Achilles (Mythological character); Epic poetry, Greek -- Translations into English; Trojan War
Therewith the hero Idomeneus dragged him by the foot across the fierce
mellay. But Asios came to his aid, on foot before his horses that the
charioteer guided so that still their breath touched the shoulders of
Asios. And the desire of his heart was to cast at Idomeneus, who was
beforehand with him, and smote him with the spear in the throat, below
the chin, and drove the point straight through. And he fell as an oak
falls, or a poplar, or tall pine tree, that craftsmen have felled on
the hills with new whetted axes, to be a ship’s timber, even so he lay
stretched out before the horses and the chariot, groaning, and
clutching the bloody dust. And the charioteer was amazed, and kept not
his wits, as of old, and dared not turn his horses and avoid out of the
hands of foemen; and Antilochos the steadfast in war smote him, and
pierced the middle of his body with a spear. Nothing availed the
corslet of bronze he was wont to wear, but he planted the spear fast in
the midst of his belly. Therewith he fell gasping from the well-wrought
chariot, and Antilochos, the son of great-hearted Nestor, drave the
horses out from the Trojans, among the well-greaved Achaians. Then
Deiphobos, in sorrow for Asios, drew very nigh Idomeneus, and cast at
him with his shining spear. But Idomeneus steadily watching him,
avoided the spear of bronze, being hidden beneath the circle of his
shield, the shield covered about with ox-hide and gleaming bronze, that
he always bore, fitted with two arm-rods: under this he crouched
together, and the spear of bronze flew over. And his shield rang
sharply, as the spear grazed thereon. Yet it flew not vainly from the
heavy hand of Deiphobos, but smote Hypsenor, son of Hippasos, the
shepherd of the hosts, in the liver, beneath the midriff, and instantly
unstrung his knees. And Deiphobos boasted over him terribly, crying
aloud: “Ah, verily, not unavenged lies Asios, nay, methinks, that even
on his road to Hades, strong Warden of the gate, he will rejoice at
heart, since, lo, I have sent him escort for the way!”
So spake he, but grief came on the Argives by reason of his boast, and
stirred above all the soul of the wise-hearted Antilochos, yet, despite
his sorrow, he was not heedless of his dear comrade, but ran and stood
over him, and covered him with his buckler. Then two trusty companions,
Mekisteus, son of Echios, and goodly Alastor, stooped down and lifted
him, and with heavy groaning bare him to the hollow ships.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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