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with Hector in full triumph； this way did they fly pell…mell； and Juno
sent down a thick mist in front of them to stay them。 The other half
were hemmed in by the deep silver…eddying stream； and fell into it
with a great uproar。 The waters resounded； and the banks rang again；
as they swam hither and thither with loud cries amid the whirling
eddies。 As locusts flying to a river before the blast of a grass fire…
the flame comes on and on till at last it overtakes them and they
huddle into the water… even so was the eddying stream of Xanthus
filled with the uproar of men and horses； all struggling in
confusion before Achilles。
Forthwith the hero left his spear upon the bank； leaning it
against a tamarisk bush； and plunged into the river like a god；
armed with his sword only。 Fell was his purpose as he hewed the
Trojans down on every side。 Their dying groans rose hideous as the
sword smote them； and the river ran red with blood。 As when fish fly
scared before a huge dolphin； and fill every nook and corner of some
fair haven… for he is sure to eat all he can catch… even so did the
Trojans cower under the banks of the mighty river； and when
Achilles' arms grew weary with killing them； he drew twelve youths
alive out of the water； to sacrifice in revenge for Patroclus son of
Menoetius。 He drew them out like dazed fawns； bound their hands behind
them with the girdles of their own shirts； and gave them over to his
men to take back to the ships。 Then he sprang into the river；
thirsting for still further blood。
There he found Lycaon； son of Priam seed of Dardanus； as he was
escaping out of the water； he it was whom he had once taken prisoner
when he was in his father's vineyard； having set upon him by night； as
he was cutting young shoots from a wild fig…tree to make the wicker
sides of a chariot。 Achilles then caught him to his sorrow unawares；
and sent him by sea to Lemnos； where the son of Jason bought him。
But a guest…friend； Eetion of Imbros； freed him with a great sum；
and sent him to Arisbe； whence he had escaped and returned to his
father's house。 He had spent eleven days happily with his friends
after he had come from Lemnos； but on the twelfth heaven again
delivered him into the hands of Achilles； who was to send him to the
house of Hades sorely against his will。 He was unarmed when Achilles
caught sight of him； and had neither helmet nor shield； nor yet had he
any spear； for he had thrown all his armour from him on to the bank；
and was sweating with his struggles to get out of the river； so that
his strength was now failing him。
Then Achilles said to himself in his surprise； 〃What marvel do I see
here？ If this man can come back alive after having been sold over into
Lemnos； I shall have the Trojans also whom I have slain rising from
the world below。 Could not even the waters of the grey sea imprison
him； as they do many another whether he will or no？ This time let
him taste my spear； that I may know for certain whether mother earth
who can keep even a strong man down； will be able to hold him； or
whether thence too he will return。〃
Thus did he pause and ponder。 But Lycaon came up to him dazed and
trying hard to embrace his knees； for he would fain live； not die。
Achilles thrust at him with his spear； meaning to kill him； but Lycaon
ran crouching up to him and caught his knees； whereby the spear passed
over his back； and stuck in the ground； hungering though it was for
blood。 With one hand he caught Achilles' knees as he besought him； and
with the other he clutched the spear and would not let it go。 Then
he said； 〃Achilles； have mercy upon me and spare me； for I am your
suppliant。 It was in your tents that I first broke bread on the day
when you took me prisoner in the vineyard； after which you sold away
to Lemnos far from my father and my friends； and I brought you the
price of a hundred oxen。 I have paid three times as much to gain my
freedom； it is but twelve days that I have come to Ilius after much
suffering； and now cruel fate has again thrown me into your hands。
Surely father Jove must hate me； that he has given me over to you a
second time。 Short of life indeed did my mother Laothoe bear me；
daughter of aged Altes… of Altes who reigns over the warlike Lelegae
and holds steep Pedasus on the river Satnioeis。 Priam married his
daughter along with many other women and two sons were born of her；
both of whom you will have slain。 Your spear slew noble Polydorus as
he was fighting in the front ranks； and now evil will here befall
me； for I fear that I shall not escape you since heaven has delivered
me over to you。 Furthermore I say； and lay my saying to your heart；
spare me； for I am not of the same womb as Hector who slew your
brave and noble comrade。〃
With such words did the princely son of Priam beseech Achilles；
but Achilles answered him sternly。 〃Idiot；〃 said he； 〃talk not to me
of ransom。 Until Patroclus fell I preferred to give the Trojans
quarter； and sold beyond the sea many of those whom I had taken alive；
but now not a man shall live of those whom heaven delivers into my
hands before the city of Ilius… and of all Trojans it shall fare
hardest with the sons of Priam。 Therefore； my friend； you too shall
die。 Why should you whine in this way？ Patroclus fell； and he was a
better man than you are。 I too… see you not how I am great and goodly？
I am son to a noble father； and have a goddess for my mother； but
the hands of doom and death overshadow me all as surely。 The day
will come； either at dawn or dark； or at the noontide； when one
shall take my life also in battle； either with his spear； or with an
arrow sped from his bow。〃
Thus did he speak； and Lycaon's heart sank within him。 He loosed his
hold of the spear； and held out both hands before him； but Achilles
drew his keen blade； and struck him by the collar…bone on his neck； he
plunged his two…edged sword into him to the very hilt； whereon he
lay at full length on the ground； with the dark blood welling from him
till the earth was soaked。 Then Achilles caught him by the foot and
flung him into the river to go down stream； vaunting over him the
while； and saying； 〃Lie there among the fishes； who will lick the
blood from your wound and gloat over it； your mother shall not lay you
on any bier to mourn you； but the eddies of Scamander shall bear you
into the broad bosom of the sea。 There shall the fishes feed on the
fat of Lycaon as they dart under the dark ripple of the waters… so
perish all of you till we reach the citadel of strong Ilius… you in
flight； and I following after to destroy you。 The river with its broad
silver stream shall serve you in no stead； for all the bulls you
offered him and all the horses that you flung living into his
waters。 None the less miserably shall you perish till there is not a
man of you but has paid in full for the death of Patroclus and the
havoc you wrought among the Achaeans whom you have slain while I
held aloof from battle。〃
So spoke Achilles； but the river grew more and more angry； and
pondered within himself how he should stay the hand of Achilles and
save the Trojans from disaster。 Meanwhile the son of Peleus； spe