So saying, Ulysses’ oval disk he smote. 

Through his bright disk the stormy weapon flew,
Transpierced his twisted mail, and from his side 530
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
From battle with the Trojans, but I speak
Thy death at hand; for vanquish’d by my spear,
This self-same day thou shalt to me resign
Thy fame, thy soul to Pluto steed-renown’d. 540

    He ceased; then Socus turn’d his back to fly,

But, as he turn’d, his shoulder-blades between
He pierced him, and the spear urged through his breast. 
On his resounding arms he fell, and thus
Godlike Ulysses gloried in his fall. 545

    Ah, Socus, son of Hippasus, a chief

Of fame equestrian! swifter far than thou
Death follow’d thee, and thou hast not escaped. 
Ill-fated youth! thy parents’ hands thine eyes
Shall never close, but birds of ravenous maw 550
Shall tear thee, flapping thee with frequent wing,
While me the noble Grecians shall entomb! 

    So saying, the valiant Socus’ spear he drew

From his own flesh, and through his bossy shield. 
The weapon drawn, forth sprang the blood, and left 555
His spirit faint.  Then Ilium’s dauntless sons,
Seeing Ulysses’ blood, exhorted glad
Each other, and, with force united, all
Press’d on him.  He, retiring, summon’d loud
His followers.  Thrice, loud as mortal may, 560
He call’d, and valiant Menelaus thrice
Hearing the voice, to Ajax thus remark’d. 

    Illustrious son of Telamon!  The voice

Of Laertiades comes o’er my ear
With such a sound, as if the hardy chief, 565
Abandon’d of his friends, were overpower’d
By numbers intercepting his retreat. 
Haste! force we quick a passage through the ranks. 
His worth demands our succor, for I fear
Lest sole conflicting with the host of Troy, 570
Brave as he is, he perish, to the loss
Unspeakable and long regret of Greece. 

    So saying, he went, and Ajax, godlike Chief,

Follow’d him.  At the voice arrived, they found
Ulysses Jove-beloved compass’d about 575
By Trojans, as the lynxes in the hills,
Adust for blood, compass an antler’d stag
Pierced by an archer; while his blood is warm
And his limbs pliable, from him he ’scapes;
But when the feather’d barb hath quell’d his force, 580
In some dark hollow of the mountain’s side,
The hungry troop devour him; chance, the while,
Conducts a lion thither, before whom