Page:Statius (Mozley 1928) v2.djvu/107

upon waves and rocks alike, nor any more consults the stars, but flings his baffled art to the mercy of chance.

Again at headlong speed they swerve right-handed from the track into the plain, and strive to keep their course, and again comes the shock of axle on axle, wheel on wheel-spokes; no truce is there, nor keeping faith; a lighter task, one would think, were war, savage war, and bloodshed, such furious will to victory is theirs, such fear and threats of death; and many a hoof is struck as it runs crosswise o’er the plain. Neither goads nor lashes now suffice, but with shout of name does Admetus urge Iris and Pholoë and steaming Thoë, and the Danaan augur chide fleet Aschetos and Cygnus well so-called. Strymon too hears Chromis, son of Hercules, and fiery Aethion Euneos; Hippodamus provokes slow Cydon, Thoas entreats piebald Podarces to greater speed. Only Echion’s son keeps gloomy silence in his erring car, and fears to confess his plight by cries of alarm.

Scarce was the real struggle of the steeds begun, and yet now they are entering the fourth dusty lap, and now steaming sweat is pouring from their exhausted limbs, and fiery thirst heaves and gasps forth the thick breath of the horn-footed steeds; and now their vigour flags, and their flanks are racked with long-drawn pantings. Then first does Fortune, long time doubtful, dare to step in and make decision. Thoas, pressing madly on to pass Haemonian Admetus, falls, nor does his brother aid him; fain would he, but Martian Hippodamus forestalled him and drove his team between them. Next Chromis by Herculean vigour and all his father’s strength holds Hippodamus with axles interlocked, as he wheels inside him past the goal; in vain the steeds struggle to get free,