29.03.2013 Views

Provided by The Internet Classics Archive. See bottom for copyright ...

Provided by The Internet Classics Archive. See bottom for copyright ...

Provided by The Internet Classics Archive. See bottom for copyright ...

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

point of the spear struck against the silver and was turned aside<br />

as though it had been lead: King Agamemnon caught it from his hand,<br />

and drew it towards him with the fury of a lion; he then drew his<br />

sword, and killed Iphidamas <strong>by</strong> striking him on the neck. So there<br />

the poor fellow lay, sleeping a sleep as it were of bronze, killed<br />

in the defence of his fellow-­‐citizens, far from his wedded wife, of<br />

whom he had had no joy though he had given much <strong>for</strong> her: he had given<br />

a hundred-­‐head of cattle down, and had promised later on to give a<br />

thousand sheep and goats mixed, from the countless flocks of which<br />

he was possessed. Agamemnon son of Atreus then despoiled him, and<br />

carried off his armour into the host of the Achaeans.<br />

When noble Coon, Antenor's eldest son, saw this, sore indeed were<br />

his eyes at the sight of his fallen brother. Unseen <strong>by</strong> Agamemnon he<br />

got beside him, spear in hand, and wounded him in the middle of his<br />

arm below the elbow, the point of the spear going right through the<br />

arm. Agamemnon was convulsed with pain, but still not even <strong>for</strong> this<br />

did he leave off struggling and fighting, but grasped his spear that<br />

flew as fleet as the wind, and sprang upon Coon who was trying to<br />

drag off the body of his brother-­‐ his father's son-­‐ <strong>by</strong> the foot, and<br />

was crying <strong>for</strong> help to all the bravest of his comrades; but Agamemnon<br />

struck him with a bronze-­‐shod spear and killed him as he was dragging<br />

the dead body through the press of men under cover of his shield:<br />

he then cut off his head, standing over the body of Iphidamas. Thus<br />

did the sons of Antenor meet their fate at the hands of the son of<br />

Atreus, and go down into the house of Hades.<br />

As long as the blood still welled warm from his wound Agamemnon went

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!