As in the corn-land of some wealthy Lord The rival bands of reapers mow the swathe, Barley or wheat; and fast the trusses fall; So Greeks and Trojans mow’d th’ opposing ranks; Nor these admitted thought of faint retreat, But still made even head; while those, like wolves, Rush’d to the onset; Discord, Goddess dire, Beheld, rejoicing; of the heav’nly pow’rs She only mingled with the combatants; The others all were absent; they, serene, Repos’d in gorgeous palaces, for each Amid Olympus’ deep recesses built. Yet all the cloud-girt son of Saturn blam’d, Who will’d the vict’ry to the arms of Troy. He heeded not their anger; but withdrawn Apart from all, in pride of conscious strength, Survey’d the walls of Troy, the ships of Greece, The flash of arms, the slayers and the slain. While yet ’twas morn, and wax’d the youthful day, Thick flew the shafts, and fast the people fell On either side: but when the hour was come When woodmen, in the forest’s deep recess, Prepare their food, and wearied with the toil Of felling loftiest trees, with aching arms Turn with keen relish to their midday meal; Then Grecian valour broke th’ opposing ranks, As each along the line encourag’d each; First sprang the monarch Agamemnon forth, And brave Bienor slew, his people’s guard; And, with the chief, his friend and charioteer, Oileus; he, down-leaping from the car, Stood forth defiant; but between his brows The monarch’s spear was thrust; nor aught avail’d The brass-bound helm, to stay the weapon’s point; Through helm and bone it pass’d, and all the brain Was shatter’d; forward as he rush’d, he fell. Them left he there, their bare breasts gleaming white, Stripp’d of their arms; and hasten’d in pursuit Of Antiphus and Isus, Priam’s sons, A bastard one, and one legitimate, Both on one car; the bastard held the reins: Beside him stood the gallant Antiphus. Them, as they fed their flocks on Ida’s heights, Achilles once had captive made, and bound With willow saplings, till for ransom freed. The mighty monarch, Agamemnon, drove Through Isus’ breast his spear; his weighty sword Descended on the head of Antiphus Beside the ear, and hurl’d him from his car; These of their armour he despoil’d in haste, Known to him both; for he had seen them oft Beside the ships, when thither captive brought From Ida by Achilles, swift of foot. As when a lion in their lair hath seiz’d The helpless offspring of a mountain doe, And breaks their bones with ease, and with strong teeth Crushes their tender life; nor can their dam, Though close at hand she be, avail them aught; For she herself by deadly terror seiz’d, Through the thick coppice and the forest flies, Panting, and bath’d in sweat, the monster’s rush; So dar’d no Trojan give those brethren aid, Themselves in terror of the warlike Greeks. Peisander next, and bold Hippolochus, Sons of Antimachus (’twas he who chief, Seduc’d by Paris’ gold and splendid gifts, Advis’d the restitution to refuse Of Helen to her Lord), the King assail’d;