But when the Danai with all their fleet
Came thither, then returning, he outshone 665
The noblest Trojans, and at Priam’s side
Dwelling, was honor’d by him as a son. 
Him Hector reprimanding, stern began. 

    Are we thus slack?  Can Melanippus view

Unmoved a kinsman slain?  Seest not the Greeks 670
How busy there with Dolops and his arms? 
Come on.  It is no time for distant war,
But either our Achaian foes must bleed,
Or Ilium taken, from her topmost height
Must stoop, and all her citizens be slain. 675

    So saying he went, whose steps the godlike Chief

Attended; and the Telamonian, next,
Huge Ajax, animated thus the Greeks. 

    Oh friends, be men!  Deep treasure in your hearts

An honest shame, and, fighting bravely, fear 680
Each to incur the censure of the rest. 
Of men so minded more survive than die,
While dastards forfeit life and glory both. 

    So moved he them, themselves already bent

To chase the Trojans; yet his word they bore 685
Faithful in mind, and with a wall of brass
Fenced firm the fleet, while Jove impell’d the foe. 
Then Menelaus, brave in fight, approach’d
Antilochus, and thus his courage roused. 

    Antilochus! in all the host is none 690

Younger, or swifter, or of stronger limb
Than thou.  Make trial, therefore, of thy might,
Spring forth and prove it on some Chief of Troy. 

    He ended and retired, but him his praise

Effectual animated; from the van 695
Starting, he cast a wistful eye around
And hurl’d his glittering spear; back fell the ranks
Of Troy appall’d; nor vain his weapon flew,
But Melanippus pierced heroic son
Of Hicetaon, coming forth to fight, 700
Full in the bosom, and with dreadful sound
Of all his batter’d armor down he fell. 
Swift flew Antilochus as flies the hound
Some fawn to seize, which issuing from her lair
The hunter with his lance hath stricken dead, 705
So thee, O Melanippus! to despoil
Of thy bright arms valiant Antilochus
Sprang forth, but not unnoticed by the eye
Of noble Hector, who through all the war
Ran to encounter him; his dread approach 710
Antilochus, although expert in arms,
Stood not, but as some prowler of the wilds,
Conscious of injury that he hath done,
Slaying the watchful herdsman or his dog,
Escapes, ere yet the peasantry arise, 715
So fled the son of Nestor, after whom
The Trojans clamoring and Hector pour’d
Darts numberless; but at the front arrived
Of his own phalanx, there he turn’d and stood. 
Then, eager as voracious lions, rush’d 720