The warlike Menelaus saw their fall With pitying eye; and through the foremost ranks With brandish’d spear advanc’d, by Mars impell’d, Who hop’d his death by great Æneas’ hand. Him Nestor’s son, Antilochus, beheld, And hasten’d to his aid; for much he fear’d Lest ill befall the monarch, and his death Deprive them of their warlike labours’ fruit. They two, with force combined of hand and spear, Press’d onward to the fight; Antilochus His station keeping close beside the King. Before the two combined, Æneas fear’d, Bold warrior as he was, to hold his ground. The slain they drew within the Grecian lines, Placed in their comrades’ hands, and turning back Amid the foremost mingled in the fray. Then, brave as Mars, Pylaemenes they slew, The buckler’d Paphlagonians’ warlike chief; Him Menelaus, hand to hand engag’d, Pierc’d with a spear-thrust through the collar-bone; While, with a pond’rous stone, Antilochus Full on the elbow smote Atymnius’ son, Mydon, his charioteer, in act to turn His fiery steeds to flight; down from his hands Fell to the ground the iv’ry-mounted reins. On rush’d Antilochus, and with his sword Across the temples smote him; gasping, he Upon his neck and shoulders from the car Pitch’d headlong; and (for there the sand was deep) Awhile stood balanc’d, till the horses’ feet Dash’d him upon the ground; Antilochus, The horses seizing, drove them to the ships. Hector beheld athwart the ranks, and rush’d, Loud shouting, to th’ encounter; at his back Follow’d the thronging bands of Troy, by Mars And fierce Bellona led; she by the hand Wild Uproar held; while Mars a giant spear Brandish’d aloft: and stalking now before, Now following after Hector, urg’d them on. Quail’d at the sight the valiant Diomed: As when a man, long journeying o’er the plain, All unprepar’d, stands sudden on the brink Of a swift stream, down rushing to the sea, Boiling with foam, and back recoils; so then Recoil’d Tydides, and address’d the crowd: “O friends, we marvel at the might display’d By Hector, spearman skill’d and warrior bold; But still some guardian God his steps attends, And shields from danger; now beside him stands, In likeness of a mortal, Mars himself. Then turning still your faces to your foes, Retire, nor venture with the Gods to fight.” He said; the Trojans now were close at hand, And, mounted both upon a single car, Two chiefs, Menesthes and Anchialus, Well skill’d in war, by Hector’s hand were slain.