The Argonautica

her likeness showed plain to see in the brazen shield.

There was a shaggy pasture-land of cattle; round the herd

the Teleboans fought in battle against Electryon's sons,

these in defense, while Taphian raiders strove hard

to rob the herd; their blood drenched all the dewy meadow,

and many warriors bore down the few herdsmen.

Two chariots also had been wrought there, racing.

Pelops drove the foremost, shaking hard the reins,

and Hippodameia rode there at Pelops' side as companion;

behind in full pursuit Myrtilus drove his horses,

and beside him Oenomaus gripped in hand a level spear,

but fell aside, as the axle snapped within its nave,

rushing to pierce the back of Pelops with leveled weapon.

There Phoebus Apollo too was fashioned shooting arrows,

a boy not yet full-grown, at one who dragged by her veil

his mother boldly: mighty Tityos, whom divine Elare

bore, though Earth reared him and gave him second birth.

There too stood Minyan Phrixus, as if truly alive,

to hear the ram, which seemed itself to speak aloud.

Such figures strike you speechless, cheating your own heart

in eager hope of hearing some close-woven, wise utterance

from those figures; long expectation held your watchful gaze.

Such then were the gifts of Athena, the Tritonian goddess.

In his right hand he took a far-striking spear, which Atalanta