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say they that saw him in battle； for I never set eyes upon him myself。
They say that there was no man like him。 He came once to Mycenae；
not as an enemy but as a guest； in company with Polynices to recruit
his forces； for they were levying war against the strong city of
Thebes； and prayed our people for a body of picked men to help them。
The men of Mycenae were willing to let them have one； but Jove
dissuaded them by showing them unfavourable omens。 Tydeus；
therefore； and Polynices went their way。 When they had got as far
the deep…meadowed and rush…grown banks of the Aesopus； the Achaeans
sent Tydeus as their envoy； and he found the Cadmeans gathered in
great numbers to a banquet in the house of Eteocles。 Stranger though
he was； he knew no fear on finding himself single…handed among so
many； but challenged them to contests of all kinds； and in each one of
them was at once victorious； so mightily did Minerva help him。 The
Cadmeans were incensed at his success； and set a force of fifty youths
with two captains… the godlike hero Maeon； son of Haemon； and
Polyphontes； son of Autophonus… at their head； to lie in wait for
him on his return journey； but Tydeus slew every man of them； save
only Maeon； whom he let go in obedience to heaven's omens。 Such was
Tydeus of Aetolia。 His son can talk more glibly； but he cannot fight
as his father did。〃
Diomed made no answer； for he was shamed by the rebuke of Agamemnon；
but the son of Capaneus took up his words and said； 〃Son of Atreus；
tell no lies； for you can speak truth if you will。 We boast
ourselves as even better men than our fathers； we took seven…gated
Thebes； though the wall was stronger and our men were fewer in number；
for we trusted in the omens of the gods and in the help of Jove；
whereas they perished through their own sheer folly； hold not； then；
our fathers in like honour with us。〃
Diomed looked sternly at him and said； 〃Hold your peace； my
friend； as I bid you。 It is not amiss that Agamemnon should urge the
Achaeans forward； for the glory will be his if we take the city； and
his the shame if we are vanquished。 Therefore let us acquit
ourselves with valour。〃
As he spoke he sprang from his chariot； and his armour rang so
fiercely about his body that even a brave man might well have been
scared to hear it。
As when some mighty wave that thunders on the beach when the west
wind has lashed it into fury… it has reared its head afar and now
comes crashing down on the shore； it bows its arching crest high
over the jagged rocks and spews its salt foam in all directions…
even so did the serried phalanxes of the Danaans march steadfastly
to battle。 The chiefs gave orders each to his own people； but the
men said never a word； no man would think it； for huge as the host
was； it seemed as though there was not a tongue among them； so
silent were they in their obedience； and as they marched the armour
about their bodies glistened in the sun。 But the clamour of the Trojan
ranks was as that of many thousand ewes that stand waiting to be
milked in the yards of some rich flockmaster； and bleat incessantly in
answer to the bleating of their lambs； for they had not one speech nor
language； but their tongues were diverse； and they came from many
different places。 These were inspired of Mars； but the others by
Minerva… and with them came Panic； Rout； and Strife whose fury never
tires； sister and friend of murderous Mars； who； from being at first
but low in stature； grows till she uprears her head to heaven；
though her feet are still on earth。 She it was that went about among
them and flung down discord to the waxing of sorrow with even hand
between them。
When they were got together in one place shield clashed with
shield and spear with spear in the rage of battle。 The bossed
shields beat one upon another； and there was a tramp as of a great
multitude… death…cry and shout of triumph of slain and slayers； and
the earth ran red with blood。 As torrents swollen with rain course
madly down their deep channels till the angry floods meet in some
gorge； and the shepherd the hillside hears their roaring from afar…
even such was the toil and uproar of the hosts as they joined in
battle。
First Antilochus slew an armed warrior of the Trojans； Echepolus；
son of Thalysius； fighting in the foremost ranks。 He struck at the
projecting part of his helmet and drove the spear into his brow； the
point of bronze pierced the bone； and darkness veiled his eyes；
headlong as a tower he fell amid the press of the fight； and as he
dropped King Elephenor； son of Chalcodon and captain of the proud
Abantes began dragging him out of reach of the darts that were falling
around him； in haste to strip him of his armour。 But his purpose was
not for long； Agenor saw him haling the body away； and smote him in
the side with his bronze…shod spear… for as he stooped his side was
left unprotected by his shield… and thus he perished。 Then the fight
between Trojans and Achaeans grew furious over his body； and they flew
upon each other like wolves； man and man crushing one upon the other。
Forthwith Ajax； son of Telamon； slew the fair youth Simoeisius；
son of Anthemion； whom his mother bore by the banks of the Simois；
as she was coming down from Mt。 Ida； where she had been with her
parents to see their flocks。 Therefore he was named Simoeisius； but he
did not live to pay his parents for his rearing； for he was cut off
untimely by the spear of mighty Ajax； who struck him in the breast
by the right nipple as he was coming on among the foremost fighters；
the spear went right through his shoulder； and he fell as a poplar
that has grown straight and tall in a meadow by some mere； and its top
is thick with branches。 Then the wheelwright lays his axe to its roots
that he may fashion a felloe for the wheel of some goodly chariot； and
it lies seasoning by the waterside。 In such wise did Ajax fell to
earth Simoeisius； son of Anthemion。 Thereon Antiphus of the gleaming
corslet； son of Priam； hurled a spear at Ajax from amid the crowd
and missed him； but he hit Leucus； the brave comrade of Ulysses； in
the groin； as he was dragging the body of Simoeisius over to the other
side； so he fell upon the body and loosed his hold upon it。 Ulysses
was furious when he saw Leucus slain； and strode in full armour
through the front ranks till he was quite close； then he glared
round about him and took aim； and the Trojans fell back as he did
so。 His dart was not sped in vain； for it struck Democoon； the bastard
son of Priam； who had come to him from Abydos； where he had charge
of his father's mares。 Ulysses； infuriated by the death of his
comrade； hit him with his spear on one temple； and the bronze point
came through on the other side of his forehead。 Thereon darkness
veiled his eyes； and his armour rang rattling round him as he fell
heavily to the ground。 Hector； and they that were in front； then
gave round while the Argives raised a shout and drew off the dead；
pressing further forward as they did so。 But Apollo looked down from
Pergamus and called aloud to the Trojans； for he was displeased。
〃Trojans；〃 he cried； 〃rush on the foe； and do not let yours