Achilles (Mythological character); Epic poetry, Greek -- Translations into English; Trojan War
And Meriones slew Phereklos, son of Tekton Harmon’s son, whose hands
were cunning to make all manner of curious work; for Pallas Athene
loved him more than all men. He likewise built Alexandros the trim
ships, source of ills, that were made the bane of all the Trojans and
of himself, because he knew not the oracles of heaven. Him Meriones
pursued, and overtaking him smote him in the right buttock, and right
through passed the point straight to the bladder beneath the bone; and
he fell to his knees with a cry, and death overshadowed him.
Then Meges slew Pedaios Antenor’s son, that was a bastard; yet goodly
Theano nurtured him carefully like to her own children, to do her
husband pleasure. To him Phyleus’ spear-famed son came near, and with
keen dart smote him upon the sinew of the head; and right through amid
the teeth the point of bronze cleft the tongue’s root. So he fell in
the dust, and bit the cold bronze with his teeth.
And by Eurypylos, Euaimon’s son, noble Hypsenor son of high-hearted
Dolopion that was appointed Skamandros’ priest and like to a god was
held in honour of the folk—by Eurypylos Euaimon’s glorious son, he as
he fled before him was pursued and smitten on the shoulder with a
sword-thrust, and his heavy arm was shorn away. All bleeding the arm
fell upon the earth; and over his eyes came gloomy death and forceful
fate.
So laboured these in the violent mellay; but of Tydeides man could not
tell with whom he were joined, whether he consorted with Trojans or
with Achaians. For he stormed across the plain like a winter torrent at
the full, that in swift course scattereth the causeys; neither can the
long lines of* causeys hold it in, nor the fences of fruitful orchards
stay its sudden coming when the rain of heaven driveth it; and so
before it perish in multitudes the fair works of the sons of men. Thus
before Tydeides the serried battalions of the Trojans were overthrown,
and they abode him not for all they were so many.
* Reading ἐερμέναι, with Aristarchos.
But when Lykaon’s glorious son marked him storming across the plain,
overthrowing battalions before him, anon he bent his crooked bow
against Tydeides, and smote him as he sped onwards, hitting hard by his
right shoulder the plate of his corslet; the bitter arrow flew through
and held straight upon its way, and the corslet was dabbled with blood.
Over him then loudly shouted Lykaon’s glorious son: “Bestir you,
great-hearted Trojans, urgers of horses; the best man of the Achaians
is wounded, and I deem that he shall not for long endure the violent
dart, if verily the king, the son of Zeus,* sped me on my way from
Lykia.”
* Apollo
So spake he boasting; yet was the other not vanquished of the swift
dart, only he gave place and stood before his horses and his chariot
and spake to Sthenelos son of Kapaneus: “Haste thee, dear son of
Kapaneus; descend from thy chariot, to draw me from my shoulder the
bitter arrow.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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