Galley race

Every man at the oars was a slave.
Every man at the oars would have killed the time-keeper without hesitating for a beat or regretting the act for half a beat.

But every man at the oars was pulling for the boat. Straining so that Hesper would triumph over The Lion of Africa and would be able to hold her head high.

After the race, they could go back to hating her.