And Jove with Night’s pernicious shades[17] o’erhung The bloody field, so to enhance the more Their toilsome strife for his own son. First then690 The Trojans from their place and order shock’d The bright-eyed Grecians, slaying not the least Nor worst among the Myrmidons, the brave Epigeus from renown’d Agacles sprung. He, erst, in populous Budeum ruled,695 But for a valiant kinsman of his own Whom there he slew, had thence to Peleus fled And to his silver-footed spouse divine, Who with Achilles, phalanx-breaker Chief, Sent him to fight beneath the walls of Troy.700 Him seizing fast the body, with a stone Illustrious Hector smote full on the front, And his whole skull within the ponderous casque Split sheer; he prostrate on the body fell In shades of soul-divorcing death involved.705 Patroclus, grieving for his slaughter’d friend, Rush’d through the foremost warriors. As the hawk Swift-wing’d before him starlings drives or daws, So thou, Patroclus, of equestrian fame! Full on the Lycian ranks and Trojan drov’st,710 Resentful of thy fellow-warrior’s fall. At Sthenelaüs a huge stone he cast, Son of Ithæmenes, whom on the neck He smote and burst the tendons; then the van Of Ilium’s host, with Hector, all retired.715 Far as the slender javelin cuts the air Hurl’d with collected force, or in the games, Or even in battle at a desperate foe, So far the Greeks repulsed the host of Troy. Then Glaucus first, Chief of the shielded bands720 Of Lycia, slew Bathycles, valiant son Of Calchon; Hellas was his home, and far He pass’d in riches all the Myrmidons. Him chasing Glaucus whom he now attain’d, The Lycian, turning sudden, with his lance725 Pierced through the breast, and, sounding, down he fell Grief fill’d Achaia’s sons for such a Chief So slain, but joy the Trojans; thick they throng’d The conqueror around, nor yet the Greeks Forgat their force, but resolute advanced.730 Then, by Meriones a Trojan died Of noble rank, Laogonus, the son Undaunted of Onetor great in Troy, Priest of Idæan Jove. The ear and jaw Between, he pierced him with a mortal force;735 Swift flew the life, and darkness veil’d his eyes. Æneas, in return, his brazen spear Hurl’d at Meriones with ardent hope To pierce him, while, with nimble[18] steps and short Behind his buckler made, he paced the field;740 But, warn’d of its approach, Meriones Bow’d low his head, shunning it, and the spear Behind him pierced the soil; there quivering stood The weapon, vain, though from a vigorous arm, Till spent by slow degrees its fury slept.745 * * * * * * * * * *[19] Indignant then Æneas thus exclaim’d.