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that he staggered and gave ground； thereon he shouted to the
Trojans； 〃Trojans； Lycians； and Dardanians； fighters in close
combat； stand firm： the Achaeans have set themselves as a wall against
me； but they will not check me for long； they will give ground
before me if the mightiest of the gods； the thundering spouse of Juno；
has indeed inspired my onset。〃
With these words he put heart and soul into them all。 Deiphobus
son of Priam went about among them intent on deeds of daring with
his round shield before him； under cover of which he strode quickly
forward。 Meriones took aim at him with a spear； nor did he fail to hit
the broad orb of ox…hide； but he was far from piercing it for the
spear broke in two pieces long ere he could do so； moreover
Deiphobus had seen it coming and had held his shield well away from
him。 Meriones drew back under cover of his comrades； angry alike at
having failed to vanquish Deiphobus； and having broken his spear。 He
turned therefore towards the ships and tents to fetch a spear which he
had left behind in his tent。
The others continued fighting； and the cry of battle rose up into
the heavens。 Teucer son of Telamon was the first to kill his man； to
wit； the warrior Imbrius son of Mentor rich in horses。 Until the
Achaeans came he had lived in Pedaeum； and had married Medesicaste a
bastard daughter of Priam； but on the arrival of the Danaan fleet he
had gone back to Ilius； and was a great man among the Trojans；
dwelling near Priam himself； who gave him like honour with his own
sons。 The son of Telamon now struck him under the ear with a spear
which he then drew back again； and Imbrius fell headlong as an
ash…tree when it is felled on the crest of some high mountain
beacon； and its delicate green foliage comes toppling down to the
ground。 Thus did he fall with his bronze…dight armour ringing
harshly round him； and Teucer sprang forward with intent to strip
him of his armour； but as he was doing so； Hector took aim at him with
a spear。 Teucer saw the spear coming and swerved aside； whereon it hit
Amphimachus； son of Cteatus son of Actor； in the chest as he was
coming into battle； and his armour rang rattling round him as he
fell heavily to the ground。 Hector sprang forward to take
Amphimachus's helmet from off his temples； and in a moment Ajax
threw a spear at him； but did not wound him； for he was encased all
over in his terrible armour； nevertheless the spear struck the boss of
his shield with such force as to drive him back from the two
corpses； which the Achaeans then drew off。 Stichius and Menestheus；
captains of the Athenians； bore away Amphimachus to the host of the
Achaeans； while the two brave and impetuous Ajaxes did the like by
Imbrius。 As two lions snatch a goat from the hounds that have it in
their fangs； and bear it through thick brushwood high above the ground
in their jaws； thus did the Ajaxes bear aloft the body of Imbrius； and
strip it of its armour。 Then the son of Oileus severed the head from
the neck in revenge for the death of Amphimachus； and sent it whirling
over the crowd as though it had been a ball； till fell in the dust
at Hector's feet。
Neptune was exceedingly angry that his grandson Amphimachus should
have fallen； he therefore went to the tents and ships of the
Achaeans to urge the Danaans still further； and to devise evil for the
Trojans。 Idomeneus met him； as he was taking leave of a comrade； who
had just come to him from the fight； wounded in the knee。 His
fellow…soldiers bore him off the field； and Idomeneus having given
orders to the physicians went on to his tent； for he was still
thirsting for battle。 Neptune spoke in the likeness and with the voice
of Thoas son of Andraemon who ruled the Aetolians of all Pleuron and
high Calydon； and was honoured among his people as though he were a
god。 〃Idomeneus；〃 said he； 〃lawgiver to the Cretans； what has now
become of the threats with which the sons of the Achaeans used to
threaten the Trojans？〃
And Idomeneus chief among the Cretans answered； 〃Thoas； no one； so
far as I know； is in fault； for we can all fight。 None are held back
neither by fear nor slackness； but it seems to be the of almighty Jove
that the Achaeans should perish ingloriously here far from Argos： you；
Thoas； have been always staunch； and you keep others in heart if you
see any fail in duty； be not then remiss now； but exhort all to do
their utmost。〃
To this Neptune lord of the earthquake made answer； 〃Idomeneus；
may he never return from Troy； but remain here for dogs to batten
upon； who is this day wilfully slack in fighting。 Get your armour
and go； we must make all haste together if we may be of any use；
though we are only two。 Even cowards gain courage from
companionship； and we two can hold our own with the bravest。〃
Therewith the god went back into the thick of the fight； and
Idomeneus when he had reached his tent donned his armour； grasped
his two spears； and sallied forth。 As the lightning which the son of
Saturn brandishes from bright Olympus when he would show a sign to
mortals； and its gleam flashes far and wide… even so did his armour
gleam about him as he ran。 Meriones his sturdy squire met him while he
was still near his tent （for he was going to fetch his spear） and
Idomeneus said
〃Meriones； fleet son of Molus； best of comrades； why have you left
the field？ Are you wounded； and is the point of the weapon hurting
you？ or have you been sent to fetch me？ I want no fetching； I had
far rather fight than stay in my tent。〃
〃Idomeneus；〃 answered Meriones； 〃I come for a spear； if I can find
one in my tent； I have broken the one I had； in throwing it at the
shield of Deiphobus。〃
And Idomeneus captain of the Cretans answered； 〃You will find one
spear； or twenty if you so please； standing up against the end wall of
my tent。 I have taken them from Trojans whom I have killed； for I am
not one to keep my enemy at arm's length； therefore I have spears；
bossed shields； helmets； and burnished corslets。〃
Then Meriones said； 〃I too in my tent and at my ship have spoils
taken from the Trojans； but they are not at hand。 I have been at all
times valorous； and wherever there has been hard fighting have held my
own among the foremost。 There may be those among the Achaeans who do
not know how I fight； but you know it well enough yourself。〃
Idomeneus answered； 〃I know you for a brave man： you need not tell
me。 If the best men at the ships were being chosen to go on an ambush…
and there is nothing like this for showing what a man is made of； it
comes out then who is cowardly and who brave； the coward will change
colour at every touch and turn； he is full of fears； and keeps
shifting his weight first on one knee and then on the other； his heart
beats fast as he thinks of death； and one can hear the chattering of
his teeth； whereas the brave man will not change colour nor be on
finding himself in ambush； but is all the time longing to go into
action… if the best men were being chosen for such a service； no one
could make light of your courage nor feats of arms。 If you were struck
by a dart or smitten in close combat； it would not be from behind；
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