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by a dart or smitten in close combat； it would not be from behind；
in your neck nor back； but the weapon would hit you in the chest or
belly as you were pressing forward to a place in the front ranks。
But let us no longer stay here talking like children； lest we be ill
spoken of； go； fetch your spear from the tent at once。〃
On this Meriones； peer of Mars； went to the tent and got himself a
spear of bronze。 He then followed after Idomeneus； big with great
deeds of valour。 As when baneful Mars sallies forth to battle； and his
son Panic so strong and dauntless goes with him； to strike terror even
into the heart of a hero… the pair have gone from Thrace to arm
themselves among the Ephyri or the brave Phlegyans； but they will
not listen to both the contending hosts； and will give victory to
one side or to the other… even so did Meriones and Idomeneus； captains
of men； go out to battle clad in their bronze armour。 Meriones was
first to speak。 〃Son of Deucalion；〃 said he； 〃where would you have
us begin fighting？ On the right wing of the host； in the centre； or on
the left wing； where I take it the Achaeans will be weakest？〃
Idomeneus answered； 〃There are others to defend the centre… the
two Ajaxes and Teucer； who is the finest archer of all the Achaeans；
and is good also in a hand…to…hand fight。 These will give Hector son
of Priam enough to do； fight as he may； he will find it hard to
vanquish their indomitable fury； and fire the ships； unless the son of
Saturn fling a firebrand upon them with his own hand。 Great Ajax son
of Telamon will yield to no man who is in mortal mould and eats the
grain of Ceres； if bronze and great stones can overthrow him。 He would
not yield even to Achilles in hand…to…hand fight； and in fleetness
of foot there is none to beat him； let us turn therefore towards the
left wing； that we may know forthwith whether we are to give glory
to some other； or he to us。〃
Meriones； peer of fleet Mars； then led the way till they came to the
part of the host which Idomeneus had named。
Now when the Trojans saw Idomeneus coming on like a flame of fire；
him and his squire clad in their richly wrought armour； they shouted
and made towards him all in a body； and a furious hand…to…hand fight
raged under the ships' sterns。 Fierce as the shrill winds that whistle
upon a day when dust lies deep on the roads； and the gusts raise it
into a thick cloud… even such was the fury of the combat； and might
and main did they hack at each other with spear and sword throughout
the host。 The field bristled with the long and deadly spears which
they bore。 Dazzling was the sheen of their gleaming helmets； their
fresh…burnished breastplates； and glittering shields as they joined
battle with one another。 Iron indeed must be his courage who could
take pleasure in the sight of such a turmoil； and look on it without
being dismayed。
Thus did the two mighty sons of Saturn devise evil for mortal
heroes。 Jove was minded to give victory to the Trojans and to
Hector； so as to do honour to fleet Achilles； nevertheless he did
not mean to utterly overthrow the Achaean host before Ilius； and
only wanted to glorify Thetis and her valiant son。 Neptune on the
other hand went about among the Argives to incite them； having come up
from the grey sea in secret； for he was grieved at seeing them
vanquished by the Trojans； and was furiously angry with Jove。 Both
were of the same race and country； but Jove was elder born and knew
more； therefore Neptune feared to defend the Argives openly； but in
the likeness of man； he kept on encouraging them throughout their
host。 Thus； then； did these two devise a knot of war and battle；
that none could unloose or break； and set both sides tugging at it； to
the failing of men's knees beneath them。
And now Idomeneus； though his hair was already flecked with grey；
called loud on the Danaans and spread panic among the Trojans as he
leaped in among them。 He slew Othryoneus from Cabesus； a sojourner；
who had but lately come to take part in the war。 He sought Cassandra
the fairest of Priam's daughters in marriage； but offered no gifts
of wooing； for he promised a great thing； to wit； that he would
drive the sons of the Achaeans willy nilly from Troy； old King Priam
had given his consent and promised her to him； whereon he fought on
the strength of the promises thus made to him。 Idomeneus aimed a
spear； and hit him as he came striding on。 His cuirass of bronze did
not protect him； and the spear stuck in his belly； so that he fell
heavily to the ground。 Then Idomeneus vaunted over him saying；
〃Othryoneus； there is no one in the world whom I shall admire more
than I do you； if you indeed perform what you have promised Priam
son of Dardanus in return for his daughter。 We too will make you an
offer； we will give you the loveliest daughter of the son of Atreus；
and will bring her from Argos for you to marry； if you will sack the
goodly city of Ilius in company with ourselves； so come along with me；
that we may make a covenant at the ships about the marriage； and we
will not be hard upon you about gifts of wooing。〃
With this Idomeneus began dragging him by the foot through the thick
of the fight； but Asius came up to protect the body； on foot； in front
of his horses which his esquire drove so close behind him that he
could feel their 'breath upon his shoulder。 He was longing to strike
down Idomeneus； but ere he could do so Idomeneus smote him with his
spear in the throat under the chin； and the bronze point went clean
through it。 He fell as an oak； or poplar； or pine which shipwrights
have felled for ship's timber upon the mountains with whetted axes…
even thus did he lie full length in front of his chariot and horses；
grinding his teeth and clutching at the bloodstained just。 His
charioteer was struck with panic and did not dare turn his horses
round and escape： thereupon Antilochus hit him in the middle of his
body with a spear； his cuirass of bronze did not protect him； and
the spear stuck in his belly。 He fell gasping from his chariot and
Antilochus great Nestor's son； drove his horses from the Trojans to
the Achaeans。
Deiphobus then came close up to Idomeneus to avenge Asius； and
took aim at him with a spear； but Idomeneus was on the look…out and
avoided it； for he was covered by the round shield he always bore… a
shield of oxhide and bronze with two arm…rods on the inside。 He
crouched under cover of this； and the spear flew over him； but the
shield rang out as the spear grazed it； and the weapon sped not in
vain from the strong hand of Deiphobus； for it struck Hypsenor son
of Hippasus； shepherd of his people； in the liver under the midriff；
and his limbs failed beneath him。 Deiphobus vaunted over him and cried
with a loud voice saying； 〃Of a truth Asius has not fallen
unavenied； he will be glad even while passing into the house of Hades；
strong warden of the gate； that I have sent some one to escort him。〃
Thus did he vaunt； and the Argives were stung by his saying。 Noble
Antilochus was more angry than any one； but grief did not make him
forget his friend and comrade。 He ran up to him； bestrode him； and
covered him with