520 Either to plunge some Trojan in the shades, Or fall himself, guarding the fleet of Greece.  Then slew he brave Alcathoues the son Of AEsyeta, and the son-in-law Of old Anchises, who to him had given 525 The eldest-born of all his daughters fair, Hippodamia; dearly loved was she By both her parents in her virgin state,[10] For that in beauty she surpass’d, in works Ingenious, and in faculties of mind 530 All her coevals; wherefore she was deem’d Well worthy of the noblest prince of Troy.  Him in that moment, Neptune by the arm Quell’d of Idomeneus, his radiant eyes Dimming, and fettering his proportion’d limbs. 535 All power of flight or to elude the stroke Forsook him, and while motionless he stood As stands a pillar tall or towering oak, The hero of the Cretans with a spear Transfix’d his middle chest.  He split the mail 540 Erewhile his bosom’s faithful guard; shrill rang The shiver’d brass; sounding he fell; the beam Implanted in his palpitating heart Shook to its topmost point, but, its force spent, At last, quiescent, stood.  Then loud exclaim’d 545 Idomeneus, exulting in his fall. 
  What thinks Deiphobus? seems it to thee
Vain boaster, that, three warriors slain for one, We yield thee just amends? else, stand thyself Against me; learn the valor of a Chief 550 The progeny of Jove; Jove first begat Crete’s guardian, Minos, from which Minos sprang Deucalion, and from famed Deucalion, I; I, sovereign of the numerous race of Crete’s Extensive isle, and whom my galleys brought 555 To these your shores at last, that I might prove Thy curse, thy father’s, and a curse to Troy. 
  He spake; Deiphobus uncertain stood
Whether, retreating, to engage the help Of some heroic Trojan, or himself 560 To make the dread experiment alone.  At length, as his discreeter course, he chose To seek AEneas; him he found afar Station’d, remotest of the host of Troy, For he resented evermore his worth 565 By Priam[11] recompensed with cold neglect.  Approaching him, in accents wing’d he said. 
  AEneas!  Trojan Chief!  If e’er thou lov’dst
Thy sister’s husband, duty calls thee now To prove it.  Haste—­defend with me the dead 570 Alcathoues, guardian of thy tender years, Slain by Idomeneus the spear-renown’d. 
  So saying, he roused his spirit, and on fire
To combat with the Cretan, forth he sprang.  But fear seized not Idomeneus as fear 575 May seize a nursling boy; resolved he stood As in the mountains, conscious of his force, The wild boar waits a coming multitude Of boisterous hunters to his lone retreat; Arching his bristly spine he stands, his eyes 580 Beam fire, and whetting his bright tusks, he burns To drive, not dogs alone, but men to flight; So stood