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PDFdance, 775 Though sought with keener
appetite by most Than bloody war; but Troy still
covets blood.
So spake the royal Chief, and to his friends
Pisander’s gory spoils consigning, flew To mingle in the foremost fight again. 780 Him, next, Harpalion, offspring of the King Pylaemenes assail’d; to Troy he came Following his sire, but never thence return’d. He, from small distance, smote the central boss Of Menelaus’ buckler with his lance, 785 But wanting power to pierce it, with an eye Of cautious circumspection, lest perchance Some spear should reach him, to his band retired. But him retiring with a brazen shaft Meriones pursued; swift flew the dart 790 To his right buttock, slipp’d beneath the bone, His bladder grazed, and started through before. There ended his retreat; sudden he sank And like a worm lay on the ground, his life Exhaling in his fellow-warrior’s arms, 795 And with his sable blood soaking the plain. Around him flock’d his Paphlagonians bold, And in his chariot placed drove him to Troy, With whom his father went, mourning with tears A son, whose death he never saw avenged. 800
Him slain with indignation Paris view’d,
For he, with numerous Paphlagonians more His guest had been; he, therefore, in the thirst Of vengeance, sent a brazen arrow forth. There was a certain Greek, Euchenor, son 805 Of Polyides the soothsayer, rich And brave in fight, and who in Corinth dwelt He, knowing well his fate, yet sail’d to Troy For Polyides oft, his reverend sire, Had prophecied that he should either die 810 By some dire malady at home, or, slain By Trojan hands, amid the fleet of Greece. He, therefore, shunning the reproach alike Of the Achaians, and that dire disease, Had join’d the Grecian host; him Paris pierced 815 The ear and jaw beneath; life at the stroke Left him, and darkness overspread his eyes.
So raged the battle like devouring fire.
But Hector dear to Jove not yet had learn’d, Nor aught surmised the havoc of his host 820 Made on the left, where victory crown’d well-nigh The Grecians animated to the fight By Neptune seconding himself their arms. He, where he first had started through the gate After dispersion of the shielded Greeks 825 Compact, still persevered. The galleys there Of Ajax and Protesilaues stood Updrawn above the hoary Deep; the wall Was there of humblest structure, and the steeds And warriors there conflicted furious most. 830 The Epeans there and Iaeonians[12] robed- Prolix, the Phthians,[13] Locrians, and the bold Boetians check’d the terrible assault Of Hector, noble Chief, ardent as flame, Yet not repulsed him. Chosen Athenians form’d 835 The van, by Peteos’ son, Menestheus, led, Whose high command undaunted Bias shared, Phidas
So spake the royal Chief, and to his friends
Pisander’s gory spoils consigning, flew To mingle in the foremost fight again. 780 Him, next, Harpalion, offspring of the King Pylaemenes assail’d; to Troy he came Following his sire, but never thence return’d. He, from small distance, smote the central boss Of Menelaus’ buckler with his lance, 785 But wanting power to pierce it, with an eye Of cautious circumspection, lest perchance Some spear should reach him, to his band retired. But him retiring with a brazen shaft Meriones pursued; swift flew the dart 790 To his right buttock, slipp’d beneath the bone, His bladder grazed, and started through before. There ended his retreat; sudden he sank And like a worm lay on the ground, his life Exhaling in his fellow-warrior’s arms, 795 And with his sable blood soaking the plain. Around him flock’d his Paphlagonians bold, And in his chariot placed drove him to Troy, With whom his father went, mourning with tears A son, whose death he never saw avenged. 800
Him slain with indignation Paris view’d,
For he, with numerous Paphlagonians more His guest had been; he, therefore, in the thirst Of vengeance, sent a brazen arrow forth. There was a certain Greek, Euchenor, son 805 Of Polyides the soothsayer, rich And brave in fight, and who in Corinth dwelt He, knowing well his fate, yet sail’d to Troy For Polyides oft, his reverend sire, Had prophecied that he should either die 810 By some dire malady at home, or, slain By Trojan hands, amid the fleet of Greece. He, therefore, shunning the reproach alike Of the Achaians, and that dire disease, Had join’d the Grecian host; him Paris pierced 815 The ear and jaw beneath; life at the stroke Left him, and darkness overspread his eyes.
So raged the battle like devouring fire.
But Hector dear to Jove not yet had learn’d, Nor aught surmised the havoc of his host 820 Made on the left, where victory crown’d well-nigh The Grecians animated to the fight By Neptune seconding himself their arms. He, where he first had started through the gate After dispersion of the shielded Greeks 825 Compact, still persevered. The galleys there Of Ajax and Protesilaues stood Updrawn above the hoary Deep; the wall Was there of humblest structure, and the steeds And warriors there conflicted furious most. 830 The Epeans there and Iaeonians[12] robed- Prolix, the Phthians,[13] Locrians, and the bold Boetians check’d the terrible assault Of Hector, noble Chief, ardent as flame, Yet not repulsed him. Chosen Athenians form’d 835 The van, by Peteos’ son, Menestheus, led, Whose high command undaunted Bias shared, Phidas
