Archer shrew-tongued! spie-maiden! man of curls![14] Shouldst thou in arms attempt me face to face,470 Thy bow and arrows should avail thee nought. Vain boaster! thou hast scratch’d my foot—no more— And I regard it as I might the stroke Of a weak woman or a simple child. The weapons of a dastard and a slave475 Are ever such. More terrible are mine, And whom they pierce, though slightly pierced, he dies. His wife her cheeks rends inconsolable, His babes are fatherless, his blood the glebe Incarnadines, and where he bleeds and rots480 More birds of prey than women haunt the place. He ended, and Ulysses, drawing nigh, Shelter’d Tydides; he behind the Chief Of Ithaca sat drawing forth the shaft, But pierced with agonizing pangs the while.485 Then, climbing to his chariot-seat, he bade Sthenelus hasten to the hollow ships, Heart-sick with pain. And now alone was seen Spear-famed Ulysses; not an Argive more Remain’d, so universal was the rout,490 And groaning, to his own great heart he said. Alas! what now awaits me? If, appall’d By multitudes, I fly, much detriment; And if alone they intercept me here, Still more; for Jove hath scatter’d all the host,495 Yet why these doubts! for know I not of old That only dastards fly, and that the voice Of honor bids the famed in battle stand, Bleed they themselves, or cause their foes to bleed? While busied in such thought he stood, the ranks500 Of Trojans fronted with broad shields, enclosed The hero with a ring, hemming around Their own destruction. As when dogs, and swains In prime of manhood, from all quarters rush Around a boar, he from his thicket bolts,505 The bright tusk whetting in his crooked jaws: They press him on all sides, and from beneath Loud gnashings hear, yet firm, his threats defy; Like them the Trojans on all sides assail’d Ulysses dear to Jove. First with his spear510 He sprang impetuous on a valiant chief, Whose shoulder with a downright point he pierced, Deïopites; Thoön next he slew, And Ennomus, and from his coursers’ backs Alighting quick, Chersidamas; beneath515 His bossy shield the gliding weapon pass’d Right through his navel; on the plain he fell Expiring, and with both hands clench’d the dust. Them slain he left, and Charops wounded next, Brother of Socus, generous Chief, and son520 Of Hippasus; brave Socus to the aid Of Charops flew, and, godlike, thus began. Illustrious chief, Ulysses! strong to toil And rich in artifice! Or boast to-day Two sons of Hippasus, brave warriors both,525 Of armor and of life bereft by thee, Or to my vengeful spear resign thy own! So saying, Ulysses’ oval disk he smote. Through his bright disk the stormy weapon flew, Transpierced his twisted mail, and from his side530 Drove all the skin, but to his nobler parts Found entrance none, by Pallas turn’d aslant.[15] Ulysses, conscious of his life untouch’d, Retired a step from Socus, and replied. Ah hapless youth; thy fate is on the wing;535 Me thou hast forced indeed to cease a while