The Iliad of Homer. Homer

      She said, and from the fight conducted forth

       The impetuous Deity, whom on the side

       She seated of Scamander deep-embank'd.[3]

      And now the host of Troy to flight inclined45

       Before the Grecians, and the Chiefs of Greece

       Each slew a warrior. Agamemnon first

       Gigantic Odius from his chariot hurl'd.

       Chief of the Halizonians. He to flight

       Turn'd foremost, when the monarch in his spine50

       Between the shoulder-bones his spear infixt,

       And urged it through his breast. Sounding he fell,

       And loud his batter'd armor rang around.

      By brave Idomeneus a Lydian died,

       Phæstus, from fruitful Tarne sent to Troy,55

       Son of Mæonian Borus; him his steeds

       109 Mounting, Idomeneus the spear-renown'd

       Through his right shoulder pierced; unwelcome night

       Involved him; from his chariot down he fell,[4] And the attendant Cretans stripp'd his arms.60

      But Menelaus, son of Atreus slew

       With his bright spear Scamandrius, Stropius' son,

       A skilful hunter; for Diana him,

       Herself, the slaughter of all savage kinds

       Had taught, on mountain or in forest bred.65

       But she, shaft-aiming Goddess, in that hour

       Avail'd him not, nor his own matchless skill;

       For Menelaus, Atreus son spear-famed,

       Him flying wounded in the spine between

       His shoulders, and the spear urged through his breast.70

       Prone on his loud-resounding arms he fell.

      Next, by Meriones, Phereclus died,

       Son of Harmonides. All arts that ask

       A well-instructed hand his sire had learn'd,

       For Pallas dearly loved him. He the fleet,75

       Prime source of harm to Troy and to himself,

       For Paris built, unskill'd to spell aright

       The oracles predictive of the wo.

       Phereclus fled; Meriones his flight

       Outstripping, deep in his posterior flesh80

       A spear infix'd; sliding beneath the bone

       It grazed his bladder as it pass'd, and stood

       Protruded far before. Low on his knees

       Phereclus sank, and with a shriek expired.

       110 Pedæus, whom, although his spurious son,85

       Antenor's wife, to gratify her lord,

       Had cherish'd as her own—him Meges slew.

       Warlike Phylides[5] following close his flight, His keen lance drove into his poll, cut sheer His tongue within, and through his mouth enforced90 The glittering point. He, prostrate in the dust, The cold steel press'd between his teeth and died.

      Eurypylus, Evemon's son, the brave

       Hypsenor slew; Dolopion was his sire,

       Priest of Scamander, reverenced as a God.95

       In vain before Eurypylus he fled;

       He, running, with his falchion lopp'd his arm

       Fast by the shoulder; on the field his hand

       Fell blood-distained, and destiny severe

       With shades of death for ever veil'd his eyes.100

      Thus strenuous they the toilsome battle waged.

       But where Tydides fought, whether in aid

       Of Ilium's host, or on the part of Greece,

       Might none discern. For as a winter-flood

       Impetuous, mounds and bridges sweeps away;[6]105 The buttress'd bridge checks not its sudden force, The firm inclosure of vine-planted fields Luxuriant, falls before it; finish'd works Of youthful hinds, once pleasant to the eye, Now levell'd, after ceaseless rain from Jove;110 So drove Tydides into sudden flight The Trojans; phalanx after phalanx fled Before the terror of his single arm.

      When him Lycaon's son illustrious saw

       Scouring the field, and from before his face115

       The ranks dispersing wide, at once he bent

       Against Tydides his elastic bow.

       111 The arrow met him in his swift career

       Sure-aim'd; it struck direct the hollow mail

       Of his right shoulder, with resistless force120

       Transfix'd it, and his hauberk stain'd with blood.

       Loud shouted then Lycaon's son renown'd.

      Rush on, ye Trojans, spur your coursers hard.

       Our fiercest foe is wounded, and I deem

       His death not distant far, if me the King[7]125 Jove's son, indeed, from Lycia sent to Troy.

      So boasted Pandarus. Yet him the dart

       Quell'd not. Retreating, at his coursers' heads

       He stood, and to the son of Capaneus

       His charioteer and faithful friend he said.130

      Arise, sweet son of Capaneus, dismount,

       And from my shoulder draw this bitter shaft.

      He spake; at once the son of Capaneus

       Descending, by its barb the bitter shaft

       Drew forth; blood spouted through his twisted mail135

       Incontinent, and thus the Hero pray'd.

      Unconquer'd daughter of Jove Ægis-arm'd!

       If ever me, propitious, or my sire

       Thou hast in furious fight help'd heretofore,

       Now aid me also. Bring within the reach140

       Of my swift spear, Oh grant me to strike through

       The warrior who hath check'd my course, and boasts

       The sun's bright beams for ever quench'd to me![8]

      He prayed, and Pallas heard; she braced his limbs,

       She wing'd him with alacrity divine,145

       And, standing at his side, him thus bespake.

      Now Diomede, be bold! Fight now with Troy.

       To thee, thy father's spirit I impart

       Fearless; shield-shaking Tydeus felt the same.

       I also from thine eye the darkness purge150

       112 Which dimm'd thy sight[9] before, that thou may'st know Both Gods and men; should, therefore, other God Approach to try thee, fight not with the powers Immortal; but if foam-born Venus come, Her spare not. Wound her with thy glittering spear.155

      So spake the blue-eyed Deity, and went,

       Then with the champions in the van again

       Tydides mingled; hot before, he fights

       With threefold fury now, nor less enraged

       Than some gaunt lion whom o'erleaping light160

       The fold, a shepherd hath but gall'd, not kill'd,

       Him irritating more; thenceforth the swain

       Lurks unresisting; flies the abandon'd flock;

       Heaps slain on heaps he leaves, and with