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Alcinous's son Laodamas was the best boxer； and he it was who
presently said； when they had all been diverted with the games； 〃Let
us ask the stranger whether he excels in any of these sports； he seems
very powerfully built； his thighs； claves； hands； and neck are of
prodigious strength； nor is he at all old； but he has suffered much
lately； and there is nothing like the sea for making havoc with a man；
no matter how strong he is。〃
〃You are quite right； Laodamas；〃 replied Euryalus； 〃go up to your
guest and speak to him about it yourself。〃
When Laodamas heard this he made his way into the middle of the
crowd and said to Ulysses； 〃I hope； Sir； that you will enter
yourself for some one or other of our competitions if you are
skilled in any of them… and you must have gone in for many a one
before now。 There is nothing that does any one so much credit all
his life long as the showing himself a proper man with his hands and
feet。 Have a try therefore at something； and banish all sorrow from
your mind。 Your return home will not be long delayed； for the ship
is already drawn into the water； and the crew is found。〃
Ulysses answered； 〃Laodamas； why do you taunt me in this way？ my
mind is set rather on cares than contests； I have been through
infinite trouble； and am come among you now as a suppliant； praying
your king and people to further me on my return home。〃
Then Euryalus reviled him outright and said； 〃I gather； then； that
you are unskilled in any of the many sports that men generally delight
in。 I suppose you are one of those grasping traders that go about in
ships as captains or merchants； and who think of nothing but of
their outward freights and homeward cargoes。 There does not seem to be
much of the athlete about you。〃
〃For shame； Sir；〃 answered Ulysses； fiercely； 〃you are an insolent
fellow… so true is it that the gods do not grace all men alike in
speech； person； and understanding。 One man may be of weak presence；
but heaven has adorned this with such a good conversation that he
charms every one who sees him； his honeyed moderation carries his
hearers with him so that he is leader in all assemblies of his
fellows； and wherever he goes he is looked up to。 Another may be as
handsome as a god； but his good looks are not crowned with discretion。
This is your case。 No god could make a finer looking fellow than you
are； but you are a fool。 Your ill…judged remarks have made me
exceedingly angry； and you are quite mistaken； for I excel in a
great many athletic exercises； indeed； so long as I had youth and
strength； I was among the first athletes of the age。 Now； however； I
am worn out by labour and sorrow； for I have gone through much both on
the field of battle and by the waves of the weary sea； still； in spite
of all this I will compete； for your taunts have stung me to the
quick。〃
So he hurried up without even taking his cloak off； and seized a
disc； larger； more massive and much heavier than those used by the
Phaeacians when disc…throwing among themselves。 Then； swinging it
back； he threw it from his brawny hand； and it made a humming sound in
the air as he did so。 The Phaeacians quailed beneath the rushing of
its flight as it sped gracefully from his hand； and flew beyond any
mark that had been made yet。 Minerva； in the form of a man； came and
marked the place where it had fallen。 〃A blind man； Sir；〃 said she；
〃could easily tell your mark by groping for it… it is so far ahead
of any other。 You may make your mind easy about this contest； for no
Phaeacian can come near to such a throw as yours。〃
Ulysses was glad when he found he had a friend among the lookers…on；
so he began to speak more pleasantly。 〃Young men；〃 said he； 〃come up
to that throw if you can； and I will throw another disc as heavy or
even heavier。 If anyone wants to have a bout with me let him come
on； for I am exceedingly angry； I will box； wrestle； or run； I do
not care what it is； with any man of you all except Laodamas； but
not with him because I am his guest； and one cannot compete with one's
own personal friend。 At least I do not think it a prudent or a
sensible thing for a guest to challenge his host's family at any game；
especially when he is in a foreign country。 He will cut the ground
from under his own feet if he does； but I make no exception as regards
any one else； for I want to have the matter out and know which is
the best man。 I am a good hand at every kind of athletic sport known
among mankind。 I am an excellent archer。 In battle I am always the
first to bring a man down with my arrow； no matter how many more are
taking aim at him alongside of me。 Philoctetes was the only man who
could shoot better than I could when we Achaeans were before Troy
and in practice。 I far excel every one else in the whole world； of
those who still eat bread upon the face of the earth； but I should not
like to shoot against the mighty dead； such as Hercules； or Eurytus
the Cechalian…men who could shoot against the gods themselves。 This in
fact was how Eurytus came prematurely by his end； for Apollo was angry
with him and killed him because he challenged him as an archer。 I
can throw a dart farther than any one else can shoot an arrow。 Running
is the only point in respect of which I am afraid some of the
Phaecians might beat me； for I have been brought down very low at sea；
my provisions ran short； and therefore I am still weak。〃
They all held their peace except King Alcinous； who began； 〃Sir；
we have had much pleasure in hearing all that you have told us； from
which I understand that you are willing to show your prowess； as
having been displeased with some insolent remarks that have been
made to you by one of our athletes； and which could never have been
uttered by any one who knows how to talk with propriety。 I hope you
will apprehend my meaning； and will explain to any be one of your
chief men who may be dining with yourself and your family when you get
home； that we have an hereditary aptitude for accomplishments of all
kinds。 We are not particularly remarkable for our boxing； nor yet as
wrestlers； but we are singularly fleet of foot and are excellent
sailors。 We are extremely fond of good dinners； music； and dancing； we
also like frequent changes of linen； warm baths； and good beds； so
now； please； some of you who are the best dancers set about dancing；
that our guest on his return home may be able to tell his friends
how much we surpass all other nations as sailors； runners； dancers；
minstrels。 Demodocus has left his lyre at my house； so run some one or
other of you and fetch it for him。〃
On this a servant hurried off to bring the lyre from the king's
house； and the nine men who had been chosen as stewards stood forward。
It was their business to manage everything connected with the
sports； so they made the ground smooth and marked a wide space for the
dancers。 Presently the servant came back with Demodocus's lyre； and he
took his place in the midst of them； whereon the best young dancers in
the town began to foot and trip it so nimbly that Ulysses was
delighted with the merry twinkling of their feet。
Meanwhile the bard began to sing the loves o