Their backbones cracked as they tugged at one another with their mighty arms--and sweat rained from them in torrents.

Many a bloody weal sprang up on their sides and shoulders, but they kept on striving with might and main for victory and to win the tripod.

Ulysses could not throw Ajax, nor Ajax him; Ulysses was too strong for him; but when the Achaeans began to tire of watching them, Ajax said to Ulysses, "Ulysses, noble son of Laertes, you shall either lift me, or I you, and let Jove settle it between us." He lifted him from the ground as he spoke, but Ulysses did not forget his cunning.

He hit Ajax in the hollow at back of his knee, so that he could not keep his feet, but fell on his back with Ulysses lying upon his chest, and all who saw it marvelled.

Then Ulysses in turn lifted Ajax and stirred him a little from the ground but could not lift him right off it, his knee sank under him, and the two fell side by side on the ground and were all begrimed with dust.