Thus he the Greeks exhorted. Opposite,
Meantime, illustrious Hector to his host445
Vociferated, his design to oppose
Achilles publishing in every ear.
Fear not, ye valiant men of Troy! fear not
The son of Peleus. In a war of words
I could, myself, cope even with the Gods;450
But not with spears; there they excel us all.
Nor shall Achilles full performance give
To all his vaunts, but, if he some fulfil,
Shall others leave mutilate in the midst.
I will encounter him, though his hands be fire,455
Though fire his hands, and his heart hammer’d steel.
So spake he them exhorting. At his word
Uprose the Trojan spears, thick intermixt
The battle join’d, and clamor loud began.
Then thus, approaching Hector, Phœbus spake.460
Henceforth, advance not Hector! in the front
Seeking Achilles, but retired within
The stormy multitude his coming wait,
Lest his spear reach thee, or his glittering sword.
He said, and Hector far into his host465
Withdrew, admonish’d by the voice divine.
Then, shouting terrible, and clothed with might,
Achilles sprang to battle. First, he slew
The valiant Chief Iphition, whom a band
Numerous obey’d. Otrynteus was his sire.470
Him to Otrynteus, city-waster Chief,
A Naiad under snowy Tmolus bore
In fruitful Hyda.[9] Right into his front
As he advanced, Achilles drove his spear,
And rived his skull; with thundering sound he fell,475
And thus the conqueror gloried in his fall.
Ah Otryntides! thou art slain. Here lies
The terrible in arms, who born beside
The broad Gygæan lake, where Hyllus flows
And Hermus, call’d the fertile soil his own.480
Thus gloried he. Meantime the shades of death
Cover’d Iphition, and Achaian wheels
And horses ground his body in the van.
Demoleon next, Antenor’s son, a brave
Defender of the walls of Troy, he slew.485
Into his temples through his brazen casque
He thrust the Pelian ash, nor could the brass
Such force resist, but the huge weapon drove
The shatter’d bone into his inmost brain,
And his fierce onset at a stroke repress’d.490
Hippodamas his weapon next received
Within his spine, while with a leap he left
His steeds and fled. He, panting forth his life,
Moan’d like a bull, by consecrated youths
Dragg’d round the Heliconian King,[10] who views495
That victim with delight. So, with loud moans
The noble warrior sigh’d his soul away.
Then, spear in hand, against the godlike son
Of Priam, Polydorus, he advanced.
Not yet his father had to him indulged500
A warrior’s place, for that of all his sons
He was the youngest-born, his hoary sire’s
Chief darling, and in speed surpass’d them all.
Then also, in the vanity of youth,
For show of nimbleness, he started oft505
Into the vanward, till at last he fell.
Him gliding swiftly by, swifter than he
Achilles with a javelin reach’d; he struck
His belt behind him, where the golden clasps
Met, and the double hauberk interposed.510
The point transpierced his bowels, and sprang through
His navel; screaming, on his knees he fell,
Death-shadows dimm’d his eyes, and with both hands,
Stooping, he press’d his gather’d bowels back.
But noble Hector, soon as he beheld515
His brother Polydorus to the earth
Inclined, and with his bowels in his hands,
Sightless well-nigh with anguish could endure
No longer to remain aloof; flame-like
He burst abroad,[11] and shaking his sharp spear,520
Advanced to meet Achilles, whose approach
Seeing, Achilles bounded with delight,
And thus, exulting, to himself he said.
Ah! he approaches, who hath stung my soul
Deepest, the slayer of whom most I loved!525
Behold, we meet! Caution is at an end,
And timid skulking in the walks of war.
He ceased, and with a brow knit into frowns,
Call’d to illustrious Hector. Haste, approach,
That I may quick dispatch thee to the shades.530
Whom answer’d warlike Hector, nought appall’d.
Pelides! hope not, as I were a boy,
With words to scare me. I have also taunts
At my command, and can be sharp as thou.
I know thee valiant, and myself I know535
Inferior far; yet, whether thou shalt slay
Me, or, inferior as I am, be slain
By me, is at the pleasure of the Gods,
For I wield also not a pointless beam.