Say then, who first of all the Trojans fell By Teucer’s arrows slain? Orsilochus, And Ophelestes, Daetor, Ormenus, And godlike Lycophontes, Chromius, And Amopaon, Polyaemon’s son, And valiant Melanippus: all of these, Each after other, Teucer laid in dust. Him Agamemnon, with his well-strung bow Thinning the Trojan ranks, with joy beheld, And, standing at his side, address’d him thus: “Teucer, good comrade, son of Telamon, Shoot ever thus, if thou wouldst be the light And glory of the Greeks, and of thy sire, Who nursed thine infancy, and in his house Maintain’d, though bastard; him, though distant far, To highest fame let thine achievements raise. This too I say, and will make good my word: If by the grace of aegis-bearing Jove, And Pallas, Ilium’s well-built walls we raze, A gift of honour, second but to mine, I in thy hands will place; a tripod bright, Or, with their car and harness, two brave steeds, Or a fair woman who thy bed may share.” To whom in answer valiant Teucer thus: “Most mighty son of Atreus, why excite Who lacks not zeal? To th’ utmost of my pow’r Since first we drove the Trojans back, I watch, Unceasing, every chance to ply my shafts. Eight barbed arrows have I shot e’en now, And in a warrior each has found its mark; That savage hound alone defeats my aim.” At Hector, as he spoke, another shaft He shot, ambitious of so great a prize: He miss’d his aim; but Priam’s noble son Gorgythion, through the breast his arrow struck, Whom from Æsyme brought, a wedded bride Of heavenly beauty, Castianeira bore. Down sank his head, as in a garden sinks A ripen’d poppy charg’d with vernal rains; So sank his head beneath his helmet’s weight. At Hector yet another arrow shot Teucer, ambitious of so great a prize; Yet this too miss’d, by Phoebus turn’d aside; But Archeptolemus, the charioteer Of Hector, onward hurrying, through the breast It struck, beside the nipple; from the car He fell; aside the startled horses swerv’d; And as he fell the vital spirit fled. Deep, for his comrade slain, was Hector’s grief; Yet him, though griev’d at heart, perforce he left, And to Cebriones, his brother, call’d, Then near at hand, the horses’ reins to take; He heard, and straight obey’d; then Hector leap’d Down from his glitt’ring chariot to the ground, His fearful war-cry shouting; in his hand A pond’rous stone he carried; and, intent To strike him down, at Teucer straight he rush’d. He from his quiver chose a shaft in haste, And fitted to the cord; but as he drew The sinew, Hector of the glancing helm Hurl’d the huge mass of rock, which Teucer struck Near to the shoulder, where the collar-bone Joins neck and breast, the spot most opportune, And broke the tendon; paralys’d, his arm Dropp’d helpless by his side; upon his knees He fell, and from his hands let fall the bow. Not careless Ajax saw his brother’s fall, But o’er him spread in haste his cov’ring shield. Two faithful friends, Mecisteus, Echius’ son, And brave Alastor, from the press withdrew,