Achilles (Mythological character); Epic poetry, Greek -- Translations into English; Trojan War
But the Trojans retired in confusion, as the hero
hurled; he did not, however, hurl the spear in vain, but struck
Democoon, the spurious son of Priam, who came from Abydos, from
[tending] the swift mares. 191 Him Ulysses, enraged for his companion,
struck with his spear in the temple, and the brazen point penetrated
through the other temple, and darkness veiled his eyes. Falling he made
a crash, and his arms resounded upon him. Both the foremost bands and
illustrious Hector fell back. The Argives shouted aloud, and dragged
the bodies away: then they rushed farther forward; and Apollo was
enraged, looking down from Pergamus; and, shouting out, exhorted the
Trojans:
Footnote 191: (return) Priam had a stud at Abydos, on the Asiatic
coast of the Hellespont.—Scholiast.
“Arouse ye, ye horse-breaking Trojans, nor yield the battle to the
Greeks; since their flesh is not of stone, nor of iron, that when they
are struck, it should withstand the flesh-rending brass; neither does
Achilles, the son of fair-haired Thetis, fight, but at the ships he
nourishes his vexatious spleen.”
Thus spoke the dreadful god from the city. But most glorious Tritonian
Pallas, the daughter of Jove, going through the host, roused the Greeks
wherever she saw them relaxing.
Then fate ensnared Diores, son of Amarynceus; for he was struck with a
jagged hand-stone, at the ankle, on the right leg; but Pirus, son of
Imbrasus, who came from Ænos, the leader of the Thracian warriors,
struck him. The reckless stone entirely crushed both tendons and bones;
supine in the dust he fell, stretching forth both hands to his dear
companions, and breathing forth his soul. But Pirus, he who struck him,
ran up, and pierced him in the navel with his spear; and thereupon all
his entrails poured forth upon the ground, and darkness veiled his
eyes.
But him 192 Ætolian Thoas struck, rushing on with his spear, in the
breast over the pap, and the brass was fastened in his lungs: Thoas
came near to him, and drew the mighty spear out of his breast; then he
unsheathed his sharp sword, and with it smote him in the midst of the
belly, and took away his life. But he did not spoil him of his armour,
for his companions stood round him, the hair-tufted Thracians, holding
long spears in their hands, who drove him from them, though being
mighty, and valiant, and glorious; but he, retreating, was repulsed
with force. Thus these two were stretched in the dust near to each
other; Pirus, indeed, the leader of the Thracians, and Diores, the
leader of the brazen-mailed Epeans; and many others also were slain
around.
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