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hands imploringly towards his comrades。 Antilochus sprang upon him and
stripped the armour from his shoulders； glaring round him fearfully as
he did so。 The Trojans came about him on every side and struck his
broad and gleaming shield； but could not wound his body； for Neptune
stood guard over the son of Nestor； though the darts fell thickly
round him。 He was never clear of the foe； but was always in the
thick of the fight； his spear was never idle； he poised and aimed it
in every direction； so eager was he to hit some one from a distance or
to fight him hand to hand。
As he was thus aiming among the crowd； he was seen by Adamas son
of Asius； who rushed towards him and struck him with a spear in the
middle of his shield； but Neptune made its point without effect； for
he grudged him the life of Antilochus。 One half； therefore； of the
spear stuck fast like a charred stake in Antilochus's shield； while
the other lay on the ground。 Adamas then sought shelter under cover of
his men； but Meriones followed after and hit him with a spear midway
between the private parts and the navel； where a wound is particualrly
painful to wretched mortals。 There did Meriones transfix him； and he
writhed convulsively about the spear as some bull whom mountain
herdsmen have bound with ropes of withes and are taking away perforce。
Even so did he move convulsively for a while； but not for very long；
till Meriones came up and drew the spear out of his body； and his eyes
were veiled in darkness。
Helenus then struck Deipyrus with a great Thracian sword； hitting
him on the temple in close combat and tearing the helmet from his
head； the helmet fell to the ground； and one of those who were
fighting on the Achaean side took charge of it as it rolled at his
feet； but the eyes of Deipyrus were closed in the darkness of death。
On this Menelaus was grieved； and made menacingly towards Helenus；
brandishing his spear； but Helenus drew his bow； and the two
attacked one another at one and the same moment； the one with his
spear； and the other with his bow and arrow。 The son of Priam hit
the breastplate of Menelaus's corslet； but the arrow glanced from
off it。 As black beans or pulse come pattering down on to a
threshing…floor from the broad winnowing…shovel； blown by shrill winds
and shaken by the shovel… even so did the arrow glance off and
recoil from the shield of Menelaus； who in his turn wounded the hand
with which Helenus carried his bow； the spear went right through his
hand and stuck in the bow itself； so that to his life he retreated
under cover of his men； with his hand dragging by his side… for the
spear weighed it down till Agenor drew it out and bound the hand
carefully up in a woollen sling which his esquire had with him。
Pisander then made straight at Menelaus… his evil destiny luring him
on to his doom； for he was to fall in fight with you； O Menelaus。 When
the two were hard by one another the spear of the son of Atreus turned
aside and he missed his aim； Pisander then struck the shield of
brave Menelaus but could not pierce it； for the shield stayed the
spear and broke the shaft； nevertheless he was glad and made sure of
victory； forthwith； however； the son of Atreus drew his sword and
sprang upon him。 Pisander then seized the bronze battle…axe； with
its long and polished handle of olive wood that hung by his side under
his shield； and the two made at one another。 Pisander struck the
peak of Menelaus's crested helmet just under the crest itself； and
Menelaus hit Pisander as he was coming towards him； on the forehead；
just at the rise of his nose； the bones cracked and his two
gore…bedrabbled eyes fell by his feet in the dust。 He fell backwards
to the ground； and Menelaus set his heel upon him； stripped him of his
armour； and vaunted over him saying； 〃Even thus shall you Trojans
leave the ships of the Achaeans； proud and insatiate of battle
though you be： nor shall you lack any of the disgrace and shame
which you have heaped upon myself。 Cowardly she…wolves that you are；
you feared not the anger of dread Jove； avenger of violated
hospitality； who will one day destroy your city； you stole my wedded
wife and wickedly carried off much treasure when you were her guest；
and now you would fling fire upon our ships； and kill our heroes。 A
day will come when； rage as you may； you shall be stayed。 O father
Jove； you； who they say art above all both gods and men in wisdom； and
from whom all things that befall us do proceed； how can you thus
favour the Trojans… men so proud and overweening； that they are
never tired of fighting？ All things pall after a while… sleep； love；
sweet song； and stately dance… still these are things of which a man
would surely have his fill rather than of battle； whereas it is of
battle that the Trojans are insatiate。〃
So saying Menelaus stripped the blood…stained armour from the body
of Pisander； and handed it over to his men； then he again ranged
himself among those who were in the front of the fight。
Harpalion son of King Pylaemenes then sprang upon him； he had come
to fight at Troy along with his father； but he did not go home
again。 He struck the middle of Menelaus's shield with his spear but
could not pierce it； and to save his life drew back under cover of his
men； looking round him on every side lest he should be wounded。 But
Meriones aimed a bronze…tipped arrow at him as he was leaving the
field； and hit him on the right buttock； the arrow pierced the bone
through and through； and penetrated the bladder； so he sat down
where he was and breathed his last in the arms of his comrades；
stretched like a worm upon the ground and watering the earth with
the blood that flowed from his wound。 The brave Paphlagonians tended
him with all due care； they raised him into his chariot； and bore
him sadly off to the city of Troy； his father went also with him
weeping bitterly； but there was no ransom that could bring his dead
son to life again。
Paris was deeply grieved by the death of Harpalion； who was his host
when he went among the Paphlagonians； he aimed an arrow； therefore； in
order to avenge him。 Now there was a certain man named Euchenor； son
of Polyidus the prophet； a brave man and wealthy； whose home was in
Corinth。 This Euchenor had set sail for Troy well knowing that it
would be the death of him； for his good old father Polyidus had
often told him that he must either stay at home and die of a
terrible disease； or go with the Achaeans and perish at the hands of
the Trojans； he chose； therefore； to avoid incurring the heavy fine
the Achaeans would have laid upon him； and at the same time to
escape the pain and suffering of disease。 Paris now smote him on the
jaw under his ear； whereon the life went out of him and he was
enshrouded in the darkness of death。
Thus then did they fight as it were a flaming fire。 But Hector had
not yet heard； and did not know that the Argives were making havoc
of his men on the left wing of the battle； where the Achaeans ere long
would have triumphed over them； so vigorously did Neptune cheer them
on and help them。 He therefore held on at the point where he had first
forced his way through