The Argonautica

and fixed his staring eyes on him; his spirit surged within,

craving to scatter blood out from his rival's chest.

Between the two stood Lycoreus, servant of Amycus,

and laid two thongs apiece before each fighter's feet,

raw and dry, with hardened ridges running all around them.

Then Amycus addressed Polydeuces with proud, overbearing words:

“Whichever pair you choose, I give without a lot,

freely and willingly, so no later blame falls on me.

Now bind them round your hands. Once taught, you can tell another

how far I surpass all men at slicing dry oxhides,

and how I smear men's cheeks with blood.”

So he spoke; Polydeuces offered no taunt in return.

With a soft smile he took the pair beside his feet

without hesitation. Castor came to stand before him,

with mighty Talaus, Bias' son; swiftly the thongs

they bound around his hands, with constant words of courage.

To Amycus came Aretus and Ornytus, knowing nothing--

poor fools: in evil fate they bound those thongs for the last time.

When both had readied thongs and taken stands apart,

at once they raised their heavy hands to shield their faces,

and met, each carrying force against the other.

Then the Bebrycian king came on like a wave of ocean,

rising with rugged crest against a swift ship, which narrowly

escapes the crushing blow through a clever helmsman's skill,