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.

on the lap of heaven, I will there<strong>for</strong>e hurl my spear and leave the<br />

rest to Jove."<br />

He poised and hurled as he spoke, whereon the spear struck the round<br />

shield of Aretus, and went right through it <strong>for</strong> the shield stayed<br />

it not, so that it was driven through his belt into the lower part<br />

of his belly. As when some sturdy youth, axe in hand, deals his blow<br />

behind the horns of an ox and severs the tendons at the back of its<br />

neck so that it springs <strong>for</strong>ward and then drops, even so did Aretus<br />

give one bound and then fall on his back the spear quivering in his<br />

body till it made an end of him. Hector then aimed a spear at Automedon<br />

but he saw it coming and stooped <strong>for</strong>ward to avoid it, so that it 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>y would then have<br />

fought hand to hand with swords had not the two Ajaxes <strong>for</strong>ced their<br />

way through the crowd when they heard their comrade calling, and parted<br />

them <strong>for</strong> all their fury-­‐ <strong>for</strong> Hector, Aeneas, and Chromius were afraid<br />

and drew back, leaving Aretus to lie there struck to the heart. Automedon,<br />

peer of fleet Mars, then stripped him of his armour and vaunted over<br />

him saying, "I have done little to assuage my sorrow <strong>for</strong> the son of<br />

Menoetius, <strong>for</strong> the man I have killed is not so good as he was."<br />

As he spoke he took the blood-­‐stained spoils and laid them upon his<br />

chariot; then he mounted the car with his hands and feet all steeped<br />

in gore as a lion that has been gorging upon a bull.<br />

And now the fierce groanful fight again raged about Patroclus, <strong>for</strong><br />

Minerva came down from heaven and roused its fury <strong>by</strong> the command of

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

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!