The Argonautica

but failed to bend the spear the smallest breadth; it stood

unbroken, seasoned hard, unmoved in all their straining palms.

Then Idas, child of Aphareus, blazed with boundless anger

against them, hacking the spear-butt hard with his great sword;

the sharp edge leapt back like the hammer-stroke from an anvil;

and all the heroes shouted, glad in their hope for the trial.

Then Jason sprinkled his body; fierce valor swept through him,

dreadful, beyond all telling, fearless; on either side

both hands surged and swelled with the force of gathering strength.

As a warhorse burns with fierce longing to enter battle,

prances high, neighs loudly, and hammers the ground beneath him,

exultant lifts its neck, its ears held straight and high;

so Aeson's son rejoiced in the power of all his limbs.

He bounded here and there, each footstep flying into air,

shaking the bronze shield and ashwood spear within his hands.

It looked like winter lightning launched through heaven's darkness

darted and flashed incessantly, blazing again and again,

from clouds massing to carry the blackest burden of rain.

Then heroes would no longer hold back from the contest;

each took his place in ordered ranks upon the rowing-benches,

and sped at full pace toward Ares' open plain.

The plain lay far before them, opposite the city,

as far as the goal stands off from a chariot's starting-bar

when the dead king's kinsmen establish funeral contests