Iliad

but better far was he that followed after, and swiftly indeed did they run, for the prize was no mere beast for sacrifice or bullock's hide, as it might be for a common foot-race, but they ran for the life [ psukhê ] of Hektor. As horses in a chariot race speed round the turning-posts when they are running for some great prize [ athlon ] - a tripod or woman - at the games in honor of some dead hero, so did these two run full speed three times round the city of Priam. All the gods watched them, and the sire of gods and men was the first to speak.

IliadBook 22, Line 158Samuel ButlerEnglishVerse permalinkRead in Book 22

HomerProseID iliad-iliad-butler-en-prose-22-158