Achilles (Mythological character); Epic poetry, Greek -- Translations into English; Trojan War
So saying, he aroused the strength and courage of each. Then Hector
indeed slew Schedius, son of Perimedes, prince of the Phoceans; and
Ajax slew Laodamas, leader of the infantry, the illustrious son of
Antenor. Polydamas slew Cyllenian Otus, the companion of the son of
Phyleus, chief of the magnanimous Epeans. Meges rushed upon him,
perceiving it, but Polydamas stooped obliquely, and he missed him; for
Apollo did not suffer the son of Panthous to be subdued among the
foremost warriors. But he wounded Crœsmus in the middle of the breast
with his spear, but falling, he resounded; and he stripped the arms
from his shoulders. In the meantime Dolops, the descendant of Lampus,
well skilled in the spear, leaped upon him (he whom Lampus, son of
Laomedon, the best of men, begat, skilled in impetuous fight), who then
attacking him in close fight, struck the middle of Meges’s shield with
his spear: but the thick corslet defended him, which he wore, compact
in its cavities. This Phyleus formerly brought from Ephyre, from the
river Selleïs: for his host, Euphetes, king of men, had given it to
him, to bear into the battle as a defence against the enemy; and which
then warded off destruction from the body of his son. But Meges with
his sharp spear smote the base of the highest cone of his brazen
horse-haired helmet, and struck off his horse-haired crest; and the
whole fell on the ground in the dust, lately shining with purple.
Whilst the one (Meges) standing firm, fought with the other (Dolops),
and still expected victory; meanwhile, warlike Menelaus came as an
assistant to him (Meges), and stood at his side with his spear,
escaping notice, and wounded him from behind in the shoulder; but the
spear, driven with violence, passed through his breast, proceeding
farther; and he fell on his face. Both then rushed on, about to tear
the brazen armour from his shoulders; but Hector strenuously exhorted
all his relations, and rebuked the gallant Melanippus first, the son of
Hicetaon. He till then had fed his curved-footed oxen at Percote, the
enemy being yet at a distance; but when the equally-plied barks of the
Greeks had arrived, he came back to Troy, and was distinguished amongst
the Trojans; and he dwelt near Priam, and he honoured him equally with
his sons. But Hector rebuked him; and spoke and addressed him:
“Shall we be thus remiss, O Melanippus? Is not thy heart moved, thy
kinsman being slain? Dost thou not perceive how busy they are about the
arms of Dolops? But follow; for it is no longer justifiable to fight at
a distance with the Greeks, before that either we slay them, or that
they tear lofty Ilium from its summit, and slay its citizens.” So
saying, he led on, and the godlike hero followed with him. But mighty
Telamonian Ajax aroused the Greeks.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account