The Iliad of Homer. Homer

To steed-fam'd Ilium; just revenge they sought

       For Atreus' sons, but perished first themselves.655

      As two young lions, in the deep recess

       Of some dark forest on the mountain's brow

       Late nourished by their dam, forth-issuing, seize

       126 The fatted flocks and kine, both folds and stalls

       Wasting rapacious, till, at length, themselves660

       Deep-wounded perish by the hand of man,

       So they, both vanquish'd by Æneas, fell,

       And like two lofty pines uprooted, lay.

       Them fallen in battle Menelaus saw

       With pity moved; radiant in arms he shook665

       His brazen spear, and strode into the van.

       Mars urged him furious on, conceiving hope

       Of his death also by Æneas' hand.

      But him the son of generous Nestor mark'd

       Antilochus, and to the foremost fight670

       Flew also, fearing lest some dire mischance

       The Prince befalling, at one fatal stroke

       Should frustrate all the labors of the Greeks.

       They, hand to hand, and spear to spear opposed,

       Stood threatening dreadful onset, when beside675

       The Spartan chief Antilochus appear'd.

       Æneas, at the sight of two combined,

       Stood not, although intrepid. They the dead

       Thence drawing far into the Grecian host

       To their associates gave the hapless pair,680

       Then, both returning, fought in front again.

      Next, fierce as Mars, Pylæmenes they slew,

       Prince of the shielded band magnanimous

       Of Paphlagonia. Him Atrides kill'd

       Spear-practised Menelaus, with a lance685

       His throat transpiercing while erect he rode.

       Then, while his charioteer, Mydon the brave,

       Son of Atymnias, turn'd his steeds to flight,

       Full on his elbow-point Antilochus,

       The son of Nestor, dash'd him with a stone.690

       The slack reins, white as ivory,[15] forsook His torpid hand and trail'd the dust. At once Forth sprang Antilochus, and with his sword Hew'd deep his temples. On his head he pitch'd 127 Panting, and on his shoulders in the sand695 (For in deep sand he fell) stood long erect, Till his own coursers spread him in the dust; The son of Nestor seized, and with his scourge Drove them afar into the host of Greece.

      Them Hector through the ranks espying, flew700

       With clamor loud to meet them; after whom

       Advanced in phalanx firm the powers of Troy,

       Mars led them, with Enyo terror-clad;

       She by the maddening tumult of the fight

       Attended, he, with his enormous spear705

       in both hands brandish'd, stalking now in front

       Of Hector, and now following his steps.

      Him Diomede the bold discerning, felt

       Himself no small dismay; and as a man

       Wandering he knows not whither, far from home,710

       If chance a rapid torrent to the sea

       Borne headlong thwart his course, the foaming flood

       Obstreperous views awhile, then quick retires,

       So he, and his attendants thus bespake.

      How oft, my countrymen! have we admired715

       The noble Hector, skillful at the spear

       And unappall'd in fight? but still hath he

       Some God his guard, and even now I view

       In human form Mars moving at his side.

       Ye, then, with faces to the Trojans turn'd,720

       Ceaseless retire, and war not with the Gods.

      He ended; and the Trojans now approach'd.

       Then two bold warriors in one chariot borne,

       By valiant Hector died, Menesthes one,

       And one, Anchialus. Them fallen in fight725

       Ajax the vast, touch'd with compassion saw;

       Within small space he stood, his glittering spear

       Dismiss'd, and pierced Amphius. Son was he

       Of Selagus, and Pæsus was his home,

       Where opulent he dwelt, but by his fate730

       Was led to fight for Priam and his sons.

       Him Telamonian Ajax through his belt

       128 Wounded, and in his nether bowels deep

       Fix'd his long-shadow'd spear. Sounding he fell.

       Illustrious Ajax running to the slain735

       Prepared to strip his arms, but him a shower

       Of glittering-weapons keen from Trojan hands

       Assail'd, and numerous his broad shield received.

       He, on the body planting firm his heel,

       Forth drew the polish'd spear, but his bright arms740

       Took not, by darts thick-flying sore annoy'd,

       Nor fear'd he little lest his haughty foes,

       Spear-arm'd and bold, should compass him around;

       Him, therefore, valiant though he were and huge,

       They push'd before them. Staggering he retired.745

      Thus toil'd both hosts in that laborious field.

       And now his ruthless destiny impell'd

       Tlepolemus, Alcides' son, a Chief

       Dauntless and huge, against a godlike foe

       Sarpedon. They approaching face to face750

       Stood, son and grandson of high-thundering Jove,

       And, haughty, thus Tlepolemus began.

      Sarpedon, leader of the Lycian host,

       Thou trembler! thee what cause could hither urge

       A man unskill'd in arms? They falsely speak755

       Who call thee son of Ægis-bearing Jove,

       So far below their might thou fall'st who sprang

       From Jove in days of old. What says report

       Of Hercules (for him I boast my sire)

       All-daring hero with a lion's heart?760

       With six ships only, and with followers few,

       He for the horses of Laomedon

       Lay'd Troy in dust, and widow'd all her streets.

       But thou art base, and thy diminish'd powers

       Perish around thee; think not that thou earnest765

       For Ilium's good, but rather, whatsoe'er

       Thy force in fight, to find, subdued by me,

       A sure dismission to the gates of hell.

      To whom the leader of the Lycian band.

       Tlepolemus! he ransack'd sacred Troy,770

       129 As thou hast said, but for her monarch's fault

       Laomedon, who