95This one too, when, heavy with disease or now slower with years, he fails, shut away indoors, and do not pardon shameful old age. 97Grown old, he is cold to love, and in vain drags on a thankless labour, and if ever it comes to the encounter, he rages to no purpose, like a great fire in stubble without strength. 100So you will mark above all their spirit and age; 101then their other qualities and the stock of their parents, and what grief each shows when beaten, what pride in victory. 103Do you not see, when in headlong contest the chariots have seized the plain and rush pouring from the starting-gate, when the young men's hopes are roused, and throbbing fear drains their leaping hearts?
106They press on with the twisted lash, and lean forward to give rein; the axle flies glowing with the force; 108and now low, now raised aloft, they seem to be borne through the empty air and to rise into the breezes; 110no delay, no rest; 110but a cloud of tawny sand is raised, and they are wet with the foam and breath of those behind: so great is the love of praise, so dear is victory. 113Erichthonius first dared to yoke chariots and four horses and to stand victorious above the swift wheels. The Pelethronian Lapiths, mounted on horseback, gave us bridles and the ring, and taught the horseman under arms to prance upon the ground and to gather up his proud paces.
118Each labour is equal; equally the trainers seek a young horse, hot in spirit and keen in running, though the old horse may often have driven routed foes in flight, and claim Epirus as his homeland and brave Mycenae, and trace his stock from the very origin of Neptune.