Hyrtacus, groaned, and smote both his thighs, and indignant exclaimed: “Father Jove, surely now at least thou also hast become utterly deceitful; for I did not expect that the Grecian heroes would abide our strength and invincible hands. But they, as wasps flexible 398 in the middle, and bees, [which] make their dwellings in a rugged path, nor quit their hollow mansion; but awaiting the huntsmen, fight for their offspring; so are these unwilling to retire from the gates, though being only two, until they be either killed or taken.” Footnote 396: (return) “Put for ἄραρον τὰς ἀσπίδας ἀλλήλων, ἐπ’ ἀλλήλοις, _clipeos consertos_ manibus ante se tenebant, συνασπισμῷ facto.”—Heyne. Kennedy well observes that “we may trace here the rude outline of the celebrated phalanx, which formed so prominent a feature of the Macedonian tactics.” Footnote 397: (return) From this passage, Heyne observes that the gates must have opened inwards, being secured from within by a double bolt (cf. ver. 455, sqq.). See D’Orville on Chariton, i. xii. p. 274, ed. Lips. On the ὀχεῖς, on bars, cf. Pollux, x. 4. Footnote 398: (return) Or “streaked.” See Porphyr. Quæst. iii. But Buttmann, Lexil. p. 64, dwells much upon the force of μέσον, observing, “in no insect is _flexibility_ more evident than in the wasp, where the lower part of its body is joined as it were by a point with the upper.” Thus he spake, nor did he persuade the mind of Jove, saying these things: for his soul designed to bestow glory upon Hector. In the meantime others were waging the battle at other gates; but difficult would it be for me, as if I were a god, to enumerate all these things; for around the wall in every direction a furiously-raging fire of stones was aroused, 399 and the Greeks, although grieving, fought from necessity for their ships; and all the gods were sorrowful in their minds; as many as were allies to the Greeks in battle. Footnote 399: (return) “Through the long walls the stony showers were heard, The blaze of flames, the flash of arms appeared.”—Pope. But the Lapithæ began the battle and contest. Then the son of Pirithous, brave Polypœtes, smote Damasus with his spear, through his brazen-cheeked helmet; nor did the brazen casque withstand, but the brazen blade burst quite through the bone, and all the brain within was shattered. Thus he subdued him, rushing on, and afterwards he slew Pylon and Ormenus. And Leonteus, a branch of Mars, wounded Hippomachus, the son of Antimachus, with his spear, striking him at the belt. Next, drawing his sharp sword from the sheath, he, rushing through the crowd, smote Antiphates first, hand to hand, and he was dashed on his back to the ground; then Menon and Iämenus, and Orestes, all one over another he brought to the fertile earth.