Achilles (Mythological character); Epic poetry, Greek -- Translations into English; Trojan War
Now there was amid the Trojans one Dares, rich and noble, priest of
Hephaistos; and he had two sons, Phegeus and Idaios, well skilled in
all the art of battle. These separated themselves and assailed him face
to face, they setting on him from their car and he on foot upon the
ground. And when they were now come near in onset on each other, first
Phegeus hurled his far-shadowing spear; and over Tydeides’ left
shoulder the spear point passed, and smote not his body. Then next
Tydeides made a spear-cast, and the javelin sped not from his hand in
vain, but smote his breast between the nipples, and thrust him from the
chariot. So Idaios sprang away, leaving his beautiful car, and dared
not to bestride his slain brother; else had neither he himself escaped
black fate: but Hephaistos guarded him and saved him in a veil of
darkness, that he might not have his aged priest all broken with
sorrow. And the son of great-hearted Tydeus drave away the horses and
gave them to his men to take to the hollow ships. But when the
great-hearted Trojans beheld the sons of Dares, how one was fled, and
one was slain beside his chariot, the spirit of all was stirred. But
bright-eyed Athene took impetuous Ares by the hand and spake to him and
said: “Ares, Ares, blood-stained bane of mortals, thou stormer of
walls, can we not now leave the Trojans and Achaians to fight, on
whichsoever it be that father Zeus bestoweth glory? But let us twain
give place, and escape the wrath of Zeus.”
So saying she led impetuous Ares from the battle. Then she made him sit
down beside loud Skamandros, and the Danaans pushed the Trojans back.
Each one of the captains slew his man; first Agamemnon king of men
thrust from his chariot the lord of the Halizonians, great Odios; for
as he first turned to flight Agamemnon thrust his dart into his back
between his shoulders, and drave it through his breast. And he fell
with a crash, and his armour clanged upon him.
And Idomeneus slew Phaistos son of Boros the Maionian, that came from
deep-soiled Tarne. Him in the act to mount upon his car spear-famed
Idomeneus pierced with his long dart through his right shoulder; and he
fell from the car and hateful darkness gat hold of him.
Him then Idomeneus’ squires despoiled; and Skamandrios, son of
Strophios, cunning in the chase, fell to the keen-pointed spear of
Menelaos son of Atreus; even he the mighty hunter, whom Artemis herself
had taught to shoot all manner of wild things that the mountain forest
breedeth. But now did Archer Artemis avail him naught nor all his
marksmanship wherein of old time he excelled; but spear-famed Menelaos
son of Atreus smote him with his dart as he fled before him, in his
back [between his shoulders, and pierced through his breast]. So he
fell prone and his armour clanged upon him.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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