowing of the shell. And in likewise did Castor, eminent in war, go forth and summon all the heroes from the Magnesian ship. And the champions, when they had strengthened their fists with the stout ox-skin gloves, and bound long leathern thongs about their arms, stepped into the ring, breathing slaughter against each other. Then had they much ado, in that assault,—which should have the sun’s light at his back. But by thy skill, Polydeuces, thou didst outwit the giant, and the sun’s rays fell full on the face of Amycus. Then came he eagerly on in great wrath and heat, making play with his fists, but the son of Tyndarus smote him on the chin as he charged, maddening him even more, and the giant confused the fighting, laying on with all his weight, and going in with his head down. The Bebryces cheered their man, and on the other side the heroes still encouraged stout Polydeuces, for they feared lest the giant’s weight, a match for Tityus, might crush their champion in the narrow lists. But the son of Zeus stood to him, shifting his ground again and again, and kept smiting him, right and left, and somewhat checked the rush of the son of Posidon, for all his monstrous strength. Then he stood reeling like a drunken man under the blows, and spat out the red blood, while all the heroes together raised a cheer, as they marked the woful bruises about his mouth and jaws, and how, as his face swelled up, his eyes were half closed. Next, the prince teased him, feinting on every side but seeing now that the giant was all abroad, he planted his fist just above the middle of the nose, beneath the eyebrows, and skinned all the brow to the bone. Thus smitten, Amycus lay stretched on his back, among the flowers and grasses. There was fierce fighting when he arose again, and they bruised each other well, laying on with the hard weighted gloves; but the champion of the Bebryces was always playing on the chest, and outside the neck, while unconquered Polydeuces kept smashing his foeman’s face with ugly blows. The giant’s flesh was melting away in his sweat, till from a huge mass he soon became small