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struck him full on the head as he was coming on towards him； and split
it clean in two； whereon he fell heavily to the ground and Achilles
vaunted over him saying； 〃You he low； son of Otrynteus； mighty hero；
your death is here； but your lineage is on the Gygaean lake where your
father's estate lies； by Hyllus； rich in fish； and the eddying
waters of Hermus。〃
Thus did he vaunt； but darkness closed the eyes of the other。 The
chariots of the Achaeans cut him up as their wheels passed over him in
the front of the battle； and after him Achilles killed Demoleon； a
valiant man of war and son to Antenor。 He struck him on the temple
through his bronze…cheeked helmet。 The helmet did not stay the
spear； but it went right on； crushing the bone so that the brain
inside was shed in all directions； and his lust of fighting was ended。
Then he struck Hippodamas in the midriff as he was springing down from
his chariot in front of him； and trying to escape。 He breathed his
last； bellowing like a bull bellows when young men are dragging him to
offer him in sacrifice to the King of Helice； and the heart of the
earth…shaker is glad； even so did he bellow as he lay dying。
Achilles then went in pursuit of Polydorus son of Priam； whom his
father had always forbidden to fight because he was the youngest of
his sons； the one he loved best； and the fastest runner。 He； in his
folly and showing off the fleetness of his feet； was rushing about
among front ranks until he lost his life； for Achilles struck him in
the middle of the back as he was darting past him： he struck him
just at the golden fastenings of his belt and where the two pieces
of the double breastplate overlapped。 The point of the spear pierced
him through and came out by the navel； whereon he fell groaning on
to his knees and a cloud of darkness overshadowed him as he sank
holding his entrails in his hands。
When Hector saw his brother Polydorus with his entrails in his hands
and sinking down upon the ground； a mist came over his eyes； and he
could not bear to keep longer at a distance； he therefore poised his
spear and darted towards Achilles like a flame of fire。 When
Achilles saw him he bounded forward and vaunted saying； 〃This is he
that has wounded my heart most deeply and has slain my beloved
comrade。 Not for long shall we two quail before one another on the
highways of war。〃
He looked fiercely on Hector and said； 〃Draw near； that you may meet
your doom the sooner。〃 Hector feared him not and answered； 〃Son of
Peleus； think not that your words can scare me as though I were a
child； I too if I will can brag and talk unseemly； I know that you are
a mighty warrior； mightier by far than I； nevertheless the issue
lies in the the lap of heaven whether I； worse man though I be； may
not slay you with my spear； for this too has been found keen ere now。〃
He hurled his spear as he spoke； but Minerva breathed upon it； and
though she breathed but very lightly she turned it back from going
towards Achilles； so that it returned to Hector and lay at his feet in
front of him。 Achilles then sprang furiously on him with a loud cry；
bent on killing him； but Apollo caught him up easily as a god can； and
hid him in a thick darkness。 Thrice did Achilles spring towards him
spear in hand； and thrice did he waste his blow upon the air。 When
he rushed forward for the fourth time as though he were a god； he
shouted aloud saying； 〃Hound； this time too you have escaped death…
but of a truth it came exceedingly near you。 Phoebus Apollo； to whom
it seems you pray before you go into battle； has again saved you；
but if I too have any friend among the gods I will surely make an
end of you when I come across you at some other time。 Now； however；
I will pursue and overtake other Trojans。〃
On this he struck Dryops with his spear； about the middle of his
neck； and he fell headlong at his feet。 There he let him lie and
stayed Demouchus son of Philetor； a man both brave and of great
stature； by hitting him on the knee with a spear； then he smote him
with his sword and killed him。 After this he sprang on Laogonus and
Dardanus； sons of Bias； and threw them from their chariot； the one
with a blow from a thrown spear； while the other he cut down in
hand…to…hand fight。 There was also Tros the son of Alastor… he came up
to Achilles and clasped his knees in the hope that he would spare
him and not kill him but let him go； because they were both of the
same age。 Fool； he might have known that he should not prevail with
him； for the man was in no mood for pity or forbearance but was in
grim earnest。 Therefore when Tros laid hold of his knees and sought
a hearing for his prayers； Achilles drove his sword into his liver；
and the liver came rolling out； while his bosom was all covered with
the black blood that welled from the wound。 Thus did death close his
eyes as he lay lifeless。
Achilles then went up to Mulius and struck him on the ear with a
spear； and the bronze spear…head came right out at the other ear。 He
also struck Echeclus son of Agenor on the head with his sword； which
became warm with the blood； while death and stern fate closed the eyes
of Echeclus。 Next in order the bronze point of his spear wounded
Deucalion in the fore…arm where the sinews of the elbow are united；
whereon he waited Achilles' onset with his arm hanging down and
death staring him in the face。 Achilles cut his head off with a blow
from his sword and flung it helmet and all away from him； and the
marrow came oozing out of his backbone as he lay。 He then went in
pursuit of Rhigmus； noble son of Peires； who had come from fertile
Thrace； and struck him through the middle with a spear which fixed
itself in his belly； so that he fell headlong from his chariot。 He
also speared Areithous squire to Rhigmus in the back as he was turning
his horses in flight； and thrust him from his chariot； while the
horses were struck with panic。
As a fire raging in some mountain glen after long drought… and the
dense forest is in a blaze； while the wind carries great tongues of
fire in every direction… even so furiously did Achilles rage； wielding
his spear as though he were a god； and giving chase to those whom he
would slay； till the dark earth ran with blood。 Or as one who yokes
broad…browed oxen that they may tread barley in a threshing…floor… and
it is soon bruised small under the feet of the lowing cattle… even
so did the horses of Achilles trample on the shields and bodies of the
slain。 The axle underneath and the railing that ran round the car were
bespattered with clots of blood thrown up by the horses' hoofs； and
from the tyres of the wheels； but the son of Peleus pressed on to
win still further glory； and his hands were bedrabbled with gore。
BOOK XXI
NOW when they came to the ford of the full…flowing river Xanthus；
begotten of immortal Jove； Achilles cut their forces in two： one
half he chased over the plain towards the city by the same way that
the Achaeans had taken when flying panic…stricken on the preceding day
with Hector in full triumph； this way did they fly pell…mell； and Juno
sent down a thick mist in front of them t