But him the son of generous Nestor mark’d
Antilochus, and to the foremost fight670
Flew also, fearing lest some dire mischance
The Prince befalling, at one fatal stroke
Should frustrate all the labors of the Greeks.
They, hand to hand, and spear to spear opposed,
Stood threatening dreadful onset, when beside675
The Spartan chief Antilochus appear’d.
Æneas, at the sight of two combined,
Stood not, although intrepid. They the dead
Thence drawing far into the Grecian host
To their associates gave the hapless pair,680
Then, both returning, fought in front again.
Next, fierce as Mars, Pylæmenes they slew,
Prince of the shielded band magnanimous
Of Paphlagonia. Him Atrides kill’d
Spear-practised Menelaus, with a lance685
His throat transpiercing while erect he rode.
Then, while his charioteer, Mydon the brave,
Son of Atymnias, turn’d his steeds to flight,
Full on his elbow-point Antilochus,
The son of Nestor, dash’d him with a stone.690
The slack reins, white as ivory,[15] forsook
His torpid hand and trail’d the dust. At once
Forth sprang Antilochus, and with his sword
Hew’d deep his temples. On his head he pitch’d
Panting, and on his shoulders in the sand695
(For in deep sand he fell) stood long erect,
Till his own coursers spread him in the dust;
The son of Nestor seized, and with his scourge
Drove them afar into the host of Greece.
Them Hector through the ranks espying, flew700
With clamor loud to meet them; after whom
Advanced in phalanx firm the powers of Troy,
Mars led them, with Enyo terror-clad;
She by the maddening tumult of the fight
Attended, he, with his enormous spear705
in both hands brandish’d, stalking now in front
Of Hector, and now following his steps.
Him Diomede the bold discerning, felt
Himself no small dismay; and as a man
Wandering he knows not whither, far from home,710
If chance a rapid torrent to the sea
Borne headlong thwart his course, the foaming flood
Obstreperous views awhile, then quick retires,
So he, and his attendants thus bespake.
How oft, my countrymen! have we admired715
The noble Hector, skillful at the spear
And unappall’d in fight? but still hath he
Some God his guard, and even now I view
In human form Mars moving at his side.
Ye, then, with faces to the Trojans turn’d,720
Ceaseless retire, and war not with the Gods.
He ended; and the Trojans now approach’d.
Then two bold warriors in one chariot borne,
By valiant Hector died, Menesthes one,
And one, Anchialus. Them fallen in fight725
Ajax the vast, touch’d with compassion saw;
Within small space he stood, his glittering spear
Dismiss’d, and pierced Amphius. Son was he
Of Selagus, and Pæsus was his home,
Where opulent he dwelt, but by his fate730
Was led to fight for Priam and his sons.
Him Telamonian Ajax through his belt
Wounded, and in his nether bowels deep
Fix’d his long-shadow’d spear. Sounding he fell.
Illustrious Ajax running to the slain735
Prepared to strip his arms, but him a shower
Of glittering-weapons keen from Trojan hands
Assail’d, and numerous his broad shield received.
He, on the body planting firm his heel,
Forth drew the polish’d spear, but his bright arms740
Took not, by darts thick-flying sore annoy’d,
Nor fear’d he little lest his haughty foes,
Spear-arm’d and bold, should compass him around;
Him, therefore, valiant though he were and huge,
They push’d before them. Staggering he retired.745
Thus toil’d both hosts in that laborious field.
And now his ruthless destiny impell’d
Tlepolemus, Alcides’ son, a Chief
Dauntless and huge, against a godlike foe
Sarpedon. They approaching face to face750
Stood, son and grandson of high-thundering Jove,
And, haughty, thus Tlepolemus began.
Sarpedon, leader of the Lycian host,
Thou trembler! thee what cause could hither urge
A man unskill’d in arms? They falsely speak755
Who call thee son of Ægis-bearing Jove,
So far below their might thou fall’st who sprang
From Jove in days of old. What says report
Of Hercules (for him I boast my sire)
All-daring hero with a lion’s heart?760
With six ships only, and with followers few,
He for the horses of Laomedon
Lay’d Troy in dust, and widow’d all her streets.
But thou art base, and thy diminish’d powers
Perish around thee; think not that thou earnest765
For Ilium’s good, but rather, whatsoe’er
Thy force in fight, to find, subdued by me,
A sure dismission to the gates of hell.
To whom the leader of the Lycian band.
Tlepolemus! he ransack’d sacred Troy,770
As thou hast said, but for her monarch’s fault
Laomedon, who him with language harsh
Requited ill for benefits received,
Nor would the steeds surrender, seeking which
He voyaged from afar. But thou shalt take775
Thy bloody doom from this victorious arm,
And, vanquish’d by my spear, shalt yield thy fame
To me, thy soul to Pluto steed-renown’d.
So spake Sarpedon, and his ashen beam
Tlepolemus upraised. Both hurl’d at once780
Their quivering spears. Sarpedon’s through the neck
Pass’d of Tlepolemus, and show’d beyond
Its ruthless point; thick darkness veil’d his eyes.
Tlepolemus with his long lance the thigh
Pierced of Sarpedon; sheer into his bone785
He pierced him, but Sarpedon’s father, Jove,
Him rescued even on the verge of fate.