The Iliad of Homer · Homer
BOOK IV.
Him fallen by both feet Calchodon’s son550 Seized, royal Elephenor, leader brave Of the Abantes, and in haste to strip His armor, drew him from the fight aside. But short was that attempt. Him so employ’d Dauntless Agenor mark’d, and as he stoop’d,555 In his unshielded flank a pointed spear Implanted deep; he languid sunk and died. So Elephenor fell, for whom arose Sharp conflict; Greeks and Trojans mutual flew Like wolves to battle, and man grappled man.560 Then Telamonian Ajax, in his prime Of youthful vigor Simöisius slew,[17] Son of Anthemion. Him on Simoïs’ banks His mother bore, when with her parents once She came from Ida down to view the flocks,565 And thence they named him; but his parents’ He lived not to requite, in early youth Slain by the spear of Ajax famed in arms. For him advancing Ajax at the pap Wounded; right through his shoulder driven the point570 Stood forth behind; he fell, and press’d the dust. So in some spacious marsh the poplar falls Smooth-skinn’d, with boughs unladen save aloft; Some chariot-builder with his axe the trunk Severs, that he may warp it to a wheel575 Of shapely form; meantime exposed it lies To parching airs beside the running stream; Such Simöisius seemed, Anthemion’s son, Whom noble Ajax slew.
But soon at him Antiphus, son of Priam, bright in arms,580 Hurl’d through the multitude his pointed spear. He erred from Ajax, but he pierced the groin Of Leucus, valiant warrior of the band Led by Ulysses. He the body dragg’d Apart, but fell beside it, and let fall,585 Breathless himself, the burthen from his hand. Then burn’d Ulysses’ wrath for Leucus slain, And through the foremost combatants, array’d In dazzling arms, he rush’d. Full near he stood, And, looking keen around him, hurl’d a lance.590 Back fell the Trojans from before the face Dispersed of great Ulysses. Not in vain His weapon flew, but on the field outstretch’d A spurious son of Priam, from the shores Call’d of Abydus famed for fleetest mares,595 Democoon; him, for Leucus’ sake enraged, Ulysses through both temples with his spear Transpierced. The night of death hung on his eyes, And sounding on his batter’d arms he fell. Then Hector and the van of Troy retired;600 Loud shout the Grecians; these draw off the dead, Those onward march amain, and from the heights Of Pergamus Apollo looking down In anger, to the Trojans called aloud. Turn, turn, ye Trojans! face your Grecian foes.605 They, like yourselves, are vulnerable flesh, Not adamant or steel.
Your direst dread Achilles, son of Thetis radiant-hair’d, Fights not, but sullen in his fleet abides.[18] Such from the citadel was heard the voice610 Of dread Apollo. But Minerva ranged Meantime, Tritonian progeny of Jove, The Grecians, rousing whom she saw remiss. Then Amarynceus’ son, Diores, felt The force of fate, bruised by a rugged rock615 At his right heel, which Pirus, Thracian Chief, The son of Imbrasus of Ænos, threw. Bones and both tendons in its fall the mass Enormous crush’d. He, stretch’d in dust supine, With palms outspread toward his warrior friends620 Lay gasping life away. But he who gave The fatal blow, Pirus, advancing, urged Into his navel a keen lance, and shed His bowels forth; then, darkness veil’d his eyes. Nor Pirus long survived; him through the breast625 Above the pap, Ætolian Thoas pierced, And in his lungs set fast the quivering spear. Then Thoas swift approach’d, pluck’d from the wound His stormy spear, and with his falchion bright Gashing his middle belly, stretch’d him dead.630 Yet stripp’d he not the slain, whom with long spears His Thracians hairy-scalp’d[19] so round about Encompassed, that though bold and large of limb Were Thoas, from before them him they thrust Staggering and reeling in his forced retreat.635 They therefore in the dust, the Epean Chief Diores, and the Thracian, Pirus lay Stretch’d side by side, with numerous slain around. Then had Minerva led through all that field Some warrior yet unhurt, him sheltering safe640 From all annoyance dread of dart or spear, No cause of blame in either had he found That day, so many Greeks and Trojans press’d, Extended side by side, the dusty plain. Diomede is extraordinarily distinguished. He kills Pandarus, who had violated the truce, and wounds first Venus and then Mars.
Text from Project Gutenberg, public domain in the United States.