And while Euryalus with cautious eye
Watch’d his advantage, pash’d him on the cheek
He stood no longer, but, his shapely limbs,
Unequal to his weight, sinking, he fell. 
As by the rising north-wind driven ashore 865
A huge fish flounces on the weedy beach,
Which soon the sable flood covers again,
So, beaten down, he bounded.  But Epeues,
Heroic chief, upraised him by his hand,
And his own comrades from the circus forth 870
Led him, step dragging after step, the blood
Ejecting grumous, and at every pace
Rolling his head languid from side to side. 
They placed him all unconscious on his seat
In his own band, then fetch’d his prize, the cup. 875
Still other prizes, then, Achilles placed
In view of all, the sturdy wrestler’s meed. 
A large hearth-tripod, valued by the Greeks
At twice six beeves, should pay the victor’s toil;
But for the vanquish’d, in the midst he set 880
A damsel in variety expert
Of arts domestic, valued at four beeves. 
He rose erect, and to the Greeks he cried. 
Arise ye, now, who shall this prize dispute. 
So spake the son of Peleus; then arose 885
Huge Telamonian Ajax, and upstood
Ulysses also, in all wiles adept. 
Both girt around, into the midst they moved. 
With vigorous gripe each lock’d the other fast,
Like rafters, standing, of some mansion built 890
By a prime artist proof against all winds. 
Their backs, tugg’d vehemently, creak’d,[20] the sweat
Trickled, and on their flanks and shoulders, red
The whelks arose; they bearing still in mind
The tripod, ceased not struggling for the prize. 895
Nor could Ulysses from his station move
And cast down Ajax, nor could Ajax him
Unsettle, fixt so firm Ulysses stood. 
But when, long time expectant, all the Greeks
Grew weary, then, huge Ajax him bespake. 900
Laertes’ noble son, for wiles renown’d! 
Lift, or be lifted, and let Jove decide. 
He said, and heaved Ulysses.  Then, his wiles
Forgat not he, but on the ham behind
Chopp’d him; the limbs of Ajax at the stroke 905
Disabled sank; he fell supine, and bore
Ulysses close adhering to his chest
Down with him.  Wonder riveted all eyes. 
Then brave Ulysses from the ground awhile
Him lifted in his turn, but ere he stood, 910
Inserting his own knee the knees between[21]
Of Ajax, threw him.  To the earth they fell
Both, and with dust defiled lay side by side. 
And now, arising to a third essay,
They should have wrestled yet again, had not 915
Achilles, interfering, them restrain’d. 
Strive not together more; cease to exhaust
Each other’s force; ye both have earn’d the prize
Depart alike requited, and give place