Achilles (Mythological character); Epic poetry, Greek -- Translations into English; Trojan War
Whilst it was morn, and the sacred day was increasing, so long the
weapons reached both sides, and the people fell. But at the time when
the wood-cutter 366 has prepared his repast in the dells of a mountain,
when he has wearied his hands hewing down lofty trees, and satiety
comes upon his mind, and the desire of sweet food seizes his breast;
then the Greeks, by their valour, broke the phalanxes, cheering their
companions along the ranks. But Agamemnon first leaped forth, and slew
the hero Bianor, the shepherd of the people, and then also his
companion, Oïleus, the goader of steeds. For he then, leaping from the
chariot, stood against him; but he (Agamemnon) smote him, as he was
rushing straight forward, with his sharp spear, in the forehead; nor
did the visor, heavy with brass, retard the weapon, but it penetrated
both it and the bone, and all the brain within was stained with gore.
Him then he subdued while eagerly rushing on. And Agamemnon, king of
men, left them there with their bosoms all bare, for he had stripped
off their tunics. Next he went against Isus and Anthipus, two sons of
Priam, [the one] illegitimate, and [the other] legitimate, being both
in one chariot, in order to slay them. The spurious [son] guided the
chariot, whilst illustrious Antiphus fought. Them Achilles had once
bound with tender osiers on the summits of Ida, taking them while
pasturing their sheep; and had liberated them for a ransom. Then
however the son of Atreus, wide-ruling Agamemnon, struck one upon the
breast above the pap with his spear; and again he smote Antiphus beside
the ear with his sword, and hurled him from his chariot. Hastening up,
he despoiled them of their beautiful armour, recognizing them; for he
had formerly seen them at the swift ships, when swift-footed Achilles
brought them from Ida. And as a lion, returning to his lair, easily
crushes the little fawns of the fleet hind, seizing them in his strong
teeth, and deprives them of their tender life, whilst she, although she
happen [to be] very near, cannot aid them; for a dreadful tremor comes
upon herself; but hastening, she immediately flies through the thick
oak groves and the forest, sweating, through the attack of the wild
beast. Thus no one of the Trojans was then able to avert destruction
from these, but they themselves were put to flight by the Greeks. Next
[he attacked] Pisander and Hippolochus, brave in battle, the sons of
warlike Antimachus, who having accepted gold from Paris, rich gifts,
would not suffer them to restore Helen to yellow-haired Menelaus. His
two sons, then, Agamemnon, king of men, seized, being in one chariot,
for they drove their fleet horses together; for the splendid reins had
fallen from their hands, and they were confounded. But the son of
Atreus rushed against them like a lion, and they, on the contrary,
supplicated [him] from the chariot:
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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