WiththishegavethemareovertoAntilochus’scomradeNoemon，andthentookthecauldron。Meriones，whohadcomeinfourth，carriedoffthetwotalentsofgold，andthefifthprize，thetwo-handledurn，beingunawarded，AchillesgaveittoNestor，goinguptohimamongtheassembledArgivesandsaying，\"Takethis，mygoodoldfriend，asanheirloomandmemorialofthefuneralofPatroclus-foryoushallseehimnomoreamongtheArgives。Igiveyouthisprizethoughyoucannotwinone；youcannowneitherwrestlenorfight，andcannotenterforthejavelin-matchnorfoot-races，forthehandofagehasbeenlaidheavilyuponyou。\"
SosayinghegavetheurnovertoNestor，whoreceiveditgladlyandanswered，\"Myson，allthatyouhavesaidistrue；thereisnostrengthnowinmylegsandfeet，norcanIhitoutwithmyhandsfromeithershoulder。WouldthatIwerestillyoungandstrongaswhentheEpeanswereburyingKingAmarynceusinBuprasium，andhissonsofferedprizesinhishonour。TherewasthennonethatcouldviewithmeneitheroftheEpeansnorthePyliansthemselvesnortheAetolians。InboxingIovercameClytomedessonofEnops，andinwrestling，AncaeusofPleuronwhohadcomeforwardagainstme。
Iphicluswasagoodrunner，butIbeathim，andthrewfartherwithmyspearthaneitherPhyleusorPolydorus。Inchariot-racingalonedidthetwosonsofActorsurpassmebycrowdingtheirhorsesinfrontofme，fortheywereangryatthewayvictoryhadgone，andatthegreaterpartoftheprizesremainingintheplaceinwhichtheyhadbeenoffered。Theyweretwins，andtheonekeptonholdingthereins，andholdingthereins，whiletheotherpliedthewhip。SuchwasIthen，butnowImustleavethesematterstoyoungermen；Imustbowbeforetheweightofyears，butinthosedaysIwaseminentamongheroes。Andnow，sir，goonwiththefuneralcontestsinhonourofyourcomrade:gladlydoIacceptthisurn，andmyheartrejoicesthatyoudonotforgetmebutareevermindfulofmygoodwilltowardsyou，andoftherespectduetomefromtheAchaeans。Forallwhichmaythegraceofheavenbevouchsafedyouingreatabundance。\"
ThereonthesonofPeleus，whenhehadlistenedtoallthethanksofNestor，wentaboutamongtheconcourseoftheAchaeans，andpresentlyofferedprizesforskillinthepainfulartofboxing。Hebroughtoutastrongmule，andmadeitfastinthemiddleofthecrowd-ashe-muleneveryetbroken，butsixyearsold-whenitishardestofalltobreakthem:thiswasforthevictor，andforthevanquishedheofferedadoublecup。ThenhestoodupandsaidamongtheArgives，\"SonofAtreus，andallotherAchaeans，Iinviteourtwochampionboxerstolayaboutthemlustilyandcompetefortheseprizes。HetowhomApollovouchsafesthegreaterendurance，andwhomtheAchaeansacknowledgeasvictor，shalltakethemulebackwithhimtohisowntent，whilehethatisvanquishedshallhavethedoublecup。\"
Ashespoketherestoodupachampionbothbraveandgreatstature，askilfulboxer，Epeus，sonofPanopeus。Helaidhishandonthemuleandsaid，\"Letthemanwhoistohavethecupcomehither，fornonebutmyselfwilltakethemule。Iamthebestboxerofallherepresent，andnonecanbeatme。IsitnotenoughthatIshouldfallshortofyouinactualfighting？Still，nomancanbegoodateverything。Itellyouplainly，anditshallcometrue；ifanymanwillboxwithmeIwillbruisehisbodyandbreakhisbones；thereforelethisfriendsstayhereinabodyandbeathandtotakehimawaywhenIhavedonewithhim。\"