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they could not ask him how it had all happened； for they were too busy
with the turmoil raised by Mars and by Strife； who raged insatiably in
their midst。
The two Ajaxes； Ulysses and Diomed； cheered the Danaans on； fearless
of the fury and onset of the Trojans。 They stood as still as clouds
which the son of Saturn has spread upon the mountain tops when there
is no air and fierce Boreas sleeps with the other boisterous winds
whose shrill blasts scatter the clouds in all directions… even so
did the Danaans stand firm and unflinching against the Trojans。 The
son of Atreus went about among them and exhorted them。 〃My friends；〃
said he； 〃quit yourselves like brave men； and shun dishonour in one
another's eyes amid the stress of battle。 They that shun dishonour
more often live than get killed； but they that fly save neither life
nor name。〃
As he spoke he hurled his spear and hit one of those who were in the
front rank； the comrade of Aeneas； Deicoon son of Pergasus； whom the
Trojans held in no less honour than the sons of Priam； for he was ever
quick to place himself among the foremost。 The spear of King Agamemnon
struck his shield and went right through it； for the shield stayed
it not。 It drove through his belt into the lower part of his belly；
and his armour rang rattling round him as he fell heavily to the
ground。
Then Aeneas killed two champions of the Danaans； Crethon and
Orsilochus。 Their father was a rich man who lived in the strong city
of Phere and was descended from the river Alpheus； whose broad
stream flows through the land of the Pylians。 The river begat
Orsilochus； who ruled over much people and was father to Diocles；
who in his turn begat twin sons； Crethon and Orsilochus； well
skilled in all the arts of war。 These； when they grew up； went to
Ilius with the Argive fleet in the cause of Menelaus and Agamemnon
sons of Atreus； and there they both of them fell。 As two lions whom
their dam has reared in the depths of some mountain forest to
plunder homesteads and carry off sheep and cattle till they get killed
by the hand of man； so were these two vanquished by Aeneas； and fell
like high pine…trees to the ground。
Brave Menelaus pitied them in their fall； and made his way to the
front； clad in gleaming bronze and brandishing his spear； for Mars
egged him on to do so with intent that he should be killed by
Aeneas； but Antilochus the son of Nestor saw him and sprang forward；
fearing that the king might come to harm and thus bring all their
labour to nothing； when； therefore Aeneas and Menelaus were setting
their hands and spears against one another eager to do battle；
Antilochus placed himself by the side of Menelaus。 Aeneas； bold though
he was； drew back on seeing the two heroes side by side in front of
him； so they drew the bodies of Crethon and Orsilochus to the ranks of
the Achaeans and committed the two poor fellows into the hands of
their comrades。 They then turned back and fought in the front ranks。
They killed Pylaemenes peer of Mars； leader of the Paphlagonian
warriors。 Menelaus struck him on the collar…bone as he was standing on
his chariot； while Antilochus hit his charioteer and squire Mydon； the
son of Atymnius； who was turning his horses in flight。 He hit him with
a stone upon the elbow； and the reins； enriched with white ivory； fell
from his hands into the dust。 Antilochus rushed towards him and struck
him on the temples with his sword； whereon he fell head first from the
chariot to the ground。 There he stood for a while with his head and
shoulders buried deep in the dust… for he had fallen on sandy soil
till his horses kicked him and laid him flat on the ground； as
Antilochus lashed them and drove them off to the host of the Achaeans。
But Hector marked them from across the ranks； and with a loud cry
rushed towards them； followed by the strong battalions of the Trojans。
Mars and dread Enyo led them on； she fraught with ruthless turmoil
of battle； while Mars wielded a monstrous spear； and went about； now
in front of Hector and now behind him。
Diomed shook with passion as he saw them。 As a man crossing a wide
plain is dismayed to find himself on the brink of some great river
rolling swiftly to the sea… he sees its boiling waters and starts back
in fear… even so did the son of Tydeus give ground。 Then he said to
his men； 〃My friends； how can we wonder that Hector wields the spear
so well？ Some god is ever by his side to protect him； and now Mars
is with him in the likeness of mortal man。 Keep your faces therefore
towards the Trojans； but give ground backwards； for we dare not
fight with gods。〃
As he spoke the Trojans drew close up； and Hector killed two men；
both in one chariot； Menesthes and Anchialus； heroes well versed in
war。 Ajax son of Telamon pitied them in their fall； he came close up
and hurled his spear； hitting Amphius the son of Selagus； a man of
great wealth who lived in Paesus and owned much corn…growing land； but
his lot had led him to come to the aid of Priam and his sons。 Ajax
struck him in the belt； the spear pierced the lower part of his belly；
and he fell heavily to the ground。 Then Ajax ran towards him to
strip him of his armour； but the Trojans rained spears upon him；
many of which fell upon his shield。 He planted his heel upon the
body and drew out his spear； but the darts pressed so heavily upon him
that he could not strip the goodly armour from his shoulders。 The
Trojan chieftains； moreover； many and valiant； came about him with
their spears； so that he dared not stay； great； brave and valiant
though he was； they drove him from them and he was beaten back。
Thus； then； did the battle rage between them。 Presently the strong
hand of fate impelled Tlepolemus； the son of Hercules； a man both
brave and of great stature； to fight Sarpedon； so the two； son and
grandson of great Jove； drew near to one another； and Tlepolemus spoke
first。 〃Sarpedon；〃 said he； 〃councillor of the Lycians； why should you
come skulking here you who are a man of peace？ They lie who call you
son of aegis…bearing Jove； for you are little like those who were of
old his children。 Far other was Hercules； my own brave and
lion…hearted father； who came here for the horses of Laomedon； and
though he had six ships only； and few men to follow him； sacked the
city of Ilius and made a wilderness of her highways。 You are a coward；
and your people are falling from you。 For all your strength； and all
your coming from Lycia； you will be no help to the Trojans but will
pass the gates of Hades vanquished by my hand。〃
And Sarpedon； captain of the Lycians； answered； 〃Tlepolemus； your
father overthrew Ilius by reason of Laomedon's folly in refusing
payment to one who had served him well。 He would not give your
father the horses which he had come so far to fetch。 As for
yourself； you shall meet death by my spear。 You shall yield glory to
myself； and your soul to Hades of the noble steeds。〃
Thus spoke Sarpedon； and Tlepolemus upraised his spear。 They threw
at the same moment； and Sarpedon struck his foe in the middle of his
throat； the spear went right through； and the darkness of death fell
upon his eyes。 Tlepolem