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the front rank of his men gave ground. As far as a man can throw a<br />

javelin when competing <strong>for</strong> some prize, or even in battle-­‐ so far did<br />

the Trojans now retreat be<strong>for</strong>e the Achaeans. Glaucus, captain of the<br />

Lycians, was the first to rally them, <strong>by</strong> killing Bathycles son of<br />

Chalcon who lived in Hellas and was the richest man among the Myrmidons.<br />

Glaucus turned round suddenly, just as Bathycles who was pursuing<br />

him was about to lay hold of him, and drove his spear right into the<br />

middle of his chest, whereon he fell heavily to the ground, and the<br />

fall of so good a man filled the Achaeans with dismay, while the Trojans<br />

were exultant, and came up in a body round the corpse. Nevertheless<br />

the Achaeans, mindful of their prowess, bore straight down upon them.<br />

Meriones then killed a helmed warrior of the Trojans, Laogonus son<br />

of Onetor, who was priest of Jove of Mt. Ida, and was honoured <strong>by</strong><br />

the people as though he were a god. Meriones struck him under the<br />

jaw and ear, so that life went out of him and the darkness of death<br />

laid hold upon him. Aeneas then aimed a spear at Meriones, hoping<br />

to hit him under the shield as he was advancing, but Meriones saw<br />

it coming and stooped <strong>for</strong>ward to avoid it, whereon the spear flew<br />

past him and the point stuck in the ground, while the butt-­‐end went<br />

on quivering till Mars robbed it of its <strong>for</strong>ce. <strong>The</strong> spear, there<strong>for</strong>e,<br />

sped from Aeneas's hand in vain and fell quivering to the ground.<br />

Aeneas was angry and said, "Meriones, you are a good dancer, but if<br />

I had hit you my spear would soon have made an end of you."<br />

And Meriones answered, "Aeneas, <strong>for</strong> all your bravery, you will not<br />

be able to make an end of every one who comes against you. You are<br />

only a mortal like myself, and if I were to hit you in the middle

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