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PDFbreak The ashen spear-beam of AEacides, But perish’d
by his keen-edged falchion first; 215
For on the belly at his navel’s side He
smote him; to the ground effused fell all His bowels,
death’s dim shadows veil’d his eyes.
Achilles ardent on his bosom fix’d His foot,
despoil’d him, and exulting cried.
220
Lie there; though River-sprung, thou find’st it hard
To cope with sons of Jove omnipotent. Thou said’st, a mighty River is my sire— But my descent from mightier Jove I boast; My father, whom the Myrmidons obey, 225 Is son of AEacus, and he of Jove. As Jove all streams excels that seek the sea, So, Jove’s descendants nobler are than theirs. Behold a River at thy side—let him Afford thee, if he can, some succor—No— 230 He may not fight against Saturnian Jove. Therefore, not kingly Acheloius, Nor yet the strength of Ocean’s vast profound, Although from him all rivers and all seas, All fountains and all wells proceed, may boast 235 Comparison with Jove, but even he Astonish’d trembles at his fiery bolt, And his dread thunders rattling in the sky. He said, and drawing from the bank his spear[5] Asteropaeus left stretch’d on the sands, 240 Where, while the clear wave dash’d him, eels his flanks And ravening fishes numerous nibbled bare. The horsed Poeonians next he fierce assail’d, Who seeing their brave Chief slain by the sword And forceful arm of Peleus’ son, beside 245 The eddy-whirling stream fled all dispersed. Thersilochus and Mydon then he slew, Thrasius, Astypylus and Ophelestes, AEnius and Mnesus; nor had these sufficed Achilles, but Poeonians more had fallen, 250 Had not the angry River from within His circling gulfs in semblance, of a man Call’d to him, interrupting thus his rage.
Oh both in courage and injurious deeds
Unmatch’d, Achilles! whom themselves the Gods 255 Cease not to aid, if Saturn’s son have doom’d All Ilium’s race to perish by thine arm, Expel them, first, from me, ere thou achieve That dread exploit; for, cumber’d as I am With bodies, I can pour my pleasant stream 260 No longer down into the sacred deep; All vanish where thou comest. But oh desist Dread Chief! Amazement fills me at thy deeds.
To whom Achilles, matchless in the race.
River divine! hereafter be it so. 265 But not from slaughter of this faithless host I cease, till I shall shut them fast in Troy And trial make of Hector, if his arm In single fight shall strongest prove, or mine
He said, and like a God, furious, again 270
Assail’d the Trojans; then the circling flood To Phoebus thus his loud complaint address’d.
Ah son of Jove, God of the silver bow!
The mandate of the son of Saturn ill Hast thou perform’d, who, earnest, bade thee aid 275 The Trojans, till (the sun sunk in the
Lie there; though River-sprung, thou find’st it hard
To cope with sons of Jove omnipotent. Thou said’st, a mighty River is my sire— But my descent from mightier Jove I boast; My father, whom the Myrmidons obey, 225 Is son of AEacus, and he of Jove. As Jove all streams excels that seek the sea, So, Jove’s descendants nobler are than theirs. Behold a River at thy side—let him Afford thee, if he can, some succor—No— 230 He may not fight against Saturnian Jove. Therefore, not kingly Acheloius, Nor yet the strength of Ocean’s vast profound, Although from him all rivers and all seas, All fountains and all wells proceed, may boast 235 Comparison with Jove, but even he Astonish’d trembles at his fiery bolt, And his dread thunders rattling in the sky. He said, and drawing from the bank his spear[5] Asteropaeus left stretch’d on the sands, 240 Where, while the clear wave dash’d him, eels his flanks And ravening fishes numerous nibbled bare. The horsed Poeonians next he fierce assail’d, Who seeing their brave Chief slain by the sword And forceful arm of Peleus’ son, beside 245 The eddy-whirling stream fled all dispersed. Thersilochus and Mydon then he slew, Thrasius, Astypylus and Ophelestes, AEnius and Mnesus; nor had these sufficed Achilles, but Poeonians more had fallen, 250 Had not the angry River from within His circling gulfs in semblance, of a man Call’d to him, interrupting thus his rage.
Oh both in courage and injurious deeds
Unmatch’d, Achilles! whom themselves the Gods 255 Cease not to aid, if Saturn’s son have doom’d All Ilium’s race to perish by thine arm, Expel them, first, from me, ere thou achieve That dread exploit; for, cumber’d as I am With bodies, I can pour my pleasant stream 260 No longer down into the sacred deep; All vanish where thou comest. But oh desist Dread Chief! Amazement fills me at thy deeds.
To whom Achilles, matchless in the race.
River divine! hereafter be it so. 265 But not from slaughter of this faithless host I cease, till I shall shut them fast in Troy And trial make of Hector, if his arm In single fight shall strongest prove, or mine
He said, and like a God, furious, again 270
Assail’d the Trojans; then the circling flood To Phoebus thus his loud complaint address’d.
Ah son of Jove, God of the silver bow!
The mandate of the son of Saturn ill Hast thou perform’d, who, earnest, bade thee aid 275 The Trojans, till (the sun sunk in the
