Achilles (Mythological character); Epic poetry, Greek -- Translations into English; Trojan War
“Ye Trojans and Lycians, and close-fighting Dardanians, do not now
retire from the fight in this narrow pass. But preserve the son of
Clytius, lest the Greeks despoil him of his armour, having fallen in
the contest at the ships.” Thus having spoken, he took aim with his
shining spear at Ajax, whom he missed; but [he smote] Lycophron, the
son of Mastor, the servant of Ajax, a Cytherean, who dwelt with him,
since he had killed a man amongst the celebrated Cythereans. He struck
him on the head over the ear, with the sharp brass, whilst he was
standing near Ajax: but he fell supine to the ground from the stern of
the ship in the dust, and his limbs were relaxed. Then Ajax shuddered,
and accosted his brother: “Dear Teucer, now is our faithful companion,
the son of Mastor, whom being domesticated in Cythera, we honoured
equally with our beloved parents in our palaces; but him magnanimous
Hector has slain. Where now are thy death-bearing arrows and bow, which
Phœbus Apollo gave thee?”
Thus he spoke; but he understood; and running, he stood near him,
holding in his hand his bent bow, and arrow-bearing quiver; and very
quickly he shot his arrows amongst the Trojans. He struck Clitus, the
illustrious son of Pisenor, the companion of Polydamas, the renowned
son of Panthous, holding the reins in his hands. He indeed was employed
in [guiding] the horses; for he directed them there, where the most
numerous phalanxes were thrown in confusion, gratifying Hector and the
Trojans. But soon came evil upon him, which no one averted from him,
although eager; for the bitter shaft fell upon his neck from behind,
and he fell from the chariot, whilst his horses started back, rattling
the empty car. But king Polydamas very quickly perceived it, and first
came to meet his horses. Them he intrusted to Astynous, son of
Protiaon, and exhorted him much to keep the horses near him within
sight; but he himself returning was mingled with the foremost
combatants. Teucer, however, drew another arrow against brazen-armed
Hector, and would have made him cease from battle, at the ships of the
Greeks, if striking him while bravely fighting, he had taken away his
life. But it did not escape the prudent mind of Jove, who protected
Hector, and deprived Teucer, the son of Telamon, of glory; and who
(Jove) broke the well-twisted string, in his blameless bow, as he was
drawing against [Hector]; but the brass-laden arrow was turned off in
another direction, and the bow fell from his hand. Then Teucer
shuddered, and addressed his brother:
“Ye gods! a deity, without doubt, cuts short the plans of our battle,
who has shaken the bow from my hand, and has snapped asunder the
newly-twisted string which I tied to it this morning, that it might
sustain the shafts frequently bounding from it.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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